There is no greater measure of the American zeitgeist than the current rumors surrounding ‘The Fifty Year Ball Drop.’ Advertised as any other New Year celebration, though with vague enough wording to hide its true intentions, ‘The Fifty Year Ball Drop’ began on December 31st, 1964 and continues to this day, counting down to some unknown future event. The ball, flashing lights and blasting the top hits of the early 1960’s, creeps down its post at a rate that can’t be detected by the human eye. It’s movement has been verified by chalk lines and sped-up camera footage. Both suggest that the ball will not land on the New Year at all, but sometime in the afternoon of January 18th, 2064.
People tend to be of two opinions regarding that date: that it will mark a great new era for humanity, or that it will be a doomsday. Visitors are polled for this- are given those two choices specifically, in fact- and the wording of the poll is vague. Vague enough that the results, posted annually on January 1st, might be interpreted as a choice as well as a prediction.
-an excerpt, Autumn by the Wayside
