April Fools Best & Worst!

April Fool's Day is almost here, a week away. Does anyone have any good pranks planned? I decided to do a little research & see what the best & worst pranks have been, perhaps generate some ideas for the upcoming celebration, if celebration is the right word. Make sure you have a camcorder at the ready to record your 2012 reactions & fun!


What are some of the best, and worst, pranks you have pulled on others, and that others have pulled on you? Use the comment section to submit your ideas, brags & moans.


Wiki may not be the be all & end all source of information, but it's my starting place for general holiday info:

April Fools' Day is celebrated in different countries around the world on April 1 every year. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes and foolishness. The day is marked by the commission of good-humoured or otherwise funny jokes, hoaxes, and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, teachers, neighbors, work associates, etc.

Traditionally, in some countries such as Canada, New Zealand, the UK, Australia, Cyprus, and South Africa, the jokes only last until noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool" and taunted "April Fool's Day's past and gone, You're the fool for making one."[1] Elsewhere, such as in France, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Russia, The Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, and the U.S., the jokes last all day. In France and Italy children (and adults, when appropriate) traditionally tack paper fish on each other's back as a trick and shout "april fish!" in their local language ("poisson d'avril!" and "pesce d'aprile!" in French and Italianrespectively).

The earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392). Many writers suggest that the restoration of January 1 as New Year's Day in the 16th century was responsible for the creation of the holiday, but this theory does not explain earlier references.
Some of the most well known pranks include:

• Write-only memory: Signetics advertised write-only memory (WOM) IC databooks in 1972 through the late 1970s.^[1]
• Decimal time: Repeated several times in various countries, this hoax involves claiming that the time system will be changed to one in which units of time are based on powers of 10.^[2]
• Taco Liberty Bell: In 1996, Taco Bell took out a full-page advertisement in The New York Times announcing that they had purchased the Liberty Bell to "reduce the country's debt" and renamed it the "Taco Liberty Bell". When asked about the sale, White House press secretary Mike McCurry replied tongue-in-cheek that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold and would henceforth be known as the Lincoln Mercury Memorial.^[3]
  
  

  

  Wikipedia's Main Page on April 1, 2007. The featured article write-up deliberately confuses US President George Washingtonwith an inventor of the same name.
• A 1985 issue of Sports Illustrated, dated April 1, featured a story by George Plimpton on a baseball player, Hayden Siddhartha Finch, a New York Mets pitchingprospect who could throw the ball 168 miles per hour (270 km/h) and who had a number of eccentric quirks, such as playing with one barefoot and one hiking boot. Plimpton later expanded the piece into a full-length novel on Finch's life. Sports Illustrated frequently cites the story as one of the more memorable in the magazine's history.^[4]

By newspapers

• In The Guardian newspaper, in the United Kingdom, on April Fool's Day, 1977, a fictional mid-ocean state of San Serriffe was created in a seven-page supplement.^[10]

[edit]By websites

• Kremvax: In 1984, in one of the earliest on-line hoaxes, a message was circulated that Usenet had been opened to users in the Soviet Union.^[11]
• Dead fairy hoax: In 2007, an illusion designer for magicians posted on his website some images illustrating the corpse of an unknown eight-inch creation, which was claimed to be the mummified remains of afairy. He later sold the fairy on eBay for £280.^[12]
• Expedia ran a prank on April 1, 2009, offering flights to Mars. This was internally known as Project Dawnstar.
• Google has a tradition of perpetrating April Fools' Day hoaxes. 

Some of the best pranks ever so says the Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/01/april-fools-day-pranks_n_841663.html#s258809&title=Swiss_Spaghetti_Harvest 

Here, an entire web site dedicated to April Fool's:

http://aprilfoolzone.com/ 

Their top 3 prank ideas today:

Nailed Ya!

