PLEASE TRY IT AT HOME
Liability concerns and the federal government have essentially banned home labs. Wired has all of the sad details and some websites that can assist with workarounds.
It really is sad, and for HEKs more than a little frustrating. How are you supposed to do any kind of chemistry experiments if it’s illegal to purchase the chemicals or the glassware? The crystal meth excuse is just that, an excuse. That synthesis is so simple, and the ingredients are still readily available: red phosphorous from matchbook covers, iodine and pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) from the local drug store, and acetone from Home Depot. So the cookers can make all the crystal meth they want, and kids are deprived of the joy of making stink bombs. Just dumb! [H/T: Becky]
10 Responses to “PLEASE TRY IT AT HOME”
 Comment by Alasandra June 26th, 2007 at 9:03 pm |
Lord Epa came up with a recipe for a lovely stink bomb. I found it when cleaning his room. It is an experience I will never forget. I have a feeling BOYS will always find a way to make stink bombs. |
 Comment by Crimson Wife June 26th, 2007 at 9:16 pm |
You’d think that the government had nothing better to do than worry about chemistry experiments… |
 Comment by sam June 26th, 2007 at 10:23 pm |
Who needs stink bombs when I can get take out from Senor Taco? Crude,yes, but someone had to say it. |
 Comment by Andrea June 27th, 2007 at 9:22 am |
Right, because people breaking the law are going to stop if what they’re doing is *more* illegal? |
 Comment by JJ Ross June 28th, 2007 at 7:39 pm |
We were with a dance group at a Carolina Roadhouse the other night, whereupon the young, independent 16-year-oldI was chaperoning for the trip read aloud from the menu in bold black letter, what is apparently SC LAW: no one under 18 years of age may order a steak prepared to less than 155 degrees of heat. And I thought seat belt laws went too far. |
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Comment by JJ Ross June 28th, 2007 at 9:01 pm |
OTOH, smoking apparently is still allowed indoors in SC (this never occurred to me, it’s like being in Paris!) where children are eating and breathing . . . as long as they aren’t eating rare beef, the State of SC is satisfied. |
 Comment by Daryl Cobranchi June 29th, 2007 at 5:44 pm |
The restaurant may have been misinterpreting the law. According to the Charleston paper, it only applies to burgers. |
 Comment by JJ Ross June 30th, 2007 at 7:21 am |
State paternalism based on the pocketbook? Kids who can buy themselves steak can order it rare and take their chances, but all the burger buyers require public protection? Sounds like ps! 🙂 |
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Comment by JJ Ross June 30th, 2007 at 7:31 am |
Hmmm, looks to me like this paternalistic law isn’t discriminatory by class after all, did you read the whole story? “State law requires all potentially hazardous foods to be cooked to at least 145 degrees, except poultry, poultry stuffings, stuffed meats, stuffed pasta, and stuffings containing meat that should be cooked to 165 degrees, and pork and any food containing pork, game animals, comminuted fish and meat, roast beef, and beef steak to 155 degrees.” Roast beef and beef steak to 155, yes? But I don’t see the part about age discrimination because this seems to apply to everyone, not just the PG-restricted under 18s? |
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Comment by JJ Ross June 30th, 2007 at 7:45 am |
Sorry, now I see it. And pregnant women and the elderly, demented or not, are cut from the herd for special paternalistic protection too, as if they were juveniles, but it’s not quite forced on them yet: |