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Meet Woodman66: Spirit of Adventure in the Canadian Wilderness

Woodman66 at Kamloops

Woodman66 at Kamloops

Woodman66 has been on Answers.com since 2008! He has helped plenty of visitors to our site for almost five years now. He gives his expert advice in the categories of Home Electricity and Electrical Wiring, quite valuable for those brave Do It Yourselfers who make their own repairs and installations! He has truly earned his 2493 trust points. But that’s not all. Woodman66 also participates regularly in our AnswerThons, and he has many badges that highlight his knowledge and contributions. Though he lives in a remote area of British Columbia, Canada, he remains connected to our community. There is much to say about Woodman66, so read on to learn more.

What is your first name? My first name is David but most people just call me Dave.

What is your occupation? 

I am a journeyman electrician and I have been an electrical A class contractor for 41 years.

What is your Answers.com username and how did it come about? 

My user name is Woodman66. The wood part came from my last name, then, I am a man and I started answering questions when I was 66 years of age.

Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?British Columbia                      

I live in Princeton, British Columbia, Canada. It’s a small town of 2500 people, with a surrounding area of 3500 people and not a traffic light in sight. I am one of the 3500 people living 5 kilometers from the town center.

What is special about living in your area?

There are no neighbors! My wife and I live on a 120 acre parcel that is located 5 kilometers from the town of Princeton, and what we have here is perfectly suited to our way of living.

Morning view from the deck of Woodman66's house.

Morning view from the deck of Woodman66′s house

Your location is remote, but you also seem to be connected to the world.

Yes, we have all of the amenities of the 21st century: wireless Internet and a TV signal by way of satellite.

What enticed you to join our community?

All my electrical life I have been asked questions regarding electrical installations or how electrical equipment operates. The Answers wiki format allows me to reach people that I don’t know and help them understand the often misunderstood world of electrical installations.

LEO SignIf you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

My zodiac sign is a Leo so there is no question as to what animal I would be. It was pre-ordained by the stars.

What is your favorite thing to do on Answers.com?

I distribute information to DIY electricians to try and keep them safe when doing their electrical installations. Most people will do it anyways, so I try to give them the best expert information that I can.

What life accomplishments are you proud of?

One of my accomplishments was to obtain my private pilot’s license when I turned 42. I have been flying ever since. 

That is a great accomplishment. Where do you fly?

I incorporate my flying into my work as an electrical contractor. In British Columbia, with all of the winding roads, it is easier to fly over the mountains than to drive between them. My wife and I have flown to Niagara Falls twice since 1984. I originally lived there and we go back to see relatives. I take small side trips to other local airports on weekends. Our trips to different airport restaurants are laughingly known as ‘going for a $100.00 hamburger and coffee.’

What is your favorite type of music?  

 I like the blues and the golden oldies.

What is your favorite song?

My favorite song is Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits.

Do you remember where you were when you first heard the song and what was going on around you?

Sultans of Swing came out in 1979. I first heard it on my drive home from work. I liked the lyrics because they told a story, and I especially like the guitar solo. At the same time, I remember the Canadian conversion from the imperial measurement system to the metric system was going on. To get used to the new temperature readings, we started out simply memorizing: 0 was freezing, 10 was cool, 20 was warm, 30 was hot and 40 was very hot. Funny how the Fahrenheit scale sounds so strange to us today. The other big thing that happened in 1979 was the Iranian hostage crisis. The Canadian Embassy was instrumental in saving the lives of six Americans that year. This is the story of the film, Argo. There is a lot more information about that historical event that the Canadian CBC has published. 

Do you view the glass ‘half full’ or ‘half empty’?  Why?

The glass is half full. Being an optimist, I like to think that things will always get better. Being negative will bring you and everyone around you down. That is not a good way of going through life.

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com Supervisor? 

I really want to help people get projects done correctly and safely when it comes to electricity. It takes effort to deliver that correctly, though I wouldn’t call it a challenge as much as I would call it my mission on the site.

Triumph TR6

What are your special interests?

In the summertime my wife and I tour Canada in our 1975 Triumph TR6.

Your summer trips sound interesting. What was your favorite road trip?

Each road trip is an adventure in itself. When we tour, the only rule is of course, the top must be down. Meeting new people from other small towns and locating eating establishments that the locals recommend is part of the adventure.

Where will you go this summer?

Thermal Hot Springs in Radium

Thermal Hot Springs in Radium

We are planning to go to the Kootenays, in eastern British Columbia. Small towns like Radium and Fairmont all have thermal hot springs and after a few hours of wind blown driving, these towns will be the places where we spend the night. 

What is your favorite quote and why?

Groucho Marx

Groucho Marx

It is by Groucho Marx when asked if he would become a member of a club, “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.”  As for why this quote, you would have to know me personally.

Check out some of Woodman66’s Q&A on the site:

Should solid copper or stranded copper be used with the pressure terminals of a duplex receptacle?

What are the procedures to synchronize generators in parallel?

How do you wire an air compressor?

Is your baseboard heater using power when a single pole thermostat is set to low?

Meet Jam499: Great Mom, Sister and NASCAR fan!

Jam499 and her son!

Jam499 and her son!

