Do they at least get a phone call?

First off, let me say that the poor woman killed in Florida by the whale is a tragedy. My heart goes out to her family and friends. Now, having said that, I do have some questions:



1. Shouldn't the phrase, "killer whale" be enough to turn people away? I guess not. It makes me wonder, do small children dream of the day they can work with something with "killer" in it's name? I mean I guess it sounds better than working with "cranky whales" but really. Which brings me to my next point.



2. What does a job application at this place look like? Is there a question, "Have you ever felt suicidal?" Or, how about "Do you believe that all whales deep down are good, some just weren't given enough love during their formative years?" Another might be "Do you consider yourself a liberal?" (I have to imagine the people that work with killer whales are liberals. Why? Well who else would believe they can be rehabilitated?)



3. How much money must these people be making? I would imagine (or at least hope) a whole lot. I mean you hear about americans going to Afghanistan to work and you know they're making serious lucre, why else would you go to a place where you might get your head blown off just for being American? Hell, if you have a death wish, there are plenty of great places here on Staten Island and you'll save the air fare.



4. Finally, I hear that the trainers will no longer be allowed to interact with the whales until an investigation is done? WTH? How does this investigation go? Do they put the whale in lock-up and tell him to get a lawyer? Do they question the other whales as to whether they might feel like killing someone? Do they get a phone call? Can you offer a whale extra fish to get him to rat out his whale buddies? What about the fish? Oh, the humanity!!!!



I wonder finally what makes a whale a killer whale? Can they be rehabilitated? Did they get enough love from their mothers? Is there a prozac large enough to cure them of their murderous tendencies?



That's what I learned today.