Warning! King Tut!

[steuard]

I just went with some friends to the King Tut exhibit at Chicago's Field Museum today. It was pretty cool, but unfortunately I can't tell you anything about it: the small print on the back of my ticket says:

the holder is not allowed to transmit or aid in transmitting any information about the Event, including, but not limited to, any account, description, picture, video, audio, reproduction or other information concerning the Event (including pre and post Event activities).

I guess since it forbids sharing information about pre and post event activities, I shouldn't tell you about the Evolving Planet exhibit that we went to first. It was cool. (Oops! Forget I said that.)

But there's clearly something dangerous going on here; I think there may be some sort of mummy's curse associated with the exhibit. Why? Because the small print makes it clear that I was in danger:

WARNING! YOU ARE AT YOUR OWN RISK WITH RESPECT TO THE DANGERS INCIDENTAL TO THIS EVENT!

I may have put myself at risk by even looking at that solid gold ceremonial dagger. (Oops! Forget that, too.) I'm mildly comforted to know that the museum has done their best to protect visitors from the curse:

WARNING! DESPITE ENHANCED SPECTATOR SHIELDING MEASURES...

I'm quite curious to know what sort of shielding they're using to block King Tut's hostile will.

I must admit, though, that the mechanism that King Tut has apparently chosen to lash out at exhibit visitors strikes me as a bit unorthodox. No strangling mummies or mysterious wasting illnesses here. The ancient pharaoh seems to have had an odd sense of humor:

[dangers incidental to this event...] includ[e] specifically (but not exclusively) the dangers of being struck by hockey pucks, sticks, balls, and other equipment, by spectators or players or by thrown objects.

It sounds like King Tut's revenge tends to take the form of attacks by crazed hockey players (and fans). In fact, the danger is particularly serious while walking through the exhibit itself:

PUCKS, BALLS AND OTHER OBJECTS MAY STILL FLY INTO THE SPECTATOR AREA. SERIOUS INJURY CAN OCCUR.

And you never know when the curse will strike: "STAY ALERT AT ALL TIMES." Fortunately, the museum staff seem to be trained in assisting visitors who are in fact struck by the curse: "IF STRUCK IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN USHER FOR ASSISTANCE."

Next time, maybe I'll stick with safer exhibits like "Underground Adventure".


(Ok, so maybe this wasn't actually entertaining enough to merit a long blog post. Sure beats thesis writing, though.)

Comments

[maxemulien.livejournal.com]

Did it really have the hockey warnings? That's really funny. Huh, now I wonder if hockey tickets contain bans on describing the event.

[kirin]

The hockey stuff is funny. But more seriously, given that basic facts are un-copyrightable, I'd be surprised if such restrictions on "describing" events hold much legal water.