Monthly Archives: November 2010

Captivating Capatton and Tenacious Tennessee!

I’ve learned two things this week while composing our regular Contributor Corner post. One, I cannot spell Tennennssee while under pressure. And two, Capatton is one awesome Answers.com Supervisor!

This captivating lady explains her personality as: “A gypsy by nature, spiritual by design and a numerologist by choice. I have always looked to the next mountain or valley ever since I was a child and found great comfort in the simple things that surround me – earth, wind, fire, water.”

(Tennesee, Tennasee, Tennesea… darn it!)

Here’s more into the intriguing life of Capatton…

What is your Answers.com user name and the history behind it?

Capatton – it’s my first two initials and name.

What is your first name?

Cheryl

What is your age?

57

Do you have any pets?

Oh yes – my background was veterinary science, but I am now down to two dogs and too many cats! I used to operate a goat dairy and miss that activity.

Where do you live, how long have you lived there and why do you like the area?

Currently, I have two homes; one in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and one in the Appalachians of Tennessee.

Where did you grow up and do you have any special memories of your childhood?

I was born in California, but traveled extensively.

What are some of your past or present occupations?

am currently making the arts my present occupation and just began my radio programming on Blog Talk Radio – One Woman’s Wisdom.

What are your key areas of knowledge, interest or expertise?

I’m choosing my key area of knowledge to be numerology and other divination arts. It was something taught to me by my grandmother when I was a child and at this time of my life, I want to wake up each morning doing something I absolutely love! Thus, I am choosing to do this full-time.

Do you have any collections or hobbies?

Hobbies? With starting a new business, unfortunately I have little time for hobbies, but I like to relax with a good DVD or enjoyable reading. One day, I’ll get back into time for myself! :)

What are your special goals or dreams?

I was a fan of Charles Kuralt and the way he was able to become a roving reporter. I am hoping that by next year, I will be able to RV full-time while maintaining my radio broadcast and work on the road.

What brought you to Answers.com?

I found it by surfing one day and liked the format it offered.

What kept you coming back to Answers.com?

I liked the more professionalism of Answers.com over other online sites.

What is your favorite Answers.com activity?

Numerology and Astrology

Do you want to be interviewed for the Contributor corner? Just leave a comment below and we’ll get to work.

bluf-o-grams: for fun, for fame, for payback.

You’ve played blufr, earned awards, and gotten cozy on the Top of the heap. So what comes next?

Challenge your friends further on blufr with homemade blufs!

Way or no way?

bluf-o-grams are blufs that you create and send to your friends – or frenemies. Blow their minds with true or false information about you, them, or any topic. Share your custom-made blufs on Facebook, Twitter or email.

By the way, you can also create non-personal blufs and submit them to the wider bluf database for everyone to play. Acceptable blufs will have to conform to certain criteria, so make ‘em good!

You can easily create and share bluf-o-grams: go to your profile (make sure you’re signed in) and click Create a bluf-o-gram next to the bluf-o-grams tab, or share ones you’ve already created by clicking the tab itself.

Fill in the form, submit and share.

Get bluf’n…

Justicepeacelove123: The Circle of Life

Justicepeacelove123 has been contributing to Answers.com over 7 months now. Natalie (as she goes by offline) enjoys answering and editing in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians and iPod categories in particular. She also enjoys writing poetry in her spare time including this haiku about the circle of life. It’s great to have you contributing to Answers.com Natalie!

The Circle of Life, by Justicepeacelove123

At daybreak, the sun,
it is switched on by our God.
Renewing daylight.

Photosynthesis:
The way the tree gets its food
How it stays alive.

The microscopic bug
Stares hungrily at the tree
As it starts to eat.

The prepared bird
Ready to swoop and grab bugs
For her newborn young.

The graceful gray wolf
Watches the fine-feathered bird
He’s ready to prowl.

He’s ready to aim. . .
The hunter will not waste any
Promising, he shoots.

Bringing home the wolf,
Promising once more: no waste
He smiles with pride.

This, this is called the
renewing circle of life.
God nevers ends it.

It is delicate
Mistakes can end it all; it
Need not be messed with.

Answers.com at Web 2.0 Summit on ‘Q&A: The New Search Insurgent.’

At Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco yesterday, Answers.com CEO Bob Rosenschein discussed Q&A, community, mobile and more, alongside panelists from Ask.com, Quora and Google’s Aardvark.

The Summit panel was titled, ‘Q&A: The New Search Insurgent,’ and moderated by Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Land. Panelists included Doug Leeds (Ask.com), Bob Rosenschein (Answers.com), Charlie Cheever (Quora), and  Damon Horowitz (Google).

