Ivan
@ivantheamateur.bsky.social
Film, DIY, gardening, travel. To be expanded.
@emilycarding.bsky.social you're on iPlayer at the moment. Scrolling through the films and I spot Ghost Stories there.
October 18, 2025 at 4:54 PM
@emilycarding.bsky.social you're on iPlayer at the moment. Scrolling through the films and I spot Ghost Stories there.
Reposted by Ivan
I cannot tell you how many parents I met across the last few events who said that comics started their kids reading. Just comics. It’s the one thing that worked. 🫡
I’m just humbly suggesting that, should the publishing industry want to tackle the crisis in reading for pleasure rates, and we have research suggesting that there’s no crisis in reading for pleasure rates amongst children who read comics, that there’s maybe a relatively simple solution right here.
September 30, 2025 at 7:58 AM
I cannot tell you how many parents I met across the last few events who said that comics started their kids reading. Just comics. It’s the one thing that worked. 🫡
Reposted by Ivan
we have gone from a world in which we were told not to cite wikipedia because it was unreliable to a world where wikipedia might be the only reliable source left on the internet and we all owe a lot to the pedantic nerds who got us there
for all people mock it wikipedia is genuinely one of the wonders of the modern world
September 21, 2025 at 8:52 PM
we have gone from a world in which we were told not to cite wikipedia because it was unreliable to a world where wikipedia might be the only reliable source left on the internet and we all owe a lot to the pedantic nerds who got us there
Reposted by Ivan
Raising money for a charity that goes towards bereavement counceling. My target is £250 for a charity hike this Sunday.
For everyday I get a donation I will reveal more rarely seen pre-Scott ALIEN storyboards from my archive (for fun and a good cause). 😁
For everyday I get a donation I will reveal more rarely seen pre-Scott ALIEN storyboards from my archive (for fun and a good cause). 😁
I am raising a small amount of money in memory of dearly departed friends/family and to help those going through bereavement and loss. ❤️
If I reach my goal of £250 by this Saturday I will post a bunch of those rare pre-prod’ ALIEN storyboards here. 🙂
www.justgiving.com/page/jason-w...
If I reach my goal of £250 by this Saturday I will post a bunch of those rare pre-prod’ ALIEN storyboards here. 🙂
www.justgiving.com/page/jason-w...
Chilterns 3 Peaks Challenge 202 - Sunday 14 September
Help Jason Wilson raise money to support Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care
www.justgiving.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Raising money for a charity that goes towards bereavement counceling. My target is £250 for a charity hike this Sunday.
For everyday I get a donation I will reveal more rarely seen pre-Scott ALIEN storyboards from my archive (for fun and a good cause). 😁
For everyday I get a donation I will reveal more rarely seen pre-Scott ALIEN storyboards from my archive (for fun and a good cause). 😁
Reposted by Ivan
A more perfect metaphor for the far right doesn’t exist. We all know that sliced white bread is still widely available and sells as well as ever, probably the majority of bread sales.
What Alex finds objectionable is the existence of anything else, even in a minority.
What Alex finds objectionable is the existence of anything else, even in a minority.
August 31, 2025 at 9:33 AM
A more perfect metaphor for the far right doesn’t exist. We all know that sliced white bread is still widely available and sells as well as ever, probably the majority of bread sales.
What Alex finds objectionable is the existence of anything else, even in a minority.
What Alex finds objectionable is the existence of anything else, even in a minority.
Reposted by Ivan
I want to explain a few things and then it might be clearer why UK trans people are upset.
In 2001 I married my wife, Sylvia.
In 2005 I started medical transition. (1/13)
In 2001 I married my wife, Sylvia.
In 2005 I started medical transition. (1/13)
August 29, 2025 at 11:56 AM
I want to explain a few things and then it might be clearer why UK trans people are upset.
In 2001 I married my wife, Sylvia.
In 2005 I started medical transition. (1/13)
In 2001 I married my wife, Sylvia.
