Showing posts with label Toilet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toilet. Show all posts
January 22, 2023
November 17, 2022
No Bathroom Breaks
August 29, 2020
Teaching Kids To You Know What
Mini toilets to teach the kids to go potty.
The big pot can probably be scary for a little kid.
Don't want them to end up falling in and whoosh!
Ok, not funny!
Seriously though, these little training toilets are cute.
Honestly, I think there are some adults that need some potty training too.
Yes, you know who you are! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 28, 2020
Reach Out And Grab Ya
But in a bizarre way it looks almost like a toilet.
The place for the candle is the toilet!
Sort of would make a pretty scary toilet in real life if the back of it (ie. tank) has a body with arms that looks like it is reaching out to grab you as you take your royal seat.
Hey, someone let me out of here!
Ok, I have definitely been shut in too many days due to this Coronavirus thing.
I am imagining the world's scariest toilets. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
January 19, 2020
@Eastern State Penitentiary
Photos are from my tour of Eastern Penitentiary in Philadelphia.
The prison cells were in these tomb thick concrete structures, freezing cold, and completely claustrophobic!
You have to stoop through a tiny doorway to get in and out.
The cell with the car in it shows how small these prison cells were.
There is a photo of a cell with a stinking toilet and also the one with a barbers chair.
Then there is the picture of the fancy cell which is that of Al Capone's (right after the regular disgusting cell). Pretty sure Capone had some real pull with the warden and guards, and I'm sure they were afraid to cross him.
There was even a synagogue in this frightful gothic-style prison with a light that says Shalom (peace).
One cell had art painted on the walls and had many of these dreamy-looking women in Island type spots so far away from the reality of these horrible prison conditions.
It was also interesting the the prisoners inside these walls were I'm sure dying to get out, and yet the visitors to the prison were lined up at the ticket booth to get a glimpse inside.
The whole experience was so full of juxtaposing contrasts.
I feel like I learned a lot. Overall, a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here! ;-)
(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
November 12, 2017
Potty Mouth Award
And it had a real potty in it too!
It reminded me of some foul-mouthed, but fun-spirited colleagues who actually used to keep a scorecard in the office with tick marks for each occurrence of cursing by person.
Let's just say that there were some clear winners on this account.
In many cases, they did it as a vent for all the frustration at work and also because they thought it was funny.
I remember my dad who was very religious and he used to say jokingly and with a big smile:
"Don't use that f*ckin language with me!"
Growing up as a Jewish kid even from the Bronx, it was never really an issue for us.
Although even I have to admit that sometimes hearing someone get really angry and spewing off like that--while not appropriate, it does let you know where their head is at--at least for that moment in potty time. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 8, 2016
When You Gotta Go
We went hiking the trails yesterday in Maryland along Rock Creek.
And we came across this makeshift toilet in the woods.
Surprised at all by what you see?
Apparently, the hole in the tree wasn't enough for someone.
They took the liberty of literally hauling a toilet seat out to the middle of the woods here and adding it to nature's wonders.
I suppose they must've really wanted that homey feeling when they take care of their business.
Who says America's has lost it's creative talent?
From the big cities to the wooded suburbs, we are a nation that does our business and does it extremely well.
Especially during election time when some politicians can be so very full of it and of themselves.
Can anyone see why we need to reestablish leadership and competitive advantage in this country? ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 4, 2016
Stupid Stupid Ties
But while some ties may look nice (in a feminine type of way), for the most part they are nothing but a pain in the neck.
- Feels like a noose
- Looks like a dog collar
- Enforced as the yoke of oppression
- Constraining since a tie ties
- Costs as much as $385 at Nordstrom
- Klutzy when oops!! it hangs out your fly
- Hazardous when caught in an office shredder.
- Filthy when eating soup, spaghetti, etc.
- Disgusting when bending over and it flops into the toilet
Some day fashion will grow up and ties will go the way of The Waltons, and even Goodwill will throw them unabashedly into the trash where they most rightfully belong.
(Source Photo: here with attribution to bark)
August 29, 2015
Bathroom Etiquette 101
I stopped at a local store where I was and asked if I could please use theirs.
They were nice (not all stores are) and said yes.
Inside the bathroom on the tank was this hilarious sign with a jingle reminding patrons about bathroom etiquette, as follows:
"If you sprinkle [heart] when you tinkle [heart] please be a sweety [heart] and wipe the seaty."
Hey, a reasonable enough request--everyone needs to cooperate on these things. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 3, 2015
Lauding Over A Toilet Brush?
Not sure about this video on the SimpleHuman Toilet Brush
On one hand, it's funny to have such a serious video lauding the functionality and design of a toilet brush.
But on the other hand, the video is pretty darn convincing:
- Slim for easy placement and accessible for quick use.
- A magnetic collar for picking up the brush and housing with one hand--no messy spills.
- With a stainless steel rod for stability and durability.
