Journalist by trade & inclination. PhD. FRSA. Lecturer @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social Novel The Pomegranate Peace, Hachette Sign up: This Week, Those Books https://thisweekthosebooks.substack.com https://medium.com/this-week-those-bookshttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mtu4szwrjs2tThe curious case of the missing #couscous: @arthurasseraf.bsky.social is very droll in this @vittles.bsky.social piece ..."let me make a very specific threat: I will come to your house, make a Yorkshire pudding from a packet...eat it cold & call it a Sunday roast ” https://open.substack.com/pub/vittles/p/the-curious-case-of-the-missing-couscous?r=1ejfm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email24 Aug 2026 20:18 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtu4szwrjs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mto4sodb2s24Per @theargument.bsky.social : The internet’s toxicity isn’t good for anyone, but it’s especially bad for #liberals . Liberalism is a social technology that allows people with profoundly different value systems to live together...Social media rewards moral clarity rather than ambiguity.22 Aug 2026 11:02 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mto4sodb2s24https://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mtgvu4yxas2gThis story from Quartz is shocking. #Amazon is buying rare #books and destroying them to train its #AI models https://qz.com/amazon-rare-books-destroying-ai-training-data-08182619 Aug 2026 14:09 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtgvu4yxas2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mtgqzcohsk2pChoice nugget on #holidays from distinguished Swedish anthropolgist Orvar Lôfgren’s book. #thisweekthosebooks. Free to read. https://thisweekthosebooks.substack.com/p/summer-holiday-hill-station-to-coolcation19 Aug 2026 12:43 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtgqzcohsk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mtfn276lxc2oEnergised by @simonglynn.bsky.social 's prospectus for Fertile Future. This is no arid debate about lost opportunities: “We enter this new epoch at a time of existential risks and a growing sense that we are losing our agency to act on them." https://www.fertilefuture.world/p/fertile-future-launching-september19 Aug 2026 01:59 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtfn276lxc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mtfh5siurc2k@jerusalem.bsky.social is priceless. As her liberal @theargument.bsky.social marks a year, she quotes the founding editor of 1945 American Left intellectual magazine @dissentmag.bsky.social that “when intellectuals can do nothing else, they start a magazine.”19 Aug 2026 00:13 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtfh5siurc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mtfezsfhr22gI just published On holiday: Hill station to ‘coolcation’ https://medium.com/this-week-those-books/on-holiday-hill-station-to-coolcation-9f14d0a80313/share/thisweekthosebooks?source=social.bluesky18 Aug 2026 23:35 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtfezsfhr22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mtfe7ynoac2x@tbij.bsky.social on how lifestyle influencers are cashing in on their followers by urging them to place risky trades: "Kate was one of an international network of so-called 'introducing brokers', earning commission from new customers trading on the offshore platform of Vantage Markets..."18 Aug 2026 23:21 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtfe7ynoac2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mtcdms3tp22gPer @economist.com 's #Europe editor: The water in De Poel was greenish because the lake was experiencing an algal bloom. The Netherlands has historically been quite cool but when temp exceeds 30°C, the algae enjoy a reproductive frenzy, suck out the oxygen & suffocate the mussels17 Aug 2026 18:32 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtcdms3tp22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mtaiwvrtes2sOn #holiday: Hill station to #coolcation. #thisweekthosebooks via @medium.com : An anthropologist explains the creation of the modern tourism industry. Stories from a cool holiday spot in colonial India. https://medium.com/this-week-those-books/on-holiday-hill-station-to-coolcation-9f14d0a8031317 Aug 2026 01:02 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtaiwvrtes2shttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mtaim4fz6c2sThe #summer #holiday is changing to a search for ‘coolcations’, but this is not all that new. Remember the earlier colonial era of hill stations? #thisweekthosebooks has 2 great reads https://thisweekthosebooks.substack.com/p/summer-holiday-hill-station-to-coolcation17 Aug 2026 00:56 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtaim4fz6c2shttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mtaiexwle22sThe #summer #holiday is changing to a search for ‘coolcations’, but this is not all that new. Remember the earlier colonial era of hill stations? #thisweekthosebooks has 2 great reads https://thisweekthosebooks.substack.com/p/summer-holiday-hill-station-to-coolcation17 Aug 2026 00:52 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtaiexwle22shttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3msxepitgbk2yCrucial context from 2 books on the #Mecca #defence pact. Free to read. Takes just 5 minutes #thisweekthosebooks https://thisweekthosebooks.substack.com/p/allwhy-the-mecca-pact-matters-saladin-muslim-nato13 Aug 2026 09:52 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3msxepitgbk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3msxep2krxs2yAll together now. Why the Mecca pact matters https://thisweekthosebooks.substack.com/p/allwhy-the-mecca-pact-matters-saladin-muslim-nato?r=1ejfm&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web13 Aug 2026 09:52 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3msxep2krxs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3msxed6xsts2uThe #Taliban took over #Afghanistan five years ago this week. My piece in @thenewworldmag.bsky.social https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/rashmee-roshan-lall-the-talibans-no-1-priority-crushing-half-the-population/13 Aug 2026 09:46 