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Today and yesterday we have helped my mum get a new car, she stayed over with us, and we visited my mother in law too Mums are done ☑️ Now we can relax wooooo 😄 (While acknowledging I am also someone’s mother 😅)

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Xela Hart

@xelahart.bsky.social

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David Dayen

@ddayen.bsky.social

Some cities it's just not worth fucking with

So it’s likely I’ve had POTS and accompanying PEM since I had a terrible cold(?) at the of about 4 or 5 - post viral complication, I guess. But my daughter gets a diagnosis, meds, and a letter for school from the consultant saying “no she isn’t doing sport don’t be ridiculous” Beats years of 😭

Michael Druker 🇨🇦@mdruker.app

Social media loves talking about how everything is getting worse. But what’s something that you’ve seen get _better_ in your lifetime?

Invisible disabilities in 80s/90s? Broadly known as being a fusspot and a princess and a liar and not a team player and having a mother who’ll let you stay off for anything, god, what’s her problem, she really needs to commit etc etc

@ariadnereviews.bsky.social

They’re like “hey can we give your daughter a vaccination so then the risk of a certain common cancer drops to almost nil?” Yes please!

Michael Druker 🇨🇦@mdruker.app

Social media loves talking about how everything is getting worse. But what’s something that you’ve seen get _better_ in your lifetime?

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Ariadne Griffin

interesting to note that one of the pins was specifically the Bisexual Flag and I'm sure all those people with their ~legitimate concerns~ who were clammering to remove the T will oppose this. Oh? What's that? *crickets*

Leicester Gazette@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *

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Peter Geoghegan

@petergeoghegan.bsky.social

🔴 REVEALED: Palantir led closed-door review of how MoD buys software The review was presented to defence minister Luke Pollard by Palantir UK boss Louis Mosley in Feb and has mostly been implemented None of this was made public New investigation🧵 democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-p...

democracyforsale.substack.comRevealed: Palantir led secret review of how the MoD spends billionsThe Ministry of Defence asked the controversial US tech firm how to fix its procurement rules. Its answer? Fewer obstacles for companies like Palantir

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TAHK0

@tahk0.bsky.social

Guillermo Del Toro dropping another one liner that’s exactly how I feel about AI slop, the “punishment” is built in

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Alexandra Orlando

@alexgorlando.bsky.social

Not the top Steam review of Dressmaker making me cry this morning!

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melissa capriglione @ Shop Open 10/27

@mcapriglioneart.bsky.social

a message from the future

I think if he has to give hours and hours of deposition: 1) he will absolutely say mad and illegal shit that leads him directly to more legal issues 2) it will be impossible to ignore his advanced/advancing dementia and it will be flagged legally in a way his party can’t overlook

Dr. SkySkull@drskyskull.bsky.social

It really is wild that Trump can be like “I sue you NO YOU CANT ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS JUST GIVE ME THE MONIES”

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Olivia Smith

@oliviasmith.bsky.social

Looks like the next James Bond knows when is bins

This post is unavailable.

So glad not to be working in security now, won’t lie. Or working. I just want to be a quiet little hedgehog snuffling and snuggling. Not more. Tidying up, cleaning, making a cake, trimming plants

I have been watching #celebrityTraitors and enjoying it. Some of that comes from the fact that Michael Sheen is just constantly emoting how I feel, like lowercase grumpy but not really. A bit of a kind of “are we doing this then? Right, fucking hell” vibe. I don’t think I’m very salty, but 🤷🏼‍♀️

I have such a horror, profound horror of mobile phone contracts. Just the worst things in the world ever. My poor husband who has had more stress in the last couple of months than some face in their whole careers has insisted on stepping in, just as he handed off a huge incident to another team

Do you walk in to stay overnight with 8 bags and a face like thunder, saying “when I was telling you all about my horror with the doctors I didn’t even tell you the worst bit -“ and when begged not to start, talking about your phone contract as if I’m Vodafone & I screwed you over?

Or is that just my mother? I went from tired but well and happy to utterly exhausted and fighting depression.

I made myself laugh so much. Did the swipe on Instagram that shows you your reverse camera and thought “hmm, I like that pic of me” so took a photo although no intention of posting. It IMMEDIATELY offered to overlay a track on my pic (middle aged woman in a jumper) with Fuck the Pain Away by Peaches

Wristy doesn't have an AI avatar despite the stupid label

I mean, sure, good track, just a bit of a strong choice considering it also put the words up in big type and wanted me to post it as a story Hilarious, honestly. I’d be getting “you ok mate?” from former colleagues and stuff like that

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@wristroom.bsky.social

Anything can be mysterious if you just don't know things

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chief kyiv

@stefanivan.com

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Otto English

@ottoenglish.bsky.social

He's with the Angles now

Wulfhelm@wulfhelm.bsky.social

Gone, but not forgotten.

