Seaworld: From Free Willy to Blackfish

Aquariums are incredible. They let you see a world above ground that most people would never be able to see otherwise.

SeaWorld is one of the largest aquariums organizations in the world. They have facilities in Orlando, Tampa, San Diego, San Antonio, Williamsburg and Philadelphia. SeaWorld reported having more than 22 million visitors in 2014.

So how has SeaWorld gone from being a “Must See” to a “You support SeaWorld?” company?

Free Willy

Free Willy Poster. Image Courtesy of imdb.com.
Free Willy Poster. Image Courtesy of imdb.com.

This original film was release in 1993. The incredible story of a young boy and his unbelievable connection with a killer whale led to the film grossing almost $78 million in theaters and another $36 million from rentals.

The boy is a foster child who, after breaking into the local aquarium, is required to spend time doing community service at the aquarium. Willy, the killer whale, learns from the boy and is eventually saved from being killed by escaping into the wild.

The film ended with a number that viewers could call to donate to the Save the Whales Foundation. This number was able to raise $20 million in donations.

SeaWorld saw a large increase in visitors, both adult and children, who wanted to see the large black and white whales in person.

Jason James Richter, who played the main character Jesse, has had quiet a bit of fun posting images and reminders of the film, which later had three more sequels.

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15 Creepy Cults That Will Terrorize Your Soul

There is a thin line that separates cult from religion, an extremely thin line that inspires debates and intrigues. There are elements present in religion that are also found in a cult, such as the elements of worship, dogma, and authority. Unlike religion, however, the doctrines and practices of a cult are not accepted by the greater population.


13 amazing facts about Air Force One

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It is safe to say that we all don’t know much about government installations and institutions of sensitive nature. If you are thinking that Harrison Ford’s movies give us a clue as to how “adequate” Air Force One is, you …

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10 bizarre Pope Francis articles you can buy online

PopeToaster

Pope Francis, the current vicar of Christ took charge in one of the darkest times in modern history. Countries are at war, oppression, hunger, poverty are at their all time high and religious intolerance is diminishing with every minute. But good old Pope Francis has done a good job and that has turned into a celebrity (even bigger than Popes usually are!).

Here are 10 odd Pope Francis collectibles you can buy online.

‘Francis Rocks Philly’ champagne

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(Credit: Etsy seller Sean Devlieger)

OK, how cool is that? – This gold leaf decorated bottle is a limited edition beauty that is being sold on Etsy at $50. The seller is also selling T-shirts of the same design. 

22 Weird Christmas Gifts You Can Give to the Strange Characters in Your Life

Christmastime yields two extremely opposite reactions from people. For some, it is this dreaded season where you have to scour malls to get family, friends, and co-workers the perfect gift to show them you appreciate their presence in your life. On the other end of the spectrum is this special group of people who feel that Christmas shopping is one big scavenger hunt.


Horrible Crimes by 15 Horrible NFL Players

The NFL has positively impacted the lives of many players, but there are sinister signs of negative effects as well. Many players have all the glory and fame when they play in this sport, but later disappear from the limelight. There’s …

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Top 10 newscaster fails of all time

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  Newscasters don’t have the easiest job in the world. It can be hard sometimes and sometimes it is just plain funny! – It is ridiculous, how painfully easy these newscasters make mistakes. And as you know the internet is …

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Basketball Players That Have Been Arrested

Like every other professional sports league world wide the National Basketball Association or NBA has many players that occasionally run afoul of the law…