What is a Chongivity Activity? [3556C]
Actions peculiar to chonga, this generation’s Valley Girl. As intelligent as their predecessors, they are also fiercely dedicated to the peaceful resolution of disagreements.
Category Archives: Lobby Book
Originally appeared in the Perkins Lobby Suggestion Book.
Sense of entitlement
Does the amount that I’m paying for this education give me a right to a sense of entitlement? I realize it’s not like paying for a toaster or some other consumable, but I feel as though I am the client here, and deserve to be treated as such. Legitimate? [3551A]
[written in answer space: Nah]
Magic Eight Ball says: “Concentrate and ask again.”
Origins of modern rap music
What are the origins of modern rap music? [3549A]
[written in answer space: Old skool rap?]
Word up.
Using the Biddle Rare Book Room
How do I look at the books in the Rare Book Room? Do I need special permission? [3553A]
[written in answer space: Te Amo, mi Cielo!]
The Biddle Rare Book Room is maintained by the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, which arranges for volunteers and students to staff the RBR for a limited number of hours throughout the week during the academic year. Patrons who want to use or view any of the materials must come first to the research room at Perkins 103. There is information about using the collections on the Libraries’ website. Anyone with a valid photo ID may come in to register and use materials.
Where did all the cats come from?
Where did all the cats come from? [3555B]
All the cats come from all the momma cats, silly. You should know that by now.
Great books
Why is the Great Gatsby such a good book? How about Catch 22? I’m not even an English major and I think they’re great. [3557C]
One doesn’t need to major in English to appreciate great works of literature. One mark of great writing is its impact on future writers. Another is the work’s ability to transcend cultures and time. Shakespeare, for instance, is still read today for these reasons (and all the great car chase scenes!).
The Great Gatsby is about unrestrained materialism and immorality (sound familiar?) and is cited by many authors as a major influence. Catch-22 is outstanding because it illustrates the absurdity of war, a point that apparently needs to be made over and over again. Furthermore, it features an outstanding anti-hero. If you like Catch-22, I highly recommend an earlier example of an anti-hero in a novel about the absurdity or war, Jaroslav Hasek’s The Good Soldier Svejk [891.86 H346AE].
Prattle all the way to the bank
Why do Pratt people have to do 3 times as much work as Trinity people? [3554A]
The library is one of those places on campus where all students can come together in harmony to pursue academic excellence. The gateway between Perkins and Bostock Libraries quite literally links Engineering (represented by CIEMAS) and Arts and Sciences (represented by the academic quad).
However, since your question suggests you might be a Pratter, I would point out two facts: first, the university requires that students in both Pratt and Trinity successfully complete a total of at least 34 course credits; second, a recent article at CNNmoney.com (“Most lucrative college degrees,” 24 July 2009) claims that “engineering diplomas account for 12 of the 15 top-paying majors.” The article, quoting a 2008 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which tracks college graduates’ job offers, suggests that recent engineering graduates can expect an initial salary up to double that of their humanities counterparts.
Where's the erotica?
Is there an erotic book section in the Perkins library collection? [3551B]
There are erotic elements in many poems and novels sprinkled throughout the library, though the Library of Congress classification range HQ450 – HQ472 is positively overflowing with erotica. This section is on lower floor 2 of Perkins Library.
Five years from now . . .
Where will I be in 5 years? [3557B]
[written in answer space: You’ll be here. Right here. Come back.]
If you allow your vagabond shoes to stray, you’ll be king (or queen) of the hill, top of the heap, the real number one.
Final answer is . . .
When was this book started? Where are the past Q&A’s archived? What, in your opinion, are the 5 best questions asked in the past 5 years? Thanks. [3554C]
This book started in 1982, so Answer Person began answering questions nearly thirty years ago. Past questions and answers, whether from the lobby book or online, are archived at the Answer Person site. I’m not sure what the top five questions in the past five years were, but this one is at the very top!