Advances: A ripping yarn
Enterprising eight-year-old American twins have invented a garment much more effective than any anti-bullying laws - wedgie-proof underwear. Jared and Justin Serovich, from Columbus, Ohio, were torturing each other with the schoolyard bully's staple (made famous by the TV series Seinfeld in the Atomic form) when their mother caught them in the act. After reprimanding them, she sarcastically suggested that someone should invent wedgie-proof undies. The boys, who excel at science and maths, took the challenge seriously and created the "Rip Away 1000".
"We took some old pairs of underwear and cut the bottom and side seams and put in Velcro," Jared explained. Justin added: "When the person tries to grab you - like the bully or the person tries to give you a wedgie - they just rip away." The bully is left clutching the torn undies, becoming the butt of playground jokes for a week.
The invention earned the boys a spot on the daytime Ellen De Generes Show, along with other kids who had invented a solar-powered air freshener and the Privy Prop, a foot-operated device designed to ensure men don't leave the seat up.
Our picture shows David Beckham apparently testing the Rip Away 1000 at the charity soccer match in aid of California bushfire victims on Sunday between Los Angeles Galaxy and Hollywood United FC.
We welcome your comments
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LATEST COMMENTS
it's just about being chivalrous
- Posted by: anonymous on November 6, 2007 6:42 AM
If women want us men to leave the seat down, then they have to be prepared to sit in the drips left on the seat.
- Posted by: Yellow Puddles on November 6, 2007 7:12 AM
Yellow Puddles, I think the proper sequence is UP - pee - DOWN ...
- Posted by: Itaintbrainsurgery on November 6, 2007 8:05 AM
What on earth is Beckham doing?
Well done, the eight-year-old American twins!
When you flush the toilet without puting the toilet seat cover down, you send germs flying into the air - so,please, ladies and gentlemen - put the cover down. That's what it's for.
PS
How did we get on to this subject?
This should be about the enterprise of young children - give 'em the praise they deserve!
- Posted by: Ernestine on November 6, 2007 8:27 AM
They had wedgie proof undies for centuries. In Mongolia, the wrestlers have drawstrings around the leg-holes of their wrestling shorts to stop them from riding up. they're big blokes yanking at the only place they can grip - the shorts.
- Posted by: drawstring on November 6, 2007 8:40 AM
Explain to me how ripping someone underpants off prevetns bullying. Now all the picked on kids will have their underwear just taken from them, and witht he knowledge they are know "freeballing" there is much more potential to embarrass the victims.
Nice try, but way off the mark.
If women expect equal treament they will learn to put the toilet seat down themselves and NOT whinge about it.
- Posted by: pablo on November 6, 2007 8:49 AM
So the bully goes to give you a wedgie and rips off your underwear, thereby leaving you with no underwear. Wouldn't a simpler and cheaper solution be to just not wear underwear in the first place?
- Posted by: Dan on November 6, 2007 8:51 AM
In our household the whole toilet seat is put down (seat + lid) to avoid splashes when it's flushed. Everyone adheres to the seat down rule. Plus in a bathroom where space is at a premium, it becomes a defacto stool for clothes when showering.
- Posted by: Andrea on November 6, 2007 8:55 AM
Seeing as it's all about the seat ... the main reason it should be put down is because it simply looks better.
As for Mr Unco (aka Puddles) who clearly can't even control his own equipment (an attractive trait in any man surely), whether he pees on the seat, the rim or the floor, he should wipe up after himself.
Alternatively, if he can't control his own equipment, perhaps he should learn to pee sitting down (on the rim if he must).
- Posted by: Sweetbytch on November 6, 2007 8:58 AM
Great invention, guys! Embarrassing bullies is the best way to get the best of them. They won't know what to do.
Oh, and I agree with Lesley. Can't add anything to that.
- Posted by: Drone74B on November 6, 2007 9:01 AM
Men are supposed to leave the seat down because it's just plain good manners. plus, leaving the seat up detracts from a bathrooms' neat and tidiness, whereas if it's left down as it should be, it makes the bathroom and toilet look neater.
- Posted by: m on November 6, 2007 9:01 AM
In our household the whole toilet seat is put down (seat + lid) to avoid splashes when it's flushed. Everyone adheres to the seat down rule. Plus in a bathroom where space is at a premium, it becomes a defacto stool for clothes when showering.
Posted by: Andrea on November 6, 2007 8:55 AM
So Andrea - just how many 'stools' are there in your bathroom?
- Posted by: GJ on November 6, 2007 10:12 AM
Posted by: Sweetbytch on November 6, 2007 8:58 AM
Love your work!!
Just need to add that Puddles has obviously never sat on a cold toilet with the seat UP in the dark in the middle of the night ... not a pleasant feeling.
- Posted by: Cranky Pants on November 6, 2007 11:07 AM
Just an observation re Mr Beckham but I thought all english boys were uncircumsized?
- Posted by: GJ on November 6, 2007 11:37 AM
Men will put the toilet seats down when women learn to put the lid down before flushing. Whats with the chivilary and good manners bit! Is this just wordsmithing for 'do as you're told' because I can't think of a logical reason for telling you to do as I say and not what I do?
- Posted by: wombatman on November 6, 2007 12:20 PM
I heard that if you pee on a log which is stuck in the toilet the germs can run up your stream and into your todger.
- Posted by: Poiter on November 6, 2007 5:23 PM
Maybe a jockstrap would be more wedgie proof? Some also give protection for the front, too - for those stray balls and other items.
A can of worms (and maybe more suited for one of the Sam blogs), but can someone explain to me the deal with the toilet seat?
I'm sure the up-down function of a toilet seat can be operated by both sexes, and not just men, nor is each direction exclusive to each gender.
Why is it that men are meant to put the seat down so the toilet can be used by a female? Why can't women put the seat up for when men want to use the toilet?
If it's about germs, surely the woman's bottom would have had more time on the seat than the man's?