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President Obama On Mythbusters Tonight
elrous0 writes "As was previously reported, President Obama mentioned back in October that he would be appearing on an upcoming episode of the popular Discovery Channel series Mythbusters. Well, the episode is finally airing tonight. In the episode, the President helps Jamie and Adam test the 'Archimedes Death Ray' myth for a 3rd time (the myth having been 'busted' the first time, and that bust surviving a challenge from MIT students the second time out). Though the President only appears in a couple of brief scripted segments, the actual test (using 500 schoolkids doubling as mirror-bearing soldiers) is purportedly pretty interesting."
So do they test it on him ?
Busted!
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
Q: How can you tell someone's a libertarian without asking?
A: They'll tell you.
"by showing a man a lot of people respect"
Adam or Jamie?
I find it odd that The Discovery Channel would get access to the President and use their huge publicity opportunity to... rehash a myth they've already debunked twice. What?
The only possible reason to use this particular myth is so you can get 500 kids involved, each holding a mirror, and maybe involving the kids directly in the science, plus a little time with a few celebrities, will help associate science with coolness. I mean, it's an easy and pretty safe myth from the kids' perspectives. Hold a mirror, aim reflection at ship a safe distance away, hope for it to start smoking and burst into flames.
I dunno, though, it just seems like they could have done something new (at least new to the show) that would be just as engaging. Like debunking the professor's use of coconuts to power a radio on Gilligan's Island or something.
Adam: "So, as you can see, stirring the solution in 5 coconuts didn't work. Busted."
Jamie: "Agreed. Busted. So what are we testing next?"
Barak: [walks on stage]"Wait a minute. We can't stop here, can we? Don't we need to scale it up?"
Jamie: "Sure, normally, but how do we scale this one up?"
Adam: "It'll take the output of 500 coconuts! Where are we going to find enough people to build and operate hundreds of coconut batteries? It's impossible!"
Barak: "Fortunately, I brought a few friends along to help out. C'mon out, kids!"
[cue 500 schoolkids]
Barak, Jamie, and Adam: "SCIENCE!"
"This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
Who cares, wheres Kari?
"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
So when a libertarian's house is on fire and the firefighters show up, do they say "No, that's ok, I'm a libertarian."?
Sounds like we're getting screwed on this Archimedes thing.
Michael Reed, freelance tech writer.
What better way to get people excited about science by showing a man a lot of people respect excited about it?
OK, that's a good argument. So, why is Obama on the show?
The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
What a lame duck of a Myth. That Myth wasn't even very exciting the first time they did it...
Yeah, if they wanted to do Archimedes, it would have been way more exciting to test whether discovering fluid displacement is exciting enough to make someone run around town naked.
"I don't care about the Constitution!" --Bill O'Reilly, November 17, 2009
Agreed. When I was in high school, my chemistry teacher, Jim Fixx, let me try running a bunsen burner on gas generated by flasks of zinc and HCl.
Once.
What I learned was that there is a good reason for flashback preventers. A splendid time was had by all.
Why, without your clothes, you're naked, Miss Dudley!
We already know the President likes a human backdrop: soldiers, doctors, union members... you get the idea.
Wouldn't a backdrop of 500 kids be great? 500 kids holding mirrors, cackling gleefully as they accidentally ignite the President and his teleprompter.
Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
The President's appearance in media would be more appropriate in "Jackass 4: The Movie" rather than "Myth Busters (The Myth Busted For the Third Time).
Be More, Be Manly, The Manly Geek Ubergeek Extraordinaire Blogger: www.manlygeek.com/blog Podcaster: podcast.man