h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What rot!!! Give me a break!!

Well, it's a very nice entry, Anhaga, despite the fact that it tends to inspire in me this very strong urge to strangle some Canadian scientists, not to mention the original Methodist thieves.

My feeling is, give the thing back and send along money to build an interpretive centre, friendship centre, treatment centre, school, whatever type of religious building is desired, or something. This is my one big disappointment with the Museum.

Of course, it is "on loan", so the Provincial Museum of Alberta can't really say, "oh, okay, here you are". I wish they would side with the "return it" advocates. I also wish they would move it to the lobby of the Museum where it would really have an honoured place and where persons wishing to offer devotions would not have to pay an admission fee.

As far as the interests of science go, it's on display in a Museum that is open to the public every day of the year except Christmas. It never goes off to labs to be examined. It just sits there next to the horse's rear-end.

*is summoned*

strangle Canadians?

Not just Canadians. Canadian scientists. There's a difference I think.

Now, since the thing was stolen in the first place, what would be wrong about the museum that's got stealing it again from the museum that's "loaning" it? That might get the whole issue into the public domain where people could learn what's been done and maybe reconsider some of the inane excuses that the authorities have come up with to justify their larceny.

...yes, but they are Canadian!

Hey, that's probably not their fault so don't hold that against them okay?

I don't. I just like to bother anhaga

He likes to think he's bothering me.

I agree Analiese.

This is another one of those things a previous generation of Europeans has left for us to sort out. Like most of them, this one needs someone to do something creative and/or just plain sensible. In this case, the solution would be relatively easy.

Hey, Analiese:

I don't know if you looked at this thread F127415?thread=293658 (a post, really, since no one has replied). In it there's a link, which I might as well put here http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/030707/w070734.html which demonstrates a museum doing the right thing without hesitation and also reaping what I think is a most great reward for their rectitude.

You're correct. It's about as big an honor as any non-blood person could expect.

I'm glad to see that this Entry is causing some, erm, serious debate.

Congratulations to anhaga for some brilliant work - subbing this was rewarding to say the least.

Whoami?

One thing that I feel I should make clear is that the Provincial Museum of Alberta is really a wonderful institution. The Aboriginal Gallery occupies one third of its permanent exhibit space (the other two thirds have to do with Alberta's natural history. Alberta's "pioneer" history is reduced to a single bronze statue in the lobby.) One quarter of the Museum is a gallery that is devoted to travelling exhibits from all over the world. It really is a progressive institution, except concerning the object which is the subject of this entry.

I was at the Museum today with a friend who had never been before. He knew of my concern about and interest in the Manitou Stone. He couldn't find it. He found a sculpture which is a tribute to the Stone -- a sculpture which does have a prominant place -- but he couldn't find the actual object.

I filled out a comment form suggesting that the Stone should be moved to a more prominent place, perhaps the lobby, and I provided the reasons I've already mentioned, including access without entrance fee. I used both sides of the form. The very nice lady at the desk said it was the first time anyone had done that. Maybe someone will notice.

Well, since it's apparently misplaced for most practical purposes as they relate to most of the patrons of the museum, maybe you should suggest they display it at the original site and then tell the "loaning" museum that they just must have misplaced it again, which sort of happens with these kinds of artifacts you know? Just make sure there aren't any Methodists around.

Then they can procrastinate and prevaricate about, "Gosh, it's just got to be around here somewheres. Don't worry we'll find it one of these days.. " and so on until the other museum forgets about it which should be in about two or three weeks or so and then they can claim to have "rediscovered" it in a year or two and dutifully convey title to the original owners because after all it was lost so what's wrong with that?