New Year’s Day ball drop goes green.
By on Dec 31st, 2007 at 10:00 pm
New Year’s Day ball drop goes green.
The crystal ball that glides down atop Times Square in New York City at the stroke of midnight tonight will be more energy efficient than previous New Year’s ball drops. Event organizers are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the event by going green:
The new 6ft ball, weighing about 1,100lbs, is covered with 9,576 light-emitting diodes that use the same amount of electricity as 10 toasters. The LEDs are more than twice as bright as the previous bulbs and are capable of creating a palette of 16 million colors.
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Bush
Business
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
Dobbs
Education
Election
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Glenn Beck
Global Warming
Guantanamo
Health Care
Immigration
International Relations
Justice
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Politics
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Steele
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Technology
Terrorism
Veterans
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
I never understood the ball dropping. I suppose it has to do with a falling sun [seasons]
Ennyhoo, happy new year!
December 31st, 2007 at 10:05 pmGreen, schmeen… “Green” is the latest catch word and cover up for developers to continue to cover the planet with human condos, roads, malls, parking lots and office complexes. Development destroys natural habitat, except in large cities, where Mother Nature has been already almost completely covered with concrete and asphalt… “Green development” and “smart growth”: it is truly amazing how the human race can continue to fool itself into believing that it can be “business as usual” as we continue to destroy the planet…
Happy New Year…
December 31st, 2007 at 10:08 pmXis, I wonder if it has anything to do with like dropping an anvil on one’s head. Yikes, and time for a new year???
December 31st, 2007 at 10:08 pmJK, I agree, the only Green economy is the one the Native Americans practices before the invasion of the European body snatchers.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:09 pmpracticed? Tense much?
December 31st, 2007 at 10:10 pmHappy 2008 to all my progressive peeps on TProgress.
I love this site and love reading your comments.
I cant wait till later next year when we can celebrate the election of a NON Republican…
Now back to the party!
Peace
December 31st, 2007 at 10:13 pmi heard a story today that the ball drop evolved from the earlier tradition of setting off fireworks – a major headache in the city…
…
HAPPY NEW YEAR greetings to all…
it just HAS to be a better one…
December 31st, 2007 at 10:17 pm…
Happy New Year, ThinkProgress & commenters (except the trolls).
December 31st, 2007 at 10:19 pmThe ball dropping is just one of a litany of rituals that “perhaps” had some real meaning to a few people in the past. Capitalism has usurped most all of these “local doings” and created something that was never intended, as a justification for pushing its own agenda. Take Valentines day pushed by candy manufacturers or that great O’Liely holiday called Christmas. (This one is about as far away from the original intent as capitalism can drive it.)
Look for the underlying emotional desire that needs a justification for expression. (And is often suppressed! Take that marvel of ingenuity called the “bundling board” designed to keep 2 young testosterone driven teenagers from being sexual. Yeah, right.) It is a great technique! Suppress something, (speech, alcohol, sex, whatever, and then allow it to happen at a price which those in power or control benefit from.) Sigh…
Sorry… my cynicism is leaking out.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:29 pmHere’s to fixing a few of these messes in 2008. Happy New Year to all the great posters and commenters on ThinkProgress.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:32 pmHappy New Year, TP buddies and best wishes for a prosperous, healthy, “democratic” New Year!!
Balls said the Queen – if I only had two, I’d be King! See ya’ll next year!!
December 31st, 2007 at 10:32 pmAs for the darkened ball descending into light, maybe it’s a metaphor for a new “awareness” or “enlightenment” in 2008?? Sounds good anyway. Happy 2008 to all!
December 31st, 2007 at 10:34 pmDropping of the Ball is the opposite of the balls withdrawing up into the body…a sign of virility…maybe there should be a twin dropping set of balls…Happy New Year!
December 31st, 2007 at 10:36 pmWhy can’t we just jump to January 20 12:01 2009? Most of the country wishes we could.
Bush/Cheney
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
December 31st, 2007 at 10:36 pmHeathen’s Greetings to all you great Progressive folks that I have had the pleasure of sharing thoughts and ideas these last few years. You have taught me a lot and I am grateful.
Without sites like TP, DailyKos, FDL, Consortium News, The Daily Howler, TPM and many others, we would, as a country, be in doo doo so deep, there would be no way out.
May we revel in the coming year, the Democratic tidal wave that is so visable and scaring the bejesus out of the wingnuts and those idiot neocon enablers who are wandering around spouting old useless talking points (trolls come to mind here. Frank, Jake, Capt. M… the list is too long to complete.) with their heads securely tucked in a soft warm place.
