Yahoo! Answers

**Update: Question Recommender has been enhanced to allow you to reject questions that you don’t want to answer. You can do this by hovering over a question in the Recommended Tab and then clicking the “X” button. This will prevent that question from appearing again in your Recommended list.  We hope you like this improvement**

We know that as a member of the Answers community, one of the most rewarding and worthwhile experiences is to answer the questions from other members and share your knowledge.

We know you spend a lot of time looking for questions that pique your interest or that you can relate to so we want to help you find these questions quickly. Therefore, we hope you will enjoy our new feature – the Question Recommender – which will help you discover questions that suit your knowledge and interests based on your previous activities on Yahoo! Answers.

Soon, these recommendations will start to appear in a new module called “Recommended” which will appear on the home page and category pages. As we are first rolling out a trial version, not all of you will see this immediately. This is our way to test and check that everything is working well. We will eventually roll it out to all English language sites. In the future, we plan to extend this feature to other languages as well.

We hope you enjoy using ‘Recommended’ questions.  Please note that it’s in its early days and this is a self-improving feature.  The tool will evolve and recommendations will update based on questions you choose to answer, so that you will always have a fresh set of options to choose from.

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**Secret Revealed**

Tying shoes together by their laces and throwing them onto overhead lines is known as “shoefiti” (shoe + graffiti). Shoefiti started in the United States and spread throughout the world. There is no single reason why people do this, there are many reasons.

When sneakers are festooned on power lines in rough neighborhoods, the conclusion for their presence is often crime related. Some believe they mark crack houses where you can get your fix or some free shoes via ladder. Others say they are shoes that belong to (or hang in memory of) a murder victim. Some say they are for marking gang turf, but Tucson Arizona police have denied that and flagged the turf marker idea as myth.

They did mention that many shoes are removed each week, since they are unsightly and can cause damage to the lines.

They also said that the volume of shoes increases during the summer break from school. A couple of stories have been told that may support this. One is that of tradition, shoes are thrown on power lines to celebrate the last day of school or graduation. Teenage boys have also been said to do this when they lose their virginity.

Perhaps the oldest story about the origin of shoefiti claims it was tradition for soldiers to hang their boots on the power lines at base when they completed basic training, went home on leave or left the service entirely.

In some movies, it’s the school bully who steals your shoes and throws them onto the lines. There are also stories of kids retiring their own shoes when they get a new pair.

Chances are good that the people who are doing it now have no idea why their predecessors did it.

Some people may think it’s a harmless tradition, but the shoes can disrupt utility services by adding weight to the lines which causes them to sag and potentially touch other lines or trees, which could also result in fire.

If you want to remove shoes from the lines, because you want your kicks back or you just want to clear the eyesore, you should call the utility company to do it — a few Darwin Award candidates have earned their nomination trying to DIY their shoes back.

Chad Upton is the editor-in-chief of Broken Secrets and an official Yahoo Answers contributor.

Thanks for reading,

Sources: About.com, Snopes, Straight Dope, Wikipedia

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Hey Guys,

With warmer weather comes more days at the beach and more opportunities to brave the ocean. I’ve never been scuba diving, but I have been around long enough to see divers spit on their masks before going under. The theory is that spit helps the mask from fogging up. Does it really work?

Depends on who you ask, but most sites I visited seemed to side with the spitters. The good folks at ScubeGuide.com wrote, “Saliva works very well as a mask defogger for reasons that have never been adequately explained.”

A blog from AquaViews.net goes into some pretty deep detail on why spit works so well. Masks fog up when the temperature of the inside lens falls “below the dew point of the air inside the mask.” The drop in temperature leads to condensation and then fog. Spit comes in handy because it lowers the “surface tension of a liquid,” in this case the water. The spit “prevents water droplet formation.”

AquaViews.net puts it this way: “The water from the condensation does not mound up as beads or droplets but, instead breaks to form bigger droplets that just roll away into the mask. So the water condensation on the insides of the mask don’t adhere to the glass but instead break up and roll down into the mask itself, giving the scuba diver clear vision.”

You could something else like baby shampoo and it would be just as effective. But why bother when saliva is always at the ready?

Thanks for reading,

Mike

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Common Dumpster Rental/Junk Removal Questions Answered by the Pros

What sized dumpster do I need for roofing cleanup?

Dumpster rentals typically come in 10, 20, 30, or 40-yard capacities. Some rental companies may offer varying sizes, but these are the most common. When replacing roof shingles, choosing the right dumpster size depends upon two main factors: how many layers of shingles are on the roof, and the square-footage of the roof.

A 10-yard dumpster may work well for smaller roofs up to 1,500 square-feet. Larger roofs up to 3,000 square-feet require a 20-yard dumpster or possibly larger. These estimates are based on removing a single layer of shingles, so choose a slightly larger dumpster for roofs with multiple layers.

