---
title: Step right up, win a $1,295 prize
teaser:
tags: news,web
author: Dan Croak
published_on: 2009-03-04
---

We love a good [contest](https://thoughtbot.com/blog/the-contest).

It's been too long since the last one, so here we go again. Now since we all
kind of know each other, I'm sure we'll all feel comfortable within the confines
of the **[honor system](http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheContest.htm)**.

## Follow @thoughtbot

That's it. All followers of the [@thoughtbot](http://twitter.com/thoughtbot)
Twitter account will be eligible to win a prize next week. We'll pick a random
winner for the following prizes.

* On Monday, winner gets a [Widgetfinger](http://widgetfinger.com) account.
* On Tuesday, winner gets a Tadpole [Hoptoad](http://hoptoadapp.com) account.
  (4 projects, 4 users, [Lighthouse integration](https://thoughtbot.com/blog/hoptoad-and-lighthouse-integration))
* On Wednesday, winner gets a Toad Hoptoad account.
  (16 projects, 16 users, SSL, Lighthouse integration)
* On Thursday, winner gets a Bullfrog Hoptoad account.
  (32 projects, 32 users, SSL, Lighthouse integration)

## Open source markets

Since Vegas has yet to release odds, we've created the [Open
Source](https://opensource.inklingmarkets.com)  prediction market to answer
burning questions we have, such as:

[Who will win a Ruby Heroes Award at RailsConf
2009?](https://opensource.inklingmarkets.com/markets/18371)

I've got my money on James Golick, but Jason thinks he's a long shot.

![''](http://images.thoughtbot.com/ui/2009-3-4-craps.jpg)

We're also constantly faced with a decision about which open source project to
use for certain tasks:

* [Which RESTful
  controller?](https://opensource.inklingmarkets.com/markets/18196)
  `giraffesoft/resource_controller`, `ianwhite/resources_controller`, or
  `hcatlin/make_resourceful`?
* [Which REST client?](https://opensource.inklingmarkets.com/markets/18198)
  `jnunemaker/httparty` or `adamwiggins/rest-client`?
* [Which state machine?](https://opensource.inklingmarkets.com/markets/18368)
  `rubyist/aasm` or `pluginaweek/state_machine`?

To make the markets measurable, we're using **GitHub watchers** as a proxy for
preferred open source project and setting a date of RailsConf so people think
relatively long-term.

When you're atop the
[leaderboard](https://opensource.inklingmarkets.com/site/leaderboard) at high
noon EST on Friday, you win the big prize:

One FREE ticket to a [thoughtbot
training](http://thoughtbot.com/services/training) class, a $1,295 value.

So trade early trade often at the [Open
Source](https://opensource.inklingmarkets.com) prediction market, and tell your
friends.