Displaying archive for June, 2007

What is real?

 

In 2007, what does it mean to be a “real” man?

– Bruce Willis

In the guise of his most well known screen character Detective John McClane, Bruce Willis is not unaccustomed to asking difficult questions and getting tough answers. With his appearance on Answers, Willis it at it again, asking a question that goes to the very heart of modern male identity. “In 2007, what does it mean to be a “real” man?

His question invites dozens more. As the decade moves on and gender roles in our society shift, what makes a male a man: His genes? His actions? His identity? Is there even such a thing as a “real” man and if so, is there a “fake” or “unreal” man by contrast?

Over the last few weeks on Answers we’ve been focusing on helping everyone be better at what they are. On Answers, there’s lots of questions about DIY, long since the preserve of the “real man,” but is it now perhaps an area far more open to both men and women?

By contrast: what about being a better foodie? Increasing your love and knowledge of food and cooking, is this something “real men” are interested in? In all cases, Bruce Willis would love to know your thoughts.

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team

Book bound

 Whether it’s an old classic from our childhood days or an exciting tale about a damsel in distress, many of us love losing ourselves in a good book. One user loves reading so much that it has become her area of expertise on Answers. Mainly found in the Books & Authors category, Sincerely Yours has been answering away for over a year and built up more than 10,000 points. When talking about her passion, she says: “My love of literature started at an early age… It seems to me that I have been reading all my life and, indeed, life just wouldn’t seem the same if I didn’t have a book on the go.”

Although she is retired, Sincerely Yours is in the middle of writing her first novel. Luckily, in between trying to create a great page-turner, she still finds time to write brilliant replies on Answers, replies which are of great quality and insight. For example, DR Power wanted to know about the portrayal of a certain character in ‘Great Expectations.’ Even though it’s a specific question, she gave a detailed answer and explained her points clearly. So, while one user was trying to figure out the nature of a character, another was stuck on the task of finding examples of verbal irony in ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ Now, as we know, Shakespeare is not the easiest of play writers to make sense of, but Sincerely Yours had little trouble.

Having worked in the theatrical profession for a decade, and taught drama and English to students, her words of wisdom have spilled over to the Theatre & Acting section too on Answers. Walter, an answerer wondering what the Commedia dell’Arte genre is, must have been pleased when our specialist wrote back with a well researched answer saying: “the genre can best be described as improvised Pantomime, although there is an element of the Masque about it, since masks are a crucial convention.”

Packing all of her impressive answers into this feature is a difficult task, but by sharing her knowledge on binding books and the real meaning behind a certain poem, our featured user has proven that there really is no end to her personal diary of answers.

She may have read innumerable books, but in our opinion, the best story of all is that of how sincerely yours encountered Answers: “I got into Yahoo! Answers because I had an email problem. I asked for help with this, and while I was waiting for an answer I started to explore the pages. When I found Books & Authors I was in heaven.”

“I don’t feel that newcomers are aware that there is this wealth of knowledge already stored just waiting to be tapped,” she adds. “I love the idea of this free repository of stored knowledge created by millions of ordinary people around the world. People who are willing to help others just for the sheer joy of it. I call it ‘The Peoples’ Encyclopaedia’.”

It’s thanks to users like Sincerely Yours that ‘The People’s Encyclopaedia’ never runs out of knowledge. Congratulations on being this week’s featured user!

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team

Wimbledon: a match to love

 

Is Wimbledon the greatest tennis tournament on the planet? As the anticipation builds before the start of this year’s event on Monday, commentators are no doubt polishing their cliché repertoire to tell us just how great it is. But are they justified?

The thing is, you can’t help but sympathise with them: Wimbledon has so many wonderful qualities. First there are the grass courts – unique among the Grand Slam tournaments – whose lush, pastoral feel only adds to the sense that summer’s truly arrived.

Secondly there’s the tournament’s long tradition, giving the players the sense that they’re treading where the world’s greatest have gone before. And according to Answers user Earth, it’s the oldest event in the game.

