"From the Stall" : A book that glorifies the bathroom artist

When most people head to the restroom, their main objective is to get in, take care of business and get out as quickly as possible. Occasionally, a bathroom will have something for a person to read, such as a few words someone took the time to write on the stall between chemistry class and English or advertisements for cars, classes and other campus happenings. Doug Rice is someone who decided to collect the former and turn his findings into a 145-page bathroom/coffee table book.

"From the Stall" showcases some of the graffiti Rice has discovered in mainly University campus and bar bathrooms, all the places where one would expect to find humorous and pseudo-intelligent thoughts.

Although Rice has only been collecting graffiti for a year and a half, the idea came to him when he was attending Oakland University as a student. "It was finals week, and I was in the library, and I had to 'swing by the office.' So I go to the basement floor bathroom and in front of me I read 'Rick Moranis has enormous horse balls,' and at this very moment I was inspired to make a home bathroom reading book of a compilation of all of the unbelievable public bathroom stall graffiti people write."

Rice visited six colleges in Michigan, on numerous occasions, a few restrooms in Boston as well and "God knows how many bars. I found most of my material from the colleges because I think people are more likely to have pens when they s--," Rice said.

Interestingly enough, Rice has never personally written on a bathroom stall. Maybe this will change as he visits more schools and bathrooms in preparation for his second book. The book should be on shelves in the next two to three years. "I encourage people from everywhere to send photos that they take to the website [http://www.fromthestall.com] to get their school on the map and in the next book."

When asked about the purpose of his book, Rice responded, "I think this book is incredible on many different levels. It is a showcase to the mind frame of humans when they are doing their business. It is a form of expression that is very dirty, stinky and

f- - -ing hilarious!"

Rice also said that the book serves as a sort of portal into the minds of members of the opposite sex. "If you are a guy and interested in what the girls write in their stalls, or vice versa, this book is for you." Maybe this book is the answer to the always daunting question of how the other sex thinks and acts.

One neat aspect of "From the Stall" is that the end is filled with pictures of non-graffiti-filled stalls in which the owner of the book can legally express their thoughts and feelings. This is an area where the reader can get their "feelings out about an annoying roomate or just draw a picture of their d- - -."

Speaking of... private unmentionables, if this book were to have a rating it would be 'R.'

The book includes many swear words, derogatory slams and numerous naked drawings... pretty much the things that go on in the mind of an average college student.

Don't let this fact cause you to overlook or ignore the book though. It is humorous and at times touching. Although, the touching moments and thoughtful ponderings sketched on the wall of a dirty stall are often countered and belittled by Rice's commentary which appears on the side of every page.

As one man from Oakland University wrote in a stall, "I can't help but wonder if all the wisdom of the world is etched on some bathroom wall."