Rachel Borchardt
@butternutsquash.bsky.social
Scholarly communication librarian, mom, lurker. Researching publishing and researcher evaluation equity models, OA and societal impact. Views are my own.
I believe that there are only two fates for photos taken of slides at a conference:
1) Posted online
2) Literally never looked at again
1) Posted online
2) Literally never looked at again
November 5, 2025 at 9:24 PM
I believe that there are only two fates for photos taken of slides at a conference:
1) Posted online
2) Literally never looked at again
1) Posted online
2) Literally never looked at again
"Good and Cheap: Eating well on $4 a day" is a wonderful, free cookbook. It has lots of good ideas for making money and food stretch farther. dhs.saccounty.gov/PUB/WIC/Docu...
IT IS TIME FOR BLUESKY RECIPE POSTING
do you have a cheap, healthy, low-cost recipe? post it here! or quote tweet this post. or dunk on me for something I don't care just post easy meals that people can make right now.
do you have a cheap, healthy, low-cost recipe? post it here! or quote tweet this post. or dunk on me for something I don't care just post easy meals that people can make right now.
November 4, 2025 at 2:30 AM
"Good and Cheap: Eating well on $4 a day" is a wonderful, free cookbook. It has lots of good ideas for making money and food stretch farther. dhs.saccounty.gov/PUB/WIC/Docu...
Reposted by Rachel Borchardt
250 years of slavery. 88 years of Jim Crow. But somehow we're all supposed to succeed by pretending we started on equal footing beginning in the mid 1960s. Come the fuck on.
October 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
250 years of slavery. 88 years of Jim Crow. But somehow we're all supposed to succeed by pretending we started on equal footing beginning in the mid 1960s. Come the fuck on.
Now there are 51 ways to leave your lover.
September 10, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Now there are 51 ways to leave your lover.
Trying to teach children that the world is good and people can be trusted (so they can sleep at night knowing they're protected) is REALLY HARD in this stupid-ass scam culture that is the US now.
August 18, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Trying to teach children that the world is good and people can be trusted (so they can sleep at night knowing they're protected) is REALLY HARD in this stupid-ass scam culture that is the US now.
Shout out to Fairfax County Public Schools for continuing to prioritize students' safety! Much gratitude from this FCPS parent as well.
Virginia Gov Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares are threatening to withhold $160 million from Fairfax County Public Schools for its refusal to discriminate against transgender children.
Here’s FCPS’s brave response, which as an FCPS parent I support:
www.fcps.edu/system/files...
Here’s FCPS’s brave response, which as an FCPS parent I support:
www.fcps.edu/system/files...
www.fcps.edu
August 15, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Shout out to Fairfax County Public Schools for continuing to prioritize students' safety! Much gratitude from this FCPS parent as well.
Reposted by Rachel Borchardt
Fobazi is currently in the ICU and could use your support. Apologies to those I haven’t been able to reach out to yet. You can message me for more info and I will be posting updates to GoFundMe. Please share, send healing thoughts, prayers, etc. ❤️ -Elena
gofund.me/c8485b58
gofund.me/c8485b58
Donate to Fobazi’s road to recovery: Kidney and liver transplant, organized by Ysabel Gerrard
Hello all, my name is Ysabel and I’m fundraising for my friends … Ysabel Gerrard needs your support for Fobazi’s road to recovery: Kidney and liver transplant
gofund.me
August 7, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Fobazi is currently in the ICU and could use your support. Apologies to those I haven’t been able to reach out to yet. You can message me for more info and I will be posting updates to GoFundMe. Please share, send healing thoughts, prayers, etc. ❤️ -Elena
gofund.me/c8485b58
gofund.me/c8485b58
Reposted by Rachel Borchardt
"Research, valuable not in itself but for some ulterior purpose, will be of little import except in so far as it is transmuted into common knowledge. The history that lies inert in unread books does no work in the world."