Jam499 has been on Answers.com for less than a year, yet she is already a Gold Contributor with over 77,000 contributions. She is active in the Community Outreach Program as a WikiGuide and on Vandal Patrol as a Senior Generalist. Her favorite categories range from Grammar and Parts of Speech to rock bands like Guns N’ Roses and Pink Floyd – quite a combo. She is proud to be from Rhode Island and loves NASCAR.  Her tastes and interests are diverse, but the center of her universe is her son!  Read more and get to know Jam499.

What is your first name?  My first name is Jody.

What is your occupation?  

My youngest sister has developmental delays, and I work with her providing direct care. I also manage the staff and coordinate her day program.

What is your Answers.com username and how did it come about?  

My username is Jam499. I needed something that I would remember, so I went with my initials and the month and year of my son’s birth.

Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?  

I live in Rhode Island and have for most of my life. I am proud to call “The Biggest Little State in the Union” home.

How did you discover Answers.com? 

I was researching a grammar topic, and I found the answer on Answers.com.

What enticed you to join our community? 

After finding the answer that I was looking for, I started poking my nose around some of the English Language categories. I was very impressed by the dedicated group of contributors and Supervisors, as well as the quality of the answers. I suppose it was the community itself that enticed me to join.

What is your favorite thing to do on Answers.com? 

I like doing all of it. I have a short attention span, so when I get bored, I move on to something else.

What life accomplishments are you proud of? 

My son.

What accomplishments on Answers.com are you proud of?  

The Mentoring Program was a wonderfully challenging experience for me. I had an amazing mentor in Wildrosebeef, and she stood by me through all the ups and downs. I am quite proud of being a Mentoring Program Graduate.

What is your favorite type of music?  

I love many genres of music, but rock really does it for me. My favorite bands are Tool and Pink Floyd.

You can only pick one:  banjo, butterfly, or babbling brook. Which would you choose and why? 

Definitely a butterfly. It’s my only tattoo, and I have a slight obsession with symmetry. If I were a butterfly, I could fly to the babbling brook and listen to the man playing his banjo.

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com Supervisor? 

The biggest challenge is to not lose my cool when dealing with someone insistent on arguing with me.

What are your special interests, hobbies, or collections? 

I am a die-hard NASCAR fan. I enjoy spending my Sunday afternoons on the edge of my couch screaming at the television. I’ve had the great pleasure of going to numerous races in New Hampshire, as well. There isn’t anything quite like being up against the fence and watching those cars come off Turn 2, on the brink of disaster!

What is your inspiration in life?  

Coffee, coffee, and more coffee!

You have two pets. Tell us about some of their antics!

Shadow

Shadow

There’s no shortage of personality in my pets. I wouldn’t have it any other way either.

My dog’s name is Shadow. She’s a bit rambunctious, and her previous owner couldn’t handle her. She was a little over a year old when I took her in, and she’s four now. Since becoming a dog owner, I’ve noticed a serious drop in the sock population. The funniest thing I have ever seen is my dog tiptoeing across the kitchen floor to sneak up on the cat.Jam's cat

My cat’s name is Pretty Kitty. A family member asked me to watch her for the weekend, and I decided against giving her back. That was eight years ago. In addition to my cat hiding in cupboards and walking on top of doors, she steals my make-up brushes and hair ties. She has this amusing version of hide-and-seek/peek-a-boo that she plays. I crawl around on the floor and ask, “Where’s the Pretty Kitty?” and she jumps out of wherever she’s hiding and swats at me a few times. She knocks ornaments off the Christmas tree and blames the dog, and she somehow manages to deposit cat litter in the dog’s water bowl several times a day.

Check out some of Jam499′s Q&A:

What comes after a direct object?

How do you know if a linking verb is a predicate adjective or noun?

 

Meet Prioktan918: Master StoryTeller and Seeker of Knowledge

Prioktan918 is a storyteller by nature and many will enjoy his interview for the sheer pleasure of reading a well-told story. He has broad knowledge, eclectic taste, and he specializes in the Middle East. Thanks to his attention, we now have organized categories for Middle Eastern History and related topics. He calls his sense of humor horrible, yet he is quite amusing. Though he is currently busy studying law, he still finds time to devote to Answers.com and we are lucky to have him! Since January of 2012, he has more than 120,000 contributions, making him a Platinum Contributor. He has already passed through the Special Project Assistant (SPA) Program and he is a Mentoring Program Graduate. Read more and get to know this intellectual and imaginative young man who will one day be a great lawyer and most likely, more than that!

What is your first name?  Richard.

What is your occupation?

I used to be a paralegal working in defense of liability insurers and reinsurers. Currently, I am at law school, studying to become a lawyer.

What is your Answers.com username and how did it come about?

It is Prioktan918. The “918” is a personal thing. “Prioktan” comes from an exchange between my brother and me when we were younger. My brother used to have this imaginary friend “Johnny” who lived on Pluto and I would sit down and ask him very critical questions of Johnny and his surroundings. After asking all these questions, I began to imagine a world on Pluto populated with numerous different people. They were all led by a singularly gifted woman named Prioktan who made a valiant last stand against the invading and colonizing forces of Earth in the 2600s. In the “Internet Age” when every useful username is used, Prioktan has just the set of characters to avoid causing problems in making a username or email address. It has proven relatively successful. Perhaps, eventually, more people will learn about Prioktan, if I ever finish writing her story.

Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?

I come from everywhere, really. I lived the majority of my life in New York City and its environs, but I have also lived in Washington DC, London, Seville, Fez, and Tel Aviv: four continents, six cities, bloody nightmare. Each of those cities is special in its own way, but the general effect was to make me a Post-American, as my friends like to say. I am American, but I do not let that define my personality or outlook.

How did you discover Answers.com?

I was eating lunch at work one day and I figured that I could contribute to the overall good of the world by clarifying a few issues or answering a few questions. So, I registered and answered. What was nice was that as opposed to Wikipedia, I did not have to cite my information, meaning that I could address issues without painstakingly writing a research essay. So, I just kept at it, especially when it came to categories that I knew well, such as the Middle East, and that had few major contributors.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?Ditto Pokemon

I was always enamored with the Pokémon “Ditto”, which is something like an animal. What I found interesting was that Ditto did not have a persona or identity, save when it stole one by copying another form. It was whatever it wished itself to be and had no remnant of itself when it copied. It creates this interesting question of whether a person’s will can truly exist outside of the manifest experience of living that life. I would find the experiment of being a Ditto to be a wonderful and exciting conundrum.

What is your favorite thing to do on Answers.com?

I enjoy answering a “why” question that seeks real analysis or exposes strongly held feelings. More often than not, people have serious questions that they cannot address with anyone in their life. This could be because communities are insular, or it could be because there is a stigma against asking certain questions of certain people. I feel that if I can clarify something that bothers or confuses someone, perhaps, that person might be able to pay it forward.

If you were inviting someone to join Answers.com, what reason(s) would you give that person to become a part of our community?

I am not a salesman. When I ask people to contribute, I ask them from the perspective that they have expertise in a subject and they should share it with those less knowledgeable. I have not been that successful as my friends are busier than I am.

What accomplishments on Answers.com are you proud of?

I am proud of having organized the Middle Eastern History Category, as well as submitting category requests for the Caliphate and Kurdistan categories that now exist. Prior to my arrival on Answers.com, the Middle East area was a mess; it is much tidier now.

What is the craziest thing that has ever happened to you?

A friend from the UK was visiting me in Morocco (while I lived in Fez), so I told him to meet me at the Casablanca train station. It was around midnight, and he had not slept for nearly 36 hours as a result of finishing finals. He arrived, barely lucid and completely exasperated. We boarded a 0:45 train to Tangier which takes about six hours. We packed into a train car (like in the Harry Potter movies) and because the hour was so late, we had the car to ourselves. I took watch and my friend went to sleep. At around 2:30, we were in the Sidi Qasem Junction where the train had to hold for about twenty minutes while the track was switched. A man then came  hobbling into our car and slurred out, “I…I…I…like…I don’t have a ticket. Is that OK?” I responded to him in French that I didn’t care and he should be fine. He proceeded to fall to the ground in a crumpled heap and clawed his way under the banquet. Just then a train conductor passed by the outside of the car and saw the drunken man’s legs peering out from under the banquet. He yanked the drunken man out from under the banquet, readjusted his grip so that he could haul the man upright, rotated the man 180 degrees and slammed him against the far side wall, before dragging the man out of the train altogether. The noise of the man colliding with the far side of the wall woke my good friend whose eyes widened immensely. I turned to him and said, “Welcome to Morocco, you should pay for your tickets here.”

What is your favorite type of music?  

I like music from the eastern Mediterranean, such as modern Greek (Paparizou and similar), modern Turkish (Tarkan and similar), Arab Pop (Ajram, Diab, and similar), and Israeli (Haza and similar).

Who is your favorite poet?  What is your favorite poem and why?

My favorite poem is Canción de Jinete (Song of the Rider) by Federico García Lorca. It’s the story of a patrolman who knows that he lacks the supplies to make it safely to Córdoba, which was his original destination. To me it represents the meaning of true heroism. In most films and literature, heroes die ceremonious deaths and are pined for, if they must die at all. In reality, many heroes give their lives without accolades, rotting namelessly in prison cells, dying without a hope that what little good they tried to achieve will progress to anything, and most importantly, they die without ceremony and without climactic cause. Lorca portrays this singular un-mourned loss in a way that makes us care about him, too. Additionally, it serves as a mirror to Lorca’s own life since he was killed by Fascist tyrants in 1936 for the crime of being gay. He was given no ceremony nor blessing in Spain for nearly forty years afterwards, dying as namelessly as the Rider.

What makes you unique?

I am absurdly honest and blunt.

If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?

