Everything Just Short of a Riot - For Hire.

You couldn't make these things up, I swear.

The Wall Street Journal ran a profile of French protest consultant Xavier Renou this morning. Whether intentional or not, WSJ does a great job of highlighting the overt absurdities and hypocrisies of a Parisian trying to capitalize on the proliferation of anti-capitalism.

"As one of France's top protest consultants, Mr. Renou teaches activists how to chain themselves to trees, damage genetically modified crops and withstand police interrogations. These days, his phone is ringing off the hook, as the tumult in the global financial system has led to a boom in protests."

Is your head spinning yet?

Unfortunately for Renou, the business of bringing down business hasn't been so good lately. He recently left Greenpeace and no longer collects state benefits despite being officially unemployed.

 He does offer some very capitalist ways you can support him though if you so desire: training sessions run at about $67/person, and Renou has multiple protest books in print with three more contracted for future publishing.

 And of course for the kids...

"He has created board games with names such as 'Atomic Business' and 'Bucks for Ballots' which retail at around $34."