- Specially innovative design crescent-shaped brush for those hard to reach areas under the rim.
- Easily detachable brush for when you need replacement.
- Comes in black and white--so fashionable.
Ok, so now I have to admit that I ordered one of these today.
I'll let you know if it really works (Uh no!) ;-)
August 7, 2014
The Most Troubling Sign
This truly is one of the most troubling signs I think you can find, especially when you have to do your thing.
Why you can't use the bathroom, even if you say pretty please, I don't know.
But I would say, Mr. Toilet here should put his hands down and let people in--for use and not abuse. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
June 27, 2014
Not For Drinking {Funny}
It's cute in a certain miniaturized way, but I am not sure who would want to drink their coffee from this thing.
Or imagine this, you go to the leadership meeting at your important organization, and there sitting across at the table is the Big Kahuna executive with this mug.
No, it's not a great brand making statement, but it definitely is a conversation piece.
Hey, will they put Starbucks in here, if you ask nicely? ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 2, 2014
Leadership Training, Where?
Rapid Learning Institute (RLI) has toilet training for leaders.
No, not toilet training, but T.O.I.L.E.T. training:
Time
Optimized
Intensive
Learning
Experience
Technology
People are short on time for training, so this combines productive training with some downtime that "every worker engages in."
The kiosk incorporates an "eye-level WIFI-enabled tablet" which launches 6-10 minute rapid learning modules.
This is a lot better than the Reader's Digest moment of yesteryear.
So don't be fooled by the toilet in the video, this is rapid learning in quick chunks on important leadership topics such as employee engagement, communications, performance management, and more.
The funny video is a neat advertising mechanism to drive the point home. ;-)
November 2, 2013
Exposing Rape
On the Metro in Washington, D.C. there is a sign that warns people about sexual harassment.
In the crowded rush hour trains, people can take advantage and try something.
But the advertisement reminds people that if they do the wrong thing, they are the ones who will be exposed--and punished.
This is in contrast to a story today in the Wall Street Journal about a gang rape of a 16 year-old girl in Kenya.
She was attacked in June--while walking home from her grandfather's funeral!
Six men ambushed her, took turns raping her, and then threw her unconscious body in a toilet pit--as if to say that she was just a thing for their sexual satisfaction and nothing but a proverbial piece of sh*t herself (excuse the directness here).
But to make matters worse, the horrific act was not punished, but mocked.
The rapists were "told to pay for some pain medicine for the girl and mow the grass at the police station"--I am feeling sick again!
I write this blog for this victim and for women everywhere to try to do my little part to expose the continued injustices against them--from inequality and unsafe conditions in the workplace to sexual harassment and rape in society.
Perhaps, if we all expose the injustices, we can finally make it unacceptable and rub it out of existence evermore.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 2, 2013
Dirty Little People
Take a guess?
Only 5%!
And that's based on almost 4,000 people they observed--but how many would've washed correctly if they thought no one was watching?
The dirty stats (while under observation):
- 23% didn't use soap.
- 15% of men and 7% of women didn't even use water.
- Average washed for just 6 seconds! (CDC says you need at least 20 seconds with soap and water to kill germs)
From what I've seen, unless their is a touchless water faucet and automatic towel dispenser, not too many people wash their hands--they don't want to get them dirty by touching the same bathroom devices that the other people just touched.
Another no-no for people is touching the bathroom door handle--more germs!
What do some people do--they use (wads of) toilet seat protectors to pull the door open--then guess what's missing for the next guy or gal?
Most public bathrooms are disgusting--if everyone could just have their own, they would keep it clean out of self-interest and maybe wash their hands a little more too.
Next time we have a recession and need to invest in "shovel ready" infrastructure projects to keep America working--how about we build some (read lots!) clean bathrooms and throw in the automatic wash features, pretty please. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 28, 2013
Welcome To The World
According to Discovery News, the baby was flushed down a toilet...alive!
Residents heard the cries of the baby from the 4th floor bathroom.
Firefighters sawed away sections of a 10 cm pipe with the 2-day old baby inside.
The baby had been in the pipe at least 2 hours--I am amazed it didn't drown.
The baby was brought to the hospital and put in an incubator and luckily, the baby survived.
I am sorry for the parent(s) who you'd think must've gone through hell before doing something this drastic.
And while I don't like to judge or be judged, however unwanted this pregnancy or unprepared the parents were for this new child--there has got to be better ways to deal with it than this.
An early abortion or giving the child up for adoption is just two options, and struggling to keep the child is a third.
Maybe the parent(s) thought they could save the baby from even a worse fate living in poverty, born out of wedlock, or violating the one-child per family policy--but it is still hard to imagine taking an innocent, helpless infant and doing something so cruel and disgusting.
How will this child grow up, knowing it was thrown away like this by its own parents? What type of self-worth will it have? How will it feel and act towards others in society having been acted on this way?
