DietBet.com, an online social dieting game that gives players the opportunity to compete to lose weight, hosted several members of All Pro Eating to pull a dietary 180 and participate in a dietbet. This out-of-ordinary weight-loss challenge kicked-off with a "last supper" competitive eating contest of gigantic New York style pizza slices that was followed immediately by a weigh-in at venue.

Two of the scarier exhibits - an Iron Maiden and a shrunken head!

Players who reach their goal of dropping four percent of their starting weight in four weeks will split a $1,000 pot. Trained to do nothing but consume everything in front of them as quickly as possible, these men-turned-eating-machines will think twice before competing over the next month in wing-offs, hot dog races, taco triathlons, and milkshake marathons.

There is an extensive assortment of things to see and interact with at The Odditorium. We saw examples of the tallest and smallest people in the world along with those who were rather strange. Displays of unusual animals were represented as was artistic items including a mosaic of British Columbia that was made out of 70,000 stamps.

We are always in search of music related things. At Ripley's Believe It or Not! we saw a drum made from scull caps. We played with an interactive orchestra that had images of instruments in front of a mirror and as you moved your hands over the instruments they would respond with a sound. It was quite entertaining to watch and hear ourselves conduct an orchestra.

But for us, the funniest interactive piece was the Black Hole. It was a walkway that was surrounded by a black back drop of colored lights. The spinning backdrop gave you the illusion that the walkway was moving. We must have done this dizzying display a half dozen times. Another highlight was a Buddha made out of a shredded money and, yes, we most certainly rubbed that belly for good luck.

The staff at Ripley's was friendly and enthusiastic. We were told that the New York museum is currently the second largest of the branded attractions with the biggest housed in London. It is clear that Robert Ripley lived an unbelievable life and thanks to his worldwide collections many can be educated and entertained by his legacy.

Laura conducts the virtual orchestra; the world-famous Ripley cartoons;
a Buddha composed of shredded money; Lincoln made from pennies; and the dizzying Black Hole attraction.

Related Links: For more information on RIPLEY'S BELEIVE IT OR NOT! and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - www.ripleysnewyork.com