Find a small picture, a wall calendar, or similar item that can be hung up. Take a nail and use wire cutters to cut off the nail head, then glue the nail head to the item you're going to hang. Now glue a magnet to the back of the item. Take the item to the kitchen, along with a hammer. Stick the item to the refrigerator with the magnet, then start making a loud banging sound with the hammer. Hopefully, your victim will come to investigate the noise, and "catch" you nailing a picture to the refrigerator. (Note: you can play this trick on other surfaces as well wherever your victim will freak out about having a nail hole!)

Submitted by Emily

Pulling A Con

Is there a ceiling fan with an overhead light that your victim turns on using a pull cord? Trick them by substituting a fake pull cord attached to a cup of confetti balanced on top of the fan blade. Many fan cords detach which will make this easy to set up--otherwise use a substitute cord and tuck the real cord out of sight. They will pull the cord and get a big surprise!

Hanky Painty

First scope out a local park, college, or other public area that has benches where people frequently sit. Note the color of the benches. Now find some paint that matches the color of the benches. Take some old clothes and paint stripes on the back of the clothes - make them look like you sat on a freshly-painted bench. Let the clothes dry, then put them on. Now go to the park. Tape a "Wet Paint" sign to the bench, then sit down with your back covering the sign so no one can see it. Wait for someone to come and sit next to you. When you are sure they are watching, stand up with your back showing and act upset that you just realized you sat in paint (point to the sign which is now visible). The person will freak out thinking they sat in paint!

Submitted by Scott M.

April Fool's Day Atrocities

The Top 10 Worst April Fool's Day Hoaxes Ever (Article):

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/worstaprilfools.html

100 Worst April Fools Pranks Ever (Article):

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/100_Worst_April_Fools_Jokes

Two Videos that ought to get you started:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuWF0Wuo4y8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=-vQ2RVqJCNM

Things I Learned From Watching Horror Movies

Things I Learned From Watching Horror Movies 1) When a killer is loose, it's always a good idea to sneak up on your friends. 2) Adults are idiots. 3) Local law enforcement are idiots. 4) The crazy old guy in town is always right. 5) When you get shot or stabbed, you won't go into shock. 6) Even if the killer has been electrocuted, impaled, and/or blown up, he's still alive. 7) Monsters know where circuit breakers are and how to turn them off. 8) Regardless of how dependable your vehicle is, it will not start when you are being chased by a killer. 9) If you're African American, you will die. 10) If you're the hero's best friend, you will die. 11) It was only a dream. 12) Even if the killer is human, he has superhuman strength. 13) When you hear a sound in the other room, always say hello and ask if anyone is in there. 14) Cell phones don't work anywhere. 15) The phone cord is always cut. 16) No matter how creepy the hillbilly family looks, you can trust them. 17) Don't have sex - you will die. 18) When the killer is downstairs, always run upstairs. 19) Once you've hit the killer, always check to see if he's really dead, or run away. 20) When you're sneaking through a house, a cat or bird will startle you. 21) Ghosts like to just knock things off shelves and slam doors. 22) Your neighbors can't hear gunshots, screams, or explosions. 23) Windows are always unlocked. 24) No matter how slow the killer walks, he will catch up with you. 25) There's always a storm when you're checking out an old house. 26) Killers like to hang up their victims to scare the hero. 27) When someone knocks you out, you won't get a concussion. 28) All doors creak. 29) If there are any fragile objects such as glass, they will break. 30) The first phone caller is not the killer.

Independent Music I've Bought--Black March

In support of Black March 2012, I lay awake last night, trying to sleep as usual with music running through my head, and failing, I was making a list in my mind of all the independent music groups I have bought albums & such from since I got back online in early 2011, or from May 2011 until now. 

For more about Black March & our boycott of all major labels involved in the SOPA, ACTA & other unconstitutional censorship lobbies trying to influence government to ignore the voice of its people, who have made themselves heard loud & clear, see Google Plus direct link: https://plus.google.com/s/%23BlackMarch [Link opens in new window]. Listed are thousands of independent artists of every kind from writers, musicians & artists to cinematographers, comedians & pretty much anyone trying to break through the barriers to artistic success & most of all, public recognition of their work.

