April fools 2024

[quixoticgeek]

Anyone spotted any good ones this year ?

J

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/satire/banksy-artwork-appears-showroom-dacia-spring-cheapest-ev-now-priceless

[hellymedic]

Wendy on X
Sadiq to rename Tube lines
2 medical in jokes on X
Cassiobury gates relocated (on Facebook)

[Polar Bear]

We had a convincing message from our window cleaner that he would be visiting today.  He's due on Thursday.

I dismissed it as his little joke but just after 11:00am ...

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/red-arrows-begin-blue-repaint-thanks-to-funding/

[John Stonebridge]

https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/april-fool-ill-fated-glen-sannox-ferry-lined-up-to-carry-scottish-football-team-home-from-germany-4569900 was in the sweet spot of ridiculous-yet-believable

The Scottish Government does deliver a plentiful supply of nonsense like this all year round e.g. this was serious https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24190074.stephen-flynn-let-tartan-army-fans-use-snp-campervan-euros/ so it was hard to tell one way or another from an initial glance.

[Wobbly John]

Those that follow Britain's favourite steam locomotive, and are keen for information on the award of its new maintenance contract and upgrade, may have been surprised this morning to learn that the winning bid was from Virgin trains, and the new colour scheme would be a corporate red…

[robgul]

We had a couple of good ones on the Stratford-upon-Avon FB Forum today (given the incompetence of the LAs they're almost believable!)

It seems that approval has been given to “sympathetically” convert the ground floor of Shakespeare’s birthplace into a Shakespearean themed restaurant, in order to help fund ongoing maintenance.


With the start of a new financial year today rumours abound that Warwickshire County Council are looking at re- introducing tolls on Clopton Bridge in particular to fund much needed maintenance. HGV traffic is raising concerns that the 1486 bridge can’t take much more. Talk of Elon Musk wanting to buy the bridge have been described as “pure fantasy” by a County spokesperson.

[lissotriton]

Lomo's new dry bag.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S39sjDUo5vU

[MattH]

The Oxford Houdini bike cover - an AI driven motorbike cover that hides your bike from sight.

How can someone nick your bike if they can't even see it?

The revolutionary new Oxford Houdini bike cover gives your pride and joy the ultimate urban camouflage and defeats the scourge of thieves.

Using exclusive new digital fabrics the Oxford Houdini projects an image of the background wherever your bike is parked, literally making it blend into its surroundings.

Simply select your parking position then take a series of photographs using the dedicated Oxford Houdini smartphone app.

Park your bike in position, stretch the close-fitting Oxford Houdini over it and the smartphone app will do the rest.

Using the latest AI cloaking technology it will project images across the digital fabric surface, fooling onlookers into believing there's nothing there.

Advice from the Metropolitan Police suggests using a bike cover thwarts thieves from targeting specific motorcycles in steal-to-order raids. The Houdini cover takes that to the ultimate level, stopping them from even seeing the bike, let alone identifying the model

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/2342726

[Kim]

Lomo's new dry bag.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S39sjDUo5vU

Does it work on milk?  Asking for a friend...

[Mr Larrington]

The Oxford Houdini bike cover - an AI driven motorbike cover that hides your bike from sight.

How can someone nick your bike if they can't even see it?

The revolutionary new Oxford Houdini bike cover gives your pride and joy the ultimate urban camouflage and defeats the scourge of thieves.

Using exclusive new digital fabrics the Oxford Houdini projects an image of the background wherever your bike is parked, literally making it blend into its surroundings.

Simply select your parking position then take a series of photographs using the dedicated Oxford Houdini smartphone app.

Park your bike in position, stretch the close-fitting Oxford Houdini over it and the smartphone app will do the rest.

Using the latest AI cloaking technology it will project images across the digital fabric surface, fooling onlookers into believing there's nothing there.

Advice from the Metropolitan Police suggests using a bike cover thwarts thieves from targeting specific motorcycles in steal-to-order raids. The Houdini cover takes that to the ultimate level, stopping them from even seeing the bike, let alone identifying the model

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/2342726

An SEP Field is cheaper and just as existent 

[IanDG]

This was posted on D&G Gigs FB group

434497471_968440138185035_6660341945698344447_n by ian, on Flickr

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

“Some early prototypes were unfortunately trialled with elements that created too much hot air. For a brief period in 2022 there was a Renault Zoe lodged in the rafters of our test hangar. Eventually, we had to ask a local farmer to shoot it down, which set the programme back a few weeks.”

[cycleman]

I can't remember where I saw it  but apparently a inflatable pedestrian bridge being installed at Dartford 

[Graeme]

Brilliant one from ETA (only just spotted it):
https://www.eta.co.uk/2024/04/01/cash-strapped-councils-launch-mobile-cycle-lanes/

Mobile cycle lanes

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

Carpeted pedals!? Bike Shaggies promise carpeted comfort for barefoot cyclists


 

[Little Jim]

Carpeted pedals!? Bike Shaggies promise carpeted comfort for barefoot cyclists


 

...and from the same day on Road.cc the report and video that Jeremy Vine posted showing his drone getting "attacked by a bird of prey in Hyde Park" which got all the usual suspect frothing at the mouth, demanding that he be prosecuted for flying a drone in the park, harming a protected bird, blah blah blah.

[RichForrest]

SRAM booty link, for the gravel rider in your family 

https://youtube.com/shorts/rED7jk0Hgb4?si=LCv5yeTeXU_WxuDY

[andyoxon]

Good planetary AF.  https://x.com/ThePlanetaryGuy/status/1774921728268931146?s=20

[MattH]

SRAM booty link, for the gravel rider in your family 

https://youtube.com/shorts/rED7jk0Hgb4?si=LCv5yeTeXU_WxuDY

Hands free! Looks like a great invention to me. Take my money!

[hellymedic]

Rescue sheep!
https://news.sky.com/video/dartmoor-search-and-rescue-group-jokes-it-has-introduced-search-sheep-on-april-fools-day-13106080

[andrew_s]

De Ronde acquired by Saudi investors

[Morat]

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-trialling-harrier-jets-on-carriers/

It works because you really can't rule anything out when you're talking about the MoD!

[Kim]

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-trialling-harrier-jets-on-carriers/

It works because you really can't rule anything out when you're talking about the MoD!

It's not official until it's announced by RAF Luton.