harlem shake (Navy)

Mr. Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 5188
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

SUBJECT: YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT CASE DON 2013F041256

Dear Mr. Smathers:

This acknowledges receipt of your May 3, 2013, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in which you seek the following information, "Candid remarks, comments, disciplinary actions resulting from groups in armed forces creating Harlem Shake videos."

Your request was received by this office on May 6, 2013 and assigned case file number DoN2013F041256. Your request has been placed in our queue for processing.

If you have any questions, please contact our service center at (202) 685‐0412.

Sincerely,
M. Phyllis Shaw
Senior PA/FOIA Program Analyst
Team Chief & DON FOIA Requester Service Center
OPNAV/SECNAV Privacy/Freedom of Information Program Office

Mr. Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 5188
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

SUBJECT: YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT CASE DON2013F041256

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated May 3, 2013. Your request was received in our office on May 6, 2013.

Based on the information provided in your request, we are partially unable to conduct a search. In accordance with the Department of the Navy's FOIA regulations (32 CFR 701.8 (a)(1)), a requester is required to describe the records sought in sufficient detail to enable an employee familiar with the subject area of the request to locate responsive records with a reasonable amount of effort. Your request does not comply with this requirement.

Descriptive information about a record may be divided into two broad categories:

(i) Category I is file-related and includes information such as type of record, title, index citation, subject area, date the record was created, or its originator.
(ii) Category II is event-related and includes the circumstances that resulted in the record being created or the date and circumstances surrounding the event the record covers.

Generally, a record is not reasonably described unless the description contains sufficient Category I information to permit the conduct of an organized, non-random search based on the existing filing arrangements and retrieval systems, or unless the record contains sufficient Category II information to permit inference of the Category I elements needed to conduct such a search.

In this instance, you do not provide any indication of which offices you expect would hold responsive records as well as request documents that would not be in possession of the Navy (ie US Army Harlem Shake, Air Force). There is no centralized repository or directory for records, so it is not possible to identify an open-ended request for "any and all" records regarding the Harlem Shake without further specificity. If you could provide us with information such as which specific command or unit, that would allow us to be able to further assist you.

We have determined that one of the Harlem Shake video records you are seeking may be maintained by the United States Naval Academy (USNA) located at 121 Blake Road, Annapolis, MD 21402-1300. Therefore, we have forwarded your request to that official for action and direct response to you. For questions regarding the current status of your request, please contact a FOIA Coordinator at USNA directly at (410) 293-1550 referencing USNA case file number 2013F040034.

In accordance with 32 CFR 701.8 (a)(2)(c), we will not proceed further with your request until we receive additional clarification from you. Please provide our office with a clarification with regard to the records requested. If we do not hear from you within twenty (20) workdays of the date of this letter, we will assume you are no longer interested in this matter and will close the file on your request. Questions regarding the action this office has taken during the initial processing of your request may be directed to our FOIA service center at (202) 685-0412.

Sincerely,
M. Phyllis Shaw
Senior PA/FOIA Program Analyst
Team Chief & DON FOIA Requester Service Center
OPNAV/SECNAV Privacy/Freedom of Information Program Office

A no responsive documents response.

A fix is required to perfect the request. The request has been rejected as being too vague, burdensome or otherwise unprocessable.

Mr. Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 5188
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

Dear Mr. Smathers:

SUBJECT: YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST DON2013F041256

Our records indicate that you have not responded to our letter sent by email on May 14, 2013 regarding your Freedom of Information Act request. Since we have not received a response from you within 20 workdays from the date of that letter, we are closing our file on this request.

If you require further assistance, please contact our FOIA service center at (202) 685-0412.

June 17, 2013
Navy
Navy
Ms. Robin Patterson
Chief of Naval Operations (DNS-36)
2000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350-2000

This is a follow up to request number USNA2013F040034:

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

---

On June 11, 2013:

Mr. Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 5188
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

Dear Mr. Smathers:

SUBJECT: YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST DON2013F041256

Our records indicate that you have not responded to our letter sent by email on May 14, 2013 regarding your Freedom of Information Act request. Since we have not received a response from you within 20 workdays from the date of that letter, we are closing our file on this request.

If you require further assistance, please contact our FOIA service center at (202) 685-0412.

---

On June 10, 2013:

A fix is required to perfect the request. The request has been rejected as being too vague, burdensome or otherwise unprocessable.

