My Own Credibility

Image via CrunchBaseEarlier today a visitor to the site asked me via the Meebo plugin I have here whether the information I post here is "creditable or all just crap." Unfortunately while Meebo said I was online, I was actually away from the computer when he or she posted the question, so the best I can do is write a response here as a post and hope this person swings by again.

In short, he or she wanted to know where I get my information. Let me preface my answer by saying as I have in my "About" page that I am just a regular Joe - a nerd dad who wants his family, and everyone, to be healthy. I'm contemplating and probably will start taking nutrition classes so that I can be of even more use to people in regards to health, but that will take some time. I'm just researching schools right now (and am open to any suggestions, too!)

Some of the things I write here are pure opinion; they're my reaction to things I read in books or online, see in movies or in the news, and so forth. I definitely get some things wrong. For example, I'm torn between the idea of having a food police (like a strong FDA) versus allowing manufacturers to make any kind of unhealthy product they feel like (such as hydrogenated oils). I'm still leaning on the side of freedom on that subject, but that's for a different time.

Most other times, however, when I'm writing an article here I put in a good bit of research looking around for verification of the things I find. It takes a really long time to write a single article because of this. When I do find this verification, I will almost always provide a link to it in order to prove my due diligence. For resources, I look to company websites for official information, Wikipedia for general leads and ideas, resource sites like Cosmetics Database for ingredient facts, and I'll even email or talk to those more studied than I for actual quotes, etc.

So to make a long answer short: I try. I try to be a good source of reliable information. If I make a mistake, I'll be sure to point it out and apologize. What else can be expected of anyone?

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Once upon a time, there was a company called "Glaceau" (it technically still exists as a subsidiary - but more on that in a moment) that created SmartWater and later came out with FruitWater, and then VitaminWater. I remember when I first saw FruitWater; it tasted good and had no calories because it had no sugar. I'm still not entirely sure, mind you, how they got the flavor and I suspect even though it was "natural" that it was actually junk but this is also not the subject of the moment. What was interesting was that this drink became popular and it had no sugar.

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