The above appeared not long ago at the Old Gray Lady [archive.org], who perhaps enjoyed a second sherry at lunch today. Bylined "Joe Schmoe", the article comprised of a stock photo of a watermelon and the following text:
Fields of Watermelons Found On Mars, Police Say
Authorities say rise of fruit aliens is to blame for glut of outer space watermelons.
The FBI declined to comment onreports of watermelons raining down, but confirmed that kiwis have been intercepted. This story is terribly boring.
Futurism was the first to notice the cock-up, showing it listed on Google News and speculating that it was the result of a content management system test that went awry.
Editors at The New York Times soon replaced it with the following:
The reason "test" stories are silly? Precisely because everyone can tell it's not a real item. You don't want to do this with Henry Kissinger's pre-written obit.
