The best April Fools' Day pranks in history

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <div class="g-row story-header" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Droid Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; position: relative;"> <div class="story-header-text no-ant"> <div class="antenna antenna-summary-widget no-ant antenna-reset " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-collapse: collapse; border-radius: initial; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #28b2ff; display: inline-block; float: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", HelveticaNeue, "TeX Gyre Heros", TeXGyreHeros, FreeSans, "Nimbus Sans L", "Liberation Sans", Arimo, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: initial; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; transition: initial; width: initial; word-wrap: initial;"> <div class="antenna antenna-summary-inner antenna-reset" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-collapse: collapse; border-radius: initial; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; float: initial; height: initial; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; overflow-x: auto; overflow-y: visible; padding: 8px 10px 8px 8px; position: initial; transition: initial; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; width: initial; word-wrap: initial;"> <br /></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="g-row story-asset" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Droid Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; position: relative;"> <a href="http://www.wral.com/entertainment/image/16616882/?ref_id=16616881" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;"><img alt="Jeff Peterson shares some historical April Fools Day pranks. (Deseret Photo)" class="b-fluid b-fill" height="360" src="https://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/2017/03/31/16616882/iStock_000007232625_Medium-uid14909546118658-640x360.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; width: 610px;" title="Jeff Peterson shares some historical April Fools Day pranks. (Deseret Photo)" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="g-row story-text" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Droid Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 2em; position: relative;"> <div class="transport story-related-assets no-ant" data-transport="phone!#t_related_links" style="clear: both; float: left; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 25px 0px 0px; position: relative; width: 201.297px; z-index: 1;"> </div> <div class="byline no-ant" style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> By Jeff Peterson, Deseret News</div> <div class="byline no-ant" style="font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">[Source: <a href="http://www.wral.com/the-best-april-fools-day-pranks-in-history/16616881/" target="_blank">wral.com</a>]</span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> Nobody’s quite sure where or when or how <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/what-april-fools-day-celebrate-10117751" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">April Fools’ Day</a> started. But what is known is that it’s been around for a long, long, long time — as in, there might even be a reference to it in Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.”<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> In the hundreds of years since people first started celebrating it, at least one thing hasn’t changed: People are still gullible.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> Here are some of the best April Fools’ Day pranks from the last 300-plus years (in chronological order).<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">1698: The washing of the lions</span><span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> In possibly the oldest recorded example of an April Fools’ joke ever, Londoners were invited to attend the ceremonial <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="http://hoaxes.org/Hoaxipedia/Washing_The_Lions/" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">“washing of the lions”</a> that was said to take place annually in the moat outside the Tower of London, according to hoaxes.org. The whole thing was bogus, but it drew such a crowd that the prank ended up becoming something of an April Fools’ Day fixture, repeated year after year well into the 19th century. “Wicked conspirators” even began making a buck off of it by printing and selling fake tickets to the nonexistent event, which instructed guests to enter through the “white gate” — also nonexistent.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">1708: The death of John Partridge</span><span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> In February of 1708, writing under the pseudonym of Isaac Bickerstaff, “Gulliver’s Travels” author Jonathan Swift published an almanac of fake <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="http://hoaxes.org/bickerstaff.html" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">astrological predictions</a>, according to hoaxes.org. For his very first prediction, he foretold the death “by a raging fever” of the celebrity astrologer John Partridge, which he said would take place on March 29 at exactly 11 p.m. Infuriated, Partridge publicly branded Bickerstaff a fraud, but on March 29, Swift went ahead and published a letter, once again as Bickerstaff, confirming that, indeed, Partridge was dead.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> News circulated slowly, so it wasn’t until April 1 that Partridge discovered his own passing when someone knocked on his door to see if he had any specific requests for his funeral service. Despite his insistence that he wasn’t dead, the public was slow to believe him. People on the street would stare or approach and comment on his uncanny resemblance to a recently deceased acquaintance of theirs. This was partially because <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="https://www.damninteresting.com/the-extraordinary-astrologer-isaac-bickerstaff/" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">other writers</a>, including some whose deaths Partridge had himself erroneously predicted in his own “Merlinus Almanac,” began publishing letters backing up Bickerstaff’s claims.