Fools Gold

The UK’s Guardian started a live blog buildup to the Royal Wedding yesterday. It starts at 07:30, and was full of juicy gossip, but then at 11:38 this appears …

We’ve received a communication from Buckingham Palace suggesting that some of the contents of this blog could contravene the Treason Felony Act of 1848.

According to several Tweeters in the King’s Cross area, members of the Coldstream Guards in bearskin hats are storming towards the Guardian headquarters. Indeed, right now, we can hear what seems to be numerous people running upstairs towards the newsroom here. It seems a very real possibility that…

Are you shocked, Is this actual press censorship? Nope, something else was going on. There are two specific clues:

  • The Latin translation of the motto reads – “Calm down, it’s a joke.”
  • And of course the date of publication – 1st April

And yet folks were indeed fooled, not all, but many were. Yes it was indeed a great lark, but it was also a good reminder about how easy it is for you to be fooled and decieved.

For more fun, you might like to check out the Guardians – “Top 10 April Fool’s Day hoaxes 2011“.

Most of us will, at one time or another, be fooled. April 1st pranks might be a lark, but there is a far darker side to all this. There are folks out there very eager to decieve you into buying some fake product, quack medication or simply want you to embrace some delusional belief. How can you insulate yourself? Easy, learn to be skeptical

Meanwhile, enjoy the Guardians top 10 pranks list via the link above.

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