Frontierwatch

IRS: "Antarctica is Not a Foreign Country"

2007-01-27T17:33:00.000+13:00

From IRS publication 1525:

Latest on the Tax Case

2007-01-23T15:14:00.000+13:00

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals does the math.

Antarctica is:

"a foreign country for purposes of the [Federal Tort Claims Act]."

+

"a foreign country for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

=

"not a foreign country within the [the IRS tax code]."

Seventh Circuit to Antarcticans: Get the fuck back to work.

Here's a pdf of the decision, and an article on the ruling.

bigdeadspace

2006-12-14T18:47:00.000+13:00

BDP on myspace (w/ one new video).

Also, some photos on Flickr.

New Llanos-watch Section

2006-12-01T18:22:00.000+13:00

It seems reports of the swashbuckling MSNBC reporter are already coming in, so this is a good time to unveil Big Dead Place's new "Llanos-watch" section.

Send observations of the icy horrors faced by the intrepid MSNBC reporter to: nick AT bigdeadplace.com

Whine of the Llanos

2006-12-01T11:53:00.000+13:00

The reporter of this juicy article from MSNBC.com highlights the sort of whimpering correspondent NSF gets when they keep sucking up to the big media to fob their glorious science stories.

In the article titled, "Tough start to long journey to Antarctica", reporter Miguel Llanos whines about these things:

*His NSF escort didn't PQ, so Llanos and his photographer friend were unable to have someone "help us through any other bureaucratic hurdles"

*There was no in-flight video on the C-17 from Christchurch to McMurdo

*The interior of the C-17 didn't "help establish a comfort zone"

*After he landed he had to get on the Terra Bus right away, rather than standing around in the middle of the airfield

*The parka and boots felt like a "full-body straightjacket"

*He had to go to a housing briefing upon arriving in McMurdo

*His roommate snores

*And, after only a few hours on the ice, he's already feeling dizzy from the "long exposure to daylight"

To Mr. Llanos:

1) Most people don't get personal NSF escorts. Only journalists, and others from cushy offices who might cry if they don't get one.

2) C-17s are military aircraft. They sometimes go into combat zones packed with soldiers ready to kill the bad people. They're not going to show videos. And they're not built to "help establish a comfort zone" which, by the way, is really superb HR-speak. Maybe you'll fit in after all. Did you call the Firehouse to report your roommate for snoring yet?

3) Airfields are busy places. You're not supposed to just stand around in the middle of them.

4) When it's -100F and you're spending much of the day outside, the parka and boots are your friend. You're like a diver bitching that he has to wear an oxygen tank.

5) So you've been on the ice a couple of hours and you're dizzy from exposure to sunlight? May I tell you a story? Thanks. It's a "human interest" story about a guy named Douglas Mawson. Much like you, he had a tough start when he came to Antarctica for adventure. Much like you, he was a very long way from Redmond, Washington when things started to go sour. Much like you, he was exposed to constant sunlight. Unlike you, his companion fell into a deep crevasse with most of their food, his other companion went mad and bit off his own finger, then Mawson ate all his dogs and crawled hundreds of miles back to base to get stuck wintering with a crewmember so insane they had to lock him in a closet. The end.

6) Unlike all these other points, I sympathize with you about all the inane briefings and the PQ incompetence. I really do. It's a nightmare. Medical loses everything. One day someone will open a drawer and find a decade worth of all the lost urine samples and x-rays. And all rational people would trade places with Mawson to avoid another Safety or All-Hands Meeting. Please tell the world of the cruelty ravaged upon Antarcticans.

To NSF:

Send him to Happy Camper, show him a penguin or two, he'll fall in line and start eating from your hand again. They always do.

To Y'all:

If you got any good Llanos-sightings, send 'em on in: nick AT bigdeadplace.com

Tax Case in 7th Circuit Court of Appeals

2006-11-24T11:37:00.000+13:00

Here's a link to the mp3 file of the oral argument on Antarctic taxation before the 7th Circuit Court.

(If that doesn't work, follow this link and find case number 06-1934 from November 6, 2006.)

Filmmaker Needs Video Help

2006-11-24T11:12:00.000+13:00

Seeking videographers at McMurdo Station to help document the scientific
project BLAST, a balloon-bourn telescope scheduled to launch mid-
December, 2006. We would like to document significant event leading up to
the launch, the launch itself, and events immediately following the launch.

