Raise a glass to Amundsen, 100 years ago at the south pole

100 years ago Amundsen and his Norwegian party became the first humans to reach this earth's farthest south. For all of us who love the unknown, seek out the empty spaces, and blind ourselves just a little to leave room for discovery, I take the milestone in human endeavor to be a bit bitter-sweet. I do raise a cheer to the man who so efficiently traveled in a realm so deadly to his less prepared companions. But leave some blank spots on the map for me...

Two articles:
UK Guardian, with original news clippings:
http://bit.ly/vnHgL4

Scientific American, a whole lot longer and more in depth:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=south-pole-discovered-december-14-1911

And in two weeks we travel south for our own bit of discovery :)

Happy holidays to all!

Invasion of the King Crabs!

Oh my oh my the crabs are coming the crabs are coming. Funny video, in a biology nerd kind of way: http://www.crabnet.tv/

Hang on for the talking penguins at the end....

:-)
Ted

One year ago today, scientists on a research ice breaker in Antarctica found conclusive proof that climate change was allowing predatory King Crabs to invade the fragile Antarctic continental shelf, threatening the unique flora and fauna that holds potential for cancer medicines and other cures. Today, Storyteller Film releases the short documentary film "Crabnet Antarctica: The Hunt for Invading Crab" that documents this disturbing discovery.