Internet ho, ho...ho? (Norad Tracks Santa)

itworld ^ | 12/18/03 | Nancy Weil

[Professional Engineer]

one for Spiderboy

[TomB]

I've had this website up for a few years now on Christmas Eve, and the kids LOVE it. It really adds to the excitement.

[netmilsmom]

Oh how I wish you were here to see this!

Ho, Ho, Ho Lady, I hope you've seen the lights already this year!

[mitchbert]

Canada Post years ago assigned a unique postal code for Santa's Workshop should any children wish to send a letter to him.

The code?

H0H 0H0

I'm completely serious, BTW ;-)

[presidio9]

[Poohbah]

What few people realize is that Kris Kringle is a Commander in the US Navy Reserve, posted as Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station North Pole.

He's the only guy to ever have to wave off during Field Carrier Landing Practice because a submarine just surfaced through the active runway.

[kerouacbal]

I heard that the FBI will be tracking what he is saying this year as well. Santa installed on-star this summer so the FBI is going to tap into it and broadcast it live.

[stainlessbanner]

It's ok, all surveliance is covered under the Patriot Act.

[kerouacbal]

Thank God for that.

[50sDad]

[REPUBLICAN]

Dang! My tax dollars are paying for NORAD to do this!?!

[/REPUBLICAN]

[Poohbah]

If you had READ THE FRICKIN' ARTICLE, you would know that no taxpayer dollars go to this.

I know Lazamataz. Lazamataz is a personal friend of mine. You ain't no Lazamataz.

[kerouacbal]

How much do you think it cost for NORAD to provide this kind hearted service for all the kids in this country who celebrate Christmas. I'll et you they already have the Web space for the site. I'm sure they also have programmers that don't really have enough of a work load during the work day that can spend a little time doing this. Kids close you eyes. Santa is not real so all their monitoring equipment is not really being used. Light up.

[kerouacbal]

You should change you screen name from 50sDad to 50s. Any dad I know has no problem with this

[Poohbah]

NORAD doesn't do it; volunteers from NORAD do it on their own time.

[kerouacbal]

I read the post but be honest do you do nothing else but work all day long. Have you ever went to this site during work. I'm sure they do a little bit when working. Even if not I'll bet 50sDad is probably pissed that he is paying the electric bill of the PC's they use to run the site

[Poohbah]

Actually, the electricity bill is paid by the (get this) corporate sponsors. This site isn't even on a military network.

[hunter112]

Really. Other areas of our defense system get to put their best foot forward before the public, each branch of the military has bands that perform in parades, etc. Naval ships, and military aviators perform at shows and festivals, so why not let the folks at NORAD have a little glory shine on them, too?

Three cheers for all the people who work so hard to keep us safe! They deserve to be noticed every once in awhile by the public they protect.

[kerouacbal]

Ok one who is so wise in the way of science

[Poohbah]

I know a couple of the folks who do this site. They get nothing from NORAD beyond a "Thanks for making us look good" note. The servers are located at a commercial ISP, and get paid for by donations.