I’ve only ever read Roald Dahl’s fiction for children…

I've only ever read Roald Dahl's fiction for children. Now that I've read his "Lamb to the Slaughter" its amazing how dark his work can be.
I’ve only ever read Roald Dahl’s fiction for children. Now that I’ve read his “Lamb to the Slaughter” its amazing how dark his work can be.

Seriously, after enjoying James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a little wall, those short stories – especially that one – were quite a shock. Although there were some pretty harsh elements even in his children’s lit, including Aunt Spiker and Aunte Sponge… and their fate. We have many works by and about Dahl; check the catalog at library.bc.edu.

Can you freestyle?

Can you freestyle?
Can you freestyle?

If you’re referring to freestyle rapping, I’m afraid not. There’s a growing consensus amongst hip-hop fans that the days of freestyling are coming to an end or have already ended. There are probably some artists who may have the ability to do so, but you may have to do a lot of digging to discover them. One of my library friends seems to think Black Thought of The Roots may be one example of an artist who engages in what can be considered freestyling. Here’s a link to one performance done on a radio show some time ago: bit.ly/radio-freestyle

Who is a better fantasy QB …

Who is a better fantasy QB Lamar Jackson or Deshaun Watson need help
Who is a better fantasy QB Lamar Jackson or Deshaun Watson need help

Tough choice between two good quarterbacks. One of my library friends seems to think Lamar Jackson is a slightly better option. As of the time of responding to this question, The Ravens are tied for the lead in points scored so far this season with 110. The rest of the AFC North doesn’t look very strong right now, so that could lead to more victories later on. Some concerns are that the Ravens’ game against the Dolphins may have made them look better than they are, and ending a drive by letting Mark Ingram try and rush for a TD has been pretty effective so far. Choosing to end a drive by handing the ball off could mean less points for Jackson going forward, but if he’s able to consistently lead his team down the field with his arm or his legs he should be able to rack up a lot of points both on the field and in fantasy football.

my co-rec football team got absolutely bundled in our last game…

my co-rec football team got absolutely bundled in our last game. We struggled as a team overall. 42-7 was the final score & I haven't slept since. Any Advice? I need a mug.
my co-rec football team got absolutely bundled in our last game. We struggled as a team overall. 42-7 was the final score & I haven’t slept since. Any Advice? I need a mug.

I’d suggest taking the time to communicate about what went wrong during the game. Losing by such a big margin is unfortunate if you’re on the losing side, but using it as an opportunity to learn where you can improve could be the best way to rebound.

What is Dungeons & Dragons?

What is Dungeons & Dragons? Is it a cult?
What is Dungeons & Dragons? Is it a cult?

It’s not a cult, it’s a game that mixes in elements of improv theater and collaborative storytelling. There’s a good explainer at Vox. bit.ly/bc-dnd. It’s been around since the seventies, but it’s having a bit of a cultural moment right now, showing up in a bunch of popular TV shows.

Do you miss the old Kanye?

Do you miss the old Kanye?
Do you miss the old Kanye?

As far as music goes, absolutely. “College Dropout”, “Late Registration”, “Graduation”, and “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” are great records in my opinion. “808s and Heartbreak” and his later works are pretty divisive for all sorts of reasons, but I can appreciate Kanye wanting to do something different with his music despite whatever criticisms there may be. He seems to mainly be getting attention now due to concerns about his mental health and his Adidas sneakers, but I’ll keep waiting to hear new music that I can appreciate on a similar level as his older stuff.

What’s a fun, random + cheap activity I can do with my friends on a weekday?

What's a fun, random + cheap activity I can do with my friends on a weekday?
What’s a fun, random + cheap activity I can do with my friends on a weekday?

It depends on your definition of “fun” and “cheap”! I can think of a few: visiting local museums, Seeing a movie on a Tuesday–many theatres offer tickets for $7 or less– paint nights–locations vary–and a fun event this month is a Glow Boston Fall Fest 09/26/19–low priced tickets can be found on groupon for this and paint nights.

Does S.L.A.M. (poetry/spoken word) still exist?

Does S.L.A.M. (poetry/spoken word) still exist? If so when do they meet?
Does S.L.A.M. (poetry/spoken word) still exist? If so when do they meet?

No fear – Soul, Love, and Meaning still exist at BC. I reached out to the lovely folks at the Arts Counsel and they said the next event is an open mic called Sunset SLAM!, Sept. 18, 7:30pm, McGuinn 121. You can contact the organizers at bostoncollegeslam@gmail.com

When is Harry Styles going to drop his second album?

When is Harry Styles going to drop his second album? I need to prepare
When is Harry Styles going to drop his second album? I need to prepare

My cousin the magic 8-ball says “Reply hazy, try again.” I’m not very good at predictions; my specialty is existing knowledge. However, music releases rarely come as a total surprise; companies like to begin marketing buzz with rumors, then with singles released on YouTube and TV appearances. Watch for signs.

Best advice for making a sweet house in Minecraft?

Best advice for making a sweet house in Minecraft?
Best advice for making a sweet house in Minecraft?

Use fence gates, fences, and iron bars to make “structural supports.” Make corners and edges a different texture – if wood, use logs, if cobble, switch to stone or stone bricks at edges. Make lighting deliberate – don’t use torches on the floor. If firetick is turned off you can light a hopper on fire and it makes a good brazier. Trapdoors over glow stone or sea lanterns make good modern lights. Grindstones attach to any direction, so it looks like something hanging. The small end of the hopper is exactly the same width as a single fence. Scaffolds look like tables. Finally, I always make sure to incorporate bookshelves into my builds with bookshelf blocks. Build on!

What song do u like the most??

What song do u like the most??
What song do u like the most??

You might be surprised to hear that the I actively avoid silica and alumina based compositions, such as Pink Floyd’s, “Another Brick in the Wall” or Iggy Pop’s, “Brick by Brick”. My current favorite song is “New Music Machine” by Japanese artist, Cornelius. You too can listen: bit.ly/2kccwke