Even the least paranoid would now concede the government is watching us...so, wouldn't you love the chance to watch back? Well, now you can...after a fashion.

Technorati's announced the winners of their recent Developers' Contest, which challenged folks to find innovative uses for Technorati API data - in other words, "the information is out there...put it to good use!" The $2,500.00 grand prize winner is Joshua Tauberer, creator of a dandy site called GovTrack.us:

Want to know the status of a bill on the floor of Congress, who misses the most votes, or who gets the most bills passed? GovTrack.us is like School House Rock on steroids for adults (oh, and children). Govtrack.us uses the Technorati API to show what bloggers are saying about bills as they work their way through Congress.

The site automatically tracks governmental statistical data, compiles it, even allows to place a "watch" on specific representatives' proposed bills and voting records. In light of the way intrepid bloggers cast Virginia HB 1677's fate to the wind, we should all find good use for this portal! The stats page also features some informative (and fun) political numbers, such as the representative with the highest voting absentee rate, the lowest bill success rate, and the most talkative (currently Nancy Pelosi [D-CA], who has reportedly given 5 speeches so far this term).

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