New York Times: Times Square had the ball drop, and Brasstown, N.C., had its descending possum. But no place had a New Year's Eve as unusual - and downright disturbing - as Beebe, Ark. About 10 p.m. Friday, thousands of red-winged blackbirds began falling out of the sky over this town about 35 miles northeast of Little Rock. They landed on roofs, roads, front lawns and backyards, turning the ground nearly black and scaring anyone who happened to be outside.