As we get closer to the big night, and curiosity about what's going on with the man in red runs high, I'm offering up four websites that will help you connect to and check up on Santa and his movements. Plus, as an added bonus I showcase a contest being run by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on YouTube. Watch as an amazing assortment of teens play their own version of the "Wizards of Winter".

AskSanta.ca

This website created by Microsoft Canada lets kids connect up to "Santa" through e-mail or Instant Messenger. Kids can add Santa to their friends list and carry an online chat with him at any time. Santa has his own blog and offers fun downloads including gift tags, sing-a-longs, and recipes from Mrs. Claus.

NORAD Tracks Santa 2006

On Christmas Eve NORAD will have a live "Santa Cam" along with satellite maps showing Santa's prgress as he leaves the North Pole and travels around the world to delvier presents. In the meantime NORAD offers information on how Santa compiles his "list", recipes for Santa snacks, and fun downloads including coloring books, maps, and Christmas music.

Santa On Google Earth

To celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, Google Earth (the one you download, not online) will feature a daily clue that will appear on the satellite maps at the North Pole (near his workshop) that will point to a present hidden somewhere around the world and caught by the Satellite photos. There's a new present added each day.

North Pole Dancing

Here you can choreograph a dance routine for Santa by dragging and dropping gumb drops into sequence boxes. Once you have the routine you like you can change the music, backdrop, and finalize it as a fun creation to share. And... you can upload your own photo onto Santa's head to personalize it a la poplockin.com

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is holding a contest through YouTube. They've made sheet music and audio mix packages of "Wizards of Winter"available for download and are asking people to record a video of themsevles playing the song for a chance to win a number of prizes.Watch the YouTube Submissions HerePlus here's two that I've chosen:13 year-old Austin Addams

17 year-old Connor who merges TWO videos of himself playing separate parts to make it look like twins playing.