No joke--Web prepared for April Fools' Day
It's a cruel coincidence when April Fools' Day and daylight-saving time fall on the same day.
But that's what happened Sunday across much of the United States, as people woke up wondering if they were late for church, brunch or a Sunday matinee--or not. "Hey, wake up, this is no April Fools' Day joke!" (At least it wasn't a workday for most of us.)
The Web was prepared to help people celebrate, with sites dedicated to pranks, message boards, a history of Fools' Day and sending electronic cards.
One site posted this April Fools' prank, courtesy of "Steve in Sydney." Dubbed "Shower Time," it suggested: "One bath towel (any size); Some large sticks of chalk, crushed (can be whatever color you choose); Take the towel and cover with chalk; Hang on towel rack; Whoever uses the towel will be covered in a mucky chalk goo."
One more innocuous suggestion: "Serve dinner in reverse order: first the dessert, then the main dish, the salad, and finally the appetizer."
April Fools' Day traces its roots to 16th-century France, when the Christian calendar changed and the new year began on Jan. 1 rather than on April 1, other Web sites reported. Those who hadn't heard were called "April fools," and tricks were played on them.
In the 21st century, Internet greeting cards are dedicated to April Fools' Day. Yahoo Greetings, for one, offered numerous options.
One of them read: "Congrats. You just downloaded a deadly virus that will wipe our your hard disk. Ha, ha, ha."