Landing a plane vs. starting up a boiler

摘要

It was 2 a.m., and I was working my all night shift in emergency communications - known as MacOps - at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. As usual all had been quiet since about 9 p.m. and could be expected to stay that way for another four hours. Suddenly breaking the silence, a heavily-accented male voice came over the radio. "MacOps, MacOps, this is Mario Zucchelli Station. How do you read me?" Surprised, I lunged for the radio and said, "Mario Zucchelli Station, this is Mac Ops, I read you loud and clear. Go ahead please." Mario Zucchelli is the Italian Antarctic station, close by Antarctic standards.