Big fan of the show. I am glad no one got hurt, but I can well imagine that the Build team got a severe chastising by one James Franklin Hyneman. He's usually in charge of safety, and someone could have easily been killed or hurt by this lapse. I don't know what happened, but I bet dimonds to dollars that the cannon was not anchored properly before it want off and the recoil probably kicked the barrel up just high enough to clear the hill the shot was supposed to go into. The Mythbusters themselves probably didn't set up the cannon - unless it was the home-made cannon that Tory did for the "Ball & Chain prison escape" episode. That was more like a mortar though, and not designed to fire laterally. I hope this incident makes a blooper show, or gets broadcast in some way. You KNOW they have footage on the accident right up to where the shot went bad.

Not the first time the build team has had a bad accident though. In "Hollywood Car Myths" they were testing the movie axiom of when a car goes full speed under a semi-trailer and gets the roof knocked off but is still drivable. The myth was confirmed - the car slid right under the trailer. But the car went off the safety track and kept on going at like 70 miles an hour... It went right off the track, off the course, up a hill, and over a fence. Kari Byron had a horrified look on her face and just said, "Uh oh..." Luckily in that case (also) no one got hurt, but there was a road not too far past the fence the car flew over and someone could have gotten really clobbered. In that case it was also not the Build Team's fault. The site's safety rigging must have failed somehow.

>> ^Nexxus:

What's wrong with charging for convenience? If you don't like it, go somewhere else or use cash. It's not rocket science. This is a witch hunt similar to toyota with the gas pedals.
If pizza hut raised the price of their pizza by a few bucks, would it make national news and warrant discussion on the senate floor? I think not.


You're actually equating a purchase with a fee? Besides, Interac and the other Point of Sale "cash equivalents" were brought in so that you would STOP actually coming in to the brick and mortar and wasting their time with non-sales matters. Debit is for THEIR convenience and profit. Now they're just getting greedy.

@JiggaJonson, we have snake oil salesmen today. Homeopathy is just that. Herbal potency pills are too. And many people think asparagus is an aphrodisiac. People are still trying to sell their inferior products to the masses, but the real problem with snake oil salesmen is that they usually came on a horse drawn carriage, and after selling to their marks they were gone. In today's society, most people can and do get their drugs from a brick and mortar store. If someone sells them something purporting to cure something and it doesn't, they could sue for fraud.

But this is a huge distraction from what we were talking about. At the end of the day, opening up the research market to the world and allowing global competition did in three weeks what top researchers couldn't do in decades.

The free market works. The more eyes we can put on a cure or solving a problem, the quicker we get results and the more it helps society and medical progress. Who would be against that?

thanks for the quality!

In reply to this comment by Lawdeedaw:
Ah--I remember standing in a freezing paper-thin-walls shower with mortars coming down in my "camp." My nuts were shriveled, but my pride wouldn't let me take cover on the shower floor. So I stood. *quality

Ah--I remember standing in a freezing paper-thin-walls shower with mortars coming down in my "camp." My nuts were shriveled, but my pride wouldn't let me take cover on the shower floor. So I stood. *quality

Actually this is by design so that you stupid Americans can't use it against Russians.

Also in Soviet Russia mortar lobs you.

when I served the army I was a radio operator in the 82mm mortar unit. heavy mother ... usually a squad of 4 people would carry and operate one 82mm mortar + ammo

@DerHasisttot,

Well, if the larger business is more efficient and provides a superior product or service, then they'd certainly continue to profit. And that's a good thing. But usually larger organizations (be it government or corporations) aren't efficient, and there's typically waste at some level. The current government restrictions and corporate welfare (mentioned above) allow them to be profitable despite their waste (Currently, taxpayers subsidizing their losses and in return not allowed to compete on an even playing field with the corporations! How ridiculous is that?).

In a free market, if I opened a small bake shop, I could oversee every aspect of that company fairly easily. If I was the CEO of a large baking company with three warehouses, a corporate office, several baking and packaging facilities, and a slew of brick and mortar shops, I'd probably have a hard time keeping an eye on every element deserved of consideration. Not that it can't be done, but certainly it would be difficult, so most likely I'd start losing profits without government subsidies (and the loss of business from new competitors) and need to shrink my business to something more manageable.

It would be harder for large companies to continue to flourish amid the competition that would arise when the costly restrictions are removed that're currently in place. If you live in the States and ever opened your own business, you'd understand how difficult it is to be a small entrepreneur with very little capital. You're taxed heavily for starters, even if you're showing a loss instead of profit. And some businesses require costly licenses and other regulatory fees to be paid.

