It's time to chill out

In todays email:

• Unlock Hidden Gems: Must-Watch Series, Movies, and Books.

• Dive into NYC's Best Bars: Local Hangouts You Can't Miss.

• Glamping 101: Best Spots for a Luxe Outdoor Getaway.

• The Radioactive Boy Scout: A Crazy True Story.

CULTURE:
Hidden Gems

Series:

• The Expanse: (2015 - 2022) Set in a future where humanity has colonized the Solar System, it follows a disparate band of protagonists — United Nations Security Council member Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo), cynical detective Josephus Miller (Thomas Jane), and ship's officer James Holden (Steven Strait) and his crew — as they unwittingly unravel and place themselves at the center of a conspiracy that threatens the system's fragile peace, while dealing with existential crises brought forth by newly discovered alien technology.  95% on RT is the perfect series for a marathon.

Movies:

• Whiplash: (2014) Get ready to feel the beat! A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor-tyrant who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential. It's a tale of musical passion,obsession, fierce ambition, and the lengths one will go to achieve greatness. 94% on RT and 8.5 IMDB.

Books:

• Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini.  Discovering what drives human behavior is crucial, especially in sales. Amid the sea of mediocre books on the subject, "Influence" by Robert B. Cialdini stands out. A timeless classic since 1984, it's the go-to guide for understanding the psychology behind the elusive "yes." Cialdini's work, born from three years of covert research in telemarketing, car dealerships, and fundraising, provides practical tactics and strategic insights. It's no wonder "Influence" graces the curriculum of countless business schools across America.

TO DO:
NYC's Coolest Bars

• The Death Rabit: Voted one of the best in the world, The Dead Rabbit is a discreet Irish-American tavern cherished by Financial District professionals and Irish tourists alike. Despite its acclaim as the best bar in America, this gem remains void of stereotypical Irish decor. Founded by two Belfast friends, The Dead Rabbit boasts 145 varieties of Irish whiskey, making it an unrivaled destination for those seeking an authentic and award-winning drinking experience.

• Ha-Weeda Tavern and Billiards: Sunset Park's pool haven awaits Delight your taste buds with Latin-inspired treats and a Caribbean touch, from chicken bacon ranch quesadillas to flavor-packed bowls. Wash it all down with a diverse beer selection. Conveniently located next to the South Brooklyn Ferry, this spot isn't just a pool hall—it's a vibrant group adventure in the heart of NYC. Dive into fun, games, and savory bites all in one place.

• Attaboy: Attaboy, a discreet bar in New York City, skips the flashy signs and menus but delivers a warm neighborhood feel. Formerly the home of Sasha Petraske's groundbreaking Milk & Honey speakeasy, it now stands as a revered spot in mixology. Following Petraske's legacy, Sam Ross and Michael McIlroy serve up modern classics like Ross' Penicillin and Paper Plane, and McIlroy's well-regarded Greenpoint, a unique twist on the Manhattan, in this revered cocktail haven.

TRAVEL:
Glamping: Sleeping under the stars in style

So.. What is glamping? Short for "glamorous camping," is a luxurious and comfortable style of camping that combines the outdoor experience with upscale amenities and accommodations. Unlike traditional camping, which often involves roughing it in tents and sleeping bags, glamping provides more luxurious and sometimes even extravagant facilities. Glamping sites may offer features such as fully furnished tents, comfortable beds, electricity, private bathrooms, gourmet meals, and other amenities that go beyond the basic camping experience. It aims to provide a more comfortable and stylish way to enjoy the beauty of nature without sacrificing modern comforts.

The glamping market research:

The glamping market is undoubtedly on the rise and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.7 percent from 2022 to 2027. It means that the demand is growing and it’s a good time to launch such a business if you’re considering it and if you just want to have a little vacation:

Some of the top companies in this space are:

• Collective Retreats

• Pawsup

• Under Canvas

• Dunton River Camp

STORY:
The Nuclear Boy Scout

Picture this: A kid, hungry for adventure, loves science, and decides building a nuclear reactor is the way to go. Why? Well, he's a bit of a mad lad.

David was always an obsessive goofy kid that enjoyed projects. Even at the young age of six he was known for conducting experiments, and has a deep love and passion for chemistry. It was also at this his parents divorced. Which only made him enjoy his experiments more.

He lived with his mother and her boyfriend on the weekends, and a young kid in a new area with no friends is kind of lonely. So at the age of 10, his grandfather gave him this book, The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments, to help keep him occupied on the weekend, and fuel his love of science.

