Americans are losing something important.
The number of new construction permits issued each month continues to depress (rather than impress) economists and those who listen to intelligent and semi-intelligent media outlets. Still, by 2050, over 70% of U.S. homes will be able to flush a toilet and not impact the hot water of a simultaneously running shower.
The showers in the house I grew up in lost pressure and hot water whenever the following occurred:
- the other shower ran
- the sprinklers were on
- dishes were being washed (whether by hand or the dishwasher)
- the toilet flushed
The showers in the house I now live in, built in 2005, are affected by nothing except running for an hour. And cold weather (although that's probably a cause and effect thing with cold weather causing me to want to take an hour's worth of shower and having the effect of eventually running out of hot water).
So what do Americans lose by this?
A Semi-Amusing Practical Joke
Who, after all, has not flushed a toilet or ran hot water in the kitchen during a sibling's shower? Who, after all, did not enjoy its effect? And finally, who did not swear to exact revenge (most likely by doing it again when parents weren't around) when that sibling told on you?
Only children, I totally get that you may be feeling left out. Still, I am sure you have perpetrated this joke on a spouse or that totally lazy roommate who never did his or her own dishes.
Awareness
Just as this generation's youth had to google who Osama Bin Laden was when his death was announced, so that generation's youth will have to google (assuming Google still hasn't succumbed to Bing in 40 years), "Why does a person showering yelp when the toilet is flushed?"
They will google this question only after watching an old movie or television show in which revenge is exacted on a showering person by toilet-flushing.
Which is a nice segue into...
An Easy Gag Joke for TV and Comedy Writers
The overuse of such gags has been discussed elsewhere. Still, many writers will mourn the loss of this good-for-laughs bathroom scene on days they are feeling lazy or not particularly clever. Fraternity houses will likewise grieve, and for similar reasons.
Just a Teensy Bit More Power
Office drones and blue collar worker bees, this is just one more way The Man can stick it to you. Not only is He giving orders and intricately commanding every detail of your workday, now The Man is invading your home through new-construction and home renovation regulations in order to rob you of your domestic power as well.There's really not much you can do except write your congress(wo)man, watch more televesion, and exercise your right to bear arms in an ultra-secret militia group.
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