History of Pranks Has Serious Roots

MARIAN LIBRARY- D A E M B ICO U fG E April 2004 INDEX History of Pranks Has Serious Roots P g i History of Pranks By Amy Dehn back then, news either didn't travel good pranks played on them, ranging in has Serious Roots fast enough, or, for those who knew, topics from imaginary sports It's no joke that we Americans love they refused to accept the Pope's cal- - figures to fast food mergers with nation to poke fun. And the fact that there's endar change, thus continuing to cele al monuments. In a look back at April Fool’s Day an entire day in our nation devoted to brate the New Year on April 1st. These America's history, you can pinpoint Pranks prank-playing gives the concept even people were labeled "fools," were sub some of the greatest jokes ever played on more universal appeal. ject to ridicule, and often sent on April Fool's Day. But most people don't realize that "fools errands" or were just simply the It might be a stretch, but maybe you Who Has More April Fool's Day actually has a serious butt of practical jokes. The harass remember hearing about a baseball Fun? origin; it stems from a calendar ment gradually evolved into an annu player named Sidd Finch planning to change in the late 1500s. al tradition of prank-playing, and play for the Mets back in April of 1985? Previously, ancient cultures, like the soon spread into England and Well, featured in that month's issue of P g 2 Romans and Hindus, celebrated New Scotland in the eighteenth century, Sports Illustrated was a story about this My Stupid Year's Day on April 1st, following the and eventually the American colonies. rookie pitcher who could throw a base vernal equinox, the celebration of It's not that everyone's a "fool" at ball at 168 mph, reportedly learned from Computer spring. In 1582, however, Pope heart, but people, especially in his time at a Tibetan monastery. Mets Gregory XIII ordered a new America, have learned how easy it is fans across the nation rejoiced at the Joke’s on Him: "Gregorian Calendar" to replace the to be "punk'd," and how fun it is to be team's blessing—only to find out that he Dean Taylor previous "Julian Calendar," moving the one "punking." April Fool's Day only existed in the imagination of the New Year's Day to January 1st. has developed into an international author of the article, George Plimpton. Turns 40 There's no actual date for the first prank-fest at the expense of one's Perhaps you can recall the Taco Bell "April Fool's Day," but historians family and friends—and sometimes Corporation purchase of the Liberty Credits assume it started somewhere in the general public. Bell from the federal government back France after the calendar change. That's right. In the past few decades, Communication being what it was Americans have gotten some pretty (Confined on Page 3) P g 3 Responce to Prof. Cuddy April Fool’s Day Pranks: Maestro of The 1. Place clear tape across the outside 6. Place clear cellophane over the toi flat surface such as a bench or floor and Macabre of a door from top to bottom. let bowl but under the seat. Works watch people try to remove them. Frequently, people will run into it, best at parties where most people are Xl. Fill someone's umbrella with confet especially if they are in a hurry. intoxicated. ti, wait until a rainy day and enjoy. Proposal of 33% 2. Place "Bang-Snaps" (used at 7. Place Vaseline (or other dear gel) 12. Coat the receiver of someone's Cut In Tap Independence Day) in precarious on the seat of a toilet at night. phone with shoe polish and then give positions on a door so they drop and 8. Freeze glasses to trays in the cafe him/her a call. Instant gratification. explode when the door is opened. teria. This can be accomplished by Make sure you match the colors of the p g 4 3. Fill the showerhead with dry tem smearing the bottom of the glass with polish and the phone. Small amounts of The. Tree That per paint, onion salt, Easter egg pel honey and sticking it firmly to the shaving cream work too. Binds The Worlds lets or the like. Lifesavers are great tray. Fill the glass with ice, water and 13. Purchase a "universal TV remote" since they dissolve and then reform salt to lower the temperature. After a from a place like Radio Shack. When Activist Forum on the victim. The victim will feel few minutes the honey should be walking by public TVs, such as those in sticky afterwards. The solution to frozen to both the tray and the glass. a dorm lounge, change the channel. that is to take another shower... 9. Fill a person's room while they are 14. Leave toothpaste on the underside P g 5 4. Swipe someone’s clothes and tow out with large amounts of crumpled of light switches and doorknob. Daemen Student els while they are showering. up newspaper. This takes a fair bit of 15. After your roommate, co-worker or Aspires To Be 5. Glue the lids to people's shampoo planning, a lot of paper and a small spouse leaves, change their Windows Next American shut. They get all wet and then realize room but can have good results. wallpaper to a big picture of yourself! Idol they can't wash their hair. 10. Superglue several quarters to a P g 6 Dr. Cuddy‘s Who Has More Fun? Reply to Laub By Brittany Cozad off campus, the only way to achieve ment on how there is never anything to After commuting to Daemen for the this independence is to dorm. Living do on campus. However, after attending P g 7 past two and a half years, I’ve often on school grounds is also more con Student Association meetings and click Animation of wondered how different my college venient for attending morning classes. ing on the What’s Happening page on Independance experience would have been had I Instead of waking up at 6 a.m. to beat the college Web site, I realized there are lived at school. At first, the idea of eat rush hour traffic and find a parking many activities after school hours. Since New Programs ing cafeteria food every day or spend space, my car would already be parked residents are constantly surrounded by and I could roll out of bed to take a students throughout the school year, Allows Alumni ing all my time on a small campus did n’t appeal to me. But now that I am a quick two-minute walk to my morning they are able to meet more people and and Graduates To junior and will be leaving this institu classes. Having close library and com exchange on-campus ideas. Whether it’s Meet tion next year, I’ve reflected back on puter lab access is another benefit of going to movie nights or concerts like my living arrangements and ques donning. You've all had those nights The Women Who Rock, residents seem tioned whether my original opinion of when your home computer wasn’t to always find a way keep themselves P g 8 working, or you needed to gather last busy, because they organize a majority of Advertisment campus housing was correct. Living on campus would have minute research. With a number of these functions. Although I’ve taken part worked to my advantage in several these resources available until mid in some of our college activities, students areas of college life. Donning allows night on most days, Daemen housing who dorm are almost always more what every college student has been could have resolved many of those informed on campus events and are part waiting for - freedom. Unless a student academic crises. of the Daemen community more so than has the finances to live on their own I’ve heard many commuters com non-residents. Page 2 M y S tu p id Joke’s On Him: Dean Taylor Turns 40 C o m p u ter By Darrell Moore, Director of By Antoinette DelBel Computer Support Services Despite the many practical jokes and pranks that come in accordance with April Fool’s Day, During the past 25 years I’ve received a lot of there’s one thing that’s funny, and it’s no joke at questions about computers and for the most part, all. I try to explain to people why computers do or Dean Keith Taylor, division of heath/human don’t do the things they’re supposed to without services, turns the big 4-0 on this day dedicated making the explanation too confusing. to fools. Although bom on April 1, Dean Taylor To show you how confusing this can be, take would say his personality is hardly considered computer people for example. We call ourselves foolish. However, after talking with some of his all sorts of nifty names like Information close friends and wife of 12 years, his life seems to Technologists or System Specialists, Network be one big joke - figuratively speaking. Administrators and so on. The truth is we’re just Many of Dean Taylor’s interests include shop the computer guys or girls. We always have been ping, doing some gardening around the house, and always will be just that.

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