Obama to Appear on “Mythbusters”

[kpete]

October 18, 2010, 7:04 am
Obama to Appear on “Mythbusters”
By MICHAEL D. SHEAR
THE 44TH PRESIDENT

For a president under siege, maybe this could help.

In an episode of “Mythbusters” on the Discovery Channel to be shown on Dec. 8, President Obama will help determine whether the Greek scientist Archimedes really set fire to an invading Roman fleet using only mirrors and the reflected rays of the sun.

Legend has it that during the Siege of Syracuse, circa 214 B.C., Archimedes destroyed the enemy ships with fire, the result of a “heat ray” involving a series of mirrors set up on the coast. But the question has long remained: Did it really happen that way?

“Mythbusters” has already tried to test this myth. In 2006, with the help of some students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the show declared the myth “busted” because it took far too long for any reflected light to ignite a fire on a distant ship.

But apparently, Mr. Obama wants them to try again.

more:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/obama-to-appear-on-mythbusters-for-heat-ray-test/?partner=rss&emc=rss

[ZombieHorde]

1. "But the first presidential appearance is..."

"But the first presidential appearance is intended to help spur interest in math and science as part of the White House effort to increase American competitiveness in those subjects."

Very cool. Recommended.

[TBF]

2. Seriously - this is more important than the economy? nt

[krispos42]

3. Oh, lighten up n/t

[Xenotime]

6. Ha! I hope Obama uses this weapon on the rethuglicans.

[krispos42]

7. Karl Rove would go up like a pine tree in a drought

He's a greasy SOB

[TBF]

10. I'm sure the unemployed and homeless appreciate your compassion.

:eyes:

[krispos42]

11. I'm unemployed and living with my parents.

Unless you're making the same comments whenever Obama goes on vacation or on the campaign stump, you're just nit-picking.

[TBF]

15. You're lucky you have your parents to live with. Many don't fare so well. nt

[krispos42]

57. It many ways, yeah.

It's still not what I would choose. Fortunately for me they'll be able to help me go back to school and maybe finally get a degree in something so I can finally get a good job and get my own house... in three or four years, if I'm lucky.

Regardless, investing in our science and engineering future is critical, and if Obama can take a few minutes or a couple of hours to make a remote video appearance or whatever on a popular TV show with some scientific and engineering influence, then more power to him.

[Maru Kitteh]

22. I'll take "poorly executed logical fallacies" for $400 Alex.

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/false-dilemma.html

[sufrommich]

5. Who said that? nt

[handmade34]

8. seriously?

Yes

[TBF]

12. I'm glad he has his priorities in order,

and will use my time wisely as well (which doesn't include voting since he clearly views debunking myths on tv as more important than dealing with an imploding economy).

[sufrommich]

16. Or, he's smart enough to do more than one thing at a time.

The President appearing on a TV show seems a pretty flimsy excuse not to vote.

[handmade34]

19. you are a silly person

to choose not to vote... I believe Pres Obama can be on a TV show and consider the economy at the same time...

[DainBramaged]

21. Do you have any suggestions for us as to how he might better spend his time?

Just wondering....

[blogslut]

28. So, you're going to pass up the chance to vote out Rick Perry because of Mythbusters?

Gee thanks.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blondeatlast]

35. Like many, the President can multi-task. It's a valuable skill,

Just saying.

[SidDithers]

42. Education shouldn't be one of his priorities?...nt

Sid

[Butch350]

49. What's the matter...

can't you walk and chew gum at the same time?

[Maru Kitteh]

13. AND he had the nerve to eat breakfast this morining too.THE ECONOMY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OATMEAL!

Silly President - encouraging all that "sciencey stuff." I mean jeez, why should we waste our beautiful minds on education?

[TBF]

17. OK y'all have convinced me. TV is much more important than the economy.

I'll be off watching soap operas for the next 6 hours while y'all decide which other programs he could be on. Cool!

:crazy:

[sufrommich]

20. Mythbusters is not the equivalent of soap operas. President

Obama is going on Mythbusters to promote science. Why do you have a problem with that?

[Maru Kitteh]

23. If logical fallacy is your only means of argument you may wish to expand your repertoire

[ProfessorGAC]

60. Obstinance Without A Point

Just silly! You think Obama's got better things to do? I think you ought to ask yourself the same question.
GAC

[LanternWaste]

64. I imagine some may think it's a zero sum game

"TV is much more important than the economy..."

