Re:The radioactive boy scout: the teenager who attempted to ...
by jibiki on Saturday May 16, 2009 @03:12PM
(#612478)
On the other hand, it's hard to argue that David Hahn's reactor should have been legal.
Re:The radioactive boy scout: the teenager who attempted to ...
by asciilifeform on Saturday May 16, 2009 @03:19PM
(#612486)
"May as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb."
The legal thing to do was to sit and vegetate in front of a TV set. Or beat smaller kids senseless. Or any of the other socially approved, mindless activities open to children today. He chose to be a free spirit, and paid the price.
Re:The radioactive boy scout: the teenager who attempted to ...
by jibiki on Saturday May 16, 2009 @03:27PM
(#612502)
The point is, he endangered his neighbors. I'm sort of ambivalent about the story. Should society let people build reactors? Sure. Should it let them build reactors in an unshielded toolshed in a residential area? Hell no, but it's still sort of awesome when it happens. And I'm not sure if it's really more dangerous (from a societal perspective) than owning a car.
It leaves us here:
http://memepunks.blogspot.com/2006/06/americas-war-on-scienc...
and ultimately, here:
http://yarchive.net/physics/effete.html
Linus Pauling developed an interest in chemistry by experimenting incessantly throughout his childhood. Today, he would have been imprisoned. The new generation will have no Linus Pauling, unless the Third World - where one might still purchase a beaker without a license - supplies us with one.