Does Santa Hate Linux? 271
beernutmark writes "Well, it looks like Santa or at least Norad/Google hates Linux. This year, for the first time since its inception, Norad is not making a simple .kml file available for download to track Santa. You must connect to their website with a Windows/Mac browser and use the browser plugin. No full-screen Google Earth to look at the beautiful areas around Santa's path. (Anyone have any open source source kml files for tracking Santa or any idea how we can go about making one for 2010?)"
Install User Switcher Agent (Score:5, Informative)
Under Ubuntu, use Firefox, install User Switcher Agent, select "Internet Explorer 7". It appears to work fine. Granted, it is annoying, but it is easy to work around.
You can get full screen, at least. (Score:5, Informative)
1. Open web browser of your choice.
2. Go to noradsanta.com
3. (if you have NoScript, turn it off or at least unblock everything but googleanalytics).
4. On the right hand side, there's a diagonal arrow. Click it.
5. Hit whatever button makes your browser go fullscreen.
There. Full-screen Santa-y goodness.
Admittedly not QUITE as good as Google Earth, but you can at least get a full-screen Google Maps experience which is pretty darned close.
Tested in Linux (Mint 8, Firefox 3.5) and Windows XP, Firefox 3.5.
PS: Direct link to the fullscreen map: http://www.noradsanta.org/map.html#fullscreen [noradsanta.org]
Re:kml files? (Score:5, Informative)
Google Maps Link (Score:5, Informative)
You mean like this?
http://www.google.com/intl/en/landing/noradsanta/index.html#utm_campaign=en&utm_medium=hpp&utm_source=en-hpp-na-us-gns-norad [google.com]
Re:Well, actually (Score:5, Informative)
Hey, I just felt something woosh over my head! Was it Santa!? Maybe he does exist!
No, that was a chair.
Re:Yes. (Score:0, Informative)
The real brilliant minds behind Linux were putting together OSs when Linux wasn't even a few cells in his fathers nut sack. Can you please stop it with your revisionist history and who created what?
You're the one who needs an education.
Re:For once, I'm fine with being locked out... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Install User Switcher Agent (Score:4, Informative)
It's working for me with Debian and Firefox - no user agent tricks or anything. Stupid article.
Re:kml files? (Score:1, Informative)
Click on "Track Santa in Google Earth" in the link you provided. That's what we're talking about and no, it doesn't work in Linux. It's a slight better view.
Re:You and Christians, kissing in a tree (Score:3, Informative)
Hint: Just because he's called "Saint Nick" does not mean the Pope has recognized him.
Ugh. Look up Saint Nicholas of Myra. The Pope recognized Saint Nick about 1000 years ago.
Re:For once, I'm fine with being locked out... (Score:3, Informative)
No, that's wrong. Saint Nicholas of Myra was a Christian saint famous for, among other things, leaving gifts in people's shoes/stockings.
Re:kml files? (Score:2, Informative)
it's clear on reading to me that since the inception of making available .kml files, this is the first year that they stopped doing so. i agree though, not the best sentence!