Saving lives is easier than ever; you don't have to rescue someone who's fallen through ice, do CPR, or push someone out of the way of a moving bus. By offering to donate bone marrow, you can save lives threatened by cancers and blood diseases. In the US alone, 6,000 people need a bone marrow transplant on any given day.
Bone marrow is a spongy material that is found inside some major bones like the hipbone. The stem cells in the bone marrow are the building blocks of the blood: The red blood cells - which carry oxygen; the white cells - which fight infection; and the platelets - which stop bleeding, are all produced by the stem cells and are released into the blood stream via the veins and the thin tissue surrounding the bone. Read this article to find out how to donate some of your bone marrow.
STEPS
• Make sure you qualify as a donor. Before you register, consider the criteria. Note that in every country the criteria to be a bone marrow donor are slightly different.
• There is usually an age limit (e.g. in the US, you must be between 18 and 60 years old and in the UK, between 18 and 49).
• There are a variety of diseases and conditions which could prevent you from becoming a donor. You will be asked to fill out a health history form and be informed if you meet the organization's health criteria. This is done to protect the health of the donor as well as the patient.
• Make a commitment. If you are contacted as a match and change your mind about donating (which you can do at any time) your decision could be devastating and life-threatening to the patient. Talk to your family and friends about your decision; donating will be easier with their support. Know what you're getting into, and how the donation is carried out:
• There will be a time commitment involved for taking blood and tissue tests to make sure the transplant will be successful.
• The most common form of donation does not involve surgery; it's very similar to donating blood. It is possible, however, that you'll be asked to donate marrow through surgery.
• It usually takes up to 7 days for you to return to your daily routine after donating.
• While the medical procedures will often be covered by the patient's insurance company, and the organization may reimburse you for travel costs, there may be other costs involved that you will not be reimbursed for (e.g. food during your travels).
• Register in the bone marrow registry in your country. Do an Internet search for "bone marrow registry" and the name of the country in which you live (see the list below). In many cases, you can register online, or you can obtain a list of addresses where you can sign up in person.
• If you register online to donate bone marrow in the US, you will need to order your tissue-typing kit for $52 with a credit card. If you register in person, like at a drive, there may be a sponsor who covers the tissue-typing costs. Whatever you end up paying is tax-deductible.
• Give a swab or a blood sample. In order to be registered, you must have your tissue type determined. In the UK, you can do this while donating blood. Indicate that you wish to join the registry before you donate blood, so that the staff can prepare to take an extra sample. If you ordered a tissue-typing kit in the US, you'll receive instructions in getting a sample from the inside of your cheek.
• Be available. Now, you just have to wait for a match. If your tissue type matches that if a patient in need of a bone marrow transplant, you will be contacted, so it's important that you keep your contact information up-to-date and respond promptly.
• Attend the information session. Before you make your decision, an information session will be held to inform you of the donation procedure as well as the risks and possible side effects that may occur as a result. You will also be told if the doctors expect you to donate cells from bone marrow or cells from circulating blood (known as a PBSC donation) After getting all this information, you will be asked to decide if you will proceed with the donation.
• Get a physical exam. If you agree to become a donor, you will have to undergo a physical examination to make sure you have no serious medical conditions. You will also find out if the donation would pose any risks to either you or the patient.
• Familiarise yourself with the process of the donation.
• For a PBSC donation: You will receive daily injections of a drug named Filgrastim for five days before the collection. This is to increase the number of blood-forming cells in the bloodstream. You may experience side effects like headache or bone or muscle aches. Your blood will be removed via a sterile needle that is connected to a machine that collects the blood-forming cells. This process is similar to donating plasma. The remaining blood is returned to you.
•
Donated bone marrow
For a bone marrow donation: This is a surgical procedure. You will receive anaesthesia. The doctors use hollow needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of your pelvic bones. Many donors receive a transfusion of their own previously donated blood. You might feel soreness in your lower back for a few days, and your marrow will be completely replenished by your body within four to six weeks.
Bone Marrow Registries
In alphabetical order by country.
