Life in Palm Springs
May 31, 2006
10:47 AM
The Life

Blöki pooper-scooper

Blöki utcai tisztasági készlet = Doggie street-door cleanliness kit www.translation-guide.com/free_online_translators.php?from=Hungarian&to=EnglishHave you ever admired a simple object like, oh say, a paper clip (invented in 1899 by Johan Vaaler [1866-1910]), or a milk carton (invented in 1932 by Victor Wallace Farris [1909-1985]), or a pop-top can (invented in 1959 by Ermal Cleon Fraze [1913-1989])?

During my recent visit to Budapest, I had the opportunity to marvel at such an item.

It was an object so elegant in design that I was blown away by its brilliance. If I knew who created this wonderful device, I would instantly demand that s/he be added to the list of Famous Hungarians.

Jenc and I had just crossed the street outside the New York Café when we saw an unprepossessing little curbside dispenser which contained this cardboard packet (blöki=doggie):
Blöki B

Since Anikó and Anita had become temporarily hypnotized by the shiny things on display in a nearby shop window, Jenc and I had nothing better to do... so we peeled back the green tape and found a brown plastic bag glued inside:
Blöki C

After many unsuccessful tries (blame it on the wine), I finally discovered the cardboard panels had been scored for easy folding, to create a shovel-like construct. If the user pulls that plastic bag inside-out to cover his/her hand, the aforementioned hand need never be sullied by canine fecal matter. Magnificent!
Blöki D

But it looks like the social engineering issue of training Magyar dog owners to actually use these splendid objects is another matter entirely... Budapest sidewalks, just like sidewalks everywhere, are still dotted with dogsh*t.

Later: Köszönöm, Erik & co.!

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