NORAD’s Crazy Santa Cause
Posted: December 25, 2017 Filed under: Entertainment, Science & Technology, Space & Aviation, U.S. News | Tags: Christmas, Col. Harry Shoup, Cold War, Defense, Holiday, NORAD, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Santa Claus, Terri Van Keuren Leave a commentAn inside look at the single largest public outreach program for the Department of Defense — and the Pentagon’s most elaborate propaganda operation.
But the number printed in the newspaper in December 1955 had a digit wrong — and was instead the direct line into the secret military nerve center in Colorado Springs, Colo., where the Pentagon was on the lookout to prevent nuclear war. The Air Force officer and World War II fighter pilot who took the first call that day for Father Christmas thought it was a crank — and Col. Harry Shoup sternly said so.
“The little kid started crying,” Shoup’s daughter, Terri Van Keuren, recalled in an interview. “So Dad went into his ‘Ho ho ho’ and got the kid’s list.”
Sixty-two years later, the Continental Air Defense Command is now the North American Aerospace Defense Command, and its interactive NORAD Tracks Santa has become the largest single public outreach program for the Defense Department. It’s also, you might say, the Pentagon’s most elaborate propaganda operation.

Air Force Lt. Col. David Hanson, of Chicago, takes a phone call from a youngster in Florida at the Santa Tracking Operations Center at Peterson Air Force Base near Colorado Springs, Colo., on Friday, Dec. 24, 2010. Volunteers take as many as 80,000 phone calls from youngsters and adults around the world with questions about Santa and his travels. Lots of military secrets are hidden behind the gleaming walls of NORAD’S headquarters building, including this one: Just how do they get Santa’s flight path onto their computer screens every Christmas Eve?Tracking Santa’s travels is a celebrated tradition at the North American Aerospace Command, and it unfolds Friday for the 55th year. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
On Christmas Eve, while monitoring the heavens for North Korean missile launches or Russian military aircraft flying too close to the U.S. or Canada, NORAD will also be reporting the progress of Santa and his reindeer as they travel from the North Pole around the world delivering presents and holiday cheer. It will correlate the jolly elf’s journey with its network of 47 radar stations, spy satellites in “geosynchronous” orbit 22,300 miles above the earth, fighter jets and a suite of special high-tech “SantaCams.” Or so the publicity stunt’s plan goes.
“The moment our radar tells us that Santa has lifted off, we begin to use the same satellites that we use in providing warning of possible missile launches aimed at North America,” says NORAD’s detailed 14-page internal handbook for the operation, which is replete with Santa stats (first flight believed to be Dec. 24, 343 A.D.) and even talking points for that uncomfortable question many parents also confront: “Is there a Santa Claus?”
[Read the full story here, at POLITICO]
It’s all part of the ornamented script that more than 1,500 volunteers — including the four-star general in charge of defending North America — are using to field an anticipated 150,000 calls and an avalanche of emails and social media posts (2 million Facebook followers so far) who are all seeking to locate Ole St. Nick on his starlight odyssey.
“As soon as you’re hanging up there’s another kid wanting to talk to you,” Preston Schlachter, NORAD’s Track Santa program manager and its director of community outreach, said of the 23-hour period leading up to Christmas when volunteers work in two-hour shifts, backed up by dozens of sponsors ranging from Microsoft to the National Defense Industrial Association, Taco Bell and the local Amy’s Donuts in Colorado Springs.
In the past, VIPs like former first lady Michelle Obama have also taken a turn at the phones.
“It is the best two hours you’ll ever experience,” Schlachter added in an interview. “You are getting these calls from all over the world. One of the coolest things I like about the program is the multi-generational aspect of it. We are seeing feedback on social media, people who call in and tell us they tracked Santa when they were kids and they’ve introduced it to their kids and now they’re introducing it to their grandkids.” Read the rest of this entry »
[VIDEO] ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ Will Ferrell & Zooey Deschanel
Posted: December 8, 2016 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Mediasphere | Tags: Baby it's Cold Outside, Christmas, Christmas Song, Holiday, Holiday Music, Music, video, Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel Leave a comment
New Years Wishes 2016
Posted: January 1, 2016 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Cartoon, Celebration, Champagne, Holiday, Illustration, New Years Leave a comment‘Suddenly I Have a Dreadful Urge to Be Merry’
Posted: December 20, 2015 Filed under: Art & Culture, Comics, Entertainment | Tags: Cartoons, Charles Addams, Christmas, Holiday, Illustration, The Addams Family, vintage Leave a commentUncle Strickland: ‘How to Talk to Your Pansy Marxist Nephew at Thanksgiving’
Posted: November 24, 2015 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Humor, Mediasphere, Politics | Tags: Asian American, Citizenship, Harvard University, Holiday, Ivy League, Office for Civil Rights, Parody, Princeton University, Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, satire, Thanksgiving, United States, Washington Free Beacon 1 Comment“Am I othering you right now? Did I carpet bomb your safe space?”
