Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

I Don't Think This Is Cute Anymore - NORAD Tracks Santa for 50th Christmas

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread		 This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU
 
WillyT Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:29 PM
Original message
I Don't Think This Is Cute Anymore - NORAD Tracks Santa for 50th Christmas
Don't mean to be a grinch, but...

NORAD Tracks Santa for 50th Christmas Eve

<snip>

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- Radars, satellites, cameras and jet fighters that are normally dedicated to detecting any threats against the United States and Canada instead were tracking the Christmas Eve travels of Santa Claus.

In the 50th anniversary of the tradition, soldiers at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, said by about 10 a.m. EST, Santa had been spotted near Fiji, Japan, traveling about 100 times faster than the 185-mph Bullet Train.

By 11 a.m., NORAD said Santa was in the Himalayas.

<snip>

Link: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TRACKING_SANTA?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

Can track Santa, but four airliners making U-turns...

:wtf:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
ret5hd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:34 PM
Response to Original message
1. uhhhmmm..you don't actually believe they track santa, do you?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Kurovski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:37 PM
Response to Reply #1
7. The little fantasy has lost its charm for some of us.
Edited on Sat Dec-24-05 01:37 PM by Kurovski
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
William769 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 03:02 PM
Response to Reply #7
20. Well for some maybe.
But there are always new children who get a kick out of it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
fishnfla Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:35 PM
Response to Original message
2. Cool Thanks for the link!
:hi:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Kurovski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:36 PM
Response to Original message
3. I tend to agree.
After the 9/11 failure/stand-down, I see it as a bit disgusting.

Time to scrap it. Don't get me wrong, I love Santa so much that I'd date him if he asked.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:36 PM
Response to Original message
4. Wow good point
I'm glad I am not 6. That whole Santa thing would blow up in my face over this. LOL
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Robert Cooper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:36 PM
Response to Original message
5. You've been up all night partying with Ebenezer and the Grinch...
...haven't you? :party:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WillyT Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:37 PM
Response to Reply #5
8. Shhh... Don't Tell Anybody !!!
LOL!!!

:hi:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Robert Cooper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:38 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. Bob's yer uncle...
:toast:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Kurovski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:45 PM
Response to Reply #5
14. Remember now, Grinch and Ebenezer were redeemed.
Maybe NORAD will come clean one of these days, too.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Robert Cooper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 05:49 PM
Response to Reply #14
26. And we can hope Willy will find the spirit of Christmas...
...right after that killer hangover passes :bounce: :banghead: :bounce:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Redstone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:37 PM
Response to Original message
6. Ah, c'mon. It's for the kids. Let them have their fun, would you?
Redstone
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WillyT Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:43 PM
Response to Reply #6
13. Are There Kids Posting On This Board ???
And if we're gonna go fantasy for kids (which is perfectly fine by me), why not have NASA track St. Nick instead of NORAD???

I'd rather have the kids think it's tied to the wonders planetary science than militaristic projections of power.

But maybe that just me...

:shrug:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
MADem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 03:14 PM
Response to Reply #13
22. Or the SETI project!!!!
I have a little uneasy twinge about a system designed to thwart the Russkies from killing us all to be used in this fashion, even if it IS supposed to be light hearted. Though I won't get all excited about it, either way--I think the folks doing this mean well, and are not delving into the deeper ironies of it all.

Back in the duck and cover era, the whole Santa exercise was supposed to put a soft edge on a horrible possibility.

In sad reality, though, it just shows how far from real "Peace on Earth" we are.

At the very least, the kids whose folks work at NORAD probably think Ma and Pa have a real cool job!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
knight_of_the_star Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:40 PM
Response to Original message
10. For me after 9/11
That really lost its charm. If they can't do their real jobs, while it is nice for the kids, then why the fuck should they be playing at this?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Kurovski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:43 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. Weather trackers do a better job following Santa.
Time to hand them the reigns.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Clark2008 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:41 PM
Response to Original message
11. Well, Tricky Dick Cheney takes a break from his hidey hole
on Christmas Eve, allowing NORAD to actually track objects in the sky. On 9/11, Tricky Dick was running interference for the hijackers with his war games; therefore, not allowing NORAD to do its friggin' job.

