Tracking Santa

Is nothing sacred? In this modern world monitored 24/7 by cctv, even Santa Claus now comes under close scrutiny. Twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year, NORAD, a bi-national US/Canadian military organisation responsible for aerospace defense of North America tracks airplanes, missiles, space launches and anything else that flies in or around the North American continent. But on Christmas Eve, NORAD has one extra mission: Tracking Santa on his journey around the world. The minute Santa leaves the snow piste with Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and, of course, Rudolph, he's monitored by a sophisticated mix of geo-synchronous satellites, radars aimed at the North Pole, the Santa Cam network and of course infra red detectors that pick up Rudolph's nose. F-15 and F-16 jets get to accompany him some of the way and dip their wings in salute to the great old man. The Santa Operations Center is fully operational from 4.00am MST, December 24th and I for one will be on my computer with the boys late 24th December to see just where he is. To learn more about NORAD, go to http://www.norad.mil/ You can also call 1 877 HI-NORAD (1 877 556-5211) to talk directly to a NORAD staff member who will be able to tell you Santa’s exact location! (I'm tempted too).For those of you interested in the more technical side of things, here's the sleigh' technical data.

Designer & Builder: K. Kringle & Elves, Inc.
Probable First Flight: Dec. 24, 343 A.D.
Home Base: North Pole
Length: 75 cc (candy canes)/150 lp (lollipops)
Width: 40 cc/80 lp
Height: 55 cc/110 lp
Weight at takeoff: 75,000 gd (gumdrops)
Passenger weigth at takeoff: Santa Claus 260 pounds
Weight of gifts at takeoff: 60,000 tons
Weight at landing: 80,000 gd (ice & snow accumulation)
Passenger weight at landing: 1,260 pounds
Propulsion: Nine (9) rp (reindeer power)
Armament: Antlers (purely defensive)
Fuel: Hay, oats and carrots (for reindeer)
Emissions: Classified
Climbing speed: One “T” (Twinkle of an eye)
Max speed: Faster than starlight
Note: Length, width and height are without reindeer.