Prep & Landing

The hard casing of the grappling hook is shaped and painted like a candy cane. Once the hidden stud on the side of the cane is depressed and held, the hook end splits open into a three-pronged grappling hook. Sliding the activation stud downward fires the hook and the attached zip line outward at rapid speed. The line continues to fire up to 30 feet, as long as the activation button is held down. The line can be quickly retracted by depressing the stud a second time. This feature allows the elf to zip easily up a chimney and instantly return the candy cane hook to his utility belt.

The fruitcake conduct calculator (fcc for short) is the most important device a member of the coal elf brigade uses each holiday season. The fcc is a handheld processor that utilizes a north pole patented algorithm to analyze deeds, habits, and activities to gauge the level of naughty behavior in a child. The tabulated information is relayed via the fcc's antenna to the database tree farm, where a final assessment is determined for placement on the nice or naughty list. For those children deemed naughty, the fcc is able to print a ribbon with a message of encouragement for future improved behavior. This ribbon is tied around the lump of coal before placement in the stocking.

The Giftbox Datapad is yet another invention from the brilliant mind of Mr. Thistleton. The giftbox boasts a touchscreen interface that can also project holograms. With a capacity of 1 million kringle bytes, the giftbox is a convenient portable repository for essential holiday data.

The Gingerbread Man (or gbm) is perhaps the most important device in the current prep & landing arsenal. Seemingly a simple gingerbread man decoration, the gbm is actually a high tech multi-functional device. At the touch of a secret button, the tummy of the gbm slides open to reveal a small touchscreen lit by several round icons offering a number of functions. At the same time, the eyes and mouth of the gbm glow a soft green to ensure its user of a full power charge. The gbm's programming currently allows the following functions: 1. A scanner to determine if any creatures are stirring. 2. Access to the north pole naughty and nice list database listing a profile and recent behavior of children in the assigned home. 3. A cookie assessment scanner to determine the type and ingredients of cookies left out for santa claus. (santa does not care for nuts). 4. A holographic projector that projects a scale representation of a gift under the christmas tree to determine if there is enough clearance under the branches. If not, branches can be trimmed with the snowflake buzzsaw. 5. A sync function that allows a gbm to be remotely controlled by a partner's gbm. 6. A flashlight with strobe and multi-color capability 7. A music player that now also plays videos.

The sleekest snowmobile ever designed, the natale xms 2500 turbo is built for speed. With the ability to accelerate from 0 to 100 in under 3 seconds, this snowmobile is not for the faint of heart. With a powerful 20 cylinder engine, the natale is rumored to be as fast as dasher the reindeer on the open tundra. The crushed leather interior and multitude of cup holders provide instant comfort for the elf on the go.

The pick axe is a staple in any coal elf equipment locker. Coal elves use these tools to mine special coal for delivery to naughty kids. Most pick axes have diamond-tipped edges and sure-grip handles to ensure durability in the mines. Coal elves are also fond of using their pick axes in lieu of darts in recreational games. The pick axe darts league is a favorite pastime at christmas carol's every tuesday evening.

For the ultimate in snow-dashing power and comfort, look no further than this 1,500 horsepower open-sleigh. Boasting two-ski drive, antilock treads, north pole positioning system and driver side bun warmers, this modern classic seats two and is equally suited for a romantic weekend getaway or an anything-goes snowmobile drag race.

The Sledway Personal Transport is one of the many inventions of Mr. Thistleton. With its internal gyroscope and all terrain wheels, the Sledway provides a smooth ride on even the most rugged of north pole terrain. The dashboard provides a dock for a giftbox datapad.

The Snowflake Buzzsaw is contained within a pouch on the wrist. When activated, the snowflake telescopes out before whirring to life in saw mode. The Snowflake Buzzsaw is used to trim unnecessary Christmas tree branches.

The unassuming snowman is actually an extremely important p & l device, integral to a successful sleigh landing. Upon depression of its top hat, the snowman springs forward, breaking into three sections tethered by taut tubing. Each section is weighted so once it lands in place on a rooftop, it is nearly immovable until deactivated. The hat brim on the hat section slides up and opens into a radar dish to signal santa's sleigh. Once the dish powers on, the snowman sections and transparent tubing strobe with landing light patterns, creating a landing strip for the sleigh. Additionally, the inside hands of the two elves' snowmen shoot forward, connecting magnetically together to form a tow cable line across the landing strip to catch the tailhook on the bottom of santa's sleigh. The cable is deceptively strong with a tensile strength capable of supporting the weight of a fully loaded semi trailer.

The Sparkle Blaster is an integral part of the coal elf brigade arsenal. Naughty kids are often more resistant to the sleep-inducing effects of sparkle, so the sparkle blaster provides an extra helping to ensure that coal elves can carry out their coal delivery without interference. Sparkle ornaments are loaded into the magazine, and if needed, the blaster can fire repeatedly. The one drawback to the sparkle blaster is its kickback, which can be stronger than a reindeer hoof. Thus, the sparkle blaster is usually carried by only the strongest of elves.