In 2005 I started medical transition. (1/13)
Reposted by Ivan
Ethicists say Seinfeld characters might be sentient and capable of feeling pain. When Elaine is told “no soup for you” she looks genuinely distressed about being banned from the soup shop for one year
August 26, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Ethicists say Seinfeld characters might be sentient and capable of feeling pain. When Elaine is told “no soup for you” she looks genuinely distressed about being banned from the soup shop for one year
Reposted by Ivan
It's all about how you prune. You can make this place a gorse bush or a bonsai. Its just a matter of how tight you stay on your blockables.
I'm not liking the energy on here lately..
August 25, 2025 at 3:08 PM
It's all about how you prune. You can make this place a gorse bush or a bonsai. Its just a matter of how tight you stay on your blockables.
@gregjenner.bsky.social Platonic is so good! Thanks for the appletv recommendations on here months ago, I've ended up working my way through it.
August 23, 2025 at 1:20 PM
@gregjenner.bsky.social Platonic is so good! Thanks for the appletv recommendations on here months ago, I've ended up working my way through it.
Reposted by Ivan
Unfortunately, Bluesky is unavailable in Mississippi right now, due to a new state law that requires age verification for all users.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
August 22, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Unfortunately, Bluesky is unavailable in Mississippi right now, due to a new state law that requires age verification for all users.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
Reposted by Ivan
i’ve spent a few days in london being a tourist recently, and keep thinking about jim’s reporting on asif aziz and i think the galling thing is that he’s profiting off a london that he’s never contributed to. aziz hasn’t opened a club or put on a show - he just bought some buildings.
Asif Aziz almost forced out London’s Prince Charles Cinema earlier this year. Is he trying the same again with Picturehouse Central - and is another major central London cinema under threat from the same landlord? www.londoncentric.media/p/picturehou...
Asif Aziz almost forced out one West End cinema. Is he doing it again?
To undermine one central London cinema may be regarded as a misfortune; to do it twice two looks like carelessness.
www.londoncentric.media
August 21, 2025 at 10:53 AM
i’ve spent a few days in london being a tourist recently, and keep thinking about jim’s reporting on asif aziz and i think the galling thing is that he’s profiting off a london that he’s never contributed to. aziz hasn’t opened a club or put on a show - he just bought some buildings.
Reposted by Ivan
Asif Aziz almost forced out London’s Prince Charles Cinema earlier this year. Is he trying the same again with Picturehouse Central - and is another major central London cinema under threat from the same landlord? www.londoncentric.media/p/picturehou...
Asif Aziz almost forced out one West End cinema. Is he doing it again?
To undermine one central London cinema may be regarded as a misfortune; to do it twice two looks like carelessness.
www.londoncentric.media
August 15, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Asif Aziz almost forced out London’s Prince Charles Cinema earlier this year. Is he trying the same again with Picturehouse Central - and is another major central London cinema under threat from the same landlord? www.londoncentric.media/p/picturehou...
Reposted by Ivan
Check out the excellent summary of the handbook which here: blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/...
And the handbook here: www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/2094097/news...
And the handbook here: www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/2094097/news...
The academic practice of resistance: Learning solutions in the age of autocracy
This blog summarises The Anti-Autocracy Handbook: A Scholars’ Guide to Navigating Democratic Backsliding. This handbook provides practical strategies for academics facing politically hostile environme...
blogs.egu.eu
August 21, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Check out the excellent summary of the handbook which here: blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/...
And the handbook here: www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/2094097/news...
And the handbook here: www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/2094097/news...
Reposted by Ivan
The thing is, just logistically, it should be easier to use the law to throttle algorithmic content recommendations than it is to roll out a requirement for age verification to 10s of millions of people. But presumably the Meta policy people didn't like that idea.
UK government asks everybody to stop using VPNs.
"everybody who's out there thinking of using VPNs...verifying your age keeps a child safe...So let's just not try and find a way around. Just prove your age."
