Are you taking the piss with the Constitutional Amendment? No one seems to be addressing my simple solution of watering the bushes - there could be a mandatory sink for handwashing next to the bush. Or the massive flowerpot perhaps?

Quote :

On a separate but related point I'm intrigued by your spelling of the word 'jacks'. I don't think I've ever seen it actually written down before but I'd always imagined it was 'jax'. Does anyone know the origin or etymology of the term, I wonder

No but I know the Irish for the ladies is 'Banjax'.

Aragon wrote:

On a separate but related point I'm intrigued by your spelling of the word 'jacks'. I don't think I've ever seen it actually written down before but I'd always imagined it was 'jax'. Does anyone know the origin or etymology of the term, I wonder?

Is it a localisation of the Americans calling theirs the John ? John and Jack being nominal equivalents ?

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Aragon wrote:

On a separate but related point I'm intrigued by your spelling of the word 'jacks'. I don't think I've ever seen it actually written down before but I'd always imagined it was 'jax'. Does anyone know the origin or etymology of the term, I wonder?

Is it a localisation of the Americans calling theirs the John ? John and Jack being nominal equivalents ?

It's probably spelled 'jakes', and has been in use since 1530 (OED).

ibis wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Aragon wrote:

On a separate but related point I'm intrigued by your spelling of the word 'jacks'. I don't think I've ever seen it actually written down before but I'd always imagined it was 'jax'. Does anyone know the origin or etymology of the term, I wonder?

Is it a localisation of the Americans calling theirs the John ? John and Jack being nominal equivalents ?

It's probably spelled 'jakes', and has been in use since 1530 (OED).

I thought it was Edward John Crapper who invented the Throne in the 1800s?

Auditor #9 wrote:

ibis wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Aragon wrote:

On a separate but related point I'm intrigued by your spelling of the word 'jacks'. I don't think I've ever seen it actually written down before but I'd always imagined it was 'jax'. Does anyone know the origin or etymology of the term, I wonder?

Is it a localisation of the Americans calling theirs the John ? John and Jack being nominal equivalents ?

It's probably spelled 'jakes', and has been in use since 1530 (OED).

I thought it was Edward John Crapper who invented the Throne in the 1800s?

Well, no - Thomas Crapper was a plumber who did much to popularise them in England, but the earliest flush toilets are Harappan - Indus Valley civilisation, c.3000BC. Whether that or Newgrange is more impressive is left as an exercise to the reader.

Auditor #9 wrote:

Are you taking the piss with the Constitutional Amendment? No one seems to be addressing my simple solution of watering the bushes - there could be a mandatory sink for handwashing next to the bush. Or the massive flowerpot perhaps?

Quote :

On a separate but related point I'm intrigued by your spelling of the word 'jacks'. I don't think I've ever seen it actually written down before but I'd always imagined it was 'jax'. Does anyone know the origin or etymology of the term, I wonder

No but I know the Irish for the ladies is 'Banjax'.

Well, maybe the constitutional amendment might be extreme, I suppose. But watering the bushes is an excellent idea - though I remember reading somewhere that there is a limit to how much of the liquid gold is actually good for that sort of thing and there might be public health issues if everyone was piddling all over their gardens, I imagine. But even if it is a good idea you still have the nocturnal micturation to consider which is when an awful lot of the damage gets done. I can't see some men folk I know being prepared to sally forth into the night...and if they are having difficulties with the great white telephone, how much less likely are they to succeed with a flower pot!

Sit down guys! I tell you, it's the best solution!

Aragon wrote:

Auditor #9 wrote:

Are you taking the piss with the Constitutional Amendment? No one seems to be addressing my simple solution of watering the bushes - there could be a mandatory sink for handwashing next to the bush. Or the massive flowerpot perhaps?

Quote :

On a separate but related point I'm intrigued by your spelling of the word 'jacks'. I don't think I've ever seen it actually written down before but I'd always imagined it was 'jax'. Does anyone know the origin or etymology of the term, I wonder

No but I know the Irish for the ladies is 'Banjax'.

