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NBC LA published a story this week focused on the problem of human feces on the streets of Los Angeles. There are an estimated 36,000 homeless in the city (60,000 in LA County) but the city only has 16 portable toilets and those are removed at night. The result is people using streets, sidewalks, and even businesses as bathrooms: In one act caught on camera, a homeless man is seen waking up on South Hope Street. He unbuckles his belt, walks over to the front door of a business, pulls down his pants, and defecates right on the door...

The proof is in the pee. A federally funded study has confirmed, not surprisingly, that marijuana use went up in Washington state after its first legal pot stores opened in 2014. In fact, consumption appeared to double, at least in one major city, over three years — a conclusion scientists reached by way of the unglamorous work of analyzing raw sewage. “It’s stinky,” said lead author Dan Burgard, a chemist at the University of Puget Sound. “But we’ve worked with urine, we’ve worked with wastewater, and we’ve worked with port-a-potties. It’s not as bad a port-a-potties.” The research entailed driving...

A semi carrying porta potties pulled up yesterday beside the WW II Memorial in Washington D.C.. The porta potties were donated by private citezens to help out the visiting veterans since the facilities are closed. However, the park rangers turned the truck away and they were not allowed to unload. Michele Tennery witnessed this event and was astonished that the rangers could be so heartless in their treatment of the veterans. Michele added, “The photos show the attempted delivery of Port-A-Johns by Don’s Johns. The NPS Ranger would not allow the Port-A-Johns to be left at the WWII Memorial site...

The calls of nature may be particularly loud at an upcoming D.C. event if attendees don't have a place to "go."

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland police officers have asked for an apology after they said organizers of a Barack Obama rally set up Porta-Potties on a memorial honoring fallen officers. Earlier this month, 75,000 people gathered in Waterfront Park in downtown Portland to hear Obama speak at a pre-primary rally. Officer Thomas Brennan, a seven-year veteran with the Portland Police Bureau, said he was happy to help at the rally after being called in on his day off. "On short notice, a lot of people had to cancel trips. But they were glad to do it," Brennan said. "It was very...

As the months passed and no one arrived to claim the roadside attraction, Dawn Michaels became increasingly curious. Surely, the portable toilet belonged to someone. But after nearly eight months, Michaels recently suspected that no one was going to return to Rochester Road in Ross to retrieve the Porta-Pottie. It had been cast aside, cruelly abandoned, forced to endure the harsh winter elements on its own. If we were talking about a dog or cat instead of a human waste receptacle, this story would be positively heartbreaking. Suspecting that public money was being wasted, Michaels, 60, of Ross, began investigating....

Sit and surf: MSN UK tests portable potty By Joe Wilcox Staff Writer, CNET News.comMay 2, 2003, 10:44 AM PThttp://news.com.com/2100-1041-999509.html How far will MSN go to get new subscribers? Apparently to the portable potty at your local summer concert or festival. MSN UK is creating what Microsoft calls the world's first Internet outhouse, or iLoo, complete with flat-screen plasma display, wireless keyboard and broadband access. MSN UK spokesman Matthew Whittingham described the portable toilet as the first "WWW.C," referring to the term W.C., or water closet."This is another demonstration of Microsoft moving into new product areas to expand its...