WELLINGTON (Reuters) - One of the last shipments to a U.S. research base in Antarctica before the onset of winter darkness was a year's supply of condoms, a New Zealand newspaper reported Monday.
Bill Henriksen, the manager of the McMurdo base station, said nearly 16,500 condoms were delivered last month and would be made available, free of charge, to staff throughout the year to avoid the potential embarrassment of having to buy them.
The base only has a skeleton staff through the long winter.
"Since everybody knows everyone, it becomes a little bit uncomfortable," Henriksen told the Southland Times newspaper.
About 125 scientists and staff are stationed at McMurdo base, the largest community in Antarctica, during the winter months when there is constant darkness.
The first sunrise will occur on August 20 and McMurdo's population will start to increase again in September when supply flights resume, peaking at more than 1,000 during the summer period.
125 scientists + 16500 condoms... there are going to be some fucking going on let me tell you...
Maybe,but those bases are pretty cool as far as insulation goes. Something else that might help kill the sexy vibe would be nightly showings of 'The Thing!' Hahaha
If I shipped a case of liquer to a residence because they might be to embarrassed to go out and purchase the liquer then yes I would assume that they are going to be drinking said liquer...
when i clicked on the link, i was actually expecting to read something about the condoms to be used as "warmers". then i thought, 16,500? is double/triple-bagging really necessary to keep it warm? (and isnt it painful?)
ah.ok,i see its for seks.
just for the LULZ, id probably ask for glow in the dark stickers (and batteries for flashlights to recharge the glow). or if the options are really limited, the least they could do is to provide us with glow in the dark condoms. 125 light sabers, that would be an awesome sight to behold.