That’s right, restroom advertising is very effective. 78 percent of people who enter a restroom report a memory of at least one of the advertisements.

I was glossing over some websites, and I came across American Restroom, a site that updated the public on restroom news and guidelines across the nation. One of the articles, entitled “Restroom Advertising“, breaks down a study conducted by Media Life. This article tells the results of research done surrounding the demographics of people who use restrooms in 14 locations across the country.

We rolled into Venice Beach around two o’clock.  T had read a few good things about its history, so we knew it was going to be at least a pit stop on our journey down to Anaheim.  Also, it just so happened to be the point where C had to visit the men’s room from his 3 cups of morning coffee.

Miraculously, we found a really great parking spot about 60 feet from the beach, 40 feet from the skate park, 30 feet from the shops and 2 feet from the medical marijuana hang out.  This was a strange awakening for both T and C; having lived on the east coast for our entire lives and never visiting Amsterdam, we were taken aback by the bluntness (pun intended) of the culture.  We both knew this existed, but to have it in a strictly hippie/hipster hangout seemed a bit….obvious.  Deadpool was not amused.

C, grumpy at this point, dashed into the nearest restroom.  The nearest restroom happened to be at Danny’s Venice Deli, a remarkably good restaurant that still had a gondola hanging over the bar, from back in the days when Venice Beach was threaded with canals.

We then strolled down to the beach, watched a few skateboarders do their skateboarding thing, stuck our toes in the sand, and quickly headed back to the car to beat the meter…the meter won, but we were graced with a ticket-free window!

Not so long back I was asked to shoot some images at my office. The boss was looking to have portraits done of a handful of my coworkers to put in strategic places around campus to remind students to take part in the teacher evaluation program.

Each of the teachers was asked to mug for the camera. Look a little uncomfortable, they were told. Imagine you’ve caught someone at an awkward moment. Make your face look somewhere between disgusted and taken aback. We’ll do the rest.

I snapped a dozen or so people one afternoon and dropped the files off a few days later.

The results look a like this:

There are women in all of the men’s bathrooms and (I assume) men in the women’s.
Wel, at least the students can’t say they weren’t told…

     When I was traveling on the road over this past weekend, I certainly had my fair share of gas stations, that’s for damn tootin’ sure. Since I seem to have the world’s smallest bladder, I unfortunately had to make many stops along the way.  I tried to be selective when picking a facility to visit, but sometimes when Mother Nature comes a callin’, you just gotta do what you gotta do, even if that means peeing in a filth-ridden shitcube.  

     There are certain gas stations that I try to avoid at any possible cost, no matter how badly I may need to pee.  For example, if I see any sign whatsoever that a filling station serves some sort of fried chicken or the like, I simply cross my legs and keep on driving. There’s nothing I hate more than walking into a place smelling all good and clean and coming out smelling like the bottom of a freaking deep frier.  That crap gets stuck in your clothes, in your hair, and even in your damn skin. I mean, if I’m gonna smell like a big old bucket of KFC, then I’d at least like to have eaten a friggin’ leg or two.  The absolute worst, though, is when you’ve thoroughly checked the building’s exterior to make sure there’s no indication of fried food being served on the inside, only to have your nostrils bitch-slapped by a blast of stale grease when you walk through the doors.  I think there should be a law that requires such places to post a very visible outdoor sign that says, “We smell like ass.”  

     Once I’ve found a joint that finally seems to be acceptable, it’s anyone’s guess what the conditions of the restrooms are actually gonna be. You know you’re in for a nose-holding-pee-as-fast-as-you-possibly-can-and-get-the-hell-out-of-there experience when you walk into a stall and see shit smeared on the wall behind the toilet.  That’s never a good sign of cleanliness.  And you know you’re gonna be skipping the whole soap process when the only thing around is a lathered up bar on the sink that has a long, black hair stuck to it.  And if you’re lucky enough to find a bathroom that does have a dispenser of soap, you often discover that the only thing to dry your hands with is one of those rolling cloth towel contraptions that’s stuck to the wall, in which case you have to just go with the air dry method cause God only knows what’s been rubbed on that cloth.  

     The gas station bathrooms that totally crack me up are the ones that try to disguise their nastiness by hanging some stupid-looking basket of fake greenery above the mirror or by setting a silk bouquet of flowers by the sink or by hanging a watercolor “painting” of the beach on the wall or by setting out a jar of putrid-smelling potpourri. Look fools, you ain’t kidding nobody with those sad little decorations. It’s still glaringly obvious that you need to get some Ty-D-Bowl cleaner up in there and go to freaking town.  Those toilets don’t clean themselves, ya know.

     If at all possible, I usually prefer to stop at a restaurant instead, since their bathrooms tend to be a little more tolerable.  However, those aren’t always a safe bet either.  It really is a total crapshoot (pun intended) when you’re out on the road.  It’s better to just hope for the best and expect the worst cause finding a clean, non-smelling one is like finding a navy blue sock in a drawer full of black ones.

सुलभ इंटरनॅशनल या सेवाभावी संस्थेचे नाव बहुतेक सगळ्यांनी ऐकलेले असेल. शहरांच्या गरीब वस्त्यांत व ग्रामीण भागात, स्वच्छतागृहांचा प्रसार व प्रचार कसा वाढेल याचा प्रयत्न ही संस्था करत असते. या संस्थेचे संस्थापक श्री. बिंदेश्वर पाठक यांना, अतिशय कमी खर्चाचे व पर्यावरणास हानी न पोचवणारे स्वच्छतागृह तयार केल्याबद्दल, या वर्षीचे ‘स्टॉकहोम वॉटर‘ बक्षिस नुकतेच मिळाले. श्री. पाठक यांनी हे कार्य जेंव्हा सुरू केले तेंव्हा स्वच्छतागृहांबद्दल साधे बोलणे सुद्धा हीनपणाचे लक्षण मानले जात असे. असे असताना सुद्धा श्री. पाठक यांनी आपले काम नेटानेच चालू ठेवले व ग्रामीण व गरीब शहरी स्त्रियांना मोठाच दिलासा मिळवून दिला. श्री पाठक यांना या कार्याबद्दल आदराने ‘स्वच्छतागृहांचे राजदूत‘ म्हणून संबोधले तरी चालण्यासारखे आहे इतकी त्यांची या कार्यामागे निष्ठा व तळमळ आहे.