This list will be added to as any forgotten ones come to mind, and links may be added for any missing currently. My hope is to provide readers with excellent sources of great music, as well as sharing the pleasure of the sound & helping the artists find new fans for their work. The genre categories are NOT official, they are a short hand way for me to suggest just one genre an artist might belong to, you can make your own determinations for yourself. There are countless sub-genres and often they are as subjective as what socks one chooses to wear for the day, an individual definition that often can not be applied to one band, sometimes not even one song (many have multiple styles within one song, or one album, in one band).


Without further ado (I've always wanted to use that phrase ;) here's my list of artists or groups whose music I have bought since May of 2011 in no particular order:

1. Mr. Gnome (all 3 albums so far released)
2. Space ??? Look up--Ugo Fist--5 albums
3. Soulidium (only album, DVD, T-shirt)
4. Young Circles (album)
5. Technikult of Flesh (albums)
6. Combichrist (independent?) (Album)
7. Marilyn Manson (not independent?) (the Singles--lest we Forget)
8. 9/11 tribute Compilations Vol. 1 and 2 by VF artists
9. Mind Enemies (EP on FB)
10. AWOLNATION (only album)
11. Kiev (only album EP)
12. 12 Stones (independent?) (2 albums)
13. African Drumming from Lion King (look up artist, etc) (4 songs)
14. Apocalyptica 2 DVDs (independent?)
15. Screaming Trees (album)
16. The Cringe (album)
17. Billy D & the Hoodoos (only album)
18. many dozens more I'll have to look up later.............

Songwriting Lyrics Challenge!

A brainstorm came to me last night as I was trying to write yet another song in my head instead of falling asleep (not intentional, believe me, music fuels my days & nights!). I'm having difficulty finding the right lyrics for the theme I want to write a song about, so I decided it might be fun to see what others could come up with on the theme, maybe even make it a regular game of sorts.


The THEME is: The push pull of relationships, attraction vs. repulsion


Explained: In some relationships people are only attracted as long as the object of the affection is NOT interested in them, then once they get the person interested, they themselves lose interest. Like a chase of sorts, as long as the person is unobtainable, or appears to be so, the excitement lasts. Once the love object wants one back, suddenly one feels smothered, overwhelmed, needs space, etc. This is actually a form of love addiction & fear of intimacy rolled into one. We want intimacy but have no idea how to deal with it once we get it, so we run the other way, until we aren't being chased, then suddenly we become the one chasing while the other runs.


It's a difficult concept to explain, or understand, but I am sure 99% of people know exactly what it feels like to be on this seesaw, as one of the other, or both. 


So my challenge to you is to write at least 4 lyrical sentences that rhyme in some way (not every line has to rhyme), with matching syllables (also not every line, can be every other line or every 4th, etc.), a chorus or the entire lyric for a song. You may use the comment section here, or submit them under this topic on G+, and I will collate all of them (if anyone even attempts to meet this dare) to post for voting & feedback at the end of April 2012.


Have fun & good luck :)
Gina


Examples I came up with that sucked, lol:


You push me
I want you
You pull me
I hate you
you chase me away
every other day
I can't keep on
running this way

Waking Madison (movie review)

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Waking_Madison/70121717?trkid=496624 

A difficult movie to review really, because technically it is excellent, the acting was superb, especially for Roemer the main character, Shue is as always top as are the rest [Patton & Conroy (6 feet under fame!)]. As for depicting the factual psychological disorder, the credibility is like swiss cheese. I suppose for the plot to be exciting some false stereotypes needed to be included? I just wish it had been done "right" instead of sacrificing truth for drama. The concept of the movie & how it was presented are phenomenal, perfectly done & viewers are better off going in cold, with no set idea or expectations (phone sex not part of movie at all, etc). No reason at all for the R rating, any teen could easily see this. No nudity, language issues, one hinted at sex scene (only see her face), all things most kids see on TV or games daily. Definitely worth the watch, rented or streamed, though not worth buying, sorry.