Have a great party everyone! See you in 2008!
December 31st, 2007 at 10:43 pm#11 Comment by Veritas — December 31, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
Balls said the Queen – if I only had two, I’d be King!
I heard it like this:
Balls said the Queen, If I had them, I’d be King!
December 31st, 2007 at 10:48 pmNuts, said the Prince, I have them and I’m not.
And the King laughed, not because he wanted to (two), but because he had to (two.)
#12 Comment by Veritas — December 31, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
As for the darkened ball descending into light, maybe it’s a metaphor for a new “awareness†or “enlightenment†in 2008?? Sounds good anyway.
Nice metaphor!
December 31st, 2007 at 10:52 pmBut… I thought that lower energy consumption means the terrorists win.
/sarc off
Have fun, and be safe, good people.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:59 pmYou too trolls.
Happy new years everyone. See ya next year.
January 1st, 2008 at 12:00 amIts all bassackwards, the ball should go up the pole and explode at the top as it hits midnight not fall to the ground -BH
Ya know Billy, I agree.
January 1st, 2008 at 12:26 amI had a friend whose ball didn’t drop, and he needed corrective surgery. If anything goes wrong in Times Square tonight, NYC is going to be very sore in the morning.
Have a good New Year, y’all.
January 1st, 2008 at 12:52 amGives new meaning to the phrase:
Who dropped the ball?
January 1st, 2008 at 1:10 ami don’t comment often (mostly lurk) — but i’d like to say thank you to Think Progress and the commentors — i really learn a lot here.
Happy New Year, Everyone !!
January 1st, 2008 at 1:17 amJust got back.
Gotta say americans do not know how to party.
Pathetic.
January 1st, 2008 at 1:21 amAnd a happy 08 to U2, SC mom!
January 1st, 2008 at 1:31 amLook at all the complimentary recommends! Never have seen it like this before! How great is that!
January 1st, 2008 at 1:36 amEven amid years of shocking news, this is the worst – Congress just let Israel do a hostile takeover of the USA and our military.
http://progressiveindependent.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=80322
US to integrage its missile system with Israel ?! House vote- 394-30
Dec-31-07
WTF – Israel to integrage its missile system with America’s?
Our missile defense system isn’t even integrated with NATO and we’re going to integrate it with Israel? This is effing obscene. Why not just save ourselves a lot of trouble, hand them the launch keys and directly subordinate our military to Tel Aviv?
Bill includes U.S.-Israel missile coordination
Published: 12/14/2007
Congress is set to approve a plan to integrate the U.S. and Israeli missile defense systems.
The proposal, authored by U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), is part of the Defense Authorization Act passed late Wednesday by the U.S. House of Representatives and due to be considered by the Senate before Christmas break. Under the proposal, the secretary of defense must within six months present a plan to Congress a plan “to improve the coordination, interoperability, and integration of the U.S. National Ballistic Missile Defense System with Israel’s missile defense architecture,” a statement from Kirk’s office said.
Such a plan will help defend Israel against reported plans by Iran to build missiles that can reach Israel, Kirk said. “Israel will be the first and only country to fully integrate with the American missile defense architecture,” the statement said. “It is a symbol of our shared values and a safer 21st century.
http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/105895.ht...
According to The Washington Report On Middle East Affairs Pro-Israel PAC Contributions to 2006 Congressional Candidates, U.S. Rep Mark Kirk (R-Ill) received $66,064 from the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee the 2005-2006 election cycle with a career total of $119,382
January 1st, 2008 at 1:39 amComment by IMPEACH NOW — January 1, 2008 @ 1:39 am
The United AIPAC states of IAsmreareilica.
January 1st, 2008 at 2:17 am31. You are a moron.
January 1st, 2008 at 2:41 amComment by good_golly — January 1, 2008 @ 2:40 am
gg?
January 1st, 2008 at 3:25 amIsrael to integrage its missile system with America’s
That the neocons want this is understandable. But the vote in Congress??? I think this is beyond stupidity! It borders on insanity.
And no, GG, I don’t hate Jews. So don’t start with me.
January 1st, 2008 at 3:31 amHAPPY NEW YEAR BARTLEBEE AND EVERYBODY ELSE!!! I’m counting the minutes left for the War Criminals to end his regime… Happy 2008!
January 1st, 2008 at 4:03 amLet’s learn to mind our own freekin’ business. It’s Conservative!
