toilet seats?

Today’s question is: why are toilet seats in public bathrooms u shaped?

Background: My girlfriend is very curious about this (she suggested I post it), and so am I. Why is it that no public bathrooms have seats that go all the way around like at home? Isn’t it weird? What exactly is the point of the frontal opening on the toilet seat in the public bathrooms? It’s kind of gross really.
So I did a little research to see why toilets seats don’t go all the way around. Here’s what I found from The Straight Dope:

Dear Cecil:

Why are residential toilet seats always round, and public toilet seats always “U” shaped? Who started this practice?

— R.G., Jacksonville, Florida

Cecil replies:
Three times readers have sent me this question in the space of four months. You people really have to start getting out of the house.

Public toilets are designed the way they are for the obvious reason: men are pigs. In particular, they splash, and when they’re out of the house and away from the restraining influence of their families, they splash even more–and they don’t wipe up. The relevant male apparatus being in the front, this makes the front of the toilet seat (particularly the underside) pretty gross–or rather, it would make it gross, if toilet-seat makers hadn’t been shrewd enough to head the problem off at the pass.

Who the unsung genius was who started this practice we may never know, but it’s now embodied in industry standards. Cecil was chatting with Shabbir Rawalpindiwala, chairman of the toilet-seat committee for the American National Standards Institute, and he told me that after months of solemn deliberation, he and his fellow intellectuals had definitively set the design of public (and private) toilet seats for all time, ensuring that our grandchildren will have U-shaped public potty seats too. (Actually, Shabbir heads the Committee on Synthetic Organic Materials in Plumbing Fixtures, but it’ll always be the toilet-seat committee to me.) One small step for a man, another giant leap for mankind.

— Cecil Adams

So I guess that explains why they are in men’s bathrooms but I’m not too sure it explains the women’s. Maybe we should just chalk this one up to this being a man centered world? Or maybe it’s just easier to order all the same seats?
Oh and for those of you wondering about the post from the other day, we got an all clear, so one more year cancer free! Thanks for the positive thoughts.

January 30, 2010 @ 11:23 am

2 times?

Today’s question is: Why are some people unlucky enough to get cancer twice?

Background: Today was Paul’s annual ct scan. I knew it was sometime this month but didn’t realize it was today. As you may or may not remember Paul had metastatic cancer 8 years ago when I was pregnant with our youngest son. I wrote about it here a couple of years ago. Basically, in 1992 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. That was the year before I met him. He had an aggressive form and ended up with a follow up surgery called the RPLND (retroperitoneal lymph node dissection). Because of the aggressive nature of the cancer they wanted to make sure his system was free and clear of cancer. The surgery was done and he got an all clear. He has a pretty massive scar to prove it.
As I said, I met him a year later. He told me the story. He was clearly nervous to tell me, I can imagine how he fretted over it. I took it in stride like I take most things. I knew he was fine and would be. I never really gave it a second thought. He was fine, we were fine, all was going to be fine.
To say I was caught off guard when the cancer came back would be an understatement. I never, ever, ever thought recurrence was an option, never. But, as luck would have it it was back. The timing was not good, but who gets to choose these things?
Luckily he never had chemo the first time around, so when it came back (9 years later) the doctors did what they know and do best, they started chemo and we tried to kill off all the bad (and some good) cells in his body. After 12 weeks, 3/4 of the way through we welcomed our little boy, he was finished with the treatments. About 3 weeks later he had a lobectomy (the cancer had returned in his lung, it was germ cell cancer, embryonal carcinoma, so the residual mass had to be removed to be sure it was cancer free, it was, best case scenario, scar tissue.) and spent 5 days in the hospital and was pretty good to go in record time. His hair grew back shortly there after. His hair is a different color than when I met him but still pretty light (he went from dirty blonde to golden brown).
So it’s been 8 years. It’s unlucky that anyone has to get cancer once, much less twice. Do me a favor and say a little prayer or send positive thoughts that his scan results are something we can celebrate. I’m sure they will be, but your positive thoughts and prayers can only do good.
Thanks.
January 28, 2010 @ 12:02 am

fashion don’t?

