Virgle?

We have been discussing the importance of using credible sites. Our next assignment is to create a Think Aloud that explains how to analyze a site and determine its credibility. For my Think Aloud, I found a site that presents plans for a corporately funded Mars mission. More than that, it presents an entire outline for Mars colonization. At first glance the site appears credible. It is hosted by Google. The project is called Virgle, which comes from the company names Virgin and Google, the two companies funding the supposed mission. The site appears to be a genuine Google project, unfortunately (and much to the disappointment of all of us who were hoping companies would pick up where NASA left off when Obama cut the budget) the project does not exist. Google maintains the facade throughout the site offering only subtle hints (like Guitar Hero II skills as an application requirement). A link at the bottom of the Q&A page leads to a page not listed in the Virgle links where the hoax is finally revealed to be Google's annual April Fool's joke.

Virgle