ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Finnish gibberish talker finds fame, heads to US

HELSINKI

A 19-year-old Finnish supermarket cashier with millions of online fans of her language imitation YouTube video is heading for America hoping her gibberish hit will start a career.

In a few weeks, Sara Maria Forsberg’s “What languages sound like to a foreigner” has drawn millions of viewings, transforming her into a sought-after celebrity that prompted the mayor of her hometown of Pietarsaari to hand her the town keys as a gesture of appreciation.

Mayor Mikael Jakobsson says she “likely is the most-famous person ever” to have been born in the coastal town of 20,000 inhabitants.

Her agent, Jere Hietala, told the AP last week that Forsberg will travel to Los Angeles on Saturday after “numerous advertising- related companies” had been in touch.

Real-life superhero in trouble

FLINT, Mich.

Publicity over a dispute between two men over leadership of a costumed band of self-professed real-life Michigan superheroes ended up getting one of them in trouble again.

Adam Besso, 38, who hails from the Detroit area and is nicknamed “Bee Sting,” pleaded guilty last month to leaving Michigan without permission of his probation officer, The Flint Journal and The Detroit News reported. He’s to be sentenced Monday.

Besso also was cited by his probation officer for driving illegally and identifying himself as “Bee Sting,” wearing a mask and a crime-fighting costume. Besso said authorities should have better things to do than pursue him.

“People on probation are robbing stores, assaulting people, dealing drugs, and they’re going to go after me because I drove my son to wrestling camp,” he said about the July trip to Kent, Ohio.

In an article in February by The Detroit News, Besso also indicated he drove with a suspended license. The article highlighted a rift between Besso and Mark Williams, who dresses up as Batman to patrol the Michigan community of Petoskey.

Probation officials also tracked some of Besso’s conduct through Facebook posts.

Williams and Besso became friends after Williams got in trouble with police in 2011, but their dispute split the dozen-member Michigan Protectors group. During his February court hearing, a judge settled the matter and approved amending Besso’s probation to prohibit him from being affiliated with the group.

Williams, a part-time landscaper, has drawn attention for patrolling in Petoskey. He was arrested in 2011 after being spotted atop a building while wearing a Batman costume. He was arrested again in 2012 for interfering with police at an accident scene.

Besso was arrested in 2012 after his shotgun discharged as he patrolled near Flint.

Associated Press