This is a hilarious sendup of an outbreak of embarrassing left-wing hand-holding “How to talk to your Republican uncle at Thanksgiving” articles like this, and this, and this, that are appearing in advance of the upcoming holiday. This one is more useful, and funnier. Read the whole thing here. Also, don’t miss this, “Thanksgivingmanship: Your Guide to Surviving The Progressive Imbeciles Who Have Spent a Week Cramming on How to Survive You” at AceOfSpadesHQAceOfSpadesHQ.
Uncle Strickland writes:
Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for publishing my column. I’m a big fan of this holiday because few things are more American than boozing up and chowing down ’til your ankles swell and your corduroys pop. In between, you get to watch some football and share your thoughts on the trainwreck presidency of Barack Hussein Obama (hint hint). I consider myself a knowledgable debater because I read up on the blogs and I’m typically one
of the most “liked” commenters on the articles. The reason I’m writing this is because my brother’s dumb kid likes to get chatty with me. I’ve never seen anyone bring so many printouts to the dinner table.
“I’ll tell you what, why don’t you invite one of your ISIS pals around the house and we’ll see how much he likes it when I slash his guts out with the turkey knife. You think that’s what he wants? They want us to crush them?”
His “talking points,” he says. Reminds me of my last divorce, all those friggin’ printouts. This kid, my nephew, will never admit to being a communist, it’s always this “moderate independent” crap. But his Facebook feed is full of Bernie Sandinista, if you know what I mean, and he recently tweeted some gibberish about riding the bus in Czechoslovakia and identifying as a “human being” instead of what he is, an American.
“Tell me something, how did you feel when your Little League team got mercy-ruled by those country boys in the district finals? Is that what you wanted? Were you just phoning it in for the “participant” trophy? Is that why you’re too afraid to shave that pathetic beard?”
He’s been a “student” at some Ivy League circlejerk for the better part of a decade. I think he’s 29, who the hell even cares? If he’s the future, this country’s digging its own grave and I’m glad I won’t be there when it finally kicks the bucket. Read the rest of this entry »
[VIDEO] Turkey, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Cider: How Bulletproof is Thanksgiving Dinner?
Posted: November 24, 2015 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Food & Drink, Guns and Gadgets, Mediasphere, Self Defense | Tags: Apple Cider, Bulletproof vest, BulletSafe Bulletproof Vest, Holiday, Michigan, Personal armor, Pumpkin Pie, Thanksgiving, Turkey 1 Comment
How Bulletproof Is Thanksgiving Dinner? Find out in this episode of How Bulletproof. How Bulletproof is a web series that compares regular objects against the $299 BulletSafe Bulletproof Vest by shooting them with a .50 Cal Desert Eagle, one of the world’s most powerful handguns. The results are eye-opening and fun to watch. http://www.BulletSafe.com
Classic: Howard Johnson’s Thanksgiving Menu
Posted: November 23, 2015 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Food & Drink, History | Tags: Holiday, Howard Johnsons, Restaurant, Thanksgiving, vintage 1 Comment[VIDEO] Muslim Religious Leader: ‘Saying Merry Christmas is Worse than Murder’
Posted: November 3, 2015 Filed under: Mediasphere, Politics, Religion, War Room | Tags: Anti-American, Christmas, Holiday, Ideology, Islamism, Jihad, Jihadism, murder, Muslim, propaganda, Terrorism 1 CommentCheers! It’s National Candy Corn Day!