I imagine some may think it's a zero sum game, that only one or the other may be looked at. I'd certainly not want to be around those people-- unless they're very, very young or have learning disabilities that is... :shrug:

[malaise]

73. +1,000

Sometimes the only thing to do after reading comments on DU is to shake one's head. Obama on Mythbusters is merely walking the walk -promoting science.

[CBR]

18. ...

[blondeatlast]

39. Only on DU. Seriously.

I love this place.

[Winterblues]

40. Yes actually it is...

The economy deals with more than just the here and now... The future is also very much a part and if our kids are not educated then there will be no economy..

[Barack_America]

41. Our economy very well may depend on getting kids interested in science.

Remember those manufacturing jobs that aren't coming back?

[HughBeaumont]

43. I don't really know what he's going to do about that.

Snap his fingers and make rich greedy people with all-encompassing power and wealth stop being greedy and assholey?

Create WPA Part Deux with the chasm of debt Reagan and Bewsh II rang up?

Become the Democratic Socialist some people mistakingly thought he'd be?

Living wage jobs have been a problem for around 13 years. This is hardly a new phenomenon. New industries that are going to move us forward are not being created at a fast enough rate to accommodate the workers that are ready for them.

Even if they are, we're still going to hear a myriad of excuses why workers here aren't being hired (the most common one you'll hear is that we're simply too expensive. Whatevs; good luck getting us to buy your products with that logic). From the party in power being "anti-business" :eyes: to the wealthy worried that their taxes are going to go up a few percentage points (WAAAAH THE PAIN!!! SUCH DRAAAAMAA!).

This economy is entirely the fault of Republicans, their corporate handlers and their ridiculous cockamamie Milton Friedman fairy tale crapola being undeservingly forced on all of us. This is a private sector problem that's going to require more than a lion's share of cooperation and solution FROM the private sector.

Since voting apparently will get you either arch-rightist fascists who'll send this country to the deep black abyss without care or craven milquetoasts who want everyone to like them, the only way things are going to realistically change is, I'm sorry to say, millions of us in the streets and in corporate boardrooms.

Unfortunately, nobody on OUR side is even on the same page. 80% of the population is largely unaffected by this mess still. We're not starving yet. Companies are still hiring; the problem is, the firing is offsetting any hiring gains.

[TBF]

53. The economy is a "private sector problem" and his time is better spent on TV shows?

ok ...

[JoePhilly]

56. Its a TV show that promotes SCIENCE ...

[TBF]

66. Science is wonderful -

and it would also be wonderful if we could house & feed all the children in this country as a baseline, before we get to the enrichment activities.

My children, and the other children in middle class and upper class suburbs are doing just fine. We go to museums, we do the science fairs, we talk about science quite a lot. So instead of thinking about our kids, maybe we should think about those who barely have enough food to eat, or even go hungry. Maybe we should expend some energy on finding jobs for their parents so it is more likely that they will be exposed to better educational opportunities.

Science is not just for the upper class, it should be for everyone AFTER their basic needs are met.

[LanternWaste]

63. I don't think one denies the other...

I don't think one denies the other.

However I imagine some people may believe that an appearance on this show may actually preclude state business from being run. :shrug:

[Warren DeMontague]

71. Because we all know presidents can't walk and chew gum at the same time

I mean, some can't.

[TonyMontana]

4. Didn't they already revisit this myth?

Is this the third time they are doing this myth? What did they miss the first 2 times?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. Prez Obama can call out the Marines and the National Guard

He can have many trained troops to hold the polished shields. Unless they're all deployed to a war zone or something.

:hi:

[csziggy]

51. They still haven't managed to use mirrors to set fire to boats

Can the viewers suggest names for the boat Obama will try to set fire to? The SS GOP? The HMS Palin? The Good Ship Bachmann?

[drm604]

14. This is seriously cool.

"Mythbusters" is a great show for spurring interest in science and critical thinking because they do what they do in such fun and interesting ways. Obama will bring in a lot of new viewers for at least one episode. Hopefully some of them will remain and acquire a taste for critical thinking and science.