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Mark Hamill

@markhamillofficial.bsky.social

Only 19 Days until THIS:

I am 90% sure I haven’t take my Elvanse today. I couldn’t risk that last 10% and a double dose but HOLY SHIT I had forgotten how tiny my capacity is without store bought motivational chemicals, given my body won’t make them properly Have been on the verge of losing it or fully off it all day

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Ian Coldwater 🧊🚫

@lookitup.baby

They took Ilhan’s PASSPORT?! Um

Pat Thompson@pattho.bsky.social

DHS investigators not only took Ilhan’s cell phone, they took her computers, notebooks and her passport! These seem like important details. (You can tell who doesn’t read the full Wall Street Journal article: me.)

Holy shit.

Ian Coldwater 🧊🚫@lookitup.baby

They took Ilhan’s PASSPORT?! Um

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🎵When I wake up in the morning, love 🎵I've got sockets but no eyes 🎵Because I am a skellington 🎵A super bony guy 🎵Then I play my ribs 🎵They're my private xylophone 🎵Dance around in crypts 🎵And I know it's gonna be 🎵A spooky day (spooky day, spooky day, spooky day, spooky day)

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🎵When I wake up in the morning, love 🎵Oh, the sunlight hurts my eyes 🎵Because I am a dracula 🎵A dude who also flies 🎵Then I drink some blood 🎵And the world's alright with me 🎵Just a sip of blood 🎵And I know it's gonna be 🎵A spooky day (spooky day, spooky day, spooky day, spooky day)

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🎵When I wake up in the morning, love 🎵And I put on my white sheet 🎵Because I am a normal ghost 🎵A see-through guy, how neat 🎵Then I moan a bunch 🎵And the world's alright with me 🎵scare folks off their lunch 🎵And I know it's gonna be 🎵A spooky day (spooky day, spooky day, spooky day, spooky day)

Do POTSies get the October slide? Because my daughter has the dx and her consultant thinks I should too (for good reason) and we’re finally free of the heat that fully makes her vomit desperately at its worst, and generally feel wretched. I get a bit 😣 at the end of Feb waiting for spring, though

I don’t say “huh?” because it’s too informal and I am filled with alarming rage when Siri (who speaks to me in a male RP English voice) says “mmhmm?” Because culturally that is SO RUDE! Just unthinkably insolent in the context. It’s like a line in a poem that suddenly has no identifiable meter.

Panny@panny.bsky.social

I don't say "huh?" because no I do not want you to continue speaking.

It feels more shocking than a very fancy waiter at a very fancy place turning to me and saying “yes bitch?” It’s the kind of “you are shit on my shoe” unspoken diss that apple as a brand must somehow have failed to log when planning

Is the whole enshittification of multiple art forms (with ai) accidentally a kind of cultural tabula rasa where we all gravitate towards humanity and direct transmission?

@richardkadrey.bsky.social

You know how hatsune miku doesn’t speak to British people, right? I’m not offended on my own behalf, I’m English, and we have been unremitting cunts through history. But what about the Welsh? Miku carries LEEKS for the love of goodness.

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Richard Kadrey

Hey California! Be careful this election because the big money creeps are trying to trick you (again).

This made me think: Married conversations can get like a UDP transmission Or rather, he does that and I’m more stateful and I require an ack before I transmit 😂 Like, I’ll have a handshake thank you 😄

Wangle-BOO-ry@wangleberry.bsky.social

Marriage is a PVP server.

It’s 3AM FFS. I was in bed at like 10pm or something. What the very fuck is this, still? Again? I mean it’s perimenopause but I need to drive in a few hours ffs

This is EXACTLY my point though: it’s developed for and by guys who see emotional outlay on any point as a huge and unpleasant toll on them, when they should be able to press a button and get what you have It’s rape culture - taken without permission, your work with no pay, used to rid them of soul

Evan Urquhart@evanurquhart.bsky.social

Them: You can't criticize AI unless you use it constantly. Someone who uses AI constantly: Finally a replacement for the tiresome ordeal of showing love to my child.

I had a GOOD DREAM for once in my fucking life I was about to run a choir. They didn’t know that but the one I was in was shite and I was going to fix it. I woke up with all the energy I was about to pour into it. Like running software teams - be a positive force and people genuinely like it

Standplaats Kraków could really use some cash!

Twerk Lie Eat hot chip

Panny@panny.bsky.social

Pot noodles Cider Bog rolls

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Kate McKean

@katemckean.bsky.social

Just a reminder, if you're seeing crochet on clothes at fast-fashion stores and you're not paying a lot for it, the person who did that crochet is not getting paid a lot either. There is no machine-made crochet, unlike knits. A human is doing that with their hands.

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@standplaatskrk.pl

Replying to @standplaatskrk.pl

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