I often wish that I had Elastigirl’s powers from The Incredibles. Apparently, she got her powers from being exposed to volcanic gas, but until that day comes, I have the next best thing.
The Elasti-Stick! Think of the adjustability and portability of a back scratcher or selfie stick, but it can be used in many ways. The base will be made of an adjustable stick, anywhere from 1 to 5 feet. Then, there will be different attachments that will serve different purposes.
There are two main ways I can think of. First, when the teacher is erasing the whiteboard, there is still that little bit of dry-erase marker left. Oof, something about it is so uncomfortable. However, getting up and erasing it yourself or requesting for the teacher to erase it can disrupt the class. Instead, take out your Elasti-Stick (which can fit conveniently in your backpack), use the eraser attachment, put on the eraser attachment, and slowly increase the length of the Elasti-Stick until it reaches the board. And boom, hopefully, minimal disturbance.
Second, when you are reading before bed. You need the lights on to read, but when you are ready to go to sleep, you need to get up to turn the lights off. When you are snuggly and comfortable, it could disturb the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep if you get up to turn off the lights. Your blood starts pumping again and you have to find another comfortable sleeping position.
A real hazard to a good night’s rest. BUT, with the Elasti-Stick, all that needs to be done is to add the hand attachment to the tip, then adjust until you reach the light switch, and boom. A great night’s sleep.
There are a plethora of attachments that can go on the end of the Elasti-stick. Other than the eraser and hand attachment, you can add utensils, umbrellas, tongs, cup holders, and calculators…let your imagination run wild! Always ask yourself, “would Five-Minute Crafts do this?” If so, it is probably a good idea.
So, how do you DIY one of these? The materials you need consist of a backscratcher or a selfie stick (depending on the length that would suit your needs). Then, to prepare for the add-ons, take off the top of either the backscratcher or selfie stick, so you have a flat top. After this, you are ready for the next step. Grab some Duck Tape. Duck tape is a classic DIY item, as it is very strong and waterproof. You can also use it for a multitude of purposes around the house, not just for the Elasti-stick. That’s a steal if I ever saw one. Now, let’s say you are using the Elastic-stick for the first example with the whiteboard, purchase a whiteboard eraser, and attach it to the top with the Duck Tape.
The beauty of the Elasti-stick is that as you go through life, I can guarantee that you will find more ideas of attachments to use. Since it is portable and easy to use in many different situations, the uses, and creativity of this invention are endless.
However you use the Elastic-stick, you will always carry a little bit of Elastigirl, or Mrs. Incredible, with you. Her powers allow her to stretch various parts of her body to different sizes, but her weakness is blunt force. Keep this in mind with your Elasti-stick. If you are using this, and someone walks into it, for example, it could jeopardize your entire objective. Maybe even tape a warning label that says, “BEWARE OF BLUNT FORCE,” so that your time with the Elasti-stick will produce the best results.
If I created a legit company to produce the Elasti-stick, I would name it Mode. After Edna Mode of Course. Just as Edna is the eccentric fashion designer renowned for designing costumes for various supers, this company would be renowned for designing simple tools that people can use in the everyday lives that allow them to have superpowers. However, I am not too determined to make this idea become a reality, as we have superheroes all around us, and they don’t need comical superpowers to help people and bring hope to society. Every time we lend a helping hand, listen, share a smile… or erase that last pesky mark on the whiteboard, we are being superheroes.
Hi Kaetlyn! I really loved reading your blog! You have such an expressive writing style, and reading your writing was like a breath of fresh air. Your voice was very clear throughout, and I felt like I could hear you speaking through your blog. I love the overall theme of your blog with your various practical inventions. I found your examples of uses for The Elasti-stick to be really relatable, and made your invention very appealing. I especially liked your reference to “Five Minute Crafts” because I used to binge-watch videos from that channel when I was in middle school. I appreciate the way you acknowledge any caveats that might come with the Elasti-stick, such as the blunt force that might come with its ballistic reach. Despite the drawbacks, I think that your inventions are incredibly imaginative and semi-practical! While this one might not have the accuracy of Elasti-girl, it definitely sounds like a compact way to store a pretty long reach. I also loved your conclusion, indicating to us that everyone is an everyday superhero in their own way.
I’m excited to see more of your inventions in the future! This blog was a lot of fun to read.