Yahoo!7 Answers Australia

They say chivalry is dead… but to many people knowing the right things to say and way to behave is still very important. Thus the Etiquette category within Yahoo!7 Answers is always full of diverse and interest questions from people wary of making a social faux pas.

The tried and true questions that have confused people through the ages relate to proper dinner table manners – which knife, spoon or fork to use when eating and what is considered acceptable practice. Etiquette questions extend to relationship matters aswell, and whether or not it is rude to offer back an expensive piece of jewellery offered by a former love. Office etiquette is another popular point of discussion – on issues such as how to get along with your co-workers, how to tactfully resign and when to offer your notice.

Moving into the modern age the tricky ground of appropriate SMS behaviour can be very confusing for newcomers to the “art” and when it comes to the subject of money there’s always a risk of offending someone, whether you refuse to split the bill when dining out or if your child’s friend’s parent doesn’t offer money to cover the cost of an outing to the zoo.

What a minefield! Luckily, if you’re wondering if you can get away with wearing white to a wedding or have any other questions based on manners and etiquette just put it to the community and you’ll soon know the answer!

Clea

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If you’d have told someone two hundred years ago that it would eventually be possible to wake up in Sydney and go to bed in Tokyo you’d have definitely been met with disbelief. For most of us now flying is just part of life, it’s hard to remember sometimes what an amazing invention the Wright Brothers actually came up with all those years ago.

Recently the aeroplane’s newest incarnation was launched – the Airbus 380. The largest passenger jet ever to take to the skies made its first commercial voyage from Singapore to Sydney just last week, and so far has had great reviews – and with full size beds in first class, you’d hope so!

The concept of air travel isn’t quite as thrilling as it was in those early days, but it is still something that is of interest to most of us, and very puzzling. How does something so heavy stay up in the air? Can they fly in reverse? Why is Boeing called Boeing? These are just some of the curious questions floating around on Answers. Also, as exciting as drifting in the sky sounds, it’s not everyone’s idea of fun. Many suffer from a fear of flying and luckily, Answerers have managed to help each other out.

Keep those aeronautical questions coming!

Clea

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Less than a month till the election!

I can’t help but get a little bit excited each time these events roll around, as the future of the nation is put in our hands. The event continues to be a hot topic on Yahoo!7 Answers, with people seeking all sorts of information relating to the way the country is governed. As you have probably noticed, even our elected representatives are interested in gathering information from Answers users.

The latest MP to get involved is Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations Julia Gillard, who is very much in the spotlight as potentially the first ever female Deputy Prime Minister. Her portfolio certainly brings her a lot of attention too – industrial relations is a highly topical issue, with numerous strong opinions all over the country about how workplace laws should be formulated.

In keeping with this – Ms Gillard’s question is “What would fair and balanced Australian workplace laws look like to you?”

Already there are several dozen people sharing their ideas with the Shadow Minister, if you have some thoughts of your own now’s the time to get them out there!

Clea

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It was high school exams that did it.

I had previously stayed away from using caffeine to fuel my energy and alertness, but over my first cup of Nescafe all of a sudden staying awake to review the principles of osmosis became that little bit easier. And so began my relationship with that fantastic cup of Joe, one that endures to this day.

The idea of roasting coffee beans and filtering the results to create a satisfying drink and instant pick me up originated years ago and is now a daily habit for people all over the world. From its original black and bitter form there are now many variations of the beverage, and we are lucky here in Australia to have so many people who know how to make it right.

Ahh! That first sip! Many people exalt the health benefits of just a small amount of coffee a day, some even claim it can be reduce symptoms for asthmatics. However there is always too much of a good thing, and for many the “drug” elements of caffeine mean they have to find a way to reduce their daily intake because the negative effects have begun to take their toll. The other thing to be aware of is that you shouldn’t drink coffee if you’re not near a loo… the diuretic nature of coffee is not debated!

It would be impossible to mention coffee and not include the word Starbucks – the phenomenon that is the equivalent of McDonalds to coffee lovers and is responsible for us all learning phrases like “double shot venti no whip mocha frappucino”

Have a good weekend!

