Which student librarian is the coolest? [Male name], right? [3338B]
Sorry, but here at the library we don’t play favorites among our student workers. He’s one among many cool students.
Greek superheroes
Would Achilles or Odysseus win in a fight between the two? [3338A]
Well, Brad Pitt played Achilles in the recent movie Troy, and Kirk Douglas played Odysseus (actually, Ulysses) in the 1950s Italian movie Ulysses (you might call this an early sort of spaghetti western, with dialogue from Italian actors dubbed into English — they showed that to us when we studied Greco-Roman civilization in high school; we also saw the movie version of Kiss Me Kate when studying Shakespeare). Anyway, I just don’t think Brad Pitt stacks up.
Pretty undies
What is the prettiest color of underwear? [3337C]
I suppose it depends on whom it’s for, but since variety is the spice of life maybe every day there’s a different prettiest color (or maybe you need a drawer full of multi-colored polka-dot pairs). Your pink ink may be a hint to AP; for the ladies, that’s a choice that certainly can’t lose, and for the guys, something to remember for a Valentine’s gift.
Android dreams
Do androids dream of electric sheep? [3337B]
The more appropriate questions are, “Do androids dream?” or “Do androids sleep?” or “Do androids live in a world where everything is robotic and there are no biotic sheep to think about?” In any case, you count the sheep when you’re still awake in order to bore yourself into a state of drowsiness and may not ever dream about them, electric or biotic.
Who is she?
Who is [female Duke student]? [3337A]
There’s someone with that name in the public Duke directory, so you’re welcome to email her. But don’t be disappointed if she gives you the brush-off.
Crazy kids
Imagine you are standing in the middle of a field. Surrounding you are an infinite number of children that are trying to attack you. Their goal is to kill you, and they have three hours to do it. Obviously, if these were 6 mo old infants you’d be able to fend them off the 3 hours and survive, but if they’re an infinite number of 10 year olds, they’re taking you down. My question is at what age would you not be able to fend them off the the three hours, resulting in your death? [3336C]
This sounds like a word problem that requires differential equations. AP’s math is rusty. Kids have a pretty short attention span, so I could outlast a group of 5 year olds who’d get bored in a few minutes. I’d have to worry about falling asleep; then even those just old enough to crawl can then tie me up, like Gulliver, and try to do me in (although I think Gulliver got loose easily enough).
Strange tastes
Why is doodoo so delicious? [3336B]
My mother warned me about perverts like you. You might like Harry Potter candy, like the jelly beans in flavors such as vomit, dirt, and earthworm.
Meaningless
Please write something long, funny, and meaningles. [3336A]
Just start looking through this book from the beginning.
Delay when downloading files
When I download files on my Apple MacBook Pro there is a slight delay between when the save/open with window opens and the “OK” button activates. The delay is long enough that I think it is abnormal. Am I crazy? Do you know of anything like this happening to others? (Note: I use Mozilla Firefox, but I’m not sure if that matters.)
Thanks!
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: I’m not familiar with this issue, and perhaps you are crazy. If this delay is annoying enough to be a problem, I recommend contacting Duke’s OIT help desk at 684-2200 or help@oit.duke.edu There may be some sort of permission-checking going on to make sure you’re authorized to download something over the Duke network (I assume you’re using wireless here on campus).
What color should Kville be?
Duke blue, which is apparently the color of intolerance, or just plain old inclusive blue?
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: I wouldn’t say that Duke Blue is the color of intolerence, although I can see arguments on both sides of this issue. Let’s see how this year’s events work themselves out and maybe we’ll return to a more gentlemanly and neighborly arrangement in the future.