harlem shake (Marines)

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All correspondence and other records between 1/1/2013 and the date this request is processed which contain the phrase "Harlem Shake." Among the records I am seeking are candid remarks, comments, disciplinary actions, etc. resulting from groups from the armed forces creating and posting videos on YouTube which contain the phrase "Harlem Shake." Some examples of such youtube videos of US Military contain the following names:
Harlem Shake Navy Alpha
Harlem Shake Navy EOD Style
Harlem Shake USNA
Navy Harlem Shake
Navy Harlem Shake MCM Crew Dominant
Harlem Shake, Marine Corps edition
US ARMY Harlem Shake
Harlem Shake (Navy Edition)
U.S Army Harlem Shake
Harlem Shake (Air Force & Marines - Afghanistan EXTENDED Edition)
Harlem Shake | USMC Infantry [HD]
Harlem Shake - USMC
Marines Harlem Shake
Harlem Shake Barracks Version
Harlem shake US Marines (Field day edition)
Harlem Shake | Army | EOD Edition
Harlem Shake MAT Platoon

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Jason Smathers

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

For this specific request, I am working on an article to be published by Witnesses Unto Me. I am assured of the publication of the article. Based on the records received, I will turn them into a distinct work as I have demonstrated my ability to do many times and have been published in various news media outlets including Witnesses Unto Me. Some FOIA requests I submit are for the purpose of posting the raw materials while other times the purpose is for writing a news media story, in this case, I plan to write a story.

In regard to your request for me to narrow the scope of my response, I appeal. I believe my request is specific enough for you to identify responsive records. If you have questions, I am more than happy to answer them. However, both the office of the secretary of defense and the Navy have been able to respond to this exact request and considered my request perfected as is. Since my language is clear enough for two other DOD FOIA offices, I expect it is clear enough for your agency as well.

I am willing to pay fees per the news media fee category up to $25. Please notify me if fees exceed this. In my email yesterday, I addressed both scope and fee category. I'd prefer you would agree to conduct a search instead of forcing me to make an appeal. However, if you are unwilling to work with me, I'll go ahead and file the appeal. Please let me know if you can continue processing this request now.

Concerning fee category, thank you for bringing this old and incorrect LinkedIn page to my attention, it has been corrected. I did previously have an IT Consulting firm, which I no longer operate - however, the IT Consulting firm never went by the name "Witnesses Unto Me" - Witnesses Unto Me has always been a news media outlet.

Further, you cite where I refer to writing for Witnesses Unto Me as a hobby. I do not believe the unpaid nature of my work determines what a news media outlet it.

I believe you will find on my website several examples where I have taken raw material obtained from the FOIA and created a unique work, then distributed it to the general public, which is exactly as the FOIA describes a news media requester.

I am willing to limit the scope of this request as you suggested to correspondence to or from the commandment which contains the phrase "Harlem Shake."

Further, I will provide examples of the videos in question, if you are able to identify from these specific examples the correct division of the marines, please search records at that specific site as well:
Harlem Shake (US Marine Edition): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqZyDPCyxTM
Harlem Shake V4 (Marine Corps Edition): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6o0F9BnouI
Harlem Shake Marine Style: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P36rI3XHps
Marines Harlem Shake on restriction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCY4JM2QAPk
Harlem Shake (original Marines edition): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IisMmF40mBY
Harlem shake US Marines (Field day edition): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu4NNjnN2bw
Harlem Shake V10 Marine Edition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLE4SzIX5mI
Dirty Laundry-Harlem Shake Marine Corps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbINX1-k_os

Thank you.

Blessings,
Jason Smathers

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #USMC-HQ 2013F040551.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #USMC-HQ 2013F040551.

Thank you for your help.