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> The hoax plagued Partridge for the rest of his life, often forcing him to try in vain to prove he was who he claimed he was. He died without ever finding out the real identity of Isaac Bickerstaff.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">1878: Edison’s food machine</span><span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> Having just invented the phonograph the year before, Thomas Edison’s genius was undisputed in 1878. So, when the New York Graphic published a piece claiming that Edison had solved the problem of world hunger with his latest invention, a machine that could manufacture “biscuit, meat, vegetables and wine” out of nothing more than air, water and dirt, people believed it. Other newspapers jumped on the story, spreading the news far and wide, proclaiming, once again, Edison’s unsurpassed genius.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> The prank was finally revealed when the New York Graphic republished one particularly <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="http://hoaxes.org/af_database/permalink/edisons_food_machine" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">verbose article</a>, according to hoaxes.org, about the invention and what it meant for humanity but with a new headline that read, “They bite!”<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">1906: Wave vs. frog</span><span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> Thousands of residents of Wichita, Kansas, gathered on the banks of the Arkansas River on the morning of April 1, 1906, as two freak natural occurrences were set to collide in what was sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Unfortunately, no one thought to check the calendar to see what day it was.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> The joke originated with the front page of the <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/63981358/" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Wichita Daily Eagle</a>, which reported that a giant, 12-foot-high wave caused by heavy snow in the mountains was traveling down the river from the north. At exactly the same time, warm waters in the south had caused hundreds of thousands of frog eggs to hatch, and the frogs were now migrating north up the river in such numbers that they completely covered the riverbed for 11 miles. According to the newspaper, the two forces — the wave from the north and the frogs from the south — were both scheduled to hit Wichita at approximately 10 a.m., and it was anyone’s guess what would happen when they met.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> Eager townspeople showed up in droves and waited for three hours before they realized it was all a prank.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">1955: Contra-polar energy</span><span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> For its April 1955 issue, <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="http://www.rfcafe.com/references/popular-electronics/contra-polar-energy-april-1955-popular-electronics.htm" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Popular Electronics</a> ran a story about a newly declassified technology that had been developed in secret during World War II called “contra-polar energy.”<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> According to the magazine, if applied to electronics, this new form of energy would make them to do the exact opposite of what they were normally used for. So, for example, instead of a beam of light, a table lamp plugged into a socket carrying contra-polar energy would give off a beam of dark. Likewise, a soldering iron, instead of producing intense heat, would produce intense, freezing cold.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> Despite the fact that the subheading for the article read, “In keeping with the first day of April,” Popular Electronics received so many inquiries about the completely made-up technology that it was forced to clarify on <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="http://hoaxes.org/af_database/permalink/contra_polar_energy" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">two separate occasions</a> — once in 1959 and again, years later, in 1963 — that it was just a joke.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">1957: The Swiss spaghetti harvest</span><span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> Marking possibly the first time a TV program was used for an April Fools’ Day prank, this one was perpetrated by the “Panorama” news show. At the time, “Panorama” was the BBC’s flagship news program, and its anchor, Richard Dimbleby, was seen as a voice of nearly unimpeachable authority.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> At the end of its April 1, 1957, episode, though, a segment was aired profiling the <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVo_wkxH9dU" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">“Swiss spaghetti harvest.”</a> According to Dimbleby’s narration, the mild winter that year along with the eradication of the dreaded spaghetti weevil had resulted in an unprecedented spaghetti crop in Switzerland where pasta noodles growing from tree branches were shown being picked by women in traditional Swiss costumes.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> “Many of you, I am sure, will have seen pictures of the vast spaghetti plantations in the Po Valley,” Dimbleby said. “For the Swiss, however, it tends to be more of a family affair.”<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> He told viewers that the spaghetti is then laid out to dry in the Alpine air before being used for an end-of-harvest spaghetti feast.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> “Picked early in the day, dried in the sun, and so brought fresh from garden to table at the very peak of condition. For those who love this dish,” Dimbleby concluded, “there is nothing like real home-grown spaghetti.”<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> The segment was met with <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="http://hoaxes.org/archive/permalink/the_swiss_spaghetti_harvest" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">mixed reactions</a>, according to hoaxes.org. Some complained that the BBC had violated its audiences’ trust.