Clea

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With the election just one month away Australian politicians are in campaign overdrive and are very interested to hear from the community in order to shape and improve their policies.

Recently Shadow Environment Minister Peter Garrett asked a question of the Y!7 Answers community – What do you think the Australian Labor Government should do to tackle climate change? – and he received more than 800 answers. That’s a lot of ideas!

In the end it was cutsie_dread’s response that was chosen as best and Mr Garrett had several points to make in response. Here’s what he had to say -

We really do have to get our act together on climate change, and I urge you to visit www.petergarrett.com.au and www.kevin07.com.au to see the detail of what is going to be the best set of environmental policies an alternative government has ever offered to the Australian people at an election.

We’re profoundly committed to renewable energy and will set the right target to get that industry booming. We’re determined to drag down our greenhouse emissions ASAP and get them cut by at least 60 per cent by 2050.

Your point about government assistance to households to “green up” their homes is spot on. That’s exactly why we’re offering voters a $10,000 zero real interest loan for green home improvement – think of it like HECS but for Green Homes. This will really grow the market for environmental friendly products and services.

On uranium – no doubt a strongly discussed issue. The Labor Party accepted at its National Conference that some countries with fewer renewable energy sources and bigger populations would keep asking for our uranium for peaceful nuclear power production. My position on that matter was very clear at the time.

But Australia is fortunate in that it absolutely does not need nuclear power to keep the economy and our homes and offices going, and it’s essential that we understand nuclear power is not a climate change solution.
We need to take climate change action NOW – not in 10 or 20 years time when nuclear reactors are being built.
If you don’t want a nuclear future for Australia you need to elect a Rudd Labor Government.

Thanks for all your interest and well wishes. Peter Garrett

Congrats to cutsie_dread for her winning response. Keep an eye on Yahoo!7 Answers for more Australian politicians in the leadup to the election!
Yahoo!7 Answers Team

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How do you like them apples?

You might say this to someone after you’ve proved them wrong – but really, what on Earth are you actually talking about? They might respond by calling you a complete basket case… again, who actually knows what a basket case is?

There are many phrases and sayings which we incorporate into our daily language and they are so taken for granted that we often don’t think about why we say these things or where they actually originated. Many phrases, such as “raining cats and dogs”, or even getting fired came from centuries ago when daily life was a very different kettle of fish. A lot have a basis in religion and were used to ward off spirits or display a faith in Christianity.

Other sayings that have made their way into our everyday vocabulary were only coined over the last hundred years or so – such as “It’s not over till it’s over”, coming from famous people who just happened to have a knack for saying memorable things or even from television shows.

So isn’t that just the cat’s pyjamas?

Clea

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One of the best things about living in Australia is our long, hot summers. The downside to this though is that these summers make most of the country susceptible to bushfires that can kill wildlife, destroy homes and even claim human lives.

This week Answers is joined by the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service Shane Fitzsimmons , who wants to know what you have done to prepare for the Australian bushfire season.

According to the NSW Rural Fire Service you are at more risk of being affected by a bushfire if you:

• are close to bushland or areas with significant ground fuels (bush, scrub, grass etc)
• live in a designated bushfire prone area according to your council’s bushfire prone land map
• live in a general area with a history of fire incidents
• are on top of a slope, such as a ridge or hill. Fire runs quickly upslope
• have continuous rows of vegetation on, or leading to your property
• have combustible material near structures, such as bushes/shrubs growing next to homes, woodpiles, rubbish or leaves in gutters
• live on a property with limited access, making it difficult for you and firefighters to get into and exit your property (e.g. one road in and out, or no access around your property)
• have little access to water for firefighting
• are distant from firefighting services
• haven’t prepared your family, house, property and firefighting equipment.

