Western women can't squat A study aimed at finding the perfect way for women to pee has floundered because Westerners can't squat properly. The Australian study aimed to compare Western toilets with third world squatting, reports The Australian. But researchers found westerners could not hold the squat position for more than 30 seconds without falling over. Prof Ajay Rane, of James Cook University, said: "We were quite sure squatting would be far superior to the Western toilet position, however we have a problem now - one third of the population is unable to squat." His study, conducted over two years using 100 women, compared peeing styles using the squatting position and conventional toilet position. Equipment collected data such as how fast volunteers could urinate, their maximum speed, average speed, how long it took to attain maximum speed and the volume of urine.

Courtesy of Ananova, again, of course. I sometimes wonder if that site makes stories up to attract more visitors...

This research was financed by the designers of theatre washrooms. A more efficient way for women to pee would mean that they could would not have to build larger rooms and add more appliances in order for all the women in the audience to make it through the line before the second act. I, for one, would like to have a more efficient way to pee. Just think! No more deciding whether to pee or get a drink. No more husband being lonely while waiting for me. I have to wonder, though, what the fast food places along the major hiways think of this research. A more efficient way to pee might mean that us women could pee on the side of the road, like the men do. We would not have to navigate their concession stands and buy something out of courtesy just to use their washrooms.

Which music festival was it this year where they were handing out little simple plastic devices to allow women to pee standing up? That would be perfect, and better than squatting. I've tried to use the squatting style toilets that so many restaurants have in france, and it ain't pretty. Fortrunately I didn't fall over I'd have felt more secure and less undignified standing up, even if it did mean that I'd have to choose my clothing more carefully to avoid embarrassingly having to reveal more than I planned.

Hmmm, I guess "squatting" is one more of those exercises I gotta learn, and teach my daughter before she heads off into the world.

LOL! Where do you find this stuff Meridian? I can't believe governments waste money on this sort of thing!

From www.ananova.com They have some fantastically weird and wonderful stories in their quirkies section, and hardly any current news at all.

LOL! Cool, thanks!