These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Bonus Trivia, Etc.

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I overlooked an email yesterday that had some good stuff about April Fool's Day. There are some examples of jokes that have been played, and some of them are really hilarious. And some trivia about the day, too. I considered just saving them for next year, but who knows where I'll be and what I'll be doing then! No, better late than stored away and forgotten!

First, some examples of AFD jokes from Wikipedia...
In 1998, Burger King ran an ad in USA Today, saying that people could get a Whopper for left-handed people whose condiments were designed to drip out of the right side. Not only did customers order the new burgers, but some specifically requested the "old", right-handed burger.

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.

The BBC television program Panorama ran a famous hoax in 1957, showing the Swiss harvesting spaghetti from trees. They had claimed that the despised pest, the spaghetti weevil, had been eradicated. A large number of people contacted the BBC wanting to know how to cultivate their own spaghetti trees.

In 2008, the BBC reported on a newly discovered colony of flying penguins. An elaborate video segment was even produced, featuring Terry Jones (of Monty Python fame) walking with the penguins in Antarctica, and following their flight to the Amazon rainforest.

George Plimpton wrote a 1985 article in Sports Illustrated about a New York Mets prospect named Sidd Finch, who could throw a 168 mph (270 km/h) fastball with pinpoint accuracy. This kid, known as "Barefoot" Sidd[hartha] Finch, reportedly learned to pitch in a Buddhist monastery. The first letter of each word in the article subhead spelled out the fact of its being an April Fool joke.


And the the trivia:
In the Julian calendar, April 1st was designated as the New Year's Day and was so celebrated till 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII ordered the adoption of the new Gregorian Calendar, which specified January 1st as the New Year's Day.

Many French resisted the New Year's Day change, and as a result they were dubbed fools and made the victim of pranks. They were sent on 'fool's errands,' delivered fake invitations for parties and tricked into believing things that weren't true.

Another explanation of the origins of April Fools' Day was provided by Joseph Boskin, a professor of history at Boston University. He explained that the practice began during the reign of Constantine, when a group of court jesters and fools told the Roman emperor that they could do a better job of running the empire. Constantine, amused, allowed a jester named Kugel to be king for one day.

In some places, one is only allowed to play jokes until noon for the jokes played after that time are supposed to bring bad luck to the perpetrator. It has also been believed that victims should endure the pranks with a smile or else they might suffer bad luck.

The French call April 1 Poisson d'Avril, or "April Fish." French children sometimes tape a picture of a fish on the back of their schoolmates, crying "Poisson d'Avril" when the prank is discovered.

A possible reference to April Fools' Day can be seen in the Canterbury Tales (ca 1400) in the Nun's Priest's tale, a tale of two fools: Chanticleer and the fox, which took place on March 32nd.


Lastly, a good quote about the day, well, every day!!


"It is human nature to think wisely and act foolishly."

Anatole France, (1844-1924), French poet, journalist, and novelist.


Soooo, now what do I say? Uh, Happy Yesterday, Everyone! LOL!

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9 comments:

  1. I miss the days when people really observed April Fool's Day. Where I come from, the newspapers even tried to fool its readers, not in ads, but in front page stories. I don't remember what they were about, but things like that just make life a little more fun.

    Hugs,
    Betty

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  2. I agree, Betty. The pranks that cause laughter are great, but the mean-spirited things irk me. I hate being scared, startled with something that indicates danger. Hate it!

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  3. I loved the one that Burger King did, that was hysterical. My family (the boys, my ex and me) have always played April Fool's jokes on each other. There have been some fun ones.

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  4. Kathi, that one was the one I thought the funniest, too!

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  5. Great trivia our local papers do still play april fools jokes one that I remember was the scool board and staff members all hit the powerball. Sorry for your snow as we are enjoying days in the 70s but its suppose to snow later in the week.

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  6. Oh, don't be sorry for the snow here, Bobbie. I love it, and it leaves so soon that there isn't time to get worked up over it!

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  7. I like fun pranks too but nothing mean-spirited. No way.
    I didn't do any pranks yesterday, just was nice to the hubs because it was his birthday. I think when Madison is a bit older the pranking will begin in earnest!

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  8. Patti, me, too. meanness doesn't fly with me. Madison is old enough, I think. In fact she is ripe to learn that "pranks" are funny, not something to hurt people physically or emotionally. It will actually help her learn to be empathetic.

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If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!