Our quest to understand the impact of SeaWorld and “Blackfish” has stirred a lot of emotions. A big part of understanding what kind of mark the documentary has made involves hearing from people who visit the park regularly. We’ve collected some of the opinions SeaWorld’s fans and critics have expressed, ranging from complete dismissal of “Blackfish” as propaganda, to a mother and son who vowed never to return to the park.
“How can we ignore factory farming, which affects millions of people and expend energy on orca captivity?” asks Ashley Harrington. “I don’t want SeaWorld to close its doors – I want the company to make changes,” Leslie Rapp writes. David Fuhriman will continue to take his kids to the park because “they need to have access and experiences with the animals to create empathy and to feel a connection with them.”
For Protection, Not Intrusion
Body cameras are currently being tested by certain San Diego Police Department officers. The cameras record the interactions officers have with the public. Kellen Russoniello, a staff attorney at the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties, writes in with several suggestions about how those cameras should be used and regulated in a new op-ed. The cameras, he argues, should be “deployed within a framework of strong policies to protect residents without becoming yet another intrusive or ineffective surveillance system.”
The Weekend Shake
This weekend really shook things up in Southern California. An earthquake was recorded on Friday registering a 5.1 magnitude and was felt in San Diego. Another 3.4-magnitude quake followed on Saturday morning. A couple weeks back we talked with geophysicist John Dvorak, broke down what San Diegans should be thinking about as we brace for the inevitable. “California needs an early warning seismic system,” Dvorak said. “The public should practice … what to do in case of an earthquake. Three words: duck, cover and hold on.” Good advice, so we’ll forgive him for fudging the word count.
Opera Mess Unraveling
Skepticism over the decision to close the San Diego Opera after its current season reached new heights this weekend. A group from the opera’s board of directors has demanded any documents relating to compensation and the decision-making that led to the closure decision,” reports the U-T.
• We recently caught you up on what’s happening with the San Diego Opera and what’s next in our latest episode of VOSD Radio.
News Nibbles
• That e-cigarette liquid refill you can purchase for vaporizing and inhaling might have enough nicotine in it to kill you, KPBS reports.
• SELF Magazine’s self-inflicted “Tutu-gate” controversy that we wrote about Friday inspired San Diegans to unite for a “Tutu Run” on Saturday, which focused on being positive and supportive of others.
• In other running news, a new American record was set on Sunday for the fastest 5,000 meter road race. Bernard Lagat ran the Carlsbad 5,000 in 13 minutes and 18 seconds, besting the previous record of 13 minutes and 24 seconds previously set by Mark Davis at the same race in 1996.
• Some small businesses in San Diego have seized on the popularity of the fascinating virtual currency Bitcoin and now happily accept the digital “coins” as payment for things ranging from pastries to the monthly rent check, the U-T reports.
• Cesar Milan, the “Dog Whisperer,” discussed his local origins with NPR. He says he started as a homeless San Diegan living under a freeway overpass.
A Healthy Outlet
It was the San Diego Padres versus the L.A. Dodgers in the Padres’ home opener on Sunday night. We sent the Dodgers packing with a mere taste of what will hopefully come this season. “Sports provides San Diego with a socially acceptable way to vent our pure, unfettered hatred of Los Angeles,” quipped local freelancer Susan Myrland.
Seth Hall is a local writer and technologist. You can reach him at voice@s3th.com or follow him on Twitter: @loteck.