Assuming that the wish-giver was not intentionally duplicitous and would grant the wishes as intended, as opposed to the common trope in literature where the wish granting agent grants the wish in a way that the wisher does not wish to receive the wish:

  • World Peace – A realistic peace that allows people to actually embrace each other and realize their rights and freedoms to self-determination. This does not require that people cease to argue, but it does demand a mental shift across the world that violence and hatred are not viable ways to do this.
  • Super-Teleport – I would like to be able to teleport myself, and anything I carry, to any point in the universe at any point in time. Additionally I would be able to teleport into works of both fiction and non-fiction with any “story” content in which I could acquire attributes of that world or even take over characters and play the story out differently. Any death caused by being outside of normal time would just revert me back to where I made the original jump from with the memories of everything that happened – like waking from a nightmare.
  • Investment in Space Colonization – I would like governments around the world to invest in building a space elevator and start building space colonies to reduce the strain on our planet as well as colonizing the moon and Mars. I wouldn’t wish that these things already existed but that there was the will the world-over to see these missions through.

Do you view the glass ‘half full’ or ‘half empty’?  Why?

I don’t waste my time with the glass. I evaluate the problem, pick the best viable solution and execute it by rationally evaluating all component parts and actors. Optimism and pessimism both distort a person’s ability to think critically.

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com Supervisor?

It is most challenging to deal with irrational or problematic contributors who I need to reprimand for their conduct.

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com contributor?

It can be a challenge to understand what the questions are that are being asked when people form their questions vaguely.

What is your favorite quote and why?

Tao PeopleContext: In 1890 in southern Tanganyika (current Tanzania), the German commander Hermann von Wissman was fighting against the Yao People, ruled by Chief Macemba. When Wissman demanded subordination by Macemba, the African ruler replied by way of a letter written in Kiswahili:

Translation of the Quote: I have listened to your words but can find no reason why I should obey you—I would rather die first… I look for some reason why I should obey you and find not the smallest. If it should be friendship that you desire, then I am ready for it, today and always; but not to be your slave, that I cannot be. If it should be war you desire, then I am ready, but never to be your slave. I do not fall at your feet, for you are God’s creature just as I am. I am sultan here in my land. You are sultan there in yours. Yet listen, I do not say to you that you should obey me; for I know that you are a free man. As for me, I will not come to you, and if you are strong enough, then come and fetch me. ~ Macemba

Reason: It’s my favorite quote because it shows Macemba’s willingness not to capitulate merely because defeat is inevitable. A person should be willing to defend everything they hold dear instead of forfeiting it for mere survival. A mind without a heart would make us no different than computers or animals.

Where is one place in the world you would love to visit and why?

I would like to visit Iran and Iraq to see where my family came from.

Do you have any special talents?

I can speak in a voice resembling Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks completely naturally. (It is not my natural voice, though; that would be a curse, not a talent.)

What is one quirky or interesting random fact about you that most people may not know?

I have a horrible sense of humor. Some people get it, but most do not.

Meet Soulcist: A Georgia Poet who Loves His Home and Family

 

Yusemi and Soulcist

Yusemi and Soulcist

Soulcist has been on the site for close to a year now, and he has certainly made his presence felt with over 54,000 contributions. He’s a Senior Mentor, a Vandal Patrol Generalist, a Community Outreach WikiGuide and a Category Supervisor in six categories! He is most active in Teen Dating and Xbox Live. In his free time he teaches himself to build software-based webites. He is devoted to a few very special people, including Yusemi and his grandmother, but get to know him and you will see he is sensitive and considerate of everyone in his life and on our site. To find out more about Soulcist, visit his profile where he shares some of his own beautiful poetry and more. We are lucky to have such a genuine person as a member of our community and we can only wish him the best. Continue reading →

Meet Luvhistory: Lover of Nature and History!

Luvhistory

Luvhistory

Luvhistory is a midwestern gal. She majored in history in college – perhaps the reason for her username. Luvhistory is also a lover of nature and you can find many of her contributions on the site in the Endangered, Vulnerable and Threatened Species and Animal Life categories. Her descriptions of nature are sensitive and beautiful, as you will discover in the interview. She is not only knowledgeable, but she is also an active member of our community with over 104,000 contributions. Read more and get to know Luvhistory. Continue reading →

Meet Mehtamatics: Wisdom and quality of life rolled into one!

MehtamaticsIt’s an honor to have Mehtamatics on our site. His total contributions exceed 113,00 and of those, 75,000 are original answers. Our community of members certainly appreciates and values Mehtamatics: he has over 4,000 Trust Points! His favorite category is Mathematics and he provides excellent answers to math-related questions. Originally from India, today he resides to the southwest of London, where he enjoys both nature and city life in this privileged location! He is a bit of a philosopher, in addition to being an excellent mathematician. Read more and get to know this thoughtful and interesting member of Answers.com. Continue reading →

Meet Garethfx: Proud Welshman and Trusted Supervisor

Meet Garethfx: a proud Welshman from the Cardiff area. He knows his history, loves his family and has quite a creative bent. He is also a valued Supervisor on the site who strives to give clear and accurate answers as a service to the community. For that he has earned over 2000 trust points. He is most active in the Rugby category, one of his favorite sports. Read on and get to know Gareth! Continue reading →

Meet C.Hainsaw: He’s out of this world!

