Lemmings
In Norfolk, Virginia hundreds of radio listeners stormed a downtown mall and other locations after some morning DJs announced that Britney Spears was in town. She wasn't. Same thing happened in Brighton, England, except listeners were sent on a wild goose chase after sightings of a supposed replica of the Titanic off the coast of Sussex. "But their disappointment at realising it was a prank was replaced by panic when a 5-ft. crack appeared in the 400-ft. cliff face," wrote the Telegraph of the incident. "Coastguards and local council officials ordered people to leave and cordoned off the area." Said a spokesman: "We don't think it's very funny."
'Tis the Season to Be Spying
Ominous messages began circulating the last week of March warning that the U.S. government plans to monitor every federal employee's email during the month of April to ferret out time-wasters. One version warned: "Please delete this after you read it, and also delete it from the wastebasket, and purge it from the computer" — the digital equivalent of "Eat this message."
The Costliest Form of Flattery
On April 1 the Telegraph in London revealed in deadpan fashion that under new legislation backed by the European Commission, impressionists will be forced to pay exorbitant royalties to the public figures they imitate. The law would go into effect on April 1, 2003. "It is feared that many small-time comics could find themselves forced out of business, unable to pay the vast royalties on their impressions," said the article. Among the measure's enthusiastic supporters is the Finnish European Commissioner, "Larip Loof."
A Seventh-Inning Stretch
The Tribune-Review bit on a phony blurb from the Pittsburgh Pirates' press office claiming a Norwegian visitor to the U.S. named "Lirpa Sloof" caught a Mets home run on Saturday, clutching it to his chest and refusing to throw it back on the field. In the aftermath, a bit of a row has developed between Tribune-Review reporter Rob Biertempfel and rival Post-Gazette writer Scott Deacle, who claimed he smelled a hoax from the start and insinuated that Biertempfel may have even "made up" a few details himself for the story. "Gullible?" responded Biertempfel in a letter to Jim Romanesko's Media News Web site. "Guilty as charged. But I take great exception to the comments by the Post-Gazette reporter who claimed I fabricated information." Come on, guys. Let's blame it on the Pirates press box, kiss, and make up.
Flatulence-Friendly Accomodations
Pranksterism on the Net may not be totally passé after all. Among the suspect April 1 offerings of About, The All-Too-Human Internet was a "fabulous find" by Guide Jana Jones (Hotels, Resorts and Inns) — the luxurious Villa Poola Finga, brainchild of Dr. Vittorio Tiputti, a lifelong sufferer from intestinal gas. Located near the Italian Riviera, the resort purportedly offers "a relaxing environment, specialized spa services, multiple bubbling pools, highly perfumed gardens and music piped throughout. Dining is primarily al fresco." Just a lot of hot air? You decide.
Current Netlore
The Urban Legends Top 25
