Do you sharpen these pencils?

Do you sharpen these pencils?
Do you sharpen these pencils?

No, I don’t. I’m a wall. I can’t even pick up a pencil, let alone sharpen it. These little pencils are carried here by my assistants from the containers at the Circulation and Reference desks whenever they notice they’re dull. If you notice they’re dull, it would be super-helpful if you grab a few from one of those desks, if you have the time and inclination.

Why it gotta be like that sometimes?

Why it gotta be like that sometimes?
Why it gotta be like that sometimes?

A lot of people, they don’t think it be like it is, but it do. It could be worthwhile studying either the problem of evil (AKA theodicy: bit.ly/bc-theodicy1) or perhaps the liberation from suffering that is the goal of Buddhism (bit.ly/stanford-buddhism). Or any major religion, really – all of whom in some way attempt to come to terms with the question: why does suffering exist?

What is QSLC?

What is QSLC? [response: qual of student life committee]
What is QSLC? [response: qual of student life committee]

Your fellow student is correct: it’s the Quality of Student Life Committee. Their orgsync page (bit.ly/bc-qslc) says they’re about instituting change at BC by talking to the administration and distributing the Boston Globe and New York Times at Dining Halls. They meet on Monday nights in Gasson 209.

What is the % republican people here & % democrat?

What is the % republican people here & % democrat?
What is the % republican people here & % democrat?

I’ve answered this once before, last Spring: There are dependable resources on political leanings of college students in general, such as the Panetta Institute surveys (bit.ly/panetta-surveys), and there are dependable measures of past voting by district, such as the CPVI (bit.ly/wiki-cpvi). BC’s district (MA-04) has a CPVI of D+9, which means it is 9 percentage points above the share of democratic party votes in the last two presidential elections. But there are few dependable college-by-college surveys. MyPlan.com (bit.ly/myplan-college-politics) ranks BC as 392/500 “most liberal” colleges and 112/500 of “most conservative” colleges, based on ratings by about 11,000 MyPlan.com users. Sound method? Doubtful. Do the math – if 500 colleges are rated by 11,000 raters rating their alma maters, that’s barely 22 raters per college on average.

Why doesn’t BC acknowledge its racist culture?

Why doesn't BC acknowledge its racist culture?
Why doesn’t BC acknowledge its racist culture?

Systemic racism is endemic to the US and institutions in it. I’m not sure quite what acknowledging that fact at BC would look like. BC has an Office for Institutional Diversity (bit.ly/BC-OID) that grapples with institutional racism with programs & resources, and recognizes that faculty and staff of color and students of color deserve additional support to contend with living with racism, through diversity and affinity groups. Of course, there’s always more that can be done; that’s the nature of institutional racism. Please contact the OID or other campus offices with your ideas about what should be done.

LA or NYC?

LA or NYC?
LA or NYC?

Bus to NYC: $35.00/4 hours. Flight to LA: $600.00/6.5 hours. Likelihood that living in Boston means you know someone in: NYC: 80%, LA: 40%. And the walls are waaaaaay taller in NYC. Is my answer obvious yet? But LA has my full sympathy right now b/c fires. 🙁

How do I not look like a freshman? Also how do I find parties?

How do I not look like a freshman? Also how do I find parties?
How do I not look like a freshman? Also how do I find parties?

Well you can’t control how old you look without going to some extreme measures that I wouldn’t advocate. Maybe wearing a fake mustache? As you grow older, you’ll look older (sorry that’s not helpful). As to where to find parties, you should think of it more as finding friends that you can go to parties with (or that can invite you). Check out some of the clubs around campus or volunteer for a service project.

How can I apply for your job (answer wall)

How can I apply for your job (answer wall)
How can I apply for your job (answer wall)

Well, first you have to learn how to transform into a pile of cinder blocks and some mortar. Then you have to listen and learn from everyone that walks by you for about 34 years. And then, if you work really hard, you can begin to communicate with humans via post-it.

Y’all should get a Citizens Bank ATM plz

Y'all should get a Citizens Bank ATM plz
Y’all should get a Citizens Bank ATM plz

I have directed my subordinates to look into this matter and will get back to you when they have gleaned some information.

Update, 11-14-18: BC has to balance student wishes with banks’ needs when placing ATMs on campus. If you have a suggestion, contact the treasurer’s office at 2-3041, and tell them. They can take it into account when making decisions. However, keep in mind that banks often place ATMs based on where they will most profit, which is not always perfectly aligned with customer convenience.

What are your thoughts on tinder?

What are your thoughts on tinder?
What are your thoughts on tinder?

As a part of a building, anything that could cause a fire concerns me. As long as it’s kept away from flame, I’m fine with tinder – in fact, I have many wall-friends made of wood. Oh. You meant the dating app? No judgment on how people want to find significant others or live their lives. Tinder can be good or bad depending on how one uses it.

Does counseling really work?

Does counseling really work? I was more miserable when I had it. Now I'm much happier when I'm devoting time to friends.
Does counseling really work? I was more miserable when I had it. Now I’m much happier when I’m devoting time to friends.

Everyone has different reactions to it, but yes, it does work for lots of people. It also can make a big difference who your counselor is and whether you get along with them–finding the right one can be tough, but it’s worth it if you can. If you’re getting good results in other ways, that’s excellent and I hope it continues.

How could one get the most inebriated for the least amount of money $?

How could one get the most inebriated for the least amount of money $?
How could one get the most inebriated for the least amount of money $?

That will depend in exactly what kind of deals you can get, but it roughly looks like cheap vodka is your best bet. A good listing of alcoholic beverage by cost per oz of pure alcohol is here: http://bit.ly/cheapBooze.
There is a tiny little voice in the back of my….well I don’t have a head or a brain, but my fiberglass insulation, that compels me to remind you to drink responsibly. Social drinking can be fun with friends, but alcohol poisoning isn’t.

Why is SMTP built on TCP?

Why is SMTP built on TCP?
Why is SMTP built on TCP?

Pretty much all of the modern Internet as we think of it is built on the TCP transport layer protocol. SMTP is an application layer protocol (email) that uses the TCP protocol to push information around the world. Other application layers include HTTP (webpages), FTP (direct file transfer), and DNS (like the phonebook of the Internet). All of these different types of request travel over TCP because it’s what everyone agreed upon. For more information on the all the different layers communication software that make up the Internet see http://bit.ly/InternetProtocol