भारतासारख्या देशात या प्रकारचे कार्य, एक सामाजिक चळवळ म्हणूनच चालवणे आवश्यक असले तरी ज्या देशाच्या नसानसातून फक्त व्यापारी रक्त वाहत आहे अशा अमेरिकेसारख्या देशात, जेंव्हा अशा प्रकारच्या कार्याची गरज भासू लागते तेंव्हा अशा स्वच्छतागृह राजदूतांची पगारी नेमणूकच करण्याशिवाय इलाज नाही हे लक्षात येते.

स्वच्छतागृहात वापर करण्याचे टॉयलेट पेपर बनवणार्‍या ‘चारमिन‘ या कंपनीने, नुकतीच न्यूयॉर्क शहराच्या मधवर्ती भागात असलेल्या ‘टाईम्स स्क्वेअर‘ या चौकाजवळ, नवीन स्वच्छतागृहे चालू केली आहेत. न्यूयॉर्कच्या या भागात, प्रवाशांची नेहमीच प्रचंड वर्दळ असते व सोईस्कर पडतील अशी स्वच्छतागृहे जवळपास नसल्याने त्यांची नेहमीच अडचण होते. ही गोष्ट लक्षात घेऊन ही स्वच्छतागृहे चालू करण्यात आली आहेत. सहा आठवड्यांपूर्वी चालू केलेल्या या स्वच्छतागृहांना किमान 5 लाख लोक तरी एका वर्षभरात भेट देतील अशी या कंपनीची अपेक्षा आहे.

या स्वच्छतागृहांची पुरेशी माहिती लोकांना नसल्याने या स्वच्छतागृहांना पाहिजे तेवढा प्रतिसाद मिळत नाहीये असे वाटल्याने, या कंपनीने आता 5 जणांची भरभक्कम पगारावर, स्वच्छतागृह राजदूत म्हणून नेमणूक करावयाची ठरवले आहे. या राजदूतांचे कॉन्ट्रॅक्ट फक्त 6 आठवड्यांचे असणार असून व त्या साठी त्यांना 10000 यू.एस. डॉलर्स एवढा मोबदला ही कंपनी देणार आहे.

अमेरिकेत नोकर्‍यांची सध्या प्रचंड वानवा असल्याने शेकडो तरूणतरूणींनी या कामासाठी अर्ज केले आहेत. या राजदूतांचे काम, टाईम्स स्क्वेअरमधल्या गर्दीत मिसळून, लोकांना या टॉयलेट्सचे महत्व समजवून सांगणे हे रहाणार आहे. या शिवाय फेसबूक किंवा ट्विटर सारख्या वेब साइट्स वर जाऊन या राजदूतांनी स्वच्छतागृहांचे महत्व लोकांना पटवावे अशीही कंपनीची अपेक्षा आहे. कंपनीने संभाव्य उमेदवारांना मुलाखतीसाठी बोलावले होते तेंव्हा काही उमेदवार पहाटे 4 वाजताच हजर झाले. एवढ्या लवकर का आलात म्हणून विचारणा केली असता ” माझे स्वच्छतागृहांशी किती जवळचे संबंध आहेत हे परिक्षकांना कळावे म्हणूम मी पहाटे आलो” असे मासलेवाईक उत्तर एका उमेदवाराने दिले. नोकरीसाठी आलेल्या उमेदवारात सध्या काम नसलेले नट-नट्या, विद्यार्थी व धंदेवाईकही होते. शिक्षणासाठी फीची व धंद्यासाठी भांडवल उभे करण्यासाठी आपण हे काम करण्यास इच्छुक असल्याचे त्यांनी सांगितले. मुलाखतीसाठी काही उमेदवार टॉयलेट पेपरचे ड्रेसेस घालून आले होते. “मी निवडला गेलो तर मी माझ्या टॉयलेटला चिकटून व त्याच्याशी एकनिष्ठ राहीन” असेही एका उमेदवाराने सांगितले.

ही नोकरी सहा आठवड्यांपुरती मर्यादित आहे. ‘चारमिन‘  या  कंपनीने या स्वच्छतागृहांसाठी 150 लोकांना, सहाय्यक म्हणून नोकरीवर ठेवलेलेच आहे. हे राजदूत या व्यतिरिक्त काम करणार आहेत. अमेरिकेत सध्या 10 टक्के लोक बेकारच आहेत. सहा आठवड्यांनंतर हे राजदूत परत बेकारच होणार आहेत. त्यांच्या या अभिनव अनुभवामुळे त्यांना भारतात ‘सुलभ इंटरनॅशनल‘ सारख्या कंपनीत कायम नोकरी नक्कीच मिळू शकेल यात शंकाच नाही.

9 नोव्हेंबर 2009

I was with one of my good friends over the weekend and her father had mentioned this immaculate bathroom…at a GAS STATION?! Who knew?  So this post is dedicated to the best bathrooms…

Buc-ee’s Key to Success -Their Bathrooms!

Best Public Restrooms in America!

Confession: I’m a washroom¹ sort of girl, by which I mean that I enjoy lounging around in my soaker tub filled with seasonally-scented bubbles while reading and, preferably, while sipping a large glass of Cab Sauv. This also means that I’m a sucker for wicked cool bathrooms at wicked cool restaurants because I live a very exciting life. Anyway. Lately, I’ve noticed a trend: washrooms today seem to be quite conducive to, let’s say, gettin’ busy. Not that I’m a girl who would ever frequent a bathroom to get busy, but a girl can still make certain observations, nón? As such, I thought I’d take you on a little tour of the discriminating Toronto washrooms bringin’ sexy back.

Delux
Walk down a narrow, winding staircase covered in glossy black paint and bump smack dam into two über-private washrooms. The aesthetically pleasing sink fixtures seem to make for a good handle to grab onto, if you’re so inclined.

Spice Route
These washrooms are so big, they could be condos in Tokyo. Red light encourages trouble-making. One wall is a one-way window, looking out onto a garden. You never know who might see you. Or who you might want to see you.

Milestone’s at Toronto Life Square
Admittedly the oddest of the four, Barbie (but mostly Ken) dolls in acrylic boxes stare down at you as you wash your hands, or, say, as you straighten your smudged red lipstick aprés makeout session in the black tiled, and very darkly lit, stalls.

