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Freestyle Calisthenics Pro-Tips From ‘Raise Up: The World is Our Gym’ Director

Taylor Berman
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Freestyle Calisthenics Pro-Tips From ‘Raise Up: The World is Our Gym’ Director

If you live in a major city, odds are you’ve seen people doing something called freestyle calisthenics or “street workouts.” Loosely defined, those workouts are when a person or a group of people use readily available objects in public—bars, benches, street signs, playground equipment, etc.— as a type of gym equipment that relies only on bodyweight. Participants use the objects for pull- and chin-ups, dips, ab workouts, and more. The movement has become so popular that it has inspired a documentary called Raise Up: The World is Our Gym. Rain Bennett, the film’s director, recently spoke to Men’s Health about the fitness trend and his movie.

When asked what made the sport so unique, Bennett pointed to its inclusivity. “It breaks down all barriers: Age, gender, race, sexuality, nationality, and most importantly, socioeconomic barriers.” he said. “This spoke to underprivileged people most of all. Freestyle calisthenics grew in popularity because literally anyone can do it.”

He also spoke about the power of extreme calisthenics to change lives and shape communities. “I don’t know that there’s a sports culture out there that does so much for people’s lives, in terms of getting them out of gangs, getting them off drugs, out of jail,” he said. “I’m sure basketball has saved someone’s life—I don’t doubt that for a second, but I don’t need a court to go do freestyle calisthenics. I don’t need a basketball to go do this. I don’t need to be a member of the YMCA to go do this. I can go to any park right now. Hell, I can go to the tree that I’m looking at outside my house and start doing pullups.”

“I don’t know why, but it is insane how freestyle calisthenics transforms the confidence, mentality, and spirituality of the people that participate in it,” he added.

There seems to be some concern among those involved with the movement that it will become too mainstream and lose some of what made it special in the first place. Bennett, however, remains cautiously optimistic. “I think at the end of the day, if we can maintain the heart and soul of the culture, which is bettering one’s self and bettering someone else, I think that’s going to keep the culture alive,” he said.


Read the rest of the Men’s Health with Bennett interview here and check out Raise Up: The World is Our Gym’s trailer below.

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Watch: Huge Gator Snags Golfer’s Ball Before Disappearing Back Into Pond

Taylor Berman
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Watch: Huge Gator Snags Golfer’s Ball Before Disappearing Back Into Pond

As far as sports go, golf is relatively safe. There’s no physical contact with anyone, so you don’t have to worry about broken bones or serious concussions. There’s no running, so no real concern about strained muscles or ruptured tendons. There are no large men in cleats chasing after you. But there are, on occasion, big-ass gators.

In the past few weeks, we’ve shared a story about a golfer who panicked after nearly stepping on a gator he thought was a rock and a story about a huge gator walking across a golf course as he calmly ate a large fish. Now we have another gator tale for you.

As Fox 4 reports, last week Daniel McNamara and his partner were playing a round of golf at a course near near Port Charlotte when McNamara’s partner hit an errant shot, sending a ball right into the head of gator chilling by a pond near the course’s third hole. You think a gator might scamper off into the pond after being hit by the ball, or simply ignore it.

But no: The large reptile wanted revenge.

After being struck, the gator quickly turned its head and crawled towards the offending object, which he examined for a second before taking it into his mouth and slinking back into the water.

Good luck getting that ball back.

Watch video of the incident below:

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Explaining the Mystery Behind Why Thor Was Unworthy Of His Hammer

Joe Mortimer
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Explaining the Mystery Behind Why Thor Was Unworthy Of His Hammer

One of Marvel’s biggest mysteries of the past three years was revealed in the 5th and final issue of The Unworthy Thor. Jason Aaron’s Thor run has been seminal since his start with Thor: God of Thunder and as one story concludes we can only pray another begins anew. Thor spoilers are below so if you are not current on the Asgardian’s comings and goings, to reading further, I say thee nay.