January 1st, 2008 at 8:11 amThe New Years ball is just One of the many uses for LEDs.
The new traffic lights you are seeing are made out of arrays of light emitting diodes (LEDs).
A city can easily save a million dollars a year by replacing all of the bulbs with LED units.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question178.htm
Happy New Year to all.
January 1st, 2008 at 8:25 amTake it Back in 2008!
Nancy Pelosi is standing in the way of a full investigation into the crimes of the Bush/Cheney administration. She will not allow impeachment hearing to take place.
Please sign the petition to replace Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. It is Constitutional and can be done during session. In fact the rule was written for just such an occasion; the removal of a complicit Speaker to advance the impeachment of a rogue administration.
http://www.petitiononline.com/everyman/petition.html
January 1st, 2008 at 10:31 amAfter the “Oil Shocks” of the 1970’s, Americans responded by trading in their V-8s for toyotas and datsuns. Oil prices plunged, sending OPEC into a panic. They were thinking they had killed their golden goose. Let’s hope that 2008 is the beginning of a Green corner being turned. Some hopefull news:
The holy grail of renewable energy came a step closer yesterday as thousands of mass-produced wafer-thin solar cells printed on aluminium film rolled off a production line in California, heralding what British scientists called “a revolution†in generating electricity.
The solar panels produced by a Silicon Valley start-up company, Nanosolar, are radically different from the kind that European consumers are increasingly buying to generate power from their own roofs. Printed like a newspaper directly on to aluminium foil, they are flexible, light and, if you believe the company, expected to make it as cheap to produce electricity from sunlight as from coal.
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/12/30/6071/
January 1st, 2008 at 10:31 amI’ve seen plenty of CFL bulbs on store shelves, but has anyone seen the LED bulbs anywhere besides the internet?
January 1st, 2008 at 10:34 amMay Janus guard the door of Progressive Ideas from Neo-Con Unwanted Intrusion unless they are willing to peer into the future instead of the past.
Also, USA, keep your nose out of everyone’s business, here and abroad.
January 1st, 2008 at 10:35 am…has anyone seen the LED bulbs anywhere besides the internet?
LED bulbs are appearing all over the world, in poor countries without electricity. These nifty solar powered flashlights will make a HUGE difference in the lives of the world’s poorest people.
Interestingly, they had to make some of them PINK…to keep the men from taking them away from the women.
http://www.bogolight.com/
January 1st, 2008 at 10:46 amHappy New Year, everyone — even the trolls, who I hope will come to see that Democrats are the ones who care about the people and the planet. Bush and his cronies have done much to destroy everything that made America unique and good – but the trolls remain blind to the harm they have done, focusing, as they have been told, on wedge issues that keep Americans divided and antagonistic.
January 1st, 2008 at 11:32 amSo I hope the year 2008 brings happiness to us all — Democrats who will begin restoration, and Republicans who will recognize it as good.
Happy New Years everyone. And I so agree with poster #6. It is going to be great celebrating a new year without a Republiscum in the White House. That will truly be something to celebrate. That will be the beginning of our national healing. I really couldn’t get up much enthusiasm to celebrate this year. I find it profoundly depressing that we have another year of the Bush Crime Family to contend with. I’m hoping that the Democrats got spines for Christmas and will come roaring back in January.
January 1st, 2008 at 11:36 amI don’t care whatever depression issues Kermit had. In the end it really isn’t that hard to be green
January 1st, 2008 at 11:40 amhas anyone seen the LED bulbs anywhere besides the internet?
only in Xmas lights…but not any other kind. maybe it’s because of this:
The bulbs cost between $60-$70 each,
January 1st, 2008 at 11:40 am29-30. Progressives hate Jews.
Comment by good_golly — January 1, 2008 @ 2:40 am
I see goon_golly is starting the new year with his usual moronic posts. How about we all take a new year’s pledge to ignore goon_golly and the moronic trolls who have absolutely nothing to contribute here. There are a few (very few) neo-con’s who come here who are willing to debate but the majority are here to try to stir up the pot. If we refuse to throw anything into their pot, they will get bored and go away. But, we all have to be willing not to react to them. The minute one person reacts, it opens the floodgates. Do we really need more 400+ posting threads where a majority of the posts are us talking to a brick wall?
January 1st, 2008 at 11:45 amHappy new year !!
January 1st, 2008 at 11:47 amIn the land of the big ball which is decending green on the square ot time , which is more AMerican …. Chineese food , Pizza or bagels ?
Happy new year to everyone everywhere from everyone ..
