Flying objects

December 16, 2023 11:14 PM

In the Dáil (Lower House) last Wednesday, during PMQ Taoiseach (PM) Leo Varadkar announced: "I would like to confirm that Santa Claus has permission to enter Irish airspace and to cross our borders on December 24 through December 25. I want to thank IAA, Department of Agriculture and Revenue Commissioners for allowing necessary exemptions to occur". Further.

IRL it is Wright Brothers Day today. Marking the 120th anniversary of Orville and Wilbur's flight. It is Biden official.

posted by BobTheScientist (12 comments total)

Unfortunately Santa’s List of Nice and Naughty People is currently going through an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
posted by Phanx at 2:20 AM on December 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

Plans to privatise the gift-giving holiday means that Santa Claus will be operating in a very different economy next year; although a long standing relationship with Father Christmas has been recognised, there are many other regional partners who would be interested in a larger slice of the mince pie. Italy’s Belfana, the catholic saint Nicholas, and the Germanic Krampus have all expressed interested in entering the gift-giving economy on a larger scale, although critics say that it will be hard to scale their infrastructure operations to supply larger areas without infringing elf and safety laws.
posted by The River Ivel at 2:47 AM on December 17, 2023 [10 favorites]

I do no know which of these ideas is more heartwarming: that a man delivers presents to children around the world in a single night out of the goodness of his heart; or that millions of adults, including world leaders and the military, would collude in maintaining a story simply to bring joy to children they do not know.
posted by plonkee at 3:00 AM on December 17, 2023 [11 favorites]

Like, just this year? Is this perpetual? If so, what’s the constitutional basis for that? Surely an Act would be required?
posted by pompomtom at 3:07 AM on December 17, 2023

Who is Flying and to what does he object?
posted by krisjohn at 4:04 AM on December 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

Plans to privatise the gift-giving holiday

Dear Shareholder... (Self-link, pdf).
posted by Paul Slade at 5:13 AM on December 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

Like, just this year? Is this perpetual? If so, what’s the constitutional basis for that? Surely an Act would be required?

It's frankly shocking that in the 21st century, some countries don't already have this exemption codified. It's a well known special case and it shouldn't fall upon lawmakers to enact it each year.
posted by LSK at 6:25 AM on December 17, 2023 [4 favorites]

Right. And what do you think Varadkar's getting under the tree this year? A PS5? A puppy? One of those Lego Death Stars?

This smells to high heaven. And I ain't talking about fresh-baked gingerbread. What's the quid pro ho-ho-ho?
posted by PlusDistance at 6:53 AM on December 17, 2023 [4 favorites]

Varadkar

huh.
posted by vrakatar at 10:21 AM on December 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

LSK: What, and miss out on an opportunity for grandstanding?
posted by Soliloquy at 10:21 AM on December 17, 2023

Is the list covered by GDPR?
posted by Dub at 12:06 PM on December 17, 2023

And as always, the US-Canadian Joint Command at NORAD will be tracking Santa's hypersonic movements here.
posted by senor biggles at 6:04 PM on December 18, 2023 [2 favorites]