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"Breaking Bad" At the National Institute of Standards and Technology
sciencehabit writes: Police are investigating whether an explosion inside a Maryland federal laboratory was the result of an effort to make drugs. Authorities who responded to the explosion at the National Institute of Standards and Technology found pseudoephedrine, Epsom salt and other materials associated with the manufacture of meth. Federal and local law enforcement agencies are investigating the cause of the explosion and if a security guard injured in the blast might have been involved. Sciencemag reports: "Representative Lamar Smith (R–TX), chairman at the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, got involved today, expressing grave concern over the incident in a letter to Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. NIST is part of the Commerce Department. 'I am troubled by the allegations that such dangerous and illicit activity went undetected at a federal research facility. It is essential that we determine exactly where the breakdown in protocol occurred and whether similar activities could be ongoing at other federal facilities,' wrote Smith in an accompanying press release. He has requested a briefing with NIST no later than 29 July."
I guess that's one way to take care of the Federal Deficit.
An internal system operation returned the error "The operation completed successfully.".
The Spokesman for NIST, when announcing it right after coming from a dentist appointment, and his mouth was numb, said "The asplosion made a real meth of the place"
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
It is highly illicit, if you are using employer-provided equipment to do that — contrary to the employer's wishes.
In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
Take things with a grain of salt. Many of these "high tech meth lab" cases are someone using a couple of soda bottles and plastic straws to make meth with ingredients they bought at Walmart.
It may have been a random building worker doing this. If it were one of the scientists, I'd be surprised they'd be using drain cleaner as the sodium hydroxide rather than just getting some out of the lab. It's one of the most common lab chemicals.
They were probably just making a reference sample.
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
Or anyone with huge medical bills.
Old joke: Q: have you heard of the British version of Breaking Bad? A man finds out he has cancer and gets 5 years of free excellent health care.
putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+
You think watching porn on a work computer is "highly outrageous and unimaginable to anybody"?? What the hell are you doing on slashdot? I am pretty sure I have never worked anywhere where I did not come across porn in someone's history, and I bet the same could be said for the numerous sysadmins here.
Sorry, teleporters just kill you and then make a copy. A perfect, soul-less copy.
Here we go... A relatively routine law enforcement matter is going to become a political pseudo-scandal. Scientists are evil and corrupt, so how can we trust them about climate change or evolution? Perhaps the drugs were being made at Obama's personal request. Why else would Lamar Smith be taking and interest?
Reading the articles, baby.
In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
Then you're doing it wrong.
You are welcome on my lawn.
Watching porn is not dangerous
You, sir, are not watching the right kind of porn.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Not all "cooks" work out of caravans (what they call trailers in the USA). Chemistry labs in universities are frequently used by students, and occasionally staff, to produce illegal drugs. Even Lidcombe Analytical Labs where seized drugs are tested for court has had similar incidents.
The (Oz) Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry used to occupy a building in Barton, Canberra. In the warren of large storage rooms in the lower basement filled with old furniture and equipment a cannabis grow room was once discovered. And two separate areas where people were living. No one was charged with the grow op, and it was quietly cleaned out. Two rooms along, sharing the same ventilation system was where the Quarantine Inspection Service dog handlers worked - and they would frequently do some of the "find the sock with the pot" training in the shared basement loading bays. Must of confused the hell out of the dogs (or maybe just the trainers). Especially given the number of IT staff who worked out of rooms in the same corridors and were known for using the same carpark for sharing a quick joint at lunchtime when it was raining outside.
Several times I'd gotten out of a lift down to the basement with people that reeked of reefer and we've all had to walk past drug sniffing dogs being walked the other way along the corridors. I often wondered if AQIS detection rates at the airport could have been a little higher.
That same building is now home to the Australian Federal Police - whenever I've visited the lower basement level I've wondered whether the tradition continues.
Lousy joke. Walter White wasn't trying to pay medical bills so much as provide for his family after his death.