@sadiahqureshi
Historian of extinction and empire. Vanished shortlisted for Royal Society Trivedi Prize, and a 2025 best book for FT, Guardian, BBC History Extra, Smithsonian Mag and more. Views own/No DMs https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/309254/vanished-by-qureshi-sadi
Briefly here to post some job opportunities.
2 Postdocs in Animals Studies. FT, £38k, closing 12 Mar 26.
jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/4-x-Rese...
PhD. Clara Dawson lead supervisor with, Duncan Wilson and me on species loss. Deadline, 18 Mar 26. www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Pls circulate.
Ramadan is almost here. Time for a break from distractions. Have a good weekend, and month.
Absolutely. I mentioned this to Benjamin when I saw this post!
It’s finally done. Absolutely thrilled to have submitted THE SHAH'S GREAT TOUR – my global microhistory of the epic royal journeys of Persia's monarchs to Imperial Europe – for production. May it reshape our understanding of monarchy and the world order in the imperial age.
Congratulations!
As always, profoundly grateful for the words of Sara Ahmed, especially on complaint. If you’ve never read her words, this is the perfect place to start. Or watch an online talk, or attend an event. Sara’s talks, and words, are a gift. 💙
www.penguin.co.uk/books/470363...
A thread worth reading, but this really stands for me. It’s incredible how threatened people feel when someone names the problem. I’ve seen people who others thought were quite genial turn into the most appalling bullies over the mere mention of the word because they preferred their ignorance. 🤮
The wealthy man’s version of ‘where are you from?’ As in ‘why are you where I don’t expect you to be and therefore am confused and threatened by your existence: how dare *you* do this to *me*?!
This is shocking. Cost of living crisis laid bare as almost half of Britons ‘have under £25 left at end of week’
Majority of UK adults forced to make difficult choices, with almost two-thirds found to be cutting back on essentials like food and heating
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
A vibrant Kingfisher in flight, captured in a streamlined position as it darts through the air. The bird's striking electric blue back and wings contrast with its bright orange underbelly. Its long, pointed beak is sharp and focused, as if it's hunting for prey. The background is a soft blur of green and brown hues, highlighting the kingfisher’s swift movement against the natural environment.
Zooming into #FlyDay!
📷 Martin Abbess
So yes, there is this point of view. You could very easily be cynical, jaded, lost in realpolitik at the revelation that Ratcliffe feels it useful to pretend Britain is in economic difficulty because of an invading army of foreigners. And that Nigel Farage, arch deregulator, seems, in his disinterested view, an entirely reasonable voice on this topic. Let us be clear about what is happening here. There is very little chance Ratcliffe feels any of this deeply. But he does know that a slash-and-burn Reform government would be good for business. With his Ineos hat on Ratcliffe has spoken publicly about the problems of doing business in the current version of a non-EU UK. He wants a harder out. Immigration is just a wedge issue in this dynamic, a way of pressing those buttons. If Ratcliffe actually gives a personal toss about this, is actually losing any sleep about its effects on "everyday people", I will gladly eat my own arm. This is pre-electioneering on behalf of the super-wealthy. A powerful person with skin in the game is trying to influence people into voting a certain way.
This is the best explainer I’ve seen on Ratcliffe’s motives for his racist outburst. We shouldn’t enter into any ‘debate’ on immigration on these terms. It’s a deeply dishonest and dangerous call to arms by cynical people who prioritise profit over everything else
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
I’ve never seen @victorpatrascan.bsky.social’s comedy before, but this clip of him doing crowd work with two Canadian racists is incredible. “What’s your genocidal [settler] background?”
Especially important in light of today's EPA news.
On how the privatization of climate data is creating a world where the best understanding of risk lives inside corporations, while the institutions of democracy increasingly struggle to insist upon full data and understanding. Essential reading.
From home. Never been asked to do otherwise. But, something worth checking before you accept an invite in case they’re making assumptions about your travel needs.
“I’ve reviewed over 50 sticky toffee puddings” is an incredibly powerful way to begin a video
The cautionary precedent is a story about George Bernard Shaw who, browsing in a second-hand shop somewhere, found one of his own works, inscribed for a friend "with esteem, GBS". Naturally, he bought it and returned it to the same friend, "with renewed esteem"
Because of this story I can never give signed books to charity and if I buy one which turns out to have an inscription I feel bad for the signatory
Oh great. The World at One has begun its coverage of Jim Ratcliffe's remarks with two "vox pops" - one for, and one against. Just such an awful, cop-out model of reporting.
Prof Abdul Alkalimat will be giving the first ever Lou Kushnick memorial lecture for the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust. The event is free, on 12 March, at 4 in Manchester. Booking is essential. If you’d like to come, use the link below to register.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/knowing-ye...
Drug use apparently so rampant in parliament that sniffer dogs might be bought in. Those poor dogs.
londondaily.com/why-speaker-...
More reports of Gmail turning over email content to ICE are coming out now.
techcrunch.com/2026/02/10/g...
I urge you to fill in this consultation if you can - with this very helpful support from Amnesty International - although AND because ! it is heart-breaking that this country has sunk so low that Amnesty suggest in a number of cases to provide no answer as the terms of the question are so evil
Prof Abdul Alkalimat will be giving the first ever Lou Kushnick memorial lecture for the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust. The event is free, on 12 March, at 4 in Manchester. Booking is essential. If you’d like to come, use the link below to register.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/knowing-ye...
Spend some time with life’s astonishing elders. Among the wonders of this world, they are one of the most profound and joyous gifts.
Hurrah!
12 Feb is the deadline for responses. If you’d like any guidance on completing this appallingly constructed consultation see here manchestercommunitycentral.org/sites/defaul...
I'd add to @benansell.bsky.social's political analysis here the simple point that a reset here would be *good* for growth and save money.
The settlement proposals are not just morally repulsive and politically self-defeating, but also an act of economic self-harm.
A long week ahead, but I do get to talk about how amazing some of my teachers were for an event. It’s wonderful not to be talking about horrendous racists, historic or otherwise.
*sighs deeply* She can't teach an AI model to have morals, only to imitate her understanding of what having morals means. Its a pattern imitation machine, not an intelligent machine, people!
To know more about the album of the year and its many layers, read this story about @jmelendezbadillo.bsky.social.
“Bad Bunny’s ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ is a love letter to Puerto Rico. This professor helped him tell the island’s history” www.latimes.com/delos/story/...
Roarsome.
