? Thank you! ? Alas, I’m unable to enjoy a slice of cake…but perhaps you could have some on my behalf?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WALL
Why is a very ill old, homeless man in a church not *everyone’s* “problem”?
It might be worthwhile inquiring at the church (was it St. Ignatius?) what they do when people who seem to be sick and unable to care for themselves come to the church. Some churches provide some care (such as food or temporary shelter), and many can refer people to social services (such as the ones listed by Boston Public Library: guides.bpl.org/guide4help). Policing is also mixed on its relationship to social services: some departments have tried closer links with social services, but many haven’t. It’s a widespread problem (bit.ly/police-social-work) owing to changing policing priorities as crime falls and substance abuse and poverty and homelessness rise. I’d like to think that officer meant BCPD wasn’t equipped to solve that kind of problem, not that they shouldn’t be expected to be humane.
Why is [redacted] (2021er MCAS) so nice!!!!!
![Why is [redacted] (2021er MCAS) so nice!!!!! [phrase in Chinese]](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/aw02122018-7.jpg)
There’s just no explaining some people, whose nice-ness (niceousity?) is so radiant that you just have to stand back and appreciate it, and hope you can absorb some yourself. I recommend giving your friend a shout-out in person. (Sorry I had the name redacted: I follow a privacy policy so strict that it makes my assistants think I’m a little obsessive.) “And old”? Is that an in-joke in Beijing or something? I don’t get it.
你是怎么看懂中文的呢? (How do you understand/read Chinese?)
![[Chinese, awaiting translation]](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/aw02122018-8.jpg)
I have many, many assistants in BC Libraries and beyond. If two heads are better than one, then dozens of heads are even better, and dozens of librarians… it’s kind of like having the entire published history of humanity at my beck and call. Librarians are amazing that way.
Can a coll. student do anything immoral?
Well, yes. Students are no more immune to questionable behavior than anyone else. The real questions are “Should a student do anything immoral?” (probably not) and “How can students resist the temptation to do something immoral?” (probably many ways to do that)
I like someone but I am afraid to tell her! What should I do?
Many humans seem to have trouble with this. The Wall thinks of it this way: If you tell her in a respectful way that gives her a chance to have an honest reaction, the worst case scenario is she’s not interested and things are a little awkward for a while. The best case scenario, that you tell her and she’s interested, is vastly better than the worst case is bad.
Why is learning arabic so hard?
If you are a native speaker of English, I think the hardest thing for starters would be that you can’t even hazard a guess (unlike, say German or Latin), because of the alphabet. There are some sounds that just don’t exist in English. But for a contrarian view, here’s a page from the University of Warwick (UK): bit.ly/ArabicEZ. And please don’t hesitate to seek help from the CFLC (bit.ly/BC-connors) or your professor.
Can students park in the mod lot at 8 pm-12am to use the library?
I spoke with a real person in the transportation office (I’m not sure they have a wall), and she said “Students can only park in the mod lot at that time if they are a grad student with an SGS-2 permit. If not, they are welcome to use the Commonwealth or Beacon Garages, but they will have to pay.” I hope that helps, and I hope you are coming back to visit me!
Why Giammario is still single?
I have been asked several times about how one finds true love and when one can be sure they have found their life partner. The answers are never simple. So, perhaps Giammario is also still trying to figure this out.
Spread love?
Absolutely. And spread it extra thick!
Why do white people like the song “Mr. Brightside” so much?
Fun fact: the song has never left the UK charts since 2004. This recent article from Vox gives a summary of the song’s recent popularity—along with some excellent memes: bit.ly/MrBrightsideBC
Is it more dangerous to squirt ether or acetone on someone?
Either one would be a terrible idea! I’m not going to issue a comparative statement on them, but here are links to safety data sheets on ether (bit.ly/etherSDS) and acetone (bit.ly/acetoneSDS), which can let you form your own conclusion. Let’s all wear appropriate lab protection and keep the chemicals in the beakers, flasks and pipettes, OK?
How do I convince [redacted] to marry me
![How do I convince [redacted] to marry me](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/020818-2.jpg)
I wish you luck. I also wish you patience & respect. Your beloved will make their own decision in their own time. I hope for your sake it’s you. I hope for their sake that whatever they decide, it’s right for them.
Do you have a favorite meme?
I love my bf
Ah, love… I hear there’s a special day coming up, one on which humans declare their love for each other. Just make sure you don’t miss it! It’s a Wednesday. (But you don’t need to wait until then to tell your inamorato your feelings!)
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
While hippos are adorable, you may want to reconsider this idea between now and next Christmas. Like all wild animals, hippos aren’t ideally suited to being house pets and it wouldn’t be fair to keep them in such a small (and dry) space. In particular, if you live near campus, it would be tough to find a home for a hippo. The BC residence halls do not allow pets other than tropical fish (bit.ly/BCHalls) and local apartment buildings also tend to have strict limitations on the types of pets allowed. However, if you would like to admire a hippo from afar, you might follow this playlist of videos of Fiona the Hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo: bit.ly/fiona-hippo
What’s your favorite cryptocurrency?
The Wall likes more stable investments and so can’t pick a favorite. But it’s very fond of the financial coverage in Quartz: bit.ly/quartz-crypto
I have a lot of math homework. What should I do? :)
![[in Chinese] I have a lot of math homework. What should I do? :)](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/aw020718-6.jpg)
1. Set aside sufficient time. 2. Take it in short bursts, with rests for stretching & snacks (maybe even offer yourself rewards: if I get x # of problems done in an hour, I get a treat.) 3. Get help from a tutor in the CFLC (bit.ly/BC-connors); a firmer understanding might make the work go faster. Good luck! If you need a handy reference tool for problems that assume other knowledge, this book might help: Mastering Mathematics: How to be a Great Math Student. (O’Neill Library QA11 .S63 1994).
It is hard for me to study. What should I do? :(
![[In Chinese] It is hard for me to study. What should I do?](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/aw020718-5.jpg)
It is hard for me to study. What should I do? 🙁
Is it emotionally hard (Ugh, I’m not motivated to study) or cognitively hard? (I study and study, but I don’t seem to understand the concepts)? If it’s emotions, ask yourself what would have to change for studying to be something you could face? Maybe sitting down with friends would help. Maybe you just need a cup of coffee, or 10 minutes of meditation or rest. If it’s thought processes, get a tutor through the CFLC: bit.ly/BC-connors. I also suggest this book: Learning from the learners : successful college students share their effective learning habits. (O’Neill Library LB2395 .L385 2018).
Was Matt Patricia a good defensive coordinator for the Patriots?
There’s an old adage in football that ” walls defenses win championships” – according to NFL.com, the average defensive rank for Super Bowl champions has been 7th in the league (out of a current 32 teams). In the 6 seasons Patricia was the Patriot’s DC, they won the Super Bowl 2 times. 33% Super Bowl win rate in a position is pretty good. If you’re referencing the Butler incident during this past Super Bowl, I suspect that Patricia had relatively little say in the decision to bench him.