MagicJigPipe
International Hazard
Posts: 1554
Registered: 19-9-2007
Location: USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suspicious
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DHS at My Door
Less than 15 minutes ago an agent with the Department of Homeland Security showed up at my door and asked me, what seemed to be, a standard list of
questions about my former neighbor that moved out last year. He asked bizzare questions like "do you have reason to believe that Mr. Blank was in any
groups planning to overthrow the United States government?". He even asked if I thought he had a meth lab. What does that have to do with homeland
security?
Jesus Christ! Call me paranoid but if this has anything to do with me simply asking for thionyl chloride online then I've lost all faith (what little
was left) in my government.
Damn! My plan of making nerve gas and overthrowing the government is foiled once again! Blast! 
[Edited on 5-12-2007 by MagicJigPipe]
"There must be no barriers to freedom of inquiry ... There is no place for dogma in science. The scientist is free, and must be free to ask any
question, to doubt any assertion, to seek for any evidence, to correct any errors. ... We know that the only way to avoid error is to detect it and
that the only way to detect it is to be free to inquire. And we know that as long as men are free to ask what they must, free to say what they think,
free to think what they will, freedom can never be lost, and science can never regress." -J. Robert Oppenheimer
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Magpie
lab constructor
Posts: 5939
Registered: 1-11-2003
Location: USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Chemistry: the subtle science.
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| Quote: |
"do you have reason to believe that Mr. Blank was in any groups planning to overthrow the United States government?".
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Somehow that just seems like a really dumb question. Does DHS really take such groups that seriously? Or do they just need something to do to
justify their salary that is laid on the backs of us taxpayers?
Do you know anything about your former neighbor that would justify such questions? Or, as you say, perhaps it was just a ruse to check you out abit
(hope not). After all asking about reactive chemicals is highly suspicious, right? 
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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pantone159
National Hazard
Posts: 590
Registered: 27-6-2006
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Member Is Online
Mood: desperate for shade
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Is is possible that your ex-neighbor is getting a background clearance, e.g. he applied for some job that needs a security clearance? Then they might
ask such questions, having no idea that you are up to chlorinating things for no good. 
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MagicJigPipe
International Hazard
Posts: 1554
Registered: 19-9-2007
Location: USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suspicious
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That's very possible because one of the questions was something like, "Would you recommend him for an important government position". And, no, I
didn't know him at all. Him and his family seemed very reserved. Only really going outside to go to the car from what I can remember. The only
information I was able to give them was that they seemed like "reserved" people.
Oh yeah, and he asked if I thought he was a "good American"! Ha! What a 1984ish question.
[Edited on 5-12-2007 by MagicJigPipe]
"There must be no barriers to freedom of inquiry ... There is no place for dogma in science. The scientist is free, and must be free to ask any
question, to doubt any assertion, to seek for any evidence, to correct any errors. ... We know that the only way to avoid error is to detect it and
that the only way to detect it is to be free to inquire. And we know that as long as men are free to ask what they must, free to say what they think,
free to think what they will, freedom can never be lost, and science can never regress." -J. Robert Oppenheimer
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Phosphor-ing
Hazard to Others
Posts: 246
Registered: 31-5-2006
Location: Deep South, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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I believe Pantone159 is probably right.
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evil_lurker
National Hazard
Posts: 767
Registered: 12-3-2005
Location: United States of Elbonia
Member Is Offline
Mood: On the wagon again.
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Personally I'd be concerned that you just got hit with sort of "knock and talk" investigation... if I got such a visit, my lab shit would be boxed up
and moved ASAP, or at least any "sensitive" reagents and relocated off property.
Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in
beer.
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Magpie
lab constructor
Posts: 5939
Registered: 1-11-2003
Location: USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Chemistry: the subtle science.
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| Quote: |
Is is possible that your ex-neighbor is getting a background clearance, e.g. he applied for some job that needs a security clearance?
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I would think that if the DHS agent was doing a background check for a government security clearance he would tell you that up front. And there would
be questions about the persons "morals," i.e., unusual drinking habits, unusual sex preferences, gambling, etc. I've been interviewed in the past for
colleagues who were seeking such clearances. They were very congenial and non-threatening type interviews.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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chloric1
International Hazard
Posts: 1142
Registered: 8-10-2003
Location: GroupVII of the periodic table
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stoichiometrically Balanced
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I need an exit strategy
I was born here, love the country most of my life, but I want out! I need an exit strategy. Even if I sell everything I own, there is something
better than this place
If some DHS idiot asked me if someone was a "good American" I think I would say only if he listens to Shawn Hannity!  roll eyes
Always keep your lab supplies locked up and only handle foul odor reagents between 11pm and 5:30 am.
Fellow molecular manipulator
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Rosco Bodine
Banned
Posts: 6370
Registered: 29-9-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: analytical
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Yeah , let's go knock on that dumbasses door and spin him a yarn about doing a security check on his neighbor
as a ruse to spend a few minutes checking this guy out ,
get a good look at his eyes , do a line of sight search ,
and sniff things out ......you know the drill
Probably best to not even answer the door . Or say its a bad time for a visit , you are busy , come back later .
Big dogs can be a real deterrent for snoopy cops who don't have a good reason as in probable cause to be there . Dogs are a good judge of character
and they have good instincts about threats , they read it in the body language and respond without any ambiguity . If your dogs don't want particular
visitors there , generally trust their judgement
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12AX7
Post Harlot
Posts: 4803
Registered: 8-3-2005
Location: oscillating
Member Is Offline
Mood: informative
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Ponderance:
I was raking leaves the other day. Some officers found a curiosity across the street. After checking it out, one came over to me and asked some
questions.
Am I a suspect?
Actually, I should make this a poll. I think I shall. Don't answer me here, answer in the thread:
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=9592
Tim
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Sauron
International Hazard
Posts: 5351
Registered: 22-12-2006
Location: Barad-Dur, Mordor
Member Is Offline
Mood: metastable
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DHS does not do background investigations for security clearances. There is an entirely seperate agency within DOD that does that, and only that, and
as far as I know they are not considered law enforcement officers, have no police powers and do not carry firearms.
More precisely, DHS might do background checks for clearances for its own employees, but not for defense contractors, military personnel, etc.
Sic gorgeamus a los subjectatus nunc.
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ordenblitz
Hazard to Others
Posts: 259
Registered: 18-7-2004
Location: Northwest
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bohr'd
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The government does not politely sniff around anymore. If they had any suspicions about you they would have shown up with warrant. They are
unfortunately not hard to get. Happens out here all the time in the name of drug war.
[Edited on 6-12-2007 by ordenblitz]
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Sauron
International Hazard
Posts: 5351
Registered: 22-12-2006
Location: Barad-Dur, Mordor
Member Is Offline
Mood: metastable
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If they really thought you had a "clandestine lab" of any variety (drugs, explosives, terrorist) they would not ont only have a warrant but a CLEAT
team Your doors would be knocked down, not on, and then the search would proceed.
CLEAT = Clandestine Laboratory Emergency Action Team.
Other acronyms may be in use but that is the only one I have heard.
Even back in the 80s, when I was still in the special operations weapons business, the drug warriors were starting to put out requests for sound
suppressed weapons specifically designed so that they could be discharged in an ether-saturated environment (clandestine lab usually drug lab) without
setting off the ether.
I guess they were occasionally losing agents to ether explosions and fires touched off by the raid.
I mean, such fires and explosions often happen anyway and are all too often the way law enforcement locates a drug lab after the fact. "Survivors may
be prosected"
Sic gorgeamus a los subjectatus nunc.
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