Cover Art via Marvel

Way back in Original Sin #7 (August 2014), Nick Fury whispered something to Thor. Whatever it was he said to the Thundergod, it instantly made him unworthy to wield his mythical hammer Mjolnir. This sent Thor into a deep depression and an even deeper drinking bender. Being in such a state, he even lost a fight to Malekith and got his arm cut off. But when your dad is the All Father, you receive incredible health coverage and Thor (now going by the name Odinson) is outfitted with a prosthetic arm made of black uru.

Meanwhile Mjolnir decided to start seeing other people and called out to Jane Foster. She became the new Thor and has had adventures aplenty. Unfortunately for her, she has cancer. And although her prognosis is hopeful, every time she lifts Mjolnir to transform into Thor, her chemo treatments are nullified, so that when she transforms back into Jane, it’s as if she’s received no treatment and she’s getting worse everyday. But the 10 realms need a Thor so she persists, despite the fact transforming into Thor is killing her.

Just before the death of the Marvel Universe, Odinson found that he could pick up a Mjolnir from another universe. This hammer had an opposite enchantment that allowed only the “unworthy” to wield it. (Seems like a poor enchantment, like just about anybody could pick that thing up.) Soon though, as the universe was dying, Odinson tried to lift his unworthy hammer one last time to battle a horde of Beyonders with his BFF Hyperion. Only to find that he was now worthy again and could not lift it. After a hearty laugh at his circumstance and fate, he was killed.

Cover Art via Marvel

But as luck would have it, (comic bookery in action) the Marvel Universe was born anew, combining a few of the more popular/profitable universes together to make and All New All Different Marvel Universe. The Odinson is alive again and seeks yet another Mjolnir. Not just any Mjolnir mind you, but the one from the Ultimate universe. It was cast into the void by Ultimate Thor (confused yet?) during the Secret Wars: Thors event. And the Odinson really wants that damn hammer.

Unfortunately, after finally locating it, he finds it is housed in the private collection of the Collector. So he and his old friend Beta Ray Bill try to get their hands on it, but end up as part of the Collector’s Collection. Upon their escape they find that they’re not the only ones seeking this hammer, but that Thanos himself wants it. After fighting tooth and nail against Thanos’ Black Order, Thor Odinson finally gets his hands on the Ultimate Mjolnir, only to face Thanos himself in a final battle.

Three years, two hammers, and a handful of Thors later, when Odinson is presented the opportunity to claim the Ultimate Mjolnir, he refuses. Odinson accepts that the hammer isn’t his to wield, and really what he wanted was the weighty purpose something like Mjolnir delivers. And it’s not that Odinson believes just himself unworthy of the hammer, but that all Asgardian Gods are.

Cover Art via Marvel

As it were, the words Nick Fury told Thor was that “Gorr was right.” The God Butcher had launched his assault on the gods, believing they’d abused the mortals’ faith below them far too long and their end was fast approaching. Though Odinson opposed Gorr, deep down he knew Nick Fury was right as soon as heard it. That’s why he believes no god is worthy of Mjolnir, including himself.

There was more to come from Unworthy Thor’s final issue, like the introduction of “War Thor,” which sounds delightful (and not just because it rhymes). As always in comic book, just who the identity is of this new Thor, we’ll have to wait until the next months to find out.

 

 

 

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Old People And Republicans Are the Only Groups Who Don’t Support Legalized Marijuana

Taylor Berman
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Old People And Republicans Are the Only Groups Who Don’t Support Legalized Marijuana

Fifty-seven percent of Americans now support legalized marijuana, according to the newly-released results from 2016 survey by the General Social Survey. That figure is up five percent since a similar survey was conducted in 2014.

The Washington Post reports the numbers are even higher among younger people. Two-thirds of people 18 to 34 support legalization, while people the majority of people surveyed between 35 to 49 and 50 to 64 support it.

As you might expect, only old people oppose it—only 42 percent support legalization, according to the survey.

There is room for hope though, even for the olds: In 2008, just 21 percent of people 65 and older supported it, so perhaps in another eight years the majority of our elders will have changed their minds (or at least have died off and been replaced by younger—and more weed friendly—baby boomers).

