Submitted by Larry Croft:

Reykjavik Mayor gives Rudy Giuliani a run for his money…

Reykjavik mayor opens gay pride festival in drag
BBC News
6 August 2010

The mayor of Reykjavik has dressed up in drag to mark the opening of the Icelandic capital’s gay pride festival.

Jon Gnarr, a top comedian who became mayor in June, appeared on stage on Thursday night in a floral-print dress, blonde wig and bright red lipstick.

“The mayor unfortunately could not attend himself,” he told the crowd.

Mr Gnarr’s Best Party won the council elections after running on a platform that included free towels in swimming pools and a polar bear for the zoo. (more…)

“Shark” Eating Cardiff Surfer Statute is Removed
San Diego 6
July 27, 2010

Cardiff-by the-Sea – Encinitas city workers removed an artist’s addition to the city’s famed surfer statue Tuesday.

A bronze surfer statue has been the target of many gags.

Unknown predawn pranksters on Saturday surrounded the roadside statue in Cardiff-by-the-Sea with a papier mache model of a great white shark that appeared to be swallowing it whole.

Crowds of gawkers and photographers gathered around the 16-foot creation after the sun rose.

San Diego County sheriff’s Lt. Tony Ray said no criminal report was filed because there was no damage to the statue.

The $120,000 sculpture called “Magic Carpet Ride” was commissioned by the Cardiff Botanical Society in 2007.

The statue has been bedecked with bras, skirts and witch hats so many times that locals have come to call it “The Cardiff Kook.”

City workers showed up shortly before 8:00 Tuesday morning and started tearing down the shark addition.

photo: Chromotive

Prank leaves Justin Bieber facing tour of North Korea
by Daniel Emery
BBC News
July 7, 2010

Canadian singer Justin Bieber’s has become the target of a viral campaign to send him to North Korea.

A website polled users as to which country he should tour next, with no restrictions on the nations that could be voted on.

There are now almost half a million votes to send the singer to the secretive communist nation.

The contest, which ends at 0600 on 7 July, saw North Korea move from 24th to 1st place in less than two days.

Many of the votes are thought to originate from imageboard website 4chan, which has built a reputation for triggering online viral campaigns. (more…)

Update, May 20, 2010: Alleged Yo-Yo Master Strikes Again, written by David Moye for AOL News.

From Funny or Die:

Kenny K-Strass Strasser is a Yo-Yo master who goes on local morning news shows to show off his Yo-Yo master skills. The Morning news hosts have no idea he’s not really a Yo-Yo master at all and that’s when the magic happens.

Yo-Yo Master Pulls Hoax on Morning News Show

Yo-Yo Master Pulls Hoax on Another Morning News Show

Read more about this in the Milwaukee Sentinel

thanks Deb

Microsoft Software Prank with alarm

via Geekapolis

Goofiness Before Graduation: High-school seniors love pranks, but principals aren’t smiling
by Jane Hawes
The Columbus Dispatch
April 23, 2010

If there’s a naked kid with a Nerf gun in your front yard, chances are you live near an Olentangy high-school senior.

It’s that perilous time of year leading up to high-school graduation, but fear not. There are rules that even those in the grip of “senioritis” will obey.

“There’s no shooting when someone’s on the clock at work, or on school property at any time, or at church,” said Olentangy Liberty High School senior Joe Kon. “And you can’t get shot if you’re naked.” (more…)

Benidorm Bastards is a Belgian TV show where the elderly take revenge by pulling pranks on random people.

Trailer:

Feathers flew from cities all over the U.S. to Amsterdam, Antiqua, Auckland and Beijing. Scores of cities participated and thousands of pillows will never be the same. For more photos, video and details, visit the Pillow Fight Day Web site.

From CMT Comedy Stage – Tom Mape in “Mape in America”

Click here to watch a video of a Tom Mape phone prank called Cell Phone Eavesdropping

thanks Linda

Check out more prank calls from Tom Mabe here and here.

From CNET TV:

Top Five Tech Practical Jokes, by Tom Merritt, Executive Editor

Dangerously funny videos created and produced by Rémi Gaillard. The show continues on www.nimportequi.com.

1999/2009 Remi Gaillard

thanks Miso

Submitted by Christian Von Trzcinski on our Art of the Prank Facebook page: Just came across this one. Not so environmentally friendly but very funny…

Aluminum Foil Prank , by Paul Winn Music

From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

The 9th Annual No Pants Subway Ride will take place on Sunday, January 10 in New York and cities around the world.

Last Year’s No Pants Subway Ride:

All are invited to participate. The event will take place at 3:00 PM on Sunday, January 10. Everything you need to know is now available. Please read this carefully!

Requirements for Participation
1) Willing to take pants off on subway
2) Able to keep a straight face about it

**This is a participatory event. Do not show up unless you plan to take your pants off.**

When: Sunday, January 10 at 3:00 PM, Sharp! (Over by around 5:30)
Where: Five meeting points spread out all over New York City.
Bring: A backpack and a metro card.
Wear: Normal winter clothes (hat, gloves, etc)
Facebook: You can RSVP to the Facebook Event

Details for New York
Details for other cities

Have fun!

Parker: Real-estate stress opens door to pranks
by Penny Parker
Denver Post
December 8, 2009

State employees are feeling the pinch of the real estate downturn, too. State-mandated furloughs and the hiring freeze have contributed to the Real Estate Division’s stress and burnout.

In an effort to pump up Cary Whitaker, manager of the mortgage broker program — the program that has the most complaints and fewest employees — division staff members decided to punk him while he was on vacation.

They installed a doorbell in his ceiling tiles and passed around the remote that rang the bell to anyone who had been annoyed by Whitaker’s crankiness.

For a week, staff randomly rang the doorbell, torturing Cary while he answered calls, drafted a mortgage company bill and generally tried to do his work, all in an effort to get him to laugh.

“I learned of the prank last Tuesday and decided it was inappropriate,” said Erin Toll, director of the Colorado Division of Real Estate. “By Wednesday, I was asking for the doorbell and ringing it like crazy. State employees are people, too.” (more…)

Incognit-O phone prank
by Lukas I. Alpert
New York Post
December 23, 2009

Move over, Vinny from Queens. There’s a new radio call-in king — and he’s dialing from the White House.

President Obama played a prank on his friend, outgoing Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, phoning Kaine’s radio show as “Barry from DC” to gripe about traffic.

The ruse didn’t last long, as Obama quickly said, “Well, Governor Kaine, this is actually the president of the United States calling. I have some questions about traffic in northern Virginia. But rather than go there, I’d just like to say how proud we are of your service.”

A stunned Kaine said his happiest moment as governor came when Obama was elected president with Virginia’s help.

photo: dailymail.co.uk