LINK: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqVGMCJb1kVAs4hx.c9YgRojzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20080723122910AAtxPJQ

How much does a dumpster generally cost?

Dumpster rental prices vary depending upon several factors, including the location, size, material, tonnage charges and landfill fees. For instance, a 20-yard dumpster in San Diego may cost $625 for a seven-day rental while the same sized dumpster in Detroit costs just $420. The keys to getting the best price on a dumpster are calling multiple dumpster rental companies to compare prices, as well as inquiring about any and all applicable fees that are in addition to the base rental rate.

Many dumpster rental companies charge a landfill fee, which is an extra fee priced per ton. Be sure to ask if the base rental rate includes landfill fees, in addition to inquiring about possible overage charges, fuel surcharges and charges on handling certain materials. Some companies may offer an out-the-door pricing structure while others charge extra fees, so it’s important to ask about all fees when price shopping for the best deal.

LINK: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqoeggNXG6QRBPEVyiO5S6IjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20091121191227AAJS7IJ

How can I dispose of a broken TV in the City of Chicago? Can I put it in a regular dumpster?

You should never throw a television, or any electronic device for that matter, in the dumpster. TVs contain levels of certain toxic substances, including chromium, lead and mercury. When a TV enters the municipal landfill system, there’s the potential these toxic metals leach into groundwater or emit toxic chemicals into the air when incinerated.

There are several more eco-friendly ways to get rid of an old TV. First, if the TV still works, donate it to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army or other local charitable organization. Otherwise, just set it outside your home with a “Free” sign on it – somebody will take it! If the TV is broken, check Earth911.com for a recycling center near you that accepts TVs.

LINK: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Av59fzRf_TFllFS7nsfn.u4jzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=1006030903119

Is mold on drywall considered Hazmat – Hazardest waste?

Mold is potentially dangerous when inhaled, especially for young children, the elderly and those with poor immune systems. Moldy drywall is certainly considered a health hazard and should be handled as so. Always wear a respirator mask and gloves when working around mold.

If you plan to remove more than a few sheets of moldy drywall, it’s best to consult a mold removal professional, or call in a junk removal service that specializes in this sort of cleanout. When renting a dumpster to dispose of the moldy drywall, be sure to inform the rental company you plan to put moldy material in the dumpster. While this usually won’t be a big deal, some dumpster rental companies may require that you place each moldy piece of drywall into a plastic bag or have you follow another type of containment procedure.

LINK: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ai90ISV8J_Ks3MkUo7Zxy9AjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=1006052224983

What is the best method for de-cluttering your home?

Whether it’s a single closet or an entire house, the key to de-cluttering a space is not getting overwhelmed. It’s easy to see the problem from a macro perspective, and that can prevent you from achieving success. So, break the space into smaller sections that make the cleanup a far more tangible goal to achieve.

Instead of tackling the entire room, divide the room into easier-to-manage sections and focus on de-cluttering each section before moving to the next. It will help you feel a sense of triumph each time you complete a section.

A cluttered home is a hint that you simply have too much stuff. So, some of the stuff has got to go. Divide items into three piles: sell, donate or trash. Get rid of items you never use or haven’t used in over a year.

After you complete the de-cluttering process, it’s important to put a clutter-prevention strategy in place. One useful rule is to get rid of an item every time you bring a new one home, such as getting rid of the old coffeemaker when a new one is purchased. Another useful tip is to spend 15 minutes per day de-cluttering tables, countertops and bathrooms while dinner is cooking or during commercial breaks when watching your favorite TV shows.

LINK: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqoeggNXG6QRBPEVyiO5S6IjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20080313200309AAPZWii

Thanks for reading,

Guest blogger:

Joe Eitel is a web content writer for Hometown Dumpster Rental, the leading online resource for finding local dumpster rental and junk removal service providers nationwide. Search Hometown’s extensive dumpster rental listings for free and find reputable roll off dumpster rental companies in your area. Also check out the Hometown Dumpster Rental Blog for industry news and eco-friendly tips.

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The summer movie season has started and Hollywood is pumping out the blockbusters every week until the end of Labor Day weekend.  The best part of going to the movies is you can escape for a couple of hours into another world that’s either filled with action, fantasy, or humor.  Yahoo! Movies came out with a list of a 100 funny movies to see before you die.  Number one on that list was the 40-Year-Old Virgin.

Comedy is very subjective and personal.  What you find funny, may not be hilarious to your friend.  Some people gravitate to more cerebral humor, and prefer more witty and clever dialogue like Woody Allen, others prefer slapstick and physical comedy like the Three Stooges and some prefer satire like Monty Python.

Your culture, education, maturity, intelligence and where you’re from influences your sense of humor.  It’s why some people love British humor and others just don’t understand it.  The USA Today wrote an article claiming that Germany was the least funny country in the world and America was the most funny.

What comedy always cracks you up?  Please leave a comment below.

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