Quality TV

Today I was watching that Mythbusters show and they investigated a myth about a brass player spicing up a performance (the 1812 Overture in their story) by concealing a firecracker inside his mute so as to go off in the middle of the song.  For a band geek it was very entertaining watching the mute be propelled from the trombone bell.  It turns out this works remarkably well (don't try at home).  It shot out quite forcefully even with a relatively small firecracker (enough to hit the conductor forcefully from back in the orchestra), and even with very large explosive charges (which of course they tried), the slide remained in place without being held while the mute rocketed from the bell.  Watching it in slow motion was especially hilarious.