Nutgraf

Nutgraf: The main idea or thesis paragraph in a news story.

Nutgraf.net: A blog consisting of advice from friends, strangers, friends we haven’t met yet and random others. Words to live by, prescient warnings, cookie fortunes, book features, and poignant song lyrics.

WTF

Consumer product reviews, random acts of science, book reviews and features, household experiments, an advice collection scheme, the news, the environment, and only sidelong references to the cats – promise.

I’ve long been interested in consumer reviews. Does it really do that? Which one of these is better? What is the better deal (if it takes half as much of one thing to do the job of another…)? I think we’re all looking for the next best thing, and we’ve all been enticed by infomercials. What if someone really tried that stuff out? In their real-life house? With real-life constraints? And a real person reading the actual instrux?

My qualifications? I can pester folks with some questions. Ask anyone. I can pick something apart until it rolls its eyes and goes limp. So can Spouse, who has a scientific background and bona-fide physics training. In Russia, so you know he’s smart.

As for the book stuff, I do love to read. I do it a lot. I don’t remember as much as I’d like (short attention span often disrupted by things like “What’s that smell? Am I wearing pants? Did I feed the cats?), but I enjoy a wide range of reading. Whether it’s opening my eyes to a new way of thinking, appalling me with a horrid character who has a snaptacular wit, or teaching me practical skills or techniques for getting by in the world, there is so to learn that I must rely on the authors who have studied and crafted and honed. Thanks guys!

A Note on Integrity

I review things – including books, products and advice submissions – in my own time and on my own terms. I need your input to make the advice project a success, and you can rely on me to clearly disclose my policies, protect your privacy and generally deal with you and others in an above-board manner. As for products, books, pitches or anything else of that nature, I’m a big fan of disclosure. I disclose early, loudly and often. I am easily skeezed out and want to be proud of what I do here.

To date, I’ve paid for all of the products used on this site with my own money. I am receptive to review copies, samples or other queries and will be sure to note if any such ever come to pass. I do occasionally request and receive review copies of books, which I’m not in the habit of noting on my reviews. Feel free to let me know if you think I should be doing that differently. To discuss, please e-mail me at thea [at] nutgraf.net.