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Do you have a radio station or satellite? If so, have you heard Ian Moore’s tribute song to Sir Robert Scott? Do you get much variety in TV and music programming? Being so isolated, I would think entertainment of all sorts would be an important link to the mainland to help quell any homesick pangs.
Hi Acacia,
McMurdo receives the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS), so we get a variety of shows, news, sports and movies. There’s also a couple radio stations through AFRTS and a lousy NPR Internet stream, so we’re not totally isolated.
Palmer has a constant NPR stream across the Internet link, rather good. I don’t think South Pole has much of anything except maybe short wave radio reception.
The AFRTS link at McMurdo seems to be the most popular with the sports fans — football is always an attraction. Many of us, however, would be just as happy without any television at all… It’s a reminder of how nuts the rest of the world is, and tends to isolate people in their rooms rather than drawing them out to social events. Not to be too much of a curmudgeon about it, but I feel a constant television link also detracts from the Antarctic experience: this was one of the last places in the world where you can escape the barrage of media, and now it’s followed us here too. Having said that, when there is a major story going on it’s nice to have that contact.
@King Penguin wrote:
Hi Acacia,
McMurdo receives the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS), so we get a variety of shows, news, sports and movies. There’s also a couple radio stations through AFRTS and a lousy NPR Internet stream, so we’re not totally isolated.
Palmer has a constant NPR stream across the Internet link, rather good. I don’t think South Pole has much of anything except maybe short wave radio reception.
The AFRTS link at McMurdo seems to be the most popular with the sports fans — football is always an attraction. Many of us, however, would be just as happy without any television at all… It’s a reminder of how nuts the rest of the world is, and tends to isolate people in their rooms rather than drawing them out to social events. Not to be too much of a curmudgeon about it, but I feel a constant television link also detracts from the Antarctic experience: this was one of the last places in the world where you can escape the barrage of media, and now it’s followed us here too. Having said that, when there is a major story going on it’s nice to have that contact.
Well said!! So what are some of the social events?
@Guru wrote:
So what are some of the social events?
There’s the usual volleyball, darts, bowling, and other sports leagues, and this year the hot game is dodgeball (probably because of the movie by the same name). Aerobics, butts-n-gutz, tap dance, bouldering, power lifting, etc, are going on all the time. Ceramics, sewing, plumbing (!), movie nights, wine tasting, Antarctic history classes, martial arts, DJing at the radio station, and zillion other things are available most of the time.
Tonight there’s live music at the Coffee House. We’re celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, our Saturday, with the traditional Turkey dinner. In the morning is a 5K turkey-trot fun-run to the sea ice runway and back.
Sunday evening McMurdo will be hosting Sir Edmond Hillary (“call me Ed”), who will be giving a talk. This promises to be one of the most popular events of the year.
Around the beginning of December will be the Women’s Soiree and art auction, with proceeds going to a charity in Christchurch. The official art show happens in mid-December, and then we start the round of Christmas parties. Yeehaa.
Now if we just had less work and more time to participate in all this stuff!
WOW!!! There’s more to do there than there is here! I’m almost afraid to ask(LOL), but what’s “butts-n-gutz”?
Butz-n-gutz is an hour of anaerobic, abdominal hell for exercise masochists. Last time I did that I was cramped up in a fetal position for three days afterwards…
My heart skipped a beat for a second: I saw the heading RADIO, and thought – wow – I can get a job there in Antarctica!!!
I have always had a fascination with places likeMcMurdo: outposts of civilization so remote that it is a life-changing experience to be there.
So, for a person whose sole skills lie in the broadcast profession, IS there anything at McMurdo that a person with my (limited) talents could do?
I want to visit at least once in my life.
Thanks!!!!
@Folderol wrote:
So, for a person whose sole skills lie in the broadcast profession, IS there anything at McMurdo that a person with my (limited) talents could do?
There’s two people who run the AFRTS/radio/TV station and provide video services at McMurdo. The whole works is dinky, three small rooms, but that’s probably your best bet. The job turnover is minimal, but what the heck — why not apply?
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