Sigh. So, apparently the Smithsonian is being accused of fluffing the evidence for climate change:

“The Smithsonian Institution toned down an exhibit on climate change in the Arctic for fear of angering Congress and the Bush administration, says a former administrator at the museum. Among other things, the script, or official text, of last year’s exhibit was rewritten to minimize and inject more uncertainty into the relationship between global warming and humans, said Robert Sullivan, who was associate director in charge of exhibitions at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.”

This comes on the heels of the resignation of the head of the Smithsonian after misuse of funds accusations, and the showing of a creationist film in 2005. The museum is under attack by intelligent design “scientists” (I can’t write that without a shudder) who claim they are blocked from access to the collections.

There are issues with charging admission for some exhibits, notably a butterfly exhibit this year. The museum’s budget has been whittled away over the years, and the museum is clearly scrambling to stay solvent. This is, in part, why they signed a very restrictive contract with Showtime. And, alas, the Smithsonian insect zoo is sponsored by Orkin. (I’m sure it’s a coincidence that the house part of the exhibit is full of insects.)

I can’t blame the museum for any of these actions. They need money to continue their valuable mission.

I just wish there was another way.