Year in Review: Our Top Questions of 2011

2011 is winding down and you know what that means — time for our year in review! Take a look back on current events from the past 365 days and what questions and answers you clicked on the most.

January: The NFL playoffs were in full swing, which made our top question this month What is the date for Super Bowl 2011? (The Packers defeated the Steelers 31-25.) Another popular in January was Where can you play Angry Birds online? Apparently the smartphone app wasn’t enough to satisfy our desire to slingshot birds at greedy pigs. During post-holiday January, you were also curious about When should you take down your Christmas tree and decorations? Answers vary from New Year’s Day, to the Epiphany (Jan. 6) to whenever those needles look so dry they could be a fire hazard!

February: Even though Charlie Sheen was #winning the TV news cycle in February, the Green Bay Packers dominated Answers.com traffic. Two of our top questions for February this year asked about the Green and Gold including: How many Super Bowls have the Green Bay Packers won? (Answer: 6), What does the G stand for on a Green Bay Packer helmet? (Answer: Greatness).

March: The death of iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor prompted many of you to wonder, Where are Elizabeth Taylor’s children now? Our minds also turned to those in Japan and the staggering death toll from the March 11 Sendai earthquake and tsunami. How many people died in the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011? Answer: 15,841

April: Love was in the air this month as Prince William wed Kate Middleton, making royalty-related queries spike in popularity. Some of our top questions this month were: What is the full name of Prince William?, What is Queen Elizabeth’s last name? and When did Princess Diana and Prince Charles get married?

May: The world’s most wanted terrorist was killed by American soldiers on May 2, making How did Osama bin Laden die? an obvious top question for this month. Harold Camping predicted the Rapture on May 21 this year (and hey look, we’re still here!). Whether or not you believed his end times prediction, you were asking about it — When is the world going to end? was a very popular query in May.

June: Summer arrived in the Northern Hemisphere meaning BBQs, vacations and swimming! As a result, you were curious to ask: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a saltwater swimming pool? And since we were baring more skin by the pool or on the beach, the question What is the easiest way to get rid of lower stomach fat? shot up in popularity.

July: Sports fans dread July for its lull in activity so they might want to cover their eyes when reading the answer to this top question: On which two days of the year are no professional sports games played — MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL? The release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on July 15 had you wondering about all things wizardly. As such, What are the seven Horcruxes in the Harry Potter series? earned a spot on our top question list in July.

August: Pop star Beyonce revealed her baby bump at the Video Music Awards this month so When did Beyonce get pregnant? racked up the page views. And even in the depths of summer, many of you were still on the job hunt thanks to the recession. Two popular job-related queries this month were: How do you answer ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses’ in a job interview? and How do you answer ‘Describe yourself’ in an interview?

September: For some odd reason, What was the largest crocodile ever captured? made our high-traffic list this month. On a more serious note, the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 was on all our minds. The #1 question for September was How many people died in the September 11 attacks?

October: Iconic innovator Steve Jobs died this month, leading many of you to ask Who are Steve Jobs’ children? The release of Paranormal Activity 3 also had you wondering Is the movie ‘Paranormal Activity’ based on a true story? — another to question during the month of Halloween.

November: Americans prepped for Thanksgiving with the most important of questions: How do you cook a turkey? and How long do you defrost a frozen turkey in the refrigerator?

December: Kids turned to Answers.com this month for answers to life’s most urgent questions: What is Santa’s address? and more importantly, Is Santa Claus real?

 

So what do you think of this year’s top questions? Predictable? Surprising? Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments.

Top 10 Reasons to Throw a BBQ

The sun is Blazing, the  blades of Grass are poking through the ground and you’ve finally busted out the flip flops. Summer is here and there is only one way to celebrate in this sweltering heat; Throw a BBQ! We all know that attending  ‘outdoor grilling parties’  are delicious and fun, so why not take the initiative and throw your own Kickin’ partaay?!

Top 10 Reasons to throw a BBQ:

  1. There’s no snow and no rain?!
  2. You’ve watched 6 straight months of Food Network… and it’s NOT going to waste.
  3. Patriotism. You may not have fought in Afghanistan, but honor your countrymen by biting into an all American pork rib. Go USA!
  4. It’s winter in Australia…Sucks to be you!
  5. When else will you be able to show off  your 1987 ‘Crocodile Mile’ -still intact!
  6. You’ve always wanted to try making that American flag cake on the Cool Whip commercials…
  7. Hot dog buns were on sale.
  8. You’ve been inactive on Facebook for a while, and people are starting to wonder…
  9. Vodka and watermelon…20 second dessert and ice breaker all-in-one.
  10. You get to send an evite with that picture of you looking buff in Costa Rica.