There was a similar divide between Republicans, Independents, and Democrats. Over 60 percent of Independents and Democrats said they favored legalization, compared to just 40 percent of Republicans.

Gossip: Beyoncé Top Pick To Voice ‘Nala’ In Disney’s ‘Lion King’ Remake;’ Orlando Bloom Cheated On Katy Perry

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Beyoncé Top Pick To Voice ‘Nala’ In Disney’s ‘Lion King’ Remake;’ Orlando Bloom Cheated On Katy Perry

According to Variety, sources close to the film say that Beyoncé is the top choice to voice Nala in the upcoming The Lion King remake.

Insiders stress that the Grammy winner has not made a decision regarding the film yet, as the star is pregnant with twins. But since it’s a voice-acting role, sources say the studio and director will do whatever it takes to accommodate her schedule. The songstress announced her pregnancy in early February and dropped out as a Coachella headliner by month’s end. Lady Gaga will replace the “Single Ladies” singer at the desert music and arts festival next month.

Donald Glover is on board to voice Simba and James Earl Jones is reprising his role as Simba’s father, Mufasa.

Favreau is directing with Jeff Nathanson writing. The film is being fast-tracked, even as Favreau begins development on his sequel to the recent hit “The Jungle Book.”

“Lion King” was originally released in 1994 and is one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time, ultimately hauling $968.5 million worldwide.

Related Story: Gossip: Justin Bieber Getting Advice From Barbra Streisand; Blake Shelton Ask Adam Levine To Be Best Man

The studio’s emphasis on live-action adaptations follows the successes of “Alice in Wonderland” (2010), “Maleficent” (2014), “Cinderella” (2015), and, most recently, “Beauty and the Beast.”

This would mark Beyonce’s first film role since lending her voice to the Fox animated film”Epic.” Her other major movie credits include the 2009 thriller “Obsessed,” 2006 movie musical “Dreamgirls,” and 2002 Mike Myers comedy “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”

Orlando Bloom Cheated On Katy Perry

Orlando Bloom has been spotted with his his new squeeze, a gorgeous Brazilian model. But here’s the twist. Sources say this new woman was the cause of his split with Katy Perry.

In fact, it looks like Orlando cheated on Katy because sources say he has been hooking up with his gal pal for “months.”

Related Story: Drink Up: Celebrate Repeal Day With These Two Classic Cocktails

“Katy found out he was cheating and dumped him. Orlando can’t keep it in his pants,” sources tell NAUGHTY GOSSIP. “She was out the second she found out what he was doing.”

Love the fresh dirt we bring over daily from Naughty Gossip? Let us know in the comments!

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Medical Marijuana Is Almost Legal In West Virginia

Sam Jones
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Medical Marijuana Is Almost Legal In West Virginia

The bill allows for 15 growers and 60 dispensaries in the state, with the possibility to increase both if there is a demand for them. People with prescriptions will be allowed to grow two plants in their own homes.


Alongside the signing of Senate Bill 386, the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission was set up to “develop policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations to implement programs to make medical cannabis available to qualifying patients in a safe and effective manner,” according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail, as well as a Cannabis Revenue Fund that will allocate 10 percent to safe cannabis use and substance abuse and alcohol recovery programs.

The bill signing on Wednesday was an emotional moment for many advocates of legalized marijuana. Rusty Williams, a man who’d been diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2012 and credits medical marijuana for his recovery and remission, “burst into tears” at the signing, the Gazette-Mail reports:

“I wish I could properly put it into words,” [Williams] said. “I don’t know how to describe it — to know that something got me through the most hopeless I ever felt in my life … to know there’s an illegal flower that can get you through that,” his voice trailed off, before he thanked a “small, dedicated group of people” for their work on the issue.

Cancer patients will be far from the only people to benefit from this bill: West Virginia is known as the “epicenter of the opioid crisis,” with the highest rate of deaths from overdoses of any state. As legal weed gains traction in the U.S. and shows potential for easing the opioid crisis, medical marijuana in West Virginia could be welcome relief for a variety of pain sufferers.

