Mustaf Herod Upyur Poupr: buckler: The 10balloons map graffiti is great, and very FARK-worthy, but we got 40,000 bucks for disadvantaged kids riding on this. Let's get data-mining, eh?

Aye. And some of us have been hard at work confusing the competition. The reward needs to go to toys for tots, not toys-for-10ballon-dot-com-schmucks-who-claim-they'll-share-the-money-but-might-n ot. I myself have been doing a metric shiat-ton of disinformation to mislead other dataminers.

Good deal. Now that the balloons are down, I can tell you that I found one, and I spoke to the DARPA guy briefly. He mentioned that one aspect of the experiment was to see how trust issues affect the distribution of information among social networks, or hinder it. They're especially looking at cooperative vs. competitive behavior in information-distribution systems, and how that has an influence on the quality of the final information product. He specifically asked me if we were actively undermining other groups, and I told him we were actively jamming at least one project. He seemed pleased to hear it.

Whoever deleted the image, I can appreciate your concern but did you check to see what the coordinates where? I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure I didn't drive to the bottom of the ocean in the middle of the Gulf of Alaska today.

I'll be more than happy to eat coal for Christmas if it means some kid who doesn't even have electricity gets a PS3 or something.

All balloons are grounded. This is the time when Fark should shine. Scour the tubes for clues and find the locations.

Bump this thread to the top for better viability.

buckler:
Good deal. Now that the balloons are down, I can tell you that I found one, and I spoke to the DARPA guy briefly. He mentioned that one aspect of the experiment was to see how trust issues affect the distribution of information among social networks, or hinder it. They're especially looking at cooperative vs. competitive behavior in information-distribution systems, and how that has an influence on the quality of the final information product. He specifically asked me if we were actively undermining other groups, and I told him we were actively jamming at least one project. He seemed pleased to hear it.

Oh, shiat. Should I be concerned that a local telephone company van is sitting in front of my house? When I don't even have a landline anymore? It sounds like someone's trying to jimmy open my back door, oh shiat+CARRIER LOST++

Pretty sure I saw one here near San Jose, CA

Computer: Shadyman: punkrockgirl: http://10balloons.com/

Someone's making a giant smiley face on the map.

Read this thread dummy.

I read the whole thing. I was just pointing out the blatantly obvious. That's my job. :D

so did we win?

Recommendation: Have photoshop veterans post fake picks on all photobucket like accounts showing ballons with tags with fake locations. FLOOD the damned places with misleading info. Have pics of guys with shades and DARPA hats standing near tethers. Up the credibility factor.

/My photoshop-fu is weak :(

Ga Tech's www.ispyaredballoon.com claims 9 red balloons found.

punkrockgirl: dbrunker: Whoever deleted the image, I can appreciate your concern but did you check to see what the coordinates where? I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure I didn't drive to the bottom of the ocean in the middle of the Gulf of Alaska today.

HAHAHA! No, I panicked! Sorry about that.

I'm a little touchy today :(

You've worked your butt off today and for a very noble cause, you're entirely forgiven. :)

photoshop to your hearts content


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buckler: They're especially looking at cooperative vs. competitive behavior in information-distribution systems, and how that has an influence on the quality of the final information product. He specifically asked me if we were actively undermining other groups, and I told him we were actively jamming at least one project. He seemed pleased to hear it.

A million times THIS.

Go, my little Farkers, go.... I know we can do this!

Spotted a red balloon in Wheeling IL on Hintz road and the train tracks. This is NOT a darpa balloon that I can tell, there was no number, and definatly was no one there from darpa. Like the cat in the hat said, find out where it's not.

Too bad, I got all excited when I saw it.

GPS: 42.07'23.85" N by 87.55'21.90" W

It was for sure a red weather balloon of the correct size, but had no other markings on it. I tried taking a picture, but was too dark for my cell phone camera.

First spotted @ 4:45 PM local time, drove up to it on the way home at 6:45 PM.

Posted this in the other thread, sorry about the repeat.

// repeat

So, just wondering about something: if we all jumped on www.ispyaredballoon.com , could we crash their site? Is that ok to contemplate, much less attempt?

dbrunker: punkrockgirl: dbrunker: Whoever deleted the image, I can appreciate your concern but did you check to see what the coordinates where? I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure I didn't drive to the bottom of the ocean in the middle of the Gulf of Alaska today.

HAHAHA! No, I panicked! Sorry about that.

I'm a little touchy today :(

You've worked your butt off today and for a very noble cause, you're entirely forgiven. :)

photoshop to your hearts content


Larger image here (new window)

So...is there a balloon there?

Does anyone know a Blue Whale we can call???

A Mermaid?

A...Merman?

A Red Lobster perchance?

/just checkin

1lastcall: So, just wondering about something: if we all jumped on www.ispyaredballoon.com , could we crash their site? Is that ok to contemplate, much less attempt?

Well, we could certainly all agree on a GMT to do it, and see. God knows we've FARKed many sites before.

Everyone seems to be at 5-8 ballons. The Gtech boys say that all balloons have been found but nobody has all of them. Seems like people are going to bed.

But since Farkers don't sleep...

Mr. Cabron: Everyone seems to be at 5-8 ballons. The Gtech boys say that all balloons have been found but nobody has all of them. Seems like people are going to bed.

But since Farkers don't sleep...

Sleep... we don't need no stinkin sleep... but we need MOAR farkers on this...

