no.stupid.answers

Answers.com - as we all know, the world’s greatest encyclodictionalmanacapedia - was discovered and listed by findingDulcinea, “Librarian of the Internet,” and posted in the Up & Running section of their Netcetera links section:

An “online dictionary, encyclopedia, and much more,” Answers combines resources like Wikipedia, the All Music Guide, and the Free Dictionary to bring you the most comprehensive collection of information on thousands of people, places, and things.

In case the name doesn’t ring a bell:

Dulcinea Media, Inc. is a Silicon Alley team of savvy Internet users. Our mission is to untangle the Web, freeing it of clutter and spotlighting only the sites that matter. We aim to provide a richer experience for every Internet user.

Aw shucks, guys.

There’s something warm and fuzzy about being labeled “useful,” as Jeanne Duffey calls encyclopedias, including Answers.com, in her well-written column for news-leader.com:

In print or on the Web, encyclopedias are useful

Donna Bacon, a reference librarian interviewed for the article, offers Answers.com as a good example for where to turn for reference information.

Yes, online encyclopedias are convenient, handy and useful. Bacon recommends Answers.com. “This site uses reputable sources for their encyclopedia-type entries. The reference content is derived from publishers known for their accuracy and reliability.”

Information on the site’s 4 million topics is updated frequently and it’s easy to find what you need, either via a search box or by linking to a list of 18 subjects, from Arts to Zoology. Under each topic are hundreds of subtopics. (source)

I don’t know about you, but I feel pretty damn warm and fuzzy. The truth is, it’s really wonderful to be noted like that by a reference librarian.

While WikiAnswers is most certainly a user-contributed effort, Answers.com certainly embraces the reference side of the coin with its 100’s of resources (almanac, dictionary, government, and of course - encyclopedia).

Sometimes you want straight definitions and fast facts (Answers.com), and sometimes you want advice and experience (WikiAnswers). You could say that one picks up where the other leaves off.