XPost: alt.religion.islam, soc.culture.islam, ny.politics   
   From: jdr@chi.meh   
      
   On Fri, 2 Jan 2026 22:36:06 -0000 (UTC)   
   Cindy Hamilton  wrote:   
      
   > On 2026-01-02, MikeJ  wrote:   
   > > Cindy Hamilton  wrote in   
   > > news:10j84ci$9nb6$1@dont-email.me:    
   > >     
   > >> On 2026-01-02, MikeJ  wrote:     
   > >>> Frank  wrote in   
   > >>> news:10j7285$2hl7u$1@solani.org:    
   > >>>> On 12/31/2025 8:06 PM, rbowman wrote:     
   > >>>>> On Wed, 31 Dec 2025 15:28:07 -0500, redacted wrote:   
   > >>>>>      
   > >>>>>> On 12/31/25 11:02, Ed P wrote:     
   > >>>>>>> The tradition continues and a new ball in Times Square   
   > >>>>>>> tonight.   
   > >>>>>>>   
   > >>>>>>> This is from USA Today   
   > >>>>>>>   
   > >>>>>>> The Constellation Ball for 2026 is the largest one yet,   
   > >>>>>>> measuring 12.5 feet in diameter and weighing 12,350 pounds.   
   > >>>>>>>   
   > >>>>>>> Organizers said the ball also 'features new modernized   
   > >>>>>>> technology, with state-of-the-art lighting, motion, and   
   > >>>>>>> control system, as well as a new signature sound and   
   > >>>>>>> interactive capabilities.'   
   > >>>>>>>   
   > >>>>>>> On New Year’s Eve, the massive shimmering ball will be   
   > >>>>>>> lowered at Times Square in New York City to kick off the new   
   > >>>>>>> year. Though the ball drop tradition at Times Square began in   
   > >>>>>>> 1907, New Year’s Eve celebrations at the iconic venue were   
   > >>>>>>> first held in 1904.   
   > >>>>>>>   
   > >>>>>>> The original ball, measuring 5 feet in diameter and weighing   
   > >>>>>>> 700 pounds, was made of iron and wood and was covered with   
   > >>>>>>> 100 25-watt light bulbs. It was made by a young immigrant   
   > >>>>>>> metalworker named Jacob Starr, according to the Times Square   
   > >>>>>>> website.   
   > >>>>>>>   
   > >>>>>>> Over the years, the ball witnessed major changes. It went   
   > >>>>>>> from a 400-pound iron ball in 1920 to a 150-pound aluminum   
   > >>>>>>> ball with 180 light bulbs in 1955. In 1995, the aluminum ball   
   > >>>>>>> was upgraded with aluminum skin, rhinestones, and computer   
   > >>>>>>> controls. The crystal New Year’s Eve ball, meanwhile, was   
   > >>>>>>> introduced in 1999 to welcome the new millennium.    
   > >>>>>>>   
   > >>>>>>>     
   > >>>>>> I heard the DeepState has replaced the 180 lightbulbs with 180   
   > >>>>>> Flock cameras so   
   > >>>>>>   
   > >>>>>> the commie Democrat mayor can spy on We the Taxpayer People.     
   > >>>>>    
   > >>>>> He also banned Raspberry Pis and Flippers from the inauguration   
   > >>>>> so people can't analyze the Flock transmissions.   
   > >>>>>    
   > >>>>>    
   > >>>>>      
   > >>>> He took the oath of office today on a Quran.   
   > >>>>      
   > >>>   
   > >>> He thumbs his nose to America.  Not so mazing he got elected.    
   > >>> Uniformed voters that think they'll get free stuff, good luck.      
   > >>    
   > >> Why does it matter he took the oath on a Quran?   
   > >>      
   > >   
   > > You're barking up the wrong tree.     
   >    
   > What tree am I barking up?   
   >    
      
   Certainly NOT the tree of liberty!   
      
   "what country before ever existed a century & half without a rebellion?   
   and what country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not   
   warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of   
   resistance? let them take arms. the remedy is to set them right as to   
   facts, pardon & pacify them. what signify a few lives lost in a century   
   or two? the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with   
   the blood of patriots & tyrants. it is it's natural manure."   
      
   ~ T. Jefferson   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)