-- Carl Becker, American Historical Association presidential address, 1931
-- Carl Becker, American Historical Association presidential address, 1931
When academics sit at universities and publish highly researched academic monographs that few read, we are responsible for the destruction of our field for not engaging the public. When we engage with the public, we are betraying our scholarly mission and so are responsible for our destruction.
The history profession is in free fall, but its members can write liberal briefs that are cited in dissents to conservative decisions. Doesn’t seem like a great deal all told.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/u...
August 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
"Research, valuable not in itself but for some ulterior purpose, will be of little import except in so far as it is transmuted into common knowledge. The history that lies inert in unread books does no work in the world."
-- Carl Becker, American Historical Association presidential address, 1931
-- Carl Becker, American Historical Association presidential address, 1931
Michaels' Halloween decor is absolutely rising to meet the national moment
June 19, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Michaels' Halloween decor is absolutely rising to meet the national moment
For anyone else at AU wondering what the heck all the alerts are about..
A person has climbed a broadcast tower at American University in DC.
WAMU, the NPR radio station for DC based at AU, emailed listeners that it was "experiencing technical issues that are impacting our broadcast".
WAMU, the NPR radio station for DC based at AU, emailed listeners that it was "experiencing technical issues that are impacting our broadcast".
June 11, 2025 at 12:25 AM
For anyone else at AU wondering what the heck all the alerts are about..
So excited to see this work finally published!
💥New: American University is redefining what counts in #academia—valuing public & interdisciplinary work over outdated metrics. Colleagues Karen Baehler, Rachel Borchardt, Priya Doshi & Amanda Taylor share how faculty-led #reforms can align rewards with real-world #impact 🚀
Faculty promotion guidelines should account for a wider range of valuable academic work - Impact of Social Sciences
American University recently revised its faculty evaluation guidelines to better recognise public and interdisciplinary scholarship and move away from outdated metrics. Through inclusive,…
blogs.lse.ac.uk
May 23, 2025 at 1:28 PM
So excited to see this work finally published!
Reposted by Rachel Borchardt
I have been working on stablecoin policy for five years. Every word Sen Warren says here is spot on. With this bill advancing, I feel like I’m watching a car crash in slow motion and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. It’s devastating
I’m on the Senate floor right now urging my colleagues to vote no on the GENIUS Act.
There is no excuse for Congress to pass a crypto bill that will turbocharge Trump’s corruption and undermine national security, consumer protection, and our financial stability.
There is no excuse for Congress to pass a crypto bill that will turbocharge Trump’s corruption and undermine national security, consumer protection, and our financial stability.
Senator Warren remarks on GENIUS Act
YouTube video by Senator Elizabeth Warren
www.youtube.com
May 19, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I have been working on stablecoin policy for five years. Every word Sen Warren says here is spot on. With this bill advancing, I feel like I’m watching a car crash in slow motion and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. It’s devastating
Reposted by Rachel Borchardt
It brings me no joy to share this, but here's an open letter to the leadership of the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) on what is to me a very serious issue with it's autonomy and political scope. (Note: I've worked for and with PKP for decades).
ahemnason.notion.site/open-letter-...
ahemnason.notion.site/open-letter-...
An Open Letter to the Leadership of the Public Knowledge Project | Notion
Hey. My name is Mike Nason, Open Scholarship & Publishing Librarian at the University of New Brunswick and the Open Scholarly Infrastructure Advisor with the Public Knowledge Project (PKP). I owe a si...
ahemnason.notion.site
May 15, 2025 at 5:37 PM
It brings me no joy to share this, but here's an open letter to the leadership of the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) on what is to me a very serious issue with it's autonomy and political scope. (Note: I've worked for and with PKP for decades).
ahemnason.notion.site/open-letter-...
ahemnason.notion.site/open-letter-...
