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The Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world track Santa Claus as he sweeps across the earth, delivering presents and defying time. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online in nine languages , from English to Japanese. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats , such as last year’s Chinese spy balloon . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” “There are screams and giggles and laughter,” said Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, “Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early.” NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War , predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics . The tradition continues regardless of government shutdowns, such as the one in 2018 , and this year . Here’s how it began and why the phones keep ringing. It started with a child’s accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy’s mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80 foot (18-by-24 meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from “those who do not believe in Christmas.” Story continues below video Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup’s story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy’s call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child’s call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. “When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,’” Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. “People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada —- known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That’s when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.
( MENAFN - Newsroom Panama) You're witnessing a seismic shift in the entertainment industry, driven by technological advancements and evolving consumer preferences. The metaverse is projected to generate up to $5 trillion in value by 2030, with over 50% of live events expected to occur within this immersive digital realm. Data-driven diversity and inclusion initiatives are influencing box office success and consumer engagement. Strategic partnerships and M&A activity highlight the importance of collaboration in adapting to changes in content distribution. Personalization through AI-driven technologies can boost revenues by 15%, while intuitive interfaces promote natural interactions with entertainment. Embrace these trends to stay competitive in the evolving global entertainment landscape. Two key trends are driving the future of entertainment: the rise of the metaverse and the growing demand for immersive experiences. As the metaverse is projected to generate up to $5 trillion in value by 2030, it's clear that this virtual reality landscape will play a significant role in shaping how we consume and interact with content. You can expect over 50% of live events to occur within the metaverse by 2030, signaling a major shift towards digital transformation in the entertainment industry. Content creators and companies investing in metaverse-related technologies will be at the forefront of innovation, redefining how we experience entertainment. The integration of gaming and filmed entertainment will blur the lines between passive and interactive content consumption, creating new opportunities for immersive experiences. With the virtual reality industry expected to reach $22 billion by 2025, it's evident that the demand for immersive entertainment will continue to grow. Embracing these trends will be crucial for staying relevant and competitive in the rapidly evolving entertainment landscape, as the metaverse and immersive experiences become the new norm. Alongside the metaverse and immersive experiences, data-driven diversity and inclusion initiatives are transforming the entertainment industry, including Canadian IPTV . Authentic representation in films significantly impacts box office success, with movies featuring fewer than 11% underrepresented actors underperforming by 20%. Additionally, 64% of consumers report being influenced by diverse advertisements, highlighting the importance of representation in marketing strategies. However, companies face challenges in effectively recording Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) data: Despite these challenges, 59% of executives have increased their investments in DEI initiatives over the past year, reflecting a growing commitment to fostering inclusive environments in the media and entertainment industry. As the industry evolves, data-driven diversity and inclusion will play a crucial role in shaping personalized content and ensuring authentic representation across all platforms, ultimately driving the future of entertainment. Strategic partnerships and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are transforming the entertainment industry as companies adapt to the rapidly evolving content and distribution landscape. In the realm of entertainment, storytelling formats are undergoing a profound transformation, driven by technological advancements and evolving consumer preferences. Modern creators are leveraging mixed reality, participatory storytelling, and immersive theater to engage audiences in unprecedented ways. This shift is evident in: As technology continues to progress, the lines between creator and consumer will blur further, giving rise to even more interactive and personalized forms of storytelling. This evolution will not only reshape the entertainment landscape but also redefine how we connect with narratives and each other. The future of entertainment lies in the seamless integration of diverse formats, fostering deeper engagement and more meaningful experiences for audiences worldwide. Personalization and intuitive interfaces are poised to revolutionize the entertainment landscape, as AI-driven technologies and immersive experiences continue to shape consumer expectations. You'll find that personalization, powered by machine learning, can boost revenues by 15% through tailored customer experiences. Intuitive interfaces, such as gesture and voice recognition, will promote more natural interactions with entertainment, moving beyond traditional controls. As