Omnivorous Surfer

Talk about one-stop shopping! This site provides a number of references and tools accessible simply by clicking a tab..

Need to find rhyming words? Go to rhymes.net , and you'll get a list of words listed alphabetically and categorized by number of syllables. The should be useful for a variety of purposes, but you'll find more here--much more.

There are ten functions accessible from tabs across the top of the web page, each with its own URL. I've checked them out, and they're good! All functions are available by entering the URL of any one of them.

1. Abbreviations (www.abbreviations.com). Search acronyms & abreviations, or browse by category.
2. Conversions (www.convert.net). Convert measurements, time zones, number systems. Type your query freeform or use a handy conversion box with drop-down menus.
3.  Definitions (www.definitions.net). Search or use categories. It functions like a mini encyclopedia, working for such terms as "English Bulldog," "Genghis Khan," and "Russian Revolution," and scientific names of plant and animals. When appropriate the definition will be enhanced by images.
4. Lyrics (www.lyrics.net). Search by song title or a portion of the lyrics. You can also browse by artist.
5. Phrases (www.phrases.net). Search for phrases and idioms. (This would really help a person learning English to make sense of phrases like "rain cats and dogs" and "get a grip.")
6. Quotations (www.quotes.net). Search by author, subject, or word (not phrase).
7. References (www.references.net). Use the directory of categories to see a lists of reference sources on the web.
8. Rhymes (www.rhymes.net). Enter a word and you will be given a list of rhyming words categorized by number of syllables, organized alphabetically in each category.
9. Synonyms. (www.synonyms.net). Search or browse.
10. ZIP Codes (www.uszip.com). Search by city or ZIP code. Results will display the city with its current weather information, demographics, a map, images, and other information.

Interesting site!

Among the webinar casts mentioned in a Classroom 2.0 email was one entitled "Can You Digg It Web Applications for Research: Alternate Search Engines and Media Repositories" which I watched and found to be very useful (to view it, click here). I have since watched another of her webinars, one on social bookmarking, which introduced me to the wonderful world of diigo (subject of a future post). I highly recommend both of these webinars, as I found them to be of outstanding caliber and packed with good information.

In searching for more on the presenter, Rochelle Rodrigo, I found Can You digg It, a wiki she created for her own purposes, but which presents a lot of information valuable to others as she documents some of her resources and processes related to various projects.

One of my favorite aspects of the wiki is the MultiModal Research Matrix, a full matrix showing how different technologies (alternate search engines, blogs, forms and surveys, maps, mind maps, etc.) can be used for each of the steps in a scaffolded research project. You have the capability from there of choosing any of the technologies (by clickin on the column heading/technology for more detailed information. From the left pane of the window, you can choose to see the steps in more detail.

I haven't plumbed the depths of this wiki yet, but I will be doing more exploring as I search it for even more information to use.

Ever see an Internet shorthand or text message shorthand  ;-) that you didn't recognize? Well, there's help for those of us who don't use these to communicate all the time. The dictionary on NetLingo also includes words and acronyms in the following categories: business, hardware, software, technology, programming, organizations, and technical. The book NetLingo: The Internet Dictionary is available, but who wants a static reference these days when a dynamic one is available. Besides, you'll probably be on the Internet when you need it.

There are also a widget to add to your iGoogle page, if you use one, which lets you type in the shorthand to retrieve its meaning; an iPhone app; and other tools.