Friday Funny: Plumbing New Solutions for Avoiding Subway Germs

Seen across the Internet this week: a picture of a crazy (brilliant?) idea for stabilizing one's self on a subway car without touching any germ-filled surfaces. It may not be the wildest thing you'll see on a Tokyo subway, but it's probably close.

1 minute read

June 28, 2013, 2:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Rona Moon muses on the existential meaning of a picture that appeared recently on a Japanese message board. 

The source of the image appears to be this tweet

"Could this be the (scato)logical future of travel? Is this a protest against congested public transport, a desperate cry for attention, a new way to pick up plumbers, a misunderstood genius, or the next subway must-have? Whatever comes of it, this mysterious woman in leopard print knows how to attract attention. And maintain the carriage ceiling free of clogs."

"Some Japanese netizens on Hamusoku passed judgment, others overflowed the toilets of admiration," notes Moon. "So while most pooh-pooh the very idea, this could revolutionize subway travel. Or at least keep things flowing smoothly. Arriving soon at a station near you."

Friday, June 21, 2013 in Rocket News 24

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

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