If he was going to sue someone he'd have to sue himself. :-)
The entertainment just keeps on rolling.
From the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/26/nyregion/26video.html?hp&ex=1109480400&en=83cb26cee0241483&ei=5094&partner=homepage
Internet Fame Is a Cruel Mistress for a Dancer
By ALAN FEUER and JASON GEORGE
Published: February 26, 2005
There was a time when embarrassing talents were a purely private matter. If
you could sing "The Star Spangled Banner" in the voice of Daffy Duck, no one
but your friends and family would ever have to know.
But with the Internet, humiliation - like everything else - has now gone
public. Upload a video of yourself playing flute with your nose or dancing
in your underwear, and people from Toledo to Turkmenistan can watch.
Here, then, is the cautionary tale of Gary Brolsma, 19, amateur videographer
and guy from New Jersey, who made the grave mistake of placing on the
Internet a brief clip of himself dancing along to a Romanian pop song. Even
in the bathroom mirror, Mr. Brolsma's performance could only be described as
earnest but painful.
His story suggests that the quaint days when cultural trinkets, like
celebrity sex tapes, were passed around like novels in Soviet Russia are
over. It says a little something of the lightning speed at which fame is
made these days.
To begin at the beginning:
Mr. Brolsma, a pudgy guy from Saddle Brook, made a video of himself this
fall performing a lip-synced version of "Dragostea Din Tei," a Romanian pop
tune, which roughly translates to "Love From the Linden Trees." He not only
mouthed the words, he bounced along in what he called the "Numa Numa
Dance" - an arm-flailing, eyebrow-cocked performance executed without ever
once leaving the chair.
In December, the Web site newgrounds.com, a clearinghouse for online videos
and animation, placed a link to Mr. Brolsma on its home page and, soon,
there was a river of attention. "Good Morning America" came calling and he
appeared. CNN and VH1 broadcast the clip. Parodists tried their own Numa
Numa dances online. By yesterday, the Brolsma rendition of "Love From the
Linden Trees" had attracted nearly two million hits on the original Web site
alone.
The video can be seen here. http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/lyle_24/myhero.swf
It was just as Diane Sawyer said on her television program: "Who knows where
this will lead?"
Nowhere, apparently. For, in Mr. Brolsma's case, the river became a flood.
He has now sought refuge from his fame in his family's small house on a
gritty street in Saddle Brook. He has stopped taking phone calls from the
news media, including The New York Times. He canceled an appearance on NBC's
"Today." According to his relatives, he mopes around the house.
What's worse is that no one seems to understand.
"I said, 'Gary this is your one chance to be famous - embrace it,' " said
Corey Dzielinski, who has known Mr. Brolsma since the fifth grade. Gary
Brolsma is not the first guy to rocket out of anonymity on a starship of
embarrassment. There was William Hung, the Hong Kong-born "American Idol"
reject, who sang and danced so poorly he became a household name. There was
Ghyslain Raza, the teenage Québécois, who taped himself in a mock
light-saber duel and is now known as the Star Wars Kid.
In July 2003, Mr. Raza's parents went so far as to sue four of his
classmates, claiming they had placed the clip of him online without
permission. "Ghyslain had to endure and still endures today, harassment and
derision," according to the lawsuit, first reported in The Globe and Mail of
Toronto.
Mr. Brolsma has no plans to sue, his family said - mainly because he would
have to sue himself. In fact, they wish he would bask a little in his
celebrity.
"I don't know what's wrong with him," his grandfather, Kalman Telkes, a
Hungarian immigrant, said the other day while taking out the trash.
The question remains why two million people would want to watch a doughy guy
in glasses wave his arms around online to a Romanian pop song.
"It definitely has to be something different," said Tom Fulp, president and
Webmaster of newgrounds.com.
"It's really time and place."
"The Numa Numa dance," he said, sounding impressed. "You see it and you kind
of impulsively have to send it to your friends."
There is no way to pinpoint the fancy of the Internet, but in an effort to
gauge Mr. Brolsma's allure, the Numa Numa dance was shown to a classroom of
eighth graders at Saddle Brook Middle School - the same middle school that
he attended, in fact.
The students' reactions ranged from envious to unimpressed. "That's stupid,"
one of them said. "What else does he do?" a second asked. A third was a bit
more generous: "I should make a video and become famous."
The teacher, Susan Sommer, remembered Mr. Brolsma. He was a quiet kid, she
said, with a good sense of humor and a flair for technology.
"Whenever there were computer problems, Gary and Corey would fix them for
the school," she said.
His friends say Mr. Brolsma has always had a creative side. He used to make
satirical Prozac commercials on cassette tapes, for instance. He used to
publish a newspaper with print so small you couldn't read it with the naked
eye.
"He was always very out there - he's always been ambitious," said Frank
Gallo, a former classmate. "And he's a big guy, but he's never been
ashamed."
Another friend, Randal Reiman, said: "I've heard a lot of people say it's
not that impressive - it doesn't have talent. But I say, Who cares?"
These days, Mr. Brolsma shuttles between the house and his job at Staples,
his family said. He is distraught, embarrassed. His grandmother, Margaret
Telkes, quoted him as saying, just the other day, "I want this to end."