Even converted his mother’s basement into a lab where he could conduct chemical experiments.

David spent his free time conducting chemical experiments. He once appeared at a scout meeting, "with a bright orange face caused by an overdose of canthaxanthin, which he was taking to test methods of artificial tanning." Then there was the night at camp where his fellow scouts accidentally ignited a pile of powdered magnesium (he wanted to make fireworks).

Now with most families this might be the time that we put a stop to his crazy experiments... well.. no...David's mom just told him to move it to the shed she had outside. So the explosions are now out of sight and out of mind. When he was 14, he earned his Atomic Energy Merit Badge, by building a model of a Nuclear Reactor and writing a few papers on nuclear fission and nuclear energy...this gave David a CRAZY idea.

David decided he wanted to build an actual nuclear reactor in his mom's shed, and because of the lack of parental supervision...he did...He built a breeder reactor...in his Mom's shed over the course of two years...don't tell Iran that.

So how does a Teenager learn how to build a Breeder Reactor and get Nuclear Material?

By pretending to be a physics teacher. First, he called the nuclear Regulatory Commission and the walked him of how to build various components of a breeder reactor.
As well as telling him how to isolate radioactive material.

In order to obtain the materials he would call and write letters to various agencies to get small amounts of radioactive materials from various governmental and industrial agencies. He would also use his teacher persona to get 200 Smoke Detectors, so he could strip the americium out of the sensor. He spent over $1000 dollars on batteries so he could obtain lithium. And he bought a bunch of glow in the dark clocks and camping lanterns from the 1950s (glow in the dark clocks and camping lanterns have small amounts of Radium in them...at least in the 1950s). Oh and he ordered Uranium from Czechoslovakia, because this was right after the Soviet Union fell and it was a thing at the time. He used these materials along with other things like duct tape to make his reactor...and it worked.

He built an unspeakably dangerous thing in his backyard, and the radiation levels kept rising. At one week, David's Geiger counter could detect it from his bedroom...He started getting worried that he might be putting others in danger. At a month he could detect radiation from 5 houses down the street...He began to dismantle his reactor.

At 02:40 on 31 AUG 1994 David began loading his nuclear reactor into his Pontiac. His neighbors thought he was stealing tires. So the Police were called. He told them not to search his car because it was radioactive... Police hear radioactive and think atomic bomb...The bomb squad was called and David was arrested...(also the radiation level in the car alone was 1000 X the normal background levels).

While trying to get rid of it, David was stopped by the police and arrested. The authorities had cleared the shed off all nuclear materials

Charges were later dropped on the condition that David not be allowed back to his Mom's place until the federal authorities had cleared it of all nuclear materials. It took two months for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to say they had no jurisdiction (because it wasn't a regulated nuclear facility). The Detroit Police also said they didn't have jurisdiction.

This ends the saga of David's Nuclear reactor. But his story doesn't end here. In 1995 the EPA wanted to do a full battery of tests on David. The EPA wanted to determine if he had any side effects from his crazy experiments. He refused. But he was healthy enough to join the United States Navy...with the goal of working Nuclear Reactors...he couldn't get that job...the guy that built a nuclear reactor out of homemade chemicals and duct tape.

He served 4 years in the Navy and an additional 3 in the Marine Corps. Sadly David passed away in 2016 and despite the rumors they were not related to his Nuclear Reactor experiment. It was alcohol poisoning.

In the pursuit of building nuclear reactors, David Hahn was not the youngest contender. Taylor Wilson, a 14-year-old from Arkansas, accomplished the feat in 2008. Wilson's nuclear fusion reactor, named "Fusor," utilized an electric field to heat and compress hydrogen gas, achieving nuclear fusion with a plasma core temperature 40 times hotter than the Sun.

While Hahn and Wilson both delved into science at the age of 10, Wilson's approach differed significantly. His inspiration came from a book about David Hahn, a gift from his grandmother on his 10th birthday. Unlike Hahn, Wilson adhered to legal and professional guidelines, ensuring a safer reactor construction. Wilson garnered awards at science fairs, secured federal funding, and earned a Peter Thiel fellowship for his projects.

Presently, Taylor Wilson is an accomplished nuclear scientist, contributing to the development of nuclear technologies. His inventions include a low-cost radiation detector deployed in ports worldwide.

In the end, David Hahn's tale serves as a reminder: the quest for knowledge, unbridled and unguided, can lead to extraordinary feats or dangerous consequences. It's a reminder of the delicate dance between curiosity and responsibility in the pursuit of scientific discovery.