April Fooligans

               In light of the recently-passed holiday of "april fools," Lets take a look at great april fools prank that happened waaaaay back in the late 1970's. It happened in the past, it's history, it counts.

It was a very crucial time in human evolution. 

               On June 20, 1977, Anglia TV in England broadcasted a documentary titled "Alternative 3" as part of a serious weekly called "Science Report." The show normally featured the latest technology of the 70's (like A-tracks and other ancient stuff), and various doings of the scientific community. However during this special episode, things went a little differently. The announcer explained that the documentary had started as a piece on British scientists leaving the country for better jobs, but soon they discovered that scientists from all over the world were going missing. Hmmm. 

                The document producers then said that the scientists were leaving earth via an unknown space program. They also claimed to have uncovered the governments three-stage plan to deal with the impending environmental disaster that was sure to come:

                 

                 Alternative one: Curb population.

                 Alternative two: House government officials underground until danger passes. 

                 Alternative three: Send humanities brightest minds to a colony on Mars. 

Seem familiar? Ok actually I've never seen this movie I just know Mars is in it.

                  The show even boasted an actual account from an American astronaut telling them of a secret moon base hidden on the moon! How many people could possibly be fooled by this? Apparently, a lot. Or at least a lot of people were confused enough to call in and ask what the heck was going on. It turns out that this was a piece specially prepared for april fools, but was delayed two months by a strike. 

                  Oh, and the best part. There are hundreds of people who still believe this! There are many many web sights dedicated to proving that we are in fact in the middle of Alternative 3. Typical internet.