Third Annual Movie-Plot Threat Contest Winner
On April 7—seven days late—I announced the Third Annual Movie-Plot Threat Contest:
For this contest, the goal is to create fear. Not just any fear, but a fear that you can alleviate through the sale of your new product idea. There are lots of risks out there, some of them serious, some of them so unlikely that we shouldn’t worry about them, and some of them completely made up. And there are lots of products out there that provide security against those risks.
Your job is to invent one. First, find a risk or create one. It can be a terrorism risk, a criminal risk, a natural-disaster risk, a common household risk—whatever. The weirder the better. Then, create a product that everyone simply has to buy to protect him- or herself from that risk. And finally, write a catalog ad for that product.
[…]
Entries are limited to 150 words … because fear doesn’t require a whole lot of explaining. Tell us why we should be afraid, and why we should buy your product.
On May 7, I posted five semi-finalists out of the 327 blog comments:
- DNA adulteratometer to detect waiters spitting in your soup.
- Toothpaste test strips.
- SOS device for people locked in car trunks.
- Anti-laser-pointer eyeglasses.
- “Alertness alert” heartbeat monitor.
Sadly, two of those five was above the 150-word limit. Out of the three remaining, I (with the help of my readers) have chosen a winner.
Presenting, the winner of the Third Annual Movie Plot Threat Contest, Aaron Massey:
Tommy Tester Toothpaste Strips:
Many Americans were shocked to hear the results of the research trials regarding heavy metals and toothpaste conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine, which FDA is only now attempting to confirm. This latest scare comes after hundreds of deaths were linked to toothpaste contaminated with diethylene glycol, a potentially dangerous chemical used in antifreeze.
In light of this continuing health risk, Hamilton Health Labs is proud to announce Tommy Tester Toothpaste Strips! Just apply a dab of toothpaste from a fresh tube onto the strip and let it rest for 3 minutes. It’s just that easy! If the strip turns blue, rest assured that your entire tube of toothpaste is safe. However, if the strip turns pink, dispose of the toothpaste immediately and call the FDA health emergency number at 301-443-1240.
Do not let your family become a statistic when the solution is only $2.95!
Aaron wins, well, nothing really, except the fame and glory afforded by this blog. So give him some fame and glory. Congratulations.
KnoNoth • May 15, 2008 6:42 AM
fantastic, simply fantastic.
I’m quite sure, that people would buy it. Even if it’s simply a blue paper.