Bar & Restaurant Linda VistaNear Volcán Irazú, Cartago, Costa Rica

The Linda Vista does indeed have a nice view when the weather allows it. However, the food and general conditions of the establishment were not convincing. Although it was not completely awful, I doubt that anyone ever comes back to this place a second time.

It's the Arts! 21

1. Untraditional uses of the WC

1.1 The WC as a weapon

Many a film character has suffered WC-related violence. Usually, there is drowning or smashing of heads against one or several WC parts, and some times the ring is used to further destroy the cranium or perhaps strangle the victim.

1.1.1 The Spirit: Striking weapon
In The Spirit, based on Will Eisner's excellent comics, the villain The Octopus takes WC violence to a new level, as not only the ring, but the entire WC is first a mobile striking weapon, and then turns into a handy containment device.

We would also like to give special credits for the immortal line uttered by The Octopus when noting that the Spirit seemed somewhat baffled by the impact:

Come on! Toilets are always funny!

We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

1.1.2 Sin City: Drowning
By the way, The Spirit was directed by Frank Miller, who also directed Sin City. Here is a scene from the latter, where the WC is used in a more traditionally violent way:


1.1.3 The Godfather: Trickery
Then there is also the possibility of simply hiding a weapon in the toilet, as in the Godfather, a trick preceding this scene:

1.1.4 Leathal Weapon 2: Explosives
Finally, we remember how the bad guys converted Danny Glover's peaceful retreat into a deadly bomb in Leathal Weapon 2, when Mel Gibson was still considered a funny and somewhat handsome actor, not an old nazi.

1.2 The WC as a washing mashine

1.2.1 Futurama
From one of the Futurama films. This description should get the googlers interested: five chicks in a jail cell. Wet pink undies.

1.2.2 Låt den rätte komma in, a.k.a. Let the Right one In
A Swedish vampire drama for the young but not faint at heart. In this scene, Oskar has received some help from his friends, who have washed his trousers for him.

1.3 The WC as an abortion clinic.

1.3.1 Big Love

Another scene from Big Love, just as the young lady is losing her baby.

Volcán Irazú, Cartago, Costa Rica

We have been visiting the 3.432 m high Irazú Volcano a lot lately, as IWCRP delegations from all over the world have come to learn more about the secret art of photographing WCs for the benefits of all humankind. In their spare time, they went to see the Irazú and its particularly nice toilets.

We would also like to remind you that the only decent coffee available in Uruguay is at the Café Irazú in Montevideo

Sanatorio Carlos Durán, Cartago, Costa Rica

These pictures were sent to us by famous costa rican photograher George Rouppolo. They were shot at Sanatorio Carlos Durán in Prusia, Cartago, a former tubercolosis sanatorium built in 1915 and shut down in 1963. Every teenage goth band has to go here and take gloomy band pictures, and stoners go here to be scared of ghosts.

According to the photographer, the toilets were on the ground so that the patients could simply drag their unhealthy bodies there instead of walking. However, looking at the pictures, the WC appears to be of the french type, with a ruffled surface much more suited for placing one's feet than one's behind.

George Rouppolo's art can be enjoyed at http://www.grouppolo.tk/

Musical WCs: Bare Egil Band: Umbrella

The WC appears at 0:26

It's the arts! 20:Jubilee

The picture is taken from "Pineapple express", but resembles the IWCRP headquarters on this glorious day.

'Tis a joyous occation. We are celebrating the 20th "It's the Arts!" post, and we empty our vaults.
All the pictures sent to us by the film studios in order for us to promote their films in the most eficcient way possible are hereby publicated.
Unfortunately, the studios have not always labeled the pictures properly, so some are in the unknown soldier category. Please, feel free to leave a comment identifying the WCs in question; the usual $10.000 reward will of course be given to whoever is able to make a positive identification.

1. Strategies to avoid the bodily fluids of strangers

1.1: Covering the toilet seat

The imprisoned mormon bigamist Roman Grant, played by Harry Dean Stanton in the third season of Big Love, is here demonstrating a well-known trick, namely covering the seat with toilet paper. However, while most people use several sheets and just spread them arbitrarily around as thick as they find necessary, notice how mr. Grant has used only one long, undivided piece of TP. A nice touch.

