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.
Sinatra at the Sands. If You Want Blood, You’ve Got It. Hard Rain. Agharta/Pangaea. Orbital at Glastonbury. The Song Remains the Same. I could go on...
January 16, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Sinatra at the Sands. If You Want Blood, You’ve Got It. Hard Rain. Agharta/Pangaea. Orbital at Glastonbury. The Song Remains the Same. I could go on...
So weird a list. Where is Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nocturne? Or Jeff Mills, Live at the Liquid Rooms? (As for the total absence of jazz, that must be deliberate).
January 15, 2026 at 10:19 PM
So weird a list. Where is Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nocturne? Or Jeff Mills, Live at the Liquid Rooms? (As for the total absence of jazz, that must be deliberate).
Reposted by Richard
*in the voice of Jake Thackray introducing one of his songs* "This is a very good episode of Backlisted all about Jake Thackray, and if you like things that are very good, perhaps you will enjoy it. See what you think." @backlisted.bsky.social www.backlisted.fm/episodes/255...
255. Jake Thackray - The Unsung Writer by Paul Thompson — Backlisted
Biographer and singer-songwriter Paul Thompson joins us for a new episode of Backlisted devoted to the life and work of Jake Thackray, the so-called 'Yorkshire chansonnier' who died in 2002. Thackray ...
www.backlisted.fm
January 13, 2026 at 7:08 AM
*in the voice of Jake Thackray introducing one of his songs* "This is a very good episode of Backlisted all about Jake Thackray, and if you like things that are very good, perhaps you will enjoy it. See what you think." @backlisted.bsky.social www.backlisted.fm/episodes/255...
If a large part of Reform’s pitch to the electorate is to be the part if disruptive change, breaking with the liberal elite, and “none of the above” when facing the traditional parties, how is hoovering up failed Tory politicians helping that?
January 15, 2026 at 5:18 PM
If a large part of Reform’s pitch to the electorate is to be the part if disruptive change, breaking with the liberal elite, and “none of the above” when facing the traditional parties, how is hoovering up failed Tory politicians helping that?
Reposted by Richard
Anyone posting on X now that it is documented as being a site for serious image based abuse, including CSAM risks being seen as complicit in that abuse. Everyone should be off the platform as a matter of urgency
NEW: Commons women & equalities committee says it will stop using X. Chair Sarah Owen says given preventing violence against women and girls is among its key areas, “X is not an appropriate platform to be using for our communications”. Ministers next?
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Commons women and equalities committee to stop using X amid AI-altered images row
Exclusive: Move follows outcry over use of Grok to digitally remove clothing from images of women and children
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Anyone posting on X now that it is documented as being a site for serious image based abuse, including CSAM risks being seen as complicit in that abuse. Everyone should be off the platform as a matter of urgency
Reposted by Richard
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
Reposted by Richard
Africana philosophy. The latest Philosophy Bites. Only 7.5 minutes if you play at double speed!
My podcast co-author Chike Jeffers (@chikej.bsky.social) is on the latest Philosophy Bites podcast, talking with @davidedmonds100.bsky.social about the subject it took HopWag 140+ episodes to cover. This time it takes just 15 minutes!
philosophybites.com/podcast/chik...
#philosophy #philsky
philosophybites.com/podcast/chik...
#philosophy #philsky
Chike Jeffers on Africana Philosophy - Philosophy Bites
David Edmonds talks to Chike Jeffers of Dalhousie Universtity about Afrikana Philosophy. This episode was supported by the Ideas Workshop, part of the Open Society Foundations.
philosophybites.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:04 AM
Africana philosophy. The latest Philosophy Bites. Only 7.5 minutes if you play at double speed!
Reposted by Richard
'... writing about philosophy is an art, not a science ...'
Insightful set of essays for those writing on philosophy, and perhaps more broadly in the humanities. So far, there has been one post per day, starting on 1 Jan 2026. Your reading begins here:
www.historyofphilosophy.net/rules-writin...
Insightful set of essays for those writing on philosophy, and perhaps more broadly in the humanities. So far, there has been one post per day, starting on 1 Jan 2026. Your reading begins here:
www.historyofphilosophy.net/rules-writin...
January 7, 2026 at 3:27 PM
'... writing about philosophy is an art, not a science ...'
Insightful set of essays for those writing on philosophy, and perhaps more broadly in the humanities. So far, there has been one post per day, starting on 1 Jan 2026. Your reading begins here:
www.historyofphilosophy.net/rules-writin...
Insightful set of essays for those writing on philosophy, and perhaps more broadly in the humanities. So far, there has been one post per day, starting on 1 Jan 2026. Your reading begins here:
www.historyofphilosophy.net/rules-writin...