• Australia - http://www.abmdr.org.au/dynamic_menus.php?id=1&menuid=2&mainid=1
• India - http://www.matchpia.org/
• UK - https://secure.blood.co.uk/bonemarrow.asp
• USA - http://www.marrow.org/HELP/Join_the_Donor_Registry/index.html
• Canada - http://www.onematch.ca/
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Improve computer's Performance
Here are some ways to improve your computer's performance:
1. Virtual Memory (or Paging File) settings:
Virtual memory settings can help you to speeding up your computer performance. Virtual memory is a concept implemented by the computer and its operating system; it allows you to use a very large memory or storage addresses for stored data.
Virtual memory is computer’s hard drive space which is used by Windows when it fills up the physical RAM (Random Access Memory). It happens when you are running several applications at once the memory exceeds the RAM’s memory then windows will use the free space on the hard drive to store the exceeded memory. This is called the Paging file or Virtual memory. Writing to disc takes more time than to RAM, and then the computer performs slowly. Windows by default uses the boot partition to store the Virtual memory.
By changing the Virtual memory settings you can increase your computerperformance. To change the Virtual memory settings go to Start > Control panel and click on Systems. Open Advanced tab and in the Performance section click Settings. From the Performance Section dialog select Advanced tab and click Change in the Virtual memory section.
2. Defragging or De Fragment your Hard-Drive:
A badly distributed disk mapping or the storage can slowdown the computer performance and take a lot of time to open programs. Defragmentation canimprove the speed of your computer.
Defragging the hard drive will join the files which are separated into one piece. It will also make the block of free space collecting all the empty spots on the hard drive.
Before running defragmenter you should be closed all programs, especially firewalls and Anti virus programs.
Defragmentation will keep your system fast and smooth.
3. Manage Startup Programs:
You can increase your system’s speed by managing the startup programs.
Use System Configuration Utility to manage / clean-up your startup programs.
Most common programs that we install automaically create entries in the Startup Folder which loads them when the computer boots. In most cases this is not a good idea and it slows down the statup time of your machine
To manage your startup programs, click Start > select Run > type msconfig and click OK, from System Configuration Utility dialog select Startup tab and uncheck the programs which you do not boot with startup.
4. Save Disc Space:
Freeing the Disc space will help you speed up your computer performance. Free up your hard discs space by performing the following tasks.
o Configure Recycle bin: To configure recycle bin, right click on Recycle bin and select Properties. From the Global tab configure the recycle bin for each drive independently.
o Turn off System Restore: System Restore recovers Windows files but not any of your data. So having System Restore enabled rather than Windows installed drive (usually C) is completely no use.
o Remove Temporary Internet Files: Temporary internet files take up lots of space, it cause the computer performance. Delete these files by opening IE (Internet Explorer) and go to Tools, then Internet Options. From the Options dialog, click on Settings in the Temporary Internet Files section. Change the storage value being used by the Temporary internet files. Click on Clear History to delete the files opened in the past.
The above tasks can improve the performance of your system.
1. Virtual Memory (or Paging File) settings:
Virtual memory settings can help you to speeding up your computer performance. Virtual memory is a concept implemented by the computer and its operating system; it allows you to use a very large memory or storage addresses for stored data.
Virtual memory is computer’s hard drive space which is used by Windows when it fills up the physical RAM (Random Access Memory). It happens when you are running several applications at once the memory exceeds the RAM’s memory then windows will use the free space on the hard drive to store the exceeded memory. This is called the Paging file or Virtual memory. Writing to disc takes more time than to RAM, and then the computer performs slowly. Windows by default uses the boot partition to store the Virtual memory.
By changing the Virtual memory settings you can increase your computerperformance. To change the Virtual memory settings go to Start > Control panel and click on Systems. Open Advanced tab and in the Performance section click Settings. From the Performance Section dialog select Advanced tab and click Change in the Virtual memory section.
2. Defragging or De Fragment your Hard-Drive:
A badly distributed disk mapping or the storage can slowdown the computer performance and take a lot of time to open programs. Defragmentation canimprove the speed of your computer.
