Potty Training

This does not strike me as a great idea: you’re sitting on a porta-potty at a summer concert, the same one visited by dozens of your fellow revelers before you. I do not linger when forced to use a porta-potty, if for no other reason than I am breathing out of my mouth. Why would I want to use a freaking computer under the circumstances?

The iLoo being developed by the MSN division of Microsoft Corp. in Britain is a standard portable toilet – a loo to the English – with a wireless keyboard and extending, height-adjustable plasma screen in front of the seat.

There would also be a “Hotmail station” with waterproof keyboard and plasma screen on the outside for those waiting in line.

MSN officials say they’re negotiating for the manufacture of toilet paper imprinted with Web addresses that users may not have tried.

“The Internet’s so much a part of everyday life now that surfing on the loo was the next natural step,” MSN marketing manager Tracy Blacher said. “People used to reach for a book or mag(azine) when they were on the loo, but now they’ll be logging on.”

The device is expected to be in use at festivals this summer in Britain, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Tuesday. [AP]

It sounds like Microsoft needs to hire a normal person to listen to ideas, and when necessary, say “that is retarded.”