Rachael Unsworth
@leedstours.bsky.social
Urban geographer & walking tour guide in Leeds 🌍 - local, in a global setting
https://www.leedscitywalkingtours.co.uk/
Researcher, writer ('Leeds: Cradle of Innovation'), presenter, Leeds Phil & Lit, musician 🎻 European
Professional chat posts only
https://www.leedscitywalkingtours.co.uk/
Researcher, writer ('Leeds: Cradle of Innovation'), presenter, Leeds Phil & Lit, musician 🎻 European
Professional chat posts only
Leeds Civic Trust 60th birthday party at Left Bank Leeds - a church designed by Temple Moore on Cardigan Rd, repurposed as a community and cultural venue.
Vegetarian meal +🍷
And it’s remarkably *warm*.
Vegetarian meal +🍷
And it’s remarkably *warm*.
November 20, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Leeds Civic Trust 60th birthday party at Left Bank Leeds - a church designed by Temple Moore on Cardigan Rd, repurposed as a community and cultural venue.
Vegetarian meal +🍷
And it’s remarkably *warm*.
Vegetarian meal +🍷
And it’s remarkably *warm*.
Reposted by Rachael Unsworth
MAJOR NEWS: Federal judges, including a Trump appointee, just BLOCKED Texas Republicans from using their new gerrymandered congressional map in 2026, ruling it was likely an illegal racial gerrymander. TX must revert to its 2021 map as Trump’s redistricting power grab collapses.
November 18, 2025 at 6:50 PM
MAJOR NEWS: Federal judges, including a Trump appointee, just BLOCKED Texas Republicans from using their new gerrymandered congressional map in 2026, ruling it was likely an illegal racial gerrymander. TX must revert to its 2021 map as Trump’s redistricting power grab collapses.
Reposted by Rachael Unsworth
The real issue isn’t immigration, it’s the feedback loop: platforms amplify anxiety → voters feel it → politicians chase it → hollow policy follows. Until we break that cycle, we won’t get functional decisions or functional democracy.
November 16, 2025 at 1:13 PM
The real issue isn’t immigration, it’s the feedback loop: platforms amplify anxiety → voters feel it → politicians chase it → hollow policy follows. Until we break that cycle, we won’t get functional decisions or functional democracy.
Reposted by Rachael Unsworth
Paris. It was not 'built like this.'
Thanks Anne Hidalgo, a DOER, for greening Paris. Along the way, showing the world's mayors that change is doable.
Situation Modification: it’s NOT willpower, but the wisdom to shape the situations that shape you. Angela Duckworth
Thanks Anne Hidalgo, a DOER, for greening Paris. Along the way, showing the world's mayors that change is doable.
Situation Modification: it’s NOT willpower, but the wisdom to shape the situations that shape you. Angela Duckworth
November 15, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Paris. It was not 'built like this.'
Thanks Anne Hidalgo, a DOER, for greening Paris. Along the way, showing the world's mayors that change is doable.
Situation Modification: it’s NOT willpower, but the wisdom to shape the situations that shape you. Angela Duckworth
Thanks Anne Hidalgo, a DOER, for greening Paris. Along the way, showing the world's mayors that change is doable.
Situation Modification: it’s NOT willpower, but the wisdom to shape the situations that shape you. Angela Duckworth
We're all human beings.
Boundaries are wicked things.
research.birmingham.ac.uk/en/publicati...
But those who manage to escape from intolerable conditions demonstrate determination & so often go on to make valuable contributions as inhabitants of wherever they find a safe haven.
Boundaries are wicked things.
research.birmingham.ac.uk/en/publicati...
But those who manage to escape from intolerable conditions demonstrate determination & so often go on to make valuable contributions as inhabitants of wherever they find a safe haven.
November 15, 2025 at 7:58 PM
We're all human beings.
Boundaries are wicked things.
research.birmingham.ac.uk/en/publicati...
But those who manage to escape from intolerable conditions demonstrate determination & so often go on to make valuable contributions as inhabitants of wherever they find a safe haven.