Take Your Dog to Work

Everyday it’s the same ole’ routine.  You leave for work, and return home. Leave for work, home again. What may seem like a mundane routine to you, is actually torture for your pooch. Your canine will most likely whine and sob until the moment you reunite.

Fortunately, that feeling won’t last too long. Once he hears your returning footsteps, it’s on!  The doorknob turns, your dog’s face lights up.  A frenzy ensues; he is so ecstatic to see you, his pounding  heart may just explode.  Is this not true love?

By dinner time all pain is forgotten. Your pet holds no grudges.  In fact, dogs rarely complain; and it’s not because we can’t understand woof, it’s because dogs are man’s best friend. Loyal and giving, down to a T. The least we can do, as dog owners, is allow our canine BFFs a glimpse into our workspace;  show them  what it is that we do all day while they remain at home heavy-hearted. Therefore, let us honor ‘Take your Dog to work Day.’

On June 24th, you will be granted  the honor of having your dog escort you to work!  You may need to request permission from ‘Le boss’ and prepare your cubicle for a furry guest… so plan ahead!
Which dogs will you most likely see?  Here are the top ten pet dog breeds in the US for 2010:

  1. Retriever (Labrador) – Trustworthy and smart, they are angels encased in fur.
  2. Retriever (Golden) - Synonymous with loyalty; I dare you to read  old Yeller without shedding a tear.
  3. Yorkshire Terrier – Even the Wicked Witch of the West had to get her hands on one.
  4. German Shepherd Dog – Dedicated companion and more energized than a triple venti macchiato.
  5. Boxer- Sculpted, vigilant and poised with his head held high, he’s your proud military son.
  6. Poodle - Allergic to fur?  No undercoat means no problem! These canines sport ‘hair’.
  7. Shih Tzu- With a pushed in face and a swagger in their walk, mama will give you whatever you want!
  8. Bulldog – All bark and no bite, bulldogs will more likely get an asthma attack then attempt any harm.
  9. French Bulldog- Same as above, only snobbier and with an accented woof.
  10. Chihuahua - Fits in your purse and reminds you of tacos, can’t go wrong with this one.

 

Mother’s Day Gifts: It’s the thought that counts.

If there ever was a holiday to not forget, it’s Mother’s Day. But sometimes it can feel overwhelming to think about giving a gift to someone so important. How do you celebrate the woman who gave you life? Our Answers.com contributors have some ideas for you. Check out the answers to these Mother’s Day questions:

And remember, you don’t have to buy something material. Take this advice from Answers.com contributor and employee, Myra:

“I never understood, as a kid, why my mom would get choked up when I made her a homemade card. Now that I am a mom myself, I finally get it. It sounds cliche, but it really is the thought that counts. Just let her know you appreciate her.” – Myra, our WikiAnswers Associate Quality Coordinator (and mother of two)

If you’re still looking for more gift ideas, watch this clip from the Video Answers library for some inspiration. Then let us know in the comments how you celebrated your Mom this year!

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.

An even better Q&A source than Answers.com.

Not gonna lie – Answers.com has a pretty extensive and well-answered Relationships Q&A category. Not too shabby in the Spelling category, either.

But, admittedly, there is one guru who does it better than we could ever hope to. And he even has his own Questions and Answers show: Ask Oscar.

That’s Oscar the Grouch, the lovable curmudgeon with ‘all the answers to all your questions!’ Give it a watch (and learn about the letter X).

Vandal Patrol and Community Outreach celebrate two years.

Spread the kudos around! Two of Answers.com’s community programs deserve a congrats for reaching their two-year anniversaries today: Vandal Patrol and Community Outreach.

A word from their coordinators, please!

From Apryl, Vandal Patrol Coordinator:

Happy 2 Year Anniversary to the Vandal Patrol and all of its wonderful members! Vandals Beware!

From Robin, Community Outreach Coordinator:

Much thanks to everyone for their support of Community Outreach and to our awesome WikiGuides for their efforts in spreading inspiration, goodwill and happiness throughout the Answers.com community we all know and love so well. It’s been a wonderful two years and we’re looking forward to even better times ahead. Let’s keep on keeping on!

Thank you to all the dedicated contributors who volunteer their time and effort to make those programs the wild successes they are.

So, interested in joining? Click the name of the coordinator above and get in touch.