Mercury thermometers are (finally) being phased out.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is no longer calibrating them.

I remember going to the doctor with my grandmother once, in Texas, and the doctor's daughter was sitting on the waiting room floor gently tipping a bowl back in forth. In the bowl was the mercury from a broken thermometer. It was absolutely fascinating to watch it roll around and join and split itself.

Now, of course, I know how reckless it was, etc. etc. etc. And I do think it's better to limit mercury in our homes and dumps and all.

But it really is magical in some ways. And there's no kid alive in this country today who will know to miss that memory.