The Observatory

I went to Taco Bell the other day to get myself some lunch. As I was waiting in line I noticed that they have those pieces of paper on the wall, the ones where you donate a dollar and then write your name in the blank to show you’re helping the cause. This particular one was for hungry children.

Before I continue, I should point out that a while back my father found this video on George Washington which we found humorous. Be warned, it can be a bit vulgar at points.

So anyways, I was standing there in line at the Taco Bell, reading the names on the papers because I had nothing better to do, when one near the bottom caught my eye. I noticed because, while it had a perfectly normal name in the blank, the person had also written something underneath.

…”but not the British children.”

Comedy.

Today I saw a boy who looked like he was from the 60’s. He had this haircut that I generally associate with the 60’s, kinda long but not actually long, thick framed black glasses, and one of those shirts with different shades of brown and orange stripes. His jeans even looked 60’s-ish. Heck, even his shoes and bike looked like they were from the 60’s. By this point I realized that someone accidentally being as thoroughly 60’s-themed as this boy was unlikely, and I came to the more reasonable conclusion.

He must be the product of a freak time travel accident.

On a different subject I have something to say about motion sensors. Motion sensors are very convenient devices. The first utilization was probably with automatic sliding glass doors. They aren’t appropriate in all circumstances, but people are generally pretty good about using them in the right ways. Then there are the more recent uses, such as for sinks, soap, and paper towels. These are also generally high on convenience and low on drawbacks. They use close-range, low sensitivity sensors so that they don’t usually go off unless they’re meant to.

There is, however, one object that never should have utilized the motion sensor. That’s right, the toilet. It was the most prolific and a gateway to the previously mentioned public bathroom uses of motion sensors, but it just shouldn’t have happened. Sure, it seemed like a good idea at the time. It seemed futuristic and convenient. Now I go into a bathroom stall and have the toilet flush three times before I’ve even sat down. Then it flushes an extra time before I leave the stall. Furthermore, they’re power flushes, so every time it does this it sends water spraying all over the seat.

What were we thinking?!

I mean yes, I can understand the idea of it being hygienic that you don’t have to touch anything to flush the toilet, but really you didn’t have to touch anything before. Nearly every non-sensor public toilet I’ve seen has those big handles made so you can step on them instead of using your hand. The only circumstance where such an act wouldn’t be possible would be for handicapped people, and considering it has to take even longer for them to sit down than for the uninhibited, a motion sensor just seems cruel. I’m sure it’s not that hard to use a piece of toilet paper when you’re pushing down the lever and then throw it in at the last minute.

I think I’ve written more than enough on public toilets and, furthermore, made my point. In summary, motions sensors are great but not for toilets. For toilets they’re one of the most annoying things ever.