Reposted by Rachel Borchardt
Excited to launch our new SPARC OA 101 series, featuring presentations from @butternutsquash.bsky.social on measuring impact, Teresa Schultz & Matt Ruen on problematizing "predatory" publishing, and @davehansen.bsky.social on copyright, authors rights, and AI. sparcopen.org/news/2025/oa...
OA 101 Round 2: Visibility & Impact, Problematizing “Predatory” Publishing, and Authors Rights - SPARC
sparcopen.org
April 7, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Excited to launch our new SPARC OA 101 series, featuring presentations from @butternutsquash.bsky.social on measuring impact, Teresa Schultz & Matt Ruen on problematizing "predatory" publishing, and @davehansen.bsky.social on copyright, authors rights, and AI. sparcopen.org/news/2025/oa...
Me every time I start a peer review: I'm sure I don't have much to contribute - it seems like a well-constructed and interesting article!
Me several paragraphs into a peer review: Oh I've got some things to SAY!!!!
Me several paragraphs into a peer review: Oh I've got some things to SAY!!!!
March 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Me every time I start a peer review: I'm sure I don't have much to contribute - it seems like a well-constructed and interesting article!
Me several paragraphs into a peer review: Oh I've got some things to SAY!!!!
Me several paragraphs into a peer review: Oh I've got some things to SAY!!!!
Reposted by Rachel Borchardt
Project MUSE announced that its Subscribe to Open (S2O) initiative has reached its sustainability goal for 2025.
This means that 2025 content for 100 journals from 27 publishers will be openly accessible on the MUSE platform.
Kudos on the accomplishment! about.muse.jhu.edu/subscribe-to...
This means that 2025 content for 100 journals from 27 publishers will be openly accessible on the MUSE platform.
Kudos on the accomplishment! about.muse.jhu.edu/subscribe-to...
Project MUSE
about.muse.jhu.edu
February 27, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Project MUSE announced that its Subscribe to Open (S2O) initiative has reached its sustainability goal for 2025.
This means that 2025 content for 100 journals from 27 publishers will be openly accessible on the MUSE platform.
Kudos on the accomplishment! about.muse.jhu.edu/subscribe-to...
This means that 2025 content for 100 journals from 27 publishers will be openly accessible on the MUSE platform.
Kudos on the accomplishment! about.muse.jhu.edu/subscribe-to...
Reposted by Rachel Borchardt
OH FUCK NO.
I'm sending an email, but white women, this is y'all's moment to shine. I can't think of a better reason to need to a speak to a manager.
Inside every white woman reading this is a Karen waiting to be called into action. Lock-in, dig deep, and be a Karen for democracy!
I'm sending an email, but white women, this is y'all's moment to shine. I can't think of a better reason to need to a speak to a manager.
Inside every white woman reading this is a Karen waiting to be called into action. Lock-in, dig deep, and be a Karen for democracy!
If you’re a Visa cardholder you can let them know you won’t be any longer if they do business with fElon. I called and they said they’re taking comments at askvisa@visa.com. Maybe if enough of us complain they’ll pull the deal.
Elon Musk's X begins its push into financial services with Visa deal
Visa will enable X users to move funds between traditional bank accounts and their digital wallet and make instant peer-to-peer payments, like Zelle or Venmo.
www.cnbc.com
February 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
OH FUCK NO.
I'm sending an email, but white women, this is y'all's moment to shine. I can't think of a better reason to need to a speak to a manager.
Inside every white woman reading this is a Karen waiting to be called into action. Lock-in, dig deep, and be a Karen for democracy!
I'm sending an email, but white women, this is y'all's moment to shine. I can't think of a better reason to need to a speak to a manager.
Inside every white woman reading this is a Karen waiting to be called into action. Lock-in, dig deep, and be a Karen for democracy!
Reposted by Rachel Borchardt
They’ve called armed federal officers to the scene. We aren’t dangerous. We are here to represent our people. To defend public education. This is an authoritarian regime. You cannot block members of Congress from entering the Department of Education.
