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.
The sheer rotten corruption of it all, without a glint of hope of redemption.
February 5, 2026 at 9:17 PM
The sheer rotten corruption of it all, without a glint of hope of redemption.
Reposted by Richard
Reminder that "jaywalking" was literally made up by american car manufacturers to shift the blame for accidents from drivers to pedestrians. "Jay" was a slang term meaning "idiot" or "rube".
“Jaywalking is permitted in London. In 1966, the police tried to crack down on it, but gave up after three months.”
People walk and cycle on roads by right, people drive under licence.
Jaywalking is not a thing in English law and Waymo must not change that.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
People walk and cycle on roads by right, people drive under licence.
Jaywalking is not a thing in English law and Waymo must not change that.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Self-driving taxis are coming to London – should we be worried? | Jack Stilgoe
Waymo’s cars were first rolled out in San Francisco, but the English capital’s old roads, pelican crossings and jaywalkers may pose issues for AI, says science and technology professor Jack Stilgoe
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Reminder that "jaywalking" was literally made up by american car manufacturers to shift the blame for accidents from drivers to pedestrians. "Jay" was a slang term meaning "idiot" or "rube".
Reposted by Richard
Welcome to the 'Railway Work, Life & Death' project Bluesky account!
Check our expanding database of British & Irish railway worker accidents, covering 1855-1939 - all free!
Currently over 117,000 cases, with more to come.
railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
Check our expanding database of British & Irish railway worker accidents, covering 1855-1939 - all free!
Currently over 117,000 cases, with more to come.
railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
June 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Welcome to the 'Railway Work, Life & Death' project Bluesky account!
Check our expanding database of British & Irish railway worker accidents, covering 1855-1939 - all free!
Currently over 117,000 cases, with more to come.
railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
Check our expanding database of British & Irish railway worker accidents, covering 1855-1939 - all free!
Currently over 117,000 cases, with more to come.
railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
Reposted by Richard
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
Listening to Lucinda Williams’s album of Bob Dylan covers. Proper brilliant.
January 28, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Listening to Lucinda Williams’s album of Bob Dylan covers. Proper brilliant.
Reposted by Richard
Three errors here. First, in confusing some kind of SEND classification (20%) with EHCPs (5.5%).
Secondly in assuming it gives automatic right to DLA. Though there is a strong ECHP/DLA overlap.
Third in assuming that those moving to DLA to PIP never work (it's not an out of work benefit).
Secondly in assuming it gives automatic right to DLA. Though there is a strong ECHP/DLA overlap.
Third in assuming that those moving to DLA to PIP never work (it's not an out of work benefit).
"1 in 5 pupils are getting a SEND diagnosis..the vast majority then trip into the benefit system because they get child disability allowance allowance.'
This is completely false from Milburn. He's supposed to be reviewing this issue and he's just making things up. Inexcusable.
This is completely false from Milburn. He's supposed to be reviewing this issue and he's just making things up. Inexcusable.
January 24, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Three errors here. First, in confusing some kind of SEND classification (20%) with EHCPs (5.5%).
Secondly in assuming it gives automatic right to DLA. Though there is a strong ECHP/DLA overlap.
Third in assuming that those moving to DLA to PIP never work (it's not an out of work benefit).
Secondly in assuming it gives automatic right to DLA. Though there is a strong ECHP/DLA overlap.
Third in assuming that those moving to DLA to PIP never work (it's not an out of work benefit).
Reposted by Richard
This is so cool, the ancient earth was home to these strange towering silent tube beasts. Not animals, but not trees or fungi either. An utterly mysterious and alien life form, except it was here first.
Our paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below!
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
January 21, 2026 at 11:49 PM
This is so cool, the ancient earth was home to these strange towering silent tube beasts. Not animals, but not trees or fungi either. An utterly mysterious and alien life form, except it was here first.
I have had a bit of a day, and I’m tired, very tired, of such days. But I’m closing it by listening to the Ornette Coleman Trio, live at the “Golden Circle”. So that’s ok.
January 19, 2026 at 10:00 PM
I have had a bit of a day, and I’m tired, very tired, of such days. But I’m closing it by listening to the Ornette Coleman Trio, live at the “Golden Circle”. So that’s ok.
Reposted by Richard
A joke for the history buffs:
Germany’s satirical newspaper @der-postillon.com titles: “Vienna Academy of the Arts offers Trump admission as a student — They don’t want to get blamed again“
Germany’s satirical newspaper @der-postillon.com titles: “Vienna Academy of the Arts offers Trump admission as a student — They don’t want to get blamed again“
January 18, 2026 at 1:56 PM
A joke for the history buffs:
Germany’s satirical newspaper @der-postillon.com titles: “Vienna Academy of the Arts offers Trump admission as a student — They don’t want to get blamed again“
Germany’s satirical newspaper @der-postillon.com titles: “Vienna Academy of the Arts offers Trump admission as a student — They don’t want to get blamed again“
Reposted by Richard
The Ship of Theseus grady morphed into Trigger's Broom over time, but is it really the same paradox?
January 18, 2026 at 12:29 PM
The Ship of Theseus grady morphed into Trigger's Broom over time, but is it really the same paradox?
I’m that age where getting into Lieder is a serious option.
January 17, 2026 at 9:18 PM
I’m that age where getting into Lieder is a serious option.
Reposted by Richard
This photo was taken in 1911 using glass plate technology by Herbert Ponting who was part of Scott's Antarctic expedition,
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
January 17, 2026 at 7:12 AM
This photo was taken in 1911 using glass plate technology by Herbert Ponting who was part of Scott's Antarctic expedition,
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
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."
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.
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.