Links

There are so many great sites out there that I thought I would list here some of my favorites. Some I’m sure you’ll recognize right away, which I’m also sure some of these you’ve probably visited.

Allmusic - Operated by AMG, the allmusic website is an online database of music, movies and games, though it primarily focuses on music, of course. Containing entries of just about every band or artist ever to be recorded, the allmusic site is one of my favorite places to visit–as I am a huge fan of music.

Amazon - What can I say about Amazon? It’s a great online media store and resource.

Behind The Name - Do names intrigue you?  Where they came from?  What they mean?  This site has thousands of common and not so common names, where they came from, what they mean.

Brickfactory - Lost a instruction booklet for a LEGO set? Well, never fear, because the Brickfactory site contains scans of just about any LEGO set you can think of. You can search the site by theme (which I recommend), set number, set name, or year of release. Plus, decal scans are also available for most sets, which you can print out on decal sheets, in case decals are damaged or missing.

Bricklink - When I’m feeling nostalgic or I need to find a replacement part for a damaged LEGO piece, I usually go to this site. It’s an online auction place for LEGO sets and parts. If you can’t find it here, it probably is so rare that you might as well forget about it. Bricklink is affiliated with Brickset, so it’s easy to cross-reference items.

Brickset - LEGO maniacs will enjoy this site as it is a database containing information on just about every LEGO set ever produced. Each entry is broken down by title, theme, year of release, and set number. Most entries contain pictures and user comments, but not all. It’s a good reference if you need to find the name or set number of a given set.

Coaster Buzz - I need my daily dose of amusement-industry-related gossip and news. Coaster Buzz is updated frequently and pulls its information from accurate sources. Somehow they find things that I could never find–mostly from online newspapers and web site publications.

Design Extreme - Provides solid web designs and solutions for companies wanting a foot in the growing online market.

Dragonmount - One of my favorite fantasy book series is Robert Jordan’s the Wheel of Time. Here you can find a huge community dedicated to the series. The forums are extensive and extremely active.

Internet Movie Database (IMDB) - For movie and television buffs alike, the IMDB contains information on thousands of movies and TV shows dating from the beginning of the industries to the present. You’ll find plot overviews, cast lists, pictures (if available), and user comments (if available) for most entries. Also, there is a list of upcoming movies as well as DVD release dates.

Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB) - Being a reader and writer of fiction, I’m always up for checking out something new, but sometimes it’s hard to find something…good to read. I came across this database site which chronicles anything science-fiction, fantasy, or horror. So far it’s been a great resource.

Lost Hatch - A LOST database site which contains cross-referencing on characters, relations, and episodes. Also, has transcripts and comprehensive break downs of each episode.

Lost-Media - Dedicated to ABC’s hit TV drama LOST, Lost-Media has daily news, updates, photos, and a huge forum community where you can post, criticize, or enjoy the various theories floating around.

Musician’s Friend - Sometimes irritating on the mailings, but always helpful in finding the latest musical related gear, this online music equipment store is perfect for beginners to pros. I’ve bought several instruments and other various things here without any problems. Plus, their selection is huge!

Nahoo - No this site is not dedicated to that wierd band out there by the same name. It’s the personal website of one of my good friends, Noah Hearle. In fact, he hosts FromTheCookPot for the Ogre.

New Egg - Yep, it’s got a wierd-sounding name, but it’s a great online computer store nonetheless. It has a huge variety of everything from processors to cooling fans. And the prices are decent. Also, I like the online receipt storage and lookup system.

Railwolf.com - Feeling bored? Then you might want to visit Railwolf’s blog! Here you can post thoughts in his forums or check out his latest diabolical projects from his laboratory. But, beware of the ever present Evil Spambots! They like to leave smut, and, upon occassion, some side-splitting jokes, which are usually sexual in nature.

Roller Coaster Database (RCDB) - For coaster enthusiasts, this site has information on over 3300 coasters and 1500 amusement parks worldwide from past to present, including when attractions were opened, closed, moved, scrapped, or dismantled. It’s easy to navigate and search as well. There are even cool extras like links to satellite maps of parks and element and designer cross-reference checks. Each ride entry has facts, histories, pictures (if available), and press release links (if available).

Scifan - Finding good sci-fi and fantasy to read can sometimes be a challenge–just sometimes navigating the isle at the local bookstore can be a pain. Well, I discovered Scifan today. It’s a site dedicated to the subject and maintains a huge database of books, series, and authors without all the other confusing information some of these types of databases usually have.

Screamscape - Updated daily with amusement industry happenings (news), Screamscape is the place for enthusiasts to get their information. In fact, it’s one of my personal favorites to visit.

Total War Center - TWC is a vast, active community dedicated to the Total War computer game series. Its sheer size and quality will keep you coming back time and again, even if you’re not truly a fan of TW.

Vimm’s Lair - The perfect site for the nostalgic console gamer, you’ll find emulators and roms here for the NES, SNES, Genesis and N64. There’s also a store where you can buy vintage games.

Ultimate Guitar Tabs - With the music industry cracking down on illegal guitar tabs it has been harder and harder to find good websites that continue to keep active databases worth anything. Ultimate has not only guitar tabs, but also bass. To me there is nothing illegal about this. These tabs were created by fans, they were not stolen or taken from any music books.

Wheel of Time Encyclopedia - Another great Robert Jordan, Wheel of Time resource. The site contains information on each book in the series, from characters to plot threads. One of my favorite features of the site is the plot thread bar. It shows you what chapters involve what characters in a particular book.

Wikipedia - I crave knowledge and facts and Wikipedia helps stave my appetite. With over 1 million–1 million!–entries on everything from what gout is to the history of Coca-Cola. The articles are in a way donated, but every piece of work is well-written and extremely informative. Oh, and if you haven’t picked up on it yet, the Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia.

Zoo Admin - Zoo Admin is all about Microsoft’s and Blue Fang Game’s Zoo Tycoon series. Run by dedicated people, you’ll not find a better place for discussing and learning more about the games.