The book's subtitle is "A Collection of Fake Stories, Phony Ads and other Media Mischief". And that pretty well summarizes this book.
Did you fall for these printed hoaxes?
The Sports Illustrated story about Sidd Finch a pitching prospect who could throw a 168 mph fastball.
Burger King's ad announcing their latest sandwich--The Left Handed Whopper.
The Hotheaded Naked Ice Borer, as described in Discovery Magazine.
The London Daily Mail article about widespread TV interference in England caused by some women's bras.
If you believed these and numerous other stories, you aren't alone. There are 37 stories in all, of pranks in print in Pranks in Print.
Excerpt
DRINKING AND DRIVING ON THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY
“I know how silly this sounds, but Congress apparently thinks being drunk on a highway is bad no matter what kind of highway it is,” wrote John Dvorak in the April 1994 issue of PC Computing. That’s how Dvorak, a columnist and editor for the magazine, described a bill supposedly being considered by Congress that would make using the internet while intoxicated illegal.
Dvorak said the bill numbered 040194 (that should have been a clue it was a spoof) was being sponsored by Senator Edward Kennedy (that too should have tipped off readers). It would not only outlaw using the net while drunk, it would also make it a crime to discuss things of a sexual nature on the Internet. Dvorak offered this explanation for the origin of the bill: “The moniker ‘Information Highway’ itself seems to be responsible for SB 040194.”
The article reported the FBI was going to use the bill as authorization to tap the phone line of anyone who “uses or abuses alcohol” while accessing the internet. Passage of the bill seemed assured because, as Dvorak noted, “Who wants to come out and support drunkenness and computer sex?”
Internet users were invited to voice their opinions on the new bill to congressional contact person Lirpa Sloof (April Fools backwards). And complain they did. Members of Congress were inundated with objections from the public. Senator Kennedy’s office received so many calls from irate Americans, his office had to release an official denial of the claim he was a sponsor of the bill—and that no such a bill existed.
Thirteen Sick Tasteless Classics, Part II is adult literature featuring adult language and situations that satirizes thirteen famous novellas and short stories. It is Jay Dubya's sixteenth ebook.
