Bored of the gym and your same-old routine? Hoopnotica might just be the solution for you. This growing fitness trend originated in Los Angeles in 2004, and has recently gained popularity all over the world. Using weighted fitness hoops and rhythmic movements, this latest fitness craze takes hula hooping to a whole new level. Not only does it allow you to have fun and get a good cardio workout at the same time, but it’s also relatively inexpensive. 


Avid fans of this workout regime can’t stop dishing about its benefits, including core strengthening and weight loss. In fact, the CEO of Hoopnotica, Gabriella Redding, claims to have lost 55 pounds just through hula hooping. The American Council on Exercise has reported that this new workout strategy burns up to 420 calories per hour – similar to that of boot-camp classes and aerobics.


Hoopnotica is now available in 13 different languages, in over 30 countries. There are trained instructors around the world, including the US, EU, Japan, and Canada. Just last year alone, this innovation has made $1 million dollars in sales, and has been nominated to appear on Forbes “Names You Need To Know 2011” List. 


More information can be found at www.hoopnotica.com.

Foam Weapon League

An inventive blend of live action role play, Dungeons and Dragons and war reenactment, the Foam Weapon League’s special brand of fighting first took shape in the mind of Los Angeles-based Scream Queen actress Michelle Morrow. 


Donning outlandish costumes, they batter each other with foam swords and clubs in the hope of seeing their opponent spurt fake blood from the pouches strapped to their suits. Breaking blood bags is the way to secure points. The one who spills the most blood, wins. 


The FWL is currently traveling the US to set up teams in other cities. They are recruiting for Major and Minor leagues to represent Los Angeles in national fight competitions.

Real Life Magneto Boy Pulls Crowds

Ivan Stoiljkovic is a six year-old boy from Croatia who has become a major attraction in his local village. While he shares a liking for football and the accordion, Ivan’s fame stems from one uncanny ability that sets him apart from the other kids — the ability to attract metal objects.

Ivan has already showcased his unusual talent to a group of local journalists, sticking up to 25 kilograms of cutlery, frying pans, and dumbbells to his body. Other objects that cling to him include dishes, mobile phones, and even remote controls. According to his family, Ivan is also able to heal those in pain with his bare hands. The boy has reportedly cured his grandfather of a stomach ache, as well as put a stop to the pain in a neighbor’s leg after a car accident.

Certain people remain unfazed by this supernatural ability, and  have got together on Facebook to prove that magnetism is no big deal and is something just about anyone can do. The Facebook group ‘We are all Magneto Boy’ includes photos of various people with metal objects stuck to parts of their bodies. They claim all that is necessary is placing the metal object onto a smooth, hair-free body part.

Croatian news story on Ivan

The Jim Rose Freak Show Circus

The Jim Rose Circus is known the world over for bringing some of the world’s strangest people together to delight, scare and mystify audiences with their various talents.

Take Enigma, for example. A man completely covered in blue puzzle piece tattoos, he is comfortable on stage in front of hundreds of people using his modified body as a statement against “normalcy.”

Then there’s the female duo of sumo wrestlers, Judy “The Bull” Jenkins and Katie “The Piledriver” Wilson, who weigh in at a combined total of over 800 pounds! They shimmy, stamp their feet and wrestle in front of frenzied crowds who come for this spectacular show.

Rose, who has brought together  numerous talents over the years, just aired his latest tour on the Travel Channel, the ‘Jim Rose Twisted Tour.’

There are many other wonders to see in his show, which has a revolving door of performers who come and go as the tour progresses.

See them all in our special photo-essay, which takes you inside the heads of each of the performers.

To see pictures from the whole story, click here.