Queen Olivia III

Queen Olivia III

@queenoliviaiii.com

🤖Sci-fi, 🦩drag* & 🐈cats 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Bestselling author of “The Cat Operator’s Manual” 📕 https://cuddleunit5.com published by Chronicle Books Queen Captain of Space Station 1

10.6K followers8.5K following45.4K posts

Pinned

Queen Olivia III
@queenoliviaiii.com

Serving sci-fi drag tx from #SpaceStation1 + the cat chronicles of #cuddleUnit6, alongside static bursts of queer technicolor, native module headaches, and the occasional protocol glitch. My book The Cat Operator’s Manual (cuddleunit5.com), fragments from the AT future & federated feelings.

cuddleunit5.comThe Cat Operator's Manual - Get the Most from Your New Cuddle UnitA fresh and quirky guide to understanding your cat, complete with technical information, warnings, insights into all of your Cuddle Unit 5™'s features and modes, and a bonus sticker sheet.

Queen Olivia III reposted

Greg Jackson NZ
@realgregjack.bsky.social

Brand new Hospital ICU ward sits empty as 80% of new public health spend sent to private sector, by @bernardchickey substack.com/@bernardchic...

substack.comBrand new Hospital ICU ward sits empty as 80% of new public health spend sent to private sectorNew Waitakere Hospital ICU sits empty due to lack of funding & staff; Report finds 80% of Govt’s new health spending growth went to private sector as the sectors’ profits doubled; Cayman Islands used

Queen Olivia III 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. * * *

Queen Olivia III reposted

Jamie in PEI
@paganforge.bsky.social

For those that don't know, helium is a finite resource, mostly produced as a byproduct of oil and gas drilling. When it's gone, it's gone & then there are no more MRI's, no more LHC in Switzerland, no more weather balloons, etc. It should be against the law to sell it for party purposes.

This post is unavailable.

Queen Olivia III reposted

Parakuihi tuarua
@carb-on-carb.bsky.social

There was a nice write up about it in Salient www.salient.org.nz/post/arohanu...

salient.org.nzArohanui, Carmen xxZia RavenscroftWhen I first moved to Te Whanganui-a-Tara, I was entranced by the diva on the green pedestrian crossing lights around Cuba Street. A hand on her hip, hair piled high, strutting across t...
Queen Olivia III@queenoliviaiii.com

If you are in Wellington please go and see “Arohanui, Carmen xx” I’m just back and my heart is full. www.museumswellington.org.nz/arohanui-car...

Queen Olivia III reposted

Dr Space Junk (Alice Gorman)
@drspacejunk.bsky.social

Replying to @drspacejunk.bsky.social

Numerous surveys show that men start cat-calling and harassing girls from around the age of 11, often while they are in school uniform. That's when we start accustoming ourselves to what being in a public place will be like for the rest of our lives.

Queen Olivia III reposted

New Zealand Professional Firefighters' Union
@nzpfu.bsky.social

The NZPFU said Gregory's resignation should be the catalyst for massive and sweeping change for FENZ. "Those that have been enabling him to undertake the damaging policies and in his words vision that he had also need to come under strong scrutiny," National Secretary Wattie Watson told RNZ. #NZPol

rnz.co.nzFire and Emergency New Zealand chief executive Kerry Gregory resignsThe chief executive of Fire and Emergency New Zealand has resigned.
Queen Olivia III
@queenoliviaiii.com

Anecdotally many of the claimants under the NZ Ministry of Education abuse in state care are in jail. I met with a representative today to discuss my case and she remarked it was unusual to have a claimant in full time work.

Queen Olivia III
@queenoliviaiii.com

I asked what the others were doing, were they on the bene? No, she said, jail. It’s a grim kind of gratitude that I was able to not completely tank my life.

Queen Olivia III
@queenoliviaiii.com

I’ve been watching 1960s Doctor Who and it is camp as pants. As these two queens, who despise each other, slug it out with simmering rage, until… Steve Jobs looking guy tells them to cool it.

Queen Olivia III reposted

Musical Chairs
@musicalchairs.bsky.social

Sorry, I'll explain. We currently react to inflation by reducing the disposable income of spenders so that demand falls and unemployment goes up. We use a bufferstock of unemployed people to keep workers desperate, so wages are suppressed and we don't get a feedback loop (wage 🔄 prices) [🧵 1/n]

Musical Chairs@musicalchairs.bsky.social

Simply the best socio-economic policy anyone can vote for this election. If I was splitting hairs, I would say that the six months wait is about six months too long, but it's still a great start.

Queen Olivia III reposted

Laurie Winkless
@lauriewinkless.bsky.social

This is vitally important mahi from @alisonmau.bsky.social and Zoë Lawton - a way to keep sexual assault victims safe while also seeking justice. H/T @davidfarrier.com for highlighting this. I've just made a donation. If you can afford to, please consider it too www.webworm.co/tika/?ref=we...

webworm.coThis Could Change The Way Victims Get JusticeDavid Farrier's Webworm looks at Alison Mau and Zoë Lawton's Tika: a new way to report sexual harm in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Queen Olivia III reposted

Bay Area News
@bayarea.bsky.social

Rising diesel prices in CA threaten to shut down trucking businesses

kron4.comRising diesel prices in CA threaten to shut down trucking businesses(KRON) -- Rising diesel fuel prices are placing severe financial pressure on the trucking industry, with California drivers facing some of the highest rates in the nation. According to statistics from AAA, the national average price for a gallon of diesel stood at $6.32 on Monday, while the average price in California reached $8.35. The [...]