Please Release Me: First-Ever Wedding at Titanic Museum Attraction in Tennessee

This press release showed up in our inbox:

First-Ever Wedding at Titanic Museum Attraction in Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee – June 28, 2010 – The new Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. had its first-ever wedding last Friday morning when Casey Hollon and Kevin Foster, both of Savannah, Ga., tied the knot on the ship’s Grand Staircase.

After a short, convertible parade through Dealey Plaza, the couple plans a scuba diving-slash-fishing charter honeymoon in Pearl Harbor.

**In the spirit of drawing well-deserved attention to flacks everywhere, we’ve begun to collect press release hits and misses.

Please Release Me: Insulation – Bringing Sexy Back!

Speaking of legislation that makes us itch, Rep. Deborah L. Halvorson (D-Fragers) just sent out this letter to her colleagues on Capitol Hill. [clever]

Earlier today, President Obama proclaimed “Insulation is sexy stuff ” while speaking at a Home Depot on retrofitting buildings in order to bring Americans back to work while saving money and being energy efficient. I wholeheartedly agree…Insulation is sexy, which is why I sponsored, H.R. 4296, the Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act (MIA).

With this Dear Colleague, Rep. Halvorson attempts to make the unsexy subject of building insulation sexy again.  Unfortunately, she then proceeds to use remarkably unsexy things like "numbers" and "figures" or terms like "Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act".  However, such verbiage might just help the CRS analyst hoping to spice things up in the bedroom.  To each his or her own.

We think particle board is sexy, insulation comes in a close second.

**We started "Please Release Me " to point out zany press releases that show up in our tipster malbox .

Please Release Me: Papa John Blows His Own Surprise

Papa John was on the right track, but then blew his own surprise.

John Schnatter, the founder of Papa John’s, is on a national road trip as part of the pizza company’s 25th Anniversary. This Thursday, as part of “Papa’s Road Trip,” Papa John will visit Baltimore and celebrate ten years as the official pizza of the Baltimore Ravens. Thursday, August 13, 2009, beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.

12:30 p.m. Papa John will surprise local restaurant employees at:

8525 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21043

Not much of a "surprise" if you announce it in a press release, is it?

Have you ever read a press release and thought, “was this actually approved by someone whose academic career went beyond elementary school?”

What about releases that went above and beyond the call of duty and actually grabbed your attention?

In the spirit of drawing well-deserved attention to press secretaries everywhere, we’ve begun to collect press release hits and misses.

Please Release Me: Brain Smarts

Study: DC folks read and eat well; have low level of emotional support.

First Brain Health lndex Ranks America’s “Brain Smarts” Based on 21 Indicators: D.C. Ranks No. 1
Life’s DHA Index of Brain HealthSM Asks and Answers: Does Your State Have the Healthiest Brains?

COLUMBIA, Md. – The first comprehensive state-by-state measure of the nation’s brain healthprovides new insights into just how “brain smart” Americans are and points to simple actions they can take to boost brain health and lead healthier lives. The life’sDHA Index of Brain HealthSM (www.AmericasBrainHealth.com) evaluated the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia based on 21 brain health indicators in the areas of diet, physical health, mental health and social well-being.

According to the life’sDHA Index of Brain Health, the District of Columbia ranks 1st in the nation. In addition to consuming high amounts of fish and DHA omega-3-fortified foods and supplements, residents of the nation’s capital are bookworms, ranking top in the nation (tying with Alaska) in reading for personal interest. Other strengths include high consumption of fruits and vegetables and a high sleeping rate. On the other hand, certain challenges include a high rate of cardiovascular disease-related deaths (ranked 43rd nationwide) and a low level of emotional support (ranked 44th nationwide).

Please Release Me: Granny Panties

Taegan Goddard reminds us of one of the funniest all time press releases:

It is dated July 19, 1994, and was issued by then-Senator Howell Heflin’s office. That morning, the Senator had been dining in the Capitol with some Alabama reporters, and suddenly felt a sniffle coming on. The reporters were aghast when the Senator reached into his pocket, pulled out a bit of fabric and began to wipe his nose with … a pair of ladies underwear."

From Sen. Howell Heflin

HANDKERCHIEF
JULY 19, 1994

I mistakenly picked up a pair of my wife’s white panties and put them in my pocket while I was rushing out the door to go to work.
…
Rather than take a chance on being embarrassed again, I’m going to start buying colored handkerchiefs.

Have you ever read a press release and thought, “was this actually approved by someone whose academic career went beyond elementary school?”

What about releases that went above and beyond the call of duty and actually grabbed your attention?

In the spirit of drawing well-deserved attention to press secretaries everywhere, we’ve begun to collect press release hits and misses.

Please Release Me: Certified Pre-Owned Cats

We started "Please Release Me " to point out zany press releases that show up in our tipster malbox .

We’ve seen good, bad, really bad — but also several creative releases.

FamousDC applauds the work of Carrie Drummond at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria :

THE ALEXANDRIA ANIMAL SHELTER IS TEAMING UP WITH LOCAL CAR DEALERS TO PROMOTE “CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED CARS AND CATS”

Press conference promotes two communities facing difficult economic times

ALEXANDRIA, VA — With help from area luxury car dealers, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) will launch a new campaign to promote adoptions during June’s national “Adopt-A-Cat” month, including reduced adoption fees.
…
At a press conference on Friday, May 29th at 12:00 p.m., the AWLA will unveil its “Certified, Pre-Owned Cats” promotion, encouraging adopters to consider the benefits of welcoming an adult cat into their home.  The press conference will be held at AWLA, 4101 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria.
…
Local car dealers Lindsay Lexus and Don Beyer Volvo are partnering with the AWLA to fund a variety of incentives to bring adopters into the shelter and make adoption more affordable during a time when rates of animal surrenders are up and households across the country are economizing.

Visit www.alexandriaanimals.org to donate or learn more.

Please Release Me

Have you ever read a press release and thought, “was this actually approved by someone whose academic career went beyond elementary school?”

What about releases that went above and beyond the call of duty and actually grabbed your attention?

In the spirit of drawing well-deserved attention to press secretaries everywhere, we’ve begun to collect press release hits and misses.

We feel it’s time that the good releases that nobody reads, get the attention they deserve. As for the bad ones press secretaries immediately regret soon after hitting send – we’ll highlight those too.

We all know a press release doesn’t guarantee earned media, but some of these will immediately become famous.

If you run across any releases that might be potential “Please Release Me ” material, shoot us an email at famousdc@gmail.com

HIT : Institute for Energy Research

Once Again, the Consumer Gets Screwed
Lawmakers pursue policies that raise price of nearly everything

How often can you use the word "screwed" in the title of a press release?

——

MISS : NewsandExperts.com

How Michael Vick Can Turn Himself Around

Expert on Leadership Lays Out Roadmap for Vick’s Return to Freedom and Football
…
BELLEVUE, WA–(Marketwire – May 15, 2009) – Stop the world. Michael Vick wants to get back on.
…
Returning to a leadership role of that nature won’t be easy, though, according to executive coach Michael Schutzler, author of the book "Inspiring Excellence – A Path to Exceptional Leadership from Book Publisher’s Network" (www.BlueSevenPartners.com ).

Really? A leadership expert?