It's Winter Break! Bwog will be moving in slow motion.

Mysterious Ritual Caught on Tape!

There are tipsters, and then, readers, there are tipsters: in a brazen and heretofore unequaled act of guerilla reporting (at least around here), a student in economics prof Xavier Sala-i-Martin's class found himself a seat in the front of the motley Catalan's lecture hall and let the cell phone camera roll. What he captured is almost too unspeakable to describe; an arcane ceremony consisting of endearingly misfired wisecracks (just what was the James Bond bit about?) and a rather unfortunate pink robe. We've been told that this has something to do with Sala-i-Martin's legendary M&M Peanut Minute competition, in which "brave" students are recognized for being able to answer his "M&M Peanut Minute" econ question of the day. It's as good a theory as any. Judge for yourselves.

-ARR


Posted by hmm : #1 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 3:59 PM
this looks stupid. i'm against it.
Posted by XAVIER!! : #2 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 4:33 PM
I'm glad someone finally got this on camera. That man is a fucking legend and I miss Macro.
Posted by I'm : #3 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 4:49 PM
going to miss that class so much. I've had Foner and Gulati and Xavier is unrivaled...
Posted by there is no doubt : #4 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 5:05 PM
that Xavier is the man.
Posted by bond reference : #5 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 5:26 PM
xavier mentioned bond as a reference to one of his great anecdotes.

i will miss xavier. he doesn't have the pompous bullshit last lecture like gulati, but his final words on the importance of economics is much more powerful than gulati's fake passion.
Posted by not gulati : #6 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 5:53 PM
he takes a big giant shit on gulati

xavier forever
Posted by rab2148 : #7 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 6:07 PM
Man, I *wish* my cell phone had a camera. Nah, this was taken by a plain old digital camera.

I'm going to miss that class.
Posted by Robes : #8 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 6:23 PM
Bwog, I'm pretty sure the robes are his class robes. They would be Pink because he went to school in Barcelona and they are school colors.

Confirm please!
Posted by wow : #9 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 6:27 PM
I sort of want to take this class now.
Posted by curious : #10 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 6:32 PM
can someone explain the M&M Peanut Minute in more detail? Like what actually happens, and what some of the questions are like?
Posted by you're : #11 (in reply to #10) · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 6:38 PM
totally not part of the cult. Shavyay says no.
Posted by Actually : #12 (in reply to #8) · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 6:54 PM
I'm pretty sure the robe is from Harvard University. I have a friend whose parents (both Columbia profs) got their Ph.D's there, and now have to wear bright pink/fuschia/magenta/whatever-color-you-want-to-call-that robes to commencement ever year.

Also, I did some research to check back up my theory, and found that Xavier did indeed get his degree from Harvard.

Anyone else want to confirm or deny?
Posted by I'm dumb : #13 (in reply to #12) · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 6:55 PM
Or crimson for Harvard crimson. Duh.
Posted by example : #14 (in reply to #10) · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 6:59 PM
taking investment into account, can someone explain the direct and indirect effects on the output demand and output supply curves, equilibrium values of output and interest rate, and the effects on the money market.

also, which color chalk should i use for these new curves.

(i heart xavier)
Posted by yay! : #15 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 8:11 PM
best.class.ever.

only bc Xavier is amusing to watch.

And the color fuschia.

And the M&Ms
Posted by and : #16 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 8:12 PM
it's not "X-avier", nor is it "Sha-vee-Err".

It is "Sha-vee-ey"

hah.
Posted by macro nostalgia : #17 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 8:33 PM
"Some of you may be tempted to call me "X-avier". This would be a mistake. ... Some of you may be tempted to call me "Javier". This, too, would be a mistake. Some of you may like comic books. You may be tempted to call me "Professor X". This, too, would, be a mistake."

Also, the answer to the chalk color question is always fuchsia.
Posted by hmm : #18 (in reply to #16) · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 8:43 PM
still wrong. "Sha-bee-ey."

Did he not make your Macro class practice?
Posted by Thought : #19 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 8:45 PM
I think Xavier and Cyntia would make a great couple. And Cyntia is...ooof, i'd hit that. I don't care if she's 40. Probably just 39.
Posted by mexican friends : #20 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 8:48 PM
"Some of you who are Spanish or have Mexican friends may be tempted to call me 'Javier.' That would be a mistake."
Posted by why has : #21 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 9:01 PM
bwog not covered this? (sorry, the link is broken up)

[external link to www.nytimes.com] ex=1354942800&en=3ce3523aabbf68f8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc =rss
Posted by cupcake. : #22 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 9:16 PM
yea bwog. cover the story on harvard financial aid. let the pressure begin.
Posted by xavier : #23 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 10:42 PM
is crazy. I wish robert jervis would take a leaf out of his book. I might actually go to lecture and/or pay attention if he did.

does this mean i have a facile mind?
Posted by oh man : #24 · reply · track
December 10, 2007 at 11:50 PM
xavier is a bad ass mother fucker. i love that guy.
Posted by rab2148 : #25 · reply · track
December 11, 2007 at 10:26 AM
Oops, I'm actually not allowed to post this online.
Posted by yes : #26 · reply · track
December 11, 2007 at 2:29 PM
noooooo, i wanted to watch it over and over again every day and now i can not :(
Posted by nooooooooo : #27 · reply · track
December 11, 2007 at 6:40 PM
why can't you post it online?? what happened to it? it was hilarious!!!

Posted by Alum : #28 (in reply to #12) · reply · track
December 11, 2007 at 9:17 PM
Confirmed. That's definitely a Harvard doctoral gown, and Xavier is a Harvard Ph.D.
Posted by My name :( : #29 · reply · track
December 12, 2007 at 1:05 AM
He butchered my name *sadface*. It's pronounced just like "Graham," like the damn crackers.
Posted by rab2148 : #30 · reply · track
December 12, 2007 at 2:16 AM
Sorry everybody! He asked that I put it down so I don't spoil it for future students taking his class. If you've already taken the class, though, and want to relive the moment over and over again, shoot me an email and I'll see what I can do. rab2148@columbia.edu
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