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Posts with tag Ameritocracy

Filed under: News, Social Software

Ameritocracy: fact-checking for the masses

Have you ever heard a public figure make a claim that seems a bit preposterous? In the year of a U.S. presidential election, more people are going to be scrutinizing candidates -- and political bloggers -- and wondering if what they're saying is true, exaggerated, or just completely made up. That's where Ameritocracy comes in. You can add a quote, and Ameritocracy users will rate its accuracy and its relevance.

We think this is great fun, because it takes a step toward realizing our fantasy of siccing Slashdot commenters on all of our nation's politicians. Sure, the accuracy ratings might be questionable, but they should continue to improve as the site gains additional users. Ameritocracy is full of diverse issues and opinions, so if you can't get worked up over the election, maybe you have an opinion on propositions like, "The mobile phone may be the most potent tool ever invented for the elimination of poverty."

Featured Time Waster

Build the highest tower with 99 Bricks - Time Waster

Wrapping your mind around a simple game like 99 Bricks is harder than you might imagine. The object of the game is to build the highest possible tower using only 99 pieces. Sounds easy enough, but you're playing with Tetris pieces and distinctly non-Tetris physics. If you screw up, you don't just leave gaps that you could have used to score points, you cause your whole tower to wobble and collapse.

Pieces also don't lock to a grid in 99 Bricks, the way they do in Tetris. You can wind up with pieces slanted diagonally, and there's an edge of the board that your toppled bricks can fall off of. 99 Bricks is kind of like Jenga, in that it's almost as satisfying to watch your tower crumble as it is to play seriously. Once you get the hang of the way the pieces behave, it's an addictive little game.

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