Information Streaking is the act of taking off one's clothes and running naked through a public place. The word is recorded in its modern sense only since 1973. Before, to streak in English since 1768 meant "to go quickly, to rush, to run at full speed," and was a re-spelling of streek: "to go quickly" (c.1380); this in turn was originally a northern Middle English variant of stretch (c. 1250). The term "streaking" was coined by a reporter for a local Washington DC news station as he watched a "mass nude run" take place at the University of Maryland in 1973. That nude run had over 500 participants. As the collected mass of nude students exited Bel Air dorm, the reporter, whose voice was broadcast live over the station via a pay phone connection exclaimed... "they are streaking past me right now. It's an incredible sight!" The next day it was out on the Associated Press wire as "streaking" and had nationwide coverage. Streaking is distinct from naturism or nudism in that streakers usually intend to be noticed and may choose a place with a large audience for their act, regardless of the risk of arrest (sometimes even intending to be remanded into police custody), whereas naturists and nudists generally prefer to be left in peace. It is also distinct from "flashing," in that the intent is generally not to shock or traumatize a victim. Streakers may streak only once or a few times, possibly as a result of a dare, or may streak so often it can be considered a hobby. The most public form of streaking is running naked before huge crowds at sporting events. However, many streakers seek quieter venues, such as a neighborhood at night after most people have gone to bed. Some have even found it especially satisfying to streak on rural highways in the very early hours of the morning, when there are not many commuters on the road. A number of streakers do not intend to expose themselves to others, but find it thrilling to do it in places that often have people present, but do not at the time of their streak. Streaking may be an individual or a group activity. It is not uncommon for videos of some of the more daring streaks to find popularity on the internet. Perhaps the most widely-seen streaker in history was 34-year-old Robert Opel, who streaked across the stage flashing the peace sign on national US television at the 46th Academy Awards in 1974. Recovering quickly, the bemused host David Niven quipped, "Isn't it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?" Later, some evidence arose suggesting that Opel's appearance was facilitated as a stunt by the show's producer Jack Haley, Jr.[citation needed] Niven's brush with the streaker was voted the top Oscars moment by film fans in 2001. Ironically, Opel's run across the stage occurred with Niven mostly between him and the camera, so nothing below the waist was visible to the TV audience. The high point of streaking's pop culture significance was in 1974, when thousands of streaks took place around the world. A wide range of novelty products were produced to cash in on the fad, from buttons and patches to a wristwatch featuring a streaking Richard Nixon to pink underwear that said "Too shy to streak." The prominence of streaking in 1974 has been linked both to the sexual revolution and a conservative backlash against feminism and the campus protests of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ray Stevens wrote and performed "The Streak", a novelty hit about the guy who's "always making the news wearing just his tennis shoes". The song peaked at #1 on the sales charts in April 1974. Randy Newman also performed and wrote a song about streaking, "The Naked Man," which appears on his album Good old Boys. At the peak of the fad, even the comic strip Peanuts got into the act, with Snoopy as the participant. Snoopy, being a beagle, is fur-bearing and the only clothing he actually shed before streaking were his dog collar and his "Joe Cool" sunglasses. During the fifth season (1974-75) of [[All in the Family]], an exhibitionist streaker exposes himself to Edith and Mike at a police station as they report Archie missing. Soon after being verbally reprimanded and released, the streaker unbuttons and opens his jacket (presumably given to him by the police) in front of the two, and shouts "surprise!" The police officer immediately re-arrests him. Three's Company had an episode in which Larry (Richard Klein) streaked at a party in Jack's apartment.   Photos