Richard
@ashcroftethics.bsky.social
Bookhoarder. Soi-disant intellectual of the outer suburbs.
Pinned
Richard
@ashcroftethics.bsky.social
· Apr 15
PSA: this is a personal account. None of my posts are official, few are academic, and you will learn little if anything of value here. I have LinkedIn for that. Here I - rather infrequently - witter on about music, books and people who annoy me on my commute. TYVM. Carry on.
Reposted by Richard
Today is World AIDS Day, remembering all those we have lost, thinking of all those living with HIV.
December 1, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Today is World AIDS Day, remembering all those we have lost, thinking of all those living with HIV.
Reposted by Richard
The first episode of Backlisted was published on 30th November 2015, ten years ago today. @backlisted.bsky.social
‘We can ask and ask but we can’t have again what once seemed ours forever.’ - J.L. Carr, A Month in the Country 🙏
www.backlisted.fm/episodes/1-j...
‘We can ask and ask but we can’t have again what once seemed ours forever.’ - J.L. Carr, A Month in the Country 🙏
www.backlisted.fm/episodes/1-j...
1. J. L. Carr - A Month in the Countr — Backlisted
In the first episode of a new podcast about books, John Mitchinson and Andy Miller are joined by novelist Lissa Evans and Unbound's Mathew Clayton to discuss J.L. Carr's A Month In The Country. If y...
www.backlisted.fm
November 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The first episode of Backlisted was published on 30th November 2015, ten years ago today. @backlisted.bsky.social
‘We can ask and ask but we can’t have again what once seemed ours forever.’ - J.L. Carr, A Month in the Country 🙏
www.backlisted.fm/episodes/1-j...
‘We can ask and ask but we can’t have again what once seemed ours forever.’ - J.L. Carr, A Month in the Country 🙏
www.backlisted.fm/episodes/1-j...
Reposted by Richard
Reminded today of this very nice compliment from Tom Stoppard (his favorite book of 2020)
November 30, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Reminded today of this very nice compliment from Tom Stoppard (his favorite book of 2020)
Reposted by Richard
The 'huh, SOMEONE didn't fund this properly?' or the 'wow, that trend has gone unchecked' or 'the public finances are in a mess, for some reason' stuff is annoying, but at least these are actual problems. Getting as much life out of the old Bakerloo trains however, was the right call!
November 30, 2025 at 11:14 AM
The 'huh, SOMEONE didn't fund this properly?' or the 'wow, that trend has gone unchecked' or 'the public finances are in a mess, for some reason' stuff is annoying, but at least these are actual problems. Getting as much life out of the old Bakerloo trains however, was the right call!
The correctest of correct opinions, be your day as correct as you like.
They should have given Flann O'Brien the Nobel.
November 29, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The correctest of correct opinions, be your day as correct as you like.
Party Fears Two. Members to be known as associate.
"Your Party asks members to pick between four names: Your Party, Our Party, Popular Alliance and For The Many"
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Jeremy Corbyn and Zara Sultana’s Your Party reveals shortlist for official name
Leftwing party asks members to pick between Your Party, Our Party, Popular Alliance and For The Many
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Party Fears Two. Members to be known as associate.
All those on the left criticising the BBC as an organ of propaganda, do please inform us which broadcaster you think is better? My only requirement of “better” is that it mean “less of an organ of propaganda“. Give examples, and show your working.
November 28, 2025 at 8:07 AM
All those on the left criticising the BBC as an organ of propaganda, do please inform us which broadcaster you think is better? My only requirement of “better” is that it mean “less of an organ of propaganda“. Give examples, and show your working.
Patisserie Valerie.
Luke Johnson, Chairman of Gail's Bakery, who was pro-Brexit, critical of lockdowns and is a climate skeptic criticises Labour's budget #BBCQT
"This is not how prosperous and happy societies become that way"
"This is not how prosperous and happy societies become that way"
November 27, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Patisserie Valerie.
Stars - Dubstar/Starless - The Unthanks/Under Stars - Brian Eno/Everybody is a Star - Sly and the Family Stone
November 27, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Stars - Dubstar/Starless - The Unthanks/Under Stars - Brian Eno/Everybody is a Star - Sly and the Family Stone
This is a _record_.
'A record that has a deep wistfulness that chimes just-so with all its rich humour and joy; a sense of elusiveness, of something forever slightly out of reach, of ecstasy so nearly grasped'
Many Happy Returns to #TheAvalanches' Since I Left You, which turns 25 today!
buff.ly/jyF7Iit
Many Happy Returns to #TheAvalanches' Since I Left You, which turns 25 today!
buff.ly/jyF7Iit
November 27, 2025 at 9:50 PM
This is a _record_.
Hawkwind
The Fall
Paolo Conte
Toumani Diabate
Herbie Hancock
The Fall
Paolo Conte
Toumani Diabate
Herbie Hancock
Andrés Calamaro (en el Liceu!)
Rory Gallagher
Thin Lizzy
The Brodsky Quartet
De Dannan
Rory Gallagher
Thin Lizzy
The Brodsky Quartet
De Dannan
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've seen
King Sunny Ade
SPK
Diamanda Galás
George Michael
Anthony Braxton
King Sunny Ade
SPK
Diamanda Galás
George Michael
Anthony Braxton
November 27, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Hawkwind
The Fall
Paolo Conte
Toumani Diabate
Herbie Hancock
The Fall
Paolo Conte
Toumani Diabate
Herbie Hancock
Reposted by Richard
I heard a story about a female academic giving a paper at the IHR who, after receiving a long and aggressive question from a senior male professor, simply leaned back with her hands behind her head and replied “Oh, do fuck off.”
