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Smithsonian 'Toned Down the Science' In Climate Change Exhibit
An anonymous reader writes "According to an International Herald Tribune article, the Smithsonian pre-emptively toned down the scientific content of a climate change exhibit put into place last year. The changes, including removal of scientist conclusions and muddying of displayed data, were made to ensure that the exhibit would not offend the Congress or the White House. Pressure brought to bear by Institute officials resulted in the resignation of Robert Sullivan, a sixteen year veteran of the organization. 'This is not the first time the Smithsonian has been accused of taking politics into consideration. The congressionally chartered institution scaled down a 1995 exhibit of the restored Enola Gay, the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, after veterans complained it focused too much on the damage and deaths. Amid the oil-drilling debate in 2003, a photo exhibit of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was moved to a less prominent space.'"
Overheard at the Smithsonian:
Worker: Sir, I have this old display of Noah's Ark you asked for. Where did you want it?
Curator: Put some dinosaur models on it then set it up in the Geology Wing.
Worker: Will do, sir. Oh I also changed all the signage in that wing from "millions of years" to "thousands of years".
Curator: That's what I like: proactive thinking! What about the Adam & Eve diorama?
Worker: It's where the Galapagos Islands exhibit was, just as you requested.
Curator: My boy, you have a bright future in science!
Trolling is a art,
OMG Conspiracy! Did you also know Ted Koppel is a robot?
Get it from private industry, expect to answer to the CEO and board
Get it from an individual, expect to answer to him
Get it from Microsoft, expect to answer to Satan
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
An alien with a green heart!! Shoot him!
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Somehow I never though Science and Political Correctness fit together. If you are dying, does the doctor now tell you "Congratulations, you won't be paying taxes next year."
There are no loopholes. It's either legal or it's not.
In a hundred years, the Smithsonian will be under water.
You are closely akin to the latter, but you are instead making up "facts" to fit your belief.
For all we know, Bush himself called up and made chimplike screeching noises to the heads of the board of the Smithsonian.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
By muddying the data, they're inferring that the climate will get wetter and the mud will obfuscate the data. I would love to see the memo that explicitly tells the janitorial staff NOT to clean up the mud off of the data! That would be a smoking gun!
Fucking Government, they think they outsmart me?!? HA!
I prefer Flambe as apposed flamebait.
They are always toning down the science for Joe six-pack.
If they wanted a timely exhibit on climate change, they could randomly assign visitors to either side of an amphitheatre where they would don earplugs before yelling at each other at the top of their lungs while mathematical models that nobody in the room could understand flashed on an IMAX screen.
7. ????
8. Profit!
Don't take it personally. After first contact, there were a lot of people who didn't trust the Vulcans.
Please tell me some of the other conspiracies from your rich internal life.
For some reason, this phrase conjured pictures of his spleen plotting against his pancreas...
...sometimes, in order to hurt someone very badly, you have to tell that person terrible lies. - PA
The Air and Space museum, although home to a lot of really cool planes, was filthy. Dust everywhere, stained floors, etc. Also, from what I do remember about my visit now nearly 20 years later, much of the museum's public collection was the same. In fact, I didn't find much to look at there beyond the planes themselves. There were no interesting placards that I can recall, no interesting multimedia, and seemingly no information newer than about 1991.
The last time I hit the Air and Space museum, it wasn't very dirty at all (unless you are referring to the McDonalds in the museum). However your pointing out of the lack of up to date information is true.
But there's a very distinct advantage to that.
I took my g/f on a date to the Air & Space, and I was able to fire off more information and tidbits about the exhibits than the placards could even begin to tell. During the whole time, she was saying how lucky she is to have such a smart and educated guy.
That's right. A Slashdotter... wooing a female.
DO NOT RUIN THIS FOR US. It may be our only hope.
You obviously haven't "greased" the right wheels.