Mythbusting

There seems to be a prevailing myth that if you live in Australia, you can code at the beach. Obviously those who believe this haven't considered the practicalities of the situation.

1. It's hard to read a laptop in the sun.
2. While you can rinse sand off your feet on the way out, it's harder to do the same thing to your laptop.
3. Most software geeks I know would instantly turn from pale-minty-green to fuchsia the moment they place a toe in the sand.
4. You would get a very scornful look from the Aussies on the beach.

While I'm talking about myths, there was a very interesting thing on "The Science Show" last weekend. It was all about the TV show Mythbusters and how it's actually Australian. (Who woulda known?)

Despite all this myth busting activity, two myths lie at the very heart of the show. The first is simple to bust; Mythbusters is not an American television show. For all its massive international popularity, its devoted audience of many millions across all continents, its American hosts, locations, themes, its spin-off books, DVDs and t-shirts, Mythbusters is in fact an Australian television show made by Australians, largely in Australia.

Except for the trans-Atlantic adornments that have made it an international success, Mythbusters is all-Oz. If you listen closely when they do a particularly camera-shaking explosion, you might just hear one of the crew say, 'Jesus! That was close!' Oh yes! It came as a surprise to me too when I started work on the show. I thought I might be off to San Francisco. Instead I was asked to drive to Artarmon in Sydney.

Australians make the most successful science series on the largest cable channel on the planet, screened to legions of fans around the world with an influence on other television programs that you can truly and reasonably describe as awesome. In terms of audience, influence, interest and explosions, Mythbusters is simply the most successful factual program ever made.

(Nicholas Searle, The Science Show)

After listening, I can't help but be grumpy at Adam Spencer. Nicholas Searle discusses how he attempted to promote his new show (Sleek Geeks) by slamming the scientific-ness of Mythbusters.

Will Mythbusters save the human civilisation from extinction? It's too early to say. Is Mythbusters an entertaining science television show that fulfils a host of valuable purposes? Who could sensibly argue otherwise? Well, Australia's smartest breakfast radio host did. Late last year, Adam Spencer told The Sydney Morning Herald; 'Mythbusters just depresses me, especially when it has phrases in its ads like, 'Beware, science happening!' There's no science happening in Mythbusters. I would say it's constructively anti-scientific.'

(Nicholas Searle, The Science Show)

I recognize that Dr. Karl is a national icon, so I painfully watched several episodes of Sleek Geeks. It's like going back to a restaurant you went to on the first night - you know the service might get better. But, all considered, I think I've just lost all my good will towards the show.

I love Mythbusters too much.