And yet the work lives on. Mr. Fulp, the Webmaster, continues to receive
online homages to the Numa Numa dance. The most recent showed what seemed to
be a class of computer students singing in Romanian and, in unison, waving
their hands.
Mr. Reiman figures the larger world has finally caught on to Gary Brolsma.
"He's been entertaining us for years," he said, "so it's kind of like the
rest of the world is realizing that Gary can make you smile."
.
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| User: "Marvin The Paranoid Android" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 08:09:07 AM |
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John F Lemke wrote:
If he was going to sue someone he'd have to sue himself. :-)
The entertainment just keeps on rolling.
From the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/26/nyregion/26video.html?hp&ex=1109480400&en=83cb26cee0241483&ei=5094&partner=homepage
Internet Fame Is a Cruel Mistress for a Dancer
By ALAN FEUER and JASON GEORGE
Published: February 26, 2005
Hehehehe I read this too ... unlike Toni, this kid actually has some
natural talent. I think the kid should go for the fame. He's talented.
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| User: " John F Lemke" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 08:43:11 AM |
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"Marvin The Paranoid Android" <marvin@heartofgold.com> wrote in message
news:1109426996.e5731c6c43d987965acc78e2d44c3b16@teranews...
John F Lemke wrote:
If he was going to sue someone he'd have to sue himself. :-)
The entertainment just keeps on rolling.
From the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/26/nyregion/26video.html?hp&ex=1109480400&en=83cb26cee0241483&ei=5094&partner=homepage
Internet Fame Is a Cruel Mistress for a Dancer
By ALAN FEUER and JASON GEORGE
Published: February 26, 2005
Hehehehe I read this too ... unlike Toni, this kid actually has some
natural talent. I think the kid should go for the fame. He's talented.
That's what I thought. It's very cool to see the way his family and friends
have come out to support him.
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| User: "Woodswun" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 08:51:34 AM |
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Marvin The Paranoid Android wrote:
John F Lemke wrote:
If he was going to sue someone he'd have to sue himself. :-)
The entertainment just keeps on rolling.
From the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/26/nyregion/26video.html?hp&ex=1109480400&en=83cb26cee0241483&ei=5094&partner=homepage
Internet Fame Is a Cruel Mistress for a Dancer
By ALAN FEUER and JASON GEORGE
Published: February 26, 2005
Hehehehe I read this too ... unlike Toni, this kid actually has some
natural talent. I think the kid should go for the fame. He's talented.
I didn't see it as "painful" to watch at all. I think the kid is just
shy, though, and wouldn't be comfortable with performing. Too bad for
us, there's so many famous "entertainers" that you sit there and wonder
why anyone thought they were worth putting on any type of recording
medium .....
Woods
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| User: " John F Lemke" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 08:56:50 AM |
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"Woodswun" <woodswun@tepidmail.com> wrote in message
news:W10Ud.39061$nC5.15398@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
Marvin The Paranoid Android wrote:
John F Lemke wrote:
If he was going to sue someone he'd have to sue himself. :-)
The entertainment just keeps on rolling.
From the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/26/nyregion/26video.html?hp&ex=1109480400&en=83cb26cee0241483&ei=5094&partner=homepage
Internet Fame Is a Cruel Mistress for a Dancer
By ALAN FEUER and JASON GEORGE
Published: February 26, 2005
Hehehehe I read this too ... unlike Toni, this kid actually has some
natural talent. I think the kid should go for the fame. He's talented.
I didn't see it as "painful" to watch at all. I think the kid is just
shy, though, and wouldn't be comfortable with performing. Too bad for
us, there's so many famous "entertainers" that you sit there and wonder
why anyone thought they were worth putting on any type of recording
medium .....
Woods
Interesting to see people voting with their mouses (Mice ? :-) ) and
screening his talent.
It's a worldwide audition. An interesting way for people to exhibit their
talent. Susan's been doing that for a long time. :-)
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| User: "=?iso-8859-1?q?The_Psychedelic_Pope=99?=" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 02:21:04 PM |
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WOMP WOMP --- when you have the talent to show
---- the audience will take notice of it and respond. It's
called exchanging chrisma and karma in mass.
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| User: "Woodswun" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 08:49:33 AM |
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John F Lemke wrote:
If he was going to sue someone he'd have to sue himself. :-)
The entertainment just keeps on rolling.
From the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/26/nyregion/26video.html?hp&ex=1109480400&en=83cb26cee0241483&ei=5094&partner=homepage
Don't try this at home, folks!
:-D
Woods
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 07:39:19 AM |
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Big difference here, Limpwrist, and that is that the people here did
what they did with the intent to do harm.
Tony
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| User: " John F Lemke" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 07:44:24 AM |
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<itwill@happen.com> wrote in message
news:1109425100.20b08bd29468f7e4e69f43c355a84da9@teranews...
Big difference here, Limpwrist, and that is that the people here did
what they did with the intent to do harm.
Tony
Nobody ever wanted Loida harmed in any way shape or form.