Meet C.Hainsaw. He’s one of the most cherished and longstanding members of our Community. In trust points alone he’s over the 2600 mark. Overall, C.Hainsaw has almost 248,000 contributions! His knowledge is broad which qualifies him to supervise many categories, especially those related to the US Military, Law and Legal Issues, and Jobs and Education. He participates enthusiastically in our contests and programs, and has won many awards. Among them, he was the top Mentor for the Most Outstanding Performance Overall in the 2011 WAmmy and he won the Best How-To in the 2010 WAmmy. Read more to learn about this wise and thoughtful member of Answers.com who is also, by the way, passionate about his family! Continue reading →

Meet Nicola: A purrfect role model from Scotland!

Xnicola is a star at Answers.com! Just one look at her bio page and it is clear: Senior Supervisor, Mentoring Program Mentor, Copy Editor for WikiReviewers, Imperial WikiGuide for Community Outreach, Senior Site Guardian for Vandal Patrol and TIP Supervisor. The long list of accomplishments makes her an expert on the site and a great role model. It’s not surprising that she is also a Category Supervisor for Literature and Language. She is currently finishing a Masters Degree in the English language. If you have ever received a greeting from Xnicola on the site, you know that she is a warm and welcoming person, too! Read more to learn more about this outstanding young lady from Scotland. Continue reading →

Sister, friend, lover of krokets and Makker: Meet Ireen22

The Netherlands

The Netherlands

It’s hard to stop bragging about our contributor from the Netherlands, Ireen22! She is outstanding as a person, accomplished in many areas, including equestrian sports and photography, and she’s a real star on Answers.com! Irene gives all she has to her missions, having completed 50 for WikiAnswers Influential Teens (WIT) and 50 for Special Project Assistant (SPA). She holds badges as a Category Supervisor, a WikiReviewer, a Noble WikiGuide, a Vandal Patrol Generalist and she has more than 38,000 contributions. She never forgets her friends on the site and she views life with an open mind and heart. Read more to learn about this very special young woman from the Netherlands. Continue reading →

Meet Fixit895: Crossover from Scotland!

Born on the other side of the Atlantic in Scotland, he now makes his home in Canada. This very week Fixit895 (aka Charlie) reached 10,000 answers on the site! He supervises the Glue and Adhesives and Manufactured and Mobile Homes categories (a clue to his username) and he is also a WikiGuide for Community Outreach and a TIP member. He can figure out how to fix anything and loves to answer questions on the site. On a personal note, he has an admirable military background. We are proud to have him with us! Read on to learn more about this well-travelled and seasoned Supervisor. Continue reading →

Skullcandy88: Just our cup of tea!

There’s almost nothing that he hasn’t done on the site: Category Supervisor, Senior Vandal Patrol, Special Project Assistant, Community Outreach, Mentoring Program Graduate and more than 68,000 contributions. He prides himself on using proper grammar and he loves tea. This intelligent young man from England is one of our top Supervisors who oversees a wide range of categories. He is truly a source of inspiration and knowledge. Check out his bio to learn all about Skullcandy88 and maybe, if we ask, he will share the secret to a perfect cup of tea! Continue reading →

Judy Olmsted: a woman to be reckoned with!

It is a real pleasure to introduce Judy Olmsted, our first TIP graduate, who now excels at splitting alternates, re-categorization and, of course, answering questions on the site, among other features! Though Judy joined our online community recently, she has already become a bronze contributor with her over 2800 contributions in the Health, Human Anatomy and Biology categories. A former teacher, she is much loved by her students who voted her the Teacher of the Year three times – not to mention her own college who awarded her the honor of Educator of the Year! We are lucky to have Judy on our team, and soon she will be an Answers.com Supervisor, too! Read more and get to know her and her sense of humor… Continue reading →

Meet Rhyfor: A Christmas Miracle!

Rhyfor is a Christmas miracle and we couldn’t resist featuring him this week in the Contributor Corner as we come to the end of 2012! Based in Scotland, he is a top Supervisor who has earned many badges: Senior Supervisor, Mentoring Program Mentor, Category Supervisor for the iPhone, the iPad 2 and Technology, SPA Active Alumni, WikiGuide for Community Outreach, Bug Catcher, Senior Generalist for Vandal Patrol and Gold Contributor with over 89.000 contributions! He is a valuable contributor on our site and we are pleased to present him to our community. Read more to get to know him and learn about his miracle! Continue reading →

Meet Norvell Wisdom: Fan of Springsteen, Dylan and Joel and passionate about comfort!

Traveling Man

NorvellWisdom has been around the block and then some!  He has lived in at least different 14 places throughout the United States.  As a chemical patent attorney he has more than 350 US patents!  We are privileged to have this knowledgeable and seasoned contributor on the site.  We can just imagine him listening to “Jungleland,” his favorite song, while answering questions about stoichiometry!  Read on to learn more about Norvell.

What is your first name?  Norvell

What is your occupation?

I am currently retired but acting as an unpaid officer of a small company that some of my friends founded. My last full time job was as a chemical patent attorney.

What is your Answers.com username and how did it come about?

It’s just my first and last name run together: NorvellWisdom.

Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?

I have lived in many places: Oklahoma City, Muskogee, and Nowata, Oklahoma; Palestine (Texas), Houston, Harleton, Austin, and, most recently, Longview, Texas; Elizabeth, New Jersey; Watervliet and Albany, New York; Horsham and Blue Bell, Pennsylvania; and Warren, Michigan.

How did you discover Answers.com?

