Diane, Thanks for the interesting posting.  Amazing what goes on under
the public's nose.  I would think anyone in museums who wants money
would like to have a cat whose face sells mugs and T-shirts!  There is
over 100% markup on the T's sold in the SI shops!  It is illegal to mark-up
that much in retailing in the US (dept. stores mark-up 40%, some in NY,
Pa.  mark up a little more, then discount it).

I have often wondered why Museum staffs choose to close popular
exhibits, too.  It sounds like this closing backfired on them.

Spaulding sounds like a meglomaniac.  Peggy