13 chapters across the catalog
AARP Magazine, John C. Dvorak April Fools Classic
AARP Magazine recently featured a 1994 April Fools' gag written by John C. Dvorak for PC Computing. The column claimed a non-existent Senate bill would prohibit intoxicated people from using the "information superhighway." The prank was so convincing at the time that Senator Pat Leahy's office received significant public backlash.
The discussion opens with observations on the weight loss drug Ozempic and the phenomenon of "Ozempic face" caused by rapid facial fat loss. Transitioning to the date, the conversation shifts to how the internet has effectively ruined April Fool's Day because jokes lack time constraints and are often mistaken for serious news months later.
Administrator Aaroner performed an April Fool's prank by claiming he was transitioning and shutting down the No Agenda Social instance. The prank highlighted user addiction to the platform as producers flooded support channels with messages, while also demonstrating the inherent fragility of centralized social media instances where a single admin holds total power.
Volkswagen issued a press release on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, claiming the company would change its name to "Voltswagen" to signal a pivot toward electric vehicles. Media outlets including Reuters and NPR reported the story as fact before the company admitted it was an early April Fools' Day prank. The incident led to news publications issuing corrections and sparked a discussion on the breakdown of traditional media jokes in the internet era.
A donation from Michael Mansell introduced the hosts to HTTP error code 418, also known as "I'm a teapot." This code was created as an IETF April Fool's joke in 1998 and is part of the Hyper Text Coffee Pot Control Protocol. The lore stems from early internet experiments involving webcams and remotely operated coffee machines at MIT.
Lexus and 23andMe produced a high-quality April Fool's commercial featuring a car that is customized based on the driver's DNA. The prank concludes with a woman licking the steering wheel to start the vehicle. The hosts praise the production value of the gag while reiterating their disdain for Elon Musk's market-moving tweets.
A discussion of April Fool's Day history highlights the difference between believable hoaxes and corporate PR stunts. Examples include a fake newsletter about a law making podcasting illegal (HB4117) and Google's "Google Wind" video in the Netherlands.
The hosts lament the decline of April Fool's Day humor, citing "lame" corporate jokes from Google and Open Table's "lickable menus." John C. Dvorak argues that the internet has ruined the timing and believability of traditional hoaxes. They also critique Elon Musk's Tesla Model 3 presentation, comparing it unfavorably to the showmanship of Steve Jobs.
Tesla Model W, April Fools Jokes, and Stock Market Manipulation
Tesla's April Fools' joke regarding a "Model W" watch caused a brief $1.50 spike in the company's stock price as automated trading systems reacted to the press release. The incident demonstrates how algorithmic trading can be triggered by viral headlines. The legality of such "pump and dump" scenarios, even when intended as humor, is questioned.
The hosts open the April 1st, 2012, episode by discussing the commercialization of April Fools' Day, specifically citing a Google and NASCAR self-driving car prank. A personal anecdote is shared regarding a grandfather, Eugene Curry, who celebrated the holiday by serving "upside-down" meals and eating spinach with a pair of pliers.
Synthetic Vaccines and Restless Leg Syndrome
A Colombian scientist claims to have discovered a way to create synthetic vaccines for all infectious diseases. In a separate health update, a "New Scientist" report suggests that masturbation can alleviate Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). John C. Dvorak also discusses his April Fool's column about Facebook being acquired by Chinese and Indian interests.
Leo Laporte, TWiT Network April Fools Prank Failure
A planned April Fools' Day prank involving Leo Laporte and the TWiT network failed after Laporte inadvertently revealed the gag during a live stream. The bit was intended to feature a fake announcement that Laporte had purchased the show, but his 24/7 camera presence alerted fans to the joke prematurely.
The Guardian Twitter Publishing, April Fool's Day Hoaxes
The Guardian announced a transition to publishing news exclusively via Twitter, a move the hosts suspect is an April Fool's Day prank. The discussion covers various corporate hoaxes from April 1st, including Google's "autopilot" artificial intelligence gag and Dvorak's own history in the "Hoax Hall of Fame."