I can't help but to keep refreshing to see what somebody is writing on Australia. Man I love Fark.

If you notice an eight-foot red weather balloon today while you're driving around, please let Fark know Fark would like to have a word with you (Last reminder for anyone who missed the previous threads)

FTFY, prg.

/jk
//not really

How can we help?

Mr. Cabron: But since Farkers don't sleep...

Maybe they'll see one during a night run to the store for Mother. Or if the basement has windows.

/I keed, I keed

1lastcall: Mr. Cabron: Everyone seems to be at 5-8 ballons. The Gtech boys say that all balloons have been found but nobody has all of them. Seems like people are going to bed.

But since Farkers don't sleep...

Sleep... we don't need no stinkin sleep... but we need MOAR farkers on this...

Can someone page gorgor?

I just placed 3 balloons on small islands in three different lakes near my house at ispyaredballoon and I will keep doing it for at least 4 more beers

Mr. Cabron: 1lastcall: Mr. Cabron: Everyone seems to be at 5-8 ballons. The Gtech boys say that all balloons have been found but nobody has all of them. Seems like people are going to bed.

But since Farkers don't sleep...

Sleep... we don't need no stinkin sleep... but we need MOAR farkers on this...

Can someone page gorgor?

*EEP* I do NOT want to see what Gorgor can do with redballoons!

I think that this period in time requires some specific skills.
Does "data mining" == "hacking"?
It seems that hackers penetrating the competition would be an optimal path to the solution, if you were good. No skills here.
I'm mainly a MSSQL wonk.

Maverick on Alaska, Please over Niger, what I believe is "RIP Steve Irwin" going over Australia, Vodak in Russia...the list goes on and on.

/this is why Fark is awesome
//keep it up

I have knowledge of a lot of the Northern Indiana countryside should that be necessary.

Good deal. Now that the balloons are down, I can tell you that I found one, and I spoke to the DARPA guy briefly. He mentioned that ...

1. I too love zombo - I watch it for hours.

B. When this is all over I swear to god, if you do not post EVERYTHING about your encounter on Fark (or at least a link)...Michael Scott will burn The Portland Branch and - well, ummm all of Portland to the ground.

You have been warned.

Does anyone now if the Irvine, CA (Spectrum) find was confirmed? I didn't have time to go down there, and that was definitely my first guess as to where. I had to work longer than I planned. If it WAS there, I'll be even more bummed. Oh, well.

Kaka: Good deal. Now that the balloons are down, I can tell you that I found one, and I spoke to the DARPA guy briefly. He mentioned that ...

1. I too love zombo - I watch it for hours.

B. When this is all over I swear to god, if you do not post EVERYTHING about your encounter on Fark (or at least a link)...Michael Scott will burn The Portland Branch and - well, ummm all of Portland to the ground.

You have been warned.

It's really not all that exciting, but as you wish...

Can we get some counts?
What do we have and what are we missing?

Mustaf Herod Upyur Poupr:

Nope. That's a function.

It's an algorithm. A one-step algorithm, but an algorithm nonetheless.

An algorithm is a mathmatical expression.

An algorithm is a sequence of one or more computational operations.

The delete key is not an equation.

Neither is bubble sort, but it's still an algorithm. If they coded it (e.g. SQL request to delete all records), it's technically an algorithm.

/computer scientist
//this isn't really worth arguing over ...

While putting up farky words on the map may be fun, the farky words make them easy to exclude as real data. Perhaps randomizing the disinformation makes more sense.

I hope somebody is operating at a deeper level than this.

The winning team, I predict, will be one that is able to exploit a cooperative technique to consolidate data with other players. Perhaps some of you ought to work on that endgame strategy.

Also needed is a secure way to communicate privately with authenticated partners. Long term fark membership, using farkmail accounts might be the ticket.

Just brainstorming here.

DeCypher44: Does anyone now if the Irvine, CA (Spectrum) find was confirmed? I didn't have time to go down there, and that was definitely my first guess as to where. I had to work longer than I planned. If it WAS there, I'll be even more bummed. Oh, well.

Dude, until they declare a winner nobody should confirm or deny any of the locations

Yeah, how many balloon positions do we have?

Mr. Cabron: Can we get some counts?
What do we have and what are we missing?

That is a Melissa question.

ActionJoe: Yeah, how many balloon positions do we have?

Apparently the balloons are numbered #1-10. What are we missing?

Mr. Cabron: ActionJoe: Yeah, how many balloon positions do we have?

Apparently the balloons are numbered #1-10. What are we missing?

I asked. She doesn't wanna say. Just keep digging. Be creative. Look everywhere, however unlikely.

coondoggin: DeCypher44: Does anyone now if the Irvine, CA (Spectrum) find was confirmed? I didn't have time to go down there, and that was definitely my first guess as to where. I had to work longer than I planned. If it WAS there, I'll be even more bummed. Oh, well.

Dude, until they declare a winner nobody should confirm or deny any of the locations

Precisely Correct.

melissa at fark dot com

Kaka: Mr. Cabron: Can we get some counts?
What do we have and what are we missing?

That is a Melissa question.

Yes. But it would be a good idea to have some sort of instruction on the page.

gregscott: While putting up farky words on the map may be fun, the farky words make them easy to exclude as real data. Perhaps randomizing the disinformation makes more sense.

What if we just cover all of the US with dots? I mean all of it. Then we can go back to having fun with farky words!