Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers blog

 Here we are, 12 months nearly over and only a few more days to go before we close the door on 2007. But before we wave goodbye to the year, let’s take a trip down memory lane and see what created the biggest questions amongst you Answerers.

No year is complete without a major sporting event. And this year, we had two. The Cricket and Rugby World Cup had all you sports fans talking, while thousands joined in to share their views on the 2012 Olympics logo.

Celebrities have been hitting the headlines, sometimes for the right and sometimes for the wrong reasons. While Britney’s rebellious behaviour has put her in danger of losing the pop crown, celebrity babies have been stealing the limelight too thanks to their parent’s imaginative name giving abilities.

The summer was sizzling hot. In terms of music festivals we mean. Glastonbury was the biggest musical event of the year, with everyone sharing tips and ideas on how to survive amidst the tents and the crowds. If music isn’t your thing, you may have stayed glued to the box to watch some reality TV or joined in the discussion about how Harry Potter would weave his magic in the final book.

The entertainment world is full of weird and wonderful happenings, but we’ve seen a more serious side to 2007 as well. With Tony Blair stepping down as Prime Minister, more people took a glance into the country’s politics. Rising debates about the environment forced many eyes to open and pay attention to global warming. As well as this, nature reminded us of its strong presence when hurricanes tore through the Atlantic.

While the world has been going through many changes, Answers has been experiencing a few too. As more curious minds continued to join the community, we added new categories and introduced ways for you to manage your privacy by blocking trolls. More recently, we hope you’ve been enjoying the redesign of the question pages as well as Community Moderation, where you, the user can help us keep the site friendly, useful and clean.

So now it is a case of watching the clock tick away its minutes till we can welcome 2008. Everyone will be celebrating in different ways, but don’t worry if you’re short of suggestions. We have some right here.

From all of us, have a very happy New Year!

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team

 Ready with merry moments, sweet memories and good cheer,
After another year long wait, Christmas is finally here.
But why not September, October or November,
Why o why is Christmas celebrated in December?

Small traditions continue to confuse us, things we did not know
For example, ever wondered why people kiss under the mistletoe?
Or how and why did holly become associated with the occasion?
Trees, boxing day and stockings – how do they fit into the equation?

While you’re having fun partying and spreading good cheer,
Spare a moment for the poor things that have to work – the reindeer.
As they go about delivering gifts, north, south, west and east.
Just so you can enjoy your favourite presents as well as the Christmas feast.

Want some desserts with that feast but don’t know what to make?
Well, a bite out of the Answers Food & Drink section is all it’ll take
to find your perfect recipe, and a dose of knowledge will reveal
many suggestions out there that’ll make your Christmas dinner ideal.

So if more questions remain, remember – someone out there knows
The know-it-alls will help you, as will all the experts and the pros.
And after you’re done with the parties and have had a chance to recover,
Don’t forget to visit us again for a bit of Ask, Answer and Discover.

We wish you all a very merry, jolly and magical Christmas!

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team

“How has Yahoo! Answers impacted your life?“– Yahoo! US Answers Yamster

As the UK & Ireland team, Answers impacts our lives daily. Nothing makes us happier than to see users putting their all into it, be it wine experts or history gurus, sharing their knowledge for everyone. But one of the team has had Answers impact his life a little more directly than others. This is his tale…

“In terms of Answers having an impact on my life, I think I have a great story.

2007 was the year I got married, from the stress of wedding planning to the bliss of walking down to aisle and making that oh-so important wedding speech. I’m glad to say Answers was involved all the way! Back in February, we lost our wedding venue in the heart of Tuscany, Italy which meant we had only four months to get a new one. So, I thought I’d ask Answers where I could find the essence of Tuscany.

Low and behold one helpful user came back telling me about Tuscan-web, through which I was offered free wedding planning (which as you can imagine my now-wife got great mileage from!) that included excursions around the heart of Chianti, culminating in the discovery of our perfect wedding venue, the magnificent Castello il Palagio and accommodation at the picturesque Villa il Poggiale in the heart of the Tuscany, only 45 minutes from Florence.

