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
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)
Top 5 movie genres:
- Russian man stares into distance. It is raining.
- Claudia Cardinale stares into distance. It is hot.
- Japanese swordsman runs up and down. It is raining.
- Clint Eastwood stares into distance. It is hot.
- Robot stares into distance. It is hot and raining.
- Russian man stares into distance. It is raining.
- Claudia Cardinale stares into distance. It is hot.
- Japanese swordsman runs up and down. It is raining.
- Clint Eastwood stares into distance. It is hot.
- Robot stares into distance. It is hot and raining.
Top 5 movie genres:
- It’s a musical but everyone’s sad.
- “Damn this infernal heat!”
- It’s a Christmas movie but everyone’s sad.
- Wise-cracking gangster but he’s doomed
- It’s a western but everyone’s sad.
- It’s a musical but everyone’s sad.
- “Damn this infernal heat!”
- It’s a Christmas movie but everyone’s sad.
- Wise-cracking gangster but he’s doomed
- It’s a western but everyone’s sad.
Top 5 movie genres:
- Does this robot / monster have a soul? (Yes it does)
- Sassy New York newspaper gal does not need love but finds it anyway
- I travelled in time or space. It was a mistake.
- You’re supposed to be the victim of my crime but I love you
- Being a detective is miserable but hot
- Does this robot / monster have a soul? (Yes it does)
- Sassy New York newspaper gal does not need love but finds it anyway
- I travelled in time or space. It was a mistake.
- You’re supposed to be the victim of my crime but I love you
- Being a detective is miserable but hot
November 16, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Top 5 movie genres:
- Russian man stares into distance. It is raining.
- Claudia Cardinale stares into distance. It is hot.
- Japanese swordsman runs up and down. It is raining.
- Clint Eastwood stares into distance. It is hot.
- Robot stares into distance. It is hot and raining.
- Russian man stares into distance. It is raining.
- Claudia Cardinale stares into distance. It is hot.
- Japanese swordsman runs up and down. It is raining.
- Clint Eastwood stares into distance. It is hot.
- Robot stares into distance. It is hot and raining.
I am enjoying this tremendously joyful and optimistic book. @astrokatie.com
November 16, 2025 at 10:09 AM
I am enjoying this tremendously joyful and optimistic book. @astrokatie.com
Mark Kozelek’s covers of AC/DC songs are quite something.
November 15, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Mark Kozelek’s covers of AC/DC songs are quite something.
Reposted by Richard
Some contemplative reading from me for a Saturday morning about the ineffable mystery of silence and how Philip Gröning found a way to express it in film.
Into Great Silence
Exploring the meaning of Philip Gröning's extraordinary film, twenty years on
open.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Some contemplative reading from me for a Saturday morning about the ineffable mystery of silence and how Philip Gröning found a way to express it in film.
Reposted by Richard
We are very sad to learn of the death of our friend Rachel Cooke. In addition to being a wonderful writer and a superb critic, she loved books to her core. She kept us on our toes and it was a joy and a privilege to spend time with her, on and off the show. RIP. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Remembering Rachel Cooke | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 10:35 PM
We are very sad to learn of the death of our friend Rachel Cooke. In addition to being a wonderful writer and a superb critic, she loved books to her core. She kept us on our toes and it was a joy and a privilege to spend time with her, on and off the show. RIP. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Working on my house track We Call It Alkaliiiieeeee
November 14, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Working on my house track We Call It Alkaliiiieeeee
The expanded Nebraska is really good. Unlike most such expansions, it enhances the original by looking at it from different angles, rather than just weighing it down with lots of offcuts you quickly see why they were cut off.
November 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM
The expanded Nebraska is really good. Unlike most such expansions, it enhances the original by looking at it from different angles, rather than just weighing it down with lots of offcuts you quickly see why they were cut off.
Reposted by Richard
Reposted by Richard
Bloody hell the line-up for issue 2 of The Little Review is quite something.
www.thelittlereview.co.uk/shop/p/pre-o...
www.thelittlereview.co.uk/shop/p/pre-o...
November 12, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Bloody hell the line-up for issue 2 of The Little Review is quite something.
www.thelittlereview.co.uk/shop/p/pre-o...
www.thelittlereview.co.uk/shop/p/pre-o...
We went to see The Unthanks. Just fantastic. Go if you can.
November 12, 2025 at 10:58 PM
We went to see The Unthanks. Just fantastic. Go if you can.
Reposted by Richard
For you, if you are missing the sound of the sea
Episode 188 - Rock seat on Rye Harbour beach (27 mins)
A sunny October day. Nowhere to go. Just time to sit and listen to the incoming tide.
> bit.ly/LenRyeH
#WednesdayWaves
Episode 188 - Rock seat on Rye Harbour beach (27 mins)
A sunny October day. Nowhere to go. Just time to sit and listen to the incoming tide.
> bit.ly/LenRyeH
#WednesdayWaves
November 12, 2025 at 8:28 AM
For you, if you are missing the sound of the sea
Episode 188 - Rock seat on Rye Harbour beach (27 mins)
A sunny October day. Nowhere to go. Just time to sit and listen to the incoming tide.
> bit.ly/LenRyeH
#WednesdayWaves
Episode 188 - Rock seat on Rye Harbour beach (27 mins)
A sunny October day. Nowhere to go. Just time to sit and listen to the incoming tide.
> bit.ly/LenRyeH
#WednesdayWaves
Reposted by Richard
This tweet alone make JCO as a top contender for the Nobel prize in literature 🔥
November 10, 2025 at 7:53 PM
This tweet alone make JCO as a top contender for the Nobel prize in literature 🔥
Reposted by Richard
There‘s only one person who can be Director General of the BBC
a man in a suit and tie with ahhaaa written on the screen
ALT: a man in a suit and tie with ahhaaa written on the screen
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:30 PM
There‘s only one person who can be Director General of the BBC