France has an April 1 tradition that typically puzzles my American friends: kids make up paper fish and discreetly stick them on people’s back, who end up walking around all day unaware. Makes sense? No, but it’s funny. We also have the less surprising tradition of entirely made up, ridiculous news report. I won’t side with the grumbling “what about ethics?” crowd this time; April Fool’s story are just harmless fun. I got totally fooled a few years ago by my hometown paper Le Bien Public announcing the construction of a modern skyscraper in the middle of Dijon’s half medieval, half Haussmannian downtown area. The most brilliant one ever was when a good and talented friend announced he was quitting radio, and everyone seriously thought the world had lost the next Ira Glass.

Today, check out Tribune poking fun at itself, read Wikipedia’s featured article on “enterprising circus emcee” Ima Hogg, and wish - only wish - that Gmail’s custom time feature were actually real. You’ll never miss a deadline again.

To avoid being made a fool of, re-read Jack Shafer’s 2007 April Fool’s Day Defense Kit. Seen any good ones today? Add them in the comments.

PS: I’m now starting to wonder if the Times is serious about Mugabe resigning. But that would just be too cruel.