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NORAD Traking Santa:Government Waste, or Cute?

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zls44 Donating Member (849 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:30 AM
Original message
NORAD Traking Santa:Government Waste, or Cute?
Edited on Sun Dec-21-03 11:30 AM by zls44
http://www.noradsanta.org/

I dunno. I mean it is cute, and I hate to sound like the grinch...but knowing NORAD, one can only think of how much this is costing those of us who live under the reign of "no big government"
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kalian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:31 AM
Response to Original message
1. Let it be...
Doesn't really "waste" anything except some airman second class's
time to update the website every once in a while with some
silly comment...although I'm sure that by now they have the entire
thing automated.
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zls44 Donating Member (849 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:34 AM
Response to Reply #1
4. How much
How much does the automation cost? NORAD doesn't make bombs, remember...they track them.

That airman second class could be, oh, I dunno, tracking the skies?

They did hire Ringo Starr to be their celeb tracker this year. Cool. How much?
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kalian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:36 AM
Response to Reply #4
8. Who knows....
and we'll never find out...or be allowed to find out.
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qanda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:31 AM
Response to Original message
2. They should have been tracking those planes on 911
Yeah, it's cute, but...
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mouse7 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:44 AM
Response to Reply #2
11. So that's why Dubya flew to Louisiana, Hell, and back
Edited on Sun Dec-21-03 11:45 AM by mouse7
Dumbass looked at a Norad site on his laptop on 9/11 and thought Santa was in Air Force One's six.
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DarkPhenyx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:49 AM
Response to Reply #2
14. They were tracking them...
...but until they recieve orders thay really can't dao anyhitng, especially fire on unarmed civilian aircraft. Let's try and rememebr to lay the blame in front of the right door. It would be the one Geroge sleeps behind.
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brainshrub Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:31 AM
Response to Original message
3. Better to track Santa than make bombs.
I think it's cute.
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leftofthedial Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:35 AM
Response to Original message
5. cute
unless al Qaeda launches the killer drones of mass destruction on Christmas Eve.

then it's ironic.
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DarkPhenyx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:51 AM
Response to Reply #5
15. We're actually assuming that...
...any of this has anything to do with real NORAD operations. Somehow I doubt seriously that the "Santa Tracking" is taking anything, or anyone, away from watching the skies. I also highly doubt that al'Queda is going to be launching missles or bombers at us anytime soon.
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leftofthedial Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:54 AM
Response to Reply #15
16. not even some of those Iraqi killer drones of death?
you obviously have not been sufficiently frightened by your government!
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DarkPhenyx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:56 AM
Response to Reply #16
17. Darn! You've guessed my secret.
I must kill you now, unfortuantely. Please remain where you are, and do try to not scream over much. Hurts my ears you know.

*just kidding*
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eyesroll Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:35 AM
Response to Original message
6. I don't think it really costs anything
(well, beyond the already astronomical costs of running NORAD in the first place.)

Silly, but harmless.
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Paulie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:36 AM
Response to Original message
7. Cute for sure
I just hope they don't frisk Santa too much, don't want my present to be lost through they security gauntlet!!!!!
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havocmom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:38 AM
Response to Original message
9. the site hasn't changed in the past two years that I checked it out
How much could it have cost? And there is the fact that letting staff have a bit of fun with some creative exercise is productive as it boosts morale, offers a chance to learn new techniques with computers and is a good team building experience.

Let us not fall into the Corporatists' pattern of thinking that human workers can be treated like machine cogs. Some part of our work should involve creative play and the chance to do something just because it makes things interesting for others. Creativity is a commodity sorely lacking in Corporate America and it is taking a serious toll.

Lighten up and just let a smile spread across you face. It is good for us.
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zls44 Donating Member (849 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:41 AM
Response to Reply #9
10. Ok
:-)

Happy Holidays.
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havocmom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:45 AM
Response to Reply #10
12.  Back at ya zls44!
And a Happy New Year*


*having elections that return the USA back to its rightful owners, We the People of the United States...
:toast:
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BiggJawn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 05:48 PM
Response to Reply #9
35. All work and no screwing-off makes grumpy workers...
and grumpy workers make mistakes.

Enough of the "I'm paying you for 440 minutes of work a day, and by the Gods, you'll give me the FULL 440!" stuff, OK? I heard enough of that shit when I worked in a factory.
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tsipple Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 11:49 AM
Response to Original message
13. Good for Morale
Employees in any organization need to have some fun once in a while, and this tracking site is very much in that spirit. Helps improve productivity and morale.
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xchrom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 12:03 PM
Response to Original message
18. i love it
it's for the kids
and i'll pretty much support anything to make christmas the most festive it can be.
but i'm a festive kinda guy. anything for a theme party.
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leesa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 12:10 PM
Response to Original message
19. In light of their performance on 9-11, I find it disgusting.
Sorta of like one more slap in the face. Perhaps trying to help their image before people finally clue into the fact that we don't know what happened on 9-11 concerning NORAD's less than stellar response.
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arewethereyet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 12:46 PM
Response to Original message
20. it costs a lot less than frisbee studies
and it brings joy to chikdren.

The development costs were made years ago, its just a little bandwidth now.
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Terwilliger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 01:11 PM
Response to Original message
21. it's the government endorsing religion
is what it is
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DarkPhenyx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 04:18 PM
Response to Reply #21
24. Santa Clause Is Hardly Religion!
Edited on Sun Dec-21-03 04:19 PM by DarkPhenyx
For crying out loud, the Christian community would be quite happy it St. Nick just went away.
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Terwilliger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 04:29 PM
Response to Reply #24
25. uh-huh...well, they came up with the concept...
I don't see the US military with a website tracking the gift-giving of Judaism.
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DarkPhenyx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 04:34 PM
Response to Reply #25
26. Christianity came up with Santa Clause?
OK, you have to be joking, right? Please tell me you are.

