So many smirking, conniving souls befuddling others this year, so little time to savor their mischief. After researching dozens and dozens of April Fool's stunts, here's the batch we enjoyed best.
Of course, you know, we may be kidding.
1. Flying Penguins!
Photo by Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images.
YouTube also shows a behind-the-scenes peek at comedian Terry Jones and the animated pranksters being devious as they craft the spoof.
2. RickRolling
Many Web users have been deluged with unsuspected appearances of Rick Astley's 1988 song hit, "Never Gonna Give You Up," being pranked onto their computers. For April Fool's Day, it's been reported that YouTube secretly redirected all of their front page recommendations to the music clip. I was smiling at the news, until I realized no one has ever RickRoll'D me. I guess I'll have to do it to myself.Update: OK, cool, did it. Never gonna let you down. The good news: The song is forever stuck in my head. The bad: I'm going to have to buy a trenchcoat.
3. Butterfinger Bites the Name That Feeds It!
Courtesy of Nestle USA via Business Wire.
4. Google April Fool's Jokes Galore!
The Internet stupendous supergiant big boy Google has become a major target of April Fool's pranks, some self-inflicted. Google Blogoscoped has done the good deed and collected 2008's litter. A few examples:
- Google Book Search with scratch-and-sniff. Mmmm.
- Project Virgle, a venture of Google and Virgin to colonize Mars. We're told, "The apparent reason for launching this project now seems to be that 'Earth has issues.'" Richard Branson talks about Virgle in this YouTube offering.
- "Cars of the Google Street View fleet are now forced to paint road lines while driving the streets of Nashville."
- "Google Calendar’s 'Wake Up Kit' uses notifications which are 'progressively more annoying' to wake you up," including a bucket of water.
5. Top 10 April Fools' Work Pranks
A CareerBuilder.com survey of office shenanigans finds some favorite tricks of the past resurfaced, joining a few fresh ones. CNN lists "shrink-wrapped everything in a co-worker's cubicle" and "filled the vending soda machine with cans of beer," among others.6. National Geographic Gets 'Poon'd
The Harvard Lampoon staff joined forces with the glossy global publication for a full issue of parodies. Features and photographic essays, created by smarty-arsed college students, focus on "Paris Hilton After Dark -- Your Wildest Animal Fantasies," "Mongolia's Wildest Waterparks," outsourcing "the American lava lamp industry," and "Boobs You Can Look at in the Dentist's Office." Additional details are on view at the Lampoon.7. April Fool's Day International
A news report via Yahoo tells of tall ticklers in faraway lands, such as actor Daniel Craig requesting James Bond "swing both ways," while other Brits announced a digital clock face for Big Ben."Docs to Stretch Sarkozy" details a medical procedure to lengthen the diminutive French president.
Another straight-faced item reveals "luxury carmaker BMW had invented a model that electrocuted dogs which tried to relieve themselves against its wheels."
8. PC Actor Charged With Assault
From MacUser: "Actor John Hodgman, best known for his personification of the PC in Apple’s 'Get a Mac' commercials, has been charged for aggravated assault after an alleged altercation with his co-star Justin Long — better known as 'the Mac' — outside a Brooklyn bar Monday night"9. April Fool's Day Jokes of the Rich and Famous
OK, these aren't actual celebrity pranks pulled on The Great Day -- or are they?Shoebox Blog describes quickie comedy capers for Madonna, Jack Nicholson, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Pamela Anderson ("Stays married all day!")
And while they're at it, read the giggle, "Least Popular April Fool's Day Pranks." Must've been a slow shoe day.