1.2: Manoeuvring the toilet seat

1.2.1 : Kicking up the toilet seat.

Robert Downey Jr. avoids touching the potentially filthy seat by using his shoe-clad left foot as an instrument in the film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. A similar technique is used by Gael García Bernal when visiting Diego Luna's house (or was it the other way around?) in Y tu mamá también. A variation over the same theme is found in The Sopranos when Tony kicks the flushing handle on the urinal.

1.2.2: The wrong way

Sir Ben Kingsley is seen fondeling, almost carressing the toilet seat in this scene from The Wackness. Shortly after filming this, he lost all his hair.

1.2.3: Risks of kicking up the toilet seat

This unknown soldieresse has evidently suffered an accident upon trying to lift the seat to an upright position, or perhaps while lowering the seat after some gentleman forgot to do it. What we can learn from this is:

• Always wear shoes. If there's a possibility that there may be water on the seat, there may be considerable amounts on the floor as well. Bathroom floors are slippery when wet.

• If the situation is out of control, call a professional. Do not try to handle a difficult seat on your own.

1.3: Putting something in the bowl

1.3.1: The correct way

Normally, toilet paper is a natural choice of object to put in the bowl in order to avoid unpleasant splashing. But why not try something new for a change? In this picture from We Own the Night, we can see that drug related objects appear to work just fine. And no trees will have to be cut down!

1.3.2: The wrong way

Not every object is suitable. As one can learn from watching Futurama, putting an alien in the bowl is not always successful. On a general basis, we can say that aliens tend to splash a lot themselves, thus annulling the intended positive effect. Furthermore, an important side effect is that you are likely to be eaten or at least probed if putting aliens in the WC.
And that, of course, is the reason why most modern WCs come with warnings against it.

1.4: Staying out

Keeping a safe distance from the WC is always the best way to avoid WC related fluids of strangers. Michael Palin shows us how in this picture taken from Monty Python's Flying Circus.

2. Famous Toilets

2.1: Insanitarium

Glass doors and combined WC/ living room/ bedroom. Very modern and fancy. Notice how he has placed a pillow in front of the WC, so that he will not smash his head open should he fall asleep while doing his thing.

2.2: College

The IWCRP team of film analysts has not yet been able to watch this film, but judging from the poster and the screenshot, it's one hell of a classic. Let's just hope that the natural protagonist (the WC) is not reduced to an instrument for cheap laughs, as happens too often in this genre.

2.3: The Simpsons

2.4: The Machinist A very slim Christian Bale is trying to take the attention away from the film's natural hero, who is here seen shining in the background. The film is very dostoyevskyish; crime and punishment has obviously been an inspiration.

2.5: Let's go to Prison

A silly film, this one. But by giving the concept of toilet wine a lot of attention, it probably contributes to give WCs a higher status in the upper strata of society.

3. Unknown Soldiers

3.1

O horrible confusion! Albeit both the bathtub and the WC are made of porcelain, their user manuals are quite distinct! Confuse the two, and you shall experience hell on earth!

Update: This scene is from Superbad.

3.2

Update: Far from being an unknown soldier, this is the WC from Rob Zombie's masterpiece The Devil's Rejects. At least according to the extraordinary IWCRP council.

3.3

This one is difficult, even for our expert panel.

3.4

3.5

Update: This one is from the film Charlie Bartlett.

3.6

3.7

3.8

3.9

Update:
1. I think this looks like Steve Carrell.
2. The only Steve Carrell movie I've seen lately is "Get Smart"
3. "Get Smart" is not particularly hostile towards the simpler forms of humour, which should mean that there may have appeared a WC or two in the film.
4. The person on the picture is wearing a white shirt and a brown jacket, same as Steve Carrell in this pic from Get Smart at imdb.com:

Cabinas LikaAKA Lika BirdPuerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Cabinas Lika offers very nice accommodation for those on a budget; 10.000 colones (US$18) for a big room with a clean private bathroom, a double bed and two bunk beds.