The Wall

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Is there a most precise, thorough, efficient or otherwise “best” language (that should be used for a potential world-government?)

Is there a most precise, thorough, efficient or otherwise "best" language (that should be used for a potential world-government?)
Is there a most precise, thorough, efficient or otherwise “best” language (that should be used for a potential world-government?)

You’re in luck: a language purpose-built for a potential world government has already been invented: Esperanto. (bit.ly/guardian-esperanto) The trouble is, not many people speak it. Another solution might be to examine regions of the world with single governments and a lot of languages. In India, there are 17 official languages; these are languages into which all government documents & forms must be translated. In the EU, where legal & trade agreements proliferate, there are 24 official languages. Hm. Seems inefficient, but then again, it also seems to work. For an interesting article on the efficiency or inefficiency of various languages, see this one from The Atlantic: bit.ly/efficient-language.

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How many students at Boston College in 2017?

How many students at Boston College in 2017?
How many students at Boston College in 2017?

This is another great question for the BC Fact Book (bit.ly/BC-FactBook)! According to the 2017-2018 edition, the total number of students enrolled at Boston College in fall of 2017 across all programs was 14,419. However the book does note that this number included students who were studying abroad, so the total number actually at Boston College was 14,165.

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What do you know about the world cup?

What do you know about the world cup? AND who do you think will win?
What do you know about the world cup? AND who do you think will win?

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is in the midst of the knockout round of 16. Half the games have been completed with Uruguay facing France, and Russia facing Croatia in the quarter-finals. The other two quarter-final matches will be determined with games today and tomorrow. Watching the competition so far, it has been exciting to see some of the underdogs finding success where Messi (Argentina) and Ronaldo (Portugal) have failed. France, Uruguay, and Croatia have been playing fast, high-energy, creative games – any of these three could be taking home the World Cup this year!

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How to keep freshness during a relationship?

How to keep freshness during a relationship?
How to keep freshness during a relationship?

Taking up a new hobby or learning a new skill together can be very refreshing. Maybe try salsa dancing? Learning Icelandic? Also recognizing that while there will always be some fresh things, because we grow and change, constant novelty is not necessarily key to maintaining a relationship; on the flip side you get the richness of shared experience as time goes by.

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What is the best place to have sex in the O’Neill?

What is the best place to have sex in the O'Neill?
What is the best place to have sex in the O’Neill?

The best place to have sex is somewhere that you feel safe and that you have permission to be in. As for O’Neill, there aren’t exactly a lot of secret passages or corridors or stacks you can get lost in like some other libraries. The stacks in the library have study spaces scattered throughout, which means that anyone could come along at any time. Similarly, the 5 floors of space we do have are pretty densely populated by staff (office space is a chronic problem on campus). Nevermind the fact that the walls can talk. O’Neill is a less than ideal spot for a private act like sex. Best of luck to you in finding your best sex space.

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Chicken or the egg?

Chicken or the egg?
Chicken or the egg?

I have checked with my helpers and they like both chicken and eggs. There are so many ways to prepare and enjoy them. Do you have a favorite recipe?

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BC –> NBA!

Congratulations to the LA Clippers’ newest player, and Boston College’s first ever NBA lottery draft pick, Jerome Robinson! Go Eagles! Read about it: bit.ly/BC-Jerome

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Is there a place to study on campus that is not freezing…? T^T The library is too cold!

Is there a place to study on campus that is not freezing...? T^T The library is too cold!
Is there a place to study on campus that is not freezing…? T^T The library is too cold!

Sorry about the temperature! We’ve had this complaint before, and I will send it again to the folks who oversee temperatures. The problem is this: the temperature is more for the sake of the books than for humans. Books like it best in a pretty narrow range of temperatures and humidity that unfortunately is a little lower than is comfortable for some humans sitting and reading. (Did you ever wonder why the stereotypical librarian is wearing a cardigan? Wonder no more.) Try any classroom building, or if you don’t mind a little activity, one of the dining areas. Or bring a cardigan?

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Are you happy every day, How to be more happy

Are you happy every day, How to be more happy
Are you happy every day, How to be more happy

Not every day – at least, I’m not happy all the time. It’s probably not realistic or sustainable to always be happy. Being happier in general might be a reasonable goal, and you’re in luck; Happiness Research has taken off as a field in this century. A search in our catalog under the subject “happiness” might be a good place to start, including: “The calculus of happiness : how a mathematical approach to life adds up to health, wealth, and love” QA93 .F467 2017.

