Santa Tracker

One of the more whimsical services offered by a government agency is the Santa Tracker provided each Christmas eve by NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense Command):

http://www.noradsanta.org/

According to the site, "For 60 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s flight. The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement misprinted the telephone number for children to call Santa. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief's operations 'hotline.' The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born." The tradition continues this year.

Happy holidays to one and all.

U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness

As the colder weather and the holidays approach, people often think more about helping their fellow man. If the season has you wondering exactly what the Federal government is doing to help the homeless, then exploring the site of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness may answer many of your questions:

http://usich.gov/

The Council's mission "is to coordinate the Federal response to homelessness" and it's composed of "19 Federal Cabinet secretaries and agency heads." One of the many resources available on the USICH site is a database that's "a searchable source of up-to-date information drawn from around the country that federal, state, and local partners can use to further their collaborative efforts to end homelessness." So, even if you can't afford to donate money to a charity, your tax dollars are already at work helping your fellow man.