Good SquidDance Macabre

idfc.co.ukInfinite Diversity, Finite Combinations Volume 1.1 (paperback+1st class postage) | Infinite Diversity,The first volume of IDFC in weighty paperback form! Contains essays on every episode of Season 1 of The Original Series (including "The Cage"), along with pieces on The Motion Picture, James Blish's S...

1 Apr 2025

Replying to @squidfromspace.bsky.social

Plus, the first Infinite Diversity, Finite Combinations book is out in paperback, if that's the sort of thing you think you might be into (and you live in the UK). www.idfc.co.uk/product-page...

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Bookish Scifi & Fantasy

@bookishsff.bsky.social

Out today: From the Library of Jurgen Leitner from @premeemohamed.com and @jonnysims.bsky.social! And the special edition is *very* handsome, with sprayed edges and a gilded design hidden under the slipcover... #MagnusArchives #Horrorsky 🪐📚💙

Bookish Scifi & Fantasy@bookishsff.bsky.social

And if one new @premeemohamed.com wasn't enough, check out From the Library of Jurgen Leitner, out later this month: a gripping, chilling eldritch horror of a sinister private library where the books are deadly... created with @jonnysims.bsky.social of The Magnus Archives podcast! #Horrorsky 🪐📚💙

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The Spaceshipper 🚀

@thespaceshipper.com

Replying to @thespaceshipper.com

J. Michael Straczynski@straczynski.bsky.social

Today we lost Walter Koenig. Some thoughts about a fine actor and genuinely nice guy....

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George Takei

@georgetakei.bsky.social

21h

My heart is heavy. Walter Koenig, our Ensign Pavel Chekov, passed away early today. Walter and I met on the bridge of the Enterprise in the 1960s, and we stayed friends for nearly six decades. When Brad and I married in 2008, Walter stood beside us as our best man.

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Standplaats Kraków could really use some cash!

@standplaatskrk.pl

Replying to @standplaatskrk.pl

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Mac It Look Like An Accident

@macrogers.bsky.social

18h

Fiction podcast people, we need to go to war for this show. Not just 'cause it's Paul and it'll be awesome, but we need a hit adaptation of a fiction podcast. We need to become the cool place the best ideas come from again.

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Watched The Cycle, which I loved. Definitely a horror film to go in wholly without knowledge of the plot. It feels like an unusually strong Scully-led X-Files episode, filtered through the aesthetics of Fuller's Hannibal, and occasional nods to Twin Peaks. Plus Deborah Ann Woll. Highly recommended.

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Crowsa Luxemburg

@quendergeer.bsky.social

treguard says every time one of the travellers runs out of lifeforce he just sends in another so i said it sounds like he's just feeding travellers to lord fear and folly the jester started crying

Knightmare: The Game@knightmarequest.bsky.social

KNIGHTMARE IS BACK! An official point-and click adventure game based on the classic TV series - with actors from the original show. Coming 2027. www.knightmaregame.co.uk And just remember - it's only a game...isn't it? #indiedev #adventuregame

@flyingrodent.bsky.social

It's a good job I know enough to stay in my lane, because otherwise I'd have a LOT to say about using an interview centered on the importance of respecting pronouns to rehabilitate Richard fucking Ayoade.

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flyingrodent

RTD gets grief for his recent Doctor Who series - some of it justified - but this one was a helpful demonstration of a serious problem: some people are just strident arseholes who *love* behaving horrifically, and they will still treat you like shit even if you literally save their lives.

@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Watched The Platform, surely the most Garth Marengi Meme film of the last decade. Fucking loved it.

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Leicester Gazette

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. * * *

Went to Nottingham, accidentally ended up in a pub quiz, came 3rd of 14th. Need to give a talk tomorrow. This concludes your Friday Squid Update. LET MY WORDS BE KNOWN.

John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)

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tpwrtrdmn

@tpwrtrmnky.bsky.social

Replying to @tpwrtrmnky.bsky.social

How you feel that "true" gender should be classified has no bearing on the simple privacy issue that someone who lives her whole life being read as a woman intuitively by strangers should not be obligated to out herself by going into the men's bathroom.

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Dave Probert

@daveprobert.bsky.social

Cyrus, mate, I don't have any favourite chat bots. I don't use them. I don't use any of that. What you melts don't seem to understand is that people opposing data centers don't use your shitty hogwash pump for anything. That you can't conceive that people don't use it is part of the problem.

Sara “Blade” Reine@smreine.bsky.social

lol. Lmao, even.

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sbarlster

@sbarlster.bsky.social

Where’s Aberdeen? Just put it near the top.

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@spacegoblingames.com

It's not a surprise but man, RIP BioWare. For a long time KOTOR and Mass Effect were my model of what good games writing could be like. I don't think there are any individual games that have had more influence on me.

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pmamtraveller.bsky.social

@pmamtraveller.bsky.social

Insomnia by Vincenzo Lamolinara

Fuck me, Nathan Cofnas? That's the hill in hell you're prepared to burn forever atop of? That's like selling your soul for a week-old bagel, marinaded in piss. Sure, the real problem is what you're prepared to pay, but Jesus Christ, could you not of haggled over what you're getting, too?

qnews.com.auNew Zealand High Court rules puberty blocker ban unlawfulQNews LGBTIQA+ News

Unpopular opinion that I'm sure will get me cancelled: I listened to a highly-regarded 80s album for the first time today, and guess what? I didn't particularly care for it. Take that, internet! I WILL NOT BE SILENCED.

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Natacha

@natacha.bsky.social

Yessss!!!!!

