# April Fools website pranks **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 1, 2015, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481 "2015-04-01T05:58:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/1 "2015-04-01T05:58:24Z")
Every year I miss out on these. For one reason or another, I don’t get online until afternoon, when most of the stuff is over. So this year I’m gonna try and list those I see. And I’m doing it here, so others can help out. [ul][li]Reddit’s [/r/tifu](http://www.reddit.com/r/tifu/comments/310ppd/tifu_by_breaking_the_stylesheet/) (today I fucked up): Parts of the page wobbles around when you hover over them, unless you disable the style sheet.[/li] [li]Google Japan has a [new input method](https://www.google.co.jp/ime/___o/). (Video has captions in English. Also, scroll down and watch the URL.)[/li] [li][Occupiers](http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/30xyff/occupyaskreddit/) have taken over /r/AskReddit.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/2 "2015-04-01T06:23:11Z")
Not sure if this one is official, but it’s funny: [com.google](http://com.google). ([Screenshot](http://i.imgur.com/tNGM3sa.png)) ---
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/3 "2015-04-01T08:35:11Z")
Google Maps now has a Pac-Man mode that allows you to play Pac-Man on the streets of any map you choose. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/4 "2015-04-01T09:30:52Z")
…slightly off topic, but a BMW dealership did a “reverse” April Fools. > **[April Fool's bluff ends in $50,000 BMW](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/april-fools-bluff-ends-in-50000-bmw/6E6RUBY227PK3MFOJROQDYTPCQ/?c_id=1&objectid=11426501)** > > A double-bluff on April Fool's Day was no match for a woman who cashed in on a seemingly ridiculous luxury car trade-in promotion. They put an advert up saying “April Fools!” Then promised to give a $50,000 BMW away to the first customer to bring in the coupon. Then when someone came in with the coupon, they gave the car away! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/5 "2015-04-01T09:59:15Z")
Thinkgeek always has some good stuff. I really like this [Steam Box](http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/iljn/?pfm=HP_FeaturedProducts_4_iljn). Fortunately, these seem to stay up. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/6 "2015-04-01T10:02:10Z")
[http://Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) circa 1990. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/7 "2015-04-01T10:04:34Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Not sure if this one is official, but it’s funny: [com.google](http://com.google). ([Screenshot](http://i.imgur.com/tNGM3sa.png)) If you do an image search from that page, all of the images are reversed. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/8 "2015-04-01T11:02:15Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > [http://Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) circa 1990. I was just going to post this. And the fact that I actually prefer it. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/9 "2015-04-01T11:51:41Z")
I can’t get the google maps pacman thing to work. When I go to [maps.google.com](http://maps.google.com) I don’t see any pacman symbol. I’ve tried to zoom in on all levels and nothing happens. Is there some trick to get it to work? I’m using Firefox in Windows. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/10 "2015-04-01T12:25:08Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > I can’t get the google maps pacman thing to work. > > When I go to [maps.google.com](http://maps.google.com) I don’t see any pacman symbol. I’ve tried to zoom in on all levels and nothing happens. Is there some trick to get it to work? > > I’m using Firefox in Windows. I have the same problem. I’m also using Firefox, so maybe it’s a browser issue. ETA: It works for me in Chrome. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/11 "2015-04-01T12:46:37Z")
Astronomy Picture of the Day always has a good pic for April Fools. > **[Astronomy Picture of the Day](https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html)** > > A different astronomy and space science > related image is featured each day, along with a brief explanation. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/12 "2015-04-01T13:34:00Z")
Snopes put out another [lost legend](http://www.snopes.com/lost/bearflag.asp). Also, I got the Google map thing to work in Firefox by zooming out **the page** to 90%. You know, with Ctrl-+ and Ctrl - . And what **davidm** says means it’s official, as it uses a proper Google URL It holds for videos, too. I didn’t notice because I clicked them before typing anything to search. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/13 "2015-04-01T13:51:05Z")
Reddit /r/legaladvice has the best April Fool’s joke yet. It requires a reading commitment, though. [Post 1](http://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/2ooy1x/update_my_neighbors_caused_themselves_to_be/) [Post 2](http://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/310bkn/update_my_landlocked_neighbors_the_sheriff_and_me/) And [Brodwayworld.com announces a new Justin Bieber Musical](http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/DONT-STOP-BELIEBIN-THE-JUSTIN-BIEBER-STORY-Heading-to-Broadway-20150401). ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/14 "2015-04-01T14:55:07Z")
[http://notalwaysrelated.com/](http://notalwaysrelated.com/) has some zombie apocalypse stories up today, (presented very matter-of-factly,) and [http://notalwaysright.com/](http://notalwaysright.com/) has one. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/15 "2015-04-01T14:58:52Z")
[The World’s First Inflatable Automobile](http://www.hammacher.com/Product/86472?promo=hpbanner). Particularly funny cause it’s almost beleivable, coming from Hammacher Schlemmer. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/16 "2015-04-01T15:05:22Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > I can’t get the google maps pacman thing to work. > > When I go to [maps.google.com](http://maps.google.com) I don’t see any pacman symbol. I’ve tried to zoom in on all levels and nothing happens. Is there some trick to get it to work? > > I’m using Firefox in Windows. I’m in Firefox and clicking on your link worked for me. In the bottom left corner I see an earth view and a Pacman view…and I’m wondering if I’ve fallen for your April Fool’s joke. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/17 "2015-04-01T15:53:09Z")
[Jeremy Clarkson joins Guardian drive for fossil fuel divestment](http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/apr/01/jeremy-clarkson-joins-guardian-drive-for-fossil-fuel-divestment) > [@](#): > > Clarkson, who has offered to become the new face of the Guardian campaign, said: “I was the poster boy for petrolheads. Now I want to become a – perhaps less gendered – poster person for the carbon-haters.” ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/18 "2015-04-01T16:24:22Z")
[Welcome to the Future with Presurance™ from Esurance](http://blog.esurance.com/welcome-to-the-future-with-presurance-from-esurance/#.VRwbje90zJx) ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/19 "2015-04-01T20:53:33Z")
[CERN researches confirm existence of the Force](http://home.web.cern.ch/about/updates/2015/04/cern-researchers-confirm-existence-force) Most of the article is a little too on the nose, but I enjoyed this bit: > [@](#): > > Though researchers are as yet unsure what exactly causes the Force, students and professors at the laboratory have already started to harness its power. Practical applications so far include long-distance communication, influencing minds, and lifting heavy things out of swamps. ---
**Author:** ![nastynaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@nastynaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nastynaven)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481/20 "2015-04-01T21:13:51Z")
maddox usually does some good ones. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fools-website-pranks/716481.md?page=2)