Given the expense and hassle of getting supplies to the base, maybe they should consider intoxicants more space- and weight- efficient than beer?

I propose a Slog Happy at Club 90 South. Sounds like a great place.

They need a still.

See, Seattle isn't so bad.

Does chinchin have some meaning other than Japanese slang for penis?

It's "cin cin" actually.

Jen,
Just read the piece from the Atlantic via RealClearPolitics. Fascinating. I'd like to get down to Antarctica. It's the only continent I haven't visited. BTW, the accompanying picture of the austral borealis or Southern Lights was beautiful.

@5 it's an Italian toast, derived from the sound of glasses clinking. It is properly pronounced "cheen-cheen".

@7 Whoops! Meant to address Cienna not Jen.

"Big Dead Place" (by somebody Johnson) is a fantastic story of being a dishwasher and then garbage collector at Antarctica. Entertaining, interesting, full of frustrations (as their corporate overlords back in Denver, I think, company policies that make no sense for Antarctica). It was a decent read. I'd never wanted to go anyways, but if anyone ever thought about this as a job/adventure, it's some good insight.

the boys need a bath house.

Do they tip the bartender well?

Drunk scientists are the best company. I hung out with a bunch of geologists in college and they knew how to party.

I've read through The Big Dead Place and various other Antarctic website especially web forum for current, future and past employees of McMurdo, Palmer, South Pole and other stations.

All great fun reads. I think I could to try to work/live there but I have no skill beside probably dish washing and or general helper qualities. And the idea of cracked skin is not to good because I have dry skin even in our mild weather in WA.