Completed Task: 46. Pull off an April Fools Prank.
Yesterday was April 1st, also known as April Fool’s Day. In a 1001 day period there aren’t that many April 1st’s available, so I knew I needed to be a bit more organized than usual. So a few months ago I did a quick websearch on April fool’s jokes. I needed something that was practical, believable and that wasn’t going to have me laughing my head off during the act and thus ruining the whole thing.
I quickly settled on the trick of freezing someone’s desktop so that all the shortcuts were unusable. A brief glance at the instructions showed that this was a joke I could pull off and I was pretty sure it would be believable.
The Target
So yesterday morning I singled out the victim’s laptop as the target for my trick. First, I had to take a screenshot of their desktop, then I had to make that the desktop image and finally I then had to remove (or hide) the desktop shortcuts. The operation went smoothly and not even the fact that the laptop was in Dutch slowed me down. Then all I had to do was wait…oh and not laugh.
Before the Freeze
Eventually my victim opened the laptop and powered it up. He was on the phone to start with but I did see him frown as he attempted to use the web browser. A few minutes later when the telephone conversation had finished I heard:
Victim: There is something wrong with my laptop, the shortcuts aren’t working.
Me: Really?
Victim: Yeah, look they are doing nothing, crap do I have that virus?
Me: I heard the virus didn’t happen but that is weird, yeah.
Victim: Do your’s work? Maybe I need to restart.
Me: Yeah everything is fine with mine.
At this point he restarted the computer and of course it still wouldn’t work.
Victim: It still doesn’t work, what is going on?
Removing the Shortcuts
After a few more futile double clicks I burst out laughing and shouted ‘April Fool’s’ and showed what I had done. I even got a thumb’s up from him as he was impressed that I had managed to come up with something like that AND pulled it off without laughing.
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My 101 List
In December 2007, while surfing the Internet, I came across a random 101 list. Firstly, from this 101 list I found out about a number of interesting ideas, websites and projects to take part in. Secondly I learned all about the world of 101 in 1001.
The Mission:
Complete 101 pre-set tasks in a period of 1001 days. See Day Zero for more information.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
I never did find that 101 list again but I am glad that I stumbled across it as I have gained a lot from it. As have my many friends and family members that have gone on to create their own 101 in 1001.
Below is my 101 list which started on January 1st 2008 and is set to finish on September 28th 2010.
1. Complete 101 list.
2. Learn Dutch well enough to pass the Dutch exams.
3. Complete my masters degree.
4. Complete the 50 Book Challenge.
5. Maintain a blog that people enjoy reading.
6. Complete Dream Director.
7. Make DVDs of my digital photos.
8. Scrapbook
9. Take a last minute city break.
10. See an Einaudi concert in Rome.
11. Go on a horseback riding holiday.
12. Learn about wine tasting.
13. Take a hot-air balloon ride.
14. Take a walk in the rain.
15. Sleep under the stars.
16. Learn to play a song on the piano.
17. Organise the basement.
18. Finish the guest room.
19. Explore every region of Holland.
20. Send a message in a bottle.
21. Visit all 7 continents.
22. Learn to touch type (officially).
23. Swim with dolphins.
24. Fly a kite.
25. Milk a cow.
26. See a monkey in the wild.
27. Make a photo album for a loved one.
28. Send a handwritten letter each month for at least a year.
29. Pick apples.
30. Make space cake.
31. Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
32. Invest in the stock market.
33. Complete a 1000 piece puzzle.
34. Sponsor a child.
35. Raise money for charity.
36. Overcome a fear.
37. Stay overnight in a haunted location.
38. Write a book.
39. Go into a library, randomly select a book and read it.
40. Start my own strange holiday.
41. Learn to solve a rubiks cube.
42. Complete the 26 Things Scavanger Hunt.
43. Participate in PostCrossing.
44. Add and update all my books in LibraryThing.
45. Learn my mobile phone number.
46. Pull off an April Fools Prank.
47. Give a homeless person an Xmas gift.
48. Buy a stranger something from their Amazon wishlist.
49. Find my signature dish.
50. Celebrate my half birthday.
51. See the Northern Lights (again).
52. Do up the balcony.
53. Build up to drinking eight glasses of water a day.
54. Purchase and take care of a plant for downstairs.
55. Learn how to knit.
56. Work on my Chinese brush painting.
57. Cycle once a week (at least).
58. Organize (and keep it that way) the house.
59. Take more pictures.
60. Volunteer
61. Complete scuba diving training.
62. Attend a Tony Robbins Seminar.
63. Organize I-tunes music.
64. Make use of my BlueMountain.com membership.
65. Get Christmas and birthday gifts organised early.
66. Turn off the lights when not using them.
67. Recycle as much as possible.
68. Buy fruit and veg from the local farm rather than in the shop.
69. Take an open learning course.
70. Makeover my commute.
71. Eat my lunch outside.
72. Resolve OU complaint.
73. Take vitamins/minerals every day for a month (hopefully by then it will be a habit).
74. Do a DIY mask/facial once a week.
75. Complete Moodgym.
76. Complete a community challenge.
77. Locate an old friend and keep in touch.
78. Buy the wine of the month for a year, learn about the wine and appreciate drinking it.
79. Visit Vinopolis.
80. Go to Euro Disney.
81. Take a trip with The Adventure Company.
82. Visit all the zoos in the Netherlands.
83. Get healthy.
84. Deal with all post the moment it comes through the door.
85. Keep a wine journal.
86. Enter a photo competition.
87. Visit a monastery.
88. Try a new restaurant in Rotterdam.
89. Try pottery.
90. Throw a dinner party.
91. Try archery.
92. Go cave diving.
93. Make an art sculpture.
94. Go to a concert.
95. Learn to use photoshop.
96. Go have a top notch haircut.
97. Make a ship in a bottle.
98. View a property that is way out of my price range.
99. Visit a candle factory.
100. Try to break a strange world record.
101. Try glass blowing.
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Recent
- Completed Task: 46. Pull off an April Fools Prank.
- Completed Task: 94. Go to a concert.
- Completed Task: 77. Locate an old friend and keep in touch.
- Completed Task: 41. Learn to solve a rubik’s cube.
- Completed Task: 6. Complete Dream Director.
- Completed Task: 42. Complete the 26 Things Scavanger Hunt.
- Completed Task: 72. Resolve OU complaint
- Completed Task: 47. Give A Homeless Person An Xmas Gift.
- Completed Task: 95. Learn To Use Photoshop.
- Completed Task: 88. Try A New Restaurant In Rotterdam
- Completed Task: 84. Deal With All Post The Moment It Comes Through The Door.
- Completed Task: 70. Makeover My Commute.
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