It's not like anyone else uploaded her pictures onto the 'net or anything.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 09:02:33 AM |
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<itwill@happen.com> wrote in message
news:1109425100.20b08bd29468f7e4e69f43c355a84da9@teranews...
Big difference here, Limpwrist, and that is that the people here did
what they did with the intent to do harm.
Tony
Nobody ever wanted Loida harmed in any way shape or form.
Sure, you laying *****, that's why you posted the info, because you
didn't want to harm anyone, sure.
Tony
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| User: "Su Zanadu" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 09:45:41 AM |
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Tony wrote:
"Sure, you laying *****,"
John! Get UP!!
There will be no "laying" around in here, I don't care if it is
Saturday!
:)
nice article, btw
SuZanne
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| User: " John F Lemke" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 02:37:21 PM |
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"Su Zanadu" <tugbertswife@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:23452-422099A5-430@storefull-3214.bay.webtv.net...
Tony wrote:
"Sure, you laying *****,"
John! Get UP!!
There will be no "laying" around in here, I don't care if it is
Saturday!
:)
Ever since I found out that my parents weren't really married all I've done
is lay around the house.
nice article, btw
SuZanne
Glad you liked it.
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| User: "MonsieurStat" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 07:24:13 PM |
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" John F Lemke" <jflemke@LocalLink.net> wrote in message
news:m-Kdnbm5LuEyQ73fRVn-sg@locallink.net...
"Su Zanadu" <tugbertswife@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:23452-422099A5-430@storefull-3214.bay.webtv.net...
Tony wrote:
"Sure, you laying *****,"
John! Get UP!!
There will be no "laying" around in here, I don't care if it is
Saturday!
:)
Ever since I found out that my parents weren't really married all I've
done
is lay around the house.
If your parents weren't married when they had, you what that make you,
right?
That's very bad John. I am sorry.
;-)
Stat.
nice article, btw
SuZanne
Glad you liked it.
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| User: " John F Lemke" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
27 Feb 2005 08:59:19 PM |
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"MonsieurStat" <monsieurstat@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:Ij9Ud.63327$Am3.2093030@news20.bellglobal.com...
" John F Lemke" <jflemke@LocalLink.net> wrote in message
news:m-Kdnbm5LuEyQ73fRVn-sg@locallink.net...
"Su Zanadu" <tugbertswife@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:23452-422099A5-430@storefull-3214.bay.webtv.net...
Tony wrote:
"Sure, you laying *****,"
John! Get UP!!
There will be no "laying" around in here, I don't care if it is
Saturday!
:)
Ever since I found out that my parents weren't really married all I've
done
is lay around the house.
If your parents weren't married when they had, you what that make you,
right?
That's very bad John. I am sorry.
;-)
Stat.
It's ok, Stat. It was a mystery and I had to make something of it. :-)
You pull the pieces, the clues together. You find a cadence, a poetry within
experience that touches the mystical and revelation follows and things
finally make sense. Understanding brings freedom and liberation. Then
confidant anticipation.
Yes, I am a laying *****.
.
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| User: "H Head" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 05:25:44 PM |
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On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 10:02:33 -0500, wrote:
SNIP...
Big difference here, Limpwrist, and that is that the people here did
what they did with the intent to do harm.
Tony
Nobody ever wanted Loida harmed in any way shape or form.
Sure, you laying *****, that's why you posted the info, because you
didn't want to harm anyone, sure.
Tony
I hate to hear that people believe some folks are playing rough!! But
here is how you will be able to tell if someone is after you, or wants
to do you harm:
You show up at work someday, and there is a dark skinned guy with a
large package. You don't know him, but he is asking for you BY
NAME!!! Then he says (all mysterious like), "I THOUGHT YOU HAD AN
INTEREST IN PERSIAN THINGS."
Now, that probably wouldn't happen unless you pulled all kinds of
***** on people in here, and only if you were getting involved in
pissing wars all the time. But, IF something like that should happen
to anyone out there, immediately post all over USENET that someone is
invading your privacy, and has sent HIT MEN after you!!!!!! Tell them
that there is NO REASON for such behavior over this stupid, petty
little forum. Blame all the people you incited in USENET, and then
state that you are LEAVING FOREVER because you can't stand people who
would do something that extreme in a little silly typing internet
forum.
(Don't worry, it doesn't have to be for good, just keep reading the
forum until you don't see any of the people who were once there.
Then, start the whole process all over again...)
I know that last paragraph sounds a little obsessive, but, hey, it
COULD happen in real life. Right Tony?
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| User: "Marvin The Paranoid Android" |
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| Title: Re: Numa Numa, sue me, sue you blues |
26 Feb 2005 08:21:35 AM |
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wrote:
Big difference here, Limpwrist, and that is that the people here did
what they did with the intent to do harm.
Tony
They're very similar. He posted the video and it got distributed beyond
his original intent.
You posted pictures of your wife to the web, usenet posts indicating a
willingness to deal illegal drugs, promote incest and personal
information and it got distributed beyond your original intent.
What happens to that material after it's been placed in the public
domain is beyond the originator's control until the originator takes
steps to remove the material from the public domain.
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