---

On June 3, 2013:

A no responsive documents response.

---

On May 14, 2013:

Mr. Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 5188
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

SUBJECT: YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT CASE DON2013F041256

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated May 3, 2013. Your request was received in our office on May 6, 2013.

Based on the information provided in your request, we are partially unable to conduct a search. In accordance with the Department of the Navy's FOIA regulations (32 CFR 701.8 (a)(1)), a requester is required to describe the records sought in sufficient detail to enable an employee familiar with the subject area of the request to locate responsive records with a reasonable amount of effort. Your request does not comply with this requirement.

Descriptive information about a record may be divided into two broad categories:

(i) Category I is file-related and includes information such as type of record, title, index citation, subject area, date the record was created, or its originator.
(ii) Category II is event-related and includes the circumstances that resulted in the record being created or the date and circumstances surrounding the event the record covers.

Generally, a record is not reasonably described unless the description contains sufficient Category I information to permit the conduct of an organized, non-random search based on the existing filing arrangements and retrieval systems, or unless the record contains sufficient Category II information to permit inference of the Category I elements needed to conduct such a search.

In this instance, you do not provide any indication of which offices you expect would hold responsive records as well as request documents that would not be in possession of the Navy (ie US Army Harlem Shake, Air Force). There is no centralized repository or directory for records, so it is not possible to identify an open-ended request for "any and all" records regarding the Harlem Shake without further specificity. If you could provide us with information such as which specific command or unit, that would allow us to be able to further assist you.

We have determined that one of the Harlem Shake video records you are seeking may be maintained by the United States Naval Academy (USNA) located at 121 Blake Road, Annapolis, MD 21402-1300. Therefore, we have forwarded your request to that official for action and direct response to you. For questions regarding the current status of your request, please contact a FOIA Coordinator at USNA directly at (410) 293-1550 referencing USNA case file number 2013F040034.

In accordance with 32 CFR 701.8 (a)(2)(c), we will not proceed further with your request until we receive additional clarification from you. Please provide our office with a clarification with regard to the records requested. If we do not hear from you within twenty (20) workdays of the date of this letter, we will assume you are no longer interested in this matter and will close the file on your request. Questions regarding the action this office has taken during the initial processing of your request may be directed to our FOIA service center at (202) 685-0412.

Sincerely,
M. Phyllis Shaw
Senior PA/FOIA Program Analyst
Team Chief & DON FOIA Requester Service Center
OPNAV/SECNAV Privacy/Freedom of Information Program Office

---

On May 6, 2013:

Mr. Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 5188
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

SUBJECT: YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT CASE DON 2013F041256

Dear Mr. Smathers:

This acknowledges receipt of your May 3, 2013, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in which you seek the following information, "Candid remarks, comments, disciplinary actions resulting from groups in armed forces creating Harlem Shake videos."

Your request was received by this office on May 6, 2013 and assigned case file number DoN2013F041256. Your request has been placed in our queue for processing.

If you have any questions, please contact our service center at (202) 685‐0412.

Sincerely,
M. Phyllis Shaw
Senior PA/FOIA Program Analyst
Team Chief & DON FOIA Requester Service Center
OPNAV/SECNAV Privacy/Freedom of Information Program Office

---

On May 3, 2013:

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.

July 17, 2013
Navy
Navy
Ms. Robin Patterson
Chief of Naval Operations (DNS-36)
2000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350-2000

This is a follow up to request number USNA2013F040034:

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 #USNA2013F040034.

Thank you for your help.

---

On June 17, 2013:

June 17, 2013
Navy
Navy
Ms. Robin Patterson
Chief of Naval Operations (DNS-36)
2000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350-2000

This is a follow up to request number USNA2013F040034:

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

---

On June 11, 2013:

Mr. Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 5188
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

Dear Mr. Smathers:

SUBJECT: YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST DON2013F041256

Our records indicate that you have not responded to our letter sent by email on May 14, 2013 regarding your Freedom of Information Act request. Since we have not received a response from you within 20 workdays from the date of that letter, we are closing our file on this request.

If you require further assistance, please contact our FOIA service center at (202) 685-0412.

---

On June 10, 2013:

A fix is required to perfect the request. The request has been rejected as being too vague, burdensome or otherwise unprocessable.