Boundaries are wicked things.
research.birmingham.ac.uk/en/publicati...
But those who manage to escape from intolerable conditions demonstrate determination & so often go on to make valuable contributions as inhabitants of wherever they find a safe haven.
V good content in December @prospectmagazine.co.uk, inc the explanation of ‘bullshit’ in this moment of major dumping thereof.
Just one minor beef: my Dad, an expert on cattle, would have expected me to point out that this bovine is not a bull. I do realise that there’s no bull emoticon, but ironic.
Just one minor beef: my Dad, an expert on cattle, would have expected me to point out that this bovine is not a bull. I do realise that there’s no bull emoticon, but ironic.
November 15, 2025 at 7:25 PM
V good content in December @prospectmagazine.co.uk, inc the explanation of ‘bullshit’ in this moment of major dumping thereof.
Just one minor beef: my Dad, an expert on cattle, would have expected me to point out that this bovine is not a bull. I do realise that there’s no bull emoticon, but ironic.
Just one minor beef: my Dad, an expert on cattle, would have expected me to point out that this bovine is not a bull. I do realise that there’s no bull emoticon, but ironic.
Reposted by Rachael Unsworth
Activists unveiled a massive 5 trillion dollar Climate Polluters’ Bill at the gateway to the Amazon, exposing the damage caused by major fossil fuel giants.
Climate activist Mikaela Loach & Trixy Sumbala Elle, representing climate impacted communities from the Philippines, joined the call.
#COP30
Climate activist Mikaela Loach & Trixy Sumbala Elle, representing climate impacted communities from the Philippines, joined the call.
#COP30
November 13, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Activists unveiled a massive 5 trillion dollar Climate Polluters’ Bill at the gateway to the Amazon, exposing the damage caused by major fossil fuel giants.
Climate activist Mikaela Loach & Trixy Sumbala Elle, representing climate impacted communities from the Philippines, joined the call.
#COP30
Climate activist Mikaela Loach & Trixy Sumbala Elle, representing climate impacted communities from the Philippines, joined the call.
#COP30
Reposted by Rachael Unsworth
Before I went to capture the real (almost) full moon in Gledhow Wood Road in October, I tried asking Copilot to create such a scene.
It wouldn't take an art expert to declare that this is NOT a long-lost and priceless Atkinson Grimshaw canvas, huh?
It wouldn't take an art expert to declare that this is NOT a long-lost and priceless Atkinson Grimshaw canvas, huh?
November 13, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Before I went to capture the real (almost) full moon in Gledhow Wood Road in October, I tried asking Copilot to create such a scene.
It wouldn't take an art expert to declare that this is NOT a long-lost and priceless Atkinson Grimshaw canvas, huh?
It wouldn't take an art expert to declare that this is NOT a long-lost and priceless Atkinson Grimshaw canvas, huh?
Exciting to open package of page proofs of forthcoming book.
(Just successfully snatched out of the way of a coffee spill … )
(Just successfully snatched out of the way of a coffee spill … )
November 13, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Exciting to open package of page proofs of forthcoming book.
(Just successfully snatched out of the way of a coffee spill … )
(Just successfully snatched out of the way of a coffee spill … )
Digging around trying to clear space on computer I happened across this saved quotation from the deeply wise & inspiring @popovaprof.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Digging around trying to clear space on computer I happened across this saved quotation from the deeply wise & inspiring @popovaprof.bsky.social
Can you believe that the Post Office has agreed to pay Fujitsu £41m to carry on using the faulty Horizon IT system?
Nearly 290,000 have now signed a petition demanding that Fujitsu is finally held to account.
Do add your name:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ho...
Nearly 290,000 have now signed a petition demanding that Fujitsu is finally held to account.
Do add your name:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ho...
Hold Fujitsu to account for Post Office scandal
£41 million! That’s how much more the Post Office has just agreed to pay Fujitsu to keep using the faulty Horizon IT system. And that's on top of another whopping £65m the Government paid the scandal ...
you.38degrees.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Can you believe that the Post Office has agreed to pay Fujitsu £41m to carry on using the faulty Horizon IT system?