A quick description offers insight into the discussion:

Search is no longer just defined by keyword queries, algorithms and blue links. Instead, a user’s social graph, location, reputation and expertise are all positioned to usurp the page rank as the barometer of quality. In the midst of this, new Q&A services change the game even more, extending search’s promise beyond relying on published data to routing questions to real people in real time.

If you were there, let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Carlr07: Cool name, awesome hometown.

This week’s Featured Contributor completely piqued my interest when he shared a somewhat uncommon first name. Known as Carlr07 on Answers.com, his real name is ‘Carel’ – which is used primarily in the English language. Its origin is Germanic and it simply means ‘free man.’

Another tidbit Carel shared was that he grew up in Port Alice, British Columbia – a place I had never heard of until I looked it up on Answers.com. Absolutely fascinating history! Fewer than 1,000 people live in this town built by Whalen Pulp and Paper Mills of Vancouver which is home to Dale Walters a 1984 Olympics bronze medalist.

But enough about all this. Let’s find out more about this week’s Superstar, Carlr07.

What is your Answers.com user name and the history behind it?

My user name is Carlr07. My first name’s Carl, and my last name starts with an R. Originally I was going to use Carlr, but that was already taken. So I added 07 to the end of it since it was 2007 when I signed up.

What is your first name?

My legal first name is actually ‘Carel’, but people keep pronouncing it Carol. So I usually spell it Carl.

What is your age?

I’m 19, the oldest of 4 kids.

Where do you live, how long have you lived there and why do you like the area?

I grew up in Port Alice, a town of 900 on the north end of Vancouver Island. I am now living in Nanaimo, about 5 hours south, while I attend university. I really miss Port Alice. It is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Both the people and the area.

What do you like to do for recreation?

I like Age of Empires, Command & Conquer, flight simulators, racing games, first person shooters. I like pretty much any outdoor activity, whether it be kayaking in the Neuroutsos Inlet (which Port Alice overlooks), hiking up one of the many surrounding mountains, jogging down a trail or fishing. I have a lot of curiosity. IF there’s something I’m wondering about, I’ll look it up So I also spend a LOT of time on the computer, reading astronomy articles or anything else I’m wondering about. And that is one of the many reasons I like Answers.com. I learn while I answer other peoples’ questions.

What are a few random facts about yourself?

I’m Catholic, I was homeschooled all the way from K-12. I am now majoring in physics at Vancouver Island University (VIU). I love Canada and BC in particular. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

What accomplishments are you proud of?

Some accomplishments would include a high GPA (95%) and earning a reputation as a good and reliable worker.

What are your special goals or dreams?

My goal is to become a theoretical physicist (probably the best field for the chronically curious). I am very interested in anything scientific. I like to use my ability to easily grasp virtually any scientific topic to help others better understand science.

What brought you to Answers.com?

A Grade 11 socials assignment brought me to Answers.com. I had to find out whether the Soviet Satellite nations ever got a seat in the UN before the collapse of the USSR. I couldn’t find the answer anywhere, so I decided to post the question on the site. I am now a Category Supervisor and (not surprisingly) I supervise the British Columbia category. I also spend a lot of time in the many space-related categories.

What kept you coming back to Answers.com?

I kept coming back because it felt good to be able to put my knowledge to good use, plus I learn when I answer many of the questions, since I usually have to research the answer first.

What is your favorite Answers.com activity?

My favorite activity is probably answering the questions, although I do a lot of recategorizing as well.

Do you want to be interviewed for the Contributor corner? Just leave a comment below and we’ll get to work.

Answers.com ranked 9th fastest growing in NY Metro Area.

Yet another reason to be proud of Answers.com‘s amazing growth over the past years:

Answers.com Ranked Ninth Fastest Growing Company in NY Metro Area on Deloitte’s 2010 Technology Fast 500™

Answers.com ranked ninth in the NY Metro Area on Technology Fast 500™, Deloitte’s ranking of 500 of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America. The site also came in as the 10th fastest growing company in the Internet industry on the list. Rankings are based on percentage of fiscal year revenue growth during the period from 2005 to 2009. The site grew its revenues 910 percent during this period.

Here’s Bob Rosenschein representing Answers.com at the Fast 500 Awards Ceremony, with Mark Davis of Deloitte:

Congrats!

Missing Thornita on Answers.com.

While reading some poetry online the other day, I happened upon this amazing quote: “Life without its thorns could weaken the stem which beauty grows.” Although I could not determine its exact origins, it made me smile and wonder what the writer must have been thinking and feeling at the time.

It also reminded me of this week’s Featured Contributor, Thornita (Ceri). A self-proclaimed dog whisperer with a love for German Shepherds, Ceri has been busy working on several important programs related to canine training and rehabilitation – so she hasn’t been as active on Answers.com in recent months. But like the thorn that anchors its precious rose, we hope that Thornita finds her way back to the community that supports her every endeavor and wishes her a blossoming, beautiful future.