you demand more relatable content, immersive experiences designed with character recognition and emotional responsiveness will enhance your engagement. By 2030, your wearable devices will seamlessly integrate social, work, and entertainment environments, creating a personalized consumption experience. The rise of virtual reality and mixed reality technologies will redefine storytelling, allowing for personalization that enhances your interaction and engagement with narratives. Artificial intelligence will play a crucial role in driving these advancements, enabling entertainment providers to deliver highly customized content and experiences. As personalization and intuitive interfaces become the norm, you can expect a more immersive and engaging entertainment landscape that adapts to your preferences and behaviors, ultimately transforming the way you consume and interact with content in the future. You'll witness a transformation in entertainment, driven by content diversity and personalized experiences. Streaming competition will intensify, while virtual reality and AI redefine audience engagement. Prepare for a future of immersive storytelling and global cultural exchange. You'll witness streaming dominance, immersive experiences, and diverse content driving audience engagement. Virtual reality and cultural exchange will reshape entertainment, while data-driven insights and forward-looking strategies will be essential for success in this evolving landscape. You'll experience immersive entertainment through virtual reality and AI-driven storytelling on streaming platforms. Interactive media and personalized content, powered by advanced technologies, will reshape how you engage with and consume entertainment in the future. Globalization has transformed entertainment through cultural exchange and audience diversity. Streaming platforms now offer regional content, fostering global collaborations. As language barriers diminish, you can access a wealth of international films, shows, and creators like never before. MENAFN24122024000218011062ID1109028674 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. Beyonce And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” Stephen Nedoroscik is introduced June 29 at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. The stories and images that defined 2024. Searching for something? From queries about U.S. politics to cricket in India, Wikipedia has become a source of information for millions of people across the globe. From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp... AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable ... In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag... Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Being able to live off may sound like a dream to most people. Wouldn't it be amazing if our investments could grow their so much that it could entirely replace the wage? Owning shares is a very simple strategy – businesses make a profit every year and can send plenty of it to investors as a dividend. We don't need to run the business or make any operational decisions. We just need to have a bank account so the company can send its payouts. Of course, receiving tens of thousands of dollars annually is easier said than done. It could take a lot of time to get to the desired goal. But, there is a process we can follow to make it happen, and there are ways to (sensibly) accelerate the journey. We can't get around the fact that, as the saying goes, money makes money. To build a dividend-paying portfolio, we need to save money ourselves to invest it. Plenty of Aussies are probably going through a tough time at the moment due to a high cost of living, so not everyone may be in a position to invest much at the moment or even do any savings. So, somehow, Aussies who want to replace their wage with passive dividend income need to spend less than they earn and save that money for investment. There may or may not be different ideas or choices people can utilise to increase their income or reduce spending. But, if we can regularly save $500 per month, $1,000 per month or even more, we can start the financial snowball rolling towards financial independence. After we've gathered some savings, we can start putting the money into the ASX share market. I think the most important element of the investment part is to choose ASX shares that can increase their underlying value at a solid pace over the long term. This normally means they can grow earnings and/or increase the asset (balance sheet) value of the business. The easiest way to invest in the share market is to invest in diversified that give broad access to a portfolio of shares. I'm thinking of ones like ( ), ( ), ( ) and ( ). We can use ETFs to build portfolio value up to a certain dollar level and then possibly replace (sell) them with higher- . Or, instead of switching investments, we can just sell a small portion (such as 3% or 4%) of our ETF holding each year to unlock a /passive income yield and use that cash. It's quite possible the long-term capital returns of the ETF could be stronger than the amount sold, leading to a rising portfolio value. Another option is to buy high-quality, growing ASX dividend shares from the start. I'm referring to ones that could deliver good total returns that may be able to provide good dividends today and in the future, as well as capital growth over the years. I'd redirect any received dividends into buying more shares. I'm thinking of good ASX dividend shares like ( ), ( ), ( ) and ( ). As the portfolio gets bigger, Aussies on their journey would see their portfolio capable of producing more passive income each year. First, it'll reach $1,000 in annual income, then $2,000, eventually reaching $10,000, $20,000, and even more. If the portfolio pays a dividend yield of 5%, then a $1 million portfolio would pay $50,000 of annual passive income. According to the , investing $1,000 per month would grow into $1 million in less than 24 years if it grew by 10% per annum. If the portfolio grew at a faster rate than 10% per year, it'd take even less time, which is why I'm a big advocate for owning high-quality ASX shares/investments that can deliver good returns over the long term.