# Exploding Whale Memorial Park **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 17, 2020, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848 "2020-06-17T14:19:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/1 "2020-06-17T14:19:45Z")
[In Florence, Oregon](https://katu.com/news/local/welcome-to-exploding-whale-memorial-park-in-florence). It looks nice. This is what you get when you have a naming contest. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/2 "2020-06-18T02:02:52Z")
I sounds vaguely British, for some odd reason. I rather like it. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/3 "2020-06-18T03:38:51Z")
At least they didn’t vote to name it Whaley McWhaleface. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/4 "2020-06-18T04:21:05Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > [In Florence, Oregon](https://katu.com/news/local/welcome-to-exploding-whale-memorial-park-in-florence). It looks nice. > This is what you get when you have a naming contest. I think it’s more “this is what you get when you blow up a whale.” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/5 "2020-06-18T05:40:32Z")
“The blast blasted blubber beyond all believable bounds.” Ah, what would Les Nesmond have done in his report? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/6 "2020-06-18T05:42:15Z")
It is nice, though, that the good folks of Florence remember the whale and want a memorial to it. Not just “Exploding Whale Park”, but “Exploding Whale _Memorial_ Park.” They shall not forget … ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/7 "2020-06-18T05:45:56Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > It is nice, though, that the good folks of Florence remember the whale and want a memorial to it. Not just “Exploding Whale Park”, but “Exploding Whale _Memorial_ Park.” They shall not forget … They should add a bowl of petunias to the site, inscribed with “_Oh, no. Not again._” ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/8 "2020-06-18T06:11:04Z")
Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/9 "2020-06-18T10:46:00Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > They should add a bowl of petunias to the site, inscribed with “_Oh, no. Not again._” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/10 "2020-06-18T15:25:52Z")
\ Nearest beach town to my home. I’ll be sure to stop by next time I’m at the coast. I love that video. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/11 "2020-06-18T15:36:27Z")
I remember reading the Dave Barry column about it before seeing the video. His comment “I am probably guilty of understatement when I say that what follows, on the videotape, is the most wonderful event in the history of the universe.” is still memorable. Here’s the rest of his 30-years past column on it (and other things): [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/1990/05/20/thar-she-blows/8f6bc076-3843-4653-99d0-a50df88eabaf/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/1990/05/20/thar-she-blows/8f6bc076-3843-4653-99d0-a50df88eabaf/) ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/12 "2020-06-18T15:47:13Z")
That whale exploded on the exact day I was born. Coincidence? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/13 "2020-06-18T15:49:41Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > That whale exploded on the exact day I was born. Coincidence? When you cry, do people tell you to stop blubbering? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/14 "2020-06-18T15:52:04Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > That whale exploded on the exact day I was born. Coincidence? I knew there was something fishy about you. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/15 "2020-06-18T16:00:43Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I knew there was something fishy about you. Whales aren’t fish. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/16 "2020-06-18T16:03:30Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Whales aren’t fish. Well aware. But I couldn’t very well say there was something mammal-ey about **Anamorphic**. Are you seriously going to be this pedantic over _a pun_? ---
**Author:** ![FastDan1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fastdan1/32/427_2.png) [@FastDan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FastDan1)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/17 "2020-06-18T16:07:52Z")
George: I got about fifty-feet out and then suddenly the great beast appeared before me. I tell ya he was ten stories high if he was a foot. As if sensing my presence he gave out a big bellow. I said, “Easy big fella!” And then as I watched him struggling I realized something was obstructing his breathing. From where I was standing I could see directly into the eye of the great fish! Jerry: Mammal. George: Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/18 "2020-06-18T16:08:15Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Whales aren’t fish. Whales are also not salt, but they are salty; they are not water, but they are usually wet. The suggestion was that whales are fish **y** , which seems likely, given where they swim. But I will allow that blubbering was a better pun. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/19 "2020-06-18T16:08:31Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Well aware. But I couldn’t very well say there was something mammal-ey about **Anamorphic**. Are you seriously going to be this pedantic over _a pun_? [grump] Scientific Inaccuracy in puns is not funny. [/grump] 😉 ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848/20 "2020-06-18T17:16:29Z")
[grump] [del]Scientific Inaccuracy in[/del]puns is not funny. [/grump] Ftfy [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-whale-memorial-park/855848.md?page=2)