There are so many monsters out there...killers, rapists, abusers (many serial)--do we wonder where they came from?
I remember learning people are product of nature and nurture--in this case, there was certainly no nurture, quite the contrary...and it will take at least a normal new home, where they are treated like children and not waste products for this child to have a fighting chance. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 10, 2013
How's This For A Two-In-One?
CTA makes this pedestal iPad and toilet paper holder--to help you when you really need it.
Get your information and also your personal cleaning products at the tip of your fingers.
Many people like to browse, read, or otherwise entertain themselves with the iPad, now you can do it and take care of your other business too.
The CTA holder has a gooseneck so you can adjust and view at any angle, and it has a heavyweight base to keep it stable and upright.
Imagine you can even get it at Sears for just $44.32 (or the SupplyStore.com)--affordable, entertaining, and convenient.
You may also want to consider a Philips iPad Splashguard, they come in a three pack. ;-)
December 20, 2012
Meet Sammy, The iPhone Guy
Sammy, the iPhone guy, in the Galleria Mall in Ft. Lauderdale was kind enough to talk with me about his experiences repairing smartphones.
Some highlights:
- He learned his trade from watching videos online (Go social media!)
- Smartphones can be taken apart, diagnosed, and fixed in as little as 15 minutes.
- Repairs generally cost between $85-99 and come with a six month warranty.
- Loves the iPhone, but he says Galaxy is a strong competitor.
- Most smartphones are damaged by dropping them without cases on (people love their devices naked).
- Many smartphones are dropped in the pool and in the toilet--but amazingly these can be fixed too!
Thanks Sammy for talking with me today about the ins and outs of the smartphone. ;-)
September 17, 2011
Peepoo, It's All In The Bag
Peepoo--a silly name for a very serious product.
It is a self-sanitizing, disposable, single-use bag, made by Peepoople, which serves as a portable toilet to collect human waste and prevent the transmission of disease.
Without proper sanitation, human waste harbors contaminants, such as viruses, bacteria, worms, and parasites that infect fresh and ground water.
2.6 billion people (40% of the world) have no access to basic sanitation (i.e. toilets) and one child dies worldwide every 15 seconds because of this.
The Peepoo bags contain a simple, but important layer of urea, a non-hazardous chemical that makes human waste pathogens inactive in just 2-4 weeks.
The biodegradable bags are buried and decompose in about 1 year making needed fertilizer for people in poverty around the world.
Despite a current 15% poverty in United States, we live in such an economically privileged and technologically advanced country here that it is hard to imagine not having the basics for human dignity and health like a toilet and running water.
I stand in awe of the people that are working globally to help to those in need through the development of innovative, functional, low-cost, and environmentally sustainable products such as this.
There is so much to do to help people at both the high-end and low-end of cost and technology that it can be confusing how to invest our finite resources. For example, at the high-end, this week NASA unveiled plans for the most-powerful rocket planned projected to cost tens of billions of dollars to carry people to planets deep in space and potentially make discoveries that can alter the course of humanity in the future. Yet, at the low-end, we have billions of people with fundamental human needs that remain unmet here on Earth, who are suffering and dying now.
I remember a discussion with colleagues that our challenge is not simply to carve up the pie between competing alternatives (because there are so many critical needs out there), but rather to grow the pie so that we can give more and do more for everyone.
This mimics our economic situation today, if we just try to carve up our national budget between mandatory and discretionary budget items, we are left with a situation where there is seemingly not nearly enough to go around. Hence the imperative to grow the economy--through education, innovation, small business start-ups, international trade agreements, and more. We've got to grow the pie and quickly, because there are people that need jobs today, while there are long-term needs such as social security and medicare solvency, medical breakthroughs, and all sorts of innovation that await us in the future.
We can't forget the people that need Peepoo bags today and we can't stop investing in NASA and like for the future--growth in our only answer--and that comes through education, research and development, and the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship.
April 15, 2011
Fit For A King
So technology really does come to everything, eventually.
Check out Kohler's new high-tech toilet, the Numi.
Aside from all sorts of automatic functions from opening the toilet (from up to 8 feet away), to raising the seat for men based on foot sensors, to even flushing with varying power level based on how long you've been doing your business, the Numi really performs as the "toilet of the future" as CNET calls it.
Using a touch-tablet remote (that magnetically docks to a wall panel):
- It washes (through an extending bidet with LED lights)
- It dries (with an built in air dryer and deodorizer)
- It cleans (the bowl with 2 modes--1.28 or 0.6 gallons of water for the eco-conscious, and it also cleanses the bidet head with water or a bath of UV light)
- It warms (by controls for seat temperature and blows warm air at your feet), and
- It entertains (with FM radio and speakers as well as integrates with your iPod/iPhones).
For $6,400 you get yourself a true throne with form and function fit for a gadget king.
(Credit Picture of Remote to Scott Stein/CNET and Credit Picture of Numi Side to Kohler)
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