Yahoo! Answers New Zealand Blog

You might have noticed messaging surrounding the upcoming changes to Yahoo! Pulse. Here is a quick reminder that after December 1, 2011 you will no longer be able to use Pulse as it will be discontinued. We’re replacing Pulse with a new Profile, a simpler way to manage your settings and your identity in Yahoo!.

Why the change?

We always strive to improve your experience on Yahoo!. After evaluating tons of feedback from you, we decided Yahoo! Pulse was not meeting your needs. Yahoo! Profile is an easier way to identify who you are!

We’ve listed the main changes on when the transition occurs. To find out more info, please to go our Profile Help Pages or click on “see what this change means to you” on Pulse.

• We’ll transfer your Yahoo! Pulse information for you.
• Your social games will move to games.yahoo.com. Your apps will move to my.yahoo.com.
• There’s no updates feed.
• There are two privacy levels: public (visible to everyone) and private (visible only to you).
• Any profile information you had with the “connections” privacy level is now converted to private.
• It works on smartphones!

Have fun with Yahoo! Profile!

Photo by *USB*.

November 21st is the 15th World Television Day, as designated by the United Nations.

In December 1996, the UN proclaimed the 21st of November to be World Television Day, in recognition of “the increasing impact television has on decision-making by alerting world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues, including economic and social issues.”

In celebration of this special day, we’re asking you the following question:

• What is your favourite educational television program for children and why?

Leave your comments below or answer via the question link above!

Kate
Community Manager

Photo by aussiegall.

In Australia and New Zealand, and indeed across the globe, November is commonly known as Movember.

What is Movember I hear you ask?

Grace M asked this exact question over on Yahoo!7 Answers…

Growing a mo (moustache) in November for a cause eg prostate cancer. A play on words, fun and entertaining, and a chance for men to grow that mo they’ve always wanted to try out Guys have sponsors as they grow a mo. Look it up online. Very entertaining.

- Answered by **Star.

LaMariposa also asked what Movember was all about…

Movember (the month formally known as November) is a charity event held during November each year.

At the start of Movember guys register with a clean shaven face. The Movember participants known as Mo Bros then have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their moustache and along the way raise as much money and awareness about male health issues as possible.
.
http://www.movember.org/
http://www.movember.com/au/whatismov/

- Answered by no_life_louis.

So there you have it!

If you have a friend or relative sporting a bit of the old facial fuzz during November, why not consider sponsoring them and raising much needed funds for such an important cause?

Kate
Community Manager

Part of the fun on Yahoo! Answers is having your questions answered, but sometimes our community forgets to pick a best answer. That’s OK! We are launching a new email to remind our community that after you’ve asked your question, and it has received at least one answer, you’ll be sent the following “Choose a Best Answer” email 24 hours later:

Whatever criteria you use to choose a best answer is up to you! But it’s important to choose a Best Answer so the question doesn’t end up in limbo. It’s also a great way to thank the user for helping or giving you the information you needed. Go ahead, choose a best answer and award someone 10 points!

Thanks for reading!

What makes Yahoo! Answers a great place for users to engage and share information is largely based on the quality of answers we receive from users like you! To ensure users understand what makes a quality answer and to ensure the integrity of the site here is a reminder of when and where to add links so you don’t violate the Community Guidelines.

1. Remember that you are answering to help the asker: Don’t answer the question with just a link. This doesn’t help the user this is considered a bad answer. If you don’t know the answer, skip to a question you may be more knowledgeable about.
2. Add specific links where the user can find ADDITIONAL information. Link to existing sources that have the answer to the question: If you know an excellent website or book that might help, mention it – as long as it’s not spam of course. Also cite your sources; they are always helpful if anyone wants more information.
3. Users are more than welcome to share their Facebook, Twitter or personal blogs but these links should be shared only on your personal profile page. Personal links should not be posted into answers or questions.

Here on Answers our mission is to share knowledge and advice within the community in an environment that respects the Community Guidelines. By sticking to the guidelines and reporting abuse, we can all make Yahoo! Answers an informative and enjoyable place to be.

Photo by Sip Khoon.

One of the giants of the technology sector, Steve Jobs, passed away today aged 56.

The Internet is rife with tributes from every possible corner; from blogs to Flickr to print and social media – everyone is mourning and remembering.

Yahoo! co-founder, Jerry Yang, had the following words to share:

“Steve was my hero growing up. He not only gave me a lot of personal advice and encouragement, he showed all of us how innovation can change lives. I will miss him dearly, as will the world.”

As we mourn his passing, we look back at the legacy he left behind:

• Which Apple product is the most innovative to you? And why?

Leave your tribute to Steve Jobs in the comments below!

Kate
Community Manager

On Friday, we let you know that Answers would be unavailable Tuesday, Sept 13th for several hours. We are happy to share that all maintenance was completed by 11pm last night as planned and the site is available again.

We apologise for any inconvenience. Thanks so much for your patience!

Kate
Community Manager

Photo by bucklava.

Yahoo!7 Answers will be unavailable on Tuesday, September 13th, from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm NZST, due to planned maintenance. If there is any change to this schedule, we will update the information here.

If you’re looking for something to do during the downtime, here are some ideas:

• Explore something interesting on Flickr
• Catch up on old posts on the Answers blog
• Check out the latest Sports news and scores
• Watch music videos on Yahoo! Music
• Embrace your inner foodie at Yahoo! Lifestyle

Thanks for your patience.

Kate
Community Manager

We’re seeing a lot of questions asked about the major humanitarian crisis in East Africa.

How did it come to this terrible humanitarian disaster? Is it possible to avoid something in the future? How can we help ten million people? And how can you ever be sure that your donation arrives?

In the fight against hunger Yahoo! supports the initiative ” Save The Children” and the Bob Marley family. On this page you will find answers to many unanswered questions and detailed instructions on how you can donate.

Please consider making a contribution and share your suggestions so that this tragedy will not remain silent in answering this question and share it in your Facebook status and Twitter:

• East Africa humanitarian crisis: What can we do to help?

Kate
Community Manager

Photo by Sjors Provoost.

Did you know that July is National Hitchhiking Month over in America?

July is full of quirky celebrations for the Americans, such as being the national month for the recognition of blueberries and hot dogs!

To read a little more about National Hitchhiking Month and the history behind the practice, head over to the Yahoo! Answers Blog.

Have you ever hitchhiked or picked up a hitchhiker? Tell us about it below in the comments!

Kate
Community Manager