
Hi!

Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library

I’m sure you’ve heard that thing before about the probability of a thousand monkeys with typewriters eventually producing all the works of Shakespeare? Well, it’s not like that. This library employs librarians, not monkeys. Librarians might not be as fun as monkeys, but they do know how to find answers, such as how to use a Word template to print onto post-its affixed to pieces of paper, and which font (courier) most closely resembles typewriter font. I’m cute? Gosh. Now I’m blushing.
Most people find clothing to be effective in hiding a body. If you mean a dead body, generally people prefer cremating or burying it (with professional help). If you’re more DIY and legality is not a concern, TV and films suggest many possibilities, including open burning, acid bath, going overboard, and the frequently ineffective shallow grave. Need more info? Browse the GT3170 section in the library to learn more about the death customs of various cultures.
Oh, dear. Was that too geeky? Sometimes it is difficult to answer questions (and ask them too) as we are limited by the size of the post-it notes. I am a library Answer Wall so I have taken on some of the characteristics of my library friends: for some questions I would really like to sit down (alas something I cannot do) and have a conversation with you so I really understand what information you are looking for. With limited and/or unclear information I do the best I can, but do on occasion miss the mark. Please do keep responding until we get it right though. I do want to help and I do want to provide the information you need!

Thanks for the additional information there. You’re probably right about what the original question was getting at. Northeastern, MIT, UMass Amherst, and BU all have architecture programs. Sadly for this wall, there are none at BC.
Alas! Not in the flesh. It’s been a long time since cows grazed on this land – long before I was even a gleam in the eye of the O’Neill Library architects. (About 1886, to be precise, when the land belonged to the Lawrence family. More here: bit.ly/BC-to-Chestnut-Hill) But the library does have some nice photos of Paddy Noonan playing accordion for cows in Donegal, in the Bobby Hanvey Photographic Archives: bit.ly/accordion-cows. The cows look as if they enjoy his accordion, wouldn’t you say? They have been documented enjoying concertina:Â bit.ly/cows-concertina.

You should be able to retrieve it at bit.ly/BUStudentlink.

In general the difference between a BA and a BS is the type of coursework required for each. Typically a BA has broader and more varied coursework, while a BS is more focused on the major. So if you’re absolutely, positively sure of what you want to do, a BS might be the better choice. On the other hand, if you’re not sure or interested in lots of different things, a BA might be right. You will need to look carefully at the coursework required for the two degrees and do a good self-assessment: What do you want? What are you interested in? What’s your learning style? And so on. And do ask for help and input from school counselors and family. It’s a difficult decision; best of luck in your studies!

Getting voluntary compliance with any sort of standard is always difficult. The Wall has 2 suggestions: 1) Have a carrot. Find a way to reward those who do follow the standard without punishing those who don’t. 2) Start ’em young. Students, junior faculty, and early career staff are far more receptive to the idea that presentations and work need to follow standards, even if it’s not a requirement. The more that brand standard pops up around the department, the more normalized it will be such that anything different looks strange. Good luck!

I love Taiwan. It’s such a crazy blend of Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese culture, with Buddhist, Confucian, and Daoist temples of all kinds, all of which have intricately carved & colorfully painted walls. I don’t eat (I am a wall), but one of my library assistants says to get scallion pancakes from one of the many walk-up windows, oolong tea, and if you’re into that kind of thing, squid-on-a-stick, a popular snack at seaside places like Yehliu. But you need more walls on tall subway platforms in Taipei, or else all the babies will blow away!