More information about the project at www.blastthemovie.com

Please contact Paul Devlin, 212-677-8581, info@blastthemovie.com

Tax Decision Delayed Further

2005-05-28T10:35:00.000+12:00

from the accountant:

Nothing from Tax Court - Appears at this late date the Judge will not get the decision out by the end of May.

Cool photos of the Terra Bus at the Transition from '99

2005-05-15T17:30:00.000+12:00

Courtesy of Irma Hale

IRS Update

2005-03-01T10:36:00.000+13:00

I barely understand the latest memo (.pdf 46k) regarding the IRS vs. Antarctica case, but it looks like more of the same.

Russian Icebreaker Leads Convoy to Distressed U.S....

2005-02-05T07:40:00.000+13:00

Russian Icebreaker Leads Convoy to Distressed U.S. Antarctic Station

Sex and Mind-Altering Drugs Are Inappropriate for Nonexistent Children

2005-01-08T10:51:00.000+13:00

On January 7, 2005, a former editor of the Antarctic Sun (NSF's official newsletter of the USAP) wrote a letter to the current Sun editors, cc'd to the head of NSF's Office of Polar Programs, concerning omissions from a recent Sun story (.pdf) about the present retrieval of the Russian bi-plane stranded at Pole in 2002. The meat of the letter reads:

One fact is that the U.S. flew Russian Antarctic hero Artur Chilingarov and his group back to New Zealand and later billed the Russian government $80,000 for the "rescue" flight (see the Reuters report archived at http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/6024-12.cfm).

The other fact is that the announcement that Chilingarov would be allowed to recover his plane came at almost exactly the same time the Russian government announced it would send an icebreaker to help break into McMurdo Station. (See the Russian government's press release at http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5234033&startrow=1&date=2004-12-21&do_alert=0.)

This has led to widespread international speculation - and indeed, in places, outright assertion - that the U.S. and Russia struck a deal trading the airplane for the icebreaker.

It is deeply unfortunate that the National Science Foundation, apparently, feels the need to censor legitimate, true information from readers of the Antarctic Sun. I hope an explanation will be forthcoming for this action, which clearly runs counter to the scientific principles of openness and honest inquiry.

Jeff Inglis
Editor, Antarctic Sun (1999-2000)
Editor and contributor, Antarctic Sun (2000-2001)
South Portland, Maine

Of further concern were some winning stories for the Antarctic Sun Writing Contest that were selected by a panel of Artist and Writer's Grant judges but either denied publication in the Sun or edited to suit NSF sensibilities, with this disclaimer printed in the Sun:

Literature often delves into areas that are
controversial or inappropriate for children and
government-sponsored publications. After
being selected by independent judges, five of
the winning pieces of writing were deemed by
the National Science Foundation as unsuitable
for publishing in the original format because
of something in the content of the story.

When his letter concerning the Russians and the Writing Contest was not published, the former Sun editor contacted Valerie Carroll, RPSC's Communications Manager, and writes:

She said NSF "handled it well" when the stories selected by impartial judges were found to have content regarding drug and alcohol use, sex and in some cases - most notably the fiction stories - were "totally fiction and silly."

The stories were censored to protect the readers of the Sun, she said, and not because "of any free speech concerns."

She said the NSF allowed the Sun to print that it was "all their fault" that the stories couldn't run, and allowed them to include the Web address where readers could find the original text.

In one story, the word 'goddammit' was replaced with symbols: "$#@!&*#$%!"

In another story, the words "coupled with mind-altering drugs" were removed before the story was printed in the Sun.

And three stories - one about drinking, one about sex and one about finding long-dead frozen explorers (that one, Val told me, was "very silly") - were barred entirely from the publication. Next year, she said, it's likely there will be no writing contest - just photos."

Peaceful International Cooperation

2005-01-09T09:24:00.000+13:00

As we know, in exchange for the American Welcome Mat at the South Pole (so the Russians could retrieve their stranded bi-plane), the Americans have been offered the services of a Russian icebreaker to better destroy the unruly sheet ice that has accumulated behind the gargantuan iceberg B-15A and that has made it quite difficult to bring in the yearly supply of fuel and chicken nuggets.