Nearly 290,000 have now signed a petition demanding that Fujitsu is finally held to account.
Do add your name:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ho...
Nearly 290,000 have now signed a petition demanding that Fujitsu is finally held to account.
Do add your name:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ho...
Reposted by Rachael Unsworth
NEW
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
emptycity.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:18 PM
NEW
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
70 W Europe named storms in 10 years
Most in a season: 12 in 2023/24
Least in a season: 2 in 2022/23
Highest gust speed: 122mph Storm Eunice, 2022, Isle of Wight
Lowest mean sea level pressure 941.9 hPa: Storm Éowyn, 2025, Isle of Tiree, Inner Hebrides
Highest rainfall: 266.8 mm, Storm Desmond, 2015
Most in a season: 12 in 2023/24
Least in a season: 2 in 2022/23
Highest gust speed: 122mph Storm Eunice, 2022, Isle of Wight
Lowest mean sea level pressure 941.9 hPa: Storm Éowyn, 2025, Isle of Tiree, Inner Hebrides
Highest rainfall: 266.8 mm, Storm Desmond, 2015
📰 Today marks 10 years since the @metoffice.gov.uk named the first #storm, Storm Abigail.
Since then, there has been a total of 70 named storms, like #StormDesmond, #StormChristoph and #StormHenk.
🔗 www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...
Since then, there has been a total of 70 named storms, like #StormDesmond, #StormChristoph and #StormHenk.
🔗 www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...
10 years since Storm Abigail: a decade of named storms
Today marks 10 years since the Met Office named its first storm, Storm Abigail, launching a public-facing initiative that has since become a cornerstone of weather communication in the UK.
www.metoffice.gov.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:56 AM
70 W Europe named storms in 10 years
Most in a season: 12 in 2023/24
Least in a season: 2 in 2022/23
Highest gust speed: 122mph Storm Eunice, 2022, Isle of Wight
Lowest mean sea level pressure 941.9 hPa: Storm Éowyn, 2025, Isle of Tiree, Inner Hebrides
Highest rainfall: 266.8 mm, Storm Desmond, 2015
Most in a season: 12 in 2023/24
Least in a season: 2 in 2022/23
Highest gust speed: 122mph Storm Eunice, 2022, Isle of Wight
Lowest mean sea level pressure 941.9 hPa: Storm Éowyn, 2025, Isle of Tiree, Inner Hebrides
Highest rainfall: 266.8 mm, Storm Desmond, 2015
HCR on 6 Nov 2025:
🌠 top summary of what’s happening
🌠 how history (recent & older) informs interpretation
🌠 commentary on great progress on push-back + encouragement to keep at it
Follow & share
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3f-...
🌠 top summary of what’s happening
🌠 how history (recent & older) informs interpretation
🌠 commentary on great progress on push-back + encouragement to keep at it
Follow & share
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3f-...
This Week in Politics | Explainer
YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson
www.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:00 PM
HCR on 6 Nov 2025:
🌠 top summary of what’s happening
🌠 how history (recent & older) informs interpretation
🌠 commentary on great progress on push-back + encouragement to keep at it
Follow & share
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3f-...
🌠 top summary of what’s happening
🌠 how history (recent & older) informs interpretation
🌠 commentary on great progress on push-back + encouragement to keep at it
Follow & share
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3f-...
Reposted by Rachael Unsworth
this is excellent by @peteroborne : government should not be run by political advisors, who know and care nothing about good policy, principles , integrity, just “winning” open.substack.com/pub/bylinesu...
'The Most Powerful Individual in Britain' – Peter Oborne on Morgan McSweeney
Peter Oborne’s exclusive Byline Times reporting exposes how Keir Starmer's chief strategist is driving a Labour Government towards defeat by the far-right
open.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 12:40 PM
this is excellent by @peteroborne : government should not be run by political advisors, who know and care nothing about good policy, principles , integrity, just “winning” open.substack.com/pub/bylinesu...
V interesting to read about the complex methodology for interactive map.