I discovered the site when I was doing a Google® search.

What enticed you to join our community?

I liked the idea of having an opportunity to review some things I am in danger of forgetting for lack of use.

What is your favorite thing to do on Answers.com?

I like to answer questions about stoichiometry.

What life accomplishments are you proud of?

I have written more than 350 U. S. Patents!

What is your favorite type of music?  What is your favorite band or artist?  

I listen to folk or rock and roll with socially conscious lyrics: Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Billy Joel are all good.

What is your favorite song?images

My favorite song is “Jungleland”, by Springsteen.

Who is your favorite poet?  

Shakespeare, Robert Frost, and Edwin Arlington Robinson are all very good.

Do you view the glass ‘half full’ or ‘half empty’?  Why?

I view it as “half empty,” because in the words of some medieval poet, “Indeed the world contains much good, yet still more ill than good” and of Edward Gibbon, “History is largely the record of the vices, crimes, and follies of mankind.”

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com contributor?

It is challenging to guess the intention behind a poorly phrased question.

What are you most passionate about in your life?

Comfort. (I am 75 years old now!)

What is one quirky or interesting random fact about you that most people may not know?Railroad

I am very interested in the schedules of passenger railroads, especially US ones before 1960.

Meet VigorousChemist: Expert in Chemistry, Music and Answers.com!

Sri Lanka

Answers.com is not the only area where VigorousChemist excels.  He is an accomplished pianist and an expert in chemistry – his username should not surprise, once you know this fact.  His contributions on the site are close to 40,000!  VigorousChemist went through the Mentoring Program and then became a Category Supervisor in Buddhism, Chemistry, Sri Lanka (where he hails from) and Organic Chemistry.  He also spends time greeting new members as a WikiGuide and editing Q&A as a WikiReviewer.  He discovered Answers.com while studying at the university.  We are thrilled to have learned more about him!  Read more!

What is your first name?

My first name is Chrishan.

What is your occupation?

I’m currently an undergraduate in the Physical Sciences stream at the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

What is your Answers.com username and how did it come about?

My username at Answers.com is VigorousChemist. When I was in high school in the Advanced Level of Mathematics stream, I became famous for solving exam questions in chemistry in a relatively short time. My friends gave me this nickname after I got only one incorrect response in a span of 30 minutes on a two hour exam.

What enticed you to join our community?

While I and my classmates were doing academic work, we used the Internet for immediate reference.  On many occasions -  actually almost all occasions -  we landed on the Answers.com page.  I decided that one day I would contribute to Answers.com!  I signed up on April 29th in 2012, although prior to that time I contributed as an anonymous user.  The credits of enticement should go to my friends and search engines.

What is your favorite thing to do on Answers.com?

As a regular contributor, my favorite task is to give first answers in full sentences.  I submitted 100 such answers even before completing my first 150 contributions.  By now, as a Supervisor, batch recategorizing and editing alternates are among my favorite activities.  Meanwhile, my least interesting task is to warn and block users.

If you were inviting someone to join Answers.com, what reason(s) would you give that person to become a part of our community?

I never forget to invite my friends to contribute to Answers.com.  On the site they help other persons in various ways, and they gain knowledge about the fields they are interested in.  I would recommend Answers.com as one of the best websites with a friendly community of Community Assistants, Supervisors, Special Project Assistants and other contributors.

What life accomplishments are you proud of?

One of the accomplishments that I am most proud of is being eligible to do undergraduate studies in my favorite subject stream.

What accomplishments on Answers.com are you proud of?

I’m proud of being a Double Platinum Contributor, a Special Project Assistant Active Alumni, and a Category Supervisor.  I am also a Mentoring Program Graduate, another tremendous achievement!

What is your favorite type of music?  

I like classical music, especially piano sonatas and symphonies.  Among my favorite composers are Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Robert Schumann.

Who is your favorite poet?  What is your favorite poem and why?

Poet, Wendy Whatmore

My favorite poet is Wendy Whatmore.  My favorite poem is “Island Spell” by the same author, and it is written about my home country, Sri Lanka. The poetic devices and techniques used there are awesome!

Do you view the glass ‘half full’ or ‘half empty’?  Why?

Actually I believe it depends on the context. As an example, when results are given on an exam, I’d like to see the glass as ‘half filled’. But when I’m practicing something, such as a performance for a recital, I usually like to see the ‘half empty’ glass, because it can be further filled by continuous effort!

What is your favorite quote and why?

“A person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new,” by Albert Einstein.  I believe that I may make many mistakes in life (although I try to refrain), so I am practicing to be patient in all circumstances when dealing with others.

Who or what is your inspiration in life?

My parents, all of my teachers, and my sister are among the persons who support me in all my activities.

Amazon Rainforest

Where is one place in the world you would love to visit and why?

I would like to visit the Amazon Rainforest. The beauty of nature, the colorful surroundings rich with natural and clean air, and its solemnity would make me happy and light hearted!

What are your special interests, hobbies, or collections?

There are many activities that I enjoy in my leisure time.  Most often I play the piano.  Among my other hobbies are philately, listening to music, photography, playing chess and contributing to Answers.com (obviously!).