The greatest thing about goodwill and peaceful international cooperation is that every culture has its own cute and quirky little way of describing the infinite harmony and brotherhood of our selfless respective nations.

There's the press release by Novosti, the Russian News and Information Agency, in which the huge American supply ship is called a "motor vessel", the U.S. icebreaker is "unable to handle" the job, and so "the US authorities turned to the Russian government for help" in which the Russians offered their "larger" icebreaker. The press release is exciting, but we really need read no more than the headline:

RUSSIAN ICE-BREAKER KRASIN HEADING FOR ANTARCTIC TO RESCUE U.S. POLAR STATION MCMURDO

Thankfully, there's more objective sources of information, notably, American ones, like the always-cheerful Antarctic Sun that describes peaceful international cooperation much differently. In startling contrast to the shady ex-Soviet press release, we find in the objective American news coverage that the Americans merely "contracted" the Russian icebreaker to "assist". FYI, did you know that this will be the first time that our Russian pals and us have "worked together" on icebreaking operations since the Cold War? Now back to you, Fred.

----- Original Message ----- Sent: Thursday, De...

2005-01-08T10:57:00.000+13:00

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2004 10:17 PM
Subject: P157R DEPARTURE MESSAGE

P157R DEPARTURE MESSAGE (PLEASE FORWARD IRIDIUM)ANG LC-130 P157R Tail Number
SK92 departed South Pole Station for McMurdo at 30DEC04 2026 Local (30DEC04
0726 Zulu). Estimated time of arrival is 30DEC04 2326 Local (30DEC04 1026
Zulu).

2. Pax on Board:
Total Pax: 9

3. Cargo on Board:
9 Passengers with handcarry 2790 lbs.
3 Green Survival Bags 135 lbs.

L/L DEAD BIRD -PLEASE GIVE TO CRARY (4058-M300) KF 2 LBS.

[...]

Recent Events

2004-12-28T08:41:00.000+13:00

Oh sure, Sir Edmund Hillary has been badmouthing U.S. plans to build a crevasse-free route to the Pole; NSF is adamant that iceberg B-15A in no way threatens to hinder station resupply; and a backroom deal between the U.S. and Russia has been made in which the Russians will provide the U.S. with icebreaker support in exchange for begrudgingly helping the Russians retrieve their abandandoned thriftstore plane from Pole; but the really interesting news in McMurdo is this:

Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 4:51 PM
Subject: Missing Bottles

All,

There are some bottles of compressed gas missing from the Crary OSA area. This area is just across from the BFC behind the SSC.

Nitro Oxide - 200 lb cylinder x 1 - White

Pure Oxygen - 200 lb cylinder x 4 - Green without any white stripes

The cylinders missing are scheduled for science related activities and while all the bottles need to be returned, of greatest concern is the single bottle of pure Nitrous Oxide. Although this is used as a "Laughing Gas", in its pure form it is lethal and therein lies the concern. Would everyone please have a look around your work centers and if you suspect you have acquired it, please contact [Crary Lab].

[McMurdo Logistics Manager]

The Aftermath

2004-11-22T13:56:00.000+13:00

While many Antarcticans are presently enjoying the thrill and excitement of a new and promising summer season, a horde of spent winterovers are slinking back into society, meandering through the Botanical Gardens, basking on Fijian beaches, or spending thousands on gambling, booze, and strippers.

Forty-eight hours off the plane, as four unnamed Polees on surprisingly legal pills with a case of Heineken sat huffing nitrous oxide in an all-night head shop below a brothel, one of the gentleman relayed how he had not been off the plane for 24 hours before having a run-in with the Christchurch police. Walking down some questionable boulevard in the small hours, he was called over by four Maori blokes and invited to join them for beers on the street corner which, a short time later, the police arrived to take exception with. (Apparently, public drinking within "The Four Avenues" has in recent years become an infraction.) Fresh from a polar jail and now facing a clink more temperate, our hero explained to the Kiwi cops that he had only just arrived from a winter at the South Pole, and didn't know that this particular area was an alcohol-free zone.

Letting the South Pole adventurer off with merely a warning, the curious police asked "How cold is it down there?" as they arrested the other men and piled them in the back of the cop car.

Latest on the Tax Case

2004-11-22T13:53:00.000+13:00

From the accountant: ". . .our Attorney and the IRS attorney did meet with the Tax Court Judge for two hours. . . .At end the judge assigned issues to each to write a briefing paper on and to have back to the judge in 60 days which means Jan. 2005."

