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Posted: 12/23/2005 7:42:17 AM EDT
Here's a fun thing to do with your kids, especially if they're young.

Every year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command mans a command post that does nothing but track Santa Claus in his path around the world. You can call them anytime after 9am EST on 24 Dec and ask where Santa is. There's also a website (NORAD TRACKS SANTA) to download video from various NORAD sensors of an unidentified bogie travelling around the world.  Phone # is toll free at 1-877-Hi-NORAD.

It started in 1957, when Colorado Springs store printed an ad where kids could call Santa. The number was wrong, and it actually rang at the desk of the NORAD Command Center command director. He figured out what was going on and decided to declassify tracking information, just that once, and let kids know what NORAD was seeing. Now, they do it every year.

I worked the phones there three years ago, it's an absolute blast.   We had kids from all over the country all night long.  One of the funnest things I've ever done in the military.  

Give them a call so your kids can find out where Santa is!
Link Posted: 12/23/2005 7:46:11 AM EDT
[#1]
tag.  I always forget to do this!

Link Posted: 12/23/2005 10:06:41 AM EDT
[#2]
Wow, back to page 5 already?
Link Posted: 12/23/2005 10:46:23 AM EDT
[#3]
Link Posted: 12/23/2005 11:02:40 AM EDT
[#4]
The celebrities section cracks me up ( www.noradsanta.org/en/celebrities.php ).  I shudder to think what the Tony Orlando and Dawn video contains.
Link Posted: 12/23/2005 12:36:41 PM EDT
[#5]


BUMP!!!
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 3:45:15 AM EDT
[#6]
Another bump for the day crew.
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 3:52:29 AM EDT
[#7]
I'm sure some Liberals are annoyed that a military system is tracking Santa, even as a parody, and with how PC things have become, someday it will just seem wrong for TV news stations to report this.



Link Posted: 12/24/2005 3:53:11 AM EDT
[#8]
Tag.(not for me)
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 3:54:09 AM EDT
[#9]
Thanks!
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 4:02:50 AM EDT
[#10]
Thanks!  I use it every year.  Kids love it.
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 4:30:13 AM EDT
[#11]
Thanks, since my son is 8 this will probably be the last year for santa at our house, my daughter is 13 and is no longer a "believer", you know its just not as much fun when the kids dont believe in Santa.  Ever since my kids were little, I usally had to work Christmas eve, I would call the house on my cell phone, acting like Santa, some of the best times I ever had were listening to my kids talk to me as though I was Santa, God Im gonna miss those times, yall have a MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 4:58:18 AM EDT
[#12]
Grand Forks, this is Crystal Palace...   we are tracking an object over the North Pole. Confidence is high.







I hope Santa doesn't piss General Beringer off....  "Get me the President!"



Link Posted: 12/24/2005 5:11:33 AM EDT
[#13]
Tag....
The kids and I have been tracking Santa for a few years now....Tons of fun for the little guys!
Merry Christmas,
Sean
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 5:49:38 AM EDT
[#14]
Bump~!
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 6:01:38 AM EDT
[#15]
Speaking of "tracking Santa"--why Santa doesn't like deliveries in huntin' country.  How much lead do you put on a sleigh with eight tiny reindeer--three feet, maybe four?

www.jingleshells.com/flash_content/flash_content.html
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 6:21:38 AM EDT
[#16]
What if Santa deploys his ECM and chaff/flare. Can NORAD pick him up?
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 8:04:35 AM EDT
[#17]

Quoted:
What if Santa deploys his ECM and chaff/flare. Can NORAD pick him up?



Something tells me Santa can take care of himself.....

Link Posted: 12/24/2005 11:46:17 AM EDT
[#18]
Last year Santa out ran a couple F-18s..lol
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 11:53:23 AM EDT
[#19]
or you can do it on google earth.. if you people even know what that is, apparently no ones does

www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=421215
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 11:56:39 AM EDT
[#20]
"NORAD relies on many volunteers to help make Santa tracking possible. Many people at Cheyenne Mountain and Peterson Air Force Base spend part of their Christmas Eve with their families and friends at NORAD's Santa Tracking Operations Center in order to answer phones and provide Santa updates to the many thousands of children who call in."


http://www.noradsanta.org/en/history.php

Eh, it must be Goa'uld activity those guys are tracking, not Santa.
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 3:58:17 PM EDT
[#21]
And another bump for those that missed it earlier.
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 4:40:08 PM EDT
[#22]
bump
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 4:44:59 PM EDT
[#23]
I like the F-18's escorting him.
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 4:45:26 PM EDT
[#24]
so I guess Santa does have chaff and flares.
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 4:54:34 PM EDT
[#25]

Quoted:
Last year Santa out ran a couple F-18s..lol


Those were CF-18s. No way he outruns a SuperBug!

Thanks guys. Every year I forget about this, and every year arfcom comes through to remind me.

Merry Christmas!
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 5:09:40 PM EDT
[#26]
been tracking him for a few hours
Link Posted: 12/24/2005 5:16:30 PM EDT
[#27]
Has hit hit OK yet?    
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