Peter Warne

Peter Warne

@pzwarne.bsky.social

Food, cycling, swimming, music, books - the usual. Liable to post in languages other than English. Lausanne.

741 followers770 following4.8K posts

Peter Warne
@pzwarne.bsky.social

Bollocks. Just getting over ocular migraine. It has taken an hour so far, panadol helping a little, basically just have to wait a while longer before all back to normal. Set off by sunlight this morning.

Peter Warne reposted

davidrlurie
@davidrlurie.com

I am turning in....Donald J Trump.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Trump: "I'm also going to be issuing a $1 million bonus or reward or whatever you want to call it for anybody that reports voter fraud, leading to the arrest and conviction of somebody. We're giving that person $1 million."

Peter Warne reposted

Angry
@angrystaffer.bsky.social

Insane. Actually insane. Let’s make his money this year a waste, shall we?

Mike Nellis@mikenellis.bsky.social

Elon Musk has spent more money on American elections in the last two years than George Soros has in his entire life.

Peter Warne reposted

Mariana Z
@mariana057.bsky.social

100 years ago everyone owned a horse & only the rich had cars. Today everyone has cars & only the rich own horses. How the stables have turned.

Peter Warne reposted

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. * * *
Peter Warne
@pzwarne.bsky.social

Just do the Guardian word wheel puzzle to get the all-letters word because the rest is too tedious. It was either really easy today, or I am getting better at it.

Peter Warne
@pzwarne.bsky.social

Everybody might be thinking this, perhaps it will happen, but I really don’t think the BBC should be publishing the user comment: The worst part of this WC format is the opportunity for a Samoa v Tonga carve up. Both teams will know the exact result needed to see both teams through.

Peter Warne
@pzwarne.bsky.social

Switzerland used to have a list of emergency supplies in the back of the telephone directory. It included two 140-litre bin bags per person. In those cold war days they were understood to be used as body bags. Alt text - dry food supplies www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

theguardian.comTinned mackerel, hand-crank radios and bags for poo: crisis-prepping guides around the worldUK allies have long urged people to stockpile supplies for a crisis. How are people from France to Australia being advised to prepare?
Peter Warne
@pzwarne.bsky.social

Cathedral City plant-based slices with cheddar flavour are not half bad. Of course, a single serving has half your daily salt needs, so maybe go easy on the crisps.

Peter Warne
@pzwarne.bsky.social

Odd that the anti-abortionists are so often men - in this case a medieval heridatary prince (whatever that is) who I am sure mourns the loss of his absolute powers. Probably God told him to do it. Alt text: a man in a suit who thinks he is special. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...

theguardian.comLiechtenstein prince’s ‘surreal’ abortion veto dismays campaignersAlois uses the first veto of his reign to quash parliament-approved bill backed by a national petition
Peter Warne
@pzwarne.bsky.social

What a deeply distressing state of deep, deep shit our world is in. And there are no people in any position of effective power or influence who can reverse the trend. What is to be done?

Peter Warne reposted

Vanity Fair
@vanityfair.com

Replying to @vanityfair.com

An exclusive excerpt from ‘Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed’s Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East’ by Matthew Cole examines how bank accounts linked Kushner to Israel, the UAE and Saudi Arabia: vanityfair.visitlink.me/qHPzPB

vanityfair.visitlink.meThe Art of the Deal: Jared Kushner’s Hacked Phone Revealed More Than $700 Million in TransfersAn exclusive excerpt from ‘Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed’s Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East’ examines how bank accounts linked the president’s son-in-law—and former senior adviser—to Israel, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
Peter Warne
@pzwarne.bsky.social

Interesting how the backstroke of its wings appears to provide vertical lift, like swifts and humming birds.

Massimo (mirror)@rainmaker1973-m.bsky.social

The stunning moment when an osprey emerges from the ocean clawed onto its prey, a barracuda [📹 Mark Smith] Repost of @marktakesphoto: Original post

Peter Warne reposted

Ketan Joshi
@ketanjoshi.co

The American mind cannot process a vehicle that is not designed to kill as many pedestrian children as possible

Peter Warne
@pzwarne.bsky.social

Watching Sam and Ade Go Birding last night and I was struck by a fleeting resemblance between Ade Edmonson and Woody Harrelson. Anyone?

Peter Warne
@pzwarne.bsky.social

Vegan Vednesday again, people. Favour the plants today. Oat milk in your coffee, just jam (or better still, molasses) on your toast and you have made a good start. Or maybe porridge made with water and livened up with fruit and nuts? Your choice. All good for the animals.

Peter Warne reposted

Dr Ian McCormick
@wokestudies.bsky.social

"Oxfam identified 23 superyachts owned by 18 billionaires and estimated the average annual carbon footprint of each of these yachts to be 5,672 tonnes. For an average citizen of the world it would take 860 years to produce the same amount." www.theguardian.com/news/2026/oc...

theguardian.comExcessive wealth, extreme emissions – and ecocide: what I learned at Europe’s big superyacht showThese yachts are highly popular with the ‘super-bourgeoisie’ – and getting bigger. Can anything be done to stop them destroying our seas?

Peter Warne reposted

Kate Griffin
@griffinkate.bsky.social

eBay users! Don't ignore today's email, even though it looks like a boring standard update to the User Privacy Notice. They want to use your data to train AI models. If you click the link over the words "the right to object", it takes you to a page with a toggle button letting you opt out.

Peter Warne
@pzwarne.bsky.social

SPOILER Finished watching the Diplomat on Netflix. Getting tired of Kerri Russell‘s schtick. Needs a bigger challenge. But the worst - I hope another season is not planned - is the fantasy that there are people in high positions prepared to resign on principle in any US administration.