Assumptions on travel speeds in Roman Empire:
Walking 4 km/h
Ox cart 2 km/h
Pack animal 4.5 km/h
Horse courier 6 km/h
Major navigable rivers: 2.5 km/h for downriver and 0.6 km/h for upriver.
(Based on Carreras et al. 2019).
Assumptions on travel speeds in Roman Empire:
Walking 4 km/h
Ox cart 2 km/h
Pack animal 4.5 km/h
Horse courier 6 km/h
Major navigable rivers: 2.5 km/h for downriver and 0.6 km/h for upriver.
(Based on Carreras et al. 2019).
Wow! 😮🤩
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
November 7, 2025 at 6:04 PM
V interesting to read about the complex methodology for interactive map.
Assumptions on travel speeds in Roman Empire:
Walking 4 km/h
Ox cart 2 km/h
Pack animal 4.5 km/h
Horse courier 6 km/h
Major navigable rivers: 2.5 km/h for downriver and 0.6 km/h for upriver.
(Based on Carreras et al. 2019).
Assumptions on travel speeds in Roman Empire:
Walking 4 km/h
Ox cart 2 km/h
Pack animal 4.5 km/h
Horse courier 6 km/h
Major navigable rivers: 2.5 km/h for downriver and 0.6 km/h for upriver.
(Based on Carreras et al. 2019).
I asked GROK for:
Main solutions to the deleterious effects of extremely high concentrations of wealth.
ie. how to solve problems caused/exacerbated by … Musk & others in the stratosphere of wealth of power.
Headings:
Fiscal
Regulatory & Market
Structural & Social
Global Coordination
Let's go:
Main solutions to the deleterious effects of extremely high concentrations of wealth.
ie. how to solve problems caused/exacerbated by … Musk & others in the stratosphere of wealth of power.
Headings:
Fiscal
Regulatory & Market
Structural & Social
Global Coordination
Let's go:
November 7, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I asked GROK for:
Main solutions to the deleterious effects of extremely high concentrations of wealth.
ie. how to solve problems caused/exacerbated by … Musk & others in the stratosphere of wealth of power.
Headings:
Fiscal
Regulatory & Market
Structural & Social
Global Coordination
Let's go:
Main solutions to the deleterious effects of extremely high concentrations of wealth.
ie. how to solve problems caused/exacerbated by … Musk & others in the stratosphere of wealth of power.
Headings:
Fiscal
Regulatory & Market
Structural & Social
Global Coordination
Let's go:
I asked GROK:
What are the main negative effects that extremely wealthy people can have?
ANSWER
1. Distortion of Democracy & Policy
2. Exacerbation of Economic Inequality
3. Environmental Degradation
4. Market Distortions & Monopolistic Practices
5. Social & Cultural Impacts
See post on solutions
What are the main negative effects that extremely wealthy people can have?
ANSWER
1. Distortion of Democracy & Policy
2. Exacerbation of Economic Inequality
3. Environmental Degradation
4. Market Distortions & Monopolistic Practices
5. Social & Cultural Impacts
See post on solutions
November 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I asked GROK:
What are the main negative effects that extremely wealthy people can have?
ANSWER
1. Distortion of Democracy & Policy
2. Exacerbation of Economic Inequality
3. Environmental Degradation
4. Market Distortions & Monopolistic Practices
5. Social & Cultural Impacts
See post on solutions
What are the main negative effects that extremely wealthy people can have?
ANSWER
1. Distortion of Democracy & Policy
2. Exacerbation of Economic Inequality
3. Environmental Degradation
4. Market Distortions & Monopolistic Practices
5. Social & Cultural Impacts
See post on solutions
OXFAM America takes on the American oligarchy
I’d love to hear any one of the billionaires supporting Project 2025 being challenged about the underlying insidious agenda of accumulation of wealth & power, removal of rights for all but a minority of white males & their cynical use of ‘Christianity’.
I’d love to hear any one of the billionaires supporting Project 2025 being challenged about the underlying insidious agenda of accumulation of wealth & power, removal of rights for all but a minority of white males & their cynical use of ‘Christianity’.
