Christine Kooi
@christinekooi.bsky.social
5.2K followers 390 following 3.2K posts

Reformation historian, immigrant, dochter van Nederlanders, birder (not necessarily in that order). Working on a book on the year 1572 in (mostly) Europe. Opinions all mine, and I speak only for myself.

History 50%
Political science 37%
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christinekooi.bsky.social
Happy to be in bluer skies. I'm working on a book titled "1572: A Year in the End of Christendom," about the working out of reformation in Europe in the later 16th cen. Any tidbits about 1572 that you come across in your research that you're willing to share are welcome.

christinekooi.bsky.social
In my case today it was a sangria and a crabcake.

christinekooi.bsky.social
Oy. Just bracing myself for what my university administrators will do.

christinekooi.bsky.social
Which is a good reason never to use them.

christinekooi.bsky.social
"Never invent data." Words to live by.
desfitzgerald.bsky.social
Seeing people nonchalantly post stuff like makes me feel like I'm going crazy honestly.
A post from an academic on blue sky that says: "I'm learning about "prompt engineering" when asking LLMs to extract data. I now add this to all instructions:

Style
Be concise, analytic, and specific (cite page/figure if provided). If essential info is missing, keep going but flag Unclear and exact data needed. Never invent data.
 
#academicsky"

christinekooi.bsky.social
Unfortunately Obama gives the impression this is all an armchair exercise, rather than a dire crisis affecting the lives of real people. Sometimes the man is too cool for his own good.

christinekooi.bsky.social
Even worse, we wrote them down.
bleary.off-the-records.com
If anyone needs me I will be in the museum, lying down next to the bog bodies.
Did people really memorize phone numbers before cell phones, or is that just a movie thing?
2? Questions
I was watching some old shows from the 90s and noticed people would just dial numbers from memory - like they'd call their friends or family without looking anything up.
Made me wonder if that was actually normal back then? Did people genuinely have all their important numbers memorized, or did most folks keep a little address book or written list nearby?

christinekooi.bsky.social
Trump has strayed pretty from his (nominally?) Presbyterian upbringing if he thinks good works will get him into heaven.
thetnholler.bsky.social
“It either shows a lack of understanding about grace, or an admission he is not a Christian.”

FRANKLIN, TN Pastor Kevin Riggs reacts to Trump saying he won’t be going to Heaven 👇🏽

Video: www.instagram.com/reel/DPwDaHO...

Reposted by Christine Kooi

jdmccafferty.bsky.social
13 Oct 1605: d. Theodore Beza, very important #French reformation theologian at #Geneva #otd (BM)

St Edmund Campion tried, but failed, to engage with him
desfitzgerald.bsky.social
Seeing people nonchalantly post stuff like makes me feel like I'm going crazy honestly.
A post from an academic on blue sky that says: "I'm learning about "prompt engineering" when asking LLMs to extract data. I now add this to all instructions:

Style
Be concise, analytic, and specific (cite page/figure if provided). If essential info is missing, keep going but flag Unclear and exact data needed. Never invent data.
 
#academicsky"

Reposted by Christine Kooi

thetnholler.bsky.social
“It either shows a lack of understanding about grace, or an admission he is not a Christian.”

FRANKLIN, TN Pastor Kevin Riggs reacts to Trump saying he won’t be going to Heaven 👇🏽

Video: www.instagram.com/reel/DPwDaHO...
bleary.off-the-records.com
If anyone needs me I will be in the museum, lying down next to the bog bodies.
Did people really memorize phone numbers before cell phones, or is that just a movie thing?
2? Questions
I was watching some old shows from the 90s and noticed people would just dial numbers from memory - like they'd call their friends or family without looking anything up.
Made me wonder if that was actually normal back then? Did people genuinely have all their important numbers memorized, or did most folks keep a little address book or written list nearby?

aktange.bsky.social
My latest: "Numerous studies show that majors in the humanities—typically, in departments of English, history, philosophy, religious studies, classics and languages—lead students to employment and life satisfaction outcomes as positive as those for majors traditionally championed as 'practical.'”
Counterpoint | Minnesota humanities graduates thrive in meaningful careers
"The stereotype of the underemployed history major is simply not true," professor Andrea Kaston Tange writes.
www.startribune.com

christinekooi.bsky.social
No idea. But I suspect if you scratch the surface of any average Christian you might not find much theological knowledge or commitment.

christinekooi.bsky.social
As a Catholic priest he should.

christinekooi.bsky.social
That is an impressive use of Catholic eucharistic theology right there.
richraho.bsky.social
Chicago priest Fr. Larry Dowling describes procession to ICE facility: “No one had the courage to speak directly to us. No one from Homeland Security could stand in the presence of the Monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament. No wonder. Evil is repelled, recoils in the presence of Christ.”

christinekooi.bsky.social
An always timely fresco, alas.
ebwood.bsky.social
Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Allegory of Bad Government, 1338–40, Palazzo Pubblico, Siena
At the centre of the dais sits Tyrannia, with the appearence of a demon, with horns and fangs. The figure of Tyranny has flowing woman's hair, a cloak with gold embroidery and precious stones, a gold cup in her hand and a goat, the traditional symbol of lust, at her feet. Below is the vanquised Justitia: the scales are broken and scattered around her on the ground. Around Tyranny's throne are gathered the Vices. (Taken from the Web Gallery of Art’s description of the fresco.)

christinekooi.bsky.social
This is why it's vital to resist the narrative of the "inevitability" of genAI.
fraying.bsky.social
The destruction of truth and substitution of a chosen narrative is a core element of fascism. Look at what generative AI is already doing to information systems - spreading lies at scale and causing people to doubt actual facts.

The nazis WISH they had such a tool back then.

christinekooi.bsky.social
It has honestly never even occurred to me to use AI to grade student work.
biblioracle.bsky.social
I strongly urge everyone to not just read this warning from @marcwatkins.bsky.social, but heed it, and be vocal and forceful pushing back against using AI to grade student writing. This must be anathema if we're going to have a world where learning means something. substack.com/inbox/post/1...
The Dangers of using AI to Grade
Nobody Learns, Nobody Gains
substack.com
richraho.bsky.social
Chicago priest Fr. Larry Dowling describes procession to ICE facility: “No one had the courage to speak directly to us. No one from Homeland Security could stand in the presence of the Monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament. No wonder. Evil is repelled, recoils in the presence of Christ.”

Reposted by Christine Kooi

fraying.bsky.social
The destruction of truth and substitution of a chosen narrative is a core element of fascism. Look at what generative AI is already doing to information systems - spreading lies at scale and causing people to doubt actual facts.

The nazis WISH they had such a tool back then.

Reposted by Christine Kooi

christinekooi.bsky.social
Does he mean gas at the pump?

christinekooi.bsky.social
I'm referring to journalists, not everyone. Anyone who reports a story has a professional obligation to the public to get the details right.

christinekooi.bsky.social
Accuracy and precision in journalism matter very much, especially in these times.

christinekooi.bsky.social
The clergyman shot at was a Presbyterian minister, not a priest. Maybe Mother Jones can hire a religion reporter?