A Mythical Encounter

I was out walking my dog, and I happened to pass a local restaurant when I saw someone familiar.  I was a bit surprised, since this appeared to be someone I knew from TV.  As I got close, I realized that it was who I thought it was, and that there was a another familiar face with him.

They were Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, stars of TV's Mythbusters, which is one of my favorite shows.

For those who don't know, Mythbusters takes on various "myths" which can include urban legends, rumors, adages, movie scenes, Internet videos, and the occasional bit of scientific error.

For example, they have shown that you can teach an old dog new tricks, that two cars hitting each other at 50 mph does not result in the same amount of damage as one car hitting a wall at 100 mph, and that a bullet fired from a gun does hit the ground at the same time as one dropped from the height of the barrel.  That last one proves a classic physics problem that has confounded many students as it seems wrong.  They are, perhaps, the first to ever actually test this.

Of course, I enjoy the show most when they are testing a scientific myth.  Sometimes, it seems, that they just wish to blow things up.  More than a few of their myths involve high explosives.

Of course, it is not at all surprising that I would see them in my neighborhood.  The show is filmed right here in San Francisco, and is headquartered at Hyneman's M5 Industries, a special effects firm that used to provide support to commercials, movies, and TV shows.  Now they primarily produce the show, and provide research and development for other companies.

Much of the show is show in, and around, San Francisco.  It is not unusual to see the cast shopping at places near where I live.  I have long figured that sooner or later I would probably see them in person.  

Actually, I had seen Adam Savage at this year's Macworld.  But it was fun to see the two of them together.  Of course, since they were obviously having a business lunch (it appeared that it was some sort of meeting) I did not interrupt them.  I would have loved to have had the chance to chat with them, but perhaps that opportunity will present itself in the future.

Granted, I fear that I would have either been afraid to speak, or would have quickly started asking for a job (it would be a Geek Girl's dream come true...) and it would have been embarrassing.