The fact that all the world’s greatest players, often past as well as present, attend only adds to the atmosphere. And over the years we’ve seen those players perform wonders on the hallowed SW19 grass courts. Who could forget flamboyant dresser Agassi stepping out for the first time, in an all-white kit? What about Becker’s jaw-dropping forward rolls? What about Navrátilová, who won an amazing nine singles titles? Then there’s the successful exploits of ice-men Sampras and Federer, as they marched on relentlessly to win titles.

It’s been an exciting year for tennis in general. Federer might be the world number one, with ten Grand Slams under his belt, but clay-court specialist Nadal was in no mood to give up his preferred surface, defeating Federer at the French Open. Will there be revenge in the air at Wimbledon?

The London-based Artois tournament, traditionally used as a grass-court prequel to Wimbledon, came to a memorable climax last weekend. The final saw world number 3 Roddick meet the then world 106, Mahut – and things didn’t quite go to form. Mahut had match point in the second set before losing the match on a tiebreak but winning over the hearts of the crowd.

He was then forced to pre-qualify for Wimbledon this week, which thankfully, he managed to do. With the UK’s own Murray now a top ten player but sadly injured, no doubt many eyes will be on outsider Mahut as he attempts a fairytale challenge on what is – go on, admit it – the greatest tennis tournament on the planet.

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team

Wimbledon quicklinks:

Answers dishes up some great ideas in Birmingham…

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This week the Yahoo! Answers Bus will be parked up in Hall Nine of Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre for the BBC’s Good Food Summer Festival. The event runs until the 17th of June and offers food and drink enthusiasts a chance of experiencing perpetual heaven via a huge collection of meats, cheeses, desserts and every culinary delight in-between. Add to that a vast range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks plus celebrity chef demonstrations and it becomes clear why the event attracts visitors in their hoards. Even Gordon’s here…

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Every type of food and drink is catered for from colourful Mediterranean concoctions through to typically English traditions. And for those of you partial to an alcoholic beverage with your meal why not combine the two with the cheese on offer from one exhibitor that is made from whiskey?

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The Yahoo! Answers bus will be on hand throughout the event with a selection of laptops to present the Answers product and its community to both regular and new users. So with your appetite sufficiently wet, why not get down to the event and sample some of the delicious delicacies on offer?

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If you do, then be sure to pop over to the bus where you can get your free gift and at the same time check out some great recipe ideas from the Answers Food and Drink category. Once home you can even try the new ideas out on your family and friends passing these great tasting triumphs off as your own. Just don’t blame us if you get caught out!

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team

Be a better foodie

Answers is a vibrant, growing community. Every day it’s a flurry of questions being asked and knowledge being shared, experiences conveyed and useful advice exchanged. And as the questions become resolved, we hope over time some of it might just make a difference. Receive enough amazing answers and perhaps you could just be a bit better at the things you do.

Throughout the summer, Answers will be looking at helping you being better. To begin, we are looking at being a better foodie. Whether it’s cooking or eating, tasting or savouring, everyone loves good food. Knowing what it is you eat can help you live a healthier life, whereas knowing how to cook can, hopefully, impress your friends and family.

To celebrate our love of food, the UK & Ireland Answers team will be attending the BBC Good Food Summer Festival at the NEC Birmingham from the 13th – 17th June. At the festival you’ll be able to sample treats from some of the most exquisite food and drinks companies in the world. Experts from the industry will also be on hand to answer questions and help you deepen your love and knowledge for food.

While we hope we pick up some great tips at the Food Summer Festival, Answers is also a great source of food expertise. Curious about English wine? Why not check celebrity wine expert Matt Skinner’s question on Answers. Ever wondered what would make up the perfect balanced healthy diet? Isabelle did and Mickl84 was on hand to explain how “protein is a must for anybody…grains are needed for fibre and fibre is needed for good digestion. Carbs are needed for a constant supply of energy. Fruit and veg are needed for a quality supply of vitamins. Water is essential…” Sounds like pretty comprehensive advice.

One Answers user wanted to know how you could best barbeque fruit, whereas another is curious about how you bake bread from scratch. Want to be better at breadmaking, fruit barbequing or just have the perfect balanced diet? Answers helps you be a better foodie.

– Yahoo UK & Ireland Answers team