Out of Order

Say what you will of the French, they at least believe in allowing a man to relieve himself in public without threat of being arrested for indecent exposure. Pissours are ubiquitious throughout Paris. St. Louis, which lauds itself for its French origins and is celebrating Mardi Gras this weekend, is another matter. The city fathers have made an exception to their normally repressed ways by spotting temporary urinals (called Johnny on the Spots in the U.S.) along the parade route, but after the fete they'll be hauled off, of course.

Moreover, the lack of public rest rooms is multiplied by the response of the private sector. Business owners and retailers often prohibit members of the public from using their facilities by simply putting an "out of order" sign on the door, when their is nothing wrong with the plumbing.

This leaves only one alternative: piss in the street.