…we miss you …
I’ve seen plenty of CFL bulbs on store shelves, but has anyone seen the LED bulbs anywhere besides the internet?
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — January 1, 2008 @ 10:34 am
I was in a radio parts store recently and nearly blinded myself fooling around with an LED flashlight. They had several variants, with either a single or multiple LEDs and I got too close to the business end of the light directly, rather than by reflection as recommended. Fuggers are BRIGHT!
We’ve also got LED units as safety bars on several of our vehicles at work. Much brighter than previous systems and with a negligible power draw.
I think the flashlights started at about $40.
January 1st, 2008 at 11:57 amhas anyone seen the LED bulbs anywhere besides the internet?
Everywhere at my city. But, of course, I’m in Europe.
January 1st, 2008 at 12:42 pmI saw a LED zeppelin…..
January 1st, 2008 at 12:54 pmNevar, go to your room.
January 1st, 2008 at 12:59 pmHappy new years everyone, another tough one on the way.
January 1st, 2008 at 1:03 pm10 one thousand watt toasters?
That’s 10,000 watts. Not too “green” if you ask me.
They could have made it sound more innocuous by saying 10 vacuum cleaners. Same difference.
January 1st, 2008 at 1:20 pmCongratulations George W. Bush, Libya is the head of the UN Security Council!
Another terrorist rewarded for bad behavior!
Also, RIP, a US diplomat has been assassinated in Sudan.
Looks like 2008 will be a banner year.
-GSD
January 1st, 2008 at 1:26 pmDubya: THE SURGE IS WORKING!
Laura: Georgie, stop squirting Barney, put the watergun down, and come inside for your afternoon cobbler!
January 1st, 2008 at 1:35 pmHere you go Jason…now spend some money
http://www.lightingonthenet.com/LED-120V-G16-Globe-Bulb-25W-Equivalent-P449044C1148.aspx?UserID=2518744&SessionID=vz1oRB6UlG3JVXvrcZ43
January 1st, 2008 at 2:21 pm2008, this generation’s 1968.
January 1st, 2008 at 2:30 pmI don’t me to be a tool and I trust that you all do what you can but please remember to unplug you vampire electonics this new year. It just makes common sense.
best-
January 1st, 2008 at 2:32 pm2008, this generation’s 1968.
Comment by RickS — January 1, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
From Bob Herbert in today’s NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/01/opinion/01herbert.html?hp
No one had a clue about what was in store. A friend of mine, looking back, said, “Sixty-eight was the whirlwind.â€
One of the astonishing things about 1968 was how quickly each shocking, consciousness-altering event succeeded the last, leaving no time for people to reorient themselves. The mind-boggling occurrences seemed to come out of nowhere.
January 1st, 2008 at 2:51 pmI live in a town of roughly one million people and the majority of our traffic lights are LED -
January 1st, 2008 at 2:51 pmI live in a town with only one traffic light and it has been blinking yellow since I moved here
January 1st, 2008 at 2:59 pmLOL, OK, I will try this again.
Yes, I’ve seen LED bulbs embedded in devices like Xmas lights (even with high loss fiber cables for effect), flashlights, appliances, computers, etc., but I have not seen any LED bulbs on store shelves in the United States (Florida in particular) intended for use in lamps and light fixtures.
I do NOT need a link to wesite, I am just asking the question, yes or no, have ANY of you seen an 60W or 75W equivalent LED lightbulb on any store shelves?
January 1st, 2008 at 3:00 pmSounds like you have your obsession for the new year, Jason.
January 1st, 2008 at 3:23 pmKeep us posted on how many LED’s you can find, even if it means going off topic.
(Yes, you may count each one you find in any given device.)
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — January 1, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
You just can’t help being a total dick, can you?
January 1st, 2008 at 3:31 pmHow many trolls does it take to find a light bulb?
January 1st, 2008 at 3:38 pmHow many trolls does it take to find a light bulb?
Comment by Nevar — January 1, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
None, neocons can’t do it themselves, they have to hire an illegal alien to do it, then go back to complaining about them.
January 1st, 2008 at 3:58 pmlooks like no new threads for today, just last year’s droll trolls mucking about attempting in vain to pull their heads out of their asses.
January 1st, 2008 at 4:06 pm29-30. Progressives hate Jews.
Comment by good_golly — January 1, 2008 @ 2:40 am
The Jewish people vote left more than they do right.
As well you seem to be confusing Zionism with Judaism.
You are also forgetting that quite a few evangelists think that by creating the apocalypse 2/3s of the Jewish people will be destroyed.
