Lately, we hit McDonald's on our way home from church... not always, but usually.  The newest Happy Meal is a consortium of Disney's Pirates and Princesses.  It's also a contest.  If your Happy Meal toy's card contains a winning message... well, let me just print up what the box says so you can read it.  I added the bold red for effect and discussion.

"NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  MANY WILL PLAY, ONLY 15 WILL WIN.  Open to residents of the US, Canada (excluding Quebec), and Outer Markets as defined in the Official Rules.  Game begins March 14, 2008 and ends April 10, 2008 or while distribution supplies last, whichever is earlier. If you look in the  McDonald's Happy Meal Pirate and Princess toy bag and find a game piece printed with a winning message instead of 1 (one) of 16 (sixteen) official Pirate or Princess collector cards, then you are a potential winner of the prize in the Game.  To win, a Canadian resident must correctly answer a skill-testing question.  See Oficial Rules inside participating McDonald's restaurants or at www.happymeal.com for information on who can play, details on how to play without buying something at McDonald's, prize descriptions, and complete game details.  Void where prohibited."

What in the world?  So, I'm only a "potential winner" if my card says I'm a winner and not an instant winner??  That's a new one.  But the funniest line is the Canadian resident line: "To win, a Canadian resident must correctly answer a skill-testing question."  Are you kidding me?  Did anyone check the grammar before publishing this on millions of Happy Meal boxes?  Do they understand what they're implying?  Okay, let's suppose I get a "potentially (not instant) winning" card.  What?  Do I randomly choose a Canadian resident (where do I even find one in St. Louis, MO?) and ask him/her what typing speed a good secretary needs to type at?  Or how to code a good blinkie for a side-bar?  Or what the proper technique is for setting a volleyball?  Or in what manner dough should be kneaded?  What skill?  What question?  What in the world?  And if they answer incorrectly, does that mean I don't win?  And who chooses the Canadian resident?  Me, or the judges?

Silly, silly McDonald's!  We had a hoot laughing over this at lunch.

Many blessings!  ~Christi