Reposted by Richard
'Alice Underground' by Gail Brodholt
gailbrodholt.com
gailbrodholt.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:29 AM
'Alice Underground' by Gail Brodholt
gailbrodholt.com
gailbrodholt.com
Reposted by Richard
Interview with Swedish philosophy professor Martin Peterson who can't teach Plato at Texas A&M:
"I have chosen texts by Plato with some care, which I know discuss, e.g. homosexuality.
But it's Plato. It is of course completely absurd that a philosophy institution would not let anyone teach Plato."
"I have chosen texts by Plato with some care, which I know discuss, e.g. homosexuality.
But it's Plato. It is of course completely absurd that a philosophy institution would not let anyone teach Plato."
Plugga filosofi men skippa Platon pga könsideologi. www.flamman.se/platoncensur...
Platoncensur på filosofikurs i Texas: ”Absurt”
Filosofiinstutition tillåts inte att undervisa om Platon
www.flamman.se
January 7, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Interview with Swedish philosophy professor Martin Peterson who can't teach Plato at Texas A&M:
"I have chosen texts by Plato with some care, which I know discuss, e.g. homosexuality.
But it's Plato. It is of course completely absurd that a philosophy institution would not let anyone teach Plato."
"I have chosen texts by Plato with some care, which I know discuss, e.g. homosexuality.
But it's Plato. It is of course completely absurd that a philosophy institution would not let anyone teach Plato."
Thank you for your leadership, Andy.
January 4, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Thank you for your leadership, Andy.
Reposted by Richard
For more on the racial/class dynamics that imprison cricket, the most beautiful game but one riddled with prejudices & stereotypes helpful to those who guard its ‘history’ & image (& hoard its benefits) @drcricket.bsky.social’s book Different Class, which I started this morning, is a treasure trove
January 2, 2026 at 12:18 PM
For more on the racial/class dynamics that imprison cricket, the most beautiful game but one riddled with prejudices & stereotypes helpful to those who guard its ‘history’ & image (& hoard its benefits) @drcricket.bsky.social’s book Different Class, which I started this morning, is a treasure trove
Reposted by Richard
The only way AI could be seen as “replacing” art/literature/etc. is if you think art’s value lies in a *product* considered intrinsically rather than in things like the process of creation, the context and experience of making it, the people and relationships involved.
I might write about this.
I might write about this.
December 28, 2025 at 8:16 PM
The only way AI could be seen as “replacing” art/literature/etc. is if you think art’s value lies in a *product* considered intrinsically rather than in things like the process of creation, the context and experience of making it, the people and relationships involved.
I might write about this.
I might write about this.
I was overlooked in the honours list _again_ but into every life a little rain must fall etc.
January 2, 2026 at 9:46 AM
I was overlooked in the honours list _again_ but into every life a little rain must fall etc.
As it’s now 2nd January and we’ve resumed misery and gloom as Standard Operating Procedure, can I take this opportunity to say I had a really good Christmas book haul. The MSM omitted to tell you.
January 2, 2026 at 9:45 AM
As it’s now 2nd January and we’ve resumed misery and gloom as Standard Operating Procedure, can I take this opportunity to say I had a really good Christmas book haul. The MSM omitted to tell you.
Reposted by Richard
It's our fourth anniversary at Comment is Freed today and we have a special offer to celebrate.
25% off for your first year.
We don't do these often so if you've been thinking of signing up now is the time
samf.substack.com/p/fourth-ann...
25% off for your first year.
We don't do these often so if you've been thinking of signing up now is the time
samf.substack.com/p/fourth-ann...
Fourth Anniversary Offer: get 25% off for your first year
Plus what we'll be writing about in 2026
samf.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:51 AM
It's our fourth anniversary at Comment is Freed today and we have a special offer to celebrate.
25% off for your first year.
We don't do these often so if you've been thinking of signing up now is the time
samf.substack.com/p/fourth-ann...
25% off for your first year.
We don't do these often so if you've been thinking of signing up now is the time
samf.substack.com/p/fourth-ann...
Reposted by Richard
In Agadoo did Kubla Khan
Push pineapples, shake the tree
Push pineapples, shake the tree
January 1, 2026 at 5:37 PM
In Agadoo did Kubla Khan
Push pineapples, shake the tree
Push pineapples, shake the tree
thank you! And likewise.
January 1, 2026 at 1:46 PM
thank you! And likewise.
Happy New Year to all who celebrate.
January 1, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Happy New Year to all who celebrate.
Yes, it really is.
December 31, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Yes, it really is.
Peter Gabriel, Big Time
MTV is officially ending all of its music channels.
In honor of that, what's your favorite music video?
In honor of that, what's your favorite music video?
December 31, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Peter Gabriel, Big Time
There was an interesting documentary about him on Radio 3 on Sunday evening.
December 31, 2025 at 8:58 AM
There was an interesting documentary about him on Radio 3 on Sunday evening.
It’s time! Merry Christmas everyone.
December 25, 2025 at 8:43 AM
It’s time! Merry Christmas everyone.