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The US States With Legal Marijuana Are Also The Healthiest In The Union

Malcolm MacKinnon
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The US States With Legal Marijuana Are Also The Healthiest In The Union

One of the most common and wholly incorrect stereotypes of cannabis users is that they’re lazy, unmotivated couch potatoes. To the contrary, the list of ambitious, inspired cannabis users in business, the arts and the sports world is endless.


The anti-marijuana crowd also likes to rail against the negative health effects caused by cannabis use. The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), a Congressionally funded research agency tasked with gathering and compiling information that demonstrates its dangers, states that cannabis use will cause poorer mental health, breathing problems, hallucinations, paranoia, impaired body movement and relationship problems, among many other perils. NIDA also subscribes to the long-debunked “Gateway Theory”—that cannabis leads to hard drug use. Essentially, NIDA’s propaganda hasn’t changed in the past 20 years.

However, as cannabis gains favorability, fresh statistics refute NIDA’s claims. Checking on a number of surveys that report on the fittest and healthiest states in the nation, it’s clear that US states that enjoy high levels of fitness are often among states with the highest number of cannabis users per capita.

Hawaii, Vermont, Massachusetts, Minnesota, California, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Utah, Colorado, Washington, New York, Montana and Nebraska are commonly listed as states with the highest level of fitness among residents. Among these, only Utah and Nebraska have not passed laws that allow recreational or medical cannabis use.

Of the 15 states with the highest rate of use of cannabis per capita, nine of those are also ranked among the healthiest. Hawaii, Montana, Connecticut, New York, Washington, California, Massachusetts, Colorado and Vermont all rank highly in both categories. Unsurprisingly, the states with the highest level of cannabis use per capita have all enacted laws that legalize cannabis in some degree.

What about the “unhealthy” states? Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, West Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina and Indiana are reported to be the ten states with the worst levels of fitness and health in the nation. All have rates of cannabis use that rank among the lowest in the nation and none of these states have passed laws allowing recreational cannabis use.

Among those that have passed medical laws, only Arkansas has a comprehensive medical marijuana program. Louisiana’s law is highly restrictive with only a few ailments qualifying for treatment with cannabis. The laws of Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee and South Carolina allow CBD usage only. In Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia, cannabis use of any kind is illegal.

The components of a fit and healthy life are diet, exercise, rest and mental stimulation. Cannabis may provide the building blocks. Last April, a study in the American Journal of Medicine suggested that pot smokers are skinnier than the average person and have healthier metabolisms and reaction to sugars. For athletes, a growing mountain of evidence shows that cannabis alleviates pain, reduces inflammation and promotes sleep. And as far as the inspiration and fresh thinking that cannabis seems to stimulate, it may originate from the release of dopamine in the brain, which lessens inhibitions and promotes relaxation,allowing the brain the capacity to perceive concepts and problems differently.

The fortunate Americans who live in states where cannabis use is legitimate are already experiencing its benefits. At some point, lawmakers and mainstream medicine must recognize that cannabis and a healthier population go hand in hand.

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Watch: John Legend Sings Gordon Ramsay Insults In Front Of Gordon Ramsay

Jillian Peterson
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Watch: John Legend Sings Gordon Ramsay Insults In Front Of Gordon Ramsay

Multi-talented crooner and real-life Arthur, John Legend, doled out some Gordon Ramsay one-liners, while Ramsay was subbing for Larry Wilmore on The Nightly Show. Taking a cue from one of those cheesy “as seen on tv” music compilation commercials, Legend sang classic insults such as, “How the fuck did you burn ice cream?” and “You put so much oil in this, the U.S. wanted to invade the fucking plate.”


The celebrity chef and accidental insult comic joined Legend at the keys to give this song the send-off it deserves, answering the question, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” You’ll have to watch the video to see how it ends.

(But seriously, how the fuck do you burn ice cream?)

