Silvia Secchi

@profsecchi.bsky.social

7.8K followers 2.4K following 2.9K posts

Natural resource economist, geographer, meanderer, informed agitator, immigrant.
Trans rights are human rights.
💧Dall’acqua salata a quella dolce e zozza💧
My views are my own and do not represent my employer.
I don't consent to AI use of anything of mine. .. more

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Environmental science 35%

Economics 21%

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Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · Nov 7

Seems like a good time to remind ourselves that in 1931, when Mussolini forced academics to sign an oath of allegiance to the fascist regime, only twelve refused.

Academic freedom and fascism: A new book on the Italian professors who said NO in 1931

Inclusive searches & sources @UvA Romance languages (32) Earlier addressed in the Library333 series Inclusive searches & sources @FMG Library – with posts on the Academic Freedom Inde…

blognostrumuva.wordpress.com

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 10h

I think you need to copyright this one, it’s a winner!

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 10h

I am sure your algae blooms are caused by those pesky cranes!

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 10h

Also 💩 alas

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 10h

Nebraska is third in the country for Confined Animal Feeding Operations is all I am saying

www.nature.com/articles/s43...

Spatial distribution of Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) for cattle and hogs in the contiguous United States.

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 11h

At SIUC they pushed the learning goals stuff hard b/c the accreditor said we were at risk to lose accreditation, so they put in charge of the effort to address learning goals the administrator who was responsible getting us on the at-risk list lol. That kind of people just don’t care, it’s all 💩.

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 11h

I am not surprised at all that administrators are uncritically pushing ai like they pushed how to respond to enrollment cliffs or MOOCS or new budget models or whatever the latest fad was. And let’s never forget their “responses” to COVID, regardless of the best science from their own institutions.

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 11h

I can’t verify the post but I was SIUC faculty for 9 years: the absolute utter incompetence of administrators, their poor scholarship (hence failing up), reliance on external consultants & total focus on their own careers while gutting the institution were consistently their main qualifications.

ex-Lethality Jane @lethalityjane.bsky.social · 22h

chat are we cooked

r/Teachers
37m ago
TheOne4Figures

Being in College for Education right now is Horrifying

Another AI / ChatGPT Post 🤖
I am a student observer (I student teach next fall) for high school history ed. Right now in college, we have a full class dedicated to using technology in the classroom. However the entire semester was almost fully dedicated to using ai in the classroom. Using ai to make lessons, being told it’s ok to write research papers with them, being told ChatGPT IS a valid source TO CITE, being told to create our college lesson plans using ai, basically being told to use ai for everything. On top of this, our professor has told us she uses ai all the time, including for writing research papers and making our assignments. Every time we pointed out the mistakes ai makes, she would tell us how ai isn’t perfect so just double check it. Oh yea, our professor? She’s our DEAN OF EDUCATION AT OUR COLLEGE. It’s just so infuriating to see.

For those asking, SIUC, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 12h

The boiled or steamed green beans with no seasoning is why her kind of people think of vegetables as tasteless medicine.

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 17h

Steve says no, not in the pond. That is one scary critter!

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 17h

I still remember one of the Lidy kids having to be rushed to the hospital after a copperhead (I think that is what it was) bit him when he was walking the dogs one evening.

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 18h

But I think this was the most impressive visitor to the chicken coop

A snake's head in between the floor slats of a chicken coop floor. The snake has an egg in its mouth and is stuck - his head is larger than the space between the slats. You can see the side of a chicken on the top left corner.
The snake was saved by my husband who pulled it out and - if I remember right - let him eat the egg too.

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 18h

No bobcats. but look what I found in my old photo folder!
I wonder if the neighbors still have peacocks.

Three peacocks and two chickens in an enclosed garden (the peacocks flew in).

