A fireman in uniform has been videoed by a colleague getting into a tumble dryer and taking a spin. He texts it to his mates, but the boss isn't amused. It's the kind of fodder that fills the local papers, and Saturday's Manchester Evening News ran the story. Naughty fireman! And, presumably, end of local story?
Enter YouTube. The power of YouTube!
Apparently, Manchester Evening News' website published the video online, but realised that maybe it shouldn't have done, so the editors took it down. Before they managed to do that, a geek recorded it and loaded it up on to YouTube.
This story wasnt very big a few days ago. But since making it on to YouTube and it has rocketed on to BBC TV news, ITV, and a few websites (and the front page of Digg). And we know that won't be the end. No doubt this will be in tomorrow's national press, and watch the viewing numbers soar.
Technorati tags: fireman, tumble dryer
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Update 1 - 1:23pm 7/8/06 - The YouTube video has been viewed 300 times in the last few mins. Currently at 1,800 views.
Update 2 - 6:12pm 7/8/06 - The video has now had 3,750 views since 1:15 today, and the YouTube user that uploaded it wanted to correct two points - 1) it's still available at Manchester Evening News' site, and 2) it's not on Digg, apparently. I'd have to disagree on that one. I use Popurls which puts this story as no. 4 on Digg.
Update 3 - 10:27pm 7/8/06 - Video views have shot up to over 36,000, and this story has now been picked up by The Drudge Report and The Daily Mail.
Update 4 - 7:45am 8/8/06 - Now picked up down under, the video is set to have had 100k views in under 24hrs. Currently at 96,000 it has been picked up overnight by the Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney Special Broadcasting Service, and here in the UK on Channel 4 and ITN.
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