Thank you all very much. Don't know why I couldn't find that stuff, but I couldn't.

The question was prompted because someone--a very bright someone--on another thread has often refuted things by quoting Snopes or quoting from Snopes, etc., and done so in a manner that made me think Snopes was a 'special authority' of some sort. I just got to wondering who and what they are, and you have been more than kind answering my questions.