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Show Hilltop December 14, 2000 NORAD, from page 11 In 1997, the program was moved to the World Wide Web with a high-tec- h Internet site. The major said the Internet was a natural progression so more families would in several languages it may be slightly delayed. Robertson said theyre also protecting the site with high secuhackers from crashing rity to prevent any Grinch-lik-e it. have access to information. The site is regularly updated and Robertson said this The Air Force does not allot funding for the program, years site will be more user friendly with a higher qualso all work associated with Santa tracking done by volity of animation. The site also has historical information unteers. Private industry donated the site and 120 per- on Santa and facts on how he gets down chimneys and sonnel spend Christmas Eve answering phone calls and sled tracking. Kids and parents can also play Christmas Last year IBM volunteered to manage music from the Air Force band. checking the sight. This year AOL will host it. Because of the numThere is a serious side of this to us. By talking about ber of hits, its impossible for the military to handle the Santa were actually talking about our real mission, he amount of traffic going through the NORAD Santa site said. Were very fortunate to have this program. Its also about doing something for the community. on Christmas Eve. So how is Santa tracked? Because Santa doesnt file a In 1997, the site received about a million hits. In 1998, 28 million. Last year, there were 52 million hits and 36 flight plan with the Federal Aviation Administration, GPS million alone during the peak six hours. satellites that are triggered by heat map his progress. Robertson said the quality of the site is impressive Robertson said each year Rudolphs nose, which emits a and for young children, theres nothing better on Christsignificant amount of heat, is picked up as an anomaly. When it goes live people can expect to see Santa from mas Eve than actually watching Santas progress, .adding test. the site will definitely pass the Sydney, Paris, Rome and other cities. Weve tried to All of the major television networks ran stories on the pick landmarks that kids will recognize. We do try to give and the site also received international cover- some education to kids on geography, he said. program ' The site also details the history of Santa, how he travage. The tradition has spread worldwide and the site has els around the world in one night and how he eats thoufive different languages, Robertson said, noting about sands of cookies and drinks gallons of milk without getting sick. a quarter of the hits come from Japan. In terms of how fast Santa has to travel (to deliver Robertson said the site should be up this weekend, but because theyre dealing with over 300 animated segments presents) we theorize that hes using a different space e-m- time continuum and is clearly functioning on North Pole time, Robertson said, adding once people realize Santa is 1,500 years old or more and not encumbered by human time, its easy to understand how he works his Christmas magic. Thanks to a typo in a newspaper ad, NORAD from around the world complimenting receives the site. It makes it all worth while to see that kind of feedback we get, Robertson said. Its what Christmas is all one-dig- it ils about. Tfre site can be accessed at www.noradsanta.com. 3 Hill Cub Scouts earn Arrow of Light Award Webelos Cub Scouts from Pack 55 will be presented the highest award in Cub Scouting, the Arrow of Light Award, today at 7 p.m. in the base theater. The pack is sponsored by Hill AFB. Recipients are Alex Ambard, Tim Glidden and Eric Stites. Den leaders, Ralph and Becky Stitt, Ray and Sue Breeden, and their parents have worked with the boys to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills needed to receive this award. Three second-yea- r PERELLI TOURING 60,000 Mile Warranty PERELLI PERFORMANCE P17570R13 P18570R14 P18560R14 $44.95 $49.99 PI 8565R1 5 $53.99 P19565R15 P20565R15 P21570R15 P22560R16 $56.99 $60.99 $60.99 $62.99 $69.99 P4000 & P6000 50,000 Mile Warranty P20560HR15 P20555HR16 P22550HR16 P22560HR16 P21560HR15 CONSUMER REPOR 77753777 ESTHBUYi "im D HF3ELL! Performance Snow Tires P19560HR15 P21560HR15. B9 $59.95 $81.99 $97.99 $71.99 $69.99 w ! .$76.99 $76.99 P21565HR15 P22560HR16 SERVICE SPECIALS .JL . .... . $76.99 $94.99 |