November 7, 2025 at 12:35 PM
OXFAM America takes on the American oligarchy
I’d love to hear any one of the billionaires supporting Project 2025 being challenged about the underlying insidious agenda of accumulation of wealth & power, removal of rights for all but a minority of white males & their cynical use of ‘Christianity’.
I’d love to hear any one of the billionaires supporting Project 2025 being challenged about the underlying insidious agenda of accumulation of wealth & power, removal of rights for all but a minority of white males & their cynical use of ‘Christianity’.
Climate crisis is an *equity* crisis.
Strong main message from @kevinclimate.bsky.social
Professor of Energy & Climate Change, University of Manchester
#R4Today: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
at 2:36:35 in the 3-hour programme
Strong main message from @kevinclimate.bsky.social
Professor of Energy & Climate Change, University of Manchester
#R4Today: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
at 2:36:35 in the 3-hour programme
Today - 07/11/2025 - BBC Sounds
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Climate crisis is an *equity* crisis.
Strong main message from @kevinclimate.bsky.social
Professor of Energy & Climate Change, University of Manchester
#R4Today: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
at 2:36:35 in the 3-hour programme
Strong main message from @kevinclimate.bsky.social
Professor of Energy & Climate Change, University of Manchester
#R4Today: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
at 2:36:35 in the 3-hour programme
Reposted by Rachael Unsworth
"How 'War' Becomes War: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and Ours of Us"
"From the moment the armed services violently engage their first civilians, their prestige will be gone forever, and service members will be destroying the Republic they are sworn to serve."
snyder.substack.com/p/how-war-be...
"From the moment the armed services violently engage their first civilians, their prestige will be gone forever, and service members will be destroying the Republic they are sworn to serve."
snyder.substack.com/p/how-war-be...
How “War” Becomes War
Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and Ours of Us
snyder.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:41 PM
"How 'War' Becomes War: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and Ours of Us"
"From the moment the armed services violently engage their first civilians, their prestige will be gone forever, and service members will be destroying the Republic they are sworn to serve."
snyder.substack.com/p/how-war-be...
"From the moment the armed services violently engage their first civilians, their prestige will be gone forever, and service members will be destroying the Republic they are sworn to serve."
snyder.substack.com/p/how-war-be...
Reposted by Rachael Unsworth
November 5, 2025 at 9:55 PM
"The Lib Dems and Electoral Reform Society both support the Single Transferable Vote (STV) - a proportional and ranked preference system.
The Green Party should join them in explicitly supporting STV as soon as possible, and in demanding reform to STV from Labour."
The Green Party should join them in explicitly supporting STV as soon as possible, and in demanding reform to STV from Labour."
November 6, 2025 at 6:14 AM
"The Lib Dems and Electoral Reform Society both support the Single Transferable Vote (STV) - a proportional and ranked preference system.
The Green Party should join them in explicitly supporting STV as soon as possible, and in demanding reform to STV from Labour."
The Green Party should join them in explicitly supporting STV as soon as possible, and in demanding reform to STV from Labour."
Seen yesterday.
A pity not to catch the horses as they clopped past the Victorian office at the previous corner. Hard to believe that so recently, the sound of horses' hooves would have been everywhere in the streets. A place the size of Leeds maybe had ~17K horse in the 1870s.
ALT text for ref
A pity not to catch the horses as they clopped past the Victorian office at the previous corner. Hard to believe that so recently, the sound of horses' hooves would have been everywhere in the streets. A place the size of Leeds maybe had ~17K horse in the 1870s.
ALT text for ref
November 5, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Seen yesterday.
A pity not to catch the horses as they clopped past the Victorian office at the previous corner. Hard to believe that so recently, the sound of horses' hooves would have been everywhere in the streets. A place the size of Leeds maybe had ~17K horse in the 1870s.
ALT text for ref
A pity not to catch the horses as they clopped past the Victorian office at the previous corner. Hard to believe that so recently, the sound of horses' hooves would have been everywhere in the streets. A place the size of Leeds maybe had ~17K horse in the 1870s.
ALT text for ref