Today’s question is: Who wears black knee high boots with an off white sheath?

Background: In case you don’t know what a sheath is, it’s a cocktail dress. Normally this type of dress is sleeveless and knee length. Think Jackie Onassis. This should help:

Michael Kors

Kristian Dowling/Getty Images

I attended a Christmas party back in December and one of the guests had on an off while sheath. This is a classic dress, as you see above, one you’d wear with a dainty shoe. Not this lady, she had on black solid, not too fancy (not even a pointy toe) knee high boots. It was a fashion don’t like I haven’t seen in a while. Poor thing, I think What Not to Wear‘s Stacy and Clinton need to pay her a visit.
January 26, 2010 @ 9:13 am

little fibbers?

Today’s question is: Why do the little people in my life make up little fibs?

Background: Little fibs don’t really bother me much. They humor me more. Especially when they are attached to something ridiculous.
The other night I made this really fabulous broccoli soup. Here’s how good it looked:
It was completely gluten free and dairy free (until you added the cheese). Very easy and yum. My oldest daughter was thrilled, my son wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot poll and my middle daughter, let’s just say she was less than thrilled.
Actually, she sat at the table with the smallest bowl of soup I’ve ever poured, and cried while she ate it. It’s was kind of hilarious.
I also made some chicken on the side, just in case someone didn’t want the soup but she refused to eat it. Having finished most of the minimal amount of soup, she declared she was finished and put her bowl in the sink.
Moments later, they all decided they were ready for dessert. They wanted a cookie and I said yes. My middle girl asked for two cookies and I said that we weren’t eating more dessert than dinner. She replied with “what do you mean, I ate a lot of soup” (this would be the ridiculous fib). To that I laughed. Kids are so funny.
Broccoli Soup
1/4 of an onion
2 carrots
1 celery stalk
3 small potatoes
5 cups vegetable broth plus 1 cup water
1 bay leaf
4-5 cups head of broccoli chopped
2 teaspoon kosher salt
fresh ground pepper to taste
1 teaspoon curry powder
cheddar cheese (optional)
Saute onion, carrot and celery in about 1/4 cup of vegetable broth until tender. add salt, pepper and curry and mix together. Add vegetable broth and water, potato, bay leaf and broccoli. Cook until potato is tender, about 30-45 minutes. Remove bay leaf and blend with an immersion blender. Serve as is or add a few tablespoons of cheddar cheese to each bowl to make broccoli cheddar soup. This soup is healthy, quick, easy and yummy.
January 23, 2010 @ 11:37 am

left turn?

Today’s question is: Why would anyone make a left hand turn from the right lane?

Background: I’m back in Chicago after a few days in NYC. Every year around this time I go to NYC with my man because he needs to be there on business and I like to tag along.
In all my years I’ve heard stories of crazy drivers in NYC. I’ve been there a number of times and aside from the super fast cab rides I haven’t seen too much.
Well this visit, I finally got a glimpse of what can really happen. We were at a light on our way in the city from the airport. The cabbie decided to cut across 106th to 5th Avenue to head to Midtown. We were at a light on 106th, we were first and there was a car to our right. The light changed and I saw that guy next to us dart ahead and turn on his left blinker. I figured he was just merging into our lane (desperate need to be first). My mouth dropped open and I exclaimed “no way, that guy is not making a left hand turn in front of us?” when we had to slam on our breaks to avoid smashing into him, to which the cabbie replied “welcome to New York.”
Of course, the skill of our cab driver saved us from a car wreck, and I’m thankful we didn’t get smooshed.
Why are people in such a hurry?
January 22, 2010 @ 9:15 am

bad mom?

Today’s question is: Does cutting your kids lip open while playing a game of hockey on the backyard ice rink make you a bad mom?