Defragging the hard drive will join the files which are separated into one piece. It will also make the block of free space collecting all the empty spots on the hard drive.
Before running defragmenter you should be closed all programs, especially firewalls and Anti virus programs.
Defragmentation will keep your system fast and smooth.
3. Manage Startup Programs:
You can increase your system’s speed by managing the startup programs.
Use System Configuration Utility to manage / clean-up your startup programs.
Most common programs that we install automaically create entries in the Startup Folder which loads them when the computer boots. In most cases this is not a good idea and it slows down the statup time of your machine
To manage your startup programs, click Start > select Run > type msconfig and click OK, from System Configuration Utility dialog select Startup tab and uncheck the programs which you do not boot with startup.
4. Save Disc Space:
Freeing the Disc space will help you speed up your computer performance. Free up your hard discs space by performing the following tasks.
o Configure Recycle bin: To configure recycle bin, right click on Recycle bin and select Properties. From the Global tab configure the recycle bin for each drive independently.
o Turn off System Restore: System Restore recovers Windows files but not any of your data. So having System Restore enabled rather than Windows installed drive (usually C) is completely no use.
o Remove Temporary Internet Files: Temporary internet files take up lots of space, it cause the computer performance. Delete these files by opening IE (Internet Explorer) and go to Tools, then Internet Options. From the Options dialog, click on Settings in the Temporary Internet Files section. Change the storage value being used by the Temporary internet files. Click on Clear History to delete the files opened in the past.
The above tasks can improve the performance of your system.
Top 10 April Fools' Day Pranks
The first recorded April Fools' Day prank was pulled in 1627 by a madcap Irishman named Edmund O'Neely. The founding prankster's brother, Timothy, had been down on his luck, so O'Neely decided to cheer him up with some old-fashioned springtime shenanigans.
He coaxed Timothy to go on a carriage ride in the countryside and asked his brother if he wouldn't mind driving since Edmund's carpal tunnel-addled wrist was acting up. Timmy grabbed the reins, urged the horses to giddy up and was promptly catapulted off his seat because wily Edmund had unhitched the horses from the buggy.
Delighted, Edmund shouted out, "Cheerio, April fool!" Once Timothy recovered from his stunning fall, both men belly-laughed until their sides ached and told the tale thereafter at all family gatherings.
Just kidding. April Fools'!
The true origin of April Fools' Day probably has something to with either the change from the Gregorian to the Julian calendar in the 16th century or ancient Roman festivals celebrating the end of winter. For the annual day reserved for sneakiness and skulduggery, its shaky history is fitting. So in the spirit of April Fools' Day, here are 10 false rumors and gags for your pranking pleasure.
10: Artificial Ink Prank
Flashing new ink at work can effectively grab co-workers' attention.
¬Nothing grabs people's attention like an enormous -- and fake -- tattoo. If you happen to work in a business-casual environment, the effect is even better. Just make sure to apply it somewhere where it will be seen, like your forearms or upper chest.
Pay attention to size and quality. To go for a big fool, find the gaudiest fake ink you can. If you have a specific image in mind, Web sites offer custom fake tattoos and fake tattoo printer paper to make your own. Some costume shops carry nylon tattoo "sleeves" you can slip on if you don't want to endure an entire day with the Hell's Angels emblem plastered on your jugular.
9: Spread the Rumor: They're Building a Freezer in the Arctic!
The Arctic Preservation Dome will save polar bear habitats.
¬Do photographs of polar bears floating on tiny blocks of melted glaciers break your heart into tiny pieces? Worry no more -- scientists have figured out a way to stop the Arctic from melting until efforts to halt global warming begin to take effect. A group of international scholars has outlined plans to construct a dome-shaped freezer spanning 500 acres to protect arctic wildlife. It will be funded jointly by the United States, European Union and China.
The encasement will be built from insulated Plexiglas, and solar-powered refrigeration units will maintain icy-cold conditions inside. The tentatively named Arctic Preservation Dome will also house field researchers who will study the effects of the artificial habitat on flora and fauna.
