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Another Olympic problem — squat toilets
Yahoo/AP ^ | 3/19/08 | STEPHEN WADE

Posted on 03/19/2008 9:09:14 AM PDT by cowtowney

BEIJING - Among all the protests, pollution concerns and talk of boycotts surrounding the Beijing Olympics, a more basic problem has arisen for organizers: the toilets.

At the more than 30 test events held by organizers, the presence of squat toilets at many of the new and renovated venues has drawn frequent complaints.

"We have asked the venues to improve on this, to increase the number to sit-down toilets," Yao Hui, deputy director of venue management for the Beijing organizers, said Wednesday. "Many people have raised the question of toilets."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: 2008olympics; boycottolympics; china; freetibet; olympics; tibet; toilets
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No sitting down on the job at the China Olympics. What dufus thought this was a good idea? I've used these and they take some getting used to.
1 posted on 03/19/2008 9:09:15 AM PDT by cowtowney
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To: cowtowney

Should this be under “Breaking News”?


2 posted on 03/19/2008 9:10:36 AM PDT by cowtowney
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To: cowtowney

“Breaking Wind News”


3 posted on 03/19/2008 9:11:04 AM PDT by RexBeach ("Americans never quit." Douglas MacArthur)
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To: cowtowney

How do you keep your clothing clean?


4 posted on 03/19/2008 9:11:44 AM PDT by donna (Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, But Words Will Never Hurt Me)
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To: cowtowney

Not to mention making them handicapped-accessible.


5 posted on 03/19/2008 9:12:32 AM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: donna

Very carefully.

Actually, squatty potties are standard in third world countries. Just be careful not to drop anything. Getting it out is messy!


6 posted on 03/19/2008 9:13:05 AM PDT by Tex Pete
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To: cowtowney

I have a good friend from Beijing. The first thing she noticed and really liked about the US was the toilet availability. Apparently, China does not provide toilets at historic sites. She was impressed that we could keep our historic sites historic, yet still provide modern toilets. I see that their toilet problem does not end at their historic sites.


7 posted on 03/19/2008 9:13:06 AM PDT by twigs
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To: cowtowney

What happens if you lose your balance?


8 posted on 03/19/2008 9:13:23 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (feh)
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To: donna

Stay home. Watch on TV.


9 posted on 03/19/2008 9:13:43 AM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: cowtowney

How big is the hole? What if you miss? You just kick it in? What if that Peking Duck comes back to haunt you and you are not thinking “solid thoughts”?


10 posted on 03/19/2008 9:13:43 AM PDT by WakeUpAndVote (Pork, just bring the hot sauce!)
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To: cowtowney

Will they have TP? That, to me, is a bigger issue. Also, even if they have it, will it feel like Charmin or the NYT (which is, of course, far more suitable for the job, even if it doesn’t feel right)?


11 posted on 03/19/2008 9:14:01 AM PDT by Ancesthntr (An ex-citizen of the Frederation trying to stop Monica's Ex-Boyfriend's Wife from becoming President)
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To: cowtowney

The more serious problem is they are providing bamboo shoots instead of toilet paper.


12 posted on 03/19/2008 9:14:22 AM PDT by Rennes Templar ( Never underestimate the difficulty of changing false beliefs by facts.)
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To: Izzy Dunne

Stay home, and plan to do something else.


13 posted on 03/19/2008 9:14:39 AM PDT by WakeUpAndVote (Pork, just bring the hot sauce!)
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To: cowtowney

A friend of mine was in Moscow in maybe ‘93, ‘94, or ‘95, and said that all of the toilets at McDonalds (regular toilets) had footprints all over the seats, because country folk had been through, and didn’t understand what they were supposed to do. You’d have the same problem in China. It would be a mess.


14 posted on 03/19/2008 9:15:42 AM PDT by NYFriend
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To: donna

Carefully. Very carefully.

Not so bad once you get used to it. For some, there might be a real physical limitation. But I don’t suspect that will be the case with Olympians.


15 posted on 03/19/2008 9:16:55 AM PDT by swain_forkbeard (Rationality may not be sufficient, but it is necessary.)
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To: cowtowney
"I believe the Olympic games will be a great opportunity for us to speed up this transition," Yao said. "I believe the situation will get better and better."

What? Admitting that westernizing China will improve China? Wonder how long it will take before his family receives the bill for the bullet his jailers put in the back of his head.

16 posted on 03/19/2008 9:16:55 AM PDT by FrdmLvr
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To: cowtowney

LOL, well having spent 6 weeks in China, I will say that squat toilets are a problem. Can’t speak for men, but for women, it’s a major inconvenience...and even though we were in a large city, the only regular toilet I ever saw was the one in our hotel room. Even in the hotel lobby restroom (and this was a 5 star hotel with outrageous rates) the toilets were squat toilets. Many places you had to purchase sheets of tp before you went into the stalls, or carry your own. And in the parks, well there’s no such thing as toilets, just “trenches” that you have to figure out how to straddle. Definitely a bit of culture shock for me.


17 posted on 03/19/2008 9:17:46 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: Old Professer

“Not to mention making them handicapped-accessible.”

The Chinese government doesn’t have handicapped citizens - -
if you know what I mean.


18 posted on 03/19/2008 9:18:03 AM PDT by Eurale
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To: Ancesthntr

My experience in China is to bring your own. Best to take baby wipes.


19 posted on 03/19/2008 9:18:40 AM PDT by keepitreal
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To: donna

Don’t call ‘um “Bomb Sight $****ers” for nothing.

:-)

Used them many a time in other lands.


20 posted on 03/19/2008 9:18:42 AM PDT by PeteB570 (NRA - Life member and Black Rifle owner)
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