Posted: October 30, 2015 Filed under: Entertainment, Food & Drink | Tags: Candy, Dessert, Halloween, Holiday, National Candy Corn Day, Trick or Treat Leave a comment[PHOTO] Doris Day, Halloween
Posted: October 28, 2015 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: 1940s, 1950s, Cinema, Doris Day, Glamour, Halloween, Holiday, Hollywood, Movies, Music, Photography Leave a commentHalloween is Coming
Posted: October 21, 2015 Filed under: Art & Culture, Comics, Entertainment | Tags: Cartoon, design, Greeting Card, Halloween, Holiday, Horror, Illustration, Spooky, vintage Leave a comment[PHOTO] Still Celebrating
Posted: July 10, 2015 Filed under: Art & Culture, History, U.S. News | Tags: 'merica, Declaration of Independence, Holiday, Independence Day, July 4th, Photography, Stars & Stripes, US Flag, USA Leave a commentTerror Warning: Mayberry Edition
Posted: July 2, 2015 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Andy Griffith, Fourth of July, Holiday, Independence Day, Mayberry, Ron Howard, Television, vintage Leave a comment[PHOTO] Happy Valentine’s Day
Posted: February 14, 2015 Filed under: Art & Culture, Mediasphere, The Butcher's Notebook | Tags: Holiday, Photography, Pinup, Valentines Day, vintage Leave a comment[PHOTO] David Niven
Posted: January 6, 2015 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Celebration, Cocktail, David Niven, Holiday, Hollywood, Photography, Tuxedo 1 Comment[PHOTO] Spotted on New Years’ Eve
Posted: January 2, 2015 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Beverages, Bourbon, Celebration, Cocktails, Gambling, Holiday, Liquor, New Years, Party, Pizza, Vice 2 CommentsThe Party’s Over: Detail from cover of Saturday Evening Post, January 2, 1960
Posted: January 1, 2015 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Food & Drink | Tags: 1960s, Christmas, design, Holiday, Illustration, Magazine, New Years, Party, vintage 1 CommentThe Party’s Over, detail from cover of Saturday Evening Post January 2, 1960. Art by Ben Kimberly Prins
New Years’ Illustration by Harrison Cady, from an Unknown Issue of Boy’s Life Magazine
Posted: December 31, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Comics, Entertainment, History, Mediasphere | Tags: Boys Life, Christmas, design, Harrison Cady, Holiday, Illustration, Magazine, media, New Years, typography, vintage 2 CommentsThis “bird’s-eye view” illustration by Harrison Cady is from an unknown issue of Boy’s Life magazine.
Vintage Illustration: Champagne Bubble Bath
Posted: December 31, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Comics, Entertainment, Food & Drink | Tags: Bubbles, Champagne, Glamour, Holiday, Illustration, New Years, vintage, Wine 1 Comment2014: An End, Not The End
Posted: December 28, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Comics, Humor | Tags: Christmas, Comic Panel, design, Holiday, Illustration Leave a comment[PHOTO] Annette Funicello Posing with Decorative Christmas Wreath, circa 1955
Posted: December 25, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Annette Funicello, Christmas Wreath, Holiday, Photography, vintage, Wreath Leave a commentHeadshot portrait of American actor and singer Annette Funicello, posing with her head encircled by a decorative Christmas wreath, circa 1955. There is a large ribbon above her head. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
[PHOTO] International Space Station Decorated with Christmas Stockings: ESA Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti
Posted: December 25, 2014 Filed under: Global, Space & Aviation | Tags: Astronaut, Christmas, Christmas Stockings, Decorations, European Space Agency, Holiday, Holiday Spirit, International Space Station, NASA, Samantha Cristoforetti, Santa Claus, Space Exploration, Space station, Zero Gravity Leave a comment
ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti is in the holiday spirit as the International Space Station is decorated with stockings for each crew member and a tree.
