Some say that April Fools Day began in many parts of the world at the same time, in celebration of the spring equinox.  Pranks were a big part of even the most boring equinox parties, everywhere from Sweden to India.

Others argue that the modern April Fool's Day followed the adoption of a reformed calendar in France circa 1564.  In medieval times, the octave of New Year's began on March 25 with the eight days of festivities ending on April 1.

With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, New Year's Day was moved from April 1 to January 1.  Due to the slowness of "sandal-net"
communication back then and general resistance to change, the January 1 date was not fully accepted for several years.  Those traditionalists who clung to April 1 as New Year's Day were scoffed at as "fools" and sent fake party invitations and prank gifts.

Widespread observance in England began in the 18th century.  The English, Scotch and French introduced the custom to their colonies in America.  One of our forefathers' favorite jokes was to send someone on a "fool's errand." For example, one might have been asked to go out and obtain a copy of "The History of Adam's Grandfather," or bring back some "sweet vinegar."

In Scotland, April Fools Day is 48 hours long.  The second day is called Taily Day and is dedicated to pranks involving the buttocks.  Taily Day's gift to posterior posterity is the still-hilarious "Kick Me" sign.

The "foolish" tradition is celebrated in Mexico, too, but on a different day and for different reasons.  "El Dia de los Inocentes," which is December
28, was set aside as a day for Christians to mourn Herod's slaughter of innocent children.  Over time, the tone of that "unluckiest of days" has evolved from sadness to good-natured trickery.  Even the media join the fun, often running bogus news stories and radio reports.

We may never learn the true origin of April Fools Day.  However, the deeper question facing us today is, "What's the best gag I can pull off?"
AprilFools.com has some intriguing suggestions.

Sources Include: The American Book of Days by Jane M.  Hatch; The World Holiday Book by Anneli Rufus; the Encyclopedia Americana; and http://www.2meta.com/april-fools/history/.

This fire-help.   Me Groog.
Me Lorto.    Help. Fire not work.
You have flint and stone?
Ugh.
You hit them together?
Ugh.
What happen?
Fire not work.
(sigh) Make spark?
No spark, no fire, me confused. Fire work yesterday.
*sigh* You change rock?
I change nothing.
You sure?
Me make one change. Stone hot so me soak in stream so stone not burn Lorto hand. Small change, shouldn't keep Lorto from make fire.

International calling is darned expensive.  Do you have a need for it on the phone line you use for your computer?  If not, why not call your phone company and ask to block all international calls?  Why would you want to chance a mistaken call to Romania or some other foreign country?

There are companies whose intent it is to provide materials to you over the Internet.  And, there are companies whose intent it is to provide materials to you, directly from their server to your computer, without using the Internet as the transport.  The first method, providing materials to you over the Internet, is the one that after you connect to KCnet or your Internet Service Provider (ISP), you connect through the Internet to get information, games, etc.

The second method, providing materials to you, directly from their server to your computer, often causes your computer to hang up from your ISP and dial the company direct.  Unless the company is in your calling area, or unless you have world-wide calling with no tolls, you are going to pay for long distance calls.  Not only long distance charges, some of the companies charge a fee for your time on-line – the same as dialing a 900 number!  It is not unusual for a person to spend $9 per minute while at a site that promotes obscenity or competitive games or other things, some of which are not even allowed over the Internet.

Often, children are the innocent victims of this scam.  While at a site that appears to be for kids, a link appears for something like, “click here to view.”  Then, a disclaimer comes up which looks so much like the “I agree” note that you see when installing a Microsoft program, that most people just click on without reading.  Your Internet connection disconnects and the computer dials another number, usually foreign.  And, the charges begin.

So, my first advice is:  block all international calls, or even block all toll calls if you only use the line for connecting to the Internet and children are using it.  This is a good safe-guard.  You can do this through settings on your computer, if you don’t want to go the extreme of blocking this through the phone company.
 

The second thing to do is enable sound for your modem.  Hopefully, it can be regulated so that it doesn’t have to be loud, but you should enable the sound so that you can hear it dialing.  Then, if you or your children hear the modem dialing and you thought you were already connected, you will be able to check to see what number you’re trying to connect to or disconnect immediately.  There are other advantages to hearing your modem dial, such as being able to hear an operator on the other end stating the reason you are not connecting, or hear a busy signal or a person answering the line because the number you have inserted is a voice line not a modem line. 

To turn on the sound for your modem on a Windows computer, get to your control panel.  If you can see modems, double-click on modems or phone and modems.  Click on modems.  Click on your modem in the list and click on properties.  Adjust the sound.   If you need help with this, call  KCnet tech assistance at 893-8111. 

Until next week...

Ray McGill, owner of Nittany Travel, is the President of KCnet; William Raco is Vice-President; Judy Yoho is Secretary and Donald C.  Miller of North Bend is Treasurer.  Other members of the board are Fred Bierly, Donna Gebhardt Lannan, Earl Keen, R.  Keith Kelly, Paul Korn, Amy Lapriola, Paddy O’Hara-Mays, Bob Rolley, and Rich Wykoff.