One of my colleagues went to a seminar at Berkeley and when someone asked a question Derrida brushed it off saying ‘what you ask may be important but it is not interesting’.
This path leads to chaos.
November 27, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I heard a story about a female academic giving a paper at the IHR who, after receiving a long and aggressive question from a senior male professor, simply leaned back with her hands behind her head and replied “Oh, do fuck off.”
Reposted by Richard
Congratulations to Michael on his book and getting a fab review from David Kynaston, who was also good enough to reference @rafnicholson.bsky.social and I, in The TLS.
#cricket #race #class #gender #ICEC
www.the-tls.com/culture/spor...
#cricket #race #class #gender #ICEC
www.the-tls.com/culture/spor...
Fast and furious
“Nonsense”, was Lord Botham’s crisp response to the report in 2023 of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC). He seemed to take particular exception to the finding, backed up by consi...
www.the-tls.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Congratulations to Michael on his book and getting a fab review from David Kynaston, who was also good enough to reference @rafnicholson.bsky.social and I, in The TLS.
#cricket #race #class #gender #ICEC
www.the-tls.com/culture/spor...
#cricket #race #class #gender #ICEC
www.the-tls.com/culture/spor...
Reposted by Richard
Looking forward to a much briefed bumper hamper of politics? No, not the Budget, The British General Election of 2024! We had a wonderful all star launch event in London last night, with representatives of all five Britain-wide parties, and now I have a special launch gift for you...read on! 1/?
November 26, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Looking forward to a much briefed bumper hamper of politics? No, not the Budget, The British General Election of 2024! We had a wonderful all star launch event in London last night, with representatives of all five Britain-wide parties, and now I have a special launch gift for you...read on! 1/?
Reposted by Richard
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Every so often I remember Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and I remember that there are things of beauty in this world.
November 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Every so often I remember Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and I remember that there are things of beauty in this world.
Reposted by Richard
'John Tasioulas resigned from his position as director of the University of Oxford’s Institute for Ethics in AI in September. Five months earlier, the university had begun an investigation into allegations of harassment against him.'
Oxford has repeatedly been slow to act against male academics accused of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior, a Bloomberg investigation found. Read The Big Take: bloom.bg/4phDcuD
📷: Carlotta Cardana
📷: Carlotta Cardana
November 19, 2025 at 8:30 PM
'John Tasioulas resigned from his position as director of the University of Oxford’s Institute for Ethics in AI in September. Five months earlier, the university had begun an investigation into allegations of harassment against him.'
Reposted by Richard
#IntoTheGroove, my month-by-month guide to 1980s musical history, and a tale of pop and circumstance.
OUT NOW: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/into...
'Justin Lewis tells pop's never-ending story brilliantly.'
DAVID QUANTICK
'A treasure chest of pop riches... I loved this book!'
SAMIRA AHMED
OUT NOW: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/into...
'Justin Lewis tells pop's never-ending story brilliantly.'
DAVID QUANTICK
'A treasure chest of pop riches... I loved this book!'
SAMIRA AHMED
October 27, 2025 at 7:33 AM
#IntoTheGroove, my month-by-month guide to 1980s musical history, and a tale of pop and circumstance.
OUT NOW: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/into...
'Justin Lewis tells pop's never-ending story brilliantly.'
DAVID QUANTICK
'A treasure chest of pop riches... I loved this book!'
SAMIRA AHMED
OUT NOW: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/into...
'Justin Lewis tells pop's never-ending story brilliantly.'
DAVID QUANTICK
'A treasure chest of pop riches... I loved this book!'
SAMIRA AHMED
I’m reading a book which has a lot of science-y sounding stuff in it, but the author keeps referring to Sir Charles Darwin, so I can’t help wondering what else have they got wrong/made up to fit their prejudices?
November 23, 2025 at 8:20 AM
I’m reading a book which has a lot of science-y sounding stuff in it, but the author keeps referring to Sir Charles Darwin, so I can’t help wondering what else have they got wrong/made up to fit their prejudices?
Reposted by Richard
Stars by Hear'n'Aid - Twisted Sister-tastic Heavy Metal does Band Aid charity fundraising famine relief single with about twenty seven million guitar solos and the baffling presence of an entirely straight-faced Spinal Tap in the great big choir bits.
timworthington.org/2023/10/30/l...
timworthington.org/2023/10/30/l...
November 22, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Stars by Hear'n'Aid - Twisted Sister-tastic Heavy Metal does Band Aid charity fundraising famine relief single with about twenty seven million guitar solos and the baffling presence of an entirely straight-faced Spinal Tap in the great big choir bits.
timworthington.org/2023/10/30/l...
timworthington.org/2023/10/30/l...
Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake, (re)broadcast on BBC4 last night and still on iPlayer is an absolute joy. (A concert recording from 2010).
November 22, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake, (re)broadcast on BBC4 last night and still on iPlayer is an absolute joy. (A concert recording from 2010).
“The essence of the all is the Godhead of the true“
November 22, 2025 at 12:00 PM
“The essence of the all is the Godhead of the true“
I spend quite a lot of my spare time considering the Austro-Hungarian Empire. But not so much that it’s one of my qualities.
November 20, 2025 at 8:17 AM
I spend quite a lot of my spare time considering the Austro-Hungarian Empire. But not so much that it’s one of my qualities.
Reposted by Richard
Can we go back to the days when politicians said that they really wanted to help people but it’s very hard and takes time, rather than saying that they want to hurt people and can do it quickly?
November 16, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Can we go back to the days when politicians said that they really wanted to help people but it’s very hard and takes time, rather than saying that they want to hurt people and can do it quickly?
“We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much for so long with so littl, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.” (Francis Picabia)
November 17, 2025 at 8:08 AM
“We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much for so long with so littl, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.” (Francis Picabia)