SANTA'S WORKSHOP — The North Pole is in the midst of a readiness crisis as it struggles to fill its pilot ranks with qualified reindeer, who are leaving the service in record numbers to work at commercial sleighlines, sources confirmed today.
Santa Claus claims he has only 75 percent of the deerpower he needs to deliver presents this year, especially in crucial heavy lift squadrons.
"This is truly alarming. There is no way I'll be able to deliver presents to all the good girls and boys, let alone coal to all the naughty ones," said Claus. "The reindeer we do have are being worked to the antler, flying three or four gumdrop sorties a day."
