This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.

Another year has passed. I hope it was a good one for you, with more joy than sorrow and more success than disappointment.

On New Year's Eve, optimists stay up until midnight to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. Pessimists stay up to make sure the old year departs!

Whether we stay up to ring in the New Year or ring out the old, one tradition common in many parts of the world is the singing of the famous Robert Burns song, "Auld Lang Syne." OK, so tell me what "Auld Lang Syne" means. You don't know, do you?! Most people don't, but they still sing it with gusto every New Year's Eve.

"Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago." But a better translation might be, "times gone by." The words say, "And surely ye'll BE your PINT-STOWP." Which means, "And surely you'll pay for a pint tankard."

"We twa hae run about the brae, And pou'd the gowans fine." This means "we two have run through the hills and through the daisies fine." "But we'vfe wander'd monie a weary fit," means, "We have wandered a great many miles on weary feet."...Well, I could go on and on! Isn't it interesting that we sing a song over and over again without really knowing what the words mean!

This year, sing the song with a trembling chin and a lump in your throat as you bid farewell to 2007 and welcome 2008 with great anticipation and resolutions to better ourselves and make the coming year the best one yet.

And perhaps, with a bit of persistence, we will keep our New Year's resolutions this year. I certainly hope you will make — and keep — a resolution to continue listening to "Speaking on Business!" I always enjoy highlighting the history, goals and successes of so many interesting businesses, and I look forward to continuing to do so in 2008.

For Zions Bank, this is Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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