Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers blog

 In a first for UK & Ireland Answers, we will soon be sending out our debut Answers newsletter. This will feature the best of the recent questions, answers and categories on Answers and will go out to all users who have opted-in on their Profile page.

This month features Bruce Willis’ question plus curious queries like “who invented the number zero?” and “why can’t we tickle ourselves?”

If you’d like to receive the newsletter and haven’t yet opted in, just go to your profile and click the opt in box where it says:

“Email Communications from Yahoo! Answers: To get the most out of Yahoo! Answers, sign up for our newsletter on the latest Answers highlights, Community news and product updates. You can unsubscribe at any time.”

Alternatively go to our landing page, which explains what you need to do to opt in. For those that do, we really hope you enjoy it – do let us know your thoughts as comments on this post if you’d like to.

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team

 Throughout August the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh becomes enchanted by the arts. From music to the stage; amateur comedians to heavyweight glitterati, all is catered for throughout the month long season of performances.

Kicking off the larger parts of the celebrations is the Edinburgh Fringe festival. It has been building in reputation since its inception in 1947, when eight theatrical companies crashed the Edinburgh Festival proper and staged their own more leftfield events on the perimeter of the original proceedings. It is now one of the world’s largest arts festival.

The Fringe attracts events and performers from across the performing arts particularly drama and comedy, however music and dance also hold prominent positions within the line up. Events can vary from Ancient Greek classics and Shakespeare, right through to modern pieces and collections. Yanna U received “vivid and informative” information from the Yahoo! Answers community when she asked them what is the best way to see and experience the Fringe festival?

The Fringe Festival however is only one part of the complete Edinburgh festival. The festival as a whole takes place from July to September each year and its roots trace back to the post-war era. The idea of the festival was to inspire the greater good in humanity and “provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit”. Past events at the festival have been varied, from to the Circus of Horrors to the Lady Boys of Bangkok.

Originally presenting the rich cultural life that Scotland had to offer the festival now showcases talent from across the global arts world. The festival brings the world of theatre and performance off of the stage and to the people on the street, with numerous outdoor performances and even the famous street parade.

So if it’s theatrical adaptations of period dramas; comedy on the streets or even just a lively and fun atmosphere you’re after, then Edinburgh is definitely a vibrant place to be this August. And with the summer weather conditions finally revealing themselves why not also take the time to enjoy the other glorious sights that Edinburgh has to offer?

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team

 A quick glance at the Hobbies & Crafts section of Answers reveals that answerers are a varied and interesting bunch of people who participate in a plethora of pursuits. If you are looking for a hobby to take up, or if you are just starting out and need some advice, or if you are an old hand at your pastime, the hobbies community on Answers is a great place to find and share information and advice.

Taking up knitting as a hobby could allow you to recreate celebrity chic! Iain K wanted to know how to knit the famous Starsky & Hutch cardigan and the hobbies community members provided plenty of links to websites with the pattern available.

Sheilarodgersuk who wanted to take up not knitting but power kiting, felt confused by all the available options. Fortunately Wurzel was able to offer some advice: “Don’t let the lines and knots put you off, if you choose a good stockist, they should be able to help you with those. I’d start with a 1.5 metre, two-line kite, just so you get a feel for flying and the pull you will get from it. The difference between two and four lines is simply four line kites have brakes!”

One answerer’s hobby is magic and he asked the community the wonderful question: “What is the most realistic fake blood you can use in magic tricks?” Never fazed by unusual requests, the Hobby & Crafts enthusiasts replied with all sorts of advice such as: “use ground coffee mixed with ketchup” and “Vaseline and red colouring makes good clots to fill deep wounds”.

If you’re an avid collector you will definitely find fellow enthusiasts on Answers. There is information about collecting all sorts of items including autographs, toy soldiers, Star Wars memorabilia, porcelain figurines and of course stamps.

And if the idea of turning your hobby into a profitable pastime inspires you, why not take up metal detecting? John B’s tips for getting started are to “get a decent detector … join a club – there are a few. Do not use it on any recognized archaeological sites. Farmers fields near to Roman roads are usually good places to start, or on beaches. I have found Roman coins and artifacts.”

For pretty much every hobby you can think of, and any question you have to ask about it, you’re bound to find a knowledgeable answerer to give you advice. So whether you’re into making homemade paper, putting teddies into balloons, decorating doll’s houses or making elastic-band balls, there’s something for everyone in the Hobby & Crafts category.

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team