Bitter New York story: Times Square's New Year's Eve ball has 32256 LED lights

New York

Times Square's New Year's Eve ball has 32,256 LED lightsComment

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At 11:59 p.m. tonight in New York City, the 12-foot ball that will begin its descent from atop One Times Square will be powered by 32,256 ultra-efficient LED light bulbs.

This year's New Year's Eve ball, twice the size of any prior one, weighs 11,875 pounds and is covered in 2,668 Waterford Crystals, according to the organizers' website. It can produce more than 16 million colors and billions of patterns that create a kaleidoscope effect.

The eco-friendly geodesic sphere will become a year-round attraction above Times Square, says Times Square Alliance President Tim Tompkins.

The 32,256 Philips Luxeon LEDs (light emitting diodes) are three times the number used last year. Still, the new ball is 10-20% more energy efficient than the 2008 one and 78% more efficient than the 2007 one. It consumes the same amount of energy per hour as two traditional home ovens.

In 1907, the New Year's Eve ball made its maiden descent and has been lowered every year since, except in 1942 and 1943 when the ceremony was suspended due to the wartime "dimout" of lights in New York City. The first ball, made of iron and wood, was 5 feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds. It had one hundred 25-watt light bulbs.

Readers: What do you think of this year's ball?

 

NYC's 2010 Times Square display is pedal-powered (yeah, that's what it says)

NYC

Tonight, at the stroke of midnight, all eyes will be on the lights in Times Square, New York City to see the year "2010" light up in all its LED glory. Betcha didn't know that the power for those lights is coming from a completely renewable resource — humans!

For the second year in a row, Duracell has created the Duracell Smart Power Lab with stationary bike-like Power Rovers in Times Square where folks have been pedalling these bikes to generate the power for the lights. Just in time for the big night, the Duracell Power Rovers have collected over 32,000 watts of energy, which is enough to light up the numerals "2010" after the ball drops tonight.

How much power you could harvest at home by hooking up your home fitness equipment? Might make for a new kind of New Years resolutions for 2010. Happy New Year!

Duracell via Inhabitat

 

AT&T Resumes Online iPhone Sales in NYC (Yes - this NYC story only grows sadder and sadder the more you read)

NYC

AT&T Resumes Online iPhone Sales in NYC

December 29th, 2009 at 8:02 AM - News by Jeff Gamet

Following the company's decision to halt online iPhone sales in the New York City area over the weekend, AT&T reversed itself and began offering Apple's combination iPod and smartphone through its Web site late on Monday, according to the New York Times.

AT&T initially told customers the iPhone wasn't available in the area because there weren't enough cell towers to handle the load, but later changed its tune to say the decision was driven by "increased fraudulent activity in that area when ordering the iPhone."

An AT&T spokesperson offered up a third reason by saying ""We periodically modify our promotions and distribution channels."

Despite AT&T's own Web site sales blackout, the iPhone was still available in its own retail stores, Apple Stores, and Apple's retail Web site.

AT&T isn't elaborating on the incident, and is sticking by its spokesperson's statement even after resuming online sales.

Jason Kuffer took an awesome picture - Police precinct as a crime scene

While I was looking yahoo for New York images and I happened to come across this really great pic: Police precinct as a crime scene. I hope you enjoy Jason Kuffer's image of New York as much as I did!

A sight that is normally never seen: an empty Times Square during a hustling holiday weekday. During preparations for the new years celebration, authorities have found a abandoned van. After prompt response from emergency crews, the van was found to have only clothing inside.

Want the source just in case everyone always ends up wanting it.

What are your thoughts about it?