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In the summer of 1998, due to the website's immense cult popularity, it became too expensive for
Ignacio to continue running. Instead of shutting the site down, he offered to allow anyone who was willing to mirror his original website the opportunity to
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style poster of bin Laden with a small image of Bert over his right shoulder – the same image posted to the Bert mirror in 1998 – which prompted much confusion and joking among
Western audiences. Being unaware of
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Since the original Bert/Osama picture had been posted to Dennis
Pozniak's mirror, he too was bombarded by the international media seeking interviews. As a result of all the attention, Pozniak also closed his mirror.
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474:. This also argues against the notion that inclusion of the Bert image is some kind of coded communication. It is more likely that the protester did not know who Bert is.
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The first mirror, maintained by Dennis
Pozniak, continued in the same vein by adding new "evidence" of Bert's evilness (such as Bert's connection to the
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takedown notice, also stating that he did not want to undermine the character in the eyes of children who watched
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The website featured manipulated images of the character consorting with notoriously nefarious figures, such as
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it. As a result, dozens of mirrors appeared, increasing the website's popularity and visibility.
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is the name of a parody website, founded by Dino
Ignacio on March 30, 1997, which featured
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Rosenzweig, Roy (2003). "Scarcity or
Abundance? Preserving the Past in a Digital Era".
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122:). At the end of 1998, Pozniak posted a contribution, submitted by humorist J Roen,
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385:"Bert and Osama bin Laden - Bert is Evil - Mirror001 Exclusive"
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After this photo was released on the news wires, the owners of
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to depict the then relatively unknown international terrorist,
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Bert Is Evil: The True Story Behind the Web’s First Viral Hit
531:"Oct 14, 2001 Archive.org copy of the original Bert is Evil"
323:"Dec 06, 1998 Archive.org copy of the original Bert is Evil"
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news photograph was published showing a pro Osama bin Laden
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and the People's Voice Award for Best Weird
Website at the
349:"Bert is Evil - Ramsey Family Friend - Mirror Exclusive"
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printer
Mostafa Kamal had copied the collage from the
557:"Bert is Evil - the OFFICIAL SITE - is GONE FOREVER"
367:"Bert is Evil - Bert the Ripper? - Mirror Exclusive"
460:For a detailed account of the use of the image, in
583:Snopes article about bin Laden and Bert appearance
82:, as well as being present at events, such as the
705:Internet memes introduced from the United States
644:Internet Superstar interview with Martin Sargent
614:ABC News: The Wolf Files article at Archive.org
279:"B E R T I S E V I L : JFK assassination"
8:
169:, leaving the image of Bert in his collage.
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700:Internet properties disestablished in 2001
464:as well as by Western news agencies, see
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666:The Original Bert is Evil at Archive.org
152:. One protester is seen holding a large
695:Internet properties established in 1997
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652:– from Old Wide Web Podcast March 2011
409:from the original on November 6, 2018
7:
405:. Abcnews.go.com. October 11, 2001.
259:from the original on April 28, 2023
559:. October 31, 2001. Archived from
533:. October 14, 2001. Archived from
387:. December 9, 2000. Archived from
325:. December 6, 1998. Archived from
281:. February 8, 2004. Archived from
25:
610: (archived November 15, 2013)
297:"Image of Bert with Adolf Hitler"
247:"Bert is Evil - The Webby Awards"
369:. April 13, 2001. Archived from
299:. April 19, 1998. Archived from
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351:. June 24, 2001. Archived from
489:The American Historical Review
403:"Osama bin Muppet? - ABC News"
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646:– from Revision3 August 2008
110:The image in question (1998)
650:The Muppets Take Bangladesh
133:In October 2001, after the
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470:November 21, 2001, at the
228:List of Internet phenomena
578:BBC article with pictures
690:American comedy websites
661:Bertsama bin Laden humor
594:San Francisco Chronicle
223:Photograph manipulation
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622:article at Archive.is
218:Humor on the internet
124:digitally manipulated
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102:Osama bin Laden image
88:Oklahoma City bombing
563:on October 31, 2001.
430:"Bertsama bin Laden"
391:on December 9, 2000.
285:on February 8, 2004.
135:September 11 attacks
130:, posing with Bert.
720:Webby Award winners
537:on October 14, 2001
436:on November 7, 2004
329:on December 6, 1998
53:Palace of Fine Arts
427:News photographs:
373:on April 13, 2001.
118:and serial killer
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355:on June 24, 2001.
303:on April 19, 1998
84:JFK assassination
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539:. Retrieved
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64:Adolf Hitler
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31:Bert is Evil
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18:Bert is evil
588:CNN article
413:January 13,
72:Kim Jong-il
49:Webby Award
684:Categories
462:South Asia
234:References
150:Bangladesh
39:television
509:0002-8762
263:April 29,
468:Archived
407:Archived
257:Archived
196:See also
41:program
606:at the
604:article
596:article
154:collage
143:protest
139:Reuters
675:Curlie
541:May 1,
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333:May 1,
307:May 1,
86:, and
78:, and
513:JSTOR
163:Dhaka
146:rally
543:2014
505:ISSN
442:2004
415:2012
335:2014
309:2014
265:2023
182:DMCA
96:host
35:Bert
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