And now for a totally useless piece of trivia

[Ad Orientem]

The history of the bathroom...
http://youtu.be/inoVg5a1kps

Just to demonstrate how pathetic my life is, I watched all four parts of this.

[lazyboy]

Very educational, amusing and not at all useless, thanks for posting.
Here one possible future for the toilet, the Ecosan project in India http://www.wherevertheneed.org.uk/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX3fkRt6XHI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... v-PXy350kU#!

People in the developing world have more access to a cell phone than basic sanitation.

[jackely]

The history of the bathroom...
http://youtu.be/inoVg5a1kps

Just to demonstrate how pathetic my life is, I watched all four parts of this.

If there is any thing more useful in life than the bathroom I have yet to discover it.

[jackely]

People in the developing world have more access to a cell phone than basic sanitation.

From my travels in the Philippines I can attest to the truth of your statement but it really depends on your definition of "basic sanitation". In Manila you will find some of the largest malls in the world with many cell phone stores but if you go into the restroom in the very best of them you will not find toilet paper in the bathroom stall - just a bucket of water. If you're lucky there will be a vending machine with toilet paper.

My point is that that Filipinos don't consider toilet paper as belonging to "basic sanitation". As a matter of fact, the Filipino I know very well because I'm married to her, and her son, originally thought their form of sanitation was superior to ours. They have had to adapt to our ways.

[MachineGhost]

My point is that that Filipinos don't consider toilet paper as belonging to "basic sanitation". As a matter of fact, the Filipino I know very well because I'm married to her, and her son, originally thought their form of sanitation was superior to ours. They have had to adapt to our ways.

A bidet is superior to wiping your sensitive parts with a style of paper that is not always soft (like a Sears Catalog), unless you buy specially premium brands.  I think it is more cultural lazyness.  Some day the Japanese microprocessor-driven combination bidet-toilets will take over the world!