January 14, 2015

"Thousands of people all over the world participated in the No Pants Subway Ride on Sunday."

"The 14th annual Subway Ride became a huge hit when people braved the cold weather and went pantsless. Part of an yearly tradition started by a group of seven boys, the event has grown into a global tradition.... According to the rules, underpants must be worn. Uniforms and business suits are encouraged to amplify the lower-half effect as are props - bicycles, prams, shopping bags or a briefcase. Participants are also forbidden from speaking to one another. They are instructed to bring to behave in a normal manner- read a newspaper, book."



That reminds me — and this is only slightly related — Jay Leno was on the Bill Maher show last Friday. You might have read about it in the context of his saying that Hillary Clinton "seems to be sort of very slow." But the part that got me was that he said that he never wears shorts — doesn't own a single pair.

27 comments:

BarrySanders20 said...

I'm relieved the link between the two was not a picture of Hillary pantsless on the subway.

Bill prefers no pants wherever be goes.

Brando said...

You mention he never wears shorts and doesn't own a pair of pants--does he only wear man-kilts?

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

SGT Ted said...

Ann, you need some tolerance and multiculturalism in your wardrobe attitude. Out here in California, we grew up with shorts as part of our vibrant, exotic culture.

Shorts may be ugly at times, but they've never threatened free speech rights.

Craig Landon said...

Did manspreading complaints skyrocket?

Ann Althouse said...

".. and doesn't own a pair of pants"

That was miswritten.

Fixed.

I hope you got a laugh... I did.

Ann Althouse said...

By the way, if you have to go out in underpants only (for a stunt like this), the trick -- used by ALL underwear models -- is to wear one pair of underpants over another.

JK Brown said...

Seems to me the way to mess with these participants is accuse them of wearing pants in the traditional sense of the word, i.e., underpants, specifically, women't undergarments.

A vibrant discussion of the difference between trousers and pants could liven things up.

JK Brown said...

By the way, No Pants on the London Underground....not something you want to see (most likely) or people whose seat you'd accept.

Moose said...

This makes the ice water challenge meaningful by comparison.

Lewis Wetzel said...

"By the way, if you have to go out in underpants only (for a stunt like this), the trick -- used by ALL underwear models -- is to wear one pair of underpants over another."

Under-under-pants

Hagar said...

Too much information.

Known Unknown said...

Disgusting.

kjbe said...

Shorts may be ugly at times,

That's not the point.

Ann Althouse said...

"This makes the ice water challenge meaningful by comparison."

Is this a shrinkage joke?

mikee said...

Many years ago I was called into my research advisor's office, where I was questioned about rumors concerning me jogging naked late the previous night on the golf course at my small Southern Baptist college.

My response, "How could you even think such a thing of me?" was considered satisfactory, as I never heard anything more about that event, or anything at all any of the other times I jogged naked around campus late at night, with or without friends.

Of such small irreverencies are large happinesses made.

All my good wishes are extended to the pantsless subway riders, along with the suggestion they not sit in the seats, at least in Boston.

Rocketeer said...

I prefer to call them "nether integuements."

Anonymous said...

The group that invented the No Pants Subway Ride is called Improv Everywhere. I've been following them since their Frozen Grand Central video appeared on YouTube. Their pranks use Manhattan (often the subway) as back drops to inspire surreal cheerfulness, like their Movies in Real Life where Princess Leia rides the subway or 3 kids reenact the tongue-stuck-on-a-pole from Christmas Story. To see New Yorkers smile and actually talk to each other as one of the pranks unfold! I'm too old and cold to ride in my underwear, but I'd love to do one of their MP3 events or the Black Tie Beach.

Rae said...

Your brevisbracaephobia grows less amusing every year.

SteveR said...

Great timing...January? Where are all the subways in the world?

Ignorance is Bliss said...

...the trick -- used by ALL underwear models -- is to wear one pair of underpants over another.

I though the trick was to stuff a sock in your underwear.

Ignorance is Bliss said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ignorance is Bliss said...

I find I get a much better response when I remember to put the sock in the front, rather than the back.

Chriscom said...

Such narcissists, such self-centered children.

Humperdink said...

Or as Brian Williams told his lovely daughter: "Bend over .... er ...Forward".

The Godfather said...

Big deal. That's pretty much what the Washington DC subway looks like in August.

I am not a shorted robot.

Dave said...

Ann, considering your anti-shorts position, I'm surprising you're offering up Jay Leno--notorious for his poor fashion sense, i.e. denim--as an example anti-shorts opinion.

This could have the impact of pushing a shorts-neutral individual to the pro-shorts camp.

Michael The Magnificent said...

No mas pantalones!