Something random about New Zealand
When I was walking around Christchurch I noticed: (a) Cars drive on the left, this is important for not getting run over (b) They have some cool cars you can't get in the US. I snapped a few pictures here and there, trying not to look too odd taking random photos of peoples cars. The comments in the gallery describe each car, but in summary:
I'll see what other flashes of inspiration hit me as I am exposed to 24 hour sunlight for a full week in another day.
To answer Scott's question:
There are 2 1/2 "bars" in McMurdo. One is traditional with a pool table and a juke box, is dark and allows smoking. The other is a bit more off beat, does not allow smoking, and has talent shows/60's sex-ed films on Saturday nights known as the "Feak Train". Lastly is a coffee house that also serves wine, making it 1/2 of a bar. Drinks are cheap, the atmoshere is friendly, and opening the door to blinding sunlight to go home is a really, really strange shock to your system.
Scott also wins the prize of being the 1st to ask a question, which gets him a ziplock baggie of real antarctic ice and snow.
- Skylines are awesome, 2009 they come to the States
- They have some fruity car colors in NZ
- The cars are much smaller, and tend to have trailer hitches
- Souping up/hot-rodding/pimping out (not ATL style though) is alive and well down here
I'll see what other flashes of inspiration hit me as I am exposed to 24 hour sunlight for a full week in another day.
To answer Scott's question:
There are 2 1/2 "bars" in McMurdo. One is traditional with a pool table and a juke box, is dark and allows smoking. The other is a bit more off beat, does not allow smoking, and has talent shows/60's sex-ed films on Saturday nights known as the "Feak Train". Lastly is a coffee house that also serves wine, making it 1/2 of a bar. Drinks are cheap, the atmoshere is friendly, and opening the door to blinding sunlight to go home is a really, really strange shock to your system.
Scott also wins the prize of being the 1st to ask a question, which gets him a ziplock baggie of real antarctic ice and snow.
posted by Nathan at
8:57 PM
5 Comments:
So Nathan, how do you spend your day? Is it all work or do you have a lot of spare time?
By
Anonymous, at 6:06 AM
Naru,
Basically I getup at 6:30, get dressed and eat breakfast, and get on the terra bus which takes us to the field at 7:30. We work there until the bus leaves at 5:30, so home by 6:30, eat, change etc. That leaves a few hours to either relax, go out for a hike, or work at the lab inthe base if required.
Most of the base personnel have Sunday off, so Saturday night is more lively. That said, they have an activity board (kind of like college) with all sorts of stuff every day (for example "guts & butts in the laundry room - I have no idea what it is but I thought the name was funny). Right now I am trying to get plenty of sleep to avoid getting sick while I adjust.
By
Nathan, at 8:57 AM
Nathan, you're being so diligent with this...
what exactly does work consist of? paperwork? computer work? and do those two tallest buildings you work in not have windows? do you have to keep on your layers when you're inside or is it warm?
i'd like a penguin for my thoughtful questions, thank you...
By
Anonymous, at 2:57 PM
Lily,
Work consists of preparing our telescope and gondola for launch in a few weeks. This involves assembling all the comonents (telescope, cameras, computers, wiring, solar panels etc.) and checking all the electronics and programs. Then final calibration and testing, we get the ok from the NSBF, and we launch it!
Yes, there are no windows in the two payload bays that we work in. That would let the cold in. Depending upon how cold it is outside, and if I will be out long, I often wear my long underwear under my pants, a sweatshirt of light jacket, and my polar exploration parka when I go outside, I take it off indoors. Its kept a pretty reasonable temperature indoors around here, so if you are not outside for long you can get away with no long underwear and just run from building to building. When out in the field (where we work) you always need to have your extreme coldweather gear with you in your bag though, as a strom could roll in.
By
Nathan, at 3:30 PM
Man, I had a moment of confusion when you mentioned gondolas because of the gondola picture from your NZ visit. I just had the image of your weather balloon taking a bunch of tourists up in a boat!
By
Matt, at 3:47 PM
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