Wait... I haven't read all of the comments, but it seems clear that the claims that Wolf and indeed the title of the linked article (at http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/03/30/libya.war/index.html?hpt=T1) are making don't follow from the facts the article or Wolf is stating. (Ie. That the US is directly taking sides in the Libyan civil war.)

The fact that is stated is that the CIA is on the ground in Libya providing intelligence to the US in order to help in the ongoing (now NATO) intervention. But was this not perfectly known already?

Is that a surprise to anybody? Would it be at all possible to keep a no-fly zone in place and keep Gaddafi's armour from being used and mortars from killing civilians without having verifiable intelligence being actively gathered on the ground? Would one expect us to be able to just trust either what Gaddafi says or what the rebels tell us is happening without having some trusted eyes embedded in the situation? I think that's got to be the way things are done in order to remain as 'impartial' as possible. Otherwise we would just be flying blind, so to speak. No?

Oh... I just realized that it's only the title of this video that says that the US is 'directly taking sides in the Libyan civil war.' I think that title should be changed because it's claim clearly doesn't follow from what is said in either Wolf's report or the linked article.

>> ^MarineGunrock:
Now that I go back and read your comment again, I see I mis-read it and shouldn't have downvoted. My bad.
I too have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and my tour in Iraq was no picnic. For several years, I wanted to be a cop, and I would still like to, but I have come to realize though introspection and professional help that constant mortaring has re-wired my brain to the point where I should not be a police officer. It has left me with an extremely short temper, and that would most definitely lead to no good. I can only hope that others in my position do the same.
Semper (Fi/Paratus/whatever suits you).
>> ^Lawdeedaw:
>> ^MarineGunrock:
And yes, for the record, I do believe that all capable persons have a moral obligation to help when possible.

Hey Marinegunrock, you have a right to downvote my comment, and I have no problem with that. Still, I would like to explain a bit about my comments---because I think you might have the wrong impression (I tend to fuck up on expressing my thoughts.)
Soldiers and Marines returning from overseas have two types of medals. Those they wear on their chests, and those they wear in their minds. They live life on the edge in a warzone. I don't remember a day my unit wasn't mortared over in Iraq--but I served nevertheless. That does not mean I, or other servicemen, adjusted well upon return... And they certainly were not ready for a career in law enforcement!!!
However, instead of wearing this mental medal proudly, instead of saying, "I am a motherfucking Marine or Soldier, I have issues," people are saying, "Hey, I went through hell and came back flawless. Love me please."
Just because we are heroes doesn't mean we are right in the brain my friend. You have to be wrong in the head, or you don't survive--or you get others killed...




Don't worry Marinegunrock, for every one good comment out there---there are one-million ignorant comments. In other words, in a world of trolls, it takes a constantly keen eye to tell between the shit and the diamonds. Hell, I don't even have half the time, so I learn the people when I can... In fact, that's why I explained myself to you---because I can see you post reasonably.


I am greatly impressed that truth matters to you more than blind-emotions Marinegunrock; I am honestly impressed. Few people would admit any problems anywhere, and that's why we as people, and this country, have so many--we break em, but we don't attempt to solve them.

Now that I go back and read your comment again, I see I mis-read it and shouldn't have downvoted. My bad.

I too have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and my tour in Iraq was no picnic. For several years, I wanted to be a cop, and I would still like to, but I have come to realize though introspection and professional help that constant mortaring has re-wired my brain to the point where I should not be a police officer. It has left me with an extremely short temper, and that would most definitely lead to no good. I can only hope that others in my position do the same.

Semper (Fi/Paratus/whatever suits you).



>> ^Lawdeedaw:

>> ^MarineGunrock:
And yes, for the record, I do believe that all capable persons have a moral obligation to help when possible.

Hey Marinegunrock, you have a right to downvote my comment, and I have no problem with that. Still, I would like to explain a bit about my comments---because I think you might have the wrong impression (I tend to fuck up on expressing my thoughts.)
Soldiers and Marines returning from overseas have two types of medals. Those they wear on their chests, and those they wear in their minds. They live life on the edge in a warzone. I don't remember a day my unit wasn't mortared over in Iraq--but I served nevertheless. That does not mean I, or other servicemen, adjusted well upon return... And they certainly were not ready for a career in law enforcement!!!
However, instead of wearing this mental medal proudly, instead of saying, "I am a motherfucking Marine or Soldier, I have issues," people are saying, "Hey, I went through hell and came back flawless. Love me please."
Just because we are heroes doesn't mean we are right in the brain my friend. You have to be wrong in the head, or you don't survive--or you get others killed...