Background: Well, let’s just say I was feeling like a good mom for playing the aggressive game they wanted. We were having a ball too. I almost broke my leg, my little guy got hit in the face with a hockey stick and then Daphne and I collided. At first, when I looked back and she was down I thought she broke her nose. I had felt the impact on my shoulder so I figured it was the nose. Lucky for me she only had a minor cut on her lip, mostly because of the braces.
So I wonder, does hurting your kid while skating cancel the good gained from skating with them in the first place?
Here’s a picture of the rink just for fun:
Oh and for the record, Daphne recovered just fine and hardly even notices that her mom checked her in a friendly game of backyard hockey!
January 16, 2010 @ 12:56 pm

bad?

Today’s question is: Why, when things are bad, do people act terrible?

Background: By now I’m sure everyone has heard of the horrible disaster in Haiti. The entire thing is so incredibly sad and heartbreaking.
This morning I was watching WGN Morning News and they showed a clip from last night where Haitian people were sleeping in a park and a rumor was started that a tsunami was on the way. Thousands of people started running and screaming to get away from it. It seems the rumor was started by someone who wanted to steal from the people in the park.
Who does that? I mean these people, have lost their homes and are probably hanging around with barely anything. In that sort of despair what kind of person tries to steal what little is left?
When I heard the story I gasped. I seriously do not understand how anyone could do that. (paul says I have no idea what it would feel like to be starving and dying for water and that people do all sorts of horrible things in disasters. I think I’ve decided that I sort of like my sheltered life.)
Send positive thoughts and prayers Haiti’s way, they certainly are going to need it in the weeks to come.
January 14, 2010 @ 11:01 pm

flow?

Today’s question is: Why do people care so much which way the toilet paper rolls?

Background: Have you seen the new cottonelle commercials? Apparently, there is a cottonelle poll for which way you like your toilet paper to roll.
Years ago, I was picky about which way the paper rolled, I only liked it over. Now, after three kids and a number of people helping me out over the years I just don’t care. It can be under it can be over neither matters.
Funny story, a year or two ago my niece came to me after using my bathroom and told me I had the roll of toilet paper on wrong, it was backward. I told her that it’s not wrong, it’s just different and that it doesn’t bother me which way the paper rolls.
So I guess, paper rolling passions start young (she was only 6 or 7 years old at the time).
January 11, 2010 @ 11:11 pm

doggie doo doo? Part 4

Today’s question is: Who walks their dog in the winter and kicks snow over the poo instead of picking it up?

Background: Last winter, my husband saw my neighbor do this, on more than one occasion. He was appauled enough to tell me about it (which says a lot). What I want to know is, does she really think that once the snow melts the poo is going to magically disappear? Seriously.
Based on the amount of poo I dodge everyday, I’d say she’s still doing it.
There is a special place in poo hell for people like this.
I hope she steps in it this year, more than once!
January 10, 2010 @ 10:20 pm

coat and boots?

Today’s question is: Who dresses their dog up in a coat and boots?
Background: A year ago I didn’t have a dog and although the kids begged and begged daily, I knew we’d never get one. Then something happened, I can’t even explain it, but I started to warm up to the idea. Warming up to the idea essentially means, you’re getting a dog. Once you open pet finders and start looking around, they all look cute. Once you think a dog is cute, you’re a goner and you’re getting a dog, soon.
Our lovely little dog came via a rescue on Feb. 14th. He was about 2 at the time, named Coco (no longer his name) and was turned in by his family due to tough times. He was rescued from Kentucky by a company in Milwaukee. I found him there. Now his name is Packer because we got him from Packer territory. He’s a good dog, all 9 1/2 pounds of him.
Truth be known, I probably rolled my eyes at dogs dressed up in ‘get ups’ before. I mean who does that? Well, apparently I do……….
What has happened to me? bahahahaha my dog has a coat, and boots. And you know what? I think he needs them. Next thing you know I might just bring him along to a party.
January 9, 2010 @ 9:20 am