Grace
The Tiffany blue settee just outside the charmingly precious washrooms is a good spot to meet up. The light switch is about shoulder height which offers easy access for your elbow. Ahem.

¹The Canadian way of saying restroom

The cleanliness and hygiene of public toilets is a perennial problem. Toilet owners and operators attribute the filth to inconsiderate users. Toilet users blame it on the lack of basic amenities and cleaners for not cleaning the toilets properly. Cleaners in turn retort that they are not provided with proper cleaning equipment.

-Speech by Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Water Resources, at the LOO Campaign, 19 November 2008

Has there been any improvement? It’s a resounding NO in my view.

We have had a lot of fun this past week celebrating Bathroom Blogfest. Bloggers from around the globe have written about the importance of bathrooms in the customer experience and shared many different points of view. I can imagine also that our customers appreciate when we offer an easy solution to their need to go… when all they need to go do is wash their hands!

Just when are the common sense times to clean our hands? Examples according to the Soap and Detergent Association: after using the bathroom, after coughing or sneezing into our hands, before food preparation and when we eat, after changing diapers, after petting your dog or cat, and after taking out the trash.

So your customers may not be taking out the trash but I wonder if they might see you, the proprietor, do that or maybe even pet the cat? And just sometimes, it is not completely convenient for our customers to have to go, all the way to the restroom, to take care of a little hand cleanup. Now of course, you can imagine that.

A perfect example of how to help everyone have clean hands is often set by hospital staff. In particular, how about these rapping nurses in Boston hospitals where creative hand-washing campaigns have recently launched?

Make your customer’s experience simple and safe. Of course you need a glorious bathroom facility. But your patrons will thank you profoundly when the hand sanitizer is readily available and easily found.

Thank you Kaboom, for your inaugural sponsorship and a very special thanks to C.B. Whittemore at Flooring The Consumer and Simple Marketing Blog for your outstanding leadership of a most successful event!

This is the typical disgraceful state of a coffee shop toilet (near Yishun MRT Station) in a HDB estate belonging to a popular chain of coffee shops.

Notice the stained tiled floor and walls, missing toilet bowl cover and the open litter bin. Notice also the absence of a water hose/bidet for those whose cultural practice/preference is to use water to wash up rather than to use toilet paper.

Impressive-looking toilet paper dispenser but where’s the paper? Coffee shops are quick to raise prices of coffee/tea but stint on toilet paper and water.

You get worried when you realise that the food handlers and stallholders use this kind of filthy toilet.

It’s a national disgrace, isn’t it?

I guess there were a lot of things they didn’t teach us guys in school. How to balance a checkbook, how to wash clothes or how to pee in a urinal! Many of us have seen one of those signs in a restroom that says, “We Aim to Please…You Aim Too Please! There’s another one I haven’t seen as often that says, “Stand a Little Closer Guys…it’s Shorter than you Think!” (ouch!)

If there’s a puddle on the restroom floor below the urinal when you’re done taking a wiz, should that tell you something? I know they have driver’s ed classes for those who can’t drive safely but what do you do to get man to put their urine INSIDE the urinal and not on the floor? Should we install cameras like they do at traffic lights and send a ticket to the offenders? Let’s see, how do we get their address anyway?

Well…think about the next person who has to take a leak after you and consider the janitor who has to come and clean up your mess. Is it really that hard to pee in the urinal bowl? If it is…maybe it’s time to sit down and do it like the ladies or not. I hear some gals are now using the “Go Girl”, a female urinating device that allows them to pee standing up.

Maybe we do need a class on how to urinate in our schools and maybe it should be co-ed.

It’s the time of year when many of the customers I speak to ask if we are disinfecting “touch-points” when we clean their office at night.   Touch-points are things like door knobs, door handles,  faucets, appliance handles, etc.  My answer is, WE DO!  But, do our efforts really make a difference?  Consider this scenario.   We come to your office at night and disinfect surfaces around 9PM.  Around 8AM the following morning a sick employee who has come to work uses the restroom and uses the restroom door handle as they enter and leave the restroom.  The door handle is now contaminated with germs or bacteria left behind.  A few minutes later an employee who is well touches the same door handle in order for them to use the restroom.

Well, it’s probably pretty obvious that any amount of disinfecting the previous night probably only protects the first person to use the disinfected surface the next day.  For this reason, trying to eliminate the spread of disease in a TEAM effort where all parties are washing their hands regularly immediately after using the restroom and open the restroom door when done with a clean paper towel.  Some folks choose to use their hand to open the door followed by an application of hand sanitizer to kill any germs they might have picked up.

The need for continuous hand washing and killing germs with things like hand sanitizer is about the best we all can do to stop the spread of disease causing germs, bacteria and viruses.

Besides washing hands and using hand sanitizer.  It’s a good policy to consider your face a NO TOUCH ZONE.  After all, germs primarily enter the body through the eyes, nose or mouth, so keeping your hands away from your face is a good technique to help yourself stay well.

Good luck in your own endeavor to stay well when there are so many sick people all around us.   Preventing disease like the H1N1 virus is a group effort.  We are all in this together!

Fred

I suppose strange advertising can be found the world over, but I’ve noticed many bizarre, dirty, and comical ads here in Israel. Those who think Israel is an ultra-religious, puritanical country swarming with bearded, black-hatted men and shaiteled, long-skirted women might be surprised by the sexuality and innuendo in many Israeli ads. Others use language that wouldn’t work in the U.S., not blaring from a billboard, at least. And then there’s this:

I know.

Political correctness is also not a concern here, as evidenced by these packages of chocolate cake products:

The same brand’s honey cake displays a dumb-looking white girl, blonde and chestless, her mouth hanging open and a stream of honey dribbling from her finger. But the chocolate cakes are the territory of the buxom negresses.

Further — those famous “Chinese Style Pecans Nuts”:

I didn’t have my camera in the store with me, so I bought it.

This next ad was seen in the southern resort town of Eilat, where I would venture to say the tourists as well as the residents do not need to be reminded to share their backsides with the world:

The picture on the ad, which I sadly do not have a photograph of, shows a young man, back to camera, displaying his tightly-jeaned posterior without a care in the world. His face is turned to us, his expression impish, defiant, perhaps a bit contemptuous.

Also in Eilat, strolling through the mall, I saw this guy (left), whose costume and very presence left me confused (and mildly aroused):

To this day I have not determined what he is selling or representing. But he sure turned a lot of eyes.