A Man with a Heart of Gold: Meet Debabrata Sengupta

Our contributor from India, Debabrata Sengupta is not only enthusiastic about Answers.com, but he is a man with a deep sense of altruism who devotes much of his time to helping those who are less fortunate.  Debabrata has a poet’s sensibility, a businessman’s acumen and he is truly a citizen of the world.  On the site, he participates by asking and answering questions most frequently in the health and insurance categories.  He recently was a Second Place winner in the 2012 Sizzlin’ Summer AnswerThon.  Read on to learn more about Debabrata!

What is your first name?

My first name is Debabrata.

What is your occupation?  

I am a savings and exim consultant.

What is your Answers.com user name and how did it come about?

It is DebabrataSengupta, which is also my full name.

Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?

I am from West Bengal, India, the birthplace of the world famous Nobel Laureate in Literature, Rabindranath Tagore, and the famous Hindu monk, Swami Vivekananda.

What enticed you to join our community?

The high standards and depth of the Answers.com site enticed me to join the community.

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com Supervisor?

While editing any answer, I have to be extremely careful that the same is devoid of vulgarity, religious or political overtones, and that it is precise and to the point.

If you were inviting someone to join Answers.com, what reasons(s) would give that person to become part of our community?

I have invited many students to join Answers.com to expand their knowledge base.

What accomplishments on Answers.com, you are proud of?

I came in 2nd place in the 2012 Sizzlin Summer AnswerThon, answering 102 questions in 48 hours.

What life accomplishments are you proud of?

In 2006 I started the non-profit organization, Oriental Mother Welfare Foundation with the sale of proceeds from my book of 50 poems entitled Self Expression.

What is your favorite band or artist?

My favorite band is “Bhumi,” a Bengali band  that is popular in India and internationally.  They have performed in the US and Europe.

Who is your favorite poet? What is your favorite poem & why?

Rabindranath Tagore

My favorite poet is Rabindranath Tagore.  I especially like his poem,”Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.’  This poem represents Tagore’s dream to live in a world of peace and where there is universal brotherhood, and tolerance for all castes and religions.

What makes you unique?

I speak the unpleasant truth without fearing the consequences.

If you had three wishes, what would you wish to?

I would wish to start a charitable shelter for the poor, to create a free coaching center for slum children, and to build a center for my non-profit organization.

What are your special interest, hobbies or collections?

When I was younger, it was stamp collecting.  Now I write the letters to the editor column of an English Daily fortnightly, and of course visiting Answers.com site.

What is your favorite quote and why?

‘Self trust is the first secret of success’ by Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Without self-trust or self-reliance, no one can achieve success in any sphere of life.

Where is one place in the world you would love to visit and why?

I would like to visit the United States because this country is the birthplace of democracy with leaders like Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.  It is also a country where respect for human dignity is high and the transparency of the judiciary is envious to any country of the world.

Do you have any talents?

I am humbled to reply: I love writing on any topic related to social causes, a passion which comes from within.

Do you want to add anything?

I have no hesitation to say that I am in love with Answers.com.  I wish to enrich our community with my humble contributions.  I dream to visit this great land of USA one day and meet and interact with my fellow community member contributors.

Georgia Talent and Future World Traveler: Meet At32296

Throughout his high school career, At32296 has been contributing to Answers.com.  He joined in 2008 and has more than 200,000 contributions.  Over the years he has earned almost every badge available: Senior Supervisor overseeing Entertainment & Arts, Celebrities, The Hunger Games and more, Mentor, WikiReviewer, Royal WikiGuide, Site Guardian and WIT Explorer and the list goes on.  We are proud to introduce At32296!

What is your first name?

My first name is Alex.

What is your occupation?

I am currently a high school student.

Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special? 

I hail from the great state of Georgia – South Georgia to be specific.  Georgia is special because we are the No. 1
producer of different crops, home to many talented celebrities, and we have cool attractions to visit.

How did you discover Answers.com?

Like most people, I discovered Answers.com while searching for a question.  Once I began using the site, I was instantly hooked.

What is your favorite thing to do on Answers.com?

I like doing almost anything, but if I have to choose a favorite it would be editing questions and answers.  I can’t stand to see incorrect grammar, although I’m guilty of having bad grammar a lot.

What enticed you to join our community?

I was enticed by the fact that there was an endless amount of things to do around the site.

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com Supervisor?

The most challenging part of being a Supervisor is dealing with those pesky vandals.

What accomplishments on Answers.com are you proud of?

I am proud that I became a Senior Supervisor and also that I have made over 200,000 contributions.  I hope to be on the site for many more years and achieve even greater accomplishments.

What is your favorite quote and why?

My favorite quote of all time would be “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind” by Dr. Seuss.  This is my favorite because it reminds you to just be yourself and say what you feel no matter what others may say.

Who or what is your inspiration in life?

My family would definitely be my inspiration.  They always motivate me to do my best at whatever I do.

Where is one place in the world you would love to visit and why?

I don’t think I can choose just one.  There are so many different places I want to go.  Some of the places I would love to visit are: Boston, London, Jerusalem, Germany and more.  I love history so there would be many sites to explore.

Do you want to add anything?  

