In 1957, two Americans called Richard Knerr and Arthur K. Melin invented a plastic round hula hoop based on an Australian manufactured wooden ring. It was made in a number of colours from the rainbow to just plain colours and was a huge success.

It all started in 1000 BC when Egyptian children played with large hoops made of dried grape vines. They hit it on the ground with a stick or put it on a waist and spun it.

Throughout history, wooden hoops were played with. In the fourteenth century, they were as popular with adults as with children.

The word hula was added when British sailors went to Hawaii in the 1800s and noticed how similar it was when people did hula dancing and then saw people doing hooping.
Interesting facts about hooping
• Truckloads of hoops were hijacked on their way to stores by crazed consumers.
• In Wham-O sold more than 100 million Hula Hoop’s in the first twelve months on the market, and even that wasn’t enough to meet the demand.
• In Japan, nervous officials banned the toy’s use in public for fear of mass impropriety meaning it was rude and disrespectful
• Wham-O founders Arthur Melin and Richard Knerr spotted a bamboo exercise toy on a trip to Australia.
• The longest time of hula hooping is 72 hours by Kym Coberly in 1984
• The most hoops spun was 105 by Jin Linlin in 2007
http://www.recordholders.org/en/list/hulahoop.html
http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/hulahoop.htm

Click on the link below to hear Tom spin us some stories about hula hoops!

Tom J’s 2nd Goss

 Finger Nails And Toe Nails By Thomas J

Nails grow out of deep folds in your toes and fingers. They are made out of a protein called keratin which is produced from skin cells. They are used to protect the tips of your fingers and toes. They are also similar to animal nails like claws, talons and hoofs. They are used to pick up small things and give a good scratch on the back. Nails can be also used for picks for a guitarist and are much cheaper too. Finger nails grow about four times as fast as toe nails and grow faster in summer and slower in winter. A very common problem that can happen to you is an ingrown toe nail. It is when the nail is grown into the flesh of your skin and is likely to cause infection. It usually starts off with minor irritation but then it becomes noticeably more painful then it really starts to hurt. If you ever get one use some antibiotics.

Wikepedia

Yahoo Answers

Kids Health. org

www.hair-n-skin-care.com/nails.htm

www.dkimages.com

thetoenailtrainer.com

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