Home for the Holidays

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Happy Holidays to students--past and present--and their families.

Have a safe and healthy rest of 2016.

- Danny Blas

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Arctic Expedition - Day 11 - Teachers at the North Pole

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Today, like yesterday, is a transit day. We're headed east on the Beaufort Sea. Our current location is 71.24 N latitude, 126.45 W longitude, well out of satellite reach of internet connectivity. Pretty much we are unconnected to the greater outside world. The above image was from yesterday's ice liberty. In this image are the two teachers from San Diego Unified School District, representing their respective schools--Danny Blas (your blogger) of Lincoln High School and Steve Walters of Mission Bay High School. In the background is our huge icebreaker ship, the USCGC Healy. For many on-board, Sunday is a laundry day; for some a reading day; for others a afternoon nap day. We have the team trivia competition on the mess deck tonight at 7pm, so that's something to look forward to. Other than team trivia, it's not a day filled with much excitement; however, anytime I'm on a ship, like the Healy, it's pretty exciting.  If you would like to ma...
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Day 2 - Arctic Research Mission - Teachers at the North Pole

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Day two was an opportunity to get to know the ship better, its crew, and some of the protocols related to having a successful time on board USCGC Healy. Day two had me visiting sick bay because prior to my departure flight from San Diego to Barrow, I "tweaked" my knee, and it became inflamed and was quite painful. Doc, who happens to be Chamorro (just like me, from the island of Guam) hooked me up with an ice bag and some anti-inflammatory and pain reduction meds. Today I awoke almost pain free. Pictured to the left is USCGC Healy source: http://goo.gl/6ZOBDw Today the science crew members are busy setting up and staging the instruments which will be deployed from the rear of the vessel, using the A-frame to lower it into the ocean. A science crew, pictured to the left, sending sensing instruments into the water: source: http://goo.gl/g2WH51 I hear we will be headed to sea this afternoon. In the meantime, I'll be recording videos to edit for the next blo...
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Arctic Expedition - Day 14 - Teachers at the North Pole

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Polar bears are enjoying the "abundance" of Arctic sea ice this year According to many people in-the-know, Arctic sea ice is relatively abundant this year. Towards the end of July 2013, " Arctic sea ice actually expanded by 20,000 square kilometers ," according to Jason Samenow of the Washington Post. This is not to say Arctic sea ice is healthy as it has ever been; quite the opposite . In a NOAA report , 2012 was one of the warmest since climate records have been kept. The Arctic, according to the report, is warming faster than other places on Earth. This year's better-than-expected sea ice seems to be really welcome news to polar bears, however. During this cruise, I have personally made visual contact with five polar bears. While others on the cruise--mainly Martin Reedy, Arctic wildlife observer for U.S. Fish and Wildlife, whose job is to count these beautiful creatures--have probably seen double what I have. Polar bears are lovely; polar bears...
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