In a city like Washington with so many workaholics counting on fast food joints for sustenance, this story has maximum gross out potential: Despite those pervasive bathroom signs directing employees to wash up after using the loo, more than half of all fast-food industry workers don’t bother, according to a new study by the Federal Drug Administration.

Beyond the obvious and very icky implications, the feds are wringing their hands because the lack of hand washing can lead to the spread of food-borne diseases such as hepatitis A and E. coli.

This afternoon, I posted about possibility that parts of the National Mall will have to be restored due to millions of people trampling its grass on inauguration day. Well, I went down to the Mall this afternoon. More than two days after Obama's swearing in, the portable toilets are still on the Mall. Hundreds of them! And it's hot out today.

These portable toilets have been there for a while. They were put up days before Tuesday's inaugural ceremonies. I wonder if they've been cleaned out. They are certainly still available for use. So when will the Mall start to take on an overwhelming poop smell?

*photo taken on Tuesday and not necessarily reflective of conditions on the Mall.