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 18h

I do not remember seeing bob cats in the wild but I sure did see one at Bev’s wildlife rehab place! Those turtles! They nibbled at all the melons they could JUST before they were ripe! Not nostalgic about that lol! 😆

Reposted by Silvia Secchi, Ann Bartow

gwen howerton @kissphoria.bsky.social · 22h

Turning Point at OU posted this girl's essay in full and man is it rough

Samantha's Essay
This article was very thought provoking and caused me to thoroughly
evaluate the idea of gender and the role it plays in our society. The
article discussed peers using teasing as a way to enforce gender
norms. I do not necessarilv see this as a problem. God made male and
female and made us differently from each other on purpose and for a
purpose. God is very intentional with what He makes, and I believe
trying to change that would only do more harm. Gender roles and
tendencies should not be considered "stereotypes". Women naturally
want to do womanly things because God created us with those
womanly desires in our hearts. The same goes for men. God created
men in the image of His courage and strength, and He created women
in the image of His beauty. He intentionally created women
differently than men and we should live our lives with that in mind.
TPUSA OU

Samantha's Essay
2
It is frustrating to me when I read articles like this and discussion
posts from my classmates of so many people trying to conform to the
same mundane opinion, so they do not step on people's toes. I think
that is a cowardly and insincere way to live. It is important to use the
freedom of speech we have been given in this country, and I
personally believe that eliminating gender in our society would be
detrimental, as it pulls us farther from God's original plan for humans.
It is perfectly normal for kids to follow gender "stereotypes" because
that is how God made us. The reason so many girls want to feel
womanly and care for others in a motherly way is not because they
feel pressured to fit into social norms. It is because God created and
chose them to reflect His beauty and His compassion in that way. In
Genesis, God says that it is not good for man to be alone, so He
TPUSA OU

Samantha's Essay
3
created a helper for man (which is a woman). Many people assume the
word "helper" in this context to be condescending and offensive to
women. However, the original word in Hebrew is "ezer kenegdo" and that directly translates to "helper equal to". Additionally, God
describes Himself in the Bible using "ezer kenegdo",
≥ or "helper", and
He describes His Holy Spirit as our Helper as well. This shows the
importance God places on the role of the helper (women's roles). God
does not view women as less significant than men. He created us with
such intentionally and care and He made women in his image of being
a helper, and in the image of His beauty. If leaning into that role
means I am "following gender stereotypes" then I am happy to be
following a stereotype that aligns with the gifts and abilities God gave
me as a woman.
TPUSA OU

Samantha's Essay
I do not think men and women are pressured to be more masculine or
feminine. I strongly disagree with the idea from the article that
encouraging acceptance of diverse gender expressions could improve
students' confidence. Society pushing the lie that there are multiple
genders and everyone should be whatever they want to be is demonic
and severely harms American youth. I do not want kids to be teased or
bullied in school. However, pushing the lie that everyone has their
own truth and everyone can do whatever they want and be whoever
they want is not biblical whatsoever. The Bible says that our lives are
not our own but that our lives and bodies belong to the Lord for His
glory. I live my life based on this truth and firmly believe that there
would be less gender issues and insecurities in children if they were.
raised knowing that they do not belong to themselves, but they belong
to the Lord
4
TPUSA OU

Reposted by Shannon Vallor, Kevin Carey, David R. Miller , and 2 more Shannon Vallor, Kevin Carey, David R. Miller, Silvia Secchi, Mark Rice

ex-Lethality Jane @lethalityjane.bsky.social · 22h

chat are we cooked

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 1d

We used to have a big horned owl hang around on one of the tall trees just next to our house in Carbondale and could hear her. It was awesome. We saw wild turkeys, egrets & green herons from the house - plus guinea fowls and peacocks from the neighbor. I still miss it.

CC @manetooleefa.bsky.social

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 1d

We used to live in Southern Illinois, where thanks to climate change they are now quite common. It looks like they have made it to Iowa too now.

www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17...

Figure 1. All reported occurrences of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) in the United States of America. See Data Availability section for data access.

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 1d

Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:

Great horned owl
Pink flamingo
Armadillo
Sea urchin
(American) bison

Richard Waite @waiterich.bsky.social · 1d

Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:

Moose
Stoplight parrotfish
Box turtle
Elephant
Wild horse

Dr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️ @napaaqtuk.bsky.social · 1d

Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:

Caribou
Ravens
Seals
Kea
Turkeys

Reposted by Silvia Secchi

Civil Eats @civileats.com · 1d

Farmers are heavily reliant on the Affordable Care Act for health insurance, but with tax credits for the ACA set to expire, many will be facing major hikes to their premiums. Many are now weighing difficult decisions, like going uninsured or finding secondary employment.