---

On June 3, 2013:

A no responsive documents response.

---

On May 14, 2013:

Mr. Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 5188
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

SUBJECT: YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT CASE DON2013F041256

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated May 3, 2013. Your request was received in our office on May 6, 2013.

Based on the information provided in your request, we are partially unable to conduct a search. In accordance with the Department of the Navy's FOIA regulations (32 CFR 701.8 (a)(1)), a requester is required to describe the records sought in sufficient detail to enable an employee familiar with the subject area of the request to locate responsive records with a reasonable amount of effort. Your request does not comply with this requirement.

Descriptive information about a record may be divided into two broad categories:

(i) Category I is file-related and includes information such as type of record, title, index citation, subject area, date the record was created, or its originator.
(ii) Category II is event-related and includes the circumstances that resulted in the record being created or the date and circumstances surrounding the event the record covers.

Generally, a record is not reasonably described unless the description contains sufficient Category I information to permit the conduct of an organized, non-random search based on the existing filing arrangements and retrieval systems, or unless the record contains sufficient Category II information to permit inference of the Category I elements needed to conduct such a search.

In this instance, you do not provide any indication of which offices you expect would hold responsive records as well as request documents that would not be in possession of the Navy (ie US Army Harlem Shake, Air Force). There is no centralized repository or directory for records, so it is not possible to identify an open-ended request for "any and all" records regarding the Harlem Shake without further specificity. If you could provide us with information such as which specific command or unit, that would allow us to be able to further assist you.

We have determined that one of the Harlem Shake video records you are seeking may be maintained by the United States Naval Academy (USNA) located at 121 Blake Road, Annapolis, MD 21402-1300. Therefore, we have forwarded your request to that official for action and direct response to you. For questions regarding the current status of your request, please contact a FOIA Coordinator at USNA directly at (410) 293-1550 referencing USNA case file number 2013F040034.

In accordance with 32 CFR 701.8 (a)(2)(c), we will not proceed further with your request until we receive additional clarification from you. Please provide our office with a clarification with regard to the records requested. If we do not hear from you within twenty (20) workdays of the date of this letter, we will assume you are no longer interested in this matter and will close the file on your request. Questions regarding the action this office has taken during the initial processing of your request may be directed to our FOIA service center at (202) 685-0412.

Sincerely,
M. Phyllis Shaw
Senior PA/FOIA Program Analyst
Team Chief & DON FOIA Requester Service Center
OPNAV/SECNAV Privacy/Freedom of Information Program Office

---

On May 6, 2013:

Mr. Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 5188
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

SUBJECT: YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT CASE DON 2013F041256

Dear Mr. Smathers:

This acknowledges receipt of your May 3, 2013, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in which you seek the following information, "Candid remarks, comments, disciplinary actions resulting from groups in armed forces creating Harlem Shake videos."

Your request was received by this office on May 6, 2013 and assigned case file number DoN2013F041256. Your request has been placed in our queue for processing.

If you have any questions, please contact our service center at (202) 685‐0412.

Sincerely,
M. Phyllis Shaw
Senior PA/FOIA Program Analyst
Team Chief & DON FOIA Requester Service Center
OPNAV/SECNAV Privacy/Freedom of Information Program Office

---

On May 3, 2013:

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.

---

On June 17, 2013:

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

---

On June 11, 2013:

Mr. Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 5188
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

Dear Mr. Smathers:

SUBJECT: YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST DON2013F041256

Our records indicate that you have not responded to our letter sent by email on May 14, 2013 regarding your Freedom of Information Act request. Since we have not received a response from you within 20 workdays from the date of that letter, we are closing our file on this request.

If you require further assistance, please contact our FOIA service center at (202) 685-0412.

---

On June 10, 2013:

A fix is required to perfect the request. The request has been rejected as being too vague, burdensome or otherwise unprocessable.

---

On June 3, 2013:

A no responsive documents response.

---

On May 14, 2013:

Mr. Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 5188
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

SUBJECT: YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT CASE DON2013F041256

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated May 3, 2013. Your request was received in our office on May 6, 2013.

Based on the information provided in your request, we are partially unable to conduct a search. In accordance with the Department of the Navy's FOIA regulations (32 CFR 701.8 (a)(1)), a requester is required to describe the records sought in sufficient detail to enable an employee familiar with the subject area of the request to locate responsive records with a reasonable amount of effort. Your request does not comply with this requirement.