You should also know that Hanukah is most definately NOT an important holiday in Judaism. The only reason it has risen to the level of importance that it has is "Christian Guilt."
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Terwilliger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 04:52 PM
Response to Reply #26
29. now you're trashing other religions?
Edited on Sun Dec-21-03 04:53 PM by Terwilliger
OK...so just who the hell came up with the idea of Santa Claus? Pagans? And if you're so sure about how Christians hate the idea of Santa Claus, why is it embraced by most (if not all) Christians?
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DarkPhenyx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 04:55 PM
Response to Reply #29
30. Truth be known...
...the antecedants to Santa are indeed older than Christianity. So is the Holiday that the Christians eventually stole and turned into Christmas.

There are a great many Christians who would be more than happy to tell you that you are confusing Santa Claus with the true reason for the season. Every year I hear theologists and pastors rant on about how Santa Claus is distracting people from the true meaning of the season.
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Terwilliger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 05:00 PM
Response to Reply #30
31. where?
I've NEVER heard a Christian speak against the idea of Santa Claus. The only thing even close was Christians complaining about the commercial aspects of the season.

OK...so the idea of Santa Claus predtaes Christianity. So did love for your fellow man...what's your point?
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DarkPhenyx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 05:07 PM
Response to Reply #31
33. My point would be that...
...it was stated that Christians created SC. You, in fact, said as much with this quote, "OK...so just who the hell came up with the idea of Santa Claus? Pagans?" I was simply pointing out that yes, indeed, Pagans did think up SC, or whatever they happened to be calling him w/in their tradition, long before Christians attempted to subjugate the German/Celtic tribes, destroying their culture, and stealing their holidays and traditions.
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DarkPhenyx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 05:01 PM
Response to Reply #29
32. Also, please be kind enough to point out...
...where I'm trashng any religion please. I'm curious what your basis for that statement was.
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scarlet_owl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 05:55 PM
Response to Reply #29
39. There are a lot of fundamentalists who hate Santa.
I went to school with a bunch of them. They would always say "if you re-arrange the word 'Santa' you get 'Satan'." I am not making this up. They think Santa takes away from the true meaning of Christmas. Just my unsolicited two cents.
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Knoxville_Bob Donating Member (59 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 03:44 PM
Response to Original message
22. It's great
They've been doing it for the last few years on the web - I think 2000 was the first year they tracked him.

As far as the cost, if you look at the site, you'll see that there's several corporations involved in it, so I doubt there's any cost to NORAD at all.

Besides, they've been doing something like this for a long time. When my father was stationed at The Mountain, they released news blurbs on Christmas Eve announcing that Santa had been sighted, and was being escorted by air defense fighters.

My daughter and I have been on the site for the last few Christmases - it's pretty fun.
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ProdigalJunkMail Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 04:08 PM
Response to Original message
23. I hope you are joking
this is not related to NORAD in any way. Please tell me this is a joke question...

TheProdigal
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tritsofme Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 04:49 PM
Response to Reply #23
28. Exactly, do you think the US would make a site in 6 different languages?
nt
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goobergunch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 04:39 PM
Response to Original message
27. It's a .org domain, not a .gov domain (n/t)
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et in Arcadia ego... Donating Member (124 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 05:17 PM
Response to Original message
34. The U.S. Government should not be concerned
with the promotion of silly Middle Eastern deities. That's the role of religion.
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RBHam Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 05:51 PM
Response to Original message
36. Let's hope Al Qaeda doesn't hijack the Sleigh
Norad won't scramble jets in time, and I'll bet Macy's will be the target.
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TrogL Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 05:51 PM
Response to Original message
37. It's cute, costs basically nothing and raises awareness
Many people forget NORAD is even there.

When it comes budget time, it's tempting to cut it because nobody would notice.

Canadians are probably paying for it anyway, so what's the issue?
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MrPrax Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 05:55 PM
Response to Original message
38. No worst than the Post Office
replying to letters to Santa...

Sure a slimy way to make 'mega-death' specialists seem benign to young children...But hey...it's Christmas


It's in French--er--Freedom!!
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specimenfred1984 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 06:19 PM
Response to Original message
40. Gotta Start the Brainwashing Early
Line up kiddies, the fat man with subserviant wife is going to give you what you deserve!
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DarkPhenyx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 08:05 PM
Response to Reply #40
42. Subserviant wife?
You assume that her "red suit" isn't a leather bodice, and that she isn't the one who taught Santa to swing that whip. Plus, look who the poor schmuck going out on a cold night is. Ms. Claus got it goin on.
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jmowreader Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 06:31 PM
Response to Original message
41. It's a cute way to teach kids what NORAD does
My bet is that the NORAD public affairs office does this, and they don't work on missile tracking projects.

The PAO brings in one guy, sits him in front of a computer and lets him send Santa Position Updates to the Internet. No harm done.

Besides, there is a very thick book that says you can't hook a computer that handles classified traffic into an unclassified network like the Internet--you can't even have the unclassified machine on the collection floor--so the missile tracking people are not spending time tracking Santa.

I do love this part: they learned to track ballistic missile heat signatures by tracking Rudolph's red nose.
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banana republican Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-21-03 08:14 PM
Response to Original message
43. Been doing this since the 1960's
no big deal here

just trying to make lie a little better.
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