Fame

Two famous quotes, each relating to the meaning of fame, are of course:

1. "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes" attributed to Andy Warhol in 1968 [today, shortened to his/her 15 minutes of fame].
2. "Glory [updated to fame] is fleeting, obscurity is forever" attributed to Napoleon Boanaparte in the early 19th century.

These 2 maxims have never been more relevant than currently, when in part due to the information explosion (Internet, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and the so-called 24/7 news cycle, it is far easier to get famous [maybe for slightly longer than 15 minutes] as well as also to lapse quickly into often well-deserved obscurity.

Take for example one Eric Massa, recently resigned (in disgrace) New York congressman. Massa embarrassed moronic right-wing commentator Glenn Beck on a live program by admitting that Massa's well-documented groping of five single male aides he lived with (!) had nothing to do with his disillusionment with President Obama's health care program, which Beck thought he was exposing (pun intended). Massa has been mercilessly and steadily lampooned by every comedian but does anyone believe that by the end of 2010 his 15 minutes of fame won't have turned into obscurity?

For that matter, whatever happened to the Salahis? Only 4 short months ago, this faux-society couple certainly had their 15 minutes when they crashed the White House State dinner honoring the Prime Minister of India. So far, they haven't been charged with any crime, but if they're "lucky" enough to have this happen, they could get another 15 minutes (or 15 months in jail?). Otherwise, it's obscurity and in the apt words of another old maxim, they will become (perhaps) a footnote to history.

So the next time someone new bursts on the scene, likely for some sort of notorious behavior, TNB advises you to write their name(s) down and keep them in a safe place so that you can remember them if you care to (???).