Broke into an abandoned, partially-burned out house about 20 years ago, in the basement they had old-style apparently hand-cast small bottles (with corks in them, no less) one of which contained about an inch (about a cubic inch) of mercury, unsurprisingly in liquid form. It was pretty cool to pour it back and forth from one hand to the other, until it touched my hs class ring and instantly stripped all the gold plating off of it. (Damn you, stoichiometry!)

No idea where that ring is, don't really care, what a waste of money, the school shut down 5 years ago, f*ck your stupid religion and your silly imaginary gods; you are just not that important.

/also had a copy of the master key to the school, boy that was fun, going through all the old offices off the mezzanine level between 1st floor and cafeteria

Jesus farking God. Government schooling at it's finest.

Oh, for farks sake...

urban.derelict: It was pretty cool to pour it [Mercury] back and forth from one hand to the other,


This explains... much

Dancin_In_Anson: Jesus farking God. Government schooling at it's finest.

In all fairness-students were told not to bring mercury. Kinda silly to go into lockdown.

stratagos: urban.derelict: It was pretty cool to pour it [Mercury] back and forth from one hand to the other,


This explains... much

I, too, handled raw mercury from a broken thermometer as a kid, poured it from hand to hand and yes, it was pretty cool--with no ill effects btw.*

* aside from a multiyear string of unexplained episodes, anti-social behavior, binge drinking, etc... which may, or may not be attributable to mercury poisoning.

Curious, why not ask a scientist?

hammettman: stratagos: urban.derelict: It was pretty cool to pour it [Mercury] back and forth from one hand to the other,


This explains... much

I, too, handled raw mercury from a broken thermometer as a kid, poured it from hand to hand and yes, it was pretty cool--with no ill effects btw.*

* aside from a multiyear string of unexplained episodes, anti-social behavior, binge drinking, etc... which may, or may not be attributable to mercury poisoning.

Curious, why not ask a scientist?

Yep and yep...We did it in science class.

Fark: School gets locked down over a thermometer


They sound mercurial.

Frickin' pikers, in my day we'd have risen to that challenge by bringing in AT LEAST an ounce of Plutonium-even if we DID have to rip off the Libyans to get it.

Stupid Mercury.

Now I can't show the class my Polonium.

Dancin_In_Anson: Jesus farking God. Government schooling at it's finest.

It's stupid, yes. But I fail to see why the "government" part was necessary or relevant. Public schools are hardly the only places with dopey, zero-tolerance policies and disproportionate, hysterical behavior.

UMTIR?

// unwanted mercury thermometer in rectum?

// Hey, don't shoot the messenger.

No one was put in harm's way, but a hazmat crew was there as a precaution.

Seriously? I don't even..

brantgoose: Stupid Mercury.

Now I can't show the class my Polonium.

Pussy. I go plutonium or I go home.

Don' tell them there's mercury in all those 4ft. fluorescent lights hanging over their heads.

The stupid has infected this country. Time to start over.

As long as the themometer is not broken it is still safe enough to put up your bum.

Wha? When did a mercury thermometer become hazardous? There must have been hundreds of those things around my school, especially, you know, for taking the temperature of things in Science class.

Take away science and all you get is... Floridians.

urban.derelict: No idea where that ring is, don't really care, what a waste of money, the school shut down 5 years ago, f*ck your stupid religion and your silly imaginary gods; you are just not that important.

You mad bro?

Now what am I going to do with all of this radium?

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OH LORD

*Floridian Facepalm

True Fact: Mercury is a vicious sentient susbstance that can leap in the mouth of unsuspecting victims from three meters away.

That school is guilty of criminal negligence for not calling in the army.

In my gradeschool, they let us play with Mercury, wtf?!?!

I'm told that iPhone V6 will use mercury switch to sense orientation, getting rid of those pesky gyroscopes and accelerometers.

Jesus flipping Christ. I'm a chemist. I speak with authority: mercury is really not that toxic. Doctors used to prescribe it as a laxative. Granted, you don't want to be around if someone drops it on a stove, as inhaling the vapor can cause problems, but this school is completely buttfarking stupid. I could list a dozen things more toxic than mercury that are allowed in school.

Which isn't to say the assignment wasn't stupid. Literally "everything is from the periodic table."

While we were taking a very tough Biology exam, our teacher dropped a chunk of sodium in a beaker of water. (Just for the lulz.) Did a hell of a lot more damage than a damned thermometer.

The Irresponsible Captain: Wha? When did a mercury thermometer become hazardous? There must have been hundreds of those things around my school, especially, you know, for taking the temperature of things in Science class.

Take away science and all you get is... Floridians.

If the thermometer breaks, the mercury cleanup is a pain in the ass. Given the potential to damage particularly if theres aluminum the mercury can get to, calling professionals saved money if anything went wrong. Usually, it's a money loser, but if it's done every single time Hg might be spilled, that overreaction probably saves money.

Would be funnier if it were a digital thermometer.

Diogenes: Dancin_In_Anson: Jesus farking God. Government schooling at it's finest.

It's stupid, yes. But I fail to see why the "government" part was necessary or relevant. Public schools are hardly the only places with dopey, zero-tolerance policies and disproportionate, hysterical behavior.

