Yahoo! Answers New Zealand Blog

Currently, as a pre-requisite to participate on Yahoo!Xtra Answers, we ask that you have a Yahoo!Xtra ID to sign-in to the Yahoo!Xtra network. This in turn is where your identity on both Yahoo!Xtra and Answers is managed from.

Now, as part of Yahoo’s moves to make the web a more social and open place we are opening up Answers to people with Google or Facebook IDs too.

We appreciate people don’t want to be overwhelmed by different logins for each site you want to participate in on the web and through a technology called OpenID we’re able to eliminate the need for multiple logins across different Web sites.

After you sign-in with your Google or Facebook ID you’ll be able to fully participate on Yahoo!Xtra Answers.

Check out this video to see how easy it is to sign-in with a Google or Facebook ID:

A few points to note:

• For existing Answers members you’ll still see all of your existing content when you login with your Yahoo!Xtra ID. However you also have the option to ‘bind’ your Facebook/Gmail account with your Yahoo!Xtra account. If you choose to do this you’ll be able to see all of your Answers content when logged in with either your Gmail or Facebook account. Read this help page to find out how to do this*
• If you sign in with your Facebook ID you still control what is published to your Facebook feed from Answers through the checkbox on the ask/answer flow. Your activity on Answers will not automatically be published on your Facebook feed.
• OpenID isn’t available for the Mobile version of Answers just yet… we’re working on it though and we expect to make it available in the coming months
• All participants using Google or Facebook IDs will still be subject to our Yahoo!Xtra ToS and Answers Community Guidelines when contributing to the site.

For further information on Yahoo! Fast Pass check out the Yodel Anecdotal blog post: http://ycorpblog.com/2011/01/18/id-sign-in/

To celebrate the start of 2011, the community shared their inspirations by answering this question: What will you do to make 2011 special? and submitted their most inspirational photos to our Flickr group ‘Inspiration 2011.’

Now it’s time to show the best answer and a few other contributions that we really loved. Keep reading and see what the community is planning to do to make this year special!

Best Answer

The most inspirational answer came from Lise M who not only touched us with her answer, but also shows that despite her circumstances, she still has a plan and has a lot to look forward to this year.

I’m doing a 365 photo diary for my children and grandchildren. I have a terminal illness and so far have lived much longer than anyone expected. Now I want to document everyday of this new decade in pictures. I take at least one picture of something about my life every day, and then write about that day. Lord willing I will make it all the way through this New Year – if not, I will be with my Savior and that’s okay too. Happy 2011 everyone!

Great Contributions

We had over 2,000 answers and though we can only pick ONE best answer, we felt these answers were just as great. Definitely worth reading!

By Mr. Green:
I’m planning on looking to the new year with a better outlook. Last year was OK, but I want this year to be better. I plan on being more outgoing, meeting more new people by joining interest groups and just enjoying life. I think I haven’t taken enough time to smell the roses. So I plan on being less serious this year, and hopefully making new and better friendships. But I have to get over my fears and just do it! Here’s to another year!

By Jackie Huggins:
I will live life as I have been with the same good lifestyle and strive for the same happiness I have in life. I will start school in a few weeks, which is long overdue, and I will get the best grades I possibly can. I will love my three kids until they’re sick of me and I will try to be a better wife. I’m sure that would be the only change I would make! Life is so very great so I will be happy with what I was given.

By Kenny D:
This summer we have a month long vacation planned to visit Stuttgart, Germany and Vienna, Austria. We will visit our daughter, granddaughter, and son-in-law in Stuttgart for the last 20 days in June, and then travel by rented car to Vienna, Austria and spend the last 7 days of our vacation in Vienna. We will be staying at the Grand Hotel in Vienna and have tickets to attend the Vienna Mozart Orchestra concert at the Vienna State Opera on the night before we fly home on July 7. Our daughter married a German national while she was stationed at Ramstein Air Base and she decided to stay in Germany when she separated from the Air Force. Our last visit was 4 years ago and at that time they was living in Kaiserslautern, but have since moved to Stuttgart after the birth of our granddaughter Emily.

By Tabby:
I aspire to do more for wildlife charities so the beautiful animals and birds in our world are safer from vandals. Then people can have beautiful places to exercise and enjoy the wildlife. I want to make notelets with my photographs of wildlife and sell them to help raise funds, and knit animal hats for kids to buy at Fayre’s. Also to learn more about animals and help on a practical level, too.

