c5Every Sunday the Washington Post runs an amateur humor competition called the
Style Invitational ... a new contest is begun and the results from a previous
contest are announced. What follows are the results reported in yesterday's
contest ...

cfThe Washington Post
c9May 14, 1995, Sunday, Final Edition
c1Report from Week 110, in which we asked you to come up with absurd warning
labels for common products.
c7
We loved one particular entry for its wonderful idiocy: On a cardboard
windshield sun shade -- Warning: Do Not Drive With Sun Shield in Place." We
were going to make it a winner, until we discovered that it wasn't made up.

Fourth Runner-Up -- On an infant's bathtub: Do not throw baby out with bath
water. (Gary Dawson, Arlington)

Third Runner-Up -- On a package of Fisherman's Friend(R) throat lozenges:
Not meant as substitute for human companionship. (Tom Witte, Gaithersburg)

Second Runner-Up -- On a Magic 8 Ball: Not advised for use as a home
pregnancy test. (Chuck Smith, Woodbridge)

First Runner-Up -- On a roll of Life Savers: Not for use as a flotation device.
(Jean Sorensen, Herndon)

And the winner of the Power Ranger pinata:
On a cup of McDonald's coffee: Allow to cool before applying to groin area.
(Elden Carnahan, Laurel)

Honorable Mentions
On a refrigerator: Refrigerate after opening. (Cissie J. Owen, Leesburg)

On a pack of cigarettes: WARNING -- The Tobacco Institute has determined that
smoking just one cigarette greatly increases your risk of heart attack by 
making you so incredibly sexy that gorgeous members of the opposite sex
surround you night and day, begging for intercourse and wearing you into
exhaustion, unless, of course, you have another couple of cigarettes to steady
your nerves. (Jacob Weinstein, McLean)

On a disposable razor: Do not use this product during an earthquake. (Jim
Gaffney, Manassas)

On a handgun: Not recommended for use as a nutcracker. (Art Grinath, Takoma
Park)

On pantyhose: Not to be used in the commission of a felony. (Judith Daniel,
Washington)

On a piano: Harmful or fatal if swallowed. (Peter Fay, Herndon)

On a can of Fix-a-Flat: Not to be used for breast augmentation. (Jerry Robin,
Gaithersburg)

On Kevorkian's suicide machine: This product uses carbon monoxide, which has
been found to cause cancer in laboratory rats. (Meg Sullivan, Potomac)

On a Pentium chip: If this product exhibits errors, the manufacturer will
replace it for a $ 2 shipping and a $ 3 handling charge, for a total of $ 4.97.
(Russell Beland, Springfield)

On Lyndon LaRouche literature: Mr. LaRouche is a serious political figure and
not a paranoid lunatic, and should therefore -- Hey, what are you looking
at? Quit staring at me. (Meg Sullivan, Potomac)

On work gloves: For best results, do not leave at crime scene. (Ken
Krattenmaker, Landover Hills)

On a palm sander: Not to be used to sand palms. (Patrick G. White, Taneytown)

On a calendar: Use of term "Sunday" for reference only. No meteorological
warranties express or implied. (Elden Carnahan, Laurel)

On Odor Eaters: Do not eat. (Chuck Smith, Woodbridge)

On Sen. Bob Dole: WARNING: Contents under pressure and may explode.
(Doug Keim, Schaumburg, Ill. )

On a blender: Not for use as an aquarium. (Gary Dawson, Arlington)

On a fax machine: WARNING! Never attempt to directly fax anyone an image of
your naked buttocks. Always photocopy your buttocks and fax the photocopy.
(John Kammer, Herndon)

On syrup of ipecac: Caution: May cause vomiting. (Paul Styrene, Olney)

On a revolving door: Passenger compartments for individual use only. (Elden
Carnahan, Laurel)

On a microscope: Objects are smaller and less alarming than they appear. (J.
Calvin Smith, Laurel)

On children's alphabet blocks: Letters may be used to construct words, phrases
and sentences that may be deemed offensive. (David Handelsman,
Charlottesville)

On a wet suit: Capacity, 1. (J. Calvin Smith, Laurel)

And Last:

On The Washington Post: Do not cut up and use for blackmail note. (Joseph
Romm, Washington).
