[Bernard Marx]

It was impossible not to notice the magazine's wierd tone, which seemed to imply that the kid was deeply disturbed, living in a fantasy world that was indicative of some kind of psycho-pathology, or maybe a mild form of retardation.

This is Harper's, remember? The second I read "nuclear" and "Harper's" in the same sentence I knew what the slant would be in that left wing pinko rag.

The editors clearly intend to scare the hell out of their liberal readers by implying that end-of-the-world breeder reactors can be built by any kid next door. By association, if he happens to be an evil Boy Scout working on merit badges, he's probably out to do in the World as We Know It. This is such a predictable hit piece it's almost laughable.

Your early experiments amused me. I recalled my adventures with a well-stocked Gilbert's Chemistry Set many years ago when you could purchase sulphuric acid, etc., at the corner drug store and potassium nitrate in the spice section at the grocery store (they labeled it saltpeter). I made hydrogen, fused glass, cranked out lots of home-built gunpowder, grew crystals, distilled alcohol, made carbide cannons, etc. I did minor damage to some unimportant property but didn't hurt anyone. I grew up to be a productive law-abiding adult with all my original parts. I even owned a Red Ryder BB gun (several, in fact) and still have both eyes.

[Rebelbase]

"potassium nitrate in the spice section at the grocery store (they labeled it saltpeter)."

30 yeares ago I used to get it at the drug store but it cost a lot for a pharmecutically refined bottle so our smokebombs were small, few and far between.

That is until I discovered you could buy it by the pound, bulk at the feed store for next to nothing.

[Petronski]

I even owned a Red Ryder BB gun (several, in fact) and still have both eyes.

Oh miracle of miracles! How did you ever do that?