Now spread the rumor.
8: April Fools' Fake-out Prank
The April Fools' fake-out can mess with someone's head.
¬Some of the best pranks involve nothing more than mind games. No gift-wrapped office furniture or Jell-O-molded staplers necessary. Consider, for example, the April Fools' Day fake-out. This post-modernist prank within a prank is sure to baffle.
You get to your desk on the morning of April 1 to behold a large note sitting on your chair. All it says is "April Fools'!" in large, red scrawl. It's menacing and unsettling. You sit down nervously and look around your desk, but nothing's out of place. You check your voicemail and e-mail, waiting in vain for something out of the ordinary. You ask around about who wrote the note, and no one 'fesses up. The possibility of a prank at your expense lingers all day.
Try it with a note, e-mail, text message, Twitter feed or whatever medium you'd like. Just play it cool if you see the prank victim in order to not give it away.
7: Spread the Rumor: Earthquakes are the Latest Form of Energy!
Earthquake Deferral Technology converts seismic vibrations to usable power.
¬We hear a lot these days about alternative energy sources and conservation. Certain diesel engines, for instance, can run on vegetable oil, and solar-powered businesses and homes are becoming more mainstream. Now, thanks to a coalition of civil and chemical engineers, the newest alternative energy source on the block transforms disaster into opportunity.
Earthquake deferral technology harnesses the power of impending quakes and converts it into usable energy. Seismic sensors will measure the activity of the Earth's plates, and piezoelectric panels embedded deep within the ground will transfer the strongest vibrations into electrical power. San Francisco -- a hotbed of earthquake activity -- will be the first municipal system to use this energy technology, starting in 2015.
Now go spread the rumor -- starting with all of your friends on the West Coast.
6: Mystery Meat Prank
A mysterious bag in the office fridge can get people talking.
¬Offices are germ havens. If you've read How Death by Cubicle Works, you know that the average office employee encounters around 10 million germs each day. Disgusting? Yes. But not quite as gross as the foul lunches that sit in break room refrigerators for weeks on end. Tupperware grows murkier with mold as the days wear on.
For April Fools' Day, why not add to that simmering stew of abandoned food in the fridge? We recommend a brown paper bag duct-taped shut to keep away prying eyes. In bold lettering, add a disturbing label to the front to catch people's attention when they fish for their leftover takeout. HowStuffWorks suggests "Brains" or "Weasel" to really get the rumor mill churning.
5: Spread the Rumor: Green Pollution! Run!
Has the green movement inadvertently created more pollution?
¬Green is the new black. Slap the word "green" in front of virtually any service or product, and you've probably got a winner. To have a little fun with the marketing trend, HowStuffWorks presents the concept of green pollution.
A new study released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has turned the quest to quell global climate change on its ear. Measuring the greenhouse gas emissions in New York City, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles, the EPA found that pollution has actually risen in the past five years in spite of conservation efforts. The primary explanation the agency has pinpointed is the ramped up production of "green" products and the widespread waste of less environmentally friendly ones. Hence the term "green pollution."
While production of cheap plastic bags is down, for instance, the greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing and shipping canvas totes and reusable paper bags are up. And since hybrid cars have softened green guilt associated with driving, more cars are on the roads. Once green lifestyles become more affordable and mainstream, the EPA predicts that green pollution will plateau and then begin to decline.
Now go spread the rumor.
4: Spread the Rumor: Sleep Is a Thing of the Past!
This adorable pooch is sleeping while awake with REM goggles.
¬Eliminate the need for sleep with revolutionary REM goggles. Delta-wave sleep is the deepest type of sleep humans experience; at that point, brain wave activity reaches its lowest level. During REM sleep, when we have vivid dreams, brain activity is aroused to the same level it is when you're awake.