But with all these, my personal favorite sexy ad comes from a Brazilian cigarette pack I found on a bus:

That’s hot. “IMPOTENCE,” the heading cries, and below: “The Ministry of Health advises: The use of this product diminishes, complicates, or impedes erections.” Tadinho, he’s looks so forlorn! What’s going on? he whines. Onde está o meu hardon? His bafflement is aptly conveyed by his face and the set of his hands. The long-nailed, downturned thumb standing in for his malfunctioning caralho is a touch of genius. I almost wanna start smoking, just so I can say that this inspired me to quit. I love it.

But back to Israel. Another phenomenon I’ve noticed is a slew of unconventional bathroom signs ranging from the professionally inappropriate

to the endearingly crude

If you look close at the standing guy, you’ll notice he has the ereção the limpdicked Brazilian so sadly lacked. How is he managing to make the bowl?

These next few ads relate to household products which some of you may recognize, but which I never saw before I moved from the States to Israel. First we have this laundry detergent:

I don’t know about you all, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable washing my clothes with COLON. Honestly, who’s idea was this? I picked up a bag in the supermarket recently, and found it’s produced by Reckitt Benckiser, a corporate home-product giant based in the UK. It’s the same company that makes Woolite, Lysol, Air Wick, Mucinex, Clearasil, and French’s Foods, all of which I saw in stores, TV commercials, and magazines on a daily basis when I was still in Maryland. How many times have I squirted French’s mustard on my hotdog, or washed the floor with Lysol? I regularly used Clearasil products when I had acne, and took Mucinex when I had a cold (I will never forget their commercials, which were just overly-gross enough to be effective.) But COLON? Why?

This one is a dishwashing liquid I frequently see in kitchens here, and I have to chuckle to myself every time.

Fairy is manufactured by Procter & Gamble, which pretty much owns the world. According to Wikipedia:

As of 2008, Fairy is sold in most parts of Europe, although regional names vary. Fairy liquid is available in a variety of colour and scent combinations. . . . In the UK, Fairy Liquid has become a genericized trademark for washing up liquid.

I don’t think this would fly (ba-dum) in the States.

Lastly, I offer this:

It’s a second-hand shop. The yellow sign in the window reads, “Trumpeldor Second Hand”. The store is located near Joseph Trumpeldor street, named for the Russian Zionist who lost his left arm in the Russo-Japanese War.

There’s an old Israeli joke my father once told me: טרומפלדור היה גיבור, אז לקחו ממנו דוגמא — which can be understood either as “Trumpeldor was a hero, so he was their role model,” or “Trumpeldor was a hero, so they took a sample from him”. Eh, it’s funnier in Hebrew.

Stay tuned for an upcoming post on Jerusalem graffiti and vandalism.

]]> http://lifewithsarah.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/ancient-romans-were-people-too/ Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:44:11 +0000 sarahkrasin http://lifewithsarah.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/ancient-romans-were-people-too/

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my art history course this semester, it’s that the ancient Romans weren’t that different from us. Actually, let’s be honest, this may be the only thing I’ve gleaned from my art history course this semester. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I’ll never pursue a career in art history, due to my complete lack of ability to distinguish temple architecture. But I digress.

You see, here was my original vision of ancient Rome. Charismatic general leads a lowly army into battle. Inspirational music plays as the scrappy, unwashed army comes together in victory. General returns to Rome, all his buddies throw him a big procession, and some artsy-type designs a victory temple to be erected in his honor. Repeat.

I remember my first realization that ancient Romans were people, too. I was tagging along with my class in Ostia Antica, feigning interest as my professor lectured on the fascinating differences in brick composition. We made our way to the remains of an old fire station, and my professor pointed out a seemingly insignificant side room.

“Now this is a prime example of an ancient Roman restroom,” she said, making a welcoming gesture to peer through the windows.

She continued to explain that the presence of a temple in the restroom symbolized the importance of religion in everyday life, but my mind had wandered elsewhere. Was peeing with your fellow colleague really this big of a social activity? Ancient Romans cleaning up after themselves with reusable scrub brushes (legitimate fact) was not part of my fantasy.

From that day on, I couldn’t help but be fascinated by these “common” ruins. Temples and theaters were OK, but my imagination was always captured more by descriptions of typical eateries, graffiti, and those ever-present toilets.

On Friday, I had the opportunity to travel to Pompeii, a thriving Roman town prior to the whole eruption of Mount Vesuvius thing. Luckily for us (not so lucky for the town’s ancient residents) the eruption buried the entire city in almost 60 feet of ash and pumice, preserving a true slice of ancient life for modern tourists everywhere.

Mount Vesuvius looks so innocent, doesn't it?

I got over the tragedy pretty quickly. I mean, it was almost 2000 years ago. And I have to admit, my inner nerd almost died of excitement when it discovered there were not only plenty of ancient restrooms in this town, but also ancient fast food restaurants, ancient teenage graffiti, ancient lockers, ancient spas, and even an ancient brothel. I’m now happy to present…

The Top Five Things Average Romans Did That Just Seem So Cool Because I Looked at Them in Ruin Form:

1. Gorge at local fast food establishments: In between conquering things and oppressing people, you have to eat right?

As a former Culver's employee, I like to imagine those indentations filled with a delicious flavor-of-the-day.

2. Decorate the city with graffiti: According to my professor, graffiti in Pompeii was used for everything from political campaigns (“Vote for Romulus”) to more practical, assertive statements (“Please don’t pee on my wall”). Apparently, ancient Romans were quite comfortable in their masculinity, as graffiti depicting male genitalia was meant to display one’s wealth and success. We’ll skip the photo on this one.

3. Hang out in the forum: Essentially every ancient Roman city has some sort of forum, which typically served as the center of political, commercial and social life. I include this only because I practically collapsed of shock when my professor asked us to identify the main temple and I did so correctly.

Peering into the forum.

4. Receive spa treatments: Alright, so it’s hard to picture a big, tough Roman hanging out naked in a large hot tub with his fellow big, tough friends, but communal baths were a popular hang-out in ancient times. They even had lockers!

Nice decor!

5. Participate in “extra-curriculars:” We had the opportunity to visit Pompeii’s very own brothel, where sexually-explicit paintings dotting the walls served as a “menu” of sorts. Once again, we’ll skip the pictures, but here’s a shot of the outside:

Looks innocent enough, right?