I just want to give a shout-out to all of my fellow Supers and contributors.  Without you guys, Answers.com could not be the amazingly awesome site that it is today: the #1 Q&A site in the world! Everyone keep up the great work!

Clever and Cultured: Meet Ten Tibias

Ten Tibias is a true Renaissance man with his many tastes and talents.  Descended from a German monarch and a distant cousin of the man who coined the term “Big Bang Theory,” Ten Tibias himself is a lover of knowledge and culture.  His top categories on the site are chimpanzees, lions, bears and other animals from the wild.  We are fortunate to have a contributor with such a broad range of talents and interests at Answers.com.  His expertise and enthusiasm have earned him various badges including one from WikiReviewers and another from Vandal Patrol.  Read on to learn more!

What is your first name? 

My first name is Jaid.

What is your Answers.com username and how did it come about?

My Answers username is Ten Tibias.  It was originally just a funny-sounding name that got stuck in my head but it was so easy to remember – and it sounded kind of neat – that I kept it for many things.  (For those that don’t know, the tibia is the large bone in the lower part of the leg, commonly referred to as the “shin bone.”)

What enticed you to join our community?

I joined Answers.com because it seemed like a great opportunity to pass on knowledge which is something one can never have enough of.  Having been raised by a professor of English, I have a passion for teaching and learning, and Answers.com seemed like a good place to exercise that passion.

What accomplishments on Answers.com are you proud of?

I’m proud of becoming a Supervisor, and managing, at one point, to hold first place for answers on the site.

What is your favorite type of music?  What is your favorite band or artist?  

My taste in music is certainly not the usual.  I listen mainly to the classical genre and techno.  I know that sounds like a mismatched preference, but there you are.  Amid classical genre, I listen mainly to the Romantic era composers, particularly Chopin and Rachmaninov.  As far as techno goes, I am a particular fan of Dimrain47.

Who is your favorite poet?  What is your favorite poem and why?

My favourite poem is “The Raven”, because of its morbid nature, which is very like my own.

My favourite poet is Edgar Allan Poe, though Alexander Pope comes close.

If anonymous poems were accounted for, I would have to mention Unhappy Dionysius.

If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?

If I had three wishes, I would probably wish for a longer life, good fortune, and more wishes.  The allowance of limitless wishes, while a dangerous one, removes the stress normally applied by the three-wish scenario.

What are your special interests, hobbies, or collections?  

I have several hobbies that include gardening and landscape architecture.  I greatly enjoy growing plants, particularly exotic ones, and landscaping a small park or garden.

Perhaps my favourite is genealogy.  I have traced my ancestry back to the 800s A.D.,  I am descended from a minor German monarch.  I also am a distant cousin of Sir Fred Hoyle, who is famous for his theory of the origin of the elements, and who coined the term “Big Bang Theory.”

What are you most passionate about in your life?

I have a passion for problem-solving.  I intend to use the rest of my life for solving the problems of anyone and everyone, at small and large levels.

Meet Jenny1988: A Blogger from India who Loves to Answer Questions!

This week’s nascent entrepreneur, Jenny1988, is an avid blogger from India who wants to build her own online business. She believes in following her passions in life and has great sensitivity to nature and helping others. On our site, she was a Runner-Up in the recent 2012 Leap-to-Win AnswerThon, and she states that one of her many hobbies is answering questions. Read more to learn about Jenny1988 and her keen perspective on life.

What is your first name?

My first name is Jenny.

What is your occupation?

I am a student.

What is your Answers.com username?

My username is Jenny1988.

Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?

I’m from Pune, India. Pune is a city which has given me a whole lot of different and special memories. I’ve seen ups and downs, so it has taught me so much.

If you were inviting someone to join Answers.com, what reason(s) would you give them to become a part of our community?

Helping people with knowledge and experience is the best thing that can be imparted. Sometimes it is comforting to know that other people have also faced similar situations.

What accomplishments on Answers.com are you proud of?

I recently participated in an AnswerThon and became a top answerer. It was overwhelming.

What was the last song you listened to?

I listened to “Touch my Hand” by David Archuleta.

Do you view the glass ‘half full’ or ‘half empty’?  Why?

I view it as half empty because there is always room for more. There is always a possibility of improvement. A positive attitude is a good thing, but since it often leads to a laid back attitude, it cannot be applied to every walk of life.

You can only pick one:  banjo, butterfly, or babbling brook.  Which would you choose and why?

I would choose a butterfly because I love nature. The pain and hard work that it goes through to become a butterfly is not a cake walk and that shows that if there is “no pain, no gain”.

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com contributor?

The biggest challenge is not knowing the details that lead to making assumptions. This means that the askers get inaccurate or wrong advice and information.

What are your special interests, hobbies, or collections?

My hobbies include blogging, coin collections, philately, painting, and reading.

What are you most passionate about in your life?

Right now, I am most passionate to start something of my own, online, and to do this for a living.

What is your favorite quote and why?

Though it’s not my favorite, I chose the quote that I try and love to follow: “Do what you love and love what you do.”

Who or what is your inspiration in life?

There is no one specifically. My parents have always been there providing all the inspiration I need when I’m not in high spirits. But I try to see the good qualities of a person. It just gives me more insight and shows how much I can improve upon.