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Do you think we’ll be able to transfer this upcoming Fall? :D

Do you think we'll be able to transfer this upcoming Fall? :D
Do you think we’ll be able to transfer this upcoming Fall? 😀

I’d love to see you here! I always look forward to answering more students’ questions, as do my colleagues at the reference desk. Sadly, the transfer application site (bit.ly/BC-transfer) says the transfer application deadline for Fall is March 15, and all applicants hear by May 20. If you’d like to apply for Spring transfer enrollment, the deadline is November 15.

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Who will win the World Series?

Who will win the World Series?
Who will win the World Series?

I happen to be acquainted with a game theorist. He applies game theory to football pools and wins big every year. Hardly anyone will let him into their pools any more, because word has gotten around that with him in the pool, nobody else stands a chance. But he never bets on baseball. He says there are too many variables: too many games, too many potential pitcher-batter match-ups, winds & humidity that affect home run potential, minor injuries… I mean, a hangnail can kill a pitcher’s ERA! There’s just no way to tell, which is why baseball is the best sport: just as in life, you never know what will happen. Go, Sox! (In the meantime, I why not read The fix is in: A history of baseball gambling and game fixing scandals, by Daniel Ginsburg. O’Neill Library GV863.A1 G58 1995.)

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My cousin the Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis University’s Goldfarb-Farber Library

Please enjoy these pictures of my cousin the Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis University’s Goldfarb-Farber Library. I visited earlier this summer. We had a great time! As you can tell, Express Yo’self is a little more freewheeling and adventurous than me.

"We want education for our people that exposes the true nature of the decadent American society. We want education that teachs us our true history and our role in the present day society." -- Blank Panther Party, 10-point program, point #5
Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis
Express Yo'self Wall at Brandeis: cartoon character with speech bubble: I dunno what to tell you man
Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis
Though my soul must set for darkness/It shall rise in perfect light/I have loved the stars too fondly/To be fearful of the night
Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis
Express Yo'self Wall at Brandeis: cartoon bird with speech bubble: "Oh No..." I am the Best! We are the BEST!
Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis
Express Yo'self Wall at Brandeis: jumble of illegible words near a series of buttons on the wall.
Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis
Express Yo'self Wall at Brandeis: jumble of illegible words, and: We all have both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. that's who we really are.
Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis
Express Yo'self Wall at Brandeis: several cartoon figures, including Batman. Illegible text.
Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis
Express Yo'self Wall at Brandeis: realistic drawing of girl's face and hair. Chinese writing. Please! Next time I want to have a crush on a non-gay...[illegible, obscured by drawing of girl]
Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis
Express Yo'self Wall at Brandeis: We are either our greatest enemies or our greatest friends. Or both. Live Your Life. Love Trumps Hate. [drawing of chameleon]
Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis
Express Yo'self Wall at Brandeis: [cartoon figure peering out from behind another] SMAE
Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis
Express Yo'self Wall at Brandeis: [drawing of palm tree and monkey] Be Happy, DJ Ross, Hour 7! [small cartoon faces]
Express Yo’self Wall at Brandeis
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I kind of lost my mojo, how do I find it again?

I kind of lost my mojo, how do I find it again?
I kind of lost my mojo, how do I find it again?

It’s also possible your mojo is working, but just not working for the purpose you want. Like Muddy Waters, you might explore either going to Louisiana to get a mojo “hand,” or consulting with a Roma soothsayer: bit.ly/mojo-working. (At the very least, listening to his music should spark some mojo.) You might also try the unacknowledged queen of the blues, Ida Cox, who sang about mojo way back in 1927, and later sang about how wild women don’t have the blues: bit.ly/wild-women. Ida’s advice: “You never get nothing by being an angel child/ You better change your ways and get real wild.” Another way to think about mojo is a variant on “lean in”: are you avoiding something? Don’t run away from it; move closer, and turn fear into excitement.

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Ales or lagers?

Ales or lagers?
Ales or lagers?

Why not both? Sam Adams’ new Sam ’76 is a blend of an ale and lager designed to appeal to the Budweiser crowd – my human friends tell me it’s pretty good for what it’s trying to be. Generally speaking, if you want fruity or more adventurous beers, you’re looking at an ale. Lagers should be crisper and cleaner on the palette (i.e. they should not have strong aftertastes like a stout or an IPA – both ales). Both have their strengths and both can be delicious.

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Will the Celtics be better off if Lebron joins?

Will the Celtics be better off if Lebron joins?
Will the Celtics be better off if Lebron joins?

Of course. LeBron is a monster. A generational talent. Arguably (and there’s lots of argument) the best ever. LeBron will make any team better. BUT, we need to consider the Celtics locker room. Kyrie left Cleveland, ostensibly to get away from LeBron, so bringing LeBron here would probably bode poorly for how well the team gels. I also don’t know how coach-able LeBron is these days, having basically coached the Cavs himself for the past few years. Personally, I would be excited to see him come, but I also think there would be a lot of adjustment early in the season.