Here are some practical tips to help protect your home in the event of a fire:

• clear gutters of leaf litter – it catches fire easily and the roof is particularly susceptible to fire
• firmly fix the roofing so there is less chance for hot embers to enter roof space and start a fire in the house
• install screens or shutters and enclose areas under the floor, if possible
• ensure vents into the roof space are screened with fine wire mesh
• remove all flammable items from around the house (e.g. the woodpile and obvious flammable materials such as paper, boxes, crates, hanging baskets and wooden garden furniture)
• direct the relief valves on LPG tanks away from the house
• buy a portable pump to use water from dams and swimming pools – have a gate valve to fit the portable pump
• fit a gate valve to water tanks – a 65mm Storz coupling will assist the Rural Fire Brigade
• consider reserving water supplies from tank, dam or swimming pool as mains water will be in high demand during bushfire
• place the emergency 000 (triple zero) telephone number next to the phone

If you don’t find all this information handy the RFS has a 24 hour information number – 1800 NSW RFS (1800 679 737), or you can always check their website for the latest news and updates.

Bushfire preparation is important for so many Australians who live near bush or National Parks, so let the Commissioner know what you have done to keep your home and your family safe.

Yahoo!7 Answers Team

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Despite the recent end of the Australian football seasons talk is still circulating around sport at the moment on Yahoo!7 Answers – firstly because the hotly contested Rugby World Cup Grand Final will be played out on the weekend between England and South Africa. There are plenty of keen supporters of each side throughout Australia who will no doubt be staying up late to watch the match.

The other big story is the continuing controversy surrounding drug use by high profile players. Former West Coast Eagles captain Ben Cousins was charged earlier in the week with possession of a prohibited substance and has since booked himself back into rehab, but by the end of the week those charges were dropped as the substances were found to be legal. Ben is said to be pleased about this result but so far no word on whether or not his sacking from the club will be reversed. The whole affair has prompted Y!7 Answers users to ask “Will sport ever by drug free?”

Also in the news today the issue of smacking has been raised again – should parents be legally prevented from spanking their children? This topic is always highly debated with every parent having their own firm opinion and strong arguments to back it up.

And on Sunday night Channel 7 viewers can look forward to the new program National Bingo Night – an interactive game show that gives even people watching at home the chance to win. The TV team is wondering what you would do if you won the top prize of $10,000.

I’ve got plenty of suggestions!

Have a great weekend!

Clea

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One of the best things about Answers is the really quirky questions that you come across, like “What’s a strange but surpisingly delicious food combination?” It’s fun to take a look at what other people have come up with and to add your own ideas.

That’s why when the Editor of Better Homes and Gardens magazine Julia Zaetta got back to us with her suggestion for a question for the Answers community I was very excited to post it and see what people would come up with –

“What would your home’s theme song be, and why?”

Julia has worked with Better Homes and Gardens magazine on and off for many years and she was also instrumental in the creation of the hit Channel 7 TV Show so she has no doubt seen all sorts of houses – from the beautiful and opulent to the rundown and shabby. Some of the answers to her question so far include “We Gotta Get Out of This Place”, “Welcome to the Jungle” and even “Thunderstruck” by ACDC. You can only imagine what the houses actually look like! One user even suggested the theme song from “Playschool”, because her place has lots of different shaped windows. Who would have thought!

Think of something fun to describe your house and add your answer!

Clea

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You may have noticed that the question page has been given a bit of a facelift.

We wanted to put the focus on what really matters – questions and answers. Now when you click on a question, you’ll see it prominently featured on the left side of the page in larger text, so it’s a little easier on the eye. If you have the urge to do a little browsing, the categories are still there, but they’ve been moved to the right side of the page.

Is it close, but not exactly the right question? Check out the list of related questions.

Still don’t see what you need? Post a more specific question in the question box on the upper right side of the page.

However you find your way to a question–and-answer page, if you’ve found what you were looking for – great! Give it a “thumbs up.” If not, give it a “thumbs down.” Your feedback will help us improve future search results.

 

 We hope these changes will help you quickly find what you’re looking for, wherever you are. Take a look around and let us know what you think by posting a comment at the end of this blog.

Yahoo!7 Answers Team

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