…Exploring the role of the prankster as artist, activist and social observer and the significance of the prank in society.
Bigfoot, the 8th Wonder of the World
The most elusive and terrifying creature to roam the planet, captured alive!
On display for a limited time only. Brought to you by Tiny Top Circus, the world’s greatest and smallest traveling show on Earth. The only pataphysical circus in existence.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
12:00 Noon
Washington Square Park
New York, New York
FREE
For more info, contact: Ringmaster, Peppe Scaggolini, info @ tinytopcircus.com.
The Royal Prank: The Story Behind The Worst Radio Stunt In History
by Andrew McMillen
Buzzfeed
Aug. 1, 2013
When a pair of Australian DJs went viral by prank calling the London hospital treating Kate Middleton last December, they were lionized at home and vilified in the U.K. Then the nurse who answered the phone committed suicide amid the outrage, raising questions about mental health, privacy, and the very definition of a joke. What responsibility do pranksters have to their victims?
From Jon:
Report: Walking Cabbage Trend Combats Loneliness
WafflesAtNoon
May 2, 2014
A report this week claims that Chinese teenagers are leashing cabbages and taking them for walks with hopes of relieving depression and feelings of isolation…
…One teenager explained the trend to Metro, “I feel I can transfer my negative thoughts about myself to the cabbage, go for a walk with it and come home feeling better about myself”¦In fact afterwards, I can throw the cabbage away and feel that I have tossed my feelings out with it.”
Read the full article here.
From Joe King:
Nick Farrell writes for Fudzilla.com in Iranians buy into web hoax that the Fars News Agency, Iran’s “semi-official news agency” ran a story, in all seriousness, that the U.S. has been run by Nazi aliens since Dwight Eisenhower’s era in the 1950s. The information reportedly comes from Edward Snowden’s documents. Believe this story at your own peril. Read the full story here.
Editor’s Note: Ask The Fiddler is a lifestyle advice column that aims to remedy more chaos and confusion than it creates. Questions may be submitted to us here at Art of the Prank, and good luck.
Dear Fiddler:
Much as I appreciate a holiday in honor of Columbus, I”ve seen reports that he may be getting undeserved credit. So, who discovered America?
Annie in Montpelier
Dear Annie:
This is a subject steeped in considerable controversy.
There are those who contend that the real problem is, the whole thing is taught back-asswards. The truth of the matter is, as these contrarians see it, Native Americans discovered Europe. We”ll delve deeper into that matter in a bit, but first let”s have a look at some other contenders for the exploit attributed to Columbus.
It might be worth noting that boats without motors can be unpredictable vehicles. Over the vast expanse of human time, wouldn”t you suspect that a great many drifiting boats from afar inadvertently “discovered” America?
Further, there is the factor that might be called the macho double-dare. “Buddy, I”ll bet you ten conch shells and a bucket of whale blubber the world ain”t flat.” How many reckless young sailors set off to see what lay beyond the horizon?
And we can”t discount greed, the search for riches.
Lastly there is the incentive provided by barbaric hordes coming over the hill. How often in the violent history of mankind was it time to pack your shit and git, possibly sailing off for parts unknown?
The thing is, dang near everybody discovered America. A bit of research will reveal that, whatever your heritage, you can probably make a claim of relatedness to a discoverer of America. Continue reading “Ask The Fiddler #12: Everybody Discovered America!”