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3msxed6xsts2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3msrcxsi6kc2bWhat does Pak-Saudi-Turkey defence pact mean? #thisweekthosebooks looked at Chicago uni professor Paul Poast’s book on military alliances. Free to read. https://thisweekthosebooks.substack.com/p/allwhy-the-mecca-pact-matters-saladin-muslim-nato11 Aug 2026 00:05 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3msrcxsi6kc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3msqwnrdkus2uPer @londonermag.bsky.social : Things in #London are starting to get a little Rime of the Ancient Mariner — “Each throat / Was parched, and glazed each eye”10 Aug 2026 20:25 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3msqwnrdkus2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mspgm55wpc2zvia @medium.com All together now. Why the Mecca pact matters https://medium.com/this-week-those-books/all-together-now-why-the-mecca-pact-matters-2537c6fa4a30/share/thisweekthosebooks?source=social.bluesky10 Aug 2026 06:05 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mspgm55wpc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mspgkon7zs23All together now. Why the Mecca pact matters https://medium.com/this-week-those-books/all-together-now-why-the-mecca-pact-matters-2537c6fa4a30/share/thisweekthosebooks?source=social.bluesky10 Aug 2026 06:04 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mspgkon7zs23https://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3msoqkvgge22bThe truth about starting a new publication https://medium.com/@thisweekthosebooks/the-truth-about-starting-a-new-publication-b4787e2c7380/share/thisweekthosebooks?source=social.bluesky09 Aug 2026 23:31 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3msoqkvgge22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3msoovbp62k2u#muslim world. #defence pact. what does it mean? 5 minutes and you get smarter, faster. #thisweekthosebooks https://thisweekthosebooks.substack.com/p/allwhy-the-mecca-pact-matters-saladin-muslim-nato09 Aug 2026 23:01 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3msoovbp62k2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3msootr3cx22u#muslim world. #defence pact. what does it mean? 5 minutes and you get smarter, faster. #thisweekthosebooks https://thisweekthosebooks.substack.com/p/allwhy-the-mecca-pact-matters-saladin-muslim-nato09 Aug 2026 23:00 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3msootr3cx22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3msonsuttnc2uAll together now. Why the Mecca pact matters https://thisweekthosebooks.substack.com/p/allwhy-the-mecca-pact-matters-saladin-muslim-nato?r=1ejfm&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web09 Aug 2026 22:41 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3msonsuttnc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3msluatsiek2nPer @robtornoe.bsky.social of E&P Magazine: "Young people actually consume more news content today than they did a decade ago, thanks to the magical smartphone following them everywhere. Their sources are simply way more diverse..." https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/gen-z-isnt-reading-your-site-now-what,26279008 Aug 2026 19:59 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3msluatsiek2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mskycllvas2rMy @timesofindianews.bsky.social piece on how #Britain, like #India, has its own #NEET problem and unlike the homophone, both problems are messy https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/britain-has-a-neet-problem-solution-relevant-for-india-too/08 Aug 2026 11:38 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mskycllvas2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mskx3uqp7s23The truth about starting a new publication...via @medium.com https://medium.com/@thisweekthosebooks/the-truth-about-starting-a-new-publication-b4787e2c7380/share/thisweekthosebooks08 Aug 2026 11:17 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mskx3uqp7s23https://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mskwzpuqu22gThe truth about starting a new publication...via @medium.com https://medium.com/@thisweekthosebooks/the-truth-about-starting-a-new-publication-b4787e2c7380/share/thisweekthosebooks https://medium.com/@thisweekthosebooks/the-truth-about-starting-a-new-publication-b4787e2c7380/share/thisweekthosebooks?source=social.bluesky08 Aug 2026 11:16 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mskwzpuqu22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3msktnrg2nc2j#Edinburgh: Backdrop to the world’s big fest via @medium.com #thisweekthosebooks has a city guide by Robert Louis Stevenson, a book on the last historic village to be swallowed up and two real-life crime novels. Please read #thisweekthosebooks @edinburghfringe.bsky.social https://medium.com/this-week-those-books/edinburgh-backdrop-to-the-worlds-big-fest-93bae7aabc0f/share/thisweekthosebooks https://medium.com/this-week-those-books/edinburgh-backdrop-to-the-worlds-big-fest-93bae7aabc0f/share/thisweekthosebooks?source=social.bluesky08 Aug 2026 10:15 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3msktnrg2nc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mskrum4qck2zAs #Edinburgh plays host to the world's largest performing arts festival, a city guide by Robert Louis Stevenson, a book on the last historic village to be swallowed by the city and two real-life crime novels. #thisweekthosebooks https://thisweekthosebooks.substack.com/p/edinburgh-backdrop-to-the-worlds08 Aug 2026 09:43 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mskrum4qck2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/rashmee.bsky.social/post/3mshemqo3ws2f@carneross.bsky.social on Christopher Nolan’s film, The Odyssey & the Spanish exclave of Ceuta: It's reported that Morocco encouraged Nolan to film part..in the Western Sahara...a bit like filming in the occupied West Bank. He was probably offered subsidies https://carneross.substack.com/p/how-power-works-what-connects-the https://carneross.substack.com/p/how-power-works-what-connects-the?r=1ejfm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email07 Aug 2026 01:08 +0000at://did:plc:u2xz26src2bdf5tw2rb4zv6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mshemqo3ws2f