Wednesday, May 23, 2012

BEING FLY

If it was April first, (all fools day) I would have been highly suspicious of this bit of news. 

The Chinese, demonstrating the need to improve public hygiene, have decreed that there must not be more than two flies at any one time in public toilets. Not being familiar with Chinese public toilets I am unable to assess what improvements this might make, apart, of course, there being a limited number of flies bothering any one individual who feels the urge to relieve themselves. 

Thinking about how a reduction in flying flies might be achieved is another mind boggling aspect, which was not touched upon in the announcement. Would this health and hygiene requirement provide extra employment? Perhaps training for fly swatters is taking place across the many miles of China as I write. The swatting hordes could descend where needed at any given time.
The simplest way to execute most flies, in all probability, is to install equipment like glue boards, or 'Insectocuters', like those we see in restaurants and kitchens. They spit every time they score a success. I would guess that the Chinese make the technology for export. But would they employ it for their own services?

4 comments:

Flighty said...

I really don't see why it was even a news item here in the UK! xx

ZACL said...

A boggling issue, no doubt. BBC have some broad ranging thinkers, Mr F.

Xx

keiko amano said...

ZACL,

Well, it's good for continuous improvement. One of my reasons not to travel to under-developed countries anymore is toilet. I was in China around 1984. I waited to get back to my hotel for toilet during my stay, but I was much younger. Now, I'm older and closer to toilet!

I'd like to visit China one more time before I die if the toilet situation has improved. I want to see Shiian, and the national museum in Beijin.

ZACL said...

Thank you for your very practical and interesting comment Keiko. We have had memorable toilet experiences in the past. When you are younger it is possible to cope better with the issues than it is when the body is more mature.

I, too, should love to visit the places you mention, but I would have to consider the same things as you.

The announcement makes one wonder what the real agenda is. The edict is hardly realistic unless there is something tangible to back it up.