Mangia!
Come si fa per avere successo nella vita?
Lebron or Harden for the MVP?
Harden leads the league in points, is 3rd in assists, and has led the Rockets to a first place overall playoff berth. Which is not to say LeBron has played poorly – the Cavs had some personnel issues in the middle of the season and LeBron led them through that like the legend that he is (one can also argue that he’s responsible for those issues, but that’s another post-it). Harden has been solid all season long, and his stats are better than LeBron’s across the board. Which is important because consistency is critical for an MVP and Harden has just shown that more than LeBron this season. Also, anyone who can dance like Harden (bit.ly/HardenDance) deserves the MVP.
Why do we use grad[e]s to be a measure of our knowledge & intelligence?
![Why do we use grad[e]s to be a measure of our knowledge [unclear word] ?](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/aw040418-5.jpg)
It wasn’t always this way, as you can learn in this fascinating article about the history of grades: bit.ly/history-of-grading (BC community access). Grading in the US evolved from European scholastic competitions, which worked something more like sports playoffs; the winners of final brackets went on to be supported by academic institutions for life. Yale was the first in the US to use a 4-point scale: “2” was satisfactory. Harvard and William & Mary adopted it. They often included non-academic criteria; a “0” at William & Mary meant “those who learned little or nothing… on account of excessive idleness.” K-12 schools followed suit. At first, grades were purely an internal pedagogical tool. Around 1900 as schooling became universal, grading became systematized as way to communicate externally.
Where can we get hot water in this library?
This is a popular request that I would truly like to see realized. My helpers have been lobbying for this behind the scenes, but I can’t make any promises at this time. They will keep pushing for it.
What to do if one is despondent?
Do not go this alone! Feelings of despondency come to many people during their college years. Please talk to the Counseling Center (bit.ly/BC-counseling, office hours 7:45am-8:45pm M-F. Appt’s via phone (617-552-3310) or in office (Gasson 001). Wishing you brighter days ahead.
What should I do if I’m really really depressed…I want to take a gap year :(
First I will say that if you’re depressed, I highly recommend talking to someone about those feelings. They are natural, common, and you deserve as much happiness as anyone else in the world. BC counseling (bit.ly/BC-counseling) can help you work through some of what you’re feeling. As for a gap year, that’s not necessarily a bad idea. Taking some time away from school may help you re-focus and provide a broader context for your studies. If you do decide to take a gap year, I recommend trying to make the best of the time by working in a field you’re interested in or gaining other quality life experiences.
Long-distance relationship or not?
There’s no right or wrong answer here. If you decide to go ahead with it, there will be lonely times, for sure, but if you feel strongly about the person, it may be worthwhile. Some questions to ask yourself: How much do I want to be in a relationship with this person? Could we find a way to end up living in the same geographic area, and if so, how soon? How willing are we both to give it a try, and end the relationship if long-distance doesn’t work? Best to you, whatever you decide.
Strangest body part? Why?
I would say the wisdom teeth. These are the reasons: a. They are useless b. They can misalign the jaw and impede dental hygene c. They are extremely painful to remove Another possibility is the interstitium, which was undiscovered until recently, and yet may be the largest organ.
Name the best British Rock ‘N Roll band from the ’90s.
A terribly subjective question. The best The Wall can muster is to provide you with three of our favorites and some tips for further reading: Spiritualized (Album Recommendation: Lazer Guided Melodies) Verve (Album Recommendation: A Northern Soul) The Auteurs (Album recommendation: After Murder Park) Further reading: Britpop! by John Harris (O’Neill Library ML3534.6.G7 H37 2004) & Retromania, by Simon Reynolds (O’Neill Library ML3534 R4915 2011)
Favorite OneRepublic song? Why?
Only one? How about “Love Runs Out” to dance to, “Good Life” for great lyrics and overall message, and “Apologize” because who doesn’t love cello in a pop song?
Quando iniziera’ a far caldo?
Soon, it will come. I am predicting my harbinger of Spring – no, not the red robin, but the flap-tic, flap-tic flap-tic sound in the library lobby as soon as the students swap out their boots for flip flops, to come tomorrow, if anyone is still around, or else as soon as Easter Break is through.
What did you give up for Lent this year?
Dry erase markers!
What is the point? (as one walks through a cemetery) haha
Rather than looking for “a point” to life, I think it is better to acknowledge that you are here regardless of reason, and then strive to make the world a better place. If you do this, you will create your own reason for being here. And making the world better doesn’t have to be daunting- even simple actions can help.
What’s behind the name of the fountain pen? When did it come about?
Though we may frequently think of outdoor fountains when we hear the word “fountain,” the word is actually developed from the Latin word “fons” which means spring or source of water. Thus, the term “fountain pen” developed because they include reservoirs or containers of ink unlike early pens that were dipped in an external source of ink before writing with them and did not feature an internal source of ink. It is hard to say when they were first developed. The first may have been as early as the 10th century when there is some evidence that a fountain-style pen was created at the request of Al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah. There is also evidence that Leonardo da Vinci may have created and used a prototype of one. We do know that they were in use in Europe and referred to as “fountain pens” by the 17th century. Want to know more? Check out The Missing Ink: The Lost Art of Handwriting by Philip Hensher (Z40 .H46 2012).
Who put the bomp in the bomp-di-domp-di-domp?
Good work, right? We are given the clue that the lyricist thinks it’s a man (“I’d like to shake his hand”). For the record, Leonard Nimoy did not actually have the answer (bit.ly/NimoyInt)…
When are they knocking Walsh & the mods down?
My assistants are getting in touch with the people on campus who understand the timelines of those walls. I will provide an answer as soon as they hear.
Are they renovating parts of Ruby this summer?
My assistants are getting in touch with the people on campus who understand the timelines of those walls. I will provide an answer as soon as they hear.
Update: According to Facilities Management, there is a long-term plan to replace the mods, but it’s so long-term that there is no year associated with the plan. Renovations in Ruby are contingent on many factors and a time-frame is still uncertain.
What is the real political impact of the stormy “60 min” interview on The presidency of the US? Now what?
The Wall has seen lots of Presidents, but can’t think of one with a scandal quite like this…which is not to say presidential sex scandals are new: here’s a history of them from 1789 to 1900. bit.ly/bc-affairs. It’s hard to say how the politics will play out, but the Wall will be watching the defamation lawsuit Daniels has brought very closely.
Why are there purple flashing lights up by the ceiling in Carny?
I don’t get out of O’Neill often, so I had to ask for help on this question. Thankfully, I am good friends with the Carney Ceiling. She claims she hasn’t flashed anything in quite awhile, so we’re not sure what you’re talking about. Can you tell us where you were standing when you saw (or what you were doing prior to seeing) these flashing purple lights?
Should we move to Colorado?
Depends on what’s in Colorado. Good job? Fresh start? Skiing? Colorado is a great state, but moving somewhere without a plan is usually a bad idea. Also, consider where in Colorado you’d be moving. Do you want to live in a city or somewhere more rural? One way to figure some of this out might be to make a visit out to the area you want to move to for a week or 2 and see how well you like it.