And Frankly, GG, I dont hate anyone, its a useless emotion.
January 1st, 2008 at 4:07 pm#72, isn’t it amazing how the trolls conflate the State of Israel with all Jewish people all over the world?
January 1st, 2008 at 4:09 pmIt is one thing to recognize the damage that the creation and maintenance of the state of Israel has caused, and another to be bigoted against a religious sect.
have ANY of you seen an 60W or 75W equivalent LED lightbulb on any store shelves?
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — January 1, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
OK, this once, next time can the rhetoric and quit being such a prick/idiot.
If you really want them you can buy leds at Radio Shack and put together your own. I created a UV array of UV leds for use with my Sony camcorder, it will illuminate 100 yards for the camcorder in total darkness. Radio Shack usually stocks leds of all kinds. Just need to be able to use a solder gun and find a guide online if you don’t know how to assemble them already.
No they have not hit the store shelves with a replacement for the screw-in bulbs yet, just fluorescent bulbs so far.
January 1st, 2008 at 4:10 pmYou are also forgetting that quite a few evangelists think that by creating the apocalypse 2/3s of the Jewish people will be destroyed.
And Frankly, GG, I dont hate anyone, its a useless emotion.
Comment by Xisithrus — January 1, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
And it looks like Bush has tried hard to bring the Apocalypse on. He has stuck his hand deep into that hornets nest in the Middle East, slapped around and has pissed a lot of them off.
Something else GG forgets or tries to obscure, rather. Seeking justice and Rule of Law, is not the same as hating Bush or anyone else either. No one is above the Law, even the President. Eventually he will be held accountable for his actions.
January 1st, 2008 at 4:21 pm#74, Wayne,
Thankyou for the clear, concise answer.
I am curious as to how incandescents are going to be taken off the store shelves, when I haven’t found a direct replacement for most of the incandescents in my home – oven light, refrigerator light, small clear specialty lights for bathroom and ceiling fixtures, etc.
I did eventually find a much smaller 60W cfl that could fit in my bedside lamp, where the typical ones don’t fit. It takes a sec for it to turn on when I flip the switch, but I’ve gotten used to it.
January 1st, 2008 at 4:28 pmIt takes a sec for it to turn on when I flip the switch, but I’ve gotten used to it.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler
Congratulations.
January 1st, 2008 at 4:41 pmWhile I applaud the symbolic effort of making the ball use less energy, I hope that this is just the first step which will continue in other “green” initiatives.
January 1st, 2008 at 4:45 pmI did eventually find a much smaller 60W cfl that could fit in my bedside lamp, where the typical ones don’t fit. It takes a sec for it to turn on when I flip the switch, but I’ve gotten used to it.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — January 1, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
May want to look at http://ledneonlight.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=31
expensice, but thats because you have to use a transformer to change the current from ac to dc for the LEDs.
100 watt equivilents are $89
Thats why they are not on the coner store shelves.
January 1st, 2008 at 4:45 pmbah, corner not coner =P
January 1st, 2008 at 4:48 pmThanks Wayne.
I was wondering what the problem with widespread LED use was. If they require DC, that would explain a lot.
January 1st, 2008 at 4:49 pmComment by Jason M. Hendler
January 1st, 2008 at 5:02 pmI see you come to the progressive side to get your lighting advice. Doesn’t this speak volumes as where your trust really lies in getting an educated opinion?
Wayne, I have a set of pom pom’s set aside for my vacation at The Hague for Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, and Powell’s trials.
I hope to have front row seats.
January 1st, 2008 at 8:51 pmWay off topic.
This will be my last comment at TP. The editorial staff has elected to remove my response to a rabid attack, while leaving the falsehoods of the other party for all to see. This is unacceptable.
I’ve had fun, and, I will doubtless run into many of you on, effectively moderated, forums.
I can’t leave without a warning, however. The troll known as BARTLEBEE is a narrow minded, ignorant, hateful, judgmental, abusive sh!t-stain. And, when challenged, it lies like the lowest of conservative trolls. Don’t dare to disagree with it or you may be the next one subjected to it’s foul abuse only to have your response deleted as happened to me in this thread:http://thinkprogress.org/2007/11/29/huckabee-phone-call-with-god/#comment-4191249
Good bye.
Comment by pete — January 1, 2008 @ 10:57 pm
My beef is with the staff. I will no longer support their incompetance.
Comment by pete — January 1, 2008 @ 11:16 pm
January 1st, 2008 at 11:16 pm