2 weeks ago I received a call from Jennifer at NPR (National Public Radio) asking if I would do a radio interview.  Finally, the call that I was waiting for.  Someone had recognized my contribution to world cleanliness and I was to be recognized for it!  Of course this is not exactly how it went.  The first question that Jennifer asked was “Can you help us get a hold of Aad Kieboom?  We would like to interview him about the Urinal Fly?”  This is like having a beautiful woman walk up to you in a bar, lean in toward your ear, and whisper seductively “Is that your friend over there by the pool table?  Can you introduce me?” 

This was a blow to my ego but I am strong and was able to carry on.  I told Jennifer honestly that I have never met Aad though I hope to some day.  Jennifer then asked if I would be available to interview with Robert Krulwich for the “Krulwich on Science” show.  I agreed of course.  This was my chance to share the Fly with the world!

2 days later I was in a sound booth at the local Clear Channel radio station hub, completing a sound check, and getting ready to interview with Robert.  The interview was humorous with lots of smart, focused, and science oriented questions.  I had a good time and I hope that I didn’t sound like a stammering idiot.  It is too bad that our local NPR station, KUNC, does not seem to carry the show.

I hope that I did the UrinalFly.com proud.  I will link to the podcast of the program as soon as it is available online.

Okay, I should be clear and say that Behavioral Economists love us.  That is a bit different. UrinalFly just got mentioned in the widely read blog EconomistsDoItWithModels! I will let this quote from sexy scientist Jodi Beggs speak for itself: “The point is that if you put a challenge in front of people, they are somehow compelled to take it.”  Take the challenge people.

I often get asked about where I came up with the idea for the UrinalFly.  The original idea belongs to economist Aad Kieboom.  From a 1999 Whole Earth Aricle talking about bringing the UrinalFly to JFK airport:

“Each urinal at the Amsterdam airport has the black outline of a fly etched into the porcelain-”This improves the man’s aim,” says Aad Kieboom, an economist. His staff conducted fly-in-urinal trials and found that etchings reduce spillage by 80 per cent. The Dutch will transfer the technology to New York. “It gives a guy something to think about,” says Jan Jansen, the new Dutch general manager in New York. “It’s a perfect example of process control.”

I came across the idea while designing some bathroom related products for another company.  It struck me right away as an ideal first product to launch a company whose purpose is to "Bring fun to the restroom". 

Thanks to Nathan Verill's blog for the shout out and the link.

It all started with an email interview over a year ago.  I get a note from the guys at the NudgeBlog that they want to interview me for their widely read blog.  I agreed, answered a few questions, and promptly forgot all about it.  Then the book “Nudge” comes out and they use UrinalFly as a prime example of the concept.  The book is now a bestseller and more people know about us than ever!  Thank you Thaler and Sunstein for the shout out.  I appreciate that 2 of the great thinkers of our time acknowledge what we already know, that the UrinalFly is the ideal way to keep your bathrooms cleaner.