Bah Humbug!!


(BTW, my son and I always watch this site. It's how I get him into bed on Christmas Eve. He knows he has to be asleep for Santa to come, so when Santa hits NYC, he's off to his room. That gives him enough time to be good and down by the time Santa travels from NYC down to Knoxville, TN :) )
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Kurovski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:48 PM
Response to Reply #11
15. So then it IS good for something after all!
Merry Christmas! :hi:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Clark2008 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:50 PM
Response to Reply #15
17. Good for getting my son to bed?
Or good that Christmas means Tricky Dick has taken a break from ruining our country?

;)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Kurovski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-25-05 01:34 PM
Response to Reply #17
28. Your son of course!
Edited on Sun Dec-25-05 01:40 PM by Kurovski
You don't really believe "Type A" Dick EVER takes a break from ruining our country now do you? :-)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Balbus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:48 PM
Response to Original message
16. No - but my son will love it.
Thanks for link.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WillyT Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:53 PM
Response to Original message
18. Oh Shit... He's Over The Persian Gulf Now...
I wonder if this is a clever way for the NSA to get into our computers.

Think I'll scan for spyware after I'm done here.

:scared::hide::wow::hide::scared:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Al-CIAda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 01:55 PM
Response to Original message
19. Every year this too, serves as sharp reminder of the alleged 'failure'
in the skies on that treasonous day.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WritingIsMyReligion Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 03:07 PM
Response to Original message
21. I think the lack of tracking ability on 9/11 is despicable,
Edited on Sat Dec-24-05 03:07 PM by WritingIsMyReligion
but I don't think that means we should pull the plug on this. My little cousins LOVE seeing this site. Even if it is "made-up," it is actually really cool, and I like looking in on it myself. In fact, thank you for posting this; I'm going to go check in on NORAD and Santa Claus right now.

Happy Holidays. :toast:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Walt Starr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 04:25 PM
Response to Original message
23. Sweet raisin danish, this is for the KIDS!
:eyes:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
iconoclastNYC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 04:40 PM
Response to Original message
24. They can track Santa but not airliners headed for NYC, DC
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Egalitariat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 05:02 PM
Response to Original message
25. My 4 year old daughter thinks it's cute, and that's who NORAD does it for*
nm
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
RoyGBiv Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-24-05 05:56 PM
Response to Original message
27. Feh ...

It's not cute to me either, but I'm not the person who is supposed to find it cute.

I don't really see a lot of harm in issuing a fantasy press release that entertains kids. My daughter was never taught that Santa was real; she was given the version that the spirit of "Santa" is in all of us. But, she still got a kick out of the "tracking." There was something mysterious and wonderful about it, and I had no desire to kill her sense of wonderment while she was still young enough to have it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Kurovski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-25-05 01:37 PM
Response to Original message
29. Well, it does appear to be effective PR,
Edited on Sun Dec-25-05 01:41 PM by Kurovski
and it's important that our young 'uns grow up trusting our government, so maybe it's "all good" after all...;-)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Lisa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-25-05 05:27 PM
Response to Original message
30. I have to say, after I saw the CGI animation of military jets "escorting"
Edited on Sun Dec-25-05 05:34 PM by Lisa
... Santa's sleigh, I turned off CNN.

The thought of a grinning St. Nick/Kris Kringle with a load of war toys (or, alternatively, pink plastic consumer doodads for the girls) ...

In Canada, the Christmas night broadcast on the CBC included an interview with someone at Northern Command reporting a radar blip from the station on Ellesmere Island ... but showing TV footage of a F-18 escort is just over-the-top. Sorry -- I know I'm being a sourpuss. But in Canada, a lot of people still cringe at the memory of our troops coming under "friendly fire" from their allies.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Sun May 12th 2024, 05:27 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC