Monday, October 10, 2011

A Heck Of A Budget Cut...!


I guess that when things are tight, you do whatever you can to save some money!

However, designing a train for commuters without a bathroom seems to be an accident waiting to happen. No pun intended there, by the way!

All in all, the solution is a fairly inexpensive alternative to putting in a bathroom...if you can sell the public on the idea!

Dutch Trains Substitute Plastic Bags for Bathrooms

Published October 07, 2011
Associated Press

AMSTERDAM (AP) -- The Dutch national railway has an unusual solution for passengers who need the bathroom on a train line designed without them: plastic bags.

The rail operator underlined that the bags, introduced Friday, are for use in emergencies only, when a train has stopped and passengers can't be evacuated. The idea has been met with incredulity by politicians and the general public already unhappy with the short-haul "Sprinter" trains' bathroomless design.

NS spokesman Eric Trinthamer confirmed Friday the "pee-bag" plan is not a joke. The bags are kept out of sight in the conductor's booth.

The bags have a cup-shaped plastic top and contain a highly absorbent material that turns urine into a gel-like mixture. After use the bags can be sealed and thrown in the trash.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/07/dutch-trains-substitute-plastic-bags-for-bathrooms/?intcmp=obnetwork#ixzz1aLhBPeh7

Actually, these bags seem like a good idea to me! I wouldn't mind having a couple around for an emergency. Might come in handy to have in your B.O.B., ya know? Especially if you have women in your group!

Just thinking out loud here.

How about some coffee in the kitchen this morning? Been raining for a couple of days now, off and on (can you believe it?) so the patio is still a little wet!

17 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

Hey, that coffee has to go SOMEWHERE!

HermitJim said...

Hey Gorges...
Yep, it does! I don't see why the public over there has a problem with this concept! Beats wetting the pants, I would think.

Thanks for coming by today!

HoboJoe said...

It gives new meaning to the term "going" Dutch.

HermitJim said...

Hey Joe...
Now THAT made me grin!

Does bring a new meaning to mind, doesn't it?

Thanks for the grin and for coming by today!

Sixbears said...

There's crazier things going on all the time. In America, we take clean water and poop in it. That's how out toilets work. In much of the world, clean water is too precious to mess it up.

linda m said...

Very funny, Jim. But you know a few of those in a car for that long trip might not be a bad idea. Just wait until it catches on here!

Anonymous said...

I remember that someone sells (or sold) a product like this for sale. Advertised for LEOs in stakeouts, iirc.

Ben in Texas said...

LOL LOL, first thing I thought of was the ole saying
"Not even a pot to Piss in nor a window to throw it out of" :-)
That project had to be a Union Job don't ya think?

JoJo said...

Well I won't be riding their trains anytime soon. But as someone mentioned above not a bad idea for a long drive or boondocking.

I am so happy it is still raining there. Enjoy.

HermitJim said...

Hey Sixbears...
It's for that very reason that I use a sawdust toilet. Been using one for a couple of years now and it works great for me.

Once folks learn that there are alternatives and that they aren't as bad to use as they seem, they become second nature!

Thanks for coming over today!


Hey Linda...
I'm thinking that they would be especially good during an evacuation, like during Ike!

With all the numbers on the road, you can imagine the restrooms along the way had to be packed!

I'm gonna see if I can find them on-line!

Thanks for coming over today!


Hey Anon 7:33...
I'm gonna start a search for them and see what I can find!

Could come in handy, I think!

I appreciate the visit today!


Hey Ben...
I don't know the reason for building the cars without a bathroom, but that seems a little crazy to me!

Glad to see that we don't hold the monopoly on dumb ideas!

Thanks, buddy, for dropping in today!


Hey JoJo...
The more I think about it, the better I like the idea.

Sort of like band-aids...don't have to use them everyday, but they sure are handy if you need one!

Thanks, sweetie, for the visit today!

TROUBLEnTX said...

Ok, u got the bag to piss in, but,,,where's the privacy? Didn't say a word about a curtain or anything. I'll just take a bus, a donkey, short bus,,, lol.

HermitJim said...

Hey Trouble...
I was wondering about that same thing! You would think there would be a section you could pull the curtain shut, or a screen that could be put up, or something!

Sure is something to think about!

I appreciate you coming over today!

Anonymous said...

Well that country is so small that they don't need toilettes :-) :-) :-) Did they really think people would like that idea :-):-)

Have a great day!
Christer.

Anonymous said...

Trouble N'Texas, you could don a poncho and use that for privacy. Allows you to keep an eye out and do your business at the same time. My wife has done that to take sponge baths when we go camping on private land.

Information on the same vein (my mind remembers the weirdest stuff, lol . . .).

I have read that one method that homeless women have used for #1 where no restrooms can be found is a roll of toilet paper, clenched between the thighs. Cut off top of plastic, insert between thighs, use and dispose of (of course).

HermitJim said...

Hey Christer...
I don't think they ever give much thought to how the public views something like this!

Guess it all depends on how badly you need to go!

Thanks, my friend, for coming over today!


Hey Anon 12:28...
The human animal is very creative when needs be. We always seem to come up with a solution that works.

Maybe the politicians could use some of that same application on fixing the government!

Thanks for dropping by today!

Recycled Cottage & Garden said...

Sounds ok for the men but as a lady I'm not sure I would want to use one...and what about privacy?

Unknown said...

I rode on the Interurban all the way from Dallas to Sherman ,Texas an you know what it did not have a bathroom either!When nature calls you know as well as I nature is going to take priorty over privacy!