Ruth Pearce@notrightruth.bsky.social

Fantastic news from Aotearoa New Zealand - trans healthcare professionals have won their court case against the government, overturning the country's ban on puberty blockers. Huge respect and congratulations to everyone involved in this fight.

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Jesspooka Kant 🎃

@jessdkant.bsky.social

Precisely this.

MiserableX@onlytoad.bsky.social

If you consider the dehumanization and attempted erasure of at-risk communities a distraction from "kitchen table" issues, you really need to take a look at who's setting your table.

Kevin Fox@michigrim.bsky.social

I have told industry friends about the restaurant burger analogy: imagine you go to a restaurant and order a burger and the waiter comes out and starts apologizing for producing the perfectly ok burger you ordered on the menu like they felt it was beneath them. It would feel insulting right?

@drdeanburnett.bsky.social

*11:39pm, the western Atlantic* Seaman Frederick Fleet: "Iceberg! Right Ahead" First Officer William Murdoch:

FactPost@factpostnews.bsky.social

JD Vance on the economy: "You don't turn the Titanic around overnight"

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Pile Of Garbage

@pileofgarbage.net

lmfao

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Dr Dean Burnett

What idiot calls their far-right dating site 'WhiteDate' and not 'OKKKCupid'?

When my grandmother was in hospital for the final time, back in 1999, she once told mum she was confused as to why she was on a mixed ward. "Don't worry," mum said, "It's definitely a women's ward". "I don't mean that," Grandma said, nodding toward the next bed, in which an Asian woman was sleeping.

Fortunately, since my mother isn't a wretched piece of shit, she didn't start yelling about how we had to "think of everyone" by returning to the days of racial segregation. Amazing how easy that proved to be.

@abigailnussbaum.bsky.social

(I feel like I've done Grandma dirty here. She was a wonderful woman, who I never heard say a bad word about anyone. I hope she can be forgiven, in her last days, for not remembering how society had advanced in the seven decades she'd been alive.)

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Abigail Nussbaum

A lot of aspects of "left-wing" antisemitism are dispiriting and depressing, but "why would people fleeing pogroms and genocide not identify with the country perpetrating said pogroms and genocide? must be a global Jewish conspiracy" puts the lie to so many of the values these people purport to hold

Joel S.@joelhs.bsky.social

Netanyahu is a genocidal war criminal who belongs in the Hague, but Jews were not considered ethnic Poles based on the Polish government, and Polish Jewish last names were forced on families against their will. This kind of conspiratorial rhetoric about Jews faking their identity is gross.

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Alix Weasel

@alixwzl.bsky.social

It's hard to know what to do when the NHS' own leaked impact assessment shows they acknowledged that the new trans policy will mean trans people face discrimination and worse care, that cis people who don't align to gender norms will too, and decided it's cool. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

theguardian.comNew NHS England policy for trans people could have ‘a number of adverse impacts’, report findsExclusive: rules on same-sex wards could lead to delays in care, discrimination and animosity between groups, finds internal assessment

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Deadman97

@deadman97.bsky.social

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All of this. In particular, as others have pointed out: as soon as you remove the word "pornography", the ban immediately becomes obviously ludicrous, because "You should be jailed for enjoying a fictional representation of what would be illegal activity in reality" would be an insane thing to say.

The Anti-Christ Brosnahan@chrisbrosnahan.com

While very little of what the new UK porn bans talk about are things I'm into, I'm still uncomfortable with the idea. Consenting adults playing with fantasy with other consenting adults - that's not an area I think the law should be wandering into.

Weirdly, it feels very appropriate that this came out the same weekend the BBC announced we'll soon have to pay them to watch Youtube videos. They're very different things in most respects, obviously.

But the connective tissue is how it's not clear there's an actual problem at all, and yet a "solution" has been found. Also in both cases, that "solution" is to penalise the individual viewer, not because that's sensible or proportionate, but because any other approach would require too much effort.

The Anti-Christ Brosnahan@chrisbrosnahan.com

If the UK government wanted to drastically reduce the amount of sexual assault in this country, they have dozens of options available to them. They choose to take none of them, either because they're expensive, or unpopular with the worst people in the country, or both.

(I'm not arguing here, BTW, that I think we can end sexual assault through increasing the degree to which we prioritise consent. That would be to ignore the actual motivations behind much sexual assault. But this law does nothing to curb the desire to exert power over women, either.)

The Anti-Christ Brosnahan@chrisbrosnahan.com

Needless to say, this means banning specific acts in pornography which reasonably can be consented to is no more advancing women's rights than banning the hijab. You need to address the underlying problem, not make activities which can intersect with downstream expressions of that problem illegal.

But this is simply what our government does. What to some extent or other it's basically ALWAYS done. Refuse to do the actual work to actually make things better, and make it all about individual choices they can feel virtuous in punishing.

The Anti-Christ Brosnahan@chrisbrosnahan.com

And I'm focussing here on the incest element, rather than that of choking, because the latter is a thing that actually happens in pornography, rather than being a pretence. But in some ways this element is arguably *worse*, because - as Chris says - its disregarding the issue of consent.

Which is the whole ball game (if you'll forgive the pun), and always has been. I don't think there can be much argument that a lot of porn is misogynistic, and that that's a problem. But this is a symptom of the *actual* disease, which is a failure to treat women's autonomy seriously in society.

The Anti-Christ Brosnahan@chrisbrosnahan.com

And even this isn't quite capturing it - as @fireh9lly.bsky.social pointed out yesterday, the ban specifically notes "penetration" so no-one gets jail time for watching sexy twin sisters hug with their kit off. It's designed first & foremost to make it harder to legally consume hardcore pornography.