- UK government
"everybody who's out there thinking of using VPNs...verifying your age keeps a child safe...So let's just not try and find a way around. Just prove your age."
- UK government
August 21, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The thing is, just logistically, it should be easier to use the law to throttle algorithmic content recommendations than it is to roll out a requirement for age verification to 10s of millions of people. But presumably the Meta policy people didn't like that idea.
Reposted by Ivan
Right on time for the American playbook in the UK, here comes the "Christian" right coming for gay rights and Pride www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Christian campaigners in legal bid to ban civil servants from Pride
The Christian Institute claims civil service endorsement of Pride breaches rules on impartiality
www.independent.co.uk
August 20, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Right on time for the American playbook in the UK, here comes the "Christian" right coming for gay rights and Pride www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
I have a member ticket for 1800 tomorrow Life of Chuck followed by Q+A at Picturehouse Central. I'm unlikely to be able to make it due to (minor) injury but won't know for certain until tomorrow morning.
If I can't make it, would another member like my ticket gratis?
If I can't make it, would another member like my ticket gratis?
August 18, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I have a member ticket for 1800 tomorrow Life of Chuck followed by Q+A at Picturehouse Central. I'm unlikely to be able to make it due to (minor) injury but won't know for certain until tomorrow morning.
If I can't make it, would another member like my ticket gratis?
If I can't make it, would another member like my ticket gratis?
Reposted by Ivan
Ooof. Heartbreaking read.
London & the West End isn’t riddled with crime as Right Wing / MAGAAA nutters would have you believe.
The actual crime is ruthless, greedy landlords tearing it’s heart out.
Prince Charles & Picturehouse Central are an enormous contributor to what makes it an amazing city.
London & the West End isn’t riddled with crime as Right Wing / MAGAAA nutters would have you believe.
The actual crime is ruthless, greedy landlords tearing it’s heart out.
Prince Charles & Picturehouse Central are an enormous contributor to what makes it an amazing city.
The deliberate destruction of Picturehouse Central - London’s best cinema and social space - by its rapacious landlords (the same guys threatening the Prince Charles) is an ongoing disgrace. So upsetting to witness. This place used to be thronged with people working and chatting and socialising.
August 9, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Ooof. Heartbreaking read.
London & the West End isn’t riddled with crime as Right Wing / MAGAAA nutters would have you believe.
The actual crime is ruthless, greedy landlords tearing it’s heart out.
Prince Charles & Picturehouse Central are an enormous contributor to what makes it an amazing city.
London & the West End isn’t riddled with crime as Right Wing / MAGAAA nutters would have you believe.
The actual crime is ruthless, greedy landlords tearing it’s heart out.
Prince Charles & Picturehouse Central are an enormous contributor to what makes it an amazing city.
Reposted by Ivan
Irrespective of how John feels, his words are simply not compatible with an inclusive prize that celebrates all LGBTQ+ people. Just like a racist statement would not be allowed in a prize for writers of colour, or a sexist statement tolerated for a prize for feminist writers. /11
August 15, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Irrespective of how John feels, his words are simply not compatible with an inclusive prize that celebrates all LGBTQ+ people. Just like a racist statement would not be allowed in a prize for writers of colour, or a sexist statement tolerated for a prize for feminist writers. /11
Reposted by Ivan
I am one of the 14 authors who chose to leave the Polari Prize, and I find myself frustrated and saddened at the way this entire story has been represented. 1/
John Boyne says LGBTQ+ fiction prize backlash brought him ‘close to the edge’
John Boyne says LGBTQ+ fiction prize backlash brought him ‘close to the edge’
Gender critical novelist urges writers to reenter prize they boycotted and may ask judges not to shortlist his novella
The gender critical Irish novelist John Boyne has said he has been brought “very close to the edge” by the backlash to his inclusion on the longlist for a literary prize for LGBTQ+ authors.
