Robin Johnson

midnight-pals.simplecast.comSubmitted for the Approval of the Midnight PalsEach week, a group of storytellers gathers around a campfire. There's world-weary club MC Edgar Allan Poe, nerd dad Stephen King, violent goth Mary Shelley, squid-obsessed wimp HP Lovecraft, and other...

16 Jan 2025

Replying to @robinjohnson.bsky.social

Tune in to "Submitted for the Approval of the Midnight Pals" at midnight-pals.simplecast.com, or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or your favourite podcast site/app (CNs: see show notes)

6h

RIP to the great Russian actor, Walter Koenig

15h

If I were a CEO in an industry that I genuinely feared would destroy humanity I would simply get another job

19h

No we don't

@georgepotter.bsky.social

1d

Two pairs of examples from Elementary: Odin Reichenbach and canonical Professor Moriarty, and Morland Holmes (Sherlock's father) and canonical Mycroft (Sherlock's brother). (Both Moriarty and Mycroft also exist in Elementary continuity, but they've been changed significantly [and interestingly])

Sophia_Nyx 🐰@sophianyx.bsky.social

Name two characters you think are the same person.

Robin Johnson reposted

George Potter 🔶

1d

Replying to @georgepotter.bsky.social

The Bolsonarists didn't change their minds, they didn't suddenly stop believing that their man could do no wrong and that Lula was an existential threat to Brazil. They were simply outvoted by those who refused to risk a return to fascism, and decided not to sit this election out.

1d

The trouble with hoping that Labour/the Democrats/[insert your favourite disappointing political party] will learn from this is that they don't want to. They're not socialists-at-heart with a sense of pragmatism, they're just rightwing people.

George Potter 🔶@georgepotter.bsky.social

It's really important to pay attention to the fact that Lula beat the fascist candidate not by compromising and trying to meet fascist voters in the middle, but by sticking to his guns, promising prosecutions for election interference, and mobilising his own voters to turn out in greater numbers.

2d

The Whisperer in Darkness (1930)

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. * * *

2d

Leicester is my alma mater and occasionally I wish we had an animal to say after the word "go" like American colleges

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

Robin Johnson reposted

Kieron Gillen

@kierongillen.bsky.social

3d

My mind is just collapsing at the "we have far-right entryist groups offering themselves as middle-men to hook you up with professional hitmen, but our big priority is covering up pride pins" of the present BBC.

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. * * *

2d

There is a K-drama called "Dive Into You" and due to a humorous misreading I got to spend ten seconds in a universe where there is a K-drama called "Drive Into You"

3d

The catposting will continue until forever

Robin Johnson reposted

Joram Wolters

@joramwolters.com

4d

You might have seen the original "no genAI seal" by @kanaratron.bsky.social. I've made the icon into a set of assets in both PNG and vector formats that can be more widely used in different contexts. You can find them here: www.joramwolters.com/no-gen-ai-ico/

redid this one with Watterson art (sorry Bill) and an extra special director's cut ending

Bruno Dies@brunodias.dev

it's remarkable how these ads just can't make the people using their product not look like assholes. like this is an extreme case but every Gemini ad is like "are you a trendchasing idiot who does things just because the computer told you to? well good news:"

Robin Johnson reposted

Anna Phylaxis

@quatoria.bsky.social

genuinely it feels like the only people who think “coming up with great ideas” is the difficulty are folks who have never attempted to make their own art i have *so* many ideas for projects right now, the challenge is time and equipment and gaining the necessary skill to execute

This post is unavailable.

"We're like opposite poles of a magnet. We're repulsive to each other" - the only stupid line in Elementary

@thisisjofrank.bsky.social

there's no-one more affronted than drivers being told they're expected to obey laws

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani@mayor.nyc.gov

Robin Johnson reposted

Jo Franchetti

youtu.beMen in tech #YesAllMen - EMF 2026YouTube video by Electromagnetic Field

I gave a talk at EMF titled "Men in Tech #YesAllMen", in which I told my experience of being a woman in tech. I was afraid to publish it in case it affected my current or future employment. With all the current news I would like to add my 2¢. So here is the recording: youtu.be/WXL6K1lhvt0?...

Gretchen Felker-Martin PRE ORDER CHIMERA 2.16.27 🍉

Directors to Shatner, his whole life: CAN you JUST be a LITTLE less SHATNER??!?

This post is unavailable.

Robin Johnson reposted

@scumbelievable.bsky.social

William Friedkin hired real actual career arsonist and mob affiliate Marv "the Torch" Katz and flew him to the Dominican Republic overnight to blow up a massive fallen tree the film crew's pyro guys couldn't get to explode. Marv got it done in a few hours and flew home the same day.

Amy "Thunderjam" Chase@amythunderjam.bsky.social

We all know the "Viggo broke his toe" story but what's another movie fact you're personally compelled to bring up every time without prompting? For me, it's the fact that Robin Tunney is wearing a wig in The Craft because of having just shaved her head to save her job filming Empire Records.

I know every cat haver thinks their cat is the best, but they're wrong, because mine is

This post is unavailable.

Hobbes isn't impressed

It's necessary to ordinary human dignity but yeah, this too

violet allen@blipstress.bsky.social

People don't realize how necessary cheap rent is to the arts.

@flyingrodent.bsky.social

why not to put emojis in your deliveroo menu (also, I'm not quite sure how to parse "hand-shaped pasta")

Robin Johnson reposted

flyingrodent

First Church of Sherlock Holmes

It’s helpful to have an actual Labour MP saying right out that it’s not what transgender people do or say that is the problem: it’s their presence that she objects to, their existence. Yes, this is what it always was, and these people just keep winding each other up and up to ever more extreme views

Toby Buckle@polphilpod.bsky.social

labour mp clarifies: yes, trans people must be banned from hospitals

Robin Johnson reposted

@churchofsherlock.bsky.social

First Church of Sherlock Holmes

Replying to @churchofsherlock.bsky.social

I also just said and accidentally deleted this, but it bears repeating: none of the huge corporate entities who routinely bully small creators with dubious IP claims could have made their fortunes without the rights they're denying others, or do you think Walt Disney made up Snow White himself?

Robin Johnson reposted

@churchofsherlock.bsky.social

First Church of Sherlock Holmes

Replying to @churchofsherlock.bsky.social

Anyway, here's our logo in both black and white versions. Go nuts. (reposted with solid background because bluesky breaks transparent ones; sorry for any duplication on your feed.)

Robin Johnson reposted

@churchofsherlock.bsky.social