Comments on: Help Me With Some Bathroom Inspiration

By: Mobile Bathroom

Mobile Bathroom — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:13:32 +0000

Not a whole lot of things that irk me more than nasty public restrooms…

By: Dennis Whittle

Dennis Whittle — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:41:24 +0000

I am afraid that 4 donors beat you to it in Coimbatore India in 2002! The first project ever funded through GlobalGiving (then called DevelopmentSpace) was a toilet block at a school in Coimbatore. I was kind of embarrassed by this, since before starting GlobalGiving I was used to funding hundred-million-dollar projects at the World Bank. Then my co-founder, Mari Kuraishi, whacked me a good one and reminded me of the research. Girls’ education is one of the best investments you can make, since keeping girls in school results in much higher income for them in later life, better health, healthier kids, and much more. In the developing world, girls tend to drop out of school at puberty if they do not have a private place to go to the bathroom. We estimate that the $5,000 these four donors (including David Kirkpatrick from Fortune Magazine) provided will keep over 400 girls in school over the coming year – an amazing bang for the buck!

Two pictures of the plaques are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dbw001/1205591401/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dbw001/1206453036/

Good luck with the naming of the ATLAS toilet. (Maybe name it John’s John in honor of John?)

Best, Dennis Whittle, co-founder, GlobalGiving

http://www.globalgiving.com

(dennis at globalgiving.com)

By: Thomas Niss

Thomas Niss — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:58:17 +0000

I’d leave some creativity to the users. Would change the rules a bit and use a simple graphic instead of words. Something like a classic American bathroom stall–the ones where you can see through between the doors and the walls–pretty iconic, at least for a European… I guess you could show some feet below the door and a simple idea icon–like a bulb–above the door. Or, to give it some additional meaning, you could have two stalls next to each other: one door closed and the other one open; both stalls occupied though. I’d show an idea icon above the open one… I can send you a ms paint picture–that’s all I can handle…

By: Carlos Rodriguez

Carlos Rodriguez — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:57:18 +0000

Does it have to be a quote? How about simply using an image? One idea comes to mind: Rodin’s The Thinker. Of course, the image could be remixed, with the Thinker sitting on the can (“The Stinker”? sorry…).

Non-remixed would probably be better, actually, allowing the viewer to use his imagination to do his own remixing, if he so pleases.

By: virgilio

virgilio — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 13:53:03 +0000

Be a king, use your throne

By: lisa

lisa — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 05:20:31 +0000

The average person spends 6 months of their life sitting on the toilet. Don’t waste it!

By: Anita Taylor

Anita Taylor — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:01:35 +0000

“let’s get this potty started”

By: phil

phil — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:14:16 +0000

make no mistake, the can is hallowed…

a caveman invented god on the can,

einstein thought up relativity on the can,

bannister broke the 4 minute mile on the can,

heck, crapper invented the can on the can…

By: Catherine Kunst

Catherine Kunst — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 05:10:02 +0000

There’s an idea in buddhism (beginner’s mind) that one can only begin to explore new ideas (i.e. innovate) by getting rid of the old ideas as demonstrated by this story:

Empty Your Cup

A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted. “You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.”

So I would recommend that visitors to the Feld Rest Stop empty their cups

By: mike

mike — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:02:11 +0000

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not “Eureka! (I found it!)” but “That’s funny…” Isaac Asimov