Google, that powerhouse of Internet technology, has reportedly made an offer to buy TheSpoof.com website for $1 zillion.
News of the offer, which leaked during the morning, sent shares in The Spoof! soaring to an all-time high and dragged other share prices up with it. Some traders, who were about to throw themselves off the tops of their buildings due to recent falls in share prices across the world, managed to stop themselves in time, while others sadly only heard the news as they were flying through the air.
One stockbroker was heard saying: "Wow, I'm not broke after all, aaaaghh, yes I am!"
Since anyone who has contributed to the Spoof! automatically gets one share for every person who has read one of his articles, Google's offer could create a lot of millionaires.
Shares in the Spoof! were suspended soon after the news broke. The editor of the Spoof!, who is credited with the website's success, took all staff out for a celebration meal at MacDonalds, the cost of which was then docked from their pay.
However, the picture may not be quite as rosy as predicted. A top scientist chap, who's very good at scrabble and other word games, said:
"I don't think there's actually such a word as a 'zillion'. All this could be a wicked joke. Or maybe another false rumour spread by Noshing Mink."
