The ability of Santa to reach the world’s children is not an easy task, NORAD confirms to news this week. In fact, Santa’s sleigh in recent years has been retrofitted to withstand variable conditions. “NORAD can confirm that Santa’s sleigh is a versatile, all weather, multi-purpose, vertical short-take-off and landing vehicle. It is capable of traveling vast distances without refueling and is deployed, as far as we know, only on Christmas Eve (and briefly for a test flight about a month before Christmas).” The sleigh is also a green vehicle, propelled by Rudolf and Company and using no burning fuels.

Annually, children ask when will Santa be at my house, and where is Santa right now. But the other big point of confusion is whether Santa actually visits every house on December 24. NORAD tells news that “Indeed, Santa visits all homes where children who believe in him live.”

Santa’s trip across the Middle East to Africa, from China to Europe, always prompts a flood of phone calls to NORAD dispatch. Recently NORAD told news that it expected the same for today and tomorrow. “One Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian from the NORAD Public Affairs staff is assigned to manage the program” says NORAD. It added “almost 1,250 Canadian and American uniformed personnel – Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines, as well as DOD civilian and their families and friends – volunteer their time on Christmas Eve to answer the thousands of phone calls and emails that flood in from around the world.”

And while Santa has been delivering gifts to children worldwide since the beginning of time, NORAD was only started in the 1950s.  NORAD details to news that in 1958 “the governments of Canada and the United States created a bi-national air defense command for North America called the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD. NORAD inherited the tradition of tracking Santa.”

Phone calls were supplemented by emails in recent years. “Since that time, NORAD men, women, family and friends have selflessly volunteered their time to personally respond to Christmas Eve phone calls and emails from children.” By 2008, NORAD had added internet tracking of Santa Claus around the world. And by that year, “millions of people who wanted to know Santa’s whereabouts visited the NORAD Tracks Santa Web site.”

And yet, while Santa’s travels around the world haven’t changed in recent years, the means by which NORAD tracks Santa has been dramatically altered. This decade, NORAD added eo-synchronous orbiting satellites to assist Santa Claus. Those satellites equipped with infrared sensors which enable them to detect heat. Which heat do the sensors follow? “Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature which allow our satellites to detect Rudolph and Santa” says NORAD to news.

And while Santa is the man of the hour, Colonel Harry Shoup is the man most credited with today’s tracking of Santa with technology. “Operations [at CONAD in 1955] … Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check 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.” To track Santa CLICK HERE.

Despite today’s confusion about when Santa arrives at each of our houses, officials at the north pole tell news that Santa annually travels the same path to deliver the world’s gifts. NORAD confirms the same to news as well. In a news statement, NORAD says that “Santa usually starts at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean and travels west. So, historically, Santa visits the South Pacific first, then New Zealand and Australia.”

After Santa covers the South Pacific, children in Asia, Africa and Europe will be next, NORAD tells news. “After that, he shoots up to Japan, over to Asia, across to Africa, then onto Western Europe, Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central and South America.”

Yet, despite a generally consistent flight pattern, Santa does often make changes based upon flight changes. In 2009, NORAD reminded news to “keep in mind, Santa’s route can be affected by weather, so it’s really unpredictable. NORAD coordinates with Santa’s Elf launch staff to confirm his launch time, but from that point on, Santa calls the shots. We just track him!”

Santa’s arrival in North America will be heralded with the help of U.S. fighter jets. Fighter jets serve multiple purposes. First they insure to protect Santa. Second, they help Santa arrive on time. And finally, Santa reportedly simply enjoys seeing our jets besides his sleigh. NORAD tells news “Over the past 50 years, our fighter jets (F-16s, F-15s and CF-18s) have intercepted Santa many, many times. When the jets intercept Santa, they tip their wings to say, “Hello Santa! – NORAD is tracking you again this year!” Santa always waves. He loves to see the pilots!” To track Santa CLICK HERE.

But hours of operation may very at branches, officials news remind news. Customers should use usps.com or to call 800-ASK-USPS for information about specific Post Offices, officials tell news.

Yet, what happens on Monday? Officials tell news that Post Offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. In a news statement today, the Post Office reminds customers “In observance of the holidays, Post Offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Jan. 2. Only Express Mail will be delivered on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day in most major metro areas. Post Offices will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, Dec. 27 and Tuesday, Jan. 3.”

Banks, local offices, county and state offices are expected to follow regular hours today and on Monday December 26. Malls, private educational institutions, and local markets generally follow regular hours today and Monday as well.

New Zealand Earthquake February 2011 Maps
New Zealand Earthquake Map 1
New Zealand Earthquake Map 2
New Zealand Earthquake Map 3
New Zealand Earthquake Map 4

In September 2010, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the region resulting in no deaths. But in February this year, massive damage and fatalities erupted from a comparable quake.

University of Canterbury Earth Sciences Professor John Townend said at the time “This earthquake struck much closer to the city so what we have seen today is a much closer and shallower shake. With many buildings weakened we are seeing much more damage.”

Prime Minister John Key told news at the time “If it’s the case that people have lost their lives in this earthquake then I think all New Zealanders would mourn with a heavy heart.”

UPDATE: Local news reports now that sixty people suffered nominal quake-related injuries today.

Tyler the Creator, real name Tyler Okonma, was arrested and booked at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s station. He faces a felony vandalism charge. He was released on $20,000 bail. And his mother watched the entire arrest unfold in front of her.

Online video showed Tyler the Creator allegedly smashing sound equipment, reportedly throwing his microphone at a sound engineer. Earlier this year he made news for winning Best New Artist for “Yonkers” at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.

But it May, Tyler was detained at Westchester High in the Los Angeles for disturbing the peace. The creator of OFWGKTA had reportedly set up promotional teams at the Westchester, Fairfax and Pacific Palisades High that weekend. At the time, he was critical of police. He posted to Twitter on May 10 “I Swear To Atheist God Tho, F– cops.”