A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-28-07 to 1-1-08....New Year's Eve In Times Square

Aquamarine

[Aquamarine]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 200,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

Every year as the clock nears midnight on December 31st, the eyes of the world turn once more to the dazzling lights and bustling energy of Times Square. Anticipation runs high. New Year's Eve is in the symbolic center of New York City "The City That Never Sleeps".

New Year's Eve in Times Square is chaotic, crowded, and out of control. People begin arriving late in the afternoon on New Year's Eve. By approximately 6:00 p.m., the Bow Tie of Times Square (42nd to 47th Sts. Between Broadway & 7th Ave.) is fully closed to traffic.

Times Square has achieved the status of an iconic world landmark and has become a symbol of its home city. Times Square is principally defined by its animated, digital advertisements. Known simply as One Times Square, it is famed for the "ball" which "drops" from a tower on its roof every New Year's Eve.

The "New" New Year's Eve Ball

Each year, millions of eyes from all over the world are focused on the sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball. At 11:59 p.m., the Ball begins its descent as millions of voices unite to count down the final seconds of the year, and celebrate the beginning of a new year full of hopes, challenges, changes and dreams.

On October 4, 2007, the co-organizers of New Year’s Eve in Times Square (Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment) unveiled the new LED Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball at a press conference at Hudson Scenic Studio in Yonkers, New York. 2008 year marks the 100th birthday of the New Year’s Eve Ball, a universal symbol of celebration and renewal.

Auld Lang Syne - Traditional

The world holds its breath...and cheers as the clocks strike twelve. As the famous New Year's Eve Ball descends from the flagpole atop One Times Square, an estimated one million people in Times Square, millions nationwide and over a billion watching throughout the world are united in bidding a collective farewell to the departing year, and expressing our joy and hope for the year ahead.

WATERFORD CRYSTAL created an exclusive “Let There Be Light” design for the crystal triangles on the new Ball. Designed and crafted by Waterford artisans in Ireland, “Let There Be Light” features a dramatically stylized, radiating sunburst on each of the 672 crystal triangles. Due to the new design and technical innovations, this represents an increase of 168 crystal triangles from last year’s Ball. And, for the first time, the crystal triangles will feature cutting on both sides. The double cutting maximizes the light refraction within the crystal triangles.

The new Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball is more than twice as bright as the old one, with enhanced color capabilities and state-of-the-art LED lighting effects. Waterford Crystal crafted a beautiful new design for the crystal triangles on the Ball. Philips Lighting provided new solid state lighting technology that substantially increased the brightness, energy efficiency, and color capabilities of the Ball. And Focus Lighting developed a spectacular and unique lighting design for the new Ball on its 100th birthday.

Times Square at 12:00 AM January 1





We will open the book.
Its pages are blank.
We are going to put words on them ourselves.
The book is called "Opportunity" and its first
chapter is New Year's Day. ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce



History of New Year's Eve In Times Square
About The New Year's Eve Ball
Countdown To 2008 - In Video


Happy New Year 2008!

The Best Is Yet to Come
I've Got The World on a String
That's Life

Click on titles for music

03-27-07 ~ Hall of Fame #19 ~ Final

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-24,25-07...Merry Christmas 2007 12-26,27-07...Warm Fuzzy Wednesday & Thursday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Billie]

‘Nite, all - see you tomorrow.

[La Enchiladita]

I’m all ready to cha-cha-cha the night away in my new ensemble...;^)

Niters, Billie.

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you, Sweet (((((jaycee)))))! I Feel the Same Way about you!

Goodnight to my Finest FRiends.

[DollyCali]

I did some movie “catch up” with the sprained ankle.. I still did a lot on my feet but JUSTIFIED the movies for that reason.

We do what we have to do!

[DollyCali]

yes, I will take a camera & if my mind is all there I will also have the batteries charged & remember the memory card!

I think I will be submitting some pix to the newspaper also..but they wouldn’t be the same ones for here.. well, maybe, if anyone is interested

[MEG33]

I had a long nap..fell asleep TV blaring,coffee pot on, lights on..So much for normal sleep pattern O Dear.LOL

I have an old heating pad I treasure..The new ones all seem to stop working quickly. We surely do have a lot of fellow back sufferers on FR!

Your New Years event sounds like fun..I know you will be smashing in your dress.

[jaycee]

[jaycee]

Meg, I imagine you are sleeping in this morning. I have done the very same things so many nights I can’t count them. I think we get so tired we don’t know how tired until we sit back and relax a moment and this wonderful sleep comes over us and overwhelms us.

Do you think the computer sitting is making so many backs hurt? I have always had some back problems but seems I have more now. I have blamed it on everything but haven’t pin-pointed the culprit.

I was bad this morning. Went to McD. and bought a sausage mcmuffin...my favorite! She rang up $2.00 and asked “would you like 2 for 2”, and I thought duh? I was paying that much for one, why wouldn’t I accept two. I have to eat again in the morning.........While I am confessing, I had Chinese take out yesterday and have plenty for another meal today. I just don’t want to cook sometimes for one person!

