In what is without question the world's largest non-religious holiday (and certainly the most fun most folks will ever have while counting backward), New Year's Eve was celebrated across the planet yesterday with raucous celebrations and other observances all over the globe.

From the Times Square event came a couple of stories straight out of the 21st century. First up was the ball itself, celebrating its 100th anniversary as America's largest holiday ornament, touted this year as environmentally friendly, given its "9,576 energy-efficient bulbs that use about the same amount of electricity as it takes to power a single kitchen oven."

Meanwhile, Wi-Fi TV Inc. sponsored a "Virtual New Year" featuring an eight-camera mixed feed to provide wide shots of Times Square and what was live chat drawing participants from all around the world. You can still see the video production bit of it, but be warned: It's a feed, so no fast-forwarding possible!

In London, an 11-minute long fireworks show after the 10-9-8 countdown was put on on the Thames. There doesn't seem to be any available video yet, but if it's anything like last year's was, many were surely stunned there. And one million people reportedly gathered to watch the pyrotechnics in Sydney Harbor.

On the Thailand/Malaysia border, a bomb attack after midnight in which Muslim terrorists are chief suspects wounded 27 people. In the Philippines, some 450 were injured in fireworks-related injuries, but this is reportedly way down from previous years "thanks" to a scare campaign held there.

In Cuba, Fidel Castro had an address delivered to the country, but he did not appear on state TV. "During the course of the morning, the 49th year of the Revolution will have been left behind and we will have fully entered the 50th year, which will symbolize a half century of heroic resistance," read the message in part. "We proclaim to the world with pride this record which makes us believe in the most just of our demands: that there be respect for the life and the wholesome joy of our nation."

With the striking of midnight, too, laws came into effect. Many gay couples in New Hampshire married after 12a.m., as that state recently made such unions legal. Introduced in France was smoking ban in cafes, restaurants and bars; however, Health Minister Roselyne announced she'd be giving a bit of leeway to those having problems coming to terms with the new law at midnight. Enforcement begins in earnest tomorrow.