I’m liking the new Yahoo! Answers model. The internet mainstay for information has been Wikipedia for a few years now, but if you’re looking for a specific answer to an individual question, Yahoo! Answers is a better option. For instance, while researching for the second moon theory article I did, finding nothing on Wikipedia, I went over to Y!A and did a quick search there and got a load of info back.
Y!A is not so good for browsing. Y!A gives credits for questions asked, so there are a lot of filler questions, like “How cold is it where you are today?” or “What should I wear for my date tonite?” Yeah, there’s some stupid stuff, and I hate filler, but if you have a specific question in mind it can be a beneficial tool. I asked this morning “Why is Bombay now known as Mumbai?” and got a thoroughly sufficient answer:
The appellation Mumbai is an eponym, etymologically derived from Mumba or Maha-Amba— the name of the Hindu goddess Mumbadevi, and Aai — mother in Marathi. In the 16th century, the Portuguese named the area Bom Bahai (Good Bay), later corrupted to Bomaím or Bombaim, by which it is still known in Portuguese. After the British gained possession, it was anglicised to Bombay, although it was known as Mumbai or Mambai to Marathi and Gujarati-speakers, and as Bambai in Hindi, Urdu, and Persian. The name was officially changed to Mumbai in 1995.
How accurate is it? Hell, I have no idea. But it sounds good enough for me. There are some wrong answers out there because, based on Yahoo!’s model, which awards people who ask questions, there are a lot of repeat questions. But it’s still possible to get a good answer for almost any question.
For me, I still like the name Bombay, but maybe Mumbai will grow on me.
If you liked that post, then try these...
MITOpenCourseWare on June 9th, 2008
Telemarketers, Spammers and Dead Ends on April 29th, 2008
Google Twin on February 5th, 2008
Return of the Troubadour on June 30th, 2008
Writer's Web on February 7th, 2008