In cases of greatest emergency, a p & l elf can use his sparkle. In its concentrated form, sparkle can send any creature into a deep sleep, which usually lasts an hour, depending on the weight of the victim. The sparkle is contained within what appears to be a christmas globe ornament, complete with hook. When the hook is twisted and removed, however, the sparkle within is activated. It is imperative for the elf to throw the sparkle bomb within three seconds of activating it, as the sparkle begins to immediately dissolve the exterior of the ornament. A properly timed throw will strike its target at the exact moment the shell completely dissolves, allowing the sparkle to hit with maximum effect.

The stocking stuffer coal cannon uses pressurized air technology to fire lumps of coal into the stockings of naughty kids. Since stockings are typically hung too high for elves to reach, this device is essential for an efficient christmas eve coal delivery. The lump of coal, tied with a ribbon containing a message of encouragement, is loaded into the heel of the cannon. The coal elf takes careful aim and fires the coal with precision into the stocking.

The official public transportation system of the north pole provides a pleasant and energy efficient ride to commuters. With numerous strands running daily to all parts of the north pole, b.u.l.b. gets elves to their destination in a flurry!

Christmas Carol's is the hottest hangout in the coal elf district. House specials include the famed 1/2 pound blackened herring, bottomless bowl of plum pudding poppers, and 87 different egg nogs on tap. Christmas carol's: where we care a lot!

Lying on the outskirts of the north pole, this snowy suburb is the number one producer and distributor of christmas stocking coal, a mining process overseen and managed by the infamous coal elf brigade. The district is also known for its favored local hotspot, christmas carol's. If you like soot, the coal district is for you!

The Christmas eve command center tower is the centralized command station from which the north pole Christmas eve command center coordinator and staff monitor world-wide weather conditions, track all prep & landing missions, and map the big guy's flight around the globe every Christmas eve.

The brainchild of the brilliant Mr. Thistleton, the database tree farm is a sprawling underground computer complex housing all nice and naughty list data for every child on earth. With a capacity of well over 10 million kringle bytes, the massive computer trees are constantly processing and updating behavior throughout the year. The base of the centerpiece tree is home to the kringle byte café, the favored lunch location of the tree farm's technicians. Higher up the tree is the database stump room, a situation room from which the entire tree farm can be monitored. The tree topper is the private office of Mr. Thistleton himself, from where he can survey his greatest invention and ponder future north pole innovations.

Magee's home away from home, where she pursues her favorite pastimes all at once, including: promoting inter-department synergy, answering three phones at once, accidentally killing her plants, demanding hot egg nog lattes from tiny, second-guessing her career choice, listening to her mother wondering why magee hasn't given her a grandchild, streamlining workflow, rolling her eyes at wayne, choreographing new skating routines, designing new jingle bell jewelry, and not reading the deluge of inter-office memos.

Behind every great invention is a great inventor. And behind every great inventor is a comfy chair. Here is where Mr. Thistleton keeps his. Part workshop, part research lab, this office is located at the top of the centerpiece tree in the database tree farm. From this perch, Mr. Thistleton can ponder the genius of his past inventions like the giftbox data pad, the sledway personal transport, and the winternet, as well as look forward to future north pole innovations from his brilliant mind.

The legendary north pole is home to Mr. And Mrs. Claus, as well as all of Santa's elves and reindeer. The store-filled candy cane lane leads to the centerpiece of the north pole, Santa's lodge, where the big guy lives and works. The four main quadrants surrounding the lodge include toyland, caribou quarter, holly jolly park, and elfville, which was once voted "best (and only) place to live in the north pole" by good elfkeeping magazine.

Nestled deep within santa's lodge, this quiet, secure retreat serves as the big guy's private sanctuary. Miss holly, santa's executive assistant, maintains all schedules and appointments from her desk just outside the office. In this personal workspace, the big guy is able to sketch out new toy design concepts and also catch his daily afternoon nap.

Hidden beneath santa's office lies his secret workshop. Here, the big guy finds peace and quiet for his creative endeavors. The workshop also serves as a mini christmas museum, housing some of santa's old suits, sleighs, and other various treasures. Mrs. Claus is just happy to have all the stuff out of her house.

The home of the big guy's main ride. Here, santa's sleigh - code named "rosebud" - is maintained and cared for by her highly trained pit crew. Outfitted with all the latest tools in yuletide assistance, rosebud's pit crew can monitor, diagnose and repair even the smallest hiccups in her system before she ever leaves the ground.

Located just off the holly jolly bridge in elfville, sorenson's snowmobile emporium is the first and last word in snowmobile shopping destinations. Known for his loud commercials and overzealous sales staff, the owner gene boasts, "we have the largest selection of new and pre-owned sleighs and snowmobiles in the north pole. With our ho ho low prices, you can skate in today, and sled home tomorrow!"

This is where the magic happens. The toy factory is home to the finest artisans and craft-elves in the north pole. Every year on the factory floor, hundreds of nimble hands assemble millions of toys with amazing speed and precision.