Tomorrow it will be April 1st 2007.  Or “April Fools Day”, or “All Fools Day” - which is a day in recent tradition where all manner of confusion and light hearted anarchy ensue; where people, groups and organisations seek to “out-do” one another with clever tricks, slight of hand and general tom foolery!

But - What I would really love to know, is where this tradition actually came from?

One accepted notion is that in 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calender from the older Julian Calender, which celebrated New Year on or around April, New Year under the new Gregorian Calender moved New Year to January 1st.  Though generally plausible, there are a number of flaws behind this explanation in that this calender wasn’t adopted worldwide (where April Fools is recognised); certainly in England it wasn’t until about 1752!

Explanation number two?  Back in 1983 according to a Joseph Boskin; back in the time of Constantine; a court Jester named Kugel boasted he could run the Empire better than him, amused Constantine let him be the King for the day - during which time he passed an edict calling for absurdity on that day.  The tradition stuck after that.  The problem with this very plausible sounding explanation is that it was in fact made up by Joseph Boskin and is in fact a complete fiction.

So, where DOES April Fool come from?  Is it simply a fictional national holiday where chaos is perceived as normal?  Or is there more to the history behind this day?  It could be that this is a Pagan left-over which has evolved itself into present culture, it is known in many cultures of the past of festivals involving foolishness around this time of the year…all are linked with vegetation or fertility.

So - in conclusion, perhaps by acting the fool, or playing a “blinder” on your boss, friends or family tomorrow in your own way, you are doing your bit to ensure this year sees a good crop?

Food for thought….I think so!!

In other news, it’s Michelle Carter’s (ne Fothergill) birthday today, and I sure hope she gets my email!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I read this on another blog, dating back to 2004 >> Scam 

Well - this morning I received a call from what appeared to be a private mobile number >> 07096 806461

A message to all of you out there that might read this, if you get a call from this number or any 0709 number that hangs up straight away and you don’t recognise it, then DO NOT RING IT BACK!!!!

What happens is you ring the number and you are immediatley redirected to a premium rate number, I have just reported this to my supplier (Vodafone) who appeared slightly less than helpless to offer me any support or advice on this (the exact response I got from the call handler was “I am not trained on this sort of thing” and well - at least he was honest…), it still sucks considering I have been one of their customers for over 3 years!  (I have of course taken a note of the complaints address and will be writing a stern letter)

Things like this should have been outlawed by now?! As the above link demonstrates this sort of thing has been going on for years, so what are Offcom doing about it? 

I was only redirected for 4 seconds until I realised and quickly terminated the call, but that has potentially cost me upwards of £1.75 or more!!

Even if everyone were to hang up within 4 seconds like me, that’s still a revenue of over £26 per minute.

How on earth this can remain legal is beyond me, and I think that the responsibility needs to be placed on the carrier.  For example if my bank pays out an unauthorised charge, they are liable to pay it back, and put a claim in to the source of that charge.  In the same respect, I should be entitled to be refunded any Premium Rate charge on a redirected call - it should be the carrier’s responsibilty AND duty to recover the cost, and investigate this problem which in my opinion is borderline Communications Fraud.  Maybe then they will do something about making this illegal?

One thing I would like when I complain to Vodafone is “WHAT PREMIUM RATE NUMBER” the above call redirects to, so that I can make an official compaint to ICSTIS - The Premium Rate Services Regulator. Remember - I have been stung, you don’t have to be, if you read this, then be WARNED!

*****DO NOT RETURN A CALL ON YOUR MOBILE IF YOU DON’T RECOGNISE THE NUMBER*****