Everything you read, hear or see today will be taken with a grain of salt. Yes - it's the the 1st of April when pranksters big and small, at home and internationally, feel it is their duty to fool those gullible members of the populace.
The history of April Fool's day is a little murky but one of the more generally accepted theories is that it came about when the calendar was changed back in the mid 16th century. The old calendar had 1st April as New year's Day. There are some great websites which talk about the origins of the day (try The Fools Day), and more to the point, detail some of the best hoaxes played out. One of my favourites is the Italian spaghetti crop hoax that BBC programme Panorama reported in 1957. It's always the people you least expect that get you the best. The Museum of Hoaxes is a site full of pranks played around the world and lots more information as well.
In Rodney, some of the libraries are running a special promotion to celebrate the 1st of April. Rent a music CD for 2 weeks for just $2 and we will let you take a book as well, for FREE.
Meanwhile, as a past victim of April Fool's jokes, I am battening down the hatches today and hoping that noone I know is in the mood to play a prank. A faint hope probably knowing some of my friends, but I can dream.
Ka kite apopo
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