Cliches of the Silver Screen

Cliches of the Silver Screen 1) A character will always overhear a conversation and get the wrong idea. 2) When walking into a room, someone will always answer a question they could not possibly have heard. 3) Two characters will attempt to kiss, only to be interrupted. 4) One person has vital information to tell another, but after the other person says what they want to say and asks what they wanted, they say "nothing" or lie. 5) Professional killers can damage everything but the person they're trying to kill. 6) An evil mastermind will always explain their plan to the secret agent they have caught. 7) Characters can jump across buildings and catch a ledge without fracturing any bones. 8) Characters can also jump down from tall heights, but not break their legs. 9) Cops can always kick in doors, no matter what they're made of. 10) Characters will always point a gun at someone, but not cock it, which normally would give their foe a chance to shoot them or escape. 11) Characters who are thrown through glass windows never get cut. 12) After making love, either the couple will be fully dressed in bed, or the man will have a sheet up to his waist and the woman will have a sheet up to her neck. 13) Even in the seediest areas of a city, no one will lock their cars. 14) People will always leave their keys in their cars, often in the ignition. 15) Everyone knows how to drive motorcycles, boats, and planes. 16) A person who has never picked up a gun will shoot their enemies with accuracy that their assailants don't have. 17) When someone punches another person in a bar, a bar fight will always start up. 18) If someone gets mad because their cell phone isn't working, they will always throw it. 19) Anyone will be able to hack into high security computers. 20) Amateur family photos always look like they were professionally done. 21) If a character runs across a street, they will be hit by a car, but they won't be injured. 22) In a fight, the woman will always choose a vase to break over the bad guy's head. 23) Being hit with a bottle or a vase will not give a character a concussion. 24) No matter how thick the glass is, characters can jump through it. 25) When one character tells another, "you look terrible", the other character doesn't look any different. 26) Women will always wake up in the morning with their hair and makeup perfect. 27) If a man runs down a beam or pipe, he will slip and fall on his crotch, but not be injured. 28) All characters can breathe underwater indefinitely. 29) If a bad guy is shooting from a balcony, he will be shot and fall through the railing. 30) When running from an explosion, characters will not be injured or killed by shrapnel or debris. 31) All characters know the phone numbers and houses where other characters live. 32) After the bad guy wrecks his car, the good guy will run up to the driver side, only to discover that the bad guy has disappeared. 33) If there's a car chase, there's an endangered fruit stand. 34. A semi truck will always appear when cars are in both lanes. 35. A superhuman villain will throw a person across a room, usually into a wall or shelf, but the person will not be injured. 36. If the good guy is fighting the bad guy and scratches his cheek, that's when the battle begins. 37. PCs boot up and instantly go online, even if the character has dial-up. 38. When there's a virus on a PC, there will be a big red screen saying "VIRUS". 39. Alcoholics and people who eat junk food have perfect bodies. 40. All nerdy women look like supermodels when they take off their glasses.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest (movie review)

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Girl_Who_Kicked_the_Hornet_s_Nest/70138618?trkid=496624 


4 of 5 stars for this part 3 of 3 in trilogy; 5 stars of 5 each for parts 1 and 2


I believe all the major loose ends are tied up here, and this is an integral part of the trilogy to be seen in order, to understand what is going on in each of these 3 parts. I plan to watch the other materials over the next week to see if there are any differences or crucial parts missing as some reviewers claim, but as a viewer who has NOT read the books, these movies were & are better than anything in our US cinema in decades. The production quality alone is substantial, the character driven plots, the realism, suspense & resolutions. This 3rd part was a bit less than the other 2 parts, in subtle ways, but it was not in any way slow! No one can ever film a movie from a book & satisfy readers, because the imagery is part of a fantasy for each reader & can never match it completely. I never understand why they then complain as if it were supposed to be made their way. I've enjoyed these 3 films more than any film in a long long time. Worth buying the full set.