By Pink Sherbet Photography:
Paying off ALL our credit card debt by December 2011 so we can buy our first home in 2012 when my husband retires from the military after 24 years of service! Starting with the highest interest cards first, making extra large payments on those and minimum on the others. Once the highest interest card is paid in full, I start on the next highest, making my way down the list. Pinching every penny this year, clipping and using coupons and putting every extra dollar I can toward paying off the debt in 12 months!

By Veronica Barrera:
I’m a girl who loves writing, music, painting, drawing, and taking photos. For a long time I’ve wanted to put these favorites to work but because I’m my own worst critic, I never got around to it. This year is going to be different.

This year:
-I plan to do a painting/drawing
-write some stories and enter them in contests
-get back on the violin and piano
-write a song
-make a series of photography portfolios

This year, 2011, I plan to show off my creative side! Here’s to an awesome and prosperous year! Happy 2011

By rossislx:
Having been through many challenging years as a single Dad I have gotten to a new level, what the biggest accomplishment is my children are all (almost) adults. My youngest is a senior in High School and will be moving on. I am deeply satisfied with their achievements and the direction they are going. It’s been approximately 12 years single parenting. As those of you who know, it’s a huge challenge and effort raise kids. I have had to put aside much of the “me” throughout these years, therefore I am extremely excited about the new prospects that will be available when the time comes. I have a lot of unwinding to do. I have high hopes for finding my life and the things I enjoyed for so many years prior to my role in my family. I am hoping that things will spring back and the old adventurous and enthusiastic guy returns, So I am really excited about being a part of my boys transition into college and feeling rested more focused and less distracted.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Photo by Kingbob86.

During recent weeks, the Australian state of Queensland has been inundated by record downpours which have resulted in severe flooding. A state of emergency has been declared through much of the north-eastern part of the country. The floods have caused widespread damage, with damage bills tipped to be in excess of 5 billion AUD.

Many areas are still on standby for evacuation, as flood waters continue to rise, whilst others begin the slow task of cleaning up and rebuilding their lives. The situation does not appear to be improving, with flash floods hitting Toowoomba overnight, causing 8 deaths with a further 72 still unaccounted for. The state’s capital, Brisbane, is also bracing for the worst with flash flood warnings in effect.

• What causes floods to occur?

Many Queensland children spent a dismal Christmas Day awaiting evacuation or in emergency accommodation. With waters continuing to rise well into the New Year, this morning saw warnings issued to farmers and residents in northern areas of New South Wales to be on alert as wild weather heads south. The biggest losses will be in lost crops, livestock and households as many Australians are either unable to afford flood insurance or find themselves ineligible. Most of Australia’s banana and sugar crops for example, are grown in Queensland, along with large quantities of fresh produce and cotton.

At times like this, it is important that the community join forces to offer support.

On Answers, we form a community of collective knowledge- but in the real world, together, we create a collective bound together by one thing: humanity, and the ability to endure. And in times like these, it’s important to remember that, and to help others persevere.

How can you help?

The Queensland Government, in conjunction with Australia’s federal government, have set up an appeal to assist those affected by the floods. If you wish to donate, you may do so online here.

The New Zealand Government are also looking at options on how they may render assistance.

For all the latest news on the floods, please visit Yahoo!Xtra News.

Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this disaster.

Kate
Community Manager

Photo by uteart.

Upon arriving to work of a Monday, is your first thought of coffee? Are you feeling a bit tired after a fantastically relaxing or jam-packed weekend? Are you staring at the clock, willing it to go faster? Does the weekend seem so very far away?

You’re not alone! All of these are signs of what is generally known as Mondayitis… also known as Tuesdayitis, Wednesdayitis… well you get the drift

Which brings me to the following question:

• Where did the term “Mondayitis” originate and what are your tips for getting through it?

We’ve all heard it, we’ve all used it but just where did the term come from?

I’d also love to hear your tips for clearing the cobwebs and regaining your enthusiasm for the working week. So leave a comment below or answer the question above!

Kate
Community Manager

2011 has just begun and this is traditionally the time when everyone sets resolutions that they want to fulfill in the coming year. Whether you want to climb a serious mountain, finally try out grandma’s cake recipe that has been lying around for ages, or plan to do something good for your local community, now’s your moment!

Think about what you are planning and if you’re inspired, why not share your aspirations by answering this question:

• What will you do to make 2011 special?

Pictures paint a thousand words, as the expression goes, so that’s why we created the Flickr group “Inspiration 2011”. Here you can look at what other people have been thinking of or share photos that represent your inspiration and the goal you want to achieve in 2011.

Here’s to a happy 2011!