What an odd sentiment. There's nothing illegal about looking that up, or knowing how people do it. Honestly, I don't think I've ever met a good chemist that hasn't looked it up -- the kind of ingenuity in synthesis that is born from not having access to a laboratory (or good precursors / solvents) is fascinating. Very MacGyver.
Out of curiosity, what do you think happens if you look it up? How did you come by this information without having similar concerns?
(Although I have heard of room 641A, I honestly don't know very much about this)
They find the pdf on your computer at the border, lock you in a room, shout at you for hours, tickle your prostate just for fun and then send you home?
There have been multiple cases of licensed MDMA researchers being denied entry to the US for having such materials, or for having admitted that they took the drugs once. I wish I could find the link, maybe I'll be back with it later.
Hmm. So while I admit you can find examples of people receiving such harassment, I don't think you can make the case that such events are common or likely the experience you will have. People generally get angry when they hear about stuff like your link. It's newsworthy for a reason (rare + outrageous). Government employees are people too, it's not like anyone acts deliberately oppressive.
Besides, that cost benefit ratio sounds worth it. (very rare chance of harassment and molestation) vs (very real chance of learning something awesome)
I guess I'm curious how much money you'd charge to store such pdfs on your hard drive forever -- more than $100? more than $1000?
I'll do it for $10 :p
BTW it sounds like you really should look up Room 641A -- this conversation and your IP were logged. Talking about evading security is probably way worse than taking about meth.
Edit: You'd have to ask the folks at Boing Boing.
From the end of the article on BB: "* Note the name of the authors, and that of the journal. It's parody, folks."