Well, maybe the constitutional amendment might be extreme, I suppose. But watering the bushes is an excellent idea - though I remember reading somewhere that there is a limit to how much of the liquid gold is actually good for that sort of thing and there might be public health issues if everyone was piddling all over their gardens, I imagine. But even if it is a good idea you still have the nocturnal micturation to consider which is when an awful lot of the damage gets done. I can't see some men folk I know being prepared to sally forth into the night...and if they are having difficulties with the great white telephone, how much less likely are they to succeed with a flower pot!

Sit down guys! I tell you, it's the best solution!

Enough now with pressure for change.
As a man if this is where I have to make my last stand, so pee it.

I see we have arrived at the secrets of cultivating championship leeks.

Aragon wrote:

The preceding referendum would be a landslide vote in favour among women (aren't women in the majority now anyhow?).

Actually, they're not. At the time of the last Census in 2006, men had a slight percentage edge on women. We're one of the few countries in the world where the majority of people are male.

That is very interesting Ard. Which other countries have a similar gender make up?

johnfás wrote:

That is very interesting Ard. Which other countries have a similar gender make up?

Bangladesh is the other country with a male majority of which I can think.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

johnfás wrote:

That is very interesting Ard. Which other countries have a similar gender make up?

Bangladesh is the other country with a male majority of which I can think.

And China

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

johnfás wrote:

That is very interesting Ard. Which other countries have a similar gender make up?

Bangladesh is the other country with a male majority of which I can think.

india and china? (due to abortion of female foeti/foetuses)

or does the longer female life expectancy negate the favoured son effect?

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

johnfás wrote:

That is very interesting Ard. Which other countries have a similar gender make up?

Bangladesh is the other country with a male majority of which I can think.

And China

That too. The beauties of socialism, eh cactus?

zakalwe wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

johnfás wrote:

That is very interesting Ard. Which other countries have a similar gender make up?

Bangladesh is the other country with a male majority of which I can think.

india and china? (due to abortion of female foeti/foetuses)

or does the longer female life expectancy negate the favoured son effect?

It does as well as the fact that women tend to be generally better engineered than men meaning that they survive better than us on average.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

johnfás wrote:

That is very interesting Ard. Which other countries have a similar gender make up?

Bangladesh is the other country with a male majority of which I can think.

And China

That too. The beauties of socialism, eh cactus?

Sadly China is full of the most rampant capitalism. The means of production are privately owned and workers are wage-slaves.

The problems of the one-child family policy are worth a thread of their own. There are terrible problems of child abduction and abduction of women from other countries being reported.
Poor men don't have a chance of marrying.

After the Act, men like to er, shake. Some of you gentlemen I'm sure don't do that at all but instead prefer to dab with some tissue. You don't need to dab if you do it in the bushes outside. But I get your point Aragon about the poisoning of the ground water - we might all become urophagists if we all pee'd in the fields.

A good full bladder of H2O is directly related to a good straight jet if you prefer to do it in the porcelain rather than onto the primroses though.

(As we're on this, in the Film 'Minority Report' with Tom Cruise directed by Steven Spielberg, there featured lots of futuristic stuff. Spielberg got a rake of scientists to sit around a table and come up with ideas. One of those ideas was a toilet who told you afterwards how you needed to adjust your diet. It never made it to the film though. )

Not a thread to be read over breakfast.

Are we edging towards a discussion of how its done in zero-gravity conditions in a space module? Whatever the arrangements, they might solve the problem in the Aragon household.

in zero gravity - pee into something resembling a vacuum cleaner hose.

Zero gravity toilet - sounds complicated - could be tricky.

Edo wrote:

Zero gravity toilet - sounds complicated - could be tricky.

The business end of that picture is missing Edo - pity. Per Cactus's (Cactus'?) suggestion, I'd like to see for myself whether there is any real potential in the idea.

That shaking business is revelatory Audi - might explain a thing or two. Maybe the entire problem is explained... I've some urgent questions for people here when they get home tonight.

