Jim

..in case anyone is so inclined. http://www.stopdodo.com/environment-jobs/field-assistants.1074.htm Practical, organised and unflappable, you'll have what it takes to work in the most challenging climate on Earth - enabling us to conduct successful scientific research across Antarctica. Excellent mountaineering skills are essential, as is the ability to effectively lead expeditions. You must also be a natural problem solver and a strong team player who can respond effectively to ever-changing situations. Your core task will be to conduct scientific colleagues safely and efficiently within the polar environment on both the continental ice shelves and glaciated mountains. Of course, you'll also have to attend to many other duties, including assisting in scientific work, organising camp sites, handling radio equipment and ensuring sno-mobiles continue to work. Qualifications: As you would expect, this unique role demands a range of skills. Excellent mountaineering skills are essential, as is the ability to effectively lead expeditions. You must also be a natural problem solver and be a strong team player who can respond effectively to ever-changing situations. Duration: 9 or 18 months Salary: Salary package will be from £23,700 per annum pro-rata plus a possible performance bonus when your return to the UK. Application forms are also available from the Human Resources Section, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET. Tel: (01223) 221508. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome. You will need to be physically capable and medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions. Please also send a CV of your climbing experience and other useful related experience e.g. Outdoor pursuit instruction Please quote reference: BAS 03/10 . Closing date 16th May 2010 Scheduled Interview Dates: w/c 21/06/10 and w/c 28/06/10

If that guy was our goalie we would have won.

..and I notice at least one picket for protection in the photos. Soo - IMO, it's a matter of choice and your route selection. Pickets can be good protection if used properly, as with any piece of protection. I've found them useful for traversing steep snow above crevasses when the consequece of a fall would be fatal - I'm just not that bold I guess; or on steep snow/ice climbs where there was little choice and I did not feel comfortable running it out.

I don't get it either. Even when I work in AK none of us carry firearms, unless required to by the agency we're working for. I have made sure I had pepper spray in instances I knew were were going to spend time in bear infested places. One state biologist we worked with carried a rifle when he worked for the feds and was charged by a big boar they surprised near a creek. He got the rifle off his shoulder, the bear charged to within 5 feet, stood up on it's hind legs towering over him, then got back down on 4s and wander off. His statement of why he didn't fire? "I knew he was going to stop" Seems that folks would rather spend the money to gain the false security of a pistol rather than learning about the elements they step into. In general, I'm bemused about the parnoia and fear of gun toters.

This shows how little you really understand about the world around you Fairweather. You assume that private, for-profit business employment success is based on performance. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, private business regularly pays exorbitant sums of money to essentially incompetent people. When these people are discovered as incompetent, they are often given staggeringly large sums of cash as severance pay. The intellectual hurdle you have yet to overcome is this: Modern capitalism encourages waste and inefficiency. The only real difference is that different people benefit. For some reason you have decided that 1 wasteful ceo who destroys the livelihoods of thousands is worth more than 100 admin. assistants providing social services. And please do not misunderstand my taking the time to disagree with you as any validation that you have a point. The difference, Joe, is that the CEO works for private shareholders, while the bureaucrats supposedly work for us. The rest of your post is just mindless carp. Except the present day example of the finance and insurance industry. Private profit with public risk. Who wouldn't take that offer?

Duh. Sorry - my mistake. This is what happens when you no longer drink caffine.

You're off base on this one. I'm married middle school teacher with an MS in a science field, who worked in the private industy for 15 years before making the switch to teaching. She says when she made the switch her hours of work doubled and her pay was cut in half. Grading/planning evenings, weekends, and breaks while officially getting paid for a 6 hr day. There's likely some coasters in other parts of the state government - but not teachers. And by any yardstick the level of incompetence by the private industry over the past couple of years is astounding AND none of them lose their jobs AND they still get million dollar bonuses (WTF!) AND they have thier snout in the public trough.

Except 16 of the 22 times it was used, reconciliation was used by a Republican majority. Hmmm.

It's Friday. Thanks for this great word of the day!!

Bt why didn't you use the ?

Technically (according to the sign) you're not supposed to use the cat track going up hill to reduce skier collisions I suppose. But climbers are there pretty early, and there is a trail that branches from the cat track on the west side of the valley. Did see the Apeltal cop chase hikers away as I skied into the lot.

Nice one K. I couldn't find a partner for the NF so I went for a solo ski up there and saw you guys waaaaay up there. Awesome day. I was surprised as the amount of snow still plastering the route. Gotta get up there before the end of the season.

I was up at Squamish a couple years ago and someone half my age was belaying with the BUS system so I went over and asked about it. He walked me through it and we talked about the SSS. Nice guy. We both decided that we liked our own way because that was what we were used to and that both do the job. If he were belaying me I wouldn't be worried. Just give me a competent belayer and I'll be happy. Until the finger crack crux anyway!

This is false. Survival rates of SOME cancer types are better in the US and some less than Europe. http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20080716/cancer-survival-rates-vary-by-country So there are some scattered indicators of light among the trash heap. So what. How do we provide access for those that can't get care, significantly reduce cost, and improve efficient delivery?

And they will be comforted to know that they can have the same influence as say, Bank of America, influencing their local congressional race.

So we're back to the basics - income level determines if you have health care. Please don't tell me how affordable catostrophic insurance is. Even if you're middle class you can't afford a reasonable plan for your kids. I think there are a number of undeniable (to thinking people anyway) issues with health care in the US- An army of for profit insurance companies with no standardization. Somewhere around 25-40 million left out; sure some by choice but a heck of a lot of folks are not or under insured. Costs - no dispute here, we pay more than anyone with no cost/benefit outcome to show for it. Profit - it runs the show, from pushing drugs people don't need, to twarting any change, to having insurance companies give bonuses for denying care. While picking on the edges of the argument for change - I'm hearing nothing from the naysayers on how these issues should be addressed.

A couple good summaries: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/21/AR2009082101778.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/

I bought a pair of prescription Jublos, I think they are Nomads, here: http://www.opticus.com/ Work well. Just need you prescription specs. You can talk to one of their optometrists about options.

Ignore that outfit in the closet!

You're lucky you get a big block of time off every year. The teacher's I know work their butts off during year but get to take a breather. For most working folks with some level of responsibility it's hard to take off time in such large chunk - compared to other countries where it is encouraged. I think it is a bad idea to not negoiate some big blocks off now and then to have a life. I've taken 3-10 weeks off sporatically and will likely be taking 10 wks in a row this year. Getting up there in age and would like to get up a few more South American peaks before getting creaky(er).

I need that bumper sticker I saw: "I support my wife's habit - she's a teacher"

I'm placing this over-reaching ruling in the same file labled "Stupid" as the Kelo v. City of New London ruling.

...and don't ignore the real world consequences either.

Yes - limits were useful The film? Sticky wicket. I'm not aguring that MF was great, or that it didn't need major tweaks. But the real world consequences of the decision favor those with the most money. That is very clear.