Abbreviations and Acronyms of the United States Government
Look here for the meaning of United States government abbreviations and acronyms, courtesy of Indiana University-Purdue University Indiana, University Library.
http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/subjectareas/gov/docs_abbrev.html
Abbreviations and Smileys
This site may help you to decipher the meanings of Smileys, and some of the \”shorthand\” language used in text messaging.
http://www.aerobaticsweb.org/GEI/smileys.html
Abbreviations.com
Find acronyms and abbreviations, English and foreign here, by searching or browsing by categories.
http://www.abbreviations.com/
Acronym Dictionary
Consult the Acronym Dictionary for help in deciphering or writing instant messages.
http://www.aim.com/acronyms.adp
Acronym Finder
Let Acronym Finder help you learn the meaning of sometimes mysterious acronyms. Search from the acronym to the meaning, or from keyword to the acronym.
http://www.acronymfinder.com
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
Look up definitions, pronunciations, and word histories in this well-known source.
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/
Associations Directory
The American Society of Association Executives sponsors this site, which includes a directory of US associations.
http://www.asaecenter.org/Directories/AssociationSearch.cfm
Baby Name Wizard
Baby Name Wizard helps new parents learn about and choose names for their infants.
http://www.babynamewizard.com/
BRB Publications
Many links to sources for public records are available here.
http://www.publicrecordsources.com/
CIA World Factbook
The CIA World Factbook offers a wealth of information about countries near and far.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook
County Governments
The National Association of Counties offers a wide range of information about United States counties and their governments.
http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/CitySearch.aspx
Currency Converter
This site allows you to convert currencies. For example, you can find out how many Mexican Pesos are equal to a US Dollar, and find out how many Dollars are equal to a British Pound.
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic
Currency Converter
This Universal Currency Converter allows you to convert 180 currencies from one to another, and back.
http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Dictionary.com
Great for looking up a quick definition or spelling.
http://dictionary.reference.com/
Distances, or How Far is It?
How Far is It calculates the distance between two points on the Earth.
http://www.indo.com/distance
eBird
eBird offers a catalog of bird species worldwide, and more.
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
Elevations and Distances in the United States
Use this website to learn about those distant points on the map.
http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html
Exchange Rates, from x.rates.com
X-rates.com allows you to compare the value of many of the world\’s currencies.
http://www.x-rates.com/
Extension.org
Learn from credible sources about the following categories: Community, Disaster issues, Energy, Family, Farm, Pest Management, and Youth.
http://www.extension.org/
Factfinder, from the US Census Bureau
Factfinder, from the US Census Bureau, is the best place to start when you’re looking for statistical information about the people, housing, or economy of the United States.
http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=eng
Foreign Exchange Rates
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York offers historical rates of exchange between United States and other currencies, from 1993 to 2008.
http://www.ny.frb.org/markets/fxrates/noon.cfm
Google Language Tools
Google offers this language translation site.
http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records allows you to search for all kinds of records, and how to apply for the opportunity to make or break a record yourself.
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com
Holiday Facts
Facts for Features, from the U. S. Census Bureau, offers fun facts about holidays and other commemorative days, using statistics collected by the bureau.
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/index.html
Infoplease
Infoplease includes an almanac, atlas, encyclopedia, dictionary, and thesaurus.
http://www.infoplease.com
Measurements
Merriam Webster offers this handy table of weights and measures.
http://merriam-webster.com/table/dict/weight.htm
Merriam-Webster Online
Merriam Webster offers an English language dictionary, thesaurus, and more.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/
Metric Conversion Factors
Helpful tables of metric conversion factors.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Reference/metrics/factors.htm#area
NNDB
NNDB is a great site for finding background information about well-known people.
http://www.nndb.com/
Non-Governmental Organizations Guide
Those seeking information from non-governmental organizations will benefit from this directory from University of California-Berkeley Libraries.
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/govinfo/intl/gov_ngos.html
Old Farmer’s Almanac
Visit the Old Farmer’s Almanac for weather forecasts, gardening advice, information on astronomy, and much more.
http://www.almanac.com
Open Government Guide
The Open Government Guide offers information about state laws covering access to *open records and open meetings.*
http://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide
Perpetual Calendar
This perpetual calendar allows you to choose a year, and produce a calendar for it. A list of US and Canadian holidays to the year 2010 is included.
http://www.vpcalendar.net
Phrase Finder
Use the Phrase Finder to learn about the origin and proper use of phrases in the English language. The site originates in the United Kingdom, so some differences in spelling and use will be seen.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/
Pulitzer Prizes
Consult the Pulitzer Prize site for information about winners.
http://www.pulitzer.org/
Quoteland
Quoteland makes it easy to search for quotes by topic or author.
http://www.quoteland.com/
State Blue Books
The State Blue Book site offers links to state blue books for those states offering the service online. Blue books are guides to state government, with names and contact information for office holders, information about state agencies, and the branches of state government.
http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php/State_Blue_Books
State Government Index
The State Government Index offers links to state government websites, and to libraries of educational institutions within the states.
http://library.stmarytx.edu/acadlib/doc/us/states/index.htm
Symbols.com
Symbols.com allows the user to search using a description of the symbol, the name, and more.
http://symbols.com/
Terrorism- Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism
This site currently allows the user to search for incidents of terrorism based on location, group, campaign, target type, weapon, and gender, from 1981 to 2008.
http://cpost.uchicago.edu/search.php
Thesaurus.com
Visit this site when the right word escapes you.
http://thesaurus.com/
Translation of Languages
Translate English to other languages and back.
http://freetranslation.com
Urban Dictionary
The Urban Dictionary is a user-contributed dictionary. Check here for definitions to newly coined words.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/
Voice of America Pronunciation Guide
Voice of America offers this helpful guide to pronunciation of personal and place names. Recorded mp3 files are available for many words.
http://names.voa.gov/
What is a Dollar Worth?
What is a Dollar Worth calculates the buying power of a dollar over the years. The user chooses years for comparison, and fills in the dollar amount. The website tracks the value of the dollar through years of inflation.
http://www.minneapolisfed.org/
Word Spy
Word Spy offers definitions of “recently coined and existing words revived into modern usage.”
http://www.wordspy.com
Wordnik
Use Wordnik for finding spellings, pronunciations, and similar words.
http://www.wordnik.com/
World Development Report Online
The World Bank offers many reports concerning the economic well-being of the planet.
http://wdronline.worldbank.org/