What is your Answers.com user name and the history behind it?

Thornita, and I presume why I chose the name is because no one else has the name but me. It’s original and creative so I chose it.

Would you care to tell us about your family?

I have a mum, and two cats… Dad deceased and grandparents deceased.

Do you have any pets?

Two cats :)

Where do you live, how long have you lived there and why do you like the area?

Newmarket, and I like the fact that it’s a horse racing town. I have lived here all my life.

Where did you grow up and do you have any special memories of your childhood?

Nope, pretty boring one actually…

What educational information would you like to share?

Still at the Upper School and about to do my mocks…

What are some of your past or present occupations?

Worked in a vets and now am a dog walker/trainer/groomer

What is your key area of knowledge, interest or expertise?

Dogs, period. I get on with them a LOT better than people… I connect better.

Do you have any collections or hobbies?

Dog walking

What are a few random facts about yourself?

I’m crazy and have a fetish with fire!

Do you have any special talents you’d like to share?

I’m a dog whisperer (nah jokes!)… but I get on with them well!

What are your special goals or dreams?

To open a dog rehabilitation centre and help out the ones that have been mistreated. I also want to open a no kill shelter for German Shepherds.

How would you describe yourself or personality?

Creative, Fiery, Easily Annoyed, Secretive.

What brought you to Answers.com?

I wanted to join something similar to Y!A but without the thumbs down option, because that annoyed me a lot.

Are you a Floating or Category Supervisor?

Category Supervisor for German Shepherds, English Bull Terriers, West Highland Terriers, Peer Pressure, Rottweilers, Dog Breeding, Werewolves and Shetland Sheepdogs

What keeps you coming back to Answers.com?

The nice people and my love of answering questions…

What is your favorite Answers.com activity?

GERMAN SHEPHERD SECTION!!

Do you want to be interviewed for the Contributor corner? Just leave a comment below and we’ll get to work.

Answers.com is a top 20 site. Obviously.

Answers.com announced today its position at #20 on comScore’s count of top 50 U.S. web properties.

Here are a few fun facts:

  • With the new position, Answers.com moved up two spots from #22.
  • The community-driven Q&A site brought in 47.6 million unique visitors in the month of September alone.
  • Globally, Answers.com ranked #35, with 78.5 million unique visitors worldwide.
  • Currently its community has more than 5.5 million registered members.

Congrats, once again!

Happy birthday, Mr. President… (fun facts alert!)

Now that the midterm elections are over, the United States can start looking forward to all the campaigning that will come along with the next biggie… the presidential election in 2012!

Speaking of presidents, you know it’s not all politics. They are people too! People with birthdays. And fun facts. Birthday fun facts.

Learn a little something about past American presidents and their birthdays:

  1. November 2 is the only date on which more than one president was born. (Polk in 1795 and Harding in 1865.)
  2. October boasts the most presidential births with six (Carter, Hayes, Arthur, Eisenhower, T. Roosevelt, and Adams).
  3. A president has been born in every month, but that wasn’t accomplished until June baby George H.W. Bush was elected in 1988.
  4. From the birth of George Washington in 1732 to Barack Obama in 1961, a POTUS has been born in every decade except for the 1810s, 1930s and 1950s.
  5. All of the last four presidents (George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama) were born during the summer months.
  6. Marilyn Monroe sang to John F. Kennedy at his 45th birthday celebration in 1962, with her famous sultry version of the birthday song, Happy Birthday, Mr. President.

See more fun facts at Holy Kaw. Brought to you by Answers.com!

Answers.com hits 10 million answers!

All ears, please! Answers.com announced yesterday that its Q&A community has reached the 10 million answer milestone.

The record-breaking answer came to the question: Who was the first Native American to play pro-football?

In case you’re curious: Jim Thorpe was probably the first American Indian to play pro football. He played professionally with the Pine Village Pros in Indiana in 1913 and later went on to become the first president of the NFL, where he also played for the Oorang Indians (an all-American Indian team) in Ohio.

A few of the other answers that came close, are to the following questions:

A word from Bob, Answers.com CEO, about the achievement:

“Answers.com has a robust community of people dedicated to contributing quality questions and answers to our platform. Our mission is to be the best resource for trusted answers to specific questions, whether they be social questions about creative Halloween costumes or fact-based queries like, “When was the first World Series?” Reaching 10 million answers is a testament to the scalability of the model and our impressive community of 5.5 million registered members.”

TechCrunch reported the story as well.

Congrats to Answers.com’s brilliant Q&A community and the team behind the scenes, who make the answers happen – again, and again, and again…

C is for (birthday) Cake! Happy birthday to Cookie Monster.

He’s blue. He’s furry. He’s hungry.

He’s Cookie Monster, and today is his birthday! Get the guy some cookies and as you watch him devour them in under three seconds, read some fun Cookie Monster trivia!