A Snowflake Primer is everything you ever wanted t...

2004-10-04T09:58:00.000+13:00

A Snowflake Primer is everything you ever wanted to know about snow, with an extensive collection of snowflake photos.

The Adopt-a-Polie Program allows those in temperat...

2004-10-02T08:41:00.000+12:00

The Adopt-a-Polie Program allows those in temperate latitudes to enrich the lives of those wretched Fourth-World beasts populating the South Pole.

NSF Budget Request to Congress, FY 2005

2004-09-26T11:20:00.000+12:00

Ever wonder how much the icebreakers cost The Program in '04? ($6.7 million) Or the cost of transporting cargo and PAX? ($23.10 million) Or hiring the ANG? ($68.07 million) Or are you looking for classic quotes of omission?:

"...OPP and Raytheon continue to invest in methods to reduce injuries through, for example, safety training and awareness programs," which is of course translated on the ground into safety meetings on heatstroke when it's -80F outside, watching safety videos that remind us not to store pressurized gases at below -20F, and not going to the doc for fear your Sup will get in trouble.

If any of this interests you, you may want to check out NSF's 2005 Congressional Budget Request (.pdf 200+k).

"You are not mistaken! That is really any accessor...

2004-09-22T08:51:00.000+12:00

"You are not mistaken! That is really any accessories toilet of womans."

Photo gallery from Ukraine's Vernadsky Station.

Got the winter blues? Unable to laugh like you us...

2004-09-10T15:08:00.000+12:00

Got the winter blues? Unable to laugh like you used to? Try a visit to the Raytheon Business Ethics page!

"...management example and continuing diligence has created a company environment of respect and confidence that assures continuing high ethical performance..."

"...we must work according to our ethical principles and endeavor to conduct ourselves in a manner beyond reproach...."

"We treat others as we would want to be treated..."

"We are honest and forthright in our dealings with employees..."

Besides a slew of classic quotes, there's the Ethics Quick Test ("How would it look in the newspaper? Will it reflect poorly on the company?"), and don't miss the Raytheon Diversity Wheel!

"A proposal for the new German Antarctic Station N...

2004-08-28T08:56:00.000+12:00

"A proposal for the new German Antarctic Station Neumayer-III..."

Remote South Pole Workers Trapped by Cold and Darkness, Denver Workers Trapped by Raytheon Security Doors

2004-08-20T14:49:00.000+12:00

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 3:50 PM
To: DEN-ALL
Subject: RE: Problem with Door Entrance Located on Ground Floor from the Kitchen Area

The below e-mail apparently has caused some confusion. The 'lever' referred in the original e-mail is the horizontal bar in the middle of the door. So the e-mail is changed to read:

Yesterday several of you were having a problem leaving the building when you used this door. I have had the motion detectors changed on the angle they are set on this morning. This should solve the problem, however if this happens to any of you again please send info to the Den-Helpdesk to issue a work order.

When this happens and you cannot get through the last set of doors when you are leaving you need to press the red push button and hold it in while pushing on the horizontal bar in the middle of the door (at the same time). The red button releases the electronic lock and pushing the door while depressing the red button allows the door to be opened. These push buttons have been recently installed and are located at all door entrance areas.

Sincerely,
Manager, USAP Logistics

Uh, August (drool)

2004-08-17T13:33:00.000+12:00

"...approximately 5% of winterover personnel experience symptoms that fulfill DSM criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) for a psychiatric disorder and are severe enough to warrant clinical intervention (Palinkas et al., 1995; Palinkas, Glogower, et al, in press). . . . Even among those who fail to meet DSM diagnostic criteria, The Ice tends to magnify seemingly trivial events and symptoms, transforming what would be viewed as mundane or unimportant in any other environment into something that is problematic and significant under conditions of isolation and confinement."

from On the Ice: Individual and Group Adaptation in Antarctica by Dr. Lawrence Palinkas (originator of the T3 study: Antarctica's Number One Source for Little Blue Pills and Shiny Red Lights!)

190 x 5% = 9.5 nutjobs at McMurdo!
75 x 5% = 3.75 control freaks at Pole!

Celebrate August with a slow (or rapid!) descent into self-perpetuating madness!