The second annual National Go Topless Protest Day will be held this Sunday, August 23, in various American cities. It happens to be run by Raelians, members of a UFO religion founded by Rael, a former French sports-car journalist and test driver born Claude Vorilhon. (Coverage of last year's protest in New York City, which is, as one might suspect, NSFW.) Though the current "Go Topless!" site talks more about women's rights than Raelism, in 2004, Raelian women were marching topless not for the legalization of bare breastedness, but against "the repressive Myth of God." Don't remember the Raelians? This is just the most recent stunt by the publicity-hungry group that capitalizes on media-friendly controversy: in 2002, during the slow news week between Christmas and New Year's Day, they announced the creation of the first human clone, gaining what Rael estimated at over $500 million of free media coverage. In an interview, Rael unabashedly discusses his passion for publicity. [more inside]
posted by ocherdraco on Aug 21, 2009 - 63 comments

Jeremy Harper is counting to one million. And blogging about it.
posted by BitterOldPunk on Jun 19, 2007 - 90 comments

The missive, on paper decorated with roses and butterflies addresses a Mr. Pulsifer, and implores him to "burn down Edith Wharton's house." Algonquin press goes just a touch overboard in their publicity for a new novel.
posted by Lentrohamsanin on Mar 6, 2007 - 9 comments

get me a job - win $200!! marc needham, one of the chicagobloggers circle, is taking matters out of a recruiter's hands and turning them over to his network. it's simple: get him a contact or interview that leads to a position fitting his criteria and you get $200. what i find interesting here is not the publicity skew that could be put on the event, but that recruiting can become grass-roots again. especially in an industry that's become as over-formal as have interactive conent agencies.
posted by patricking on Feb 13, 2002 - 17 comments

Pizza delivery sets new altitude record as space station cosmonaut Yuri Usachov receives Pizza Hut order sent via resupply rocket.
posted by Mars Saxman on May 27, 2001 - 15 comments