How The Toilet Changed History - Neatorama

If you've ever had to do without a toilet, whether long-term or temporarily, you can appreciate what a difference flush toilets make. Even outhouses are a big step up from what came before. The YouTube channel It's Okay To Be Smart leads us through the history of the toilet.

Our poop customs go way back. I was surprised about ten years ago when I read the instructions for dealing with "that which comes from your body" in the Bible. After watching this video, you'll know more about the history of toilets than you ever thought you would. -via Geeks Are Sexy

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Having both Sir John Harington and a reference to Jon Snow from Game of Thrones is either a great nod or a missed opportunity. John Harington is actually an ancestor to Kit Harington who plays Jon Snow. Kit actually attributes this as to why toilets are called Johns.

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My son lives in Cheng Du, China. When my husband went to visit him he saw many instances of people - especially children - dropping their pants and pooping in the streets, in the potted plants and gardens around what you might call 'malls' and even in stores. My son saw a child drop it's pants and poop in the middle of an aisle and his parents didn't think it was a big deal. Recently there was a tragic report of a 3 yr old that went into a busy road to poop ad got run over. Maybe it's just 1st world issues but, IMO, WTF?

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Correlation does not imply causation. Maybe the excessive running tricks the body into panic mode thinking the lifespan will shorten and accellerates reproduction ability to counter act? That's just a silly theory but there are so many factors to correlate to. Who feels the need to run marathon anyway? The ones with high testosterone, "jocks", or just people with long ring fingers?

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That should be ' ring finger longer than index finger ' folks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digit_ratio

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Long distance runners have more air movement around their scrotum, cooling the testicles. Excessive heat in the testicles is correlated with lower sperm viability and motility.

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The Kenyan Kalenjin people are a large percentage of the record breakers within long distance runners, partly due to their body form which has evolved from living in a hot climate and developing a method by which to cool it. Another portion is cultural, which is being less frequently exercised. Traditionally, both men and women underwent rites of passage which includes crawling nearly naked through stinging nettles, having the shins beat upon, being circumcised with a sharp pointed stick, and running everywhere. Reproductive preferences side with those who have undergone the rituals with those who had not being seen as "not quite a man/woman."

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