Antarctica base gets 16,500 condoms before darkness

[Woodmonkey]

One of the last shipments to a U.S. research base in Antarctica before the onset of winter darkness was a year's supply of condoms, a New Zealand newspaper reported Monday.

Bill Henriksen, the manager of the McMurdo base station, said nearly 16,500 condoms were delivered last month and would be made available, free of charge, to staff throughout the year to avoid the potential embarrassment of having to buy them.

The base only has a skeleton staff through the long winter.

"Since everybody knows everyone, it becomes a little bit uncomfortable," Henriksen told the Southland Times newspaper.

About 125 scientists and staff are stationed at McMurdo base, the largest community in Antarctica, during the winter months when there is constant darkness.

The first sunrise will occur on August 20 and McMurdo's population will start to increase again in September when supply flights resume, peaking at more than 1,000 during the summer period.

The Source

[conlor]

Hmmmm. Do they have to request them from the Supply Dept?

[Woodmonkey]

That's a lot to get. Guess they plan on them being busy up there in the dark.

[Snowden]

They should just put them out where anybody can get them in passing!

There's a Boy Scout up there, I bet! At least one.

[Woodmonkey]

Set them out like a bowl of candy!

[BrianK]

I think this could have been worded differantly.

[The first sunrise will occur on August 20 and McMurdo's population will start to increase again in September when supply flights resume, peaking at more than 1,000 during the summer period.]

If the condom is used right and doesn't break they should prevent an increase in population shouldn't they.

Maybe something like. The first sunrise will occur on August 20. After the sunrise more staff & scientists will arrive in Sept. when supply flights resume. The summer period usually increases to 1,000 or more then.