What's more entertaining than the sight of civic leaders fawning all over Google for a little high-speed action? In recent weeks, cities across the U.S. have staged some fairly strange tricks to convince Google to build its proposed 1-gigabit fiber-optic network in their area. The search giant will take its decision by the end of 2010.
Of course, when the competition is this vicious at least 600 communities are competing for the fiber network – you have got to stand out. And acting a little kooky is one way to show Google you care, although you come across as, well, a little worried. Here are five particularly nutty publicity stunts:

Duluth
Nothing says "we are" pretty like hypothermia. possibly that's what Don Ness, mayor of Duluth, Minnesota, was thinking when he jumped into icy Lake Superior in February. Question: Will Ness' plunge sway Google's execs to select Duluth? Or will they simply consider the George Costanza-like effects of 35-degree water on male shrinkage?
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Sarasota
Why suffer decline with you can swim with sharks? To win Google's love, Sarasota, Florida mayor Richard Clapp put on a wetsuit and took a speedy rinse last week in a local shark tank, according to the source.
The bonnet-head
Sharks were "well fed," the newspaper reports. And that's good news for the Mayor Clapp, unless he was trying to show his support for Google's dismemberment advantages. Or possibly sharks use broadband. There's a deeper meaning here anywhere.

Topeka
Topeka, Kansas is now...Google, Kansas! City leaders’ problem a February public statement making the symbolic name change for the month of March 2010. The exciting stunt did grab headlines, but its capacity to control Google remains unclear.

Rancho Cucamonga
Like Topeka, the Southern California city of Rancho Cucamonga selects to Googlize its name. But at least it limited its sweet talk to the city's fiber-optic campaign, which is named Rancho Googlemonga. Come to think of it, "Rancho Googlemonga" possibly an development over the city's true name.

Greenville
This act has a rave-like feel. Greenville, South Carolina in March created a "people-powered Google chain" with more than 2,000 LED glow sticks to spell out the name "Google." It's a cool concept.
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