[DollyCali]

PHOTOGRAPHY ENTHUSIASTS

These pics were taken in the Suntree area of Florida ~Viera~ south of Cocoa & Titusville . It was sent to me via email from friend Jackie (Jtill) .

A Sand Hill Crane couple recently had an exciting addition to their family. When they built their nest near the water's edge it immediately drew attention of passers by. Soon there were two eggs sitting on top of the nest and the mother on top of them.

The really curious passed by the site every morning and would stop their cars to get out and see if there were any new cranes yet. Many brought cameras of all shapes and sizes and would stand near the water for long periods of time hoping to catch a photo of the hatching.

Robert Grover, a dentist, didn't actually catch the birth but, he sure did capture some fabulous shots of the Momma, Papa and baby (the second egg never hatched). Then he put together a slide show with music

SANDHILL CRANES

[DollyCali]

Here is video of Ghost in Ohio Gas Station - this is at Pleasant Valley & State Road.. about 6 miles NW of my home (not far from my friend Patty).. Interesting huh?

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/offbeat/2007/11/14/lai.gas.ghost.woio

[The Mayor]

December 29, 2007

It Is Not Good

READ: Genesis 2:15-25

The Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” —Genesis 2:18

In one prison system in the US, 25,000 of the most dangerous inmates endure solitary confinement in small concrete cells. They have virtually no contact with the outside world. An inmate at Oregon State Penitentiary said that the most difficult part about such isolation is “not being able to see somebody face to face . . . to communicate, to touch, to hug, to feel loved, to feel human.” This man’s words seem to scream, “I’m lonely! This is not the way it’s supposed to be.”

The writer of Genesis would have agreed. After God created man, He acknowledged Adam’s loneliness, and said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” In essence, God was saying that the man needed another person with whom he could be fully human. Although the immediate setting is companionship, in the larger context God is telling us that being fully human means enjoying relationship with other human beings.

No matter the cause of loneliness—sin, loss, shame, sickness, depression—God says this is “not good.” He created us to be in close relationship with others (Eccl. 4:9-12) and with Him (Rev. 21:3). Reach out and develop those needed friendships—for your sake and theirs.

For Further Study
What is God’s solution for our loneliness? You may enjoy reading Lonely But Never Alone on the Web at www.discoveryseries.org/hp911

Friendships can help dispel loneliness.

Bible in One Year:   Zechariah 9-12; Revelation 20

[Aquamarine]

Took all the Christmas decorations down and cleaned up the mess, am now off to do some more after Christmas Sale shopping. Need to find something to wear(here at The Finest). on New Year's Eve ;)

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Aqua :)
I’m jealous! I was just thinking I can’t wait to be done un-decorating. LOL

Have fun shopping. I hope you hit some good sales!

[La Enchiladita]

Dolly, this is exquisite, unutterably beautiful!!
Thank you for the gift of this slide show.

GeeBee and FRiends, you must see this .... Booboo, too.

[GodBlessUSA]

Good afternoon (((Dita)))
How are you today? I sure will be viewing these pictures. Thanks :)

[jaycee]

I saw it early and haven’t written Dolly yet. I was feeling so bad today...my ribs were hurting. I think I strained myself a couple of days ago when I was putting a lamp together. A gift I received for Christmas from my son and DIL. I truly love it.

I got the stem on just fine, pulling the cord through, etc. and then the piece for the top where you screw the light bulb in and then the lamp shade sets on the top. The piece for the top (called the harp) in the directions, I strained real hard to get it into the holes on each side....had to try 3 or 4 times to get it together to place in the holes, felt like I was squeezing a piece of iron together. I just strained everything....it takes a day or two to get sore for me. Gripe, gripe, gripe! I do love the lamp. Its beautiful. It is antique looking but not an antique! Thats my story and I am sticking to it....LOL....

[jaycee]

Dolly, I saw the video earlier but was feeling bad and didn’t write til now. It was the sweetest thing I have ever seen. I loved every moment of it....thank you for allowing all of us to see it, Dolly! That doll of a baby bird and Mama was so touching.

Getting ready to run to the store. Have to take food to church tomorrow. There is a big basketball tournament in town that Bristol hosts every year and we have a team from Los Angeles coming to our church. And we know they can eat a lot so we are cooking a lot!!

Thanks again for the video~~~

[La Enchiladita]

Be sure to un-check the box at the bottom of the screen for looping the slideshow; otherwise, it never stops playing. But this is SO precious....

[La Enchiladita]

I have partly assembled a lamp before, also, and know what part the harp is. It really should go in easily. Did the lamp come un-assembled or were you repairing it?

OUchy. I also hurt my ribs once when I fell while out walking. I fell so fast didn't have time to extend my arms to brace my fall, so landed smack on my side. That is real soreness, girl.

You will feel better tomorrow, and moreso the next day.

[GodBlessUSA]

Thanks! I will.

I’m going to make a cup of tea and empty the dishwasher. Be back soon. :) Hope you are still around.