It didn’t end there. Now the venue was sorted, next came the most challenging wedding task of all: choosing the first dance song. It took months. U2, Foo Fighters, Green Day & Stereophonics all had nice ballads we liked but the lyrics did not fit the moment. Then, one night lounging in the sofa watching TV, a song came on. We both thought “that’s it!” But what was the band and what was the name of the track? We had no idea, so we asked Answers. Bingo. Within three minutes we were told who it was a by (Pete Doherty & Wolfman) with a link direct to the track. Answers solved a three month old dilemma in three minutes.

And finally came a groom’s main focus the week leading up the big day itself: the wedding speech. I had most of it covered but needed a quote that described my early years burning the candle at both ends in London. Given the occasion, it had to be family friendly and suit everyone. So, I asked Answers. The following made it into the most important speech of my life.

“They say a civilised man never goes to sleep on the same day he wakes up… in that case my first 5 years were horrendously civilised indeed!”

From the venue to free wedding planning, the perfect love song to a killer quote, we owe it all to one site. My wife and I would like thank you, Yahoo! Answers!”

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team

The UK & Ireland Answers Team’s answer was posted here. To return to Answers, click here

 Hot drinks, warm clothes, frost on your car windscreen and not wanting to get out of bed in the mornings can only mean one thing – winter is well and truly upon us. However, according to a know it all, winter does not officially begin till 21st December.

We’re sure you’re getting quite used to putting on the layers before you leave home every day but remember, you need to be feeding yourself the right things too, which may mean your shopping list consists of lots of soup and herbal tea for the next few months.

That’s the food covered. But what the other issues that will be occupying your mind this holiday season? Falling temperatures mean rising energy bills. Fear not though. On Answers we have recommendations on how you can keep the heat trapped in your home and stop those costs from climbing.

If you’re saving your riches by pushing your bills down, it means you’ll have more to spend on loved ones when out shopping for Christmas. We agree, there are still a few weeks left but they’ll be gone before you know it. Get prepared and start hunting for those perfect gifts. If you’re not one to brave the crowds on the streets, then we’ve also got some shopping tips to help you online.

These are just some points on helping you avoid stress during the holiday period. But why not pay a visit to Answers and ask for tips and share your own hints on staying sane as the year comes to an end and the seasons move on.

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team

 “What simple steps can we all take to help make this Christmas greener?”

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team

As we approach Christmas, there’s a huge emphasis on buying and consuming, whether it’s presents or festive food. It’s a fun time for everyone involved. However Christmas is also a time for giving, for charity and reflecting on the year past.

That’s why the UK & Ireland Answers team are asking an eco question this year: “What simple steps can we all take to help make this Christmas greener?” Because amidst all the festivities and celebrations, there’s always room at Christmas for reducing our impact on the environment.

And while you’re kindly sharing your knowledge, we’re feeling giving. The best answer to our question will win an exciting new environmentally friendly device, the Wattson Home Energy Meter (shown above).

With both numbers and colours, Wattson shows you how much electricity your home is using at any given moment. Wattson can also store up to four weeks of energy-use history which can be downloaded to your computer and viewed using Wattson software.

So answer the question if you have a strong answer and you might find yourself the lucky winner of a Wattson. Either way you’ll be helping everyone dream about a green Christmas.
Terms and Conditions apply. Please find them below:

Yahoo! Answers Christmas Promotion (“Promotion”) – Specific Rules

This Yahoo! Promotion is governed by these Specific Rules and the General Promotion Rules.

Closing Date: The Promotion will close at 11.59pm on Thursday January 3rd 2008

Entry: By submitting an answer you agree to the competition terms and conditions which can be viewed in full here.

Prizewinner: All entrants must provide an answer to the question posed by the Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers Team. Entrants must be 16 or over. There will be one prize winner. The winner will be the person who is judged by Yahoo! to have provided the Best Answer.

Prize: The prize is one Wattson Home Energy Meter.