[Warpy]

29. Yes, of all the shows he could cameo on, this is one of the best

because it shows kids (and adults) that science and engineering can be both fascinating and fun.

We can leave DWTS to the right wingers.

[woo me with science]

24. How about the myth that health insurance legislation would make health care affordable? nt

[JoePhilly]

58. Or the myth that anything Obama does is acceptable to the "are we there yet" crowd.

No myth there ... doesn't matter what he does. We won't every "be there".

[yodermon]

25. xkcd on Mythbusters

[sakabatou]

34. LMAO

[JHB]

46. Bwahahahaha

:spray: :rofl: :rofl:

[blogslut]

26. That's hot

:)

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. This is way cool

But I was hoping it would be about his birth certificate.

[blondeatlast]

30. ...

:spray:

[nxylas]

36. Me too

Or any of the other 1001 Obama-related myths that everyone in America gets e-mailed to them on a regular basis by their Republican Aunt Doris.

[proud2BlibKansan]

52. That would involve a whole new show

LOL

[Johonny]

31. I was hoping they were going to bust the birth certificate myth

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

50. Me2.

[sakabatou]

32. *facepalm*

Oh Obama, let them do something else...

[derby378]

37. Smart move!

Obama needs to score points on the education front, and this is a great step in the right direction.

[hunter]

38. Maybe he's gonna announce we've built a giant space mirror...

... and we can now incinerate anything on earth and stop global warming too.

[AsahinaKimi]

62. Incinerate anything?

CAN WE START WITH FOX NEWS?? ...pretty please?

[Greyskye]

44. Who doesn't think this is to promote the new White House solar panels?

I'm betting they'll get a mention.

[ipaint]

45. clueless. nt

[blondeatlast]

48. Indeed I am as to your meaning--could you explain your crypticism? nt

[Initech]

47. He should be appearing on an episode dedicated to debunking the birther bullshit nonsense.

[felix_numinous]

54. +1 Beat me to it.

Wouldn't that be an awesome slap? He wouldn't lose anything by doing it!

[PeaceNikki]

55. This was my first hope/thought upon seeing the title of this OP

[flvegan]

59. I like that he's doing this.

Mythbusters is a somewhat educational yet really fun show. It's a good chance for him to appeal to a lot of people in (what I will guess to be) a relatively non-serious manner.

Besides, remember the last guy? He only stepped out of his "prezidentin" shoes to crash his mountain bike or bang on someone else's drum dancing like a fool.

Next, I want to see him on Top Gear (the good BBC one, not the crappy forthcoming US version).

[TexasObserver]

61. An awesome show, well constructed.

Sometimes their mythbusting declarations are based upon dubious data, but they do a nice job of entertaining and edifying. They're funny, and they're got a delightful group of people. They cover some great scientific points.

Mythbusters is Mr. Wizard on steroids.

[lame54]

65. Are they gonna bust the myth of bipartisanship?

[apocalypsehow]

67. I think this is cool, and can't wait to see it. Rec. n/t.

[spanone]

68. good for him.

[cliffordu]

69. I bet he sets a bunch of stuff on fire with his microwave vision.....

[Scurrilous]

70. K & R

:thumbsup:

[malaise]

72. Can you imagine what it was for those 'best in science young

folks' to meet not just the President, but also the guys from Mythbusters. I was really proud of Obama yesterday


President Obama kicked of(sic) the first-ever W.H. Science Fair, celebrating winners from across the country. | AP Photo

President Barack Obama shot hoops with the University of Connecticut women’s basketball champions, ate Gulf Coast shrimp with the Super Bowl-winning New Orleans Saints and ribbed the New York Yankees for the time it took them to win another World Series.

But on Monday, Obama welcomed a new kind of champion to the executive mansion: school kids who have won math and science competitions.

“Often, we don’t give these victories the attention that they deserve,” he said, flanked by 25 medal-wearing teenagers. “You know, when you win first place at a science fair, nobody’s rushing the field or dumping Gatorade over your head.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43789.html#ixzz12ngeqIz2

Bravo President Obama

[Dash87]

74. lol. First thing I thought was, "The Onion."

But this is real! Awesome! :)

♥

[Buns_of_Fire]

75. I hope they let the President blow something up.

It wouldn't be "Mythbusters" if something didn't blow up at the end. Maybe RNC Headqusrters. (Just suggesting...)