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Errant 'Mythbusters' cannonball hits East Bay house
San Jose Mercury News ^ | 12/7/11 | Paul Thissen

Posted on 12/07/2011 1:10:13 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom

A cannonball misfired by the "Mythbusters" TV show crew blasted through an East Dublin home Tuesday afternoon while its occupants were asleep. It then smashed through a window of a minivan parked a few hundred feet away.

No one was injured, and the home's residents did not wake up until the dust was settling on top of them, said an Alameda County Sheriff's Office spokesman.

The cannon was shot at the Sheriff's Office bomb range behind Santa Rita Jail about 4:15 p.m., said the spokesman, J.D. Nelson, who is also a consultant for the Discovery Channel TV show. He had been at the site with show producers all day, he said, though he said he was not by the cannon when it fired.

Producers have used that cannon -- which they built -- at the range more than 50 times without incident, Nelson said. Tuesday was different.

The cannonball was supposed to go through a few water-filled barrels and a concrete wall. Instead, it passed over the barrels, through the wall, and then took a "very unfortunate bounce that sent the ball skyward," Nelson said.

About 700 feet away, it bounced in front of a home on Cassata Place, then tore upward through the home's front door and out midway up the back wall of the two-story house. Light could be seen shining through a round, cantaloupe-sized hole from inside the house out to Tassajara Road.

The cannonball then bounced at least once more, crossing the four-lane Tassajara Road, before smashing the window and dashboard of the minivan. It came to rest inside the vehicle, parked in a driveway at Bellevue Circle and Springvale Road.

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: California; Unclassified
KEYWORDS: cannon; cannonball; mythbusters; oops
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Oops! The article on this screw-up over at The Blaze has a great comment from SMITHCLAR3NC3: "I guess that family is getting ready to bust the the myth that they can’t have a new bigger house with a porsche in the driveway, fulling enclosed in-ground pool, and a new recroom with pool table, fully stocked bar and a jacuzzi."


1 posted on 12/07/2011 1:10:25 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Wow. I thought the bomb range was further away from homes. D’oh. I’m glad that no one got hurt.


2 posted on 12/07/2011 1:17:15 PM PST by kosciusko51 (Enough of "Who is John Galt?" Who is Patrick Henry?)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I’m guessing this will be the most watched episode of Mythbusters.


3 posted on 12/07/2011 1:21:25 PM PST by The Sons of Liberty (Psalm 109:8 Let his days be few and let another take his office. - Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Well, there’s your problem!


4 posted on 12/07/2011 1:23:04 PM PST by fhayek
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
Car owner was lucky no one was in the car, and lucky the car was trashed; it looks like a Windstar - worst vehicle I ever owned.

Make them replace it w/ a Toyota.

5 posted on 12/07/2011 1:25:04 PM PST by 70times7 (Serving Free Republics' warped and obscure humor needs since 1999!)
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To: kosciusko51
“We are professionals - don't try wrecking someone else’s home at home”
6 posted on 12/07/2011 1:27:20 PM PST by 70times7 (Serving Free Republics' warped and obscure humor needs since 1999!)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I believe my Home Owner’s Insurance covers Wind, Fire, Water and Missle damage. Not so sure Cannonfire is covered.


7 posted on 12/07/2011 1:27:43 PM PST by Hodar ( Who needs laws; when this FEELS so right?)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
A pity, I would have let them shoot a cannonball through my house just to meet them and appear on the show. By far the most entertaining show on TV.
8 posted on 12/07/2011 1:27:58 PM PST by apillar
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

See Also:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2817137/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2816988/posts


9 posted on 12/07/2011 1:28:12 PM PST by Keith in Iowa (Hope & Change - I'm out of hope, and change is all I have left every week | FR Class of 1998 |)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

That is soooooo cool.

Where is the picture of the two rednecks saying, “It blowd up reel good”?


10 posted on 12/07/2011 1:31:24 PM PST by JusPasenThru (HEY UNION MEMBER: INVEST IN YOUR OWN DAMN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A CHANGE!)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

What is it they always say, “Don’t try this at home. We are professionals with years of experience doing these sorts of things.” :)


11 posted on 12/07/2011 1:31:38 PM PST by fulltlt
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To: JusPasenThru
Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos
12 posted on 12/07/2011 1:37:12 PM PST by JusPasenThru (HEY UNION MEMBER: INVEST IN YOUR OWN DAMN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A CHANGE!)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

4:15 p.m. and the occupants of the home were asleep?


13 posted on 12/07/2011 1:42:05 PM PST by Veggie Todd (I don't mind you hitting me, Frank, but take it easy on the Bacardi.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I’ve seen a lot of comments like that too. I don’t understand why the residents of a house damaged in the incident deserve anything more than to have their property repaired.

It really is strange, when you stop to think about it, why so many people seem to get settlements because of something that COULD have happened.

I think I might sue the next guy who cuts me off in traffic. He could have killed me!


14 posted on 12/07/2011 1:42:29 PM PST by ruiner
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To: Keith in Iowa
Yeah, I searched after I posted. Mea culpa. Oh well, lots of people see the tenth post of a major story having missed the first nine.
15 posted on 12/07/2011 1:47:08 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Duct Tape will fix it.


16 posted on 12/07/2011 1:49:36 PM PST by lacrew (Mr. Soetoro, we regret to inform you that your race card is over the credit limit.)
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To: ruiner

You are right...too many ambulance-chasing lawyers have really changed our society for the worse.


17 posted on 12/07/2011 1:49:56 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: kosciusko51
It's all fun and games until the boarding party arrives.


18 posted on 12/07/2011 2:04:31 PM PST by 6SJ7 (Meh.)
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To: The Sons of Liberty

I doubt we will get to see this one.

At least not until the case is settled.

The part I liked best was this.”He had been at the site with show producers all day, he said, though he said he was not by the cannon when it fired. “

I bet no one else admits to being by it either LMAO.


19 posted on 12/07/2011 2:08:00 PM PST by Venturer
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Was the minivan a DODGE?


20 posted on 12/07/2011 2:18:09 PM PST by bunkerhill7
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