  1. Before that first fateful bite, Cookie Monster claimed in 2004 that his real name is Sid.
  2. We all know his favorite cookie is chocolate chip – but his second favorite? Oatmeal.
  3. The original incarnation of Cookie Monster was created by Jim Henson for a General Foods commercial.
  4. An early version of Cookie Monster appeared in a Frito-Lay potato chips ad and was called Arnold, the Munching Monster.
  5. The huge appetite is genetic – Cookie’s mom and pop share it. He also has a younger sister and cousin who share his googly eyes and blue fur.

Check out more Cookie Monster trivia featured on Holy Kaw. Brought to you by Answers.com. And the letter ‘B.’

Now go have some cookies!

(Ok, if you’re the dieting type, try drawing a cookie monster instead).

No Downtime From Our Laggspike!

He may have chosen a username that represents interruptions in service and net downtime, but Answers.com’s Laggspike is always wiki-ing to go!

With over 10,000 total contributions, including 546 individual answers, 3,146 assorted edits and 4,017 organizational tidying ups, this dynamo has his wiki business down since February 2009.

Here’s the lowdown on the wonderful one known as Laggspike:

What is your Answers.com user name and the history behind it?

Laggspike – I had Internet connection issues many times in the past, and a lag spike is when the connection is completely stopped for a few seconds.

What is your first name?

Shameen.

Would you care to tell us about your family?

I’m the oldest in my family, I have a brother and sister, my brother is obsessed with gaming, which eats my Internet.

Do you have any pets?

A cat, called Twinkle. Whatever cats do, they’re hilarious ;) .

Where do you live, how long have you lived there and why do you like the area?

I’ve lived in the UK all my life. I used to live in London, but I moved a bit north several years ago. I plan to go to Loughborough University at the end of the year

Where did you grow up and do you have any special memories of your childhood?

In London, I remember all of the famous attractions and parks we used to go to. I remember helping my ICT teacher when I was about 10 years old.

What educational information would you like to share?

I aim to be in Loughborough University at the end of the year, to study Computer Science. I study Biology, Chemistry and Computing at A-Level. In computing, I almost always help the teacher understand something he didn’t get.

What is/are your key area(s) of knowledge, interest or expertise?

Technology. I like to make websites and sometimes computer programs. I mostly taught myself, but I just finished A-Level Computing, which covers a lot of it.

Do you have any collections or hobbies?

Not really, I’m boring. I used to play badminton, but I haven’t done for quite a while.

What do you like to do for recreation?

Playing video games or watching TV shows. I like to watch comedy and sci-fi, and I like the retro/classic stuff, playing old games or watching old TV shows from when I was smaller is quite nostalgic. I’ve also made a few videos with special effects, which I find is really interesting, visually attractive.

What are a few random facts about yourself?

I almost went into a triple jump competition, but I got appendicitis.

What accomplishments are you proud of?

I became a member of MENSA not too long ago, with an IQ of 140.

What are your special goals or dreams?

After university, I hope to invent/create something useful and start a business, or work for a large tech company.

How would you describe yourself or personality?

I am a bit shy, but I’d definitely describe myself as a geek.

What brought you to Answers.com?

The feeling that I can help so many people quite easily. I feel like I’m not wasting time when I’m answering questions, and how my contributions really count.

What keeps you coming back to Answers.com?

If I’m bored and want to help people out, this is a great way. Also if I come across a badly-answered question I have to fix it. ;) Also it feels like there could always be ways to improve Answers.com, and I’m making quite a significant improvement by helping out.

What is your favorite Answers.com activity?

I like checking the newest questions and answers, but I usually am merging related questions together.

Do you want to be interviewed for the Contributor corner? Just leave a comment below and we’ll get to work.

New sharing options help you toot your own horn.

It’s ok; you can be honest with me.

You want everyone to know about the answer you just wrote on Answers.com. Not only do you think others might benefit from it, but you think your own expertise should be highlighted. You want the world to know – or maybe just your social networks. And maybe, just maybe, you like the attention.

Answers.com has made it easier to share your answers with just a few easy clicks, right from the edit page. Share your answers (and edits) on Facebook, Twitter, email and other share sites as soon as you post your answer.

When you are in the edit mode of the question page, be sure to click the check box for ‘Share this answer with friends when you’re done.’  Save your answer or edit, and the page will reload, showing the answer.

Right after, a small pop up box will appear with a place to add text and a few share options to the left. Check the share options you’d like to use, add whatever text you’d like to display with your Q&A, and click Publish.

Ta da! Now your answer has been shared with friends… So sit back and enjoy the praise!

By the way, notice the ‘More from…’ link on the bottom right of the Facebook share – that’s another great way to promote your handiwork on Answers.com. So if you’re trying to build your online reputation, consider using this as part of your strategy.