You can win a Scottevest too!
Right now (ends August 8th) Scottevest is having its Summer Fun Contest (Click this link to enter!) and giving away some really cool attire including an Outback Jacket or Women’s Trench, a Travel Vest for Men or Travel Vest for Women, and a Microfleece Pullover or Women’s Q-Zip.

Click this link to enter!

Update: Bonus! I’m also one of Scottevest’s featured tweets. I owe a big thank you to Documentally for turning me onto this great company.

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

DARPA has issued a challenge so that it can study study how to solve large scale problems with social networks. All day today people have clamored to create teams in preparation for tomorrow’s red balloon hunt. Tomorrow from 10am eastern time to 4pm local time 10 red weather balloons will be anchored near roads throughout the United States. The person who finds all ten balloons and reports their GPS coordinates will receive $40,000.

Rather than forming a team, I am offering $1000 to the first person who reports the correct coordinates of any of the 10 balloons to me if I am able to win the prize. Read the details here.

Where is red balloon #6?

Okay, the contest doesn’t start until 10am tomorrow. But you can see red balloon #6 here and see the rest in DARPA’s gallery. This post begs an interesting question. How will we distinguish the red herrings? The false information? Each entrant only gets 25 guesses. How many ghost will we chase between now and December 14th?

Get at least $10 from this

I will pay $10 a retweet to each of the first 100 people who retweet the following message on Twitter if I win the challenge. No money rewards will be paid if I am not the first to report all 10 red balloons. Be sure to follow @djuggler.

Help @djuggler win the DARPA challenge. $ rewards for balloons and RTs; http://3.ly/10luftballoons #10luftballoons

Update: Yes, here is the round two page.

If I win, I will share $1000 with each person who was first to correctly identify the location of a balloon.

I will pay $10 a retweet to each of the first 100 people who retweet the following message on Twitter if I win the challenge. No money rewards will be paid if I am not the first to report all 10 red balloons. Be sure to follow @djuggler.

Help @djuggler win the DARPA challenge. $ rewards for balloons and RTs; http://3.ly/10luftballoons #10luftballoons

I’ve always been fascinated with the DARPA challenges. I through for sure I could be a contender on the first DARPA automated car challenge but I could not figure out how to devote all my time to development and still feed my family. I guess that’s part of the challenge. There are many other challenges out there like the X-Prize. These are usually gone after by universities and corporations (I think). Now DARPA has one that is right up my alley. Tomorrow, December 5th, 10 red balloons will be launched in the United States. The places are specific. The person who finds all 10 is rewarded with $40,000. DARPA is studying how to solve large scale problems with social networks.

9910 red balloons.
floating in the summerwinter sky.
Panic bells, it’s red alert.
There’s something here from somewhere else.
The warDARPA machine springs to life.
Opens up onemy eager eye.
Focusing it on the skysocial media.
Where 9910 red balloons goTwitter by.
[Source, eighty-eightynine, Lyrics: Nena - 99 Luftballoons (99 Red Balloons); modified by Doug McCaughan]
See the interview with 99 Luftballoons English version author Kevin McAlea.

I believe the large networks of the Internet social media celebrities will get the balloons. However, I’m going to have a shot. I’m registered and soliciting your help If you see a large red balloon with a number on it, please twitter a DM to @djuggler, email juggler@gmail.com, Skype djuggler or call me (865)686-8693 with its location and if possible its GPS coordinates. If I win, I will share $1000 with each person who was first to correctly identify the location of a balloon. A correct location is GPS coordinates with an error of less than 1.0 mile. That means if you are first to correctly tell me where balloon #3 is and I find the other #9 balloons and win, you get $1000 after I receive the prize money. DARPA has pictures of the balloons here.

Related

• DARPA Challenge Competitors Already Mobilizing Social Networks
• DARPA Network Challenge FAQ
• @DARPA_news
• US military offers $40,000 challenge to internet users

Thank you!

Twitter @zappos link 2 ur favorite shoes & ur favorite Zappos core value (hint: @missrogue has blog) by 7 PM Pacific. Will pick 1 winner! [Source, Twitter, @zappos]

They also happen to be avid bloggers! Zappos has given away shoes to random Twitter followers, each month they give away a pair of shoes to people signing up from Zappos.com, and even flew a random Twitter follower to Vegas for lunch with Tony the Zappos CEO. Oops. I was typing up this post and browsing shoes and got my entry into this contest either right on the wire or a few minutes late but I know Tony will have more contests! Right Tony? I chose the Michael Toschi Lorenzo SKU #7415650 and the company core value "4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded." I have a wide foot. The picture doesn’t look like it would fit comfortably. Fortunately Zappos has free shipping both directions and 100% satisfaction guaranteed with a full refund within 365 days of purchase!

Be sure to follow Zappos on Twitter @zappos. Search Twitter for "Zappos" and you can discover the COO and other Zappos staffers! You can follow me @djuggler. Watch Miss Rogue’s Interview: Zappos.com’s Tony Hsieh and Rachael Brown to learn more about this great company. Btw, the Zappos ten core values are:

1. Deliver WOW Through Service
2. Embrace and Drive Change
3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
5. Pursue Growth and Learning
6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8. Do More With Less
9. Be Passionate and Determined
10. Be Humble

Honestly, I’m sold. My next pair of shoes is coming from Zappos! Fortunately for Zappos, this seven family household needs roughly 14 pairs of shoes in the very short term.

Update: Sarah Lacy does not like Zappos but many of her commenters disagree.

Southwest Airlines is proud to be the Official Airline of the BlogWorld Expo, which is being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center on November 8 and 9. This is a huge event promoting blogging and new media…we are offering a package to attend BlogWorld for one creative Nuts
About Southwest reader. This package includes air travel for two on Southwest Airlines to Las Vegas from your closest Southwest city; the good folks at BlogWorld are providing free registration for the Expo; and our friends at the MGM Grand are providing a room for three nights (November 7 through November 9). [Source, Southwest Airlines Blog, Nuts About Southwest]

Cathy has entered the contest and needs your help. Please visit her caption and give her a vote up! You can also vote for my caption. And if you participate in the contest, it helps to mention either "cathymccaughan" or "djuggler" as your referrer. Thanks!