Business in the front and party in the back

So, While at work yesterday, I realized something rather profound. I was wearing a headband but had my hair loose in the back. So, essentially, what they do is keep your hair out of your face… which is MAJOR mullet-ness. I, wearing this headband randomly to school and work, have been pretty much giving myself a mullet for the past 2 weeks or something. However long its been that i’ve been attached to this thing semi-permanently. Something to ponder dramatically over, ey?

Now, on to the topic at hand:

I know it’s been a while since my venture to Austin, but today, while looking for something to wear, I stumbled upon the shirt I got while in Austin from the “Queer Students Alliance” Carnival thing that was taking place in the rec sports center. It wasn’t something that heinous or anything. It’s not like there was some rapage going on, but it did happen when I had to go the restroom.

Someone had covered the “men” and “womens” signs with “UNISEX”.

Really?!

I mean, its one thing for someone to completely not identify with a sex, or simply refuse to. Sure, some people may see it as a form of segregation, but honestly, I rather like the idea of not having to worry about walking in on some random guy whizzing in a urinal with his pants in a precarious position.

I like steering clear of awkward situations, and unisex bathrooms would definitely cause some very traumatic experiences for people like me, but most importantly, children. Imagine your kids off to the restroom and wanders in on a lady dropping a deuce or a man shaking dry.

So, upon seeing the signs, I admit I was confused. I didn’t know whether to just abide by the unisex “rule” or go about it cautiously.

I ended up deciding to just pull back the “UNISEX” paper covering the original signs and walked into the womens. Sure, it wasn’t technically labeled and some guy that had followed the paper rather than the sign could easily have walked in on me brushing my hair or other embarrassing things. But I took that chance and just did my stuff normally.

Apparently some professor did the same thing and just followed me in, muttering under her breath something about ridiculousness.

So yeah, Fuck unisex bathrooms. And i’m talking about the big multiple people ones. I’m fine with unisex singles. But multiple people ones… aaaawkward!

The Las Vegas economy may be lounging in the crapper, but some of their restrooms are a flushing success.  Specifically, the heads at Zeffirino Ristorante, in the Venetian, nearly won a national contest. Now they stand as monuments to a fading era of opulence. 

The point still remains that they were almost  voted as America’s Best Restrooms.

But Zeffirino Ristorante’s louves couldn’t apparently quite wipe out Radio City Music Hall’s in the annual publicity-stunt contest. Or the marble-columned facilities at the Tremont Plaza Hotel in Baltimore. Or the winning entry, at the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre in Branson, Mo. (The men’s room has a pool table. And a fireplace!)

But the men’s and ladies’ rooms at Zeffirino Ristorante, with marble floors, butter-pecan-colored tiles and other Italian imports, still hold significance on the Las Vegas Strip. 

For the Venetian bathrooms to even attempt to vault into the contest’s top 10 is somewhat remarkable: Casino lavatories usually evoke all the charm of their airport cousins. Add to that the scent of Captain Morgan, Marlboros and Lysol and — at least in the ladies’ room — the murmurs of women primping for men or crying over them.

More notably, Zeffirino’s (almost) award-winning restroom is a monument to Las Vegas’ bygone luxury era.

In 2006, before the recession chiseled away at profligate spending, the Italian restaurant in the Venetian poured nearly $1 million into transforming a private dining room into a pair of lavish lavatories.

It made perfect sense that, on the ever-more-ornate Strip, a women’s restroom would boast a limestone lion’s head trickling water into a basin filled with fresh roses.

Now, with the economic downturn trimming the average Zeffirino dinner bill by about a third, the bathrooms are examples of the Las Vegas Strip excess to be gawked at by bargain-hunters.
 
The America’s Best Restroom contest was sponsored by Cintas Corp., which makes restroom supplies. The public was invited to vote online, and the results were announced this summer.

The contest website notes, “In one recent survey, more than 75% of respondents said they would not return to a restaurant if the restrooms were not well kept.”

The website didn’t offer specifics on the survey, but added: “In the face of statistics like this, we felt it was worth giving credit where credit is due. At this site we are honoring companies and organizations who go above and beyond the call of duty to present a pleasant, even memorable experience in a public restroom.”

When Zeffirino Ristorante, a spinoff of a family-run eatery in Genoa, Italy, opened in 1999, owners had pumped $11 million into its look, said managing director Giuliano Berto, who grew up outside Venice and wanted Zeffirino’s to have an old-money feel. The restaurant is next to the casino’s Grand Canal Shoppes and its serenading gondoliers.

Nearly all the decor was shipped from Italy, including a wishing well from Naples with carved figures of maidens. The restaurant’s ceiling was painted to suggest centuries of water damage, though the Venetian opened only a decade ago.

The urinals are even framed with red drapery.

Inside the women’s restroom are marble tiles, cherry-wood doors and four stalls, each with its own Murano glass sink, rococo-style mirror and hand towels emblazoned with a yellow stripe and the restaurant name.

(The cloth towels only appear at certain hours. Lunch patrons must settle for paper towels: The bathroom attendant only works at night, and the pricey linens are often stolen.)

Berto is convinced that better pictures of his bathrooms would have clinched the Best Restroom prize.

Still, his landed in the top five and qualified for the “America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame.”

And he can boast that Zeffirino’s still beat out Chicago’s Drake Hotel — it has palm tree murals and a chandelier — and six other restrooms, none of them in Las Vegas.

The bathroom is a place of peace and serenity; a private place where we spend most of our time thinking and reflecting on our lives. It’s where we want to sit down, relax and enjoy some of the small pleasures of life. And sometimes public restrooms ruin that experience.

Nothing can be more disturbing than walking into a public restroom that has sticky floors, urine-soaked toilet seats, empty paper towel dispensers and broken stall doors. It’s everyone’s worst nightmare! We’ve all been there before.

Being a student at Boston University, there are many bathrooms all over campus to choose from. But to avoid a “public restroom nightmare” you have to know the right bathrooms to go to.

We all have our favorites, the bathrooms that are like our second homes when we really (really really) have to go. So, after looking back on my own experiences and talking to some friends, I’ve created a basic list of some of the bathrooms on campus that I’ve rated on overall cleanliness (from 1-5, 1 = disgusting and 5 = so clean you can eat off the toilet seat) and put together a map showing you where they are located with a brief description.

