Never Take a Spinner Seriously

The tiny Pacific state of Kiribati was thrown into panic by an article published by New Zealand spoof site www.spinner.co.nz. The article announced the imminent invasion of Kiribati by US forces, quoting President Bush as accusing its leader, President Tito, of “developing weapons of mass destruction, and some pretty damn fine crab soup.” The ensuing furore forced the local government to issue several public notices disclaiming the story. After being personally questioned by President Tito, NZ High Commissioner to Kiribati, Neil Robertson concluded that “the Kiribati sense of humour does not encompasssatire.”