Descriptive information about a record may be divided into two broad categories:

(i) Category I is file-related and includes information such as type of record, title, index citation, subject area, date the record was created, or its originator.
(ii) Category II is event-related and includes the circumstances that resulted in the record being created or the date and circumstances surrounding the event the record covers.

Generally, a record is not reasonably described unless the description contains sufficient Category I information to permit the conduct of an organized, non-random search based on the existing filing arrangements and retrieval systems, or unless the record contains sufficient Category II information to permit inference of the Category I elements needed to conduct such a search.

In this instance, you do not provide any indication of which offices you expect would hold responsive records as well as request documents that would not be in possession of the Navy (ie US Army Harlem Shake, Air Force). There is no centralized repository or directory for records, so it is not possible to identify an open-ended request for "any and all" records regarding the Harlem Shake without further specificity. If you could provide us with information such as which specific command or unit, that would allow us to be able to further assist you.

We have determined that one of the Harlem Shake video records you are seeking may be maintained by the United States Naval Academy (USNA) located at 121 Blake Road, Annapolis, MD 21402-1300. Therefore, we have forwarded your request to that official for action and direct response to you. For questions regarding the current status of your request, please contact a FOIA Coordinator at USNA directly at (410) 293-1550 referencing USNA case file number 2013F040034.

In accordance with 32 CFR 701.8 (a)(2)(c), we will not proceed further with your request until we receive additional clarification from you. Please provide our office with a clarification with regard to the records requested. If we do not hear from you within twenty (20) workdays of the date of this letter, we will assume you are no longer interested in this matter and will close the file on your request. Questions regarding the action this office has taken during the initial processing of your request may be directed to our FOIA service center at (202) 685-0412.

Sincerely,
M. Phyllis Shaw
Senior PA/FOIA Program Analyst
Team Chief & DON FOIA Requester Service Center
OPNAV/SECNAV Privacy/Freedom of Information Program Office

---

On May 6, 2013:

Mr. Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 5188
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

SUBJECT: YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT CASE DON 2013F041256

Dear Mr. Smathers:

This acknowledges receipt of your May 3, 2013, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in which you seek the following information, "Candid remarks, comments, disciplinary actions resulting from groups in armed forces creating Harlem Shake videos."

Your request was received by this office on May 6, 2013 and assigned case file number DoN2013F041256. Your request has been placed in our queue for processing.

If you have any questions, please contact our service center at (202) 685‐0412.

Sincerely,
M. Phyllis Shaw
Senior PA/FOIA Program Analyst
Team Chief & DON FOIA Requester Service Center
OPNAV/SECNAV Privacy/Freedom of Information Program Office

---

On May 3, 2013:

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.

Mr. Smathers,

In order to receive an update on the status of this request, you should contact the United States Naval Academy directly.
The USNA can be contacted by email at foia@usna.edu or by phone 410-263-1562.

Mr. Smathers,

I am currently out of the office until 25 Sept. I will check the status of your request upon my return.

V/r
LT Blazek

Dear FOIA Requester,

Your request was responded to on 30 May 2013.

In the response, we stated that "After a careful search, no responsive documentation was discovered. With regard to the portion of your request pertaining to “candid remarks, comments” regarding the posting of videos on YouTube which contain the phrase “Harlem Shake,” such comments posted on social media or other websites are not Department of the Navy “agency records” as defined by 5 U.S.C. §552 and applicable case law interpreting this provision. Furthermore, such comments are already publically available."

If you would like us to resend our response, please let me know and I will promptly get it in the mail.

Very Respectfully,

LT Jessica Blazek, JAGC, USN
Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Naval Academy
121 Blake Road
Annapolis, MD 21402-1300
410-293-1562

To Whom It May Concern:

Please stop sending auto-generated requests for a status update of a closed request. I responded to your inquire below. I am now attaching a copy of the response sent out on 30 May 2013. Your FOIA case has been CLOSED. The continued receipt of these e-mails will be considered harassment and may subject you to placement on a spam-mail list, which would prevent you from submission of future valid FOIA requests.

Please cease and desist your repeated e-mail correspondence pertaining to this case.
Regards,

LT Jessica Blazek, JAGC, USN
Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Naval Academy
121 Blake Road
Annapolis, MD 21402-1300
410-293-1562