View Larger Map

Based on my initial observations I made two lists, each made up of four of the ‘best’ bathrooms and four of the ‘worst’ bathrooms. I interviewed 50 people and calculated the results:

Best Bathrooms:

BU Central Basement 42% (21 votes)
Hillel 24% (12 votes)
Sleeper Single 12% (6 votes)
SMG 22% (11 votes)
Total Votes: 50

Worst Bathrooms:

CAS (all floors) 38% (19 votes)
CFA (all floors) 12% (6 votes)
COM Basement 18% (9 votes)
Psychology Building 32% (16 votes)
Total Votes: 50

I added the results to these interactive polls (below) and also added a “other” selection for readers to vote for bathrooms that aren’t on my main lists. I encourage you to vote!!!

We all use public restrooms, but experience different things when we do. I hope this list has given you some insight into the bathrooms of BU. Maybe one day all public restrooms will return to the oasis we always dream of.

If you think I missed any important bathrooms on my list let me know and leave a comment! Also, if you know of any other bathrooms add them, along with a brief description of each, to the map I’ve created.

Keith Massey has revamped his blog and has a new post over there about bathroom signs around the world. It’s funny and there are a lot of pictures. The male and female bathroom signs from Qatar are fairly different from what we’re used to seeing here. Instead of one silhouette in trousers and the other in a skirt, the Qataris primarily use the color scheme to differentiate on their restroom signage.

I hope Keith’s going to post more often, because his stuff is always a mix of funny and fascinating.

UPDATE: Okay, I got chided for not having pictures of the bathroom signs here, so here they are:

On another note, here’s my first-born inspecting a basil plant on one of the most beautiful days of the year.

Enjoying the autumn weather

and her little sis practicing stealth

visto en [IluvPS]

Tour Guide Hawaii is excited and proud to announce the launch of their incredible, affordable, fabulous new Hawaii Travel iPhone/iPod Touch App

Tour Guide Hawaii's Brand New iPhone/iPod Touch App Puts Paradise in the Palm of Your Hand!

Navigate to all the most popular visitor destinations, the most interesting attractions, the most romantic and secluded beaches; effortlessly find hikes, snorkel spots, historical and cultural landmarks, shopping and dining.  And of course, our new App includes directions to, and rating of, all the public restrooms! Learn all about it, here. In addition to real GPS navigation, this app also allows you to navigate using Google Maps or, if no internet or phone service available, with on-board maps and driving directions! Our App is crammed full of entertaining and informative video presentations about how and where to snorkel, the best trails and beaches, what to pack to bring to Hawaii, cultural orientation and language tips!

Using the Tour Guide Hawaii iPhone/iPod Touch App will save you time, save you money and allow you to see and do more with your Hawaii vacation; this quick video tells you how.

Interested in seeing what kind of information our App contains?  In celebration of the release of our new App, we proudly present this list of blogs and web articles on Hawaii Travel, with URLs, of the unique and comprehensive Tour Guide Hawaii content.  Enjoy this free information at your leisure, and order your App from iTunes, today!

Tour Guide Hawaii proudly presents the best, the most interesting, the most comprehensive material on Hawaii travel ever gathered in one place!

Best About Planning Your Hawaii Trip

What To Pack And Take To Hawaii: What You Need, What You Want, What You Can Leave Out Of Your Luggage: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/07/13/what-to-pack-and-take-to-hawaii-what-you-need-what-you-want-what-you-can-leave-out-of-your-luggage/

Getting To Hawaii, Getting Around Hawaii, Getting the Most From Hawaii: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/getting-to-and-getting-around-the-big-island-of-hawaii/

Frank’s Guide to Pronouncing Hawaiian Words: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/franks-guide-to-pronouncing-the-hawaiian-langauge/

Best Beaches on Hawaii

A Quick Guide to The Best Beaches of Hawaii Island: Sun, Surf, Solitude: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/the-top-beaches-of-hawaii-island/

The Best Beaches in Hawaii: Part 1, The Main Kohala Coast: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/the-best-beaches-in-hawaii-part-1-the-main-kohala-coast/

The Best Beaches in Hawaii: Part 2, The Kona and South Kohala Coasts: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/the-best-beaches-in-hawaii-part-2-the-kona-and-south-kohala-coasts/

Best Beaches in Hawaii: Part 3, Unusual, Uncrowded and Untamed Beaches of South Hawaii: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/08/07/best-beaches-in-hawaii-part-3-unusual-uncrowded-and-untamed-beaches-of-south-hawaii/

Best Beaches in Hawaii: Part 4, Wilderness Beaches of the Big Island: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/best-beaches-in-hawaii-part-4-wilderness-beaches-of-the-big-island/

Best Beaches in Hawaii Part 5–Best Beaches for Snorkeling: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/best-beaches-in-hawaii-part-5-best-beaches-for-snorkeling/

Best Scenic Drives on Hawaii

My Favorite Scenic Drive: Hawaii’s Wild and Scenic Saddle Road!: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/my-favorite-scenic-drive-hawaiis-wild-and-scenic-saddle-road/

Big Island Whirlwind Road Trip: I have to see the whole Big Island all in one day!http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/big-island-whirlwind-road-trip-i-have-to-see-the-whole-big-island-all-in-one-day/

Kona Heritage Corridor Scenic Drive: An Exceptional Day Trip Exploration of Historical, Lovely, Up-Country Kona!:http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/kona-heritage-corridor-scenic-drive-an-exceptional-day-trip-exploration-of-historical-lovely-up-country-kona/

Best Scenic Drives on Hawaii #1: The Saddle Road…Kona to the Summit of Mauna Kea, Kaumana Cave and Hilo:http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/best-scenic-drives-on-hawaii-1-the-saddle-road-kona-to-the-summit-of-mauna-kea-kaumana-cave-and-hilo/

Best Scenic Drives on Hawaii #2: North Kona and Kohala, Ancient History, Sumptuous Beaches: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/best-scenic-drives-on-hawaii-2-north-kona-and-kohala-ancient-history-sumptuous-beaches/

Best Scenic Drives on Hawaii #3: Kona to Hamakua and Hilo: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/best-scenic-drives-on-hawaii-3-kona-to-hamakua-and-hilo/

Best Scenic Drives in Hawaii #4: Kona Coast to South Point and Ka’u http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/best-scenic-drives-in-hawaii-4-kona-coast-to-south-point-and-kau/

Best Scenic Drives in Hawaii #5: Kailua Kona to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Puna and Lava Viewing: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/best-scenic-drives-in-hawaii-5-kailua-kona-to-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-puna-and-lava-viewing/

New iPhone/iPod Touch App Helps you Explore Hawaii’s Hidden, Romantic and Mysterious Places: The South Coast of Hawaii: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/new-iphoneipod-touch-app-helps-you-explore-hawaiis-hidden-romantic-and-mysterious-places-the-south-coast-of-hawaii/

Road Trip Through Keauhou Historic District, Big Island, Hawaii: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/wwwtourguidehawaicom-presents-a-road-trip-through-keauhou-historic-district-big-island-hawaii/

Best About Hiking:

The Best Short Hikes on Hawaii Island: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/the-best-short-hikes-on-hawaii-island/

The Adventure and Romance of Hiking To Kilauea Volcano’s Active Lava Flows: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/tour-guide-hawaii-presents-the-adventure-and-romance-of-hiking-to-kilauea-volcanos-active-lava-flows/

Exploring the Summit Hikes of Mauna Kea: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/exploring-the-summit-hikes-of-mauna-kea-hawaii/

Hiking to Captain Cook Monument on the Big Island of Hawaii: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/hiking-to-captain-cook-monument-on-the-kona-coast-of-hawaii/

Hiking Hawaii’s Magnificent Waipi’o Valley: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/18/hiking-hawaiis-magnificent-waipio-valley/

Hiking Down Into Pololu Valley, Big Island of Hawaii: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/hiking-down-into-pololu-valley-big-island-of-hawaii/

Kiholo Bay Beach Hike: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/kiholo-bay-beach-hike/

Hiking to Honomalino Bay, Big Island, Hawaii: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/hiking-to-honomalino-bay-big-island-hawaii/

Historic Kailua Kona Town on the Big Island of Hawaii: A Walking Tour: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/05/03/historic-kailua-kona-town-on-the-big-island-of-hawaii-a-walking-tour/

Hiking and Camping at Hawaii’s Last Wilderness Beach: La’amaomao the Wind God and Makalawena Beach: Advice: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/hiking-and-camping-at-hawaiis-last-wilderness-beach-laamaomao-the-wind-god-and-makalawena-beach/

Driving and Hiking to the Summit of Mauna Kea, Big Island of Hawaii: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/advice-driving-and-hiking-to-the-summit-of-mauna-kea-big-island-of-hawaii/

Hidden Secrets of Hawaii: The Golden Ponds of Ke-awa-iki: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/hidden-secrets-of-hawaii-the-golden-ponds-of-ke-awa-iki/

Hiking at Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/hiking-at-kilauea-volcano-on-the-big-island-of-hawaii/

Hiking the Kilauea Iki Trail: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/hiking-the-kilauea-iki-trail-new-iphoneipod-touch-app-helps-you-find-all-the-unique-secluded-unusual-destinations-on-hawaii/

Best About Snorkeling

The Best Snorkeling Spots on Hawaii Island: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/06/27/the-best-snorkeling-spots-on-hawaii-island/

Hawaii Island Snorkeling Tips, Part I: Gear: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/hawaii-island-snorkeling-tips-part-i-gear-2/

Hawaii Island Snorkeling Tips, Part II: Technique : http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/hawaii-island-snorkeling-tips-part-ii-technique-2/

Hawaii Island Snorkeling Tips, Part III: Protecting the Reef and Reef Animals: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/hawaii-island-snorkeling-tips-part-iii-reef-etiquette-2/

Hawaii Island Snorkeling Tips, Part IV: Snorkeling Safety: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/hawaii-island-snorkeling-tips-part-iv-snorkeling-safety-2/

Hawaii Island Snorkeling Tips, Part V: Best Snorkeling Beaches of the Big Island: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/hawaii-island-snorkeling-tips-part-v-best-snorkeling-beaches-of-the-big-island-2/

Hawaii Island Snorkeling Tips Part VI: Wilderness Beaches of the Big Island!: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/05/30/hawaii-island-snorkeling-tips-part-vi-wilderness-beaches-of-the-big-islanda/

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints #1: Introduction: Kona Coast: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/09/26/franks-big-island-travel-hints-1-north-kona-and-kohala-ancient-history-sumptuous-beaches/

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints #2: Kona South to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Hilo:http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/09/27/franks-big-island-travel-hints-2-kona-coast-south-of-honaunau-to-kau/

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints # 3: Kona North to Waikoloa and the Kohala Coast: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/1794/

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints #4: Waikoloa to Pololu Valley; http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/franks-big-island-travel-hints-4-waikoloa-to-pololu-valley-4/

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints #5: Hawi to Kona via the Kohala Mountain road, Waimea and Waikoloa: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/franks-big-island-travel-hints-5-hawi-to-kona-via-kohala-mountain-road-waimea-and-waikoloa-4/

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints #6: Waimea and the Hamakua Coast: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/franks-big-island-travel-hints-6-waimea-and-the-hamakua-coast-4/

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints # 7: Around Hilo: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/franks-big-island-travel-hints-7-hilo-side-akaka-falls-to-panaewa-rainforest-zoo/

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints #8: Mysterious Puna!: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/franks-big-island-travel-hints-8-mysterious-puna/

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints #9: Made for Adventure: The Jungles, Volcanoes, Hot Springs and Tidepools of Puna!: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/franks-hawaii-travel-hints-9-made-for-adventure-the-jungles-volcanoes-hot-springs-and-tidepools-of-puna/

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints #10: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/franks-big-island-travel-hints-10-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park/

Frank’s Travel Hints # 11: Exploring Deeper Into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island, Hawaii: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/franks-big-island-travel-hints-11-exploring-deeper-into-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-big-island-hawaii/

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints #12: More fun in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island, Hawaii: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/franks-big-island-travel-hints-12-more-fun-in-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-big-island-hawaii-4/

Frank’s Big Island Travel Hints #13: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Chain of Craters Road: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/17/franks-big-island-travel-hints-13-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-chain-of-craters-road/

Best Interesting Stories and General Reading about Hawaii

The Beautiful, Enigmatic and Cryptic Petroglyphs of Hawaii Island: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/04/23/the-beautiful-enigmatic-and-cryptic-petroglyphs-of-hawaii-island/