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Federal Lawmakers Seek To Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol

Mike Adams
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Federal Lawmakers Seek To Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol

A group of federal lawmakers marched up to the steps of Capitol Hill earlier this week asking the Congressional majority to support a couple of bills aimed at establishing a nationwide marijuana market that would regulate marijuana like alcohol.

Representative Jared Polis of Colorado introduced the “Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act,” a bill that would remove the cannabis plant from the confines of the federal law and allow weed to be cultivated and sold all across the country in a manner similar to booze. The measure is a reintroduction, of sorts, from 2015 proposal seeking to accomplish this objective. However, the updated version comes with some tweaks and additions pertaining to how pot products could be advertised.

“I’m more hopeful than ever before that we can move legislation like the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act,” Polis said in an interview last month.

A separate but similar measure known as the “Marijuana Revenue and Regulation Act” was also introduced this week by Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Earl Blumenauer of Oregon that would eliminate marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and allow the herb to be handled in the same way the federal government does with alcohol and tobacco. The proposal is designed to make marijuana a nationally regulated industry controlled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

“This is commonsense legislation that will eliminate the growing tension between federal and state marijuana laws,” Robert Capecchi, the federal policy guru for the Marijuana Policy Project, said in a statement. “States are adopting laws designed to improve public safety by replacing the illegal marijuana market with a tightly regulated system of production and sales. The federal government should be working to facilitate that transition, not hinder it.”

As it stands, over half the nation has legalized marijuana in some form or fashion, yet the brass under Uncle Sam’s thumb has all but refused to give any consideration to federal reform. Some of the latest national polls show the majority of Americans – consistently around 60 percent — believe that cannabis should be treated no differently than alcohol and tobacco. What’s more is a stiff majority (71 percent) believes marijuana policy should be left up to the states and not the federal government, according to the latest Quinnipiac Poll.


Nevertheless, none of the marijuana-related legislation introduced this week is expected to get a fair shot in the Republican-dominated Congress – it would be a miracle if any of these bills even received a hearing.

Although it has been said that once public opinion polls steadily reside in the 60-65 percent mark, Congress will have no choice but to address the issue, most federal lawmakers still have no interest in giving the concept of marijuana legalization the time of day.

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Gossip: Justin Bieber Getting Advice From Barbra Streisand; Blake Shelton Asks Adam Levine To Be Best Man

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Justin Bieber Getting Advice From Barbra Streisand; Blake Shelton Asks Adam Levine To Be Best Man

“Barbra and Martin have seen it all. Together they have negotiated every aspect of a cruel business and are now passing on advice to the young star and his manager.”

Justin Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun, was recently spotted having a top secret meeting with Barbra Streisand’s long time manager, Martin Erlichman, who passed on advice from the legend for the young star.

“Barbra and Martin have seen it all. Together they have negotiated every aspect of a cruel business and are now passing on advice to the young star and his manager,” sources tell Straight Shuter. “It hasn’t been the first time these two have met and it wont be the last. Babs and Justin are not working on a secret project together and they certainly have no plans to record together. The meeting was more about being a mentor and giving advice. Show business can be very cruel and Justin wants to still be relevant 60 years into his career like Barbra is.”

Lets just hope he listens.

Related: Barbara Walters Is Missing; Blac Chyna Says Tyga And Rob Kardashian Linked To Lies About Her

Blake Shelton Asks Adam Levine To Be His Best Man

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani wedding buzz is heating up and now we can report that Blake has asked Adam to be his best man.

“Blake has asked Adam if he will be his best man at the wedding and Adam said ‘yes.’ These two have become very close after working together and consider each other brothers,” sources tell Straight Shuter. “A lot of Blake’s old friends know his ex, Miranda Lambert, and are still upset at the split. Adam was always Blake’s pal. He was never close with Miranda and was there for Blake during his divorce. Blake is grateful and will never forget who stood by his side when so many others wouldn’t.”

Related: Inside The Game Of Thrones Bar Serving Dornish Wine

Love the fresh dirt we bring over daily from Naughty Gossip? Let us know in the comments!

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