What's Up With LightsoutGeorgia.org?

Joey Gibson

[joeyGibson]

Has anyone in or around Atlanta heard the radio spots for an outfit called lightsoutgeorgia.org? They present themselves as some government agency who has the power to fine you if your exterior Christmas lights are still up after January 23. Their website is a single page that essentially has the text of the radio spot, a 'file a complaint' button and a 'file for an extension' button. I did a little checking and according to the 'whois' record for the domain, the registrant and admin contacts are some guy with a ClearChannel.com address.

The website claims that "Our legislature, in conjunction with local and federal officials, proposed and passed this ordinance" but they don't list the legislative session or the bill number. I have emailed the admin contact asking to be provided with this information, because I don't believe they have the authority to do a damn thing about anyone's Christmas lights, much less fine them.

Does anyone have any details on this group?

[doodad]

Never heard of it.

[The_Victor]

Yuck!

Glad I live in Texas where Christmas decorations a chic year 'round. :)

[tutstar]

HA!
I'm in FL and we have to start putting up lights in Oct or they won't be done in time. Could this possibly be a joke?

[freebilly]

Sounds like Phil Hendrie's got a website....

[freebilly]

Lights Out Georgia is an organization dedicated to maintaining affordable energy prices in the State of Georgia. We work with State and Local authorities, as well as power brokers and providers to facilitate legislation and policies to benefit the public good. We also work closely with local organizations to encourage power conservation.

Attention: The ban on holiday lights in Georgia will begin on January 23rd, promptly at 6:00pm, and it will be in effect until November 27th. Act now to conserve energy: click here to report a violation, or click here to file an extension.

A note from our Chairman:

The ban on holiday lights in the State of Georgia will be in effect from January 23rd through November 27th. Our legislature, in conjunction with local and federal officials, proposed and passed this ordinance because of increased costs of production of electrical power, due to the fluctuating cost of oil. With the engagement of the War on Terrorism, continued violence in Iraq, plus political instability in Venezuela, oil prices are predicted to reach record highs. Georgia receives roughly 60% of its power from Oil and Coal burning power plants. In anticipation of an unseasonably cold winter, followed by a hot summer, the strain on the State Power Grid is expected to be unusually high. While holiday lights are a wonderful way to celebrate the season, we must ask that beginning January 23rd at 6:00pm, you turn them off until November 27th.

Random Neighborhood checks have been authorized and businesses and residences displaying holiday lights will be fined on a per bulb basis, with current electrical use and past power bills factored in. Georgians wishing to file a free extension, or report a neighbor or business that is in violation of this code may do so by clicking on the links below.

On behalf of Lights Out Georgia, I thank you for helping to keep electricity in Georgia plentiful and affordable.

Sincerely,

Lester Chalmers Chairman, Lights Out Georgia

[Petronski]

Smells like a private citizen trying to pass himself off as a quasi-official authority on the matter.

In other words, a crank.

Why not forward the web address to someone in GA government? His motives might be 'pure,' but the dude is trying to leave the reader with the impression that he acts with some kind of authority. I bet he has no more authority from GA government than I do.

[wai-ming]

"The night that the lights went out in Georgia"

Maybe they could write a song about it.

[50sDad]

The draw from a few strings of Christmas lights is far less than that second, inefficient fridge you may have stashed in your basement. This guy is out to get Christmas lights, probably from his next door neighbor, and wants to smoke somebody by saying "I heard on the Internet you have to take them down."

They can no more tell you to remove your Christmas lights than they can come into your house and make you throw out fatty snack foods. (The Libs don't have that on the schedule until year two of the Dean Presidency.)

[50sDad]

Looked at the "File an Extension" page...here's one of the questions:

Are the majority of the bulbs twinkle or non-twinkle?

This is a pure scam.

[Constitution Day]

Sounds like an elaborate prank to me.

[toomuchcoffee]

Somebody's yankin' your chain, for Pete's sake.

[toomuchcoffee]

Somebody's yankin' your chain, for Pete's sake.

[toomuchcoffee]

And somebody is too quick on the 'Post' button...

[50sDad]

I just emailed Savannah Electric company, since the name on one of the graphics on the page is "savannahpower.jpg". I'll let you guys know if I hear something.

[DanTheAdmin]

Domain Registration shows it's a DJ. Pretty funny!!

Domain ID:D94470664-LROR
Domain Name:LIGHTSOUTGEORGIA.ORG
Created On:14-Feb-2003 10:16:00 UTC
Last Updated On:09-Jan-2004 14:20:12 UTC
Expiration Date:14-Feb-2004 10:16:00 UTC
Sponsoring Registrar:R11-LROR
Status:OK
Registrant ID:tuuoejj32p31EZmC
Registrant Name:Chris Gantner
Registrant Organization:lightsoutgeorgia.org
Registrant Street1:1819 Peachtree Street, Suite 700
Registrant City:Atlanta
Registrant State/Province:GA
Registrant Postal Code:30309
Registrant Country:US
Registrant Phone:+1.4049627048
Registrant Email:chrisgantner@clearchannel.com
Admin ID:tuuoejj32p31EZmC
Admin Name:Chris Gantner
Admin Organization:lightsoutgeorgia.org
Admin Street1:1819 Peachtree Street, Suite 700
Admin City:Atlanta
Admin State/Province:GA
Admin Postal Code:30309
Admin Country:US
Admin Phone:+1.4049627048
Admin Email:chrisgantner@clearchannel.com
Tech ID:tuuBZ1iYcqKTiwdj
Tech Name:Network Operations Centre
Tech Organization:Tera-Byte Dot Com Inc.
Tech Street1:Suite #900 CN Tower
Tech Street2:10004-104 Ave. NW
Tech City:Edmonton
Tech State/Province:Alberta
Tech Postal Code:T5J0K1
Tech Country:CA
Tech Phone:+1.7804131868
Tech Email:hostmaster@tera-byte.com
Name Server:NS2.CLEARCHANNEL.COM
Name Server:NS1.CLEARCHANNEL.COM
Name Server:DNS1.CLEARCHANNEL.COM
Name Server:DNS2.CLEARCHANNEL.COM

[Jonah Hex]

Sounds like somebody lit up your life. Twice!

;-)

[DanTheAdmin]

Perhaps it was caused by too much coffee...

[Rainmist]

I live in the city you mention and we never got any kind of notice like that. Seems kind of strange that those greedy SOB's would tell me not to use too much electricity when they're on your a** if your payment is a week late .....

[AngryJawa]

In other words, a crank.

I beleive this is the work of The Regular Guys Morning Show on 96 Rock. They "interviewed" Mr. Chalmers this morning.

Larry and Eric rock...eff you Steve!