Colorado Man Says Internet Christmas Lights Were Faked (GASP!)

Denver Post ^ | 12/29/04 | Denver Post

[Dallas59]

DENVER -- A Lafayette, Colo., man who claimed his Christmas lights could be controlled by Web visitors from all over the world admitted Monday that it was all a big hoax.

Alek Komarnitsky claimed that his 17,000 Christmas lights on his home were connected to his computer through a well-known computer device controller and said that he had written computer code that allowed Internet visitors to activate the various zones of the lights around his home when they visited his Web site.

[Dallas59]

Calling Dan Blather!

Did a search couldn't find this one.

[BigCinBigD]

So he actually wanted people to..flip him off?

[The Loan Arranger]

I'll never look at Christmas quite the same way, again ...WTF? This is a news story?

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

His site is here

[Nick Danger]

His wife tells me that's not the only thing that gets faked around there.

[BigSkyFreeper]

No kidding? A friend of mine used to do that sort of thing on his website, he even thought of charging for the "live webcam feed". Sort of the "a fool and their money are soon departed" sort of philosophy.

[Simmy2.5]

This is a story where I'd probably file under...WHY? What point would it be for someone to make up something like this? What would be the benefit at least?

The only thing I could think of course is, publicity. But, after your 15 minutes of fame is up, what do you have? A whole lot of people pissed off at you. What a great idea!

[Dallas59]

LOL!

[mfulstone]

*GASP!*
Tell me THIS isn't faked, too!

[Dallas59]

Doomed....

[pennyfarmer]

There are so many great aspects of this story here are some of my faves

"We took the guy at his word, and obviously that was a mistake," Byron Grandy, the news director at KMGH TV, told the Wall Street Journal on Monday.

OK..... What do you say to a news source that just takes someones word.

"First, let me say there was never any malicious intent here. It started out (as) a 'technology puzzle' and I figured I could provide some holiday cheer to folks," Komarnitsky explained on his site.

Great!!! Holiday cheer for losers who should be enjoying holiday cheer with their families not on the Internet jacking with your lights.

"I apologize to those people who may be angry with me, but hopefully most will see the humor in the whole situation ... and realize that my attempt to bring joy and a smile to people's faces was successful," he said.

Great.. Apology accepted I laughed and laughed.

On Tuesday, Komarnitsky was busy keeping track of all the Web sites that covered the story of his hoax.

Oh look the FREEPERS are spending valuable time on me.. WHOOPEEE

[DustyMoment]

And, another idiot proves P.T. Barnum right!!!

There really IS a sucker born every minute!!!

[NCPAC]

Komarnitsky has a career in Democrat politics.

[Blast_Master]

Ahhhh I was duped again! And to think of the hours I spent mindlessly clicking on his webpage to turn his lights on and off to find out I wasn't!