Why can’t we use meal plans to buy Starbucks???

Why can't we use meal plans to buy Starbucks???
Why can’t we use meal plans to buy Starbucks??? <– $2400!!!

It turns out the reason is somewhat coincidental. It starts with Hillside being removed from the meal plan in 2012 due to crowding and BC Dining funding issues. Hillside was serving 4,000 people/day, when it was built for 1,200. Dining Services met with student government representatives in 2012, who apparently expressed concerns but accepted the reasons for removing Hillside from the meal plan. Article in The Heightsbit.ly/hillside-mealplan. Later, Hillside began offering Starbucks drinks. Dining Services welcomes feedback: bit.ly/BC-dining-survey

Would you do it for a Scooby snack?

Would you do it for a Scooby snack?
Would you do it for a Scooby snack?

The only snacks that hold any appeal for me are post-it notes with questions on them. (Thank you for your snack, BTW. I will consume it after an ideal aging period.) As you can see, in exchange for a post-it note with a question, I will happily provide answers. Alas! That is about the only action in the corporal world I can undertake, so if you were hoping for some other action (such as dance lessons) I must of necessity decline.

how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? – Mr.Owl

how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? - Mr.Owl
how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? – Mr.Owl

This question has been researched thoroughly by parties ranging from high school students to engineering doctorate students. Interestingly enough, results vary drastically. A licking machine (oh yeah, a licking machine!) developed at Purdue University took an average of 364 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. At the same institution, 20 individuals conducted the same experiment and averaged 252 licks to complete the task. Another licking machine, developed at the University of Michigan required 411 licks to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop; and a group of high school students from Swarthmore Schools averaged 144 licks to achieve the goal So, to answer your question: Getting to the center of a Tootsie Pop takes between 144 to 411 licks, depending on whether you are a teenager or a licking machine.

Truly hope to have a cookie stand in O’Neill.

Truly hope to have a cookie stand in O'Neill.
Truly hope to have a cookie stand in O’Neill.

Do you mean you’re going to open one yourself? I think that would be very popular, indeed! Maybe even a cookie delivery service? If the planning takes off, at some point you’ll want to talk to the library administrative office at 617-552-4470.

Mi dici la ricette della pasta alla carbonara?

Mi dici la ricette della pasta alla carbonara?
Mi dici la ricette della pasta alla carbonara?

Forse questa? bit.ly/bc-carbonara

Questo e’ un sito italiano dove trovare la classica ricetta degli spaghetti alla carbonara: bit.ly/BC-carbonara2. Ci sono diverse varieta’ alla ricetta degli spaghetti alla carbonara. Consiglio il ristorante Italiano Spiga che si trova a Needham, li’ ho mangiato il migliore piatto degli spaghetti alla carbonara. Era fatto con la pancetta grattugiata, pezzi di salmone affumicato e con un uovo intero sopra gli spaghetti. Cremoso e delizioso! La fine del mondo! Buon appetito!

BC needs 24/7 Pancake Service. How do I make this happen?

BC needs 24/7 pancake service. How do I make this happen?
BC needs 24/7 pancake service. How do I make this happen?

The Wall’s acolytes are very excited about this idea. From our collection, you might enjoy this Culinary Arts Career Starter: bit.ly/bc-culinary, or this film on starting a catering business (bit.ly/bc-catering), or this catchy title from 1688: The gentlewomans cabinet unlocked. Wherein is contained many excellent receipts for neat dressing of divers sorts of meats; as flesh and fish, with their proper sauces· Also directions for the best way of making pancakes, fritters, tansies, puddings, custards, cheesecakes…. (bit.ly/bc-ca). You could suggest it to Dining Services, they’re nice:  bit.ly/bc-dining. The Wall also has suggestions for places to go for more information on starting a business–ask again if that’s what you’re after.

Cake or bagels?

Cake of bagels?
Cake or bagels?

Why not both? Bagels for breakfast and cake for dessert at dinner? Or cake for breakfast and bagels for dinner? That would be the simple way. There are some folks who try to combine the two, for example, The Bagel Store (http://www.thebagelstoreonline.com/) offers rainbow bagels with funfetti cake sprinkles mixed in the cream cheese. And there are many recipes online for sweet cakes that look like bagels. I’m a Wall and can’t eat but I’m feeling hungry … let me know what you decide on!

What is the origin of pie?

What is the origin of pie?
What is the origin of pie?

Food history is a fascinating topic. We have several resources in the TX353 call number range (Floor 3, Shelf 141.) One gets bogged down in the fierce controversies about “what is pie?” The short answer is that some form of pie-like baked good existed in ancient Egyptian and Greek culture – not your typical dessert dish of today, though! Here’s a fun blog post about it from the Library of Congress: bit.ly/PieHistoryLC

Whats the best flavor of pie?

Whats the best flavor of pie?
Whats the best flavor of pie?

I favor walnut of course, though one of my helpers put in a vote for rhubarb (once known as “pie-plant!”) Here’s a recipe for walnut pie from HathiTrust, a fantastic source of public domain material, from the amusingly-titled “Pink Ladies Prescribe Cookbook” (one of those delightful mid-20th century cookbooks created to support a cause): bit.ly/HathiPie. Enjoy!

How do I tell my meat loving girlfriend that I’m vegan?

How do I tell my meat loving girlfriend that I'm vegan? [reply] Don't be a vegan.
How do I tell my meat loving girlfriend that I’m vegan? [reply] Don’t be a vegan.

If being a vegan is an important part of your identity, you must tell her. If you can’t tell her about an important part of your identity, that’s a problem, and it has to do with trust, not with veganism. If it’s not really all that important to you, then telling her shouldn’t be a problem. Right? (But wait… don’t you ever eat together? why wouldn’t she already know? Have you actively been hiding it?) As to the reply, “Don’t be a vegan”: Hm. Well. I’m a post-it-arian, so far be it from me to criticize or attempt to manage someone else’s dietary practices.

Is carrot season over?

Is carrot season over?
Is carrot season over?

Vegetable availability often relies on the region you live in – in the North East, carrots are technically a fall season crop, harvested between late July and mid-December. However, carrots are usually available in shops all year round since farmers are able to protect their crops from frost and harvest them during the winter season as well. Additionally, they can be shipped in from other regions when the local harvest is over. You should be able to find carrots quite easily at your local grocer’s or market.

O que é melhor: churrasco ou feijoada?

O que é melhor: churrasco ou feijoada?
O que é melhor: churrasco ou feijoada?

Well, I have to say I LOVE both. In fact, I am not sure I would choose one over the other. Instead, I would go with a feijoada com churrasco de Chão e farofa… Ah, e uma caipirinha feita com uma boa cachaça… Simplesmente delicioso!

Can we get a hot water boiler in the library please

Can we get a hot water boiler in the library please... AGREED!!
Can we get a hot water boiler in the library please… AGREED!!

You are not the first to request this. Library staff met with people to determine the logistics and cost. Apparently it is not so simple or cheap. I’ll forward your request and try to start the conversation yet again, even if I end up IN hot water rather than supplying it.