Totally viral... and wicked cool

Have you gotten the link to the crazy holiday lightshow set to heavy metal music? If not, you can access it here.

It's an interesting lesson in the power, speed and reach of the internet.

First, yes, it's real. The creator's name is Carson Williams and he lives in Deerfield Township, Ohio. I didn't believe it at first, but after reading more, he has it all controlled via computer and also broadcasts the music via an FM transmitter. Here's a gizmo similar to what he used. Even the folks at Snopes.com were called in to prove the authenticity. You can learn some more about Carson and the display at the Snopes.com entry.

This guy's display has taken on a life of it's own. I've received it from several sources, it's maxed out numerous servers (including the initial link I received to access it at Penn State), and he's even appeared on the Today show.

Second, because I know inquiring minds want to know, the song is "Wizards of Winter" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Third, he recently shut it down. The frenzy was getting a little much for his family and his neighborhood, including a fender bender the other night.

All in all a neat story and interesting how it spread like wildfire across the net and email. In the story above, people were coming from all over the country to see his display, and one woman from Sweden was planning to see it when she visited family in the area later this month.