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> A huge number, though, were just anxious to find out how they could grow a spaghetti tree of their own. To answer that, BBC telephone operators came up with a helpful bit of advice: “Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">1976: Zero-G Day</span><span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> The BBC, apparently undeterred by the backlash it received over the Swiss spaghetti harvest prank, was responsible for this gem, too:<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> According to theweek.com, in a radio broadcast for the <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="http://theweek.com/articles/446787/10-most-incredible-scientific-hoaxes-all-time" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">BBC</a> in 1976, British astronomer Patrick Moore announced that, due to the specific alignment of the planets as Pluto passed behind Jupiter, Earth’s gravity would temporarily be weakened. Listeners were told that if, at precisely 9:47 a.m., they jumped into the air, they would feel like they were floating for a just a moment before Earth’s gravity kicked in again as usual.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> Scores of people called in excitedly claiming to have felt it, including at least one woman who said she floated around her house before landing again.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> Zero-G Day surfaced again at <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/01/03/another_debunking_zero_g_day_on_january_4_2014.html" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">the beginning of 2014</a> with the exact same explanation, according to slate.com. This time, the magic date was Jan. 4.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">1998: The left-handed Whopper</span><span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> In a full-page ad that ran in <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1888721_1888719_1888662,00.html" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">USA Today</a> in 1998, Burger King announced that it would now offer a burger specially made for one continually underrepresented part of society: south paws. So, what distinguished the left-handed Whopper from a regular one? The toppings and condiments would all be rotated 180 degrees on the bun. This would in turn redistribute the weight of the sandwich and make it more comfortable when held in the left hand, according to the announcement.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="https://www.themarysue.com/the-left-handed-whopper/" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Jim Watkins</a>, senior vice president of Burger King marketing at the time, called this new product “the ultimate ‘have it your way’ for our left-handed customers,” according to themarysue.com.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> Following the announcement, Burger Kings across the country were flooded with orders by customers wanting to make sure they got the correct orientation on their sandwiches.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">2014: Why doesn’t America read anymore?</span><span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> Proving some troubling points about the way news stories are digested these days, <a class="sense-link" data-contentid="498924" href="http://www.npr.org/2014/04/01/297690717/why-doesnt-america-read-anymore" style="color: #035691; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">NPR</a> pulled one of the great April Fools’ pranks when it posted a fake article with a headline designed to elicit a response: “Why doesn’t America read anymore?”<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> For anyone who took the time to click on the headline and see what the article was about, this is what they would have found:<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> “Congratulations, genuine readers, and happy April Fools’ Day! We sometimes get the sense that some people are commenting on NPR stories that they haven't actually read. If you are reading this, please like this post and do not comment on it. Then let's see what people have to say about this story. Best wishes and have an enjoyable day.”<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> Immediately, the comments began to roll in — people defending their own book consumption (“I read between five and 20-plus books in a month,” one person wrote), lamenting the decline of literacy in America or even just criticizing NPR for resorting to gross over-generalizations.<span class="antenna antenna-text-indicator-widget antenna-reset antenna-suppress antenna-nohint" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helveticaneue" , "tex gyre heros" , "texgyreheros" , "freesans" , "nimbus sans l" , "liberation sans" , "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: 0.3s ease; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="antenna-text-indicator-inner antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="antenna-logo antenna-reset" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><svg viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path class="antenna-logo-path" d="m283 510c125-17 229-124 229-253 0-141-115-256-256-256-141 0-256 115-256 256 0 130 108 237 233 254l0-149c-48-14-84-50-84-102 0-65 43-113 108-113 65 0 107 48 107 113 0 52-33 88-81 102z"></path></svg></span></span></span></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <em>Jeff Peterson is a native of Utah Valley and studied humanities and history at Brigham Young University. Along with the Deseret News, he also contributes to the film discussion website TheMovieScrutineer.com.</em></div> <div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 2em; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;">[Source: </span><a href="http://www.wral.com/the-best-april-fools-day-pranks-in-history/16616881/" style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">wral.com</a><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;">]</span></div> </div> </div>

