Category: Random

It’s a strange new landscape for sure, but I’m very happy to see people are taking it seriously. Stay safe and well!

The most important thing here is to keep up with your routine. Don’t fall into the rut of waking up whenever and not taking a shower, etc. Go about getting ready for the day like you would any other day when you’d have to go to class. Set aside the class times (if they’re not already filled with video lectures) to do actual work. Finally, make sure you keep up your social life to the extent possible. Make video chat dates. Plan a virtual cocktail hour (if you’re of age). Or do what some of my wall helpers are doing an learn how to play D&D with friends virtually on roll20.net.

You can always browse Netflix (one assistant recommends “The Dragon Prince”) and Prime Video, but the cool kids are catching the free live stream from the Met Opera: facebook.com/pg/MetOpera, or checking our digital streaming collections of plays, opera, and dance: library.bc.edu/theaterstudies/StreamingVideo. Of course, there’s always some of my own favorites, like Wall-E or Pink Floyd’s The Wall.

Governor Baker just issued an order to close non-essential businesses until April 7th, starting Tuesday, March 24th at noon. https://bit.ly/bc-baker. Text of the order: https://bit.ly/bc-baker2

The spring of the COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point for Humanity (and even Walldom) when, for the most part, people showed their best selves and threw themselves into the effort of keeping each other alive and keeping society functioning. Of course, there were some jerks who did not. But they were few.

Everett, eh? A mystery! Meanwhile, you might want to know about the new shuttle schedule (and board from rear doors): https://twitter.com/BC_Parking/status/1241090104212328449

It can make a huge difference which instructor and topic you start with, so think about which part didn’t work for you. Maybe another faculty member’s approach would suit you better, or maybe a different area of linguistics.

My assistants all work here at BC as librarians. If you want to keep up the excitement that comes with finding answers to all possible questions, I would suggest trying to volunteer at your local library! You’ll be able to help members of your community find their solutions, and spread the library joy in the process.

Hello Kitty!

You should be able to upload pics. The platform, Padlet, is used by many schools and colleges, so I expect it will be a little slow now that so many have gone online. Once in a while, you may have to wait for traffic to clear.

“We’ll meet again/ Don’t know where/ Don’t know when/ But I know we’ll meet again some sunny day” (lyrics: Ross Parker and Hughie Charles) Come visit when you’re able!

I’ll miss you too. Thanks for spending time here, and thanks for sharing how much it meant to you.

No one. 🙁 An occasional staff or faculty member might pop by to say hello, but I will miss you all and your wonderful questions. But don’t worry. I was quietly biding my time for nearly 3 decades before deciding to answer questions, and I will be patiently waiting to do so again soon. I look forward to having you all back! Please stay safe and wash your hands!

I’m OK, trying to keep myself clean. I’ll miss you all, but it’s really for the best.

Big oof. Both guys and gals (and anyone in between) can be “gross”. Why does anyone think it’s OK to be gross? Could be a whole host of things: cultural background, life experience, necessity, etc. If someone’s hygiene is affecting your relationship with them, you need to either politely point out the issue or decide that you can live with it given their other attributes.

That really depends on how you complete the question!

And if you drink your beer cold, does that make you immune to colds?

The truth is probably somewhere in the wide middle. People sometimes suck. Men sometimes suck in ways related to power, which men tend to have more of, and base some of their behaviors on. I hope you find the ones who don’t suck. They’re out there, often not attracting attention to themselves.

Matthew 5-38:40 has always been a favorite of mine, even though I don’t have a cheek or a shirt, and the only coat I have is paint.

BC has made no announcement yet about switching to online courses. For BC updates straight from the source: bc.edu/coronavirus. I’m sorry to say that given the number of other major area institutions now going online (Harvard, Northeastern, BU), and the MA state of emergency, it’s likely that BC will as well. COVID-19 infection growth has been exponential. A steep curve will overwhelm hospitals unless people take actions (social distancing, hand-washing, etc.) to slow the curve. BC going online would achieve a lot of social distancing quickly, and can help protect the most vulnerable, as your respondents suggest. Timing is complicated by the fact that the beginning of an exponential curve is shallow, and gives the appearance of a minor problem, but if there is no response before it begins to accelerate, that’s a sure way to overwhelm hospitals. #FlattenTheCurve

BC has made no announcement yet about switching to online courses. For BC updates straight from the source: bc.edu/coronavirus. I’m sorry to say that given the number of other major area institutions now going online (Harvard, Northeastern, BU), and the MA state of emergency, it’s not unlikely that BC will as well. By all indications from other countries, infection growth is exponential. A steep curve will overwhelm hospitals unless people take actions (social distancing, handwashing, etc.) to slow the curve. BC going online would achieve a lot of social distancing quickly; if it does, it will be in order to protect the most vulnerable, as your respondents suggest. Timing is complicated by the fact that the beginning of an exponential curve is shallow, and gives the appearance of a minor problem, but if there is no response before it begins to accelerate, that’s a sure way to overhwelm hospitals. #FlattenTheCurve

And as you now know, events surpassed the Answer Wall’s wisdom & knowledge, and BC is closing down classes and going online. #FlattenTheCurve

It’s impossible not to have mixed feelings about all of this. I feel great about all of the people who will be safer, but sad for all the upheaval in everyone’s lives. It’s just a very, very hard time. Take care of yourselves, be kind to your neighbors.