The cold earth sleeps below, above the cold sky shines

October 25, 1915;   Heavy pressure-ridges were forming in all directions....The pack within our range of vision was being subjected to enormous compression, such as might be caused by cyclonic winds, opposing ocean currents, or constriction in a channel of some description.  The pressure-ridges, massive and threatening, testified to the overwhelming nature of the forces that were at work.  Huge blocks of ice, weighing many tons, were lifted into the air and tossed aside as other masses rose beneath them. We were helpless intruders in a strange world, our lives dependent upon the play of grim elementary forces that made a mock of our puny efforts.     Ernest Shackleton,  South Ernest Shackleton standing in pressure ridges January 3, 1911:  The land of Black (or White?) Island could be seen distinctly behind, topping the huge lines of pressure ridges.    Robert Falcon Scott   Journals: Captain Sco...

Signatories of the Antarctic Treaty.  Orange countries have consulting (voting) status and have made a claim to Antarctic territory.  Yellow countries have consulting status and reserve the right to make a claim.  Blue countries have consulting status.  Green countries have signed but do not have consulting status. Current Conditions:  Con3.  Temp 7°F (-14° with windchill).  Cloudy.  Po p ulation =   916 My college roommate, Martha, asked me a bit about the law down here.  So here is my completely amateur take on the legal aspects of McMurdo and coming to the continent. To McMurdians, there is one law in Antarctica--the NSF.  If you don't want to play the game according to the NSF's rules, you will be sent home.  No ifs, ands, or buts.  So far, I know of at least four people sent home for NSF violations--one for intimate partner violence (good one there), one for sleep walking into someone else's room and fallin...