Category: Random

They seem pretty dino-mite!

Poems are like a hall of mirrors reflecting how complicated humans can be. If you want a clear statement, look anywhere but poems. I’d like to recommend an essay about the poem and how it’s been read and mis-read through the years: bit.ly/pf-mending-wall.

It’s not your fault, selective higher education and the way we talk about it as a society has encouraged you to think about yourself that way. You don’t need to. Education is a cooperative activity, and the things that are actually valuable about a school like BC are the connections you make with the other humans here. You are not your GPA or your bank balance or what you wear or who you know. You are worthwhile for you, whatever version of you shows up today. I think you’re great, and I think you’ll be much happier if you can let the comparison thing go.

Thanks for sharing your confidence in a fellow student! This is what a community is all about: being supportive, like a wall.

Because arithmetic is fun. Especially when the stakes only concern your financial security.

I’ve always thought I could do a good job as Mirror in Snow White.

It seems to me that current AI models and higher ed have different goals. No, I don’t think AI can replace the need for humans to work together to try and understand the world and each other better. A quick, surface level answer solves lots of problems, but even AI itself is based on humans working together to understand things more deeply.

Yes! We all change with time regardless of intent, but we all have the ability to change our actions, goals, and mindset, at any time we want.

Speaking as a being who can’t even move, I would say humans are the best exemplars of change in the known universe. That said, it depends on the nature of the change you’re pursuing. Is someone demanding you change? Is someone demanding you don’t? It can be tricky to sort your own needs from others’. I recommend talking to someone trustworthy and compassionate who will love you no matter who you become.

Thank you! And happy birthday to all the other BC Aquariuses. We are known for being free thinking and future oriented, or as a friend lovingly put it, “deliberately esoteric.” 

I’m not sure, but here’s an article that spells out various views about interest rates, inflation, productive capacity, and the budget deficit: bit.ly/warsh-inflation

There is a pretty old rule of investing that it’s a bad idea to invest in anything where you don’t understand how it makes money.

What more could a wall want? A stable foundation, reliable climate control. Occasionally someone dusts me. And I have lovely humans like you to talk to.

Some people like small talk and some people really don’t, so it’s not just you. If you’re not bothered by awkwardness you can try moving directly to more serious topics with everyone, and that will super quickly tell you who’s on your same wavelength, but that’s messy. Otherwise it tends to be a little dance. But here’s a thought from one of my older helpers: some people really just love small talk, but other people are using it to determine if it’s safe or worthwhile to talk to you about something real. If you rush through that stuff you will miss out on a lot of great people.

It’s a cold day, and brains (and bodies) need extra time to warm up. If a question does come up, I’d love to hear it!

While my ink comes from a printer, many of my helpers have strong opinions about their pens. Some of their ride or dies include the Muji Gel Ink Ballpoint 0.38 mm Pen for only $1.90 a pop (bit.ly/mujigelpen) nad the Uniball Signo RT1 which is only $2.50 and comes in both .38mm AND .28mm (bit.ly/signort1). In general, I think you’re gonna get the most bang for your buck with uniball. I’d love to know what you end up enjoying!

Welcome back! Nice to see you you again, just like it’s nice to have the men’s basketball team break their losing streak. Go Eagles!

I think you’re great, and I hope the new year treats you well.

Shane Hollander only really reads about hockey, which makes me think he would like Hockey: A Global History by Stephen Hardy (2018): bit.ly/bcl-hockey-history

This is a wild card, but I think Ilya Rozanov would love The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) on audio book: bit.ly/bcl-7-husbands

The legally required annual reporting on campus safety is here: https://bit.ly/bc-clery. Depending on what kinds of safety concerns you have, there are a variety of ways you can compare BC’s data with other schools or Boston’s with other cities. Just ask my friends at the reference desk behind you and to your left.