On January 16 Long John Silver's announced that it will give America free Giant Shrimp if NASA's Mars Exploration Rover project finds conclusive evidence of an ocean on Mars by February 29, 2004. Well, the European Mars Express orbiter has just confirmed the existence of water ice in the south polar cap of Mars.

"We have closely followed NASA's recent exploration of Mars and all of us are rooting you on to find ocean water on the Red Planet," Steve Davis, President of Long John Silver's wrote to NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. "The 'Free Giant Shrimp' offer is our way of saying NASA's exploration of Mars and the discovery of ocean water would be 'one small step for man, one giant leap for seafood.'"

The promotion rules read: "An ocean body of water shall be defined as a single body of water the surface area of which equals or exceeds 5,000,000 km2." - I wonder if ice counts?

Long John Silver's has purchased an insurance policy to cover the anticipated cost of the free Giant Shrimp redemption, should NASA announce the discovery of conclusive evidence of an ocean on Mars between now and February 29, 2004. In the event NASA makes an official announcement that conclusive evidence of an ocean has been discovered on Mars prior to that date, every person in the U.S. will have an opportunity to obtain one free Giant Shrimp at participating Long John Silver's restaurants in the United States. Redemption will take place on Monday, March 15, 2004, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. Additional information and offer details will be made available to consumers on the Long John Silver's web site and in press materials, should this event occur.

Ice probably doesn't count - but it was good for a laugh. ;)