Taking this cue, a team of researchers at Berkeley devised REM goggles that simulate REM brain wave patterns and allow your body to sleep while remaining awake. The eyewear works through optical nerve stimulation. Imperceptible beams of LED lights embedded in the goggle frames excite the optical nerve, mimicking the same nerve firing frequency that occurs during REM sleep. That activity then stimulates REM-pattern nerve firings across the brain. Not only will you reap the benefits of a rested mind, the stylish goggles (which come in a wide assortment of colors) also improve memory.
Now go spread the rumor.
3: Pest Control Prank
This prankster is scratching at his fake head lice.
¬A surefire way to set off a panic in the office is to tell people that you have an insidiously contagious condition such as pink eye or head lice. Of course, we aren't suggesting that you spread said pestilence and carry out the worst possible April Fools' Day prank in history. It's all about subtle trickery.
Bring a bottle of lice powder or pink-eye medicated drops to work and casually leave it in the bathroom when no one else is around. The key for this one is stealth; don't let anyone see you leave the meds behind in the bathroom. To add more fuel to the fire, scratch your head or rub your eyes whenever you're around someone. Soon enough, co-workers will be abuzz with paranoid theories about who infected the workplace.
2: Spread the Rumor: Ladies and Gentlemen ... the Forever Dollar
The (fake) Forever Dollar will hold its market value indefinitely.
¬Finally, a prank you can take to the bank. U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner announced the arrival of a limited-edition dollar bill that will be printed as an additional stimulus for the economy. Taking a cue from the U.S. Postal Service, the Treasury will sell 1 million "forever dollars" from May 1, 2009 to July 1, 2009. In light of the declining worth of the dollar on the global market, the value of forever dollars will be locked in at the current conversion rate of 77 cents to the ¬euro and 5 cents to the yuan.
Since forever dollars will potentially be worth more than regular currency, the Treasury will sell them for $1.05. To distinguish between forever dollars and dollars currently in circulation, the new bill will be printed with red ink, and a prominent "F" will mark each corner.
Next step: Tell your friends that you have a few of these forever dollars and are willing to sell them at a discount (say, $1.04).
1: Cubicle Rolling Prank
Rearranging computer keyboard keys can get a laugh.
¬The classic prank of rolling a cubicle has been honed over the years into a veritable art form. These days, a cube filled to the brim with packing peanuts is old-school -- and not in a good way, like picnics and postcards. Thanks to the Internet and digital cameras, the ante is up for tra¬shing an office space. Allow us to offer a few suggestions that, if executed properly, will solidify your reign as the king or queen of workplace pranks:
• Gift wrapping everything in a cubicle requires lots of time, tape and nimble fingers, but the effect is a present in itself.
• Collect all the plants from around the office and gather them all at one cubicle. Cover the desk, chair, floor space, shelves and insides of drawers.
• Coating an office with sticky notes also creates a dramatic effect. A little overdone, perhaps, but impressive nonetheless.
• Creating a nonfunctioning work space will drive a co-worker insane with frustration. Dip the ends of pens in clear nail polish, cover the bottom of a computer mouse with paper, tape down the phone receiver and rearrange keyboard buttons.
He coaxed Timothy to go on a carriage ride in the countryside and asked his brother if he wouldn't mind driving since Edmund's carpal tunnel-addled wrist was acting up. Timmy grabbed the reins, urged the horses to giddy up and was promptly catapulted off his seat because wily Edmund had unhitched the horses from the buggy.
Delighted, Edmund shouted out, "Cheerio, April fool!" Once Timothy recovered from his stunning fall, both men belly-laughed until their sides ached and told the tale thereafter at all family gatherings.
Just kidding. April Fools'!
The true origin of April Fools' Day probably has something to with either the change from the Gregorian to the Julian calendar in the 16th century or ancient Roman festivals celebrating the end of winter. For the annual day reserved for sneakiness and skulduggery, its shaky history is fitting. So in the spirit of April Fools' Day, here are 10 false rumors and gags for your pranking pleasure.
10: Artificial Ink Prank
Flashing new ink at work can effectively grab co-workers' attention.
¬Nothing grabs people's attention like an enormous -- and fake -- tattoo. If you happen to work in a business-casual environment, the effect is even better. Just make sure to apply it somewhere where it will be seen, like your forearms or upper chest.
