December 09, 2003
HAVING A COLD ONE
I've stumbled upon a blog that offers a fascinating glimpse of life at the bottom of the world.
The writer is posted at McMurdo Station, an American research lab in Antarctica. McMurdo is the largest Antarctic post -- its population tops 1,100 during the summer and slims down to 250 hardy souls in winter.
The writing here is outstanding. Along the way he imparts observations that are more or less universal in any workplace, such as:
In the constellation of complaints, food and mail are the brightest stars. There is little you can say about either subject that has not already been whined, moaned, or groaned about already. In the interest of craftsmanship, it is best to remember that if you are going to complain, then you should do so in a way that entertains those around you, because no one really feels sorry for you anyway. All anyone really wants is to forget the miserable horrors of their mundane existence, if even for a few fleeting moments of laughter. Some people call any critical statement 'complaining' only when they do not agree with it, but are otherwise happy to complain about the food or the mail. Some people are tired of hearing those people complain about complaining.