I always did prefer Mercury. Also, I would eat a rectal thermometer, thank you very much.

Radio Shack has give up on tinkerers and hackers? It may no longer be the store it once was, but:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2117994
http://www.radioshack.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2032230
http://www.radioshack.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2032236
http://www.radioshack.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2032231
http://www.radioshack.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2032227

What other store can you walk into and find HALF of this stuff? Obviously nothing will compare to the endless warehouse space of online stores, but even Radio Shacks located in mall still have four sets of parts drawers and at least a wall's worth of tools, connectors, enclosures, and parts. They're certainly supporting the "tinkering" community more than any other national retail chain.

//Hey Inner Fence...do your customers look like they have the letters S-T-U-P-I-D painted on their foreheads?

I would reply to that but I would just get modded as a troll...