Resources - Miscellaneous

These internet sites don't fit in the other categories.  If you know of a web site that should be included in this list, please share it with us.

The Business of Writing (by Simon Haynes)
http://www.spacejock.com.au/Articles.html

Simon Haynes, science-fiction author of the Hal Spacejock series, freely shares his insightful perspective on the art and business of writing and publishing.  If you are interested in becoming a writer, or need some ideas on how to select the best publisher for your masterpiece, Simon's articles are a great place to start because they provide relevant and helpful information about the artistic and business aspects of writing and publishing.

(Novel and manuscript writers may also be interested in Simon's free yWriter software, which specifically caters to authors.)

Doctors Opposing Circumcision (D.O.C.) - Physicians for Genital Integrity
http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/

Doctors Opposing Circumcision is an organization of physicians and other concerned peoples who are opposed to non-therapeutic neonatal circumcision.  These doctors recognize that no one has the right to forcibly remove sexual body parts from another individual.  They also believe that doctors should have no role in this painful, unnecessary procedure inflicted on the newborn, and it is their mission to advocate for genital integrity for the health and well-being of all children.

Ethnologue: Languages of the World
http://www.ethnologue.com/

"Ethnologue: Languages of the World" is a comprehensive reference work cataloging all of the world's known living languages.  Since 1951, the Ethnologue has been an active research project involving hundreds of linguists and other researchers around the world.  It is widely regarded to be the most comprehensive source of information of its kind.

The information in the Ethnologue will be valuable to anyone with an interest in cross-cultural communication, bilingualism, literacy rates, language planning and language policy, language development, language relationships, endangered languages, writing systems, and to all with a general curiosity about languages.

International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
http://www.icsahome.com/

Founded in 1979, the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is a global network of people concerned about psychological manipulation and abuse in cultic groups, alternative movements, and other environments.  ICSA supports civil liberties and is not affiliated with any religious or commercial organizations.  ICSA's objective is to apply research and professional perspectives to:

• help those who have been harmed by psychological manipulation and cultic groups
• educate the public
• promote and conduct research
• support helping professionals interested in cults, related groups, and psychological manipulation

The Lumber Cartel, local 42 (Canadian branch)
http://www.lumbercartel.ca/

The Lumber Cartel is a group of loosely united parties with a common cause to rid the internet of the junk eMail problem (a.k.a. "spam").  This ambitious goal is a common vision among spam fighters, and is popularly believed to be a realistic long term inevitability due to the ubiquitous disdain for spammers.

Number Watch - Working to combat Math Hysteria
http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/

Number Watch monitors the media in search of misleading numbers in news, politics and science.  Their goal is to expose the scares, scams, junk, panics, and flummery cooked up by the media, politicians, bureaucrats, so-called scientists, and others who try to confuse you with wrong numbers.

Omniglot Encyclopedia (of Writing Systems and Languages)
http://www.omniglot.com/

Omniglot is an online encyclopedia of writing systems and languages.  It serves as an informative guide to alphabets and languages, with useful foreign phrases, tips on learning languages, language-related links, multilingual texts, etc.

PrisonTalk Online (PTO)
http://www.prisontalk.com/

There is no worse feeling than that of being alone and helpless.  This applies to the families of those who are incarcerated just as much as it does to those behind the walls.  PrisonTalk Online's goal is to bridge the communication barrier that exists in and around the criminal justice system today and bring everyone in the prisoner support community closer together to effect change in policy, prisoner rights, sentencing and so much more.

QuackWatch.org - Your Guide to Quackery, Health Fraud, and Intelligent Decisions
http://www.quackwatch.org/

QuackWatch is an international network of people who are concerned about health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct.  Its primary focus is on quackery-related information that is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere.  Founded by Dr. Stephen Barrett in 1969 as the Lehigh Valley Committee Against Health Fraud (Allentown, Pennsylvania), it was incorporated in 1970; in 1997, it assumed its current name and began developing a worldwide network of volunteers and expert advisors.

The QuackWatch web site is a valuable resource for any research into any subject relating to health or medicine.

Right Wing Watch
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/

People For the American Way's Right Wing Watch is dedicated to monitoring and reporting on the activities of right-wing political organizations, in order to expose the agenda of the extreme Right.  With researchers monitoring dozens of broadcasts, eMails, and web sites, and use their expertise on right-wing movements to analyze and distill that information for the general public, they hope that shedding light on the activities of right-wing organizations can expose the risks that their extreme and intolerant agendas.

Skeptic North - "Crapping all over bad arguments like a Canada Goose"
http://www.skepticnorth.com/

Skeptic North aims to provide a central hub for scientific skepticism in Canada.  Founded in 2009 by a diverse group of skeptics, science advocates, and critical thinkers, the site takes a respectful, evidence-based look at a variety of topics relevant to Canadians, including health, culture, media, politics, science, and history.

TheocracyWatch.org
http://www.theocracywatch.org/

TheocracyWatch raises awareness about the pervasive role of the Religious Right in the United States government both domestically and internationally.  It disseminates information through its web site, speakers bureau, presentations, and CDs and DVDs, but most importantly, it also actively conducts interviews with the media.

What's the harm?
http://www.whatstheharm.net/

"What's the harm?" is a web site that intends to make a point about the danger of not thinking critically, namely that you can easily be injured or killed by neglecting this important skill.  The authors of this web site have collected the stories of well over half a million people who have been injured or killed as a result of someone not thinking critically.

By calling attention to the types of misinformation, which have caused harm (particularly those that are being promoted via misinformation or have no basis in truth at all, and also occasionally veer off into other troublesome areas), the hope is to inspire people to think more critically, especially when proponents claim their falsehoods are harmless, and to encourage people to take greater care when encountering misinformation.