>> ^MarineGunrock:

And yes, for the record, I do believe that all capable persons have a moral obligation to help when possible.


Hey Marinegunrock, you have a right to downvote my comment, and I have no problem with that. Still, I would like to explain a bit about my comments---because I think you might have the wrong impression (I tend to fuck up on expressing my thoughts.)

Soldiers and Marines returning from overseas have two types of medals. Those they wear on their chests, and those they wear in their minds. They live life on the edge in a warzone. I don't remember a day my unit wasn't mortared over in Iraq--but I served nevertheless. That does not mean I, or other servicemen, adjusted well upon return... And they certainly were not ready for a career in law enforcement!!!

However, instead of wearing this mental medal proudly, instead of saying, "I am a motherfucking Marine or Soldier, I have issues," people are saying, "Hey, I went through hell and came back flawless. Love me please."

Just because we are heroes doesn't mean we are right in the brain my friend. You have to be wrong in the head, or you don't survive--or you get others killed...

>> ^xxovercastxx:

Here's an experiment: Is this funny/ok? If so, what makes it different?


I was going to say satire, but around the time they pull up their little map--I think they crossed that line. At the beginning it was semi-OK mostly due to them making the joke about the actual phrase, with no actual target except the word president. But, when it changed over into an area where it could be equivocated with a sitting president (just a bit before the map; it may have been the one with the mortar), that is where I think it's needs to stop. They say it's legal though.

I think crazy people often don't understand satire. However, the crazy people that might do this are probably never going to watch, "The Whitest Kids You Know". They defiantly walk a fine line; I think it's better to probably not do that skit. To each to his own.

I think the setting really defines where it shouldn't be used. A comedy club, maybe. A political event, no.

@Toshley - Understandable. As SDGundamX said, it is mostly a shouting match, unfortunately. But I'm a little bit obsessive on the subject, and can't seem to help myself from discussing it.

@SDGundamX - That webpage said a lot of things that were very similar to Toshley's video. Though VenomFangX is a repulsive human being for a variety of other reasons, that particular video was quite interesting. Upon first watching, it seems to make sense. Unfortunately some of his arguments depend on further stretching the bounds of credulity, such as with the half-demon people. And neither site mentions Matthew 5:17-19, which appears to indicate that Jesus intended all the Old Testament laws to continue until all prophesies were fulfilled.

Anyway, poking at these trivialities is ultimately useless, since the very foundation of the religion is untenable. No point in chipping at the mortar.

Harrison Ford's a quarter Jewish--not too shabby!

So I guess Mel Gibson isn't one of your heroes.



You know what the coolest thing about being Jewish is? You can move to Israel if you want and become a citizen. (For realz, in case you didn't know.) That means when this country finally tires of your insufferable Ed-Hardy ass (and it WILL happen, sooner or later--probably sooner), you've got another place to flop. Sure, you'll probably have to do a short stint in the military to catch Palestinian mortars, but I'm sure it's no worse than the gun play in your trailer park.

Well, it's the festival of lights, so bust a cap from your Uzi for me. And tell Bar Refaeli to quit calling me. You wouldn't guess it, but she's a meshuggeneh through and through.
In reply to this comment by rottenseed:
On a strange, illogical ruling, I am Jewish because my grandmother's vagina is Jewish making my mother's vagina Jewish. As we trickle down the Jewberry bush, I end up being a Jew. Now, the reason why this is illogical (other than the fact that both my mother and I are godless heathens), is the fact that my grandmother is Jewish by choice. Meaning, she doesn't really have Jew goo running through her spider veins. Although she is great at guilting and pronouncing words like how a cat would cough up a hairball, but I think that's all part of the training.

In reply to this comment by kronosposeidon:
Then they're one of your people, the lost tribe of San Diego. I never knew you were a Joo. Happy Chanookah.

In reply to this comment by rottenseed:
It's strange that kid has a Mathews jersey. A rookie for the Chargers. That, along with the terra cotta colored stucco topped with brick leads me to believe these jews are from San Diego.

In reply to this comment by kronosposeidon:
I really feel that you should be the first sifter to post a video from JewTube.