Happy New Year! We slipped the guys in Times Square a 20 spot and they've agreed to swap out the regular New Year's ball with a SocialVibe Pink Ball.

Just kidding, but that would be awesome. Maybe we should start a petition for 2010? At the very least, send us your Pink Ball pics from New Year's Eve to editors@socialvibe.com.

All jokes aside, we're ready to rock and roll in 2009, and continue making an even bigger difference in the real world just by using our online influence. We've got some big things coming up, and are stoked that you will be with us to experience it.

In the meantime, check out this incredible stop-motion video from Electrabel. It's stunningly beautiful, and even more impressive considering it was made using 300,000 candles.

Whatever your New Years plans may be, we hope you're having fun, and being safe above all. Don't drink and drive!

d00d has a special New Year's edition of his Video of the Week. He says, "My New Year's resolution is to not wind up like one of these guys."

Ok, I'm a girl, and I cringed all the way through that. Aren't half of those deliberate shots totally against "guy code?" All I could think was "he must have slept with that guy's girlfriend."

Ouch!

This year has been one to remember. Between the economy, the election, and the always entertaining world of celebrities, how COULD we forget?

Here are what we think are the Top 10 Surprising Moments of 2008. We haven't ranked them yet, though... that's up to YOU!

Vote in our poll and let us know which you think was the most surprising. Tomorrow, we'll post the results.

What was the most surprising moment of 2008?

• Heath Ledger passes away (22%, 108 Votes)
• Barack Obama becomes first African American elected President (21%, 103 Votes)
• Gas prices drop to $1.50 a gallon (17%, 84 Votes)
• Proposition 8 passes in California, banning gay marriage (16%, 80 Votes)
• Lindsay Lohan gets a girlfriend (6%, 28 Votes)
• Michael Phelps walks away from Beijing Olympics with 8 gold medals (4%, 22 Votes)
• Travis Barker & DJ AM come close to death in plane crash (4%, 21 Votes)
• John McCain chooses Sarah Palin as his running mate (4%, 20 Votes)
• Auto industry tycoons GM, Ford & Chrysler ask & receive bailout (3%, 17 Votes)
• New York Giants unexpected Superbowl victory (2%, 11 Votes)

Total Voters: 494

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I'm sure you have all been missing the d00d Video of the Week, but don't worry, now that the holidays are over, we'll resume with the fun this week.

While searching for this week's treasure, he ran into a little bit of a problem.

Super Zoom on the Macbook Pro!!

It looks like a giant Mario glove. Sadly, this is not the first time this has happened to d00d. Has this ever happened to you? If so, any ideas on how to FIX IT aside from rebooting??

Michael Phelps was certainly one of 2008's shining stars... the Olympic swimmer walked away from Beijing with a record breaking 8 Gold Medals. And now, he's using those Gold Medals to rank various 2008 events, movies and people in "The Phelps Minute."

Hilarious!

Times Square... there is no question about it, it sure is bright! It must take a lot of power to illuminate the neighborhood, but where does all that power come from? For tonight's New Year's Eve celebration, at least one part of it will be powered from bicycles.

When the clock strikes midnight and the numbers 2-0-0-9 are illuminated, they'll be
powered from stored kinetic energy from 230 hours of bike riding! For the past few months, Duracell Power Lodge in Times Square has welcomed guests to come and ride a "snowmobike" for an hour or two. Each bike routes energy to the Duracell Battery Center where it's being stored until TONIGHT, New Year's Eve.

Hundreds of people have come in to ride the bikes and be a part of this, including celebs such as
Giselle Bundchen, Leona Lewis, Brandy, Sean Paul, Lady GaGa, Ne-Yo, Liza Minnelli, Katie Couric, Nick Lachey, Natasha Bedingfield as well as Project Runway winner
Christian Siriano.

Brazilian supermodel Giselle said she was riding “in support of the Agua Limpa Project which was started by my father and provides clean drinking water to people in regions of Brazil." The model went on to say that when her family watches this year’s New Year’s Even celebration in Times Square, they will know they helped create the light.

What a fabulous idea! We all could use a little bit more exercise, and we're also helping save the environment. Hopefully we will all appreciate those numbers a little bit more when they light up tonight!

Anyone have any ideas for other things we could use bicycles to power?

As of this very moment (in LA), there is only 1 day, 10 hours, 25 minutes, and 37 seconds left in 2008 (see our counter below).

While quite a few of us looking back at and reflecting on the best and worst moments of this year, most are looking ahead, and thinking of the great things we're going to do in 2009.

Learn a foreign language, be nicer to your little brother, or quit smoking - of all the possibilities...

What is your New Years Resolution for 2009?

• Lose weight
• Quit smoking
• Save more money
• Eat better
• Reduce stress
• Volunteer more
• Drink less
• Get a better job
• Take a vacation
• Get a better education
• No cursing
• Improve relationships
• Keep a journal
• Learn an instrument
• Learn a foreign language
• Write a book

View Results

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Got a more specific New Years Resolution that isn't on this list? Tell us in the comments!

If you weren't a lucky winner of last week's Perks, have no fear. We've got another chance for you to win some cool stuff, courtesy of our brands.

Who will be the lucky winner of these prizes? And just HOW do you win?

It's like this - you see the Perk you want, and you choose the appropriate Sponsor. Create your badge, and re-post it to your social networks. You're done. Each day your badge is up is one more entry, which means the sooner you choose that brand, the more chances you have to win. We'll be announcing the winners right here on The Vibe.

It doesn't matter if you are the most popular SocialViber or the least popular, anyone is eligible, that is the beauty of Perks. But even if you aren't a winner, there will always be another chance - we do this EVERY week.

Good luck SocialVibers!