Farmers Face Prospect of Skyrocketing Healthcare Premiums

More than a quarter of U.S. farmers rely on the Affordable Care Act, but despite the government shutdown, tax credits are set to expire.

civileats.com

Reposted by Dustin Mulvaney, Silvia Secchi

Richard Waite @waiterich.bsky.social · 1d

Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:

Moose
Stoplight parrotfish
Box turtle
Elephant
Wild horse

Dr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️ @napaaqtuk.bsky.social · 1d

Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:

Caribou
Ravens
Seals
Kea
Turkeys

Jeanne Timmons @mostlymammoths.bsky.social · 1d

Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:

Moose
Humpback whales
Giraffes
African Elephants
West African or Nile monitor lizard

Reposted by Silvia Secchi

ᓃᔪᑲᒥᑳᐸᐤ Niiyoka❌igaabaw Deondre S❌iles, Ph.D. (he/they/wiin) @niiyokamigaabaw.bsky.social · 1d

I do not think Smith knows or cares about the broader nuances of the history of the United States' engagement with Indigenous peoples, given the clear editorial bent of the 'Free Press', but articles like this only serve to empower anti-Indigenous ideas and give them faux-intellectual currency.

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 1d

But also these Nature group journals. Jeebus. Super expensive open access fees, very few libraries have them (I have an interlibrary loan request for a paper in one of the journals and it’s taking forever), they are all about cashing in on the Nature prestige.

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 1d

Downthread, there’s a link to the PubPeer comments w/ people finding hallucinated references. These were abundant in a LLM-written paper I just reviewed (about half the total), I suggest going forward we look at references first in the review process, they are a clear 🚩.
Hallucinated refs = reject.

Erik Angner @erikangner.com · 3d

"Runctitiononal features"? "Medical fymblal"? "1 Tol Line storee"? This gets worse the longer you look at it. But it's got to be good, because it was published in Nature Scientific Reports last week: www.nature.com/articles/s41... h/t @asa.tsbalans.se

Infographic with AI slop published in Nature Scientific Reports

Reposted by Silvia Secchi

Hannah Daly @hannahdaly.ie · 1d

Saw a LinkedIn post today from a Serious Person who hailed progress on Ireland's planned LNG import terminal, and hilariously suggesting the gas could be sourced from cheap overseas biomethane.

Sadly, they weren't joking.

It might as well be powered by vibes.

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 2d

Today I am thankful that many of us recognize the horror we are living under, are not being quiet about it, and do our best to oppose it.

Sam @sammc.bsky.social · 7d

seen on WT Harris in E Charlotte

Sign reading "he sold you flowers and ICE took him."

Reposted by Michael E. Mann, Jonathan Wolff, David Rothschild , and 4 more Michael E. Mann, Jonathan Wolff, David Rothschild, Trevon D. Logan, Silvia Secchi, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Ann Bartow

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Trump calls Tim Walz “seriously retarded”

migrant earning $30,000 with a green card will get roughly $50,000 in yearly benefits for their family. The real migrant population is much higher. This refugee burden is the leading cause of social dysfunction in America, something that did not exist after World War II (Failed schools, high crime, urban decay, overcrowded hospitals, housing shortages, and large deficits, etc.). As an example, hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota. Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for “prey” as our wonderful people stay locked in their apartments and houses hoping against hope that they will be left alone. The seriously retarded Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing, either through fear, incompetence, or both, while the worst “Congressman/woman” in our Country, Ilhan Omar, always wrapped in her swaddling hijab, and who probably came into the U.S.A. illegally in that you are not allowed to marry your brother, does nothing but hatefully complain about our Country, its Constitution, and how “badly” she is treated, when her place of origin is a decadent, backward, and crime ridden nation…

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 2d

Be safe! It looks like it’s going to be bad.

Reposted by Dustin Mulvaney

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 2d

We are about to sit down and eat a dinner that includes Brussels sprouts. As I was cooking them I was thinking about the workers who tended to and harvested them, and the water and chemicals they require.

Dustin Mulvaney @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social · 2d

Nearly the entire brussels sprouts supply in the US comes from California’s central coast.

United Farm Workers @ufw.bsky.social · 3d

Brussels sprouts grow upright on a tough, woody stem. This picture is a partly mechanized harvest, but a crew of workers used machetes to cut off the stalks in the field, while another worker trims off the leaves as he feeds the stalks into the machine. It's grueling work especially when it is hot.