Hawaii’s Amazing Lava Fossils: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/hawaiis-amazing-lava-fossils/

The Sugar Industry in Hawaii: Kona Sugar Company and West Hawai’i Railway Company: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/04/25/the-sugar-industry-in-hawaii-kona-sugar-company-and-west-hawai%E2%80%99i-railway-company/

Captain Cook’s Legacy: Exploring the History and Waters of Kealakekua Bay: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/949/

Kilauea’s Eruption Just Keeps Getting More Fantastic!: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/wwwtourguidehawaiicom-presents-new-video-of-kilauea-volcano-erupting/

Kalapana, Hawaii: From the Fires of Hades to the Eden of Rebirth: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/01/17/kalapana-hawaii-from-the-fires-of-hades-to-the-eden-of-rebirth/

Pu’u Loa Petroglyph Field, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/823/

Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles: Honu of the Big Island: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/hawaiis-magnificent-honu-the-endangered-hawaiian-green-sea-turtle/

Heartbreak of the Gods: Kuasmo’o BattleField and Lekeleke Graveyrd: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/heartbreak-of-the-gods-kuamoo-batlle-field-and-lekeleke-graveyard-big-island-of-hawaii/

A Brief History of Ranching in Hawaii: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/05/24/rodeo-to-rock-and-roll-a-brief-history-of-ranching-in-hawaii/

Rising From The Past: The Rebirth of Hapaiali’i Heiau, a Hawaiian Temple for Honoring Royalty: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/1118/

The Hawaiian Snow Goddess Poliahu and the Summit of Mauna Kea…: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/the-hawaiian-snow-goddess-poliahu-and-the-summit-of-mauna-kea/

Mo’okini Heiau: Warrior Kings and Human Sacrifice on Hawai’i: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/01/03/mookini-heiau-warrior-kings-and-human-sacrifice-on-hawaii-2/

The Call of Aloha…:http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/the-call-of-aloha/

Why I love Hawaii…: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/why-i-love-hawaii/

Hilo Askance: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/10/10/hilo-askance/

Conjuring Visions of Paradise: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/conjuring-visions-of-paradise/

Volcano Art Center—A Kipuka of Creativity on the Rim of Madam Pele’s Home: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/volcano-art-center-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park/

Jagger Museum, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/jagger-museum-hawaii-volcanoes-national-rark/

]]> http://budgallant.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/public-washrooms-need-a-makeover/ Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:05:19 +0000 Bud Gallant http://budgallant.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/public-washrooms-need-a-makeover/

Public washrooms need a makeover. Badly. I can’t be the only one who thinks this! Yes, what follows is kind of a rant, but it’s one I think some people will understand.

Now, I can only speak of these from a male perspective, but it’s perhaps male bathrooms that provide the biggest endorsement for change. Society has changed. It’s bathrooms have not kept pace.

There’s some pretty obvious problems. We’re more modest, as a culture these days.

Do that many guys really want to stand next to one another and urinate onto a wall?

I gladly take the extra 30 seconds to urinate into a toilet, when it means I can avoid:

1. Weird guys sidling up to you with their equipment in-hand.
2. Having urine spray back or mist down on you or your shoes (and not necessarily your own urine, either).
3. People trying to make awkward smalltalk with you while you are nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with your pants undone.

Then there’s the other thing. I’m pretty sure not everyone is liking the current setup only because it’s a time saver. I think you know what I’m talking about here. And before anyone starts thinking I’m homophobic, I hasten to point out that the very reason washrooms were divided by gender in the first place, was in recognition that it wouldn’t be “appropriate” for (heterosexual) men and women to share a bathroom. This was at a time where “everyone” was (assumed to be) heterosexual. Well, we know that’s not the case anymore, and there’s nothing like a trip to the public restroom to remind you of it, in case you’ve forgotten.

And that leads me to my next issue. Apparently women need to defecate twice as often as men, because men’s washrooms have half the amount of toilets.  Despite what you might think, defecating into a urinal is generally not standard practice…  Of course, that’s an easy mistake to make judging by some of the things you’ll see in one.

More often than not, there will be just a single stall, or 2 in a smaller public restroom. Many times those stalls are not available and when they are there is homosexual graffiti all over the walls inside of them…

There is either a whole lot of homosexual male vandals out there or a small group of them who are so obsessively vulgar they bring a black marker with them every time they leave the house. Now, maybe that’s not fair…  Maybe these people aren’t homosexual…  But, if they were writing about how great Obama is, I’d assume they are Democrats.

This only reaffirms my discomfort with using a urinal. I have a problem with having someone’s sexuality thrust upon me in the most invasive and vulgar ways.  I wonder how many mothers would send their sons into the washroom unsupervised if they saw the type of messages and depictions they’d be subjected to, to say nothing of the pedophiles who see urinals as an invitation for a little show and tell.

I’ve asked a lot of women if there is crude references to homosexual sex and drawings of genitalia all over their washrooms, and strangely none of them have reported that is the case.

Sure, some facilities are better managed than others, but these aren’t isolated issues.

Women’s bathrooms have their problems, too, I am sure… But how many men do you know could get away with walking into one, just because they don’t feel like waiting?

Yes, apparently there are thousands of women out there who think it is perfectly acceptable to walk into a men’s washroom if they don’t have the patience to wait for other women to be finished in theirs.

It’s not less offensive or less inappropriate, in fact, it’s worse, because there is even less privacy. Somehow women have gotten the false impression that no guy would possibly complain about having a woman grace them with her presence while they are urinating. Get over yourselves. And fyi, the bathroom being empty at the time does not mean one of you can go in and then one of you can stand guard outside the door and obstruct people from entering.

My suggestion: Do away with the gender segregation altogether, especially since gender is so nebulous now that it’s become voluntary. Build one bathroom instead of two, and make the stalls within it more private. I think given all the extra “complications” we’re facing with gender and sexuality as a society, we can learn to get along and be mature sharing a washroom, if the stalls within it have a proper level of privacy. I also think rather than feeling less safe, a lot of people would probably be more comfortable, especially parents.

Does anyone have any public restroom horror stories to share, or their own suggestions on how things can be fixed?

Anyone out there who thinks things are fine as they are?

And, for the female readers, what are some of the issues you face?

Note: This is a repost of my article Public Washrooms: More Than You Ever Wanted To Know at Open Salon. You can check there for more comments.