Entertainment The best April Fools' Day pranks in history

By Jeff Peterson, Deseret News [Source: wral.com] Nobody’s quite sure where or when or how April Fools’ Day started. But what is known is that it’s been around for a long, long, long time — as in, there might even be a reference to it in Chaucer’s “…

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Apple, Inc.'s New Products: Everything You Need to Know

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #767676; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.25; margin: 10px 0px 15px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> A special edition iPhone, an aggressively priced iPad, a new app, and more. Here's what you missed.</h2> <div> [Source: <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/03/22/apple-incs-new-products-everything-you-need-to-kno.aspx" target="_blank">The Motley Fool</a>]</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> As you might have heard, <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Apple</span> <span class="ticker" data-id="202686" style="box-sizing: inherit;">(<a href="https://www.fool.com/quote/nasdaq/apple/aapl" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #006699; transition: color 0.1s linear;">NASDAQ:AAPL</a>)</span> just dropped some new products. The company, opting to announce the updates in a series of press releases on Tuesday, unveiled new versions of its iPhone and iPad, as well as a new app.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> Here's a quick overview of the products and what they mean for Apple's business.</div> <h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Special edition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7</span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> While the most drastic update in terms of exterior appearance, Apple's new special addition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 is essentially the same as the existing iPhone 7, except for its color and the exclusion of the base 64 GB storage tier. Like the jet black version of the iPhone 7, the new red iPhone is only available in 128 GB and 256 GB storage options.</div> <div class="image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <img alt="Special edition red iPhone 7" src="https://g.foolcdn.com/editorial/images/437892/red-iphone-7_large.png" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;" /><div class="caption" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #767676; font-size: 0.667em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"> (PRODUCT)RED SPECIAL EDITION IPHONE 7. IMAGE SOURCE: APPLE.</div> </div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> As it does with all (PRODUCT)RED devices it has released over the 10 years it's participated in this initiative, Apple is contributing a portion of proceeds from sales of its special edition iPhone to the Global Fund, which is aimed at bringing "the world a step closer to an AIDS-free generation," according to the company. </div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> Even after the donation to the Global Fund, this could serve as a slight catalyst for iPhone sales. In the past, the introduction of new iPhone colors has helped demand for the devices. Released about six months after the iPhone 7's launch, a new color could reinvigorate some consumer interest in the device. But since it's virtually the same phone as the iPhone 7, investors shouldn't expect any incremental sales to be very meaningful.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> In another update to the iPhone lineup, Apple also doubled the storage options for its lower-cost iPhone SE from 16 GB and 64 GB to 32 GB to 128 GB.</div> <h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="box-sizing: inherit;">An aggressively priced iPad</span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> Apple also introduced a cheaper 9.7-inch iPad. Replacing its iPad Air 2, the new tablet -- simply called "iPad" -- is equipped with an improved A9 processor (the iPad Air 2 sported Apple's A8X chip), a brighter Retina display, and a higher storage capacity for the base version (32 GB versus 16 GB for the iPad Air 2).</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> But what's perhaps most surprising is the new iPad's aggressive pricing. The entry-level version of the tablet starts at $329, down from a $399 for the iPad Air 2.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> Combining its improved specs and its lower price, the new iPad offers significantly more value than the previous iPad Air 2 and it has the potential to help give iPad sales a boost.</div> <div class="image imgL" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; float: left; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-right: 1.5rem; max-width: 240px; width: 221.828px;"> <img alt="Apple Clips app on iPad" src="https://g.foolcdn.com/editorial/images/437892/apple-clips_large.png" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="240" /><div class="caption" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #767676; font-size: 0.667em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"> APPLE CLIPS APP. IMAGE SOURCE: APPLE.</div> </div> <div class="interad" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </div> <h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Clips: An expressive photo and video app</span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> In a surprise move, Apple also announced an entirely new app called Clips. The video app helps users quickly make expressive videos on iPhone and iPad. The app is designed to create media well suited for social apps like <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Facebook</span>, Instagram, and <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Snapchat</span>.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> In addition to these updates, it also launched some new accessories, including new Apple Watch band designs and new silicone and leather iPhone 7 case colors.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> Overall, none of Apple's updates were enough to substantially move the needle. But they should at least help the company create some incremental interest as the tech giant readies more extensive product updates in the future. </div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Monserrat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: small;">[Source: </span><a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/03/22/apple-incs-new-products-everything-you-need-to-kno.aspx" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;" target="_blank">The Motley Fool</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: small;">]</span></div> </div> </div>

Smart Phones Technology Apple, Inc.'s New Products: Everything You Need to Know

A special edition iPhone, an aggressively priced iPad, a new app, and more. Here's what you missed. [Source: The Motley Fool] As you might have heard, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) just dropped some new products. The company, opting to announce the updates in…

