Kaizenlog

—————————————+
| Home Science Under Attack In Massachusetts                         |
|   from the and-the-yellow-phthalate-too dept.                      |
|   posted by kdawson on Tuesday August 12, @14:10 (Education)       |
|   http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/12/182243 |
+——————————————————————–+

An anonymous reader tips a guest posting up on the MAKE Magazine blog by
the author of the [0]Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments. It
seems that authorities in Massachusetts have [1]raided a home chemistry
lab, apparently without a warrant, and made off with all of its contents.
Here’s the local article from the [2]Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
“Victor Deeb, a retired chemist who lives in Marlboro, has finally been
allowed to return to his Fremont Street home, after Massachusetts
authorities spent three days ransacking his basement lab and making off
with its contents. Deeb is not accused of making methamphetamine or other
illegal drugs. He’s not accused of aiding terrorists, synthesizing
explosives, nor even of making illegal fireworks. Deeb fell afoul of the
Massachusetts authorities for… doing experiments… Pamela Wilderman,
the code enforcement officer for [the Massachusetts town of] Marlboro
stated, ‘I think Mr. Deeb has crossed a line somewhere. This is not what
we would consider to be a customary home occupation.’ Allow me to
translate Ms. Wilderman’s words into plain English: ‘Mr. Deeb hasn’t
actually violated any law or regulation that I can find, but I don’t like
what he’s doing because I’m ignorant and irrationally afraid of
chemicals, so I’ll abuse my power to steal his property and shut him
down.’”

Discuss this story at:
http://news.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=08/08/12/182243

Links:
0. http://www.makershed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=9780596514921&click=19209
1. http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/08/home_science_under_attack.html
2. http://www.telegram.com/article/20080809/NEWS/808090323/1008/