Tag Archives: Environment

by

Water Crisis

With the exception of camping trips I have never had to draw water and carry it home. The droughts I have experienced meant the lawn and flowerbeds deteriorated, because water was rationed. The water that flows from my taps is potable. I do not need to filter or boil my water. Yet I am in the midst of a water crisis: The octogenarian refuses to drink but a few mouthfuls a day.

Dehydration can lead to:

  1. Confusion
  2. Kidney malfunction
  3. Urinary tract infection
  4. Death

Confusion is insidious because impaired cognitive function means she doesn’t understand why she must drink. She hates to drink. She always has. She had youth on her side; her age works against her now.

Have you checked the liquid intake of your elderly folk?

by

World’s Largest Nuclear Powered Icebreaker

50 Years of Victory sailing to the Arctic Ocean

50 Years of Victory, departing from the Arctic Ocean

I have sailed on the world’s largest nuclear powered icebreaker, 50 Years of Victory. One question I’m often asked is she really a working icebreaker? If you don’t believe my resounding yes, then take a look at this story in Tanker News.

I took the photo from Victory’s fly bridge. She had just been pulled from her moorings by tug boats, and was now under her own steam. That was about midnight at the end of June 2008. The light on the horizon was the midnight sun reflecting off the Arctic Ocean.

Quark will operate another North Pole expedition in 2011. The dates and rates haven’t been announced by the company has a waiting list started. And it isn’t empty!