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More African-Americans, Asians in U.S. Are Going to the Movies

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <img class="main-media__image" src="http://cdn4.thr.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/landscape_928x523/2017/03/rogueoneasws2016_16-h_2017.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /><br /> <figcaption class="media__details-text" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="media__credit" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #898989; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.75em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Photofest</div> <div class="media__caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'</div> <div class="media__caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div class="media__caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h2 class="article__deck" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Noe, georgia, serif; font-size: 1.75em; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Females also made a strong showing, fueling three of the five top-grossing movies in North America last year, compared to just one in 2015, while those between the ages of 18 and 24 went to the cinema more times than any other age group. </h2> <h2 class="article__deck" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Noe, georgia, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;">[Source: <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/more-african-americans-asians-us-are-going-movies-987936" target="_blank">The Hollywood Reporter</a>]</span></h2> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Diversity is on the rise at the multiplex.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> African-Americans and Asians made gains in 2016 in terms of the number of trips they took to the theater, according to the Motion Picture Association of America, which on Wednesday released its <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/international-box-office-flatlines-2016-mpaa-report-says-987921" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0074ae; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">annual report on moviegoing</a>.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The uptick followed the #OscarsSoWhite controversy in early 2016 and a concerted effort by Hollywood to showcase films with a more diverse cast.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Moonlight</em>, a coming-of-age story about a young black man, won the Oscar for best picture last month in a surprise upset, while <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hidden Figures</em>, based on the story of three black female scientists who helped NASA put the first men into space, was a box-office hit. <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hidden Figures</em> and Denzel Washington's <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fences</em> were also nominated for the Oscar for best picture alongside <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Moonlight</em>.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> MPAA chief Chris Dodd told reporters during a press call that such films are having an impact, but agreed there is a long way to go in terms of diversity behind and in front of the camera.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "A lot of this [audience growth] is a result of diversity in content. Look at the <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fast and the Furious</em> series. No one had any idea how big it would be. The cast of these movies represents the populations of the world. You see bigger returns on movies like that," Fithian added.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Disney and Lucasfilm also made a point to feature a diverse cast in both <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Star Wars: A Force Awakens</em>, opening in late 2015 and carrying over into 2016, and R<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ogue One: A Star Wars Story</em>, released in December 2016.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> According to the MPAA report, the number of frequent African-American moviegoers jumped 47 percent from 3.8 million in 2015 to 5.6 million in 2016, the highest number in recent memory. Another stat shows African-Americans buying 14 percent of all tickets sold, compared to 11 percent the year before.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The number of frequent Asian moviegoers also increased, from 3.2 million to 3.9 million. And in 2016, Asians made the strongest showing of any ethnicity group in terms of the share of tickets purchased (14 percent) relative to their share of the population (8 percent).</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> For years, Hispanics have over-indexed in terms of the share of movie tickets they buy, and are the largest segment of the moviegoing population after Caucasians.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The number of frequent Caucasian moviegoers declined from 19.3 million in 2015 to 18.3 million in 2016. And while this group still makes up the majority of all tickets sold, that share fell from 55 percent to 51 percent year-over-year.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Females also made a strong showing, fueling three of the top five grossing films at the North American box office in 2016, <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Finding Dory</em> (55 percent), <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Secret Life of Pets</em> (54 percent) and <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Jungle Book</em> (52 percent). In 2015, only one female dominated-film landed in the top five, <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Inside Out</em>.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Hollywood and theater owners also made gains in luring more millennials, with those between the ages of 18 and 24 going to the movies an average of 6.5 theaters in 2016, more than any other age group and up after a notable decline in 2015.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9375em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.95; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Among frequent moviegoers — who accounted for 48 percent of all tickets sold in 2016 — the only group that dipped were those between the ages of 40 and 49.</div> <h2 class="article__deck" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Noe, georgia, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;">[Source: <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/more-african-americans-asians-us-are-going-movies-987936" target="_blank">The Hollywood Reporter</a>]</span></h2> </div> </figcaption></div>

Entertainment Hollywood More African-Americans, Asians in U.S. Are Going to the Movies

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Photofest 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' Females also made a strong showing, fueling three of the five top-grossing movies in North America last year, compared to just one in 2015, while those between the ages of …

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