New Year Eves- 100 hundred years of the ball dropping in Times Square.

The ball itself is a crystal ball by a computer in the elevator room in what was once the New York times newspaper. Over a million people on site and a billion or so people around the world will see the ball drop and hope for a better tomorrow.

Alfred Ochs the German Jewish the owner of the New York times wanted to celebrate the New Year outside his window at the newspapers headquarters. He started with fireworks that the city of New York thought a bit dangerous. He decided a big ball going down a flag pole would be a great way to ring in the New Year.  From then on the ball dropping has become an icon of the American cultural scene. In some of the war years there was no ball so for the last ninety eight out of a hundred years that has been the way people have rang in the New Year. The other custom that was connected to the countdown and afterwards was kissing the first man or woman one saw. Confetti was added as part of the revelry and the entire package became as American as apple pie.

Security will be tight as possible under the circumstances and amid direct threats made by terrorist groups.  It may not be the safest place to be in the beginning of 2008. That will probably not deter to many from partying and reveling. After all the “show must go on “.

Happy new year!