Dear Snta Clas--

Even Santa is into texting, apparently. For a "nominal fee," Santa will send a child 3 text messages prior to Christmas and, for an additional fee, one on Christmas morning. According to a Burnsville Mall spokesperson:

We thought [Santa texting] was clever, something fun, trendy and different that would appeal to children. We think it adds to the whole holiday experience for the kids.

Read more here.

In other Santa communication news, the US Postal Service reversed its earlier decision to block Santa's mail sent to North Pole, Alaska. The nationwide Operation Santa program uses volunteers to answer the letters. USPS made the decision after one of the volunteers answering the letters turned out to be a registered sex offender. USPS has tightened security and screening for volunteers.

Canadian children can write to Santa, who has his own postal code HOH OHO, or email their requests via a form on Canadian Post's web site.

And, just to brag about my own relationship with Santa--I taught him how to email and search the Internet when I was teaching the Senior Techies program in southeastern Minnesota. Actually--I taught two different guys in two different towns who claimed they were Santa. They had pictures and everything! How is that possible?!