‘Suddenly I have a dreadful urge to be merry’
Posted: December 23, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Comics | Tags: Cartoon, Charles Addams, Christmas, Holiday, Illustration, Morticia, Morticia Addams 1 Comment[PHOTO] Boris Karloff: Speaking Voice for Dr. Seuss’ ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas’
Posted: December 21, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: 1960s, Animation, Boris Karloff, Christmas, Dr. Seuss, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (film), Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (TV special), Holiday, Mr. Grinch, Photography, Television, You're a Mean One 1 CommentBoris Karloff (who narrated the film and also provided the speaking voice of The Grinch) in a publicity still for Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
[VIDEO] Tokyo Christmas Lights
Posted: December 18, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Asia, Japan, Mediasphere | Tags: Christmas, Christmas lights, Decorations, Ginza, Holiday, Illuminations, Shopping, Tokyo Leave a commentLittle Golden Book: ‘Frosty the Snow Man’
Posted: December 18, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Reading Room | Tags: Books, Christmas, Comics, design, Frosty the Snow Man, graphics, Holiday, Illustration, Paperback, Snow Man, typography, vintage Leave a commentChristmas Illustration: ‘Town Square’
Posted: December 18, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Christmas, design, graphics, Holiday, Illustration, typography, vintage Leave a commentPaperback: ‘Santa Claus Funnies’
Posted: December 16, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Comics | Tags: Christmas, design, Holiday, Illustration, Santa Claus, typography, vintage Leave a commentChristmas Tinsel: Fireproof Icicles
Posted: December 3, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Christmas, design, graphics, Holiday, Illustration, typography, vintage 1 CommentChristmas Shopping: Four Roses Whiskey, 1955
Posted: December 3, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Advertising, Christmas, design, Four Roses Whiskey, graphics, Holiday, Illustration, vintage 1 CommentThe Holiday Express
Posted: November 30, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Food & Drink | Tags: design, graphics, Holiday, Illustration, Postcard, typography, vintage 2 Comments[PHOTOS] Dia de los Muertos At The Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Posted: October 30, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, U.S. News | Tags: Dia de los Muerto, Halloween, Holiday, Los Angeles, The Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Twitter 1 Comment#ICYMI: Dia de los Muertos At The Hollywood Forever Cemetery (Photos) #DayOfTheDead http://t.co/im8J69hF3m pic.twitter.com/jEeSWgyDIy
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@myfoxla) October 30, 2014
An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Feast
Posted: November 27, 2013 Filed under: Food & Drink, Humor | Tags: Beer, Bong, Cartoon, Crack, Family Dinner, Holiday, Humor, Liquor, Thanksgiving, Vice 2 CommentsVintage Halloween Candy Witch
Posted: October 24, 2013 Filed under: Art & Culture | Tags: Art, Brachs Candy, Halloween, Holiday, Posters, vintage Leave a commentVintage Halloween Candy Witch
Time For Something Scary Cool
Posted: October 17, 2013 Filed under: Science & Technology | Tags: Abraham-Louis Perrelet, Bell & Ross, Day of the Dead, Halloween, Holiday, Muertos, Switzerland, Yvan Arpa Leave a commentThese Watches Are Perfect for Halloween…or Any Other Day
These watches are a bit funky, a little scary, a lot out of the ordinary. In short, they’re perfect for this macabre season. But don’t worry—these are meticulously crafted watches that can be worn all year round (unlike those plastic vampire teeth).
Speake-Marin Mirror Skull
US $18,900, limited edition of 20 pieces, www.speake-marin.com
Watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin, a Brit living in Switzerland, is known for his attention to detail, fine finishing and high-end watchmaking. The skulls on the dial are etched using chemical engraving.
Artya Werewolf with Blood Dial
7,900 CHF, unique piece, www.artya.luxuryartpieces.com
Trick or Treat! A concise guide to Halloween attractions in Japan
Posted: October 14, 2013 Filed under: Asia, Entertainment, Japan | Tags: Christmas, Costume, Halloween, Holiday, Japan, Opinions 1 Comment
Women in costumes pose for pictures during the Halloween Parade in Kawasaki. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA
Halloween has become one of the three largest Western-influenced events celebrated in Japan following Christmas and Valentines’ Day. Though the spooky festival’s cultural origins are not the reason why the celebrations are observed, the Japanese do enjoy getting decked in themed costumes, thus making it a major commercial celebration for many.
The widespread popularity of the festival has resulted in confectionary makers rolling out Halloween-themed goodies, restaurants preparing Halloween-inspired menus, fashion outlets retailing Halloween-related costumes and accessories, and of course, entertainment facilities going all out with Halloween events.
We’ve put together a concise guide to some of the Halloween festivities taking place this year, so if you’re planning a trip to Japan during this season, here’s what you can expect!