16,488 condoms ordered for Antarctic base

RUBBERS TO THE RESCUE: McMurdo Station has taken delivery of 16,488 condoms. The shipment last month constitutes a year's supply, ensuring the frisky can stay safe in the sack.

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Intrepid souls braving the cold climes of Antarctica clearly find traditional ways of keeping warm.

McMurdo Station has taken delivery of 16,488 condoms. The shipment last month constitutes a year's supply, ensuring the frisky can stay safe in the sack.

The station's manager, Bill Henriksen, said he was initially surprised by the delivery but said there was "not really" anything unusual about McMurdo staff.

"During the summertime we've got a normal population of 1100 people and this is for the year round not for the 125 people we have here in the winter," he said.

The last flight out of McMurdo before winter was on February 26. There will be no relief from winter's darkness until the first sunrise of spring, on August 20.

"There are some people that tend to get a little bit bored but, for the most part, people who come down here know how to occupy their time," Henriksen said.

The condoms would be freely available to staff avoiding any embarrassing purchases.

"Since everybody knows everyone, it becomes a little bit uncomfortable we'd prefer to just provide them and do it that way so that people don't do without."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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kiwi   #9   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

dats kul i agree

HomelessDiver   #8   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

This might be looking a gift horse in the mouth, but c'mon guys. Those have to be some of the most generic, undesirable, under-lubricated, thick walled, bland condoms ever made.

Must be a Human Resources decision...always trying to take the fun out of everything.

Dr Carl   #7   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

If we assume that the average population over the course of a year is 500 people, that works out to one condom per person every eleven days.

Mind you, in theory only one condom is needed per couple, so I guess that works out to at least one "frisk" a week per couple.

Maybe the more enterprising of the bunch hoard their supply until the others run out, thereby increasing their status among the frisky?

Alex   #6   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

That works out to 45 condoms a night...

James   #5   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

shower and sleep together, the only way to save power.

Michael   #4   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Have a great weekend guys!

Sy   #3   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

So how many pregnency tests do they get sent????????????

Helmieh   #2   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

well the population certainly isn't going to get any bigger then. The town will become extinct. haha

Lanmeister   #1   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

So that's who's getting my share

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