Reference Desk

[Hoshiko]

I thought it might be good to have a thread for basic reference sites. I totally ganked most of this from The Straight Dope, but I'll be adding more to it later.

Search Engines
Google: The de facto standard in search engines
dmoz Open Directory: Human-edited Internet directory which removes the chaff
Board Reader: Search message boards
Search Systems: Largest public records database
Every Rule: Contains rules for sports, games, etiquette, etc.


General Information and Reference
Reference Desk: Links to multiple reference sites
Library Spot: More links to more reference sites
Internet Public Library: Reference center laid out like a library
Librarian's Index to the Internet: Another library reference center
Britannica Online: A complete online encyclopedia
Information Please: Online encyclopedia and almanac
Notes and Queries: General Q&A of a wide range of topics
Internet FAQ Consortium: Links to Usenet FAQs of all types
Hitchhiker's Guide to our World: Based on the books, created by users

Urban Legends
Snopes: Comprehensive searchable list of urban legends
Urban Legends: alt.folklore.urban and urban legend archive

English Words, Language, and Literature
Bartleby: All things books
Questia: World's largest online library. Charges a fee, but they have 2 free books a week
Dictionary.com: Dictionary and Thesaurus
Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus: Word spelling, usage, and origins
alt.usage.english FAQ: info on usage and word origins
Pseudodictionary: Slang and colloquialisms
Origin of English Sayings: Where English idioms and sayings come from
Word Oddities and Trivia: All sorts of odd and interesting word facts
Puzzle Depot: Anagrams, puzzles, and wordplay
Anagram Engine: Create anagrams, solve crosswords, etc.
Searchable Plays of Shakespeare: Search the works of the Bard
Quotations Page: Searchable quotations
Project Gutenburg: Complete texts of non-copyrighted books
Bibliomania: Free online literature
Babelfish translations: Back-and-forth translations among major world languages
The Perseus Site: For classical Greek and Latin Literature
The Dictionary Page: Dictionaries for over 260 languages
Urban Dictionary: Dictionary for all those terms you can't ask your mother about
Latin Translator: A translator for beginners


Medicine and Health
Centers for Disease Control: Public health news and statistics
WebMD: Info on health and diseases
Go Ask Alice: Medical information and advice
PubMed Medline: Medical journals database

Science and Technology
Public Library of Science: Just getting started, but they make Scientific and Medical literature publicly available
The Last Word: Questions and answers on everyday science phenomena
Ask a Scientist: Search real answers to real science questions
How Stuff Works: Find out how all sorts of gadgets and processes really work
Mad Science Network: Online labs, science Q&A, and science info
Conversion of Units: Automatic unit converter
International System of Units: Introduction and information on SI units
Physical Constants: Numerous physical constant values & uncertainty
Web Elements: All about the elements
Bad Science: Debunking scientific fallacies
Bad Astronomy: Debunking astronomical fallacies
Heavens Above: Satellites and star charts
Hubble Telescope: Pictures from Hubble
Animal Diversity Web: All about animals

Mathematics
Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics: Tons of information all about mathematics
The Pi-Search Page: Search for a string in Pi + links to download billions of digits
The Integrator: Online integrator from the makers of Mathematica
Numbers in Over 4500 Languages: Count in any language you want
Online Calculators: Not just for mathematics: calculations in numerous subject areas

Entertainment
Internet Movie Database: Everything you wanted to know about the movies
Ultimate Band List: Search for all kinds of music
Moby Games: Game documentation and review
Songtitle: Music from every TV commercial
Big Cartoon Database: Searchable database of cartoons
Simpsons FAQ: FAQ of alt.tv.simpsons
Television Without Pity: Irreverent reviews of popular US television shows
The Baseball Archive: Stats and history of baseball
Rotten Tomatos: Movie Reviews
Roller Coaster Database: Information on every roller coaster and amusment park in the world


Religion
Catholic Encyclopedia: Information on Catholic teachings
Judaism 101: Information on Judaism
King James Bible: Searchable KJV Bible
Online Bibles: Links to multiple Bible versions

Debate
Logic and Fallacies: Intro to arguments and logical fallacies

Government, Politics, and Law
Gov Spot: Links to hundreds of government entities
Vote Smart: Find out information about USA elected officials
UK Government Online: Links to all British government sites
Federal Government Central Directory: statistics gathered by USA government
US National Archives: Archives and records from all branches of the US government
Statistical Abstract of the US: USA Population census
Internet Guide to Law and Politics: Informative and current law-related Internet resources
Find Law: Law and legal resources
World Legal Information Institute: Legal precendents from around the world

Places and Maps
CIA World Fact Book: Information on numerous countries
Find a Grave: Find graves for all sorts of people
Map Quest: Maps from all over
Terraserver: USGS satellite imagery and topographical maps
Historical Atlas of the Twentieth Century

[Horab Fibslager]

holy crap and a half!  

[Eldora, Oracle of Alchemy]

Holy Crap indeed!

You missed a few, how I don't know in that list  

Drugs

Erowid has all kinds of info on drugs, both licit and illicit.  Including stories from actual people.  I have never come close to reading everything on the site, but everything I have read is accurate.

Hoaxes
Another one for hoaxes and urban legends.

PDR
Physician's Desk Reference - This is the online version, free to use for non-professionals.

Beakman
I think this is the same as the cartoon.  He explains things in a way the kids can understand.  The TV show was hilarious.  I miss it.

I think that is all I have to add.  I will try to go through my favorites folder to see if there is anything else.  I had to actually read Hoshi's long list, most of the stuff I would have put in here was already there.  Thanks again Hoshi.  And once again, I am so glad to not have to be the smartest   We should start a Velma club.  Or, the smart girls with nice sweaters cabal.  Or something.  Have a nice weekend  without me  

[Pedero]

Thanks and two-quarters!

[Anonymous]

American Civil Liberties Union
http://www.aclu.org/safeandfree/

[illusion]

www.oldversion.com

Because new is not always better......here're the original versions of many downloadable programs.

[eL sTiKo]

WTF

NEVER, EVER FORGET wikipedia

[chaosgraves:agentoferis]

Can we get a sticky on this?

[Bella]

Done!
Good idea, CG.

[LMNO]

For those of you who want to watch the watchmen, there's FAIR - Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting

[chaosgraves:agentoferis]

Done!
Good idea, CG.

Believe it or not I have them from time to time.



or if I include this I have them from time.

[Bella]

Done!
Good idea, CG.

Believe it or not I have them from time to time.



or if I include this I have them from time.

Actually, I do believe it.

[Bella]

http://symbols.com/graphicsearch.html

[Ybom]

Meh I'll sign up tomorrow or the next day. I think...ehh...whatever...

www.langmaker.com

A language reference site, dedicated to conlanging, new word making, new typeface making, reviews, and a general sense of insanity sometimes.

[Irreverend Hugh, KSC]

Y'all forgot about the magic.