Ten authors and two judges withdrew from the Polari prize and more than 800 writers and publishing industry workers signed a petition calling on Polari to remove Boyne’s novella Earth from its longlist. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
August 15, 2025 at 9:58 AM
I am one of the 14 authors who chose to leave the Polari Prize, and I find myself frustrated and saddened at the way this entire story has been represented. 1/
Reposted by Ivan
I really dislike how science has started calling almost any fancy computational technique AI. 🧪
The framing of this entire article makes it sound like a benevolent AI independently made these drugs.
That is *pure fantasy*.
Instead: a team of scientists made a machine learning model for a study.
The framing of this entire article makes it sound like a benevolent AI independently made these drugs.
That is *pure fantasy*.
Instead: a team of scientists made a machine learning model for a study.
August 15, 2025 at 6:14 AM
I really dislike how science has started calling almost any fancy computational technique AI. 🧪
The framing of this entire article makes it sound like a benevolent AI independently made these drugs.
That is *pure fantasy*.
Instead: a team of scientists made a machine learning model for a study.
The framing of this entire article makes it sound like a benevolent AI independently made these drugs.
That is *pure fantasy*.
Instead: a team of scientists made a machine learning model for a study.
Reposted by Ivan
That executive order about "an individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female" can suck it. 🧪🧬
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
‘Sex reversal’ is surprisingly common in birds, new study suggests
Survey of five Australian avians finds numerous discordant individuals, including a genetically male bird that had laid an egg
www.science.org
August 13, 2025 at 7:55 PM
That executive order about "an individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female" can suck it. 🧪🧬
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Ivan
For the last seven months, Chris and I have worked on creating a limited series to tackle the topic of dark skies and light pollution, and why you should care about it.
We couldn’t be prouder. The first episode is now out on all your favourite podcast apps
www.theastroholic.co.uk/blog/fading-...
We couldn’t be prouder. The first episode is now out on all your favourite podcast apps
www.theastroholic.co.uk/blog/fading-...
August 1, 2025 at 12:03 PM
For the last seven months, Chris and I have worked on creating a limited series to tackle the topic of dark skies and light pollution, and why you should care about it.
We couldn’t be prouder. The first episode is now out on all your favourite podcast apps
www.theastroholic.co.uk/blog/fading-...
We couldn’t be prouder. The first episode is now out on all your favourite podcast apps
www.theastroholic.co.uk/blog/fading-...
Reposted by Ivan
That this is happening is not in the least surprising (we all predicted it), but what’s most disgusting is GC/TERF women denying the direct lived experiences of other women as “scaremongering”. Truly, transphobia breaks your brain.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
‘I’ve been spat on’: gender non-conforming women tell of toilet abuse after UK’s supreme court ruling
Support groups report that women and non-binary people are increasingly being challenged in toilets and changing facilities – but others call it scaremongering
www.theguardian.com
August 12, 2025 at 4:54 PM
That this is happening is not in the least surprising (we all predicted it), but what’s most disgusting is GC/TERF women denying the direct lived experiences of other women as “scaremongering”. Truly, transphobia breaks your brain.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Wait, I don't have access to my DMs? UK Age Verification is required for DMs????
August 6, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Wait, I don't have access to my DMs? UK Age Verification is required for DMs????
Reposted by Ivan
I'm running the Athens Marathon to raise money for @switchboard.bsky.social 😁🏃♂️🎽🏅🇬🇷
Chuck us a few quid?
www.justgiving.com/page/keep-ru...
Chuck us a few quid?
www.justgiving.com/page/keep-ru...
Mark's fundraiser for Switchboard
Help Mark Small raise money to support Switchboard
www.justgiving.com
August 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I'm running the Athens Marathon to raise money for @switchboard.bsky.social 😁🏃♂️🎽🏅🇬🇷
Chuck us a few quid?
www.justgiving.com/page/keep-ru...
Chuck us a few quid?
www.justgiving.com/page/keep-ru...