Evil cackles for the day

[taerowyn]

What can I say it's the simple things:

1) There's a big thing int the news that Ocean's Journey is closing because they can't afford to stay open. I'm sorry, you built an aquarium in Denver, filled it with at least 75% fresh water fish and charged $15 a pop to see what could be viewed in the course of a half hour. No sympathy for you.

2) I can't find a link as I'm in a hurry but it was in my Time magazine, one of the Olsen twins was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in a show they do together. First, you can tell them apart? And second, an Emmy?!?! Daytime or otherwise, come on! But how must the poor other twin feel *sniff, sniff* Oh wait, I don't care.

Comments

Fucking Hogwash

[shinkuru.livejournal.com]

The problem with the aquarium is two-fold:

1) There is absolutely nothing wrong with the exhibits in the museum, even if there are a ton of fresh-water fish in there. There are sharks and octopi and jellyfish as well. The attraction isn't the problem. The problem is the average American citizen is just too uneducated and apathetic to go out and better themself, especially when they could spend the same amount of money on a twelve-pack of beer or the latest DVD. I have already spent several afternoons in there, wandering for hours; I feel nothing but sorry for someone who could walk through such a fascinating place in half an hour.

2) Businesses like this don't develop a customer base that quickly. The Shedd aquarium (in Chicago) took over a decade to turn a profit. Niche businesses like this need time to permeate the local culture. And as time goes on, as they gain a more solid following, they can add more and more exhibits. No chance of that here.

It is a shame that the city of Denver isn't interested in contributing money to keep a promising cultural opportunity in business. It is not, however, a surprise; whenever I have hope that maybe Colorado is growing up, something like this returns to remind me that this state has a long way to go before it will ever be a place of social import.
--me

Re: Fucking Hogwash

[funkbunny.livejournal.com]

I disagree. I've been to the aquarium several times also and spent many an hour there. I totally dig it. The root of the problem is there is only 2 major exhibits and the traveling ones are stuck in the hallway. The Natural History museum, on the other hand, has several permenant exhibits and a place to put temporary exhibits. not only that, but they get fresh exciting exhibits all the time. *AND* it's cheaper. You tell me which is the better deal.

Don't get me wrong - I loved the shark tank and the jellyfish and the eels ... the boys and I have had some excellent afternoons there. But I could go to the Platte to see trout. And let's not forget we are totally land-locked and therefore people will probably *not* go to an aquarium.

Regardless, I don't think it's necessarily ignorance on the part of the people. Aquariums may not be the thing to do in Denver - Denver needs to find her own niche instead of trying to be like every other poseur-wannabe big city, like Chicago. ;) I bet a Wild West Museum in the heart of Dayton, Ohio would go over *real* well. It's all about finding your thing with the locals.

And So On.

[shinkuru.livejournal.com]

Have you ever been to the Platte with the boys to see trout? Sure you can, just like I could, but haven't in years. And then over to the ocean to check out a couple sea otters, and someplace warm and tropical for jellyfish and sharks and eels, not mentioning the scuba gear you would have to buy and get certified on. I think you can see where this is leading...

Of course the place only has a couple of exhibits, especially when compared to the Museum of Nature and Science. It isn't even two years old. The Museum of Science and Nature has been around for DECADES. I fully believe an aquarium could survive in Colorado, but it takes time to build up a devoted following of members and visitors, as well as corporate sponsors and donors. Just because we live in the Midwest, doesn't mean people should only be interested in cowboys, drag races, and stock shows. I imagine in another decade or two Denver will again see an aquarium, but this is just a sad step backward for now.

And I would most definitely blame this on the ignorance of the people of Colorado. History and science museums, art museums, aquariums, and other cultural institutions don't spring from a seed, fully grown and already self-sufficient, not even in other big cities (Chicago, New York, San Fransisco, etc.). It takes work and interest on the part of the community. The bulk of this population obviously wasn't up to the task.
--me

Re: And So On.

[funkbunny.livejournal.com]

Have you ever been to the Platte with the boys to see trout? Sure you can ...

No I haven't. But they didn't care for the trout exhibit so there wouldn't be much point. ;) My point was that when in Colorado, many people prefer to do things *outside*. We are an outdoors-y state, where people go hiking and rafting and skiing whether we as individuals do that or not. I find it hard to believe that someone would want to go to the aquarium that doesn't have Super-Nifty permenant exhibits that are always changing or being added to.

For the record, I love the part where they show you exactly what a flash-flood does. It relates to our region, something tangible. I dig walking up to the glass and having beautiful fish scuttle along. The presentation of the coolest parts of the exhibits were done exceptionally well. But after seeing it two or three times, I've seen everything. And the "new" exhibits are so paltry it hardly satisfies the palatte.

I imagine in another decade or two Denver will again see an aquarium, but this is just a sad step backward for now.
I fully agree. But they need to do it right. The building needs to accommodate *expansion* and better temporary exhibits. It would be really cool to see more fish from a variety of ecosystems, not just the Pacific Ocean and the Colorado River. If possible, more hands-on exhibits.

It takes work and interest on the part of the community.

It also takes a lot of work on the part of the aquarium to *attract* the public. If you have little flexibility or room for more, it's hard to attract people to something they've already seen. It would be like an amusement park that never added new rides or a natural hisotry museum that never looked at current events or had further-in-depth exhibits or an art museum that never added new works of art. Or if they did, it was shoved in a hallway somewhere.