So, after 72 hours and hundreds of submissions (and just as many conflicting emotions), it's come to this ... we have a winner in our Octo Drive Video Essay Contest.
It wasn't easy picking that winner. We got entries from all across the U.S., not to mention Australia, Spain, Italy and the UK. Entries from kids in school, the military and wheelchairs. We got entries from babies and dancing octopus puppets. There were kids who ate dog food, made cookies, threatened us with dog attacks, and had their children beg for the drive. There were rap songs and (many) acoustic numbers and even a marriage proposal or two. Seriously, you guys outdid yourselves and amazed us with your creativity and your passion to win this thing.
That said ... someone had to win this thing. So, after watching every single one of your entries -- and going back and forth about a bazillion times -- I've decided on the winning clip. For a while, it was gonna be the naked dude playing guitar. Then, Kaleigh, the singing baby surged into the lead. And for a minute, I was gonna give it to Chris B based on creativity alone.
But, at the end of the day, I picked something else entirely. So, who submitted the winning video? Find out after the jump.
It was these dudes, who went door-to-door in their hometown of Harrow, Ontario collecting signatures on a "Give Us The 'Octo Drive' Petition:
It might not have been the greatest "essay" in the purest sense of the word ... but it was a damn fine example of grass-roots democracy (and I think that kind of thing is illegal in Canada). So, congrats you guys, you broke the law and showcased the power of the petition ... enjoy the Octo Drive. And always remember, "Power to the people."
And to the rest of you: Thanks again for the submissions. They blew me away. Seriously. And just because you didn't win my Octo Drive doesn't mean you can't still win one of the other 76 (or so) that are still out there ... you can find information on them over at Friends Or Enemies' Octopus Drive blog.
Thanks again to Mark and Pete for letting me play along, and to all of you for submitting.
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