Pay attention to size and quality. To go for a big fool, find the gaudiest fake ink you can. If you have a specific image in mind, Web sites offer custom fake tattoos and fake tattoo printer paper to make your own. Some costume shops carry nylon tattoo "sleeves" you can slip on if you don't want to endure an entire day with the Hell's Angels emblem plastered on your jugular.
9: Spread the Rumor: They're Building a Freezer in the Arctic!
The Arctic Preservation Dome will save polar bear habitats.
¬Do photographs of polar bears floating on tiny blocks of melted glaciers break your heart into tiny pieces? Worry no more -- scientists have figured out a way to stop the Arctic from melting until efforts to halt global warming begin to take effect. A group of international scholars has outlined plans to construct a dome-shaped freezer spanning 500 acres to protect arctic wildlife. It will be funded jointly by the United States, European Union and China.
The encasement will be built from insulated Plexiglas, and solar-powered refrigeration units will maintain icy-cold conditions inside. The tentatively named Arctic Preservation Dome will also house field researchers who will study the effects of the artificial habitat on flora and fauna.
Now spread the rumor.
8: April Fools' Fake-out Prank
The April Fools' fake-out can mess with someone's head.
¬Some of the best pranks involve nothing more than mind games. No gift-wrapped office furniture or Jell-O-molded staplers necessary. Consider, for example, the April Fools' Day fake-out. This post-modernist prank within a prank is sure to baffle.
You get to your desk on the morning of April 1 to behold a large note sitting on your chair. All it says is "April Fools'!" in large, red scrawl. It's menacing and unsettling. You sit down nervously and look around your desk, but nothing's out of place. You check your voicemail and e-mail, waiting in vain for something out of the ordinary. You ask around about who wrote the note, and no one 'fesses up. The possibility of a prank at your expense lingers all day.
Try it with a note, e-mail, text message, Twitter feed or whatever medium you'd like. Just play it cool if you see the prank victim in order to not give it away.
7: Spread the Rumor: Earthquakes are the Latest Form of Energy!
Earthquake Deferral Technology converts seismic vibrations to usable power.
¬We hear a lot these days about alternative energy sources and conservation. Certain diesel engines, for instance, can run on vegetable oil, and solar-powered businesses and homes are becoming more mainstream. Now, thanks to a coalition of civil and chemical engineers, the newest alternative energy source on the block transforms disaster into opportunity.
Earthquake deferral technology harnesses the power of impending quakes and converts it into usable energy. Seismic sensors will measure the activity of the Earth's plates, and piezoelectric panels embedded deep within the ground will transfer the strongest vibrations into electrical power. San Francisco -- a hotbed of earthquake activity -- will be the first municipal system to use this energy technology, starting in 2015.
Now go spread the rumor -- starting with all of your friends on the West Coast.
6: Mystery Meat Prank
A mysterious bag in the office fridge can get people talking.
¬Offices are germ havens. If you've read How Death by Cubicle Works, you know that the average office employee encounters around 10 million germs each day. Disgusting? Yes. But not quite as gross as the foul lunches that sit in break room refrigerators for weeks on end. Tupperware grows murkier with mold as the days wear on.
For April Fools' Day, why not add to that simmering stew of abandoned food in the fridge? We recommend a brown paper bag duct-taped shut to keep away prying eyes. In bold lettering, add a disturbing label to the front to catch people's attention when they fish for their leftover takeout. HowStuffWorks suggests "Brains" or "Weasel" to really get the rumor mill churning.
5: Spread the Rumor: Green Pollution! Run!
Has the green movement inadvertently created more pollution?
¬Green is the new black. Slap the word "green" in front of virtually any service or product, and you've probably got a winner. To have a little fun with the marketing trend, HowStuffWorks presents the concept of green pollution.
A new study released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has turned the quest to quell global climate change on its ear. Measuring the greenhouse gas emissions in New York City, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles, the EPA found that pollution has actually risen in the past five years in spite of conservation efforts. The primary explanation the agency has pinpointed is the ramped up production of "green" products and the widespread waste of less environmentally friendly ones. Hence the term "green pollution."
