Times Square Going Green
Let there be light - lots of light
Tonight marks 100 years of dropping the ball in Times Square. The ball this year has been decked out with nearly 1000 bulbs, but it uses roughly the same 
Happy New Year!amount of electricity as 10 toasters.
Get ready for a show because the multitude of lights will reflect off hundreds of Waterford Crystal triangles, creating a kaleidoscope of more than 16 million colors.
Philips Lighting created the energy efficient LED bulbs especially for tonight's festivities.
"The whole world looks up to New York's New Year's Eve," said Kaj den Daas, chairman of Philips Lighting North America in an interview with the Associated Press. "I'm proud to be able to save energy and show off this technology to the world with such a special event."
The first ball in 1907 was made of iron and wood and was decked out with a mere 100 bulbs. Over the century 5 different versions of the ball have been dropped, each one more spectacular than the last. In 1999, to celebrate the new millennium, crystals were added for the first time.
More than 1 million people are expected to cheer the ball on its way tonight, but if you can't be there in person, you can send your messages on a "virtual wishing wall."
Your message will be printed on confetti that will float down on street revelers as the ball drops.
While I love the sentiment of millions of messages being set free, I wonder if Times Square hasn't dropped the ball on its greenful goodness with all that confetti.
Only a month ago the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled confetti made in China because of unsafe levels of lead.
Wonder what brand of confetti they're using tonight?
Will you be in Times Square tonight?
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