Kathy Lin

From now on, there will no longer be any posts in the “Chris vs. Sam” category.  Chris has moved on to another project, and is working with the Booz mothership in McLean.  The rest of us will probably move on as well, as our project is downsizing as of the 1st of October.  Maybe there will be an occassional post, if any poker game happens to spurn interesting conversation.

Chris says: This term came from the Hawaiians. They give you leis when you get off of the plane. They are also given to you by beautiful women. After receiving a lei, something else usually comes afterwards. And that’s where the term comes from.

Sam says: You’ve got to be kidding me.

answer“>I’m going to have to agree with Jim but I think Chris mainly started this argument to be funny.  Thoughts and opinions are always greatly appreciated.

Chris says: Yes — there are towns. There is a port in Antarctica and people live there…I saw it on TV! On a special!

Sam says: No way. There is no one out there but scientists or people living there temporarily for research. Are you trying to tell me that someone’s address actually has “Antarctica” in it?

South Pole Questions and Answers (hosted by the University of Chicago):

There are no cities or towns where people live. Most of the people in Antarctica stay for short time periods during the summer months. A few winter over, which means they stay all year.

questions.htm” target=”_blank”>CoolAntarctica.com states that:

No-one lives in Antarctica permanently or even for a long period of time. Most people do a “summer only” that’s about November to April, with a lesser number staying over the Antarctic winter (when any chance of transport in or out is virtually impossible), some stay for two winters and three summers, this is the longest time any one stays there. The only “settlements” are scientific bases. These vary in size, but typically have 50 people there in the summer and 15-20 in the winter. There is a US base at McMurdo sound that has up to 1000 personnel at the peak time, this is the nearest there is to a town. With such rapid turn-over of people, Antarctic bases are more like oil-rigs or military bases than towns.

Chris says: Of course. Every culture knows how to make bread.

Sam says: No, they have nothing out there.

In Ethiopia and Eritrea, this spongy, sour flatbread is used to scoop up meat and vegetable stews. Injera also lines the tray on which the stews are served, soaking up their juices as the meal progresses. When this edible tablecloth is eaten, the meal is officially over.

Injera is made with teff, a tiny, round grain that flourishes in the highlands of Ethiopia. While teff is very nutritious, it contains practically no gluten. This makes teff ill-suited for making raised bread, however injera still takes advantage of the special properties of yeast. A short period of fermentation gives it an airy, bubbly texture, and also a slightly sour taste.

Of course, this mentions that this grain exists in the highlands, not the desert. I wasn’t able to find a concrete answer, but my conclusions is that they can make bread. It’s just not bread as Westerners would know it.

Chris says: Absolutely. You know, those nuclear tests they had out in the desert turned the sand into glass.

Sam says: Whoa whoa WHOA. You’re trying to tell me that lightening has as much force as a nuke!?

fulgurites. I’d like to say I said yes to this as well, but I didn’t have any evidence except that’s how Josh Lucas’s character in Sweet Home Alabama made his money (and was able to win back Reese Witherspoon). HAHAH. I watched that movie on the plane; I can’t believe I remembered it.