In order to have nonsensical bureaucratic activity, it usually requires a government to be involved.
It just doesn't replicate much in a small school environment. Not that it could not happen. If a teacher or administrator happened to also be an HOA board member, you might see some of the same fine qualities that produce OC rules.

gerbilpox: While we were taking a very tough Biology exam, our teacher dropped a chunk of sodium in a beaker of water. (Just for the lulz.) Did a hell of a lot more damage than a damned thermometer.

It's better to teach the kids about sodium using that rock and roll music they like so much ...


MST3K Horror at Party Beach - Sodium!

lohphat: Don' tell them there's mercury in all those 4ft. fluorescent lights hanging over their heads.

The stupid has infected this country. Time to start over.

My gym had mercury vapor lights in the ceiling.


Like these:


/I think most sports arenas and stadiums and street lights use them as well.

I have a couple of those thermometers that I still use to take my temperature. If you don't break them, those things never seem to wear out!

Abe Vigoda's Ghost

urban.derelict: No idea where that ring is, don't really care, what a waste of money, the school shut down 5 years ago, f*ck your stupid religion and your silly imaginary gods; you are just not that important.

You mad bro?

Tickle Mittens: The Irresponsible Captain: Wha? When did a mercury thermometer become hazardous? There must have been hundreds of those things around my school, especially, you know, for taking the temperature of things in Science class.

Take away science and all you get is... Floridians.

If the thermometer breaks, the mercury cleanup is a pain in the ass. Given the potential to damage particularly if theres aluminum the mercury can get to, calling professionals saved money if anything went wrong. Usually, it's a money loser, but if it's done every single time Hg might be spilled, that overreaction probably saves money.

Plus, HAZMAT Team must make sure budget cuts never effect them.

The Irresponsible Captain: Wha? When did a mercury thermometer become hazardous? There must have been hundreds of those things around my school, especially, you know, for taking the temperature of things in Science class.

Take away science and all you get is... Floridians.

Try finding a medical mercury thermometer these days.

Came to see if anybody pointed out the differences in liquid mercury vs vapor...

Looks like we are covered.

Tommy Moo: I could list a dozen things more toxic than mercury that are allowed in school.

Just give them something to read.

 

/tell them to get hammered

In my junior high school physics class we had a beaker with about 2 inches of mercury for anybody to play with. Also had a baby in a jar.

Tommy Moo: Jesus flipping Christ. I'm a chemist. I speak with authority: mercury is really not that toxic. Doctors used to prescribe it as a laxative. Granted, you don't want to be around if someone drops it on a stove, as inhaling the vapor can cause problems, but this school is completely buttfarking stupid. I could list a dozen things more toxic than mercury that are allowed in school.

Which isn't to say the assignment wasn't stupid. Literally "everything is from the periodic table."

Seriously, it'll just be 30 kids with aluminum cans and the one smartass who "brought nitrogen."

abhorrent1: No one was put in harm's way, but a hazmat crew was there as a precaution.

Seriously? I don't even..

Yes. Seriously. This is what could have happened to those snowflakes:

I'd like to get one of those periodic tables. It would go great with my occasional chair.

Hey, that's right down the street from where "Macho Man" Randy Savage died!

...a coincidence...???

The school was locked down while admins checked out what else students brought, not just because of a mercury-filled thermometer. I'm disappointed that those kids couldn't find anything more hazardous in their homes.

mcreadyblue: Tickle Mittens: The Irresponsible Captain: Wha? When did a mercury thermometer become hazardous? There must have been hundreds of those things around my school, especially, you know, for taking the temperature of things in Science class.

Take away science and all you get is... Floridians.

If the thermometer breaks, the mercury cleanup is a pain in the ass. Given the potential to damage particularly if theres aluminum the mercury can get to, calling professionals saved money if anything went wrong. Usually, it's a money loser, but if it's done every single time Hg might be spilled, that overreaction probably saves money.

Plus, HAZMAT Team must make sure budget cuts never effect them.

Well, any area of any size has to have one, just in case. So there are a lot of sunk costs. The real cost of the incident are tax-free gas that might not otherwise have been used, and what? I think it's a big deal over nothing like anyone else, I just don't see the authorities' response as particularly irrational. It's Florida and no one ended up shot, doesn't that have to be marked in the "Win" column?

Would a jar of dog piss count?

You know, K₉P...

Not this shiat again...

<u>Elemental</u> mercury is NOT dangerous unless you go out of your way to make it so! You can farking drink it with little effect, hell, you can INJECT it and have only relatively minor problems. Breathing the vapors, on the other hand, can be a big problem, as can organic mercury compounds.

<a target="_blank" href="http://mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/p hys/mercury.htm">Mercury </a>

Pay special attention to the section "Mercury as a Poison".

AugieDoggyDaddy: Also had a baby in a jar.

From a long ago photoshop contest:

Not this shiat again...

Elemental mercury is NOT dangerous unless you go out of your way to make it so! You can farking drink it with little effect, hell, you can INJECT it and have only relatively minor problems. Breathing the vapors, on the other hand, can be a big problem, as can organic mercury compounds.

Mercury

Pay special attention to the section "Mercury as a Poison".

BarkingUnicorn: The school was locked down while admins checked out what else students brought, not just because of a mercury-filled thermometer. I'm disappointed that those kids couldn't find anything more hazardous in their homes.

HAZMAT was as much a precaution against lawsuits as anything else. Prudent response.