The Wall

Do you know the Priest of Sin? (aka Father McGowan)

I don’t know him personally, but I’m familiar with his highly publicized research about gambling & other vices.

April 30, 2025May 2, 2025

Bonbordilo Crocodilo or Brr Brr Patapim?

I have to admit that although I find the social phenomenon of AI brainrot intriguing, individual brainrot images seem to me like flickers signaling the potential collapse of a meaningful or useful internet.

What are some must go or must do in Boston?

I don’t get around much, so I asked my library helpers to make suggestions. Here they are, with numbers of multiple recommendations in parentheses:

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Thursday evening hours are fun! And bonus points for going in late March/early April to see the hanging nasturtiums! (3)
The Mapparium (2)
I recommend going to the Museum of Fine Arts! MFA Late Nites — food, crafts, and special gallery tours/lectures that you won’t get during daytime hours (2)
Whale watching tour (2)
Historic walking trails: both the Black Heritage Train and the Freedom Trail (2), as well as less formal walking tours covering various bits of Boston’s history
North End: Cafe Vittoria. Get an affogato!
Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary
Pastries from Bova in the North End!
Aquarium! Go see the penguins!
Walk around Castle Island
Walk around the quieter back streets of Beacon Hill
Hidden gem of Mass General: the Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation
Wander around the Boston Public Garden
Visit the BPL central library in Copley and look at the murals!
Catch a show at The Paradise, MGM Music Hall, or Roadrunner, or smaller clubs like Lizard Lounge or Plough & Stars, or an Irish Session at The Burren in Somerville

How do I synthesize cafeinnderal, the ultimate study drug?

IDK, but with the wide availability of coffee, tea, and energy drinks, it’s hard to see why you’d need anything else. Here’s an ebook about caffeine chemistry:bit.ly/bcl-caffeine-chemistry, and some fun books on the history of coffee: bit.ly/bcl-coffee-history .

April 29, 2025April 30, 2025

Favorite MTG card?

Oh there’s so many good ones to chose from! I have to say that I am partial to Academy Wall, mostly because I think its always nice to see yourself in the media you consume 🙂

Ideas for a summer side-hustle?

What are you most excited about? I’ve heard it’s good to find side-hustles based on your interest or on your time. Restaurants are often a good option, but there are summer historical tours, internships, tutoring, and all sorts of outside options like lifeguards or yard work.

What should I do if I walk in on my roommate watching porn and masterbating?

It seems like this has been a hot topic on the wall lately. Remember, when it comes to privacy, walls are your friend! Roommates should arrange for some kind of signal. An old classic is a tie (or something) hung from a doorknob, but since cellphones and texts exist now, those are a good option. IOW, use such an event to prompt a conversation about how to avoid it happening again.

How do I tell my boyfriend I am ready for marriage?

If you and your boyfriend haven’t discussed marriage before, I suggest you ask him what his views on marriage are and when he could see himself getting married. Suddenly sharing that you want to make a big life commitment without checking that he is on the same page is likely not to end well.

Hi !

Hello!

Guilty as sin …. is it cheating?

I personally don’t think “fatal fantasies” are cheating, but that’s how I interpret the song. Taylor Swift has such a way with lyrics about inner conflict.

What do I do if my roommate walks in on me beating it?

I would suggest trying to avoid that situation altogether by doing that in a more private location. Failing that, apologies always go a long way, as do promises that they won’t be subjected to it again.

Shame on Judge Hannah Dugan.

I’ll withhold judgement until we know more. The only version of events in the news so far is quoted from the FBI’s criminal complaint; neither Judge Hannah Dugan nor courthouse officials have spoken to the press.

most peculiar question asked this semester

IDK if it was peculiar as much as it was challenging: How to determine whether to use heat (A) or light (hx) in an electrocyclic ring opening?

World Fair 4/27!

I hope it was a smashing success!

Who will win the NBA finals? Will our king LeBron be able to bring it home?

It sounds like LeBron is already bringing home his own crown with 144 playoff double-doubles. You should ask my cousin the Magic 8-ball about predictions. I’ll refer you to the bleacher report’s current bracket: bit.ly/bleacher-nba-2025.

Why is my partner so pretty?

Beauty is, as they say, in the eyes of the beholder and it is also more than skin deep. Perhaps some of the qualities that make you enjoy your girlfriend’s company – personality, sense of humor, the conversations you can have – are all part of the special sauce that makes her pretty.