While production of cheap plastic bags is down, for instance, the greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing and shipping canvas totes and reusable paper bags are up. And since hybrid cars have softened green guilt associated with driving, more cars are on the roads. Once green lifestyles become more affordable and mainstream, the EPA predicts that green pollution will plateau and then begin to decline.
Now go spread the rumor.
4: Spread the Rumor: Sleep Is a Thing of the Past!
This adorable pooch is sleeping while awake with REM goggles.
¬Eliminate the need for sleep with revolutionary REM goggles. Delta-wave sleep is the deepest type of sleep humans experience; at that point, brain wave activity reaches its lowest level. During REM sleep, when we have vivid dreams, brain activity is aroused to the same level it is when you're awake.
Taking this cue, a team of researchers at Berkeley devised REM goggles that simulate REM brain wave patterns and allow your body to sleep while remaining awake. The eyewear works through optical nerve stimulation. Imperceptible beams of LED lights embedded in the goggle frames excite the optical nerve, mimicking the same nerve firing frequency that occurs during REM sleep. That activity then stimulates REM-pattern nerve firings across the brain. Not only will you reap the benefits of a rested mind, the stylish goggles (which come in a wide assortment of colors) also improve memory.
Now go spread the rumor.
3: Pest Control Prank
This prankster is scratching at his fake head lice.
¬A surefire way to set off a panic in the office is to tell people that you have an insidiously contagious condition such as pink eye or head lice. Of course, we aren't suggesting that you spread said pestilence and carry out the worst possible April Fools' Day prank in history. It's all about subtle trickery.
Bring a bottle of lice powder or pink-eye medicated drops to work and casually leave it in the bathroom when no one else is around. The key for this one is stealth; don't let anyone see you leave the meds behind in the bathroom. To add more fuel to the fire, scratch your head or rub your eyes whenever you're around someone. Soon enough, co-workers will be abuzz with paranoid theories about who infected the workplace.
2: Spread the Rumor: Ladies and Gentlemen ... the Forever Dollar
The (fake) Forever Dollar will hold its market value indefinitely.
¬Finally, a prank you can take to the bank. U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner announced the arrival of a limited-edition dollar bill that will be printed as an additional stimulus for the economy. Taking a cue from the U.S. Postal Service, the Treasury will sell 1 million "forever dollars" from May 1, 2009 to July 1, 2009. In light of the declining worth of the dollar on the global market, the value of forever dollars will be locked in at the current conversion rate of 77 cents to the ¬euro and 5 cents to the yuan.
Since forever dollars will potentially be worth more than regular currency, the Treasury will sell them for $1.05. To distinguish between forever dollars and dollars currently in circulation, the new bill will be printed with red ink, and a prominent "F" will mark each corner.
Next step: Tell your friends that you have a few of these forever dollars and are willing to sell them at a discount (say, $1.04).
1: Cubicle Rolling Prank
Rearranging computer keyboard keys can get a laugh.
¬The classic prank of rolling a cubicle has been honed over the years into a veritable art form. These days, a cube filled to the brim with packing peanuts is old-school -- and not in a good way, like picnics and postcards. Thanks to the Internet and digital cameras, the ante is up for tra¬shing an office space. Allow us to offer a few suggestions that, if executed properly, will solidify your reign as the king or queen of workplace pranks:
• Gift wrapping everything in a cubicle requires lots of time, tape and nimble fingers, but the effect is a present in itself.
• Collect all the plants from around the office and gather them all at one cubicle. Cover the desk, chair, floor space, shelves and insides of drawers.
• Coating an office with sticky notes also creates a dramatic effect. A little overdone, perhaps, but impressive nonetheless.
• Creating a nonfunctioning work space will drive a co-worker insane with frustration. Dip the ends of pens in clear nail polish, cover the bottom of a computer mouse with paper, tape down the phone receiver and rearrange keyboard buttons.
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