The Wall – Page 209 – The Answer Wall

October 22, 2019October 23, 2019

Any ideas for good places to look for tips for studying abroad? Like packing, how to pick weekend trips, grocery shopping hacks, etc.?!

YouTube has a huge community of people with exactly that set of interests, so that’s one obvious place. Psychotraveller has good series on travel basics, for example. http://bit.ly/bc-travel. There are websites like Her Packing List that focus on how and what to pack. https://herpackinglist.com. Guidebooks like Rick Steves or Lonely Planet are an old-school way to check on destinations before you go, and they have digital versions…and they’re a little more consistent in tone and quality than TripAdvisor. Try a few of those and let me know if you have more questions..

October 22, 2019October 23, 2019

How am I supposed to write 3 papers in 2 days?

Write them at a rate of 1.5 papers per day? You could try asking for an extension. But it sounds like you could use some support with time management. Academic Coaching at the Connors Family Learning Center (bit.ly/BC-connors) can give you some ideas for how to not wind up in this situation next time.

October 22, 2019April 27, 2023

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Here’s my answer from April 2017: According to the Poetry Foundation, a woodchuck would chuck “As much wood as a woodchuck could chuck, If a woodchuck could chuck wood.” (bit.ly/woodchuck-poem) Researchers at Cornell determined that a woodchuck could chuck about 700 pounds: (bit.ly/cornell-woodchucks). “Compared to beavers, groundhogs/woodchucks are not adept at moving timber, although some will chew wood. A wildlife biologist once measured the inside volume of a typical woodchuck burrow and estimated that — if wood filled the hole instead of dirt — the industrious animal would have chucked about 700 pounds’ worth.” Additionally, though, how much wood could a wood duck duck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

October 22, 2019October 22, 2019

What are the spikes for on O’Neill outside the 4th floor windows?

They’re dissuading feathered friends from landing on the window ledges & using them as a bird bathroom.

October 22, 2019October 22, 2019

Dear Wall, Do you identify as Catholic?

I’m here to be welcoming to all and I don’t want to give an answer that might make someone feel excluded, so I think I’d like to keep my religious beliefs a private matter. In terms of the other part of your question, my friends at Campus Ministry would be delighted to help you explore questions like that. bit.ly/BC-ministry

October 22, 2019October 22, 2019

People around always make me laugh.

It’s really a great thing that you get so much joy from your fellow students, but I can see how this could become a problem. Can you explain the situation to your study friends, and ask them to help you out with a more serious environment… just while you’re studying? Afterwards, they can revert to being their hysterically funny selves.

October 21, 2019October 22, 2019

How many Turkish students there are at BC?

In 2018/19: 6 undergraduate and 18 graduate. The BC Fact Book is a great source for answers to questions like that: bit.ly/BC-FactBook

October 21, 2019October 22, 2019

How do I get rid of all my stress?

All of it? Not possible. But it’s a good idea to learn to get rid of unnecessary stress and to cope with the necessary stress. The Office of Health Promotion has some terrific ideas here: bit.ly/BCDeStress, as well as a link to meet with a Health Coach.

October 21, 2019October 22, 2019

Wow, 1.405 x 10^51 is a big #. I do think 42 is the answer to the question of life, the universe, & everything

It’s not THAT big; why, 1.405 x 10^52 is TEN TIMES bigger! But Douglas Adams was, of course, correct.

October 21, 2019October 22, 2019

Do you think that ethical, consensual, nonmonogamous sex could be considered a problem?

I think it would depend on who you asked. My helpers have a variety of opinions about that issue. Consensual and ethical are minimums, it’s the non-monogamy that gets complicated when you move from theory to relating to real human beings. (BTW, I answered this very question on 10/2 and 10/8. You can always visit my blog to see questions you might have missed in their physical manifestation right here: library.bc.edu/answerwall.)

October 21, 2019October 22, 2019

Book recommendations?

I’m not sure what your genre preferences are, but one of my helpers says Slay by Brittany Morris in our POP! collection is a good one. It’s about a young black game developer who creates a hugely popular VR game. I recommend a visit to librarything.com, where you can type in a title or author you like and see related recommendations, based on thousands of participant’s personal collections.

October 21, 2019October 22, 2019

prove by induction that…

I could answer this, but I’m concerned that maybe you can’t, and you need to be able to. How about getting some friendly peer tutoring at the Connors Family Learning Center (bit.ly/BC-connors)?

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019

Who are you?

Even The Who couldn’t answer that question, and you think I can? bit.ly/whoareyouwhowho. No, but seriously, I contain multitudes. Of library staff.

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019

What’s your take on GOT ssn 8?

I couldn’t watch after the wall was breached. I just couldn’t, I’m sorry. So I have no take on GOT ssn 8.

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019

Testingin ko nga ang tagalog, baka maintindihan olin ng pader

I might not know every language in the world, but my helpers and I know many, including Tagalog. (Let’s test the Tagalog, the wall might understand. Did I pass your test?)

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019

How do you feel about Notre Dame?

Sad for the one in Paris. Collegial toward the one in Indiana–have some good wall friends there.

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019

Can non BC people use the library? If so how/why when where etc.

Yes! We welcome visitors from everywhere. You can browse and read our books here, use our guest computers to access most of our electronic journals and databases, get research help at the Reference Desk, ask The Answer Wall (me) anything, and if you want you can pay to get a card to check out books. More info on guest access: bit.ly/BCLibGuest.

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019

How can I become President of the United States without becoming a messed up person?

Jimmy Carter’s post-presidential life of authorship, shunning cash cow payouts, and community service is widely viewed as a life well lived, and not “messed up.” Take a look at this entry, Life After the Presidency, Jimmy Carter (bit.ly/millercenter-carter), from the Miller Center at the University of Virginia for an overview. For more on the post-presidential lives of other U.S. Presidents visit, U.S. Presidents, Miller Center (millercenter.org/president).

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019

How can I get a 180 on the LSAT?

Study study study. And honestly a bit of luck. Many of the Wall’s law school friends say that the PowerScore series of LSAT prep books are the best. Unfortunately we don’t have them here and can’t seem to get them via ILL (we tried). I also want to note that standardized test scores tend to be used more as filters in adminssions rather than reasons to accept an applicant. Which is to say that anything over 170 will probably get your application looked at by all of the top law schools. You have to sell yourself as an applicant from there (GPA, extracurriculars, other “soft factors”). Good luck!

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019

Can I get boyfriend?

It looks like you have your answer! Sort of. Now the trick is to find out who that is & whether it’s someone you’d like to be your boyfriend. I wish you the best of luck in this endeavor. If this particular option doesn’t work, I’m sure there will be others. The key is to be your genuine self.