Heres the actual instructions that Floyd? was reading in 2001

http://www.ee.ryerson.ca/~elf/aso/zeroGtoilet.html


ZERO GRAVITY TOILET
PASSENGERS ARE ADVISED TO
READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USE

1) The toilet is of the standard zero-gravity type. Depending on requirements, System A and/or System B can be used, details of which are clearly marked in the toilet compartment. When operating System A, depress lever and a plastic dalkron eliminator will be dispensed through the slot immediately underneath. When you have fastened the adhesive lip, attach connection marked by the large "X" outlet hose. Twist the silver coloured ring one inch below the connection point until you feel it lock.

2) The toilet is now ready for use. The Sonovac cleanser is activated by the small switch on the lip. When securing, twist the ring back to its initial-condition, so that the two orange line meet. Disconnect. Place the dalkron eliminator in the vacuum receptacle to the rear. Activate by pressing the blue button.

3) The controls for System B are located on the opposite wall. The red release switch places the uroliminator into position; it can be adjusted manually up or down by pressing the blue manual release button. The opening is self adjusting. To secure after use, press the green button which simultaneously activates the evaporator and returns the uroliminator to its storage position.

4) You may leave the lavatory if the green exit light is on over the door. If the red light is illuminated, one of the lavatory facilities is not properly secured. Press the "Stewardess" call button on the right of the door. She will secure all facilities from her controll panel outside. When gren exit light goes on you may open the door and leave. Please close the door behind you.

5) To use the Sonoshower, first undress and place all your clothes in the clothes rack. Put on the velcro slippers located in the cabinet immediately below. Enter the shower. On the control panel to your upper right upon entering you will see a "Shower seal" button. Press to activate. A green light will then be illuminated immediately below. On the intensity knob select the desired setting. Now depress the Sonovac activation lever. Bathe normally.

6) The Sonovac will automatically go off after three minutes unless you activate the "Manual off" over-ride switch by flipping it up. When you are ready to leave, press the blue "Shower seal" release button. The door will open and you may leave. Please remove the velcro slippers and place them in their container.

7) If the red light above this panel is on, the toilet is in use. When the green light is illuminated you may enter. However, you must carefully follow all instructions when using the facilities duting coasting (Zero G) flight. Inside there are three facilities: (1) the Sonowasher, (2) the Sonoshower, (3) the toilet. All three are designed to be used under weightless conditions. Please observe the sequence of operations for each individual facility.

Two modes for Sonowashing your face and hands are available, the "moist-towel" mode and the "Sonovac" ultrasonic cleaner mode. You may select either mode by moving the appropriate lever to the "Activate" position.
If you choose the "moist-towel" mode, depress the indicated yellow button and withdraw item. When you have finished, discard the towel in the vacuum dispenser, holding the indicated lever in the "active" position until the green light goes on...showing that the rollers have passed the towel completely into the dispenser. If you desire an additional towel, press the yellow button and repeat the cycle.

9) If you prefer the "Sonovac" ultrasonic cleaning mode, press the indicated blue button. When the twin panels open, pull forward by rings A & B. For cleaning the hands, use in this position. Set the timer to positions 10, 20, 30 or 40...indicative of the number of seconds required. The knob to the left, just below the blue light, has three settings, low, medium or high. For normal use, the medium setting is suggested.

10) After these settings have been made, you can activate the device by switching to the "ON" position the clearly marked red switch. If during the washing operation, you wish to change the settings, place the "manual off" over-ride switch in the "OFF" position. you may now make the change and repeat the cycle.


2001: Zero Gravity Toilet Instructions

I didn't notice that in 2001 but I'll pay more attention the next time. Solid waste in space .. Here is what they do on the ISS:

Quote :

On each side of the toilet seat are things that look like handles. Prior to solid waste collection, an astronaut floats over the seat, pulls up on these handles (against a spring force) and twists them inward over their thighs. The spring force clamps the thighs and keeps the astronaut from floating away. Urine is distilled to create purified water. The recovered water is pure enough to drink, but few astronauts are willing to do so. So the recovered water is mostly used in the Electron unit.

The "Electron" passes electricity through water, separating it into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is vented as a waste product, and the oxygen is added to the station’s atmosphere. Solid waste goes into bags that are stored in airtight containers, which are eventually loaded onto Progress freighters that burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere.

How to have a PISS on the ISS