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The article is from 2006, but is still valid. The Consumer Products Safety Commission in its crusade to make everything idiot proof has neutered the once ubiquitous chemistry set. (Lawsuit happiness probably contributed.) The war on drugs has made it illegal to purchase common laboratory glassware without a background check.

Last week my SO had to repack her cosmetics case into checked luggage because she had more tha 3 oz. of lotions and such. To top it off some TSA idiot spilled perfume into her suitcase. She is now sick because she has multiple chemical sensitivity and her clothes are probably unusable.



> The war on drugs has made it illegal to purchase common laboratory glassware without a background check

If only that were all. Try getting Aldrich Inc. (or any other chemical vendor) to ship anything at all to a non-corporate address. And may the gods help you if your neighbors catch a glimpse of glassware through your basement window or smell a solvent: be prepared to stare down a SWAT team's rifle barrel at 3 in the morning.


A. In the future, everyone (in U.S.) will be provided at birth:

1) Social Security Number (though Social Secutity be bankrupt)

2) Corporate identity and EIN (knowing parents will insist on it for their little future entrepreneurs, anyway).

B. Then Aldrich, et al. will provide other restrictions on shipping.

C. Knowing parents/criminals/etc. will start the next workaround.

[ Go to B. ]

:: Dictionary entry for "insanity" finally changed to "continuing to do the same thing while expecting different results." ::




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