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Book: Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Weird Inventions by Bathroom Readers’ Institute
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Authors: Bathroom Readers’ Institute
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might have fended off decades of municipal legislation: the Smoker’s Hat. It was an apparatus that sought to nullify the health impacts—and the noxious odors—of cigarette smoke.
The concept was as ingenious as it was simple and fashion-forward, which is to say, not at all. The battery-powered, head-mounted device vacuumed up smoke that emerged from the user’s cigarette, then sucked it through an ionizing and deodorizing filter. It even spritzed a refreshing scent before shooting the transformed smoke through an exhaust fan. For the smoker’s convenience, the hat featured two cigarette-pack holders, a visor, and, to turn smoking into a dangerously hands-free activity, a clip that held the butt in front of the smoker’s face.
THE MAN BRA
F inally, the male bra–previously known only as a sight gag called “the Bro” in an episode of Seinfeld –is a reality. Yes, Japanese men who want to enjoy the comfort and support of a bra need no longer skulk through the racks at Victoria’s Secret (or the Japanese equivalent) and make up stories about trying on some delicate unmentionables “for my wife, who is not here right now.” And for that you can thank WishRoom’s Men’s Premium Brassiere.
The confusing thing is figuring out exactly what group of men is supposed to find this appealing. All of the company’s promotional materials show the bras (which don’t seem particularly large in the cup area) being worn by chiseled, flat-chested mannequins. So it seems that it’s not a good option for the overweight male sporting man-boobs, nor the fellow with overly developed pectorals.
That probably leaves cross-dressers looking for an undergarment that’s both fun and practical. But then the question becomes, why not just buy the cheaper women’s bras? Wouldn’t that make more sense?
OLESTRA
I n the late 1960s, Proctor & Gamble scientists were charged with creating a nutrition supplement to help premature babies gain weight quickly. They played around with sucrose molecules, manipulating them into different configurations in hopes that they would be more efficiently absorbed by the digestive tract. As is often the case, the science went horribly awry, and instead of creating something that would improve the lives of tiny, vulnerable babies struggling to survive, P&G accidentally invented Olestra, a substance that would allow people to eat as many potato chips as they wanted without feeling guilty.
Formally known as “sucrose polyester,” Olestra is a synthetic fat substitute which is made by altering the chemical components of sugar and oil. When used as a food additive, it replicates both the delicious taste and satisfying mouthfeel of fat. However, the molecules are too large to be properly absorbed by the intestinal tract. The hoped-for result: food that tastes rich and fatty, but isn’t absorbed by the human body and turned into body fat. A win-win, right?
Not exactly. The only problem, which turned out to be a significant one, was that if the fat you eat doesn’t get absorbed into your intestines, it has nowhere to go but out of your intestines. In less delicate terms, foodsmade with Olestra can cause people to experience what the Food & Drug Administration describes as “abdominal cramping and loose stools.” No one should have been surprised by this side effect; early safety testing with lab rats resulted in “anal leakage” and vitamin malabsorption. Because of this, P&G was engaged in a legal brouhaha with the FDA that stretched on for decades before Olestra was allowed on the market.
Ultimately, it was decided that Olestra could be used as a commercial fat substitute, with one caveat: Foods made with it had to carry a warning label so that customers would know not to stray too far from their bathrooms. In 1998, after 30 years of hard science and legal battles, Olestra made its debut in the form of Frito Lay’s “Wow!” brand of snack chips. Sales were initially impressive (“Wow! A
The concept was as ingenious as it was simple and fashion-forward, which is to say, not at all. The battery-powered, head-mounted device vacuumed up smoke that emerged from the user’s cigarette, then sucked it through an ionizing and deodorizing filter. It even spritzed a refreshing scent before shooting the transformed smoke through an exhaust fan. For the smoker’s convenience, the hat featured two cigarette-pack holders, a visor, and, to turn smoking into a dangerously hands-free activity, a clip that held the butt in front of the smoker’s face.
THE MAN BRA
F inally, the male bra–previously known only as a sight gag called “the Bro” in an episode of Seinfeld –is a reality. Yes, Japanese men who want to enjoy the comfort and support of a bra need no longer skulk through the racks at Victoria’s Secret (or the Japanese equivalent) and make up stories about trying on some delicate unmentionables “for my wife, who is not here right now.” And for that you can thank WishRoom’s Men’s Premium Brassiere.
The confusing thing is figuring out exactly what group of men is supposed to find this appealing. All of the company’s promotional materials show the bras (which don’t seem particularly large in the cup area) being worn by chiseled, flat-chested mannequins. So it seems that it’s not a good option for the overweight male sporting man-boobs, nor the fellow with overly developed pectorals.
That probably leaves cross-dressers looking for an undergarment that’s both fun and practical. But then the question becomes, why not just buy the cheaper women’s bras? Wouldn’t that make more sense?
OLESTRA
I n the late 1960s, Proctor & Gamble scientists were charged with creating a nutrition supplement to help premature babies gain weight quickly. They played around with sucrose molecules, manipulating them into different configurations in hopes that they would be more efficiently absorbed by the digestive tract. As is often the case, the science went horribly awry, and instead of creating something that would improve the lives of tiny, vulnerable babies struggling to survive, P&G accidentally invented Olestra, a substance that would allow people to eat as many potato chips as they wanted without feeling guilty.
Formally known as “sucrose polyester,” Olestra is a synthetic fat substitute which is made by altering the chemical components of sugar and oil. When used as a food additive, it replicates both the delicious taste and satisfying mouthfeel of fat. However, the molecules are too large to be properly absorbed by the intestinal tract. The hoped-for result: food that tastes rich and fatty, but isn’t absorbed by the human body and turned into body fat. A win-win, right?
Not exactly. The only problem, which turned out to be a significant one, was that if the fat you eat doesn’t get absorbed into your intestines, it has nowhere to go but out of your intestines. In less delicate terms, foodsmade with Olestra can cause people to experience what the Food & Drug Administration describes as “abdominal cramping and loose stools.” No one should have been surprised by this side effect; early safety testing with lab rats resulted in “anal leakage” and vitamin malabsorption. Because of this, P&G was engaged in a legal brouhaha with the FDA that stretched on for decades before Olestra was allowed on the market.
Ultimately, it was decided that Olestra could be used as a commercial fat substitute, with one caveat: Foods made with it had to carry a warning label so that customers would know not to stray too far from their bathrooms. In 1998, after 30 years of hard science and legal battles, Olestra made its debut in the form of Frito Lay’s “Wow!” brand of snack chips. Sales were initially impressive (“Wow! A
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