Alica is a normal, active 24 year old. Although she is a bit overweight (140 lbs. at 5'6"), she doesn't have any other known health issues.

That's why she was rather surprised how concerned her doctor was at her annual physical checkup. After doing his basic checks, he sternly spoke to her at length about several problems that excess weight is connected to (diabetes, heart complications, earlier mortality, etc.).

Alica had been at this weight for years, so asked him why he hadn't said something about this before.

He somewhat apologetically acknowledged that he just came back from a national convention and was anxious to try out a new idea he had heard was being done by doctors in other states. "Alica, from what I've just learned, the solution for you is called RPS."

Of course Alica had no clue as to what that was. Seeing her puzzled look, the doctor volunteered further explanation: "RPS is 'Rapid Pedamorphic Solution'."

Alica: "Oh, OK."

"It's simple!" he said. "RPS mandates that you must lose 20 pounds in two weeks."

Alica was stunned. "TWENTY pounds in TWO weeks? That's impossible!"

But the doctor was prepared. "Not really. At this convention they were promoting a miracle solution. It's called Weight Power. It's been used in Europe and from what I hear, people there love it."

"Really? How does it work?"

"Well, they've known for some time that an element of fat is CO22. Weight Power is supposed to reduce CO22, and the theory is that this reduction will result in body fat simply dissipating. It's that easy. So, as surprising as it may seem, RPS can be achieved if you use Weight Power."

But Alica had a BS in Biology and wasn't just going to just accept this at face value. "Has the FDA approved Weight Power?" "Not yet, but they are looking at it."

"Well then what independent scientific research has been done to prove that it works?" she asked.

"The manufacturer and their trade reps assure us that it works as advertised. And those people in Europe are smart cookies. They wouldn't be buying stuff that doesn't work!"

"How much does it cost?" she inquired.

"I have a large supply that I picked up at the convention, so I got a quantity discount. Your initial startup cost is only $5000."

"FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS???"

"Yes, but remember that your life is at stake here. How much is saving your life worth? Hey, and anyway, your insurance companies will pay for 90% of it."

"Maybe they will, but FIVE THOUSAND dollars?"

"Full disclosure requires that I tell you that there is an additional $100 per month."

"WHAT? For how long?"

"For life. Once you stop using Weight Power, those pesky CO22's will come back."

"You're pulling my leg here right?"

"Not at all. How about trying it out, I have some right here. Two tablespoons a day, before breakfast." (He gives her a sample.)

"Oh my god that tastes absolutely horrible! It's just like turpentine!"

"Hmmm. Taste is a subjective thing. Some people really like how it tastes."

"There are people who like the taste of turpentine???"

"Sure. Some people like it so much that they have signed on to sell it."

"Sell it? How does that work?"

"Well the developers of Weight Power lease some product to interested local people, who then sell it to their community."

"Is that really worth someone's time to do?"

"Absolutely, there's BIG money to be made with reducing CO22. With RPS catching on, and the insurance companies onboard, this is going to be all the rage. Take my word for it, everybody's going to be doing RPS, and Weight Power is the only game in town."

"So there will be people out there in my community saying lots of good things about the Weight Power -- not because they have any independent scientific information that it works -- but because they have a financial interest in it? Got it, thanks for the heads up."

She continued: "But back to the science here, why can't I lose this weight by calorie conservation and doing more exercise?"

"That's old school thinking. Besides it wouldn't happen fast enough: time is of the essence. You are at serious risk here -- your world could come to an end very soon!"

"Well if my situation is so serious, then what about surgery?"

"That isn't a good option for someone like yourself. There are known risks to that."

"But aren't there risks for Weight Power?"

"The manufacturer says no, so were going to take the optimistic position here."

"What's actually in this Weight Power stuff?"

"Not really sure. It's a proprietary business, so you can understand that they wouldn't want to give away trade secrets. GE and other multinational companies are involved, though, and they're reputable, right?"

"So if I take this terrible swill as required, the upside is that you're telling me I'm guaranteed to get rid of enough CO22 so that I will lose the 20 pounds in two weeks?"

"Sorry, I should have made that clear. Everybody's body chemistry is different, so you can see why the developers can't be expected to make any guarantees."

"Are you serious? You're the doctor here, but let me see if I understand RPS and its implications:
  1) you say that my life is suddenly in immediate peril due to my being 20 pounds overweight,
  2) I have to get rid of those 20 pounds in 2 weeks, or else my life is likely to come to an abrupt and catastrophic end,
  3) I can't resort to surgery as that is too risky,
  4) exercise and diet won't work fast enough,
  5) it's just a hypothesis that reducing CO22 will dissipate body fat,
  6) you are assuring me that Weight Power will consequentially reduce this CO22,
  7) you have no independent scientific evidence, though, that Weight Power actually will do this,
  8) since you don't know what's in it, you really don't know all the risks either,
  9) I will pay you for Weight Power: $5000 up front and $100/month for life,
10) once I start I am committed forever: I can't stop,
11) it tastes like turpentine, but I just have to toughen up for the greater good,
12) there is no guarantee or warrantee of any kind."

"Yes. That's a reasonable summary. Can I sign you up?"

"OK, where's the Candid camera?"