February 7, 2025 at 3:18 PM
They’ve called armed federal officers to the scene. We aren’t dangerous. We are here to represent our people. To defend public education. This is an authoritarian regime. You cannot block members of Congress from entering the Department of Education.
This all feels like a fucked up Prisoner's Dilemma where one side stopped voting to share a long time ago and the other side just keeps mashing that share button over and over.
February 3, 2025 at 9:39 PM
This all feels like a fucked up Prisoner's Dilemma where one side stopped voting to share a long time ago and the other side just keeps mashing that share button over and over.
Reposted by Rachel Borchardt
🧪Here's the script for your senators. If you're in WI, like I am, that's Johnson www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/office_locat... and Baldwin www.baldwin.senate.gov
Data by state on NIH impact: www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
Data by state on NIH impact: www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
![I am calling due to grave concerns with the freezing of communications at Federal agencies. Specifically, I am calling regarding HHS and the National Institutes of Health, including the indefinite suspension of council review meetings, review section, and travel. Currently, our state of [insert state here] benefits from over $654 million [WI data; insert data from your state here] in biomedical research funding from the NIH with a significant portion of that going to support jobs, innovation, and education, translating to $1.64 Billion in economic activity [WI data; insert data from your state here]. As a concerned local [citizen/resident/scientist/researcher/educator], I urge you to make sure that the money that has already been allocated for NIH extramural funding, including all training and workforce development grants remain committed. Having this funding removed would be disastrous for our local economy, important university biomedical research, and would lead to the loss of thousands of research training positions at the staff, postdoctoral, and graduate student level. NIH has always benefited from Congressional support across political ideologies, and continuing to commit to its funding and extramural projects ensures our country remains at the forefront of biomedical research efforts and innovations.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:pj7rqr7fzl2qf4v7l7ygej6w/bafkreif2irkeiikyvwoqan3aksfsatisbkobnupftulco2gjy6reu2lfoa@jpeg)
January 23, 2025 at 3:32 AM
🧪Here's the script for your senators. If you're in WI, like I am, that's Johnson www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/office_locat... and Baldwin www.baldwin.senate.gov
Data by state on NIH impact: www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
Data by state on NIH impact: www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
We turned on the Ravens game, and the 4 year old was not happy. She tried to advocate unsuccessfully to watch Nightmare before Xmas. When that didn't work, she asked what my favorite movies are.. and that's how she talked me into switching to UHF. Clever girl.
January 20, 2025 at 12:32 AM
We turned on the Ravens game, and the 4 year old was not happy. She tried to advocate unsuccessfully to watch Nightmare before Xmas. When that didn't work, she asked what my favorite movies are.. and that's how she talked me into switching to UHF. Clever girl.
Status report: snow day #3 for the kids just announced, kids are climbing the walls, I'm stress-eating bacon.
January 7, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Status report: snow day #3 for the kids just announced, kids are climbing the walls, I'm stress-eating bacon.
Jimmy Carter was someone we should all strive to be more like. I got to interact with him in 2008 during a Habitat for Humanity build. He asked where the group was from and I shouted out "Emory!" since I worked there at the time and he was affiliated with them and he responded. An amazing person.
December 29, 2024 at 9:54 PM
Jimmy Carter was someone we should all strive to be more like. I got to interact with him in 2008 during a Habitat for Humanity build. He asked where the group was from and I shouted out "Emory!" since I worked there at the time and he was affiliated with them and he responded. An amazing person.
Visiting my home town in CA. I've felt like a stranger visiting for many years, but this time around recognizing how many of my dreams take place here, and parts of me that fit better here. A bit bittersweet, but for this trip, hoping to go hike some hills!
December 29, 2024 at 12:24 AM
Visiting my home town in CA. I've felt like a stranger visiting for many years, but this time around recognizing how many of my dreams take place here, and parts of me that fit better here. A bit bittersweet, but for this trip, hoping to go hike some hills!