Water
A short while ago, my office had the water main cut for perhaps 2 days. I was amazed at how large an impact this had on the function of people around the office. Getting drinks didn't change much, since we have water and bottled drinks delivered. But people would rush across the street to use the Starbucks' bathrooms, and the men's urinal smelled atrocious.
Naturally, my thoughts ran to history. Medieval man did not have the flush toilet, but could have had water and drinks delivered by some merchant service. The removal of running water also made me think of the aqueduct service of the ancient Roman empire. Being without running water, we were in a sense less sophisticated than a civilization that had collapsed some 1,500 years ago. I understand that this was a small area, and for a very short time, which I took in as a microsystem of human ecology.
At the same time as I could see how the lack of running water could lead to serious hygiene issues, I also felt that the need to get out of the building and go elsewhere for a fairly regular activity across the day thwarted some of the highly sedentary and isolationist nature of office work.
That said, Scott still has a place on the list of quotes for once remarking "The greatest invention is the toilet. I poop, I push a button, and it goes away."
Naturally, my thoughts ran to history. Medieval man did not have the flush toilet, but could have had water and drinks delivered by some merchant service. The removal of running water also made me think of the aqueduct service of the ancient Roman empire. Being without running water, we were in a sense less sophisticated than a civilization that had collapsed some 1,500 years ago. I understand that this was a small area, and for a very short time, which I took in as a microsystem of human ecology.
At the same time as I could see how the lack of running water could lead to serious hygiene issues, I also felt that the need to get out of the building and go elsewhere for a fairly regular activity across the day thwarted some of the highly sedentary and isolationist nature of office work.
That said, Scott still has a place on the list of quotes for once remarking "The greatest invention is the toilet. I poop, I push a button, and it goes away."