[Korth]

In case any of you didn't know, the newer digital thermometers and alcohol thermometers are not as accurate as mercury thermometers. They thus are denying us the most accurate, reliable way to take temperatures, as well as violating the tenth amendment. Note that the republicans, those champions of individual liberty, voted for this ban as well.

[RightWhale]

the newer digital thermometers and alcohol thermometers are not as accurate as mercury thermometers

A mercury barometer is really something. Mercury thermometers have the advantage of working over a wider temperature range than alcohol thermometers, that's all.

[abner]

I used to have a neon manufacturing facility. Mercury is used in the manufacture of neon. We would buy mercury by the pound. It is very nasty stuff. There is always the issue of disposal. I would never do it, but I always thought the best and cheapest way to dispose of mercury would be to just ship it to Iraq via post.

[Eala]

17 tons of mercury

At 1 gram/thermometer, that works out to 15,422,000 broken thermometers/year. That assumes, of course, that all the mercury from every broken thermometer winds up in landfill. Something doesn't seem quite right here...

[VOYAGER]

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates medical mercury thermometers contribute about 17 tons of mercury to solid waste per year, said Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican and chief sponsor of the measure.

Mrs. Collins along with most of the rest of the arrogant overbearing women in the congress and in the administration would accomplish more worthwhile things if they would just go home, clean the commode, mow the lawn and submit themselves unto their own husbands instead of being the self appointed nannies for the nation.

We have enough trouble with the lying stealing men in the congress and the administration!

Who needs these airheads disrupting the national life with their frivolously silly ideas?

[Calvin Locke]

...violating the tenth amendment.

Not that I'm disagreeing, but Vermont went through this nonsense last year. I remember in a statistics class I
took for my MBA. Paper companies in Maine were taxed on the mercury in their discharge because it speeded up the
"natural" accumulation of mercury in that was already being carried by the rivers downstream.

Similarly effects were notice with wood-fired generator plants. The pine needles contain cadmium leeched from the soil.

[pbranham]

When I saw this thread, I went down to the local Walgreen's to hoard some mercury thermometers for myself. However, there was not a one to be found. They are all digital and mercury-free.

So do they even sell mercury thermometers anymore?

[harrowup]

Much Ado About Nothing

All mercury thermometers were withdrawn from the market in 1968....

...they were contaminated with

tuna

(non-albacore).

[Ohioan]

While the Constitution grants Congress the right to provide uniform weights and measures, it certainly never envisioned this sort of silly business. I guess that every one had better go out and buy up any thermometers they can, while they can.

Mercury is, of course, a natural element. It is too bad that neither party is Congress seems able to cope with reality, nature or the restraints on arbitrary power that were second nature to those who gave us America.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[finnman69]

Unbelievable, tomorrow is 9/11 and this is what they are working on?

[Revolting cat!]

"Well if i had money
Tell you what I'd do
I'd go downtown and buy a Mercury or two
Crazy bout a Mercury
Lord I'm crazy bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury
And cruise it up and down the road"

-- Mercury Blues (Robert L Geddins/KC Douglas)

[Contra]

This was sent to the House where perhaps lunacy won't prevail. But I wouldn't count on it.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

...as well as violating the tenth amendment...

Bingo!

1. Technology was solving the problem anyway.

2. We are talking about a tiny amount of mercury contamination.

3. Inventers are now inhibited from new ideas.

4. It violates our rights.

[mware]

I can not believe this!!!!

The Senate has time to vote on this bill but not time to bring up the Partial Birth Abortion Ban??????

[boris]

I used to play with liquid mercury as a kid. Now they'd call out the frikkin Haz-mat squad.

Mercury has a low vapor pressure. Ask Torricelli (the one who invented the mercury barometer).

If you heat the metal (boil it) the fumes are deadly.

The liquid metal is about as dangerous as laundry soap at room temperature. I wouldn't recommend drinking it...

--Boris

[steamroller]

Mercury is an element.You cannot make more or less of it.there is a constant amount of mercury present in this world.If you shot it off into space on a rocket I guess you could get rid of some,but that sounds ridiculous.The greens would probably raise their eyebrows on that,but they probably don't care for rockets(exhaust).;)