A tonne of April Fools pranks

[Sharwood]

All the news fit to print ... for fools
A new internet search engine will deliver tomorrow's news today, airline passengers willing to stand can buy cheap "no chair fares", and the Pope will celebrate a mass for gays in Australia this year, according to April Fool's Day reports.

Google's contribution to April Fool's Day headlines was the announcement of a new feature giving computer users access to news in advance, including share prices and sports results.

The company quoted one delighted user, Daryl from Victoria, as saying: "Wow, I just put a grand on number seven in the fourth at Flemington tomorrow and bought my girlfriend a gift with the money I'm going to collect. Thanks Google."

But Sally from WA was not as impressed, commenting: "This is old news. I read about this announcement yesterday on Google."

Richard Branson's Virgin Blue airline got into the April 1 spirit by running newspaper ads offering half-priced fares for passengers willing to stand, with free calf massages on flights longer than two hours.

Media outlets kept up the April Fool tradition.

Sydney's radio 2UE reported the Pope would conduct a special gay and lesbian mass when he visits for World Youth Day, and the Catholic Church was considering entering a float in next year's mardi gras.

ABC Radio in Sydney tried to convince listeners a stand at the SCG would be named in honour of the flamboyant former Sydney Swans full forward Warwick Capper.

And it took a while for Melbourne ABC Radio breakfast host Red Symons to work out the Beijing Olympics weren't going to run the women's events two weeks after the men's.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a harbourside Japanese restaurant was offering the city's diners their first taste of whale meat.

Melbourne's Herald-Sun reported that cars would be ferried down the Yarra River during peak times in a radical bid to ease the city's traffic congestion.

ABC's science news website reported that stress from high house prices and sporting failures was shrinking Sydneysiders' brains, compared to those of Melburnians.

Kate Ritchie, whose final Home and Away episode after 20 years airs on Tuesday night, told listeners of Nova Radio's Merrick and Rosso program that she had signed up to guest star on rival soapie, Neighbours. Not happening.

Meanwhile, the Seven Network's Sunrise program's presenters Kochie and Mel played musical chairs.

Britain's Independent newspaper said foul-mouthed TV chef Gordon Ramsay was banning swearing in his restaurants worldwide after authorities in Sydney knocked back an application for an eatery there on grounds of "decency".

Ramsay said through a spokesman that "the whole thrust of Australia's new tourism initiative was based on swearing, what with that 'Where the bloody hell are you?' campaign".

Pranksters in New Zealand did not fare so well.

An Auckland radio station apologised to listeners after falsely publicising a free concert by rock band Foo Fighters.

"This is what happens when fools plan April Fools jokes," said program director Brad King.

And NZ news agencies killed reports based on a bogus press release from NZ's conservation department, which said rats had been trained to find rare native frogs.

The release quoted the minister, Steve Chadwick, who is a woman. Now that is true.

What sort of monster names their daughter Steve? Loved the stuff about the gay mass and the Catholic Church entering a float in the Mardi Gras.

 

[Swedishguy]

I read the OP, but I don't understand it.

 

[JtheJackal]

Butterfinger announced that they were changing the name of the candy to The Finger. A news report on it is found here and the offical announcement is at thefingerbar.com.

Nestle Gives Candy Lovers 'The Finger'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― After 80 years satisfying American's sweet tooth, an iconic candy bar is getting a new name.

While it would seem to be an elaborate April Fool's Day prank, Nestle USA announced that they are pulling a "Finger" over the "Butterfinger" candy bar.

Following a two-year study of consumer tastes, officials announced the iconic "crispety, cruchety" candy will now be known as "The Finger."

Nestle said the "Butterfinger" candy, founded in 1928, was often perceived as something awkward, "lacking in physical coordination and grace."

"At no time did we want to imply that a Butterfinger candy bar was just for clumsy people," Nestle stated.

So now the candy conglomerate is pointing their "Finger" to stores across the country throughout the month of April.

 

[Sharwood]

I read the OP, but I don't understand it.

If you're referring to the comments about the Catholic church at the Mardi Gras, that's because in Australia, unlike most countries, the Mardi Gras is the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. If there's something else you don't understand, I can't help you.

 

[The Yankee]

Butterfinger announced that they were changing the name of the candy to The Finger. A news report on it is found here and the offical announcement is at thefingerbar.com.

I knew us New Yorkers were just looking to give out candy to everyone.

 

[dwaxe]

I thought Google made Virgle, "not a new feature giving..."

Oh yeah:

http://www.google.com/virgle/index.html

 

[TerrisH]

everyone, their has been no aprial fools joke on the site yet. it's making me jumpy, especially after last years prank. *shudder*

 

[Sharwood]

everyone, their has been no aprial fools joke on the site yet. it's making me jumpy, especially after last years prank. *shudder*

For those of us who weren't here, what was last year's prank?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I kinda liked the flying penguins

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/01/npenguin101.xml

 

[obliterate]

For those of us who weren't here, what was last year's prank?

They declared an independence movement. THey formed a rival site called civunited.

 

[Catharsis]

For those of us who weren't here, what was last year's prank?

They threatened to merge CFC with rival Civ site Apolyton to create 'CivJunction', which would, among other things, get rid of OT and NES and charge people to play the GOTM.

CivUnited is a different entity - it was the progression of the site 'Free Civ Fanatics' which was a tribute to 'Civ Players Centre' which was indeed formed as a sort of independence movement (by mods who were in on the joke). And CivUnited's still around, too (although it's just undergone the inevitable April 1st spam/bannings explosion).

And Swedishguy is Swedish, not Australian.

 

[Sharwood]

And Swedishguy is Swedish, not Australian.

You're joking! Right? All this time I thought he was Canberran, and just liked turnips.

 

[Rossiya]

I'm not very happy with use of the metric system here.

 

[Swedishguy]

I'm not very happy with use of the metric system here.

Welcome to RL! Now adopt our superior measuring system or be neutralized!

 

[Catharsis]

You're joking! Right? All this time I thought he was Canberran, and just liked turnips.

Yeah, I'm joking. He's Australian.

Flamin' smart people, seeing through my April Fools' pranks.

 

[lutzj]

I read the OP, but I don't understand it.

Then it suceeded.