Meet the members of Virsky. They are Ukraine’s national folk dance ensemble and travel the world performing traditional Slavic dances. The ensemble is renowned for its meticulous precision, but rarely do you get a chance to see what goes into making that precision. This peek at the Virsky rehearsal process shows just how impressive these dancers are. The dance performed in this video is called a “Hopak.” This is usually reserved for the grand finale of their shows and is considered their most difficult dance to pull off. The athleticism and stamina it takes to dance at this level can often be overlooked, but it’s impossible not to recognize when you see it up close. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/very-athletic-slavic-dance-troupe/
When it comes to short-term athletic performance, humans don’t stack up to most animals. That’s why we judge cars by their horsepower instead of their people-power. There’s one area of human athleticism that proves to be the exception to the rule. That exception is long distance running. Humans are incredible long distance runners. We might not run as fast as most animals, but we can run farther in a single sitting than most of them. That’s where the human vs. horse race comes in. For the last 36 years, the town of Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales has held a human vs. horses race to see who is the greatest beast of all. Most years the horses win, but a few times man has triumphed over the beasts. In this video, you’ll get a look at exactly why this race happens, and some highlights from this year’s event. Enjoy. Then go outside and race an animal. It will keep you humble. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/humans-vs-horses/
Taught to many of us at some point during high school, the periodic table of elements is one of the most fundamental pillars of our understanding of science. The amount of information it contains can be a bit difficult to process at first, but it is all logically arranged in a way to provide easy reference to anyone using it. As important as the periodic table is to the fundamentals of science, few of us actually remember most of the information it contains. For 3-year-old Brielle, the periodic table is one of the most important things that she knows. Recently appearing on “The Ellen Show,” this little girl had the chance to show off her impressive knowledge. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/periodic-table-little-girl-memorized/
This video may only be two minutes long, but it’ll leave you with plenty of big ideas to think about. Joseph Campbell, a famous mythologist and philosopher, discusses the thoughts of Arthur Schopenhauer, another famous philosopher who lived in Germany during the 18th and 19th centuries. Campbell’s work often compared mythologies and religions from around the world, so it’s no wonder he connects Schopenhauer’s thoughts to the metaphor of “Indra’s Net.” Summarizing what Joseph Campbell is trying to say would be impossible without writing far too much. Instead, take in his words and think about what they mean for you and your life. If you enjoy this sample of Joseph Campbell’s thoughts on existence and find yourself wanting more, this audio clip is from the documentary The Power of Myth, a six-part series of interviews with the late mythologist. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/joseph-campbell-schopenhauer-order/
Visiting family members can be a special and memorable time. But when this man went to visit his in-laws, he noticed a small problem with his car on the way home. A strange whining noise was coming from inside the vehicle. Despite lifting the hood and opening the door, he still couldn’t spot the source. Maybe he should have called this kid mechanic to come and take a look. Or maybe the issue isn’t the car but the mechanic himself. If you have any ideas of what could be the problem or if you’ve experienced this problem yourself, make sure to let us know. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/car-makes-whining-noise/
Not counting college and/or other higher education, the average American spends roughly 10-15% of his/her entire life in school. That’s a pretty big chunk of your life and during that time, you’re probably spending a roughly equal amount of time with your teachers as you are at home with your family. Unsurprisingly, just about everyone has a memory of a favorite teacher who inspired them or cared for them; someone who, in one way or another, made a difference in their lives. A Plus, a YouTube channel started by actor/producer Ashton Kutcher to shine a light on relevant social issues, recently uploaded this video about teachers. In it, various people are asked to talk about a teacher that they remember as having been influential to them in a positive way. They don’t know it, but those same teachers were brought to the set that day and are hiding just off-screen where they can’t be seen during the interview. The magical moment when they realize that special teacher has been there the whole time is absolutely beautiful – not just because it’s a touching reunion but also because it shows the teachers just how important they were to someone. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/people-reunited-with-their-most-influential-teachers-from-school/
Art doesn’t have to make sense to be incredible. This stop motion animated cake from French artist Alexandre Dubosc is a wonderland of absurd and whimsical ideas. Complete with Pac-Man, popcorn popping spirals, popcorn eating faces and flinging foods, this oddball animated treat is simply mesmerizing. When you’re done watching you can head over to Debosc’s site to see some behind-the-scenes making of the short film. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/stop-motion-cake-art/
Japan seems to always be on the forefront of innovation, even if it tends to be on the weird side. At the Henn-na Hotel in Nagasaki, technology and the bizarre collide in glorious fashion. The Henn-na Hotel is a fully-working vacation destination staffed almost entirely by robots. These aren’t just any robots. If you are lucky enough to spend the night, you’ll be checked in by a talking velociraptor at the front desk. You’ll even receive hot dinners from one of the many vending machines inside the property. Are these robot hotels the future of the hospitality industry? It has advantages, but as many of the people who stay there admit, there is something missing. No velociraptor robot can replace the warmth and fulfillment of human interaction. Will the Henn-na Hotel be the future of the hotel industry or is it just an expensive gimmick? Let us know in the comments. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/inside-robot-hotel-japan/
Have you ever experienced floaters? Floaters are tiny floating shapes that appear in the human field of vision from time to time. If you’ve ever seen a clear floating strand of hair or an odd floating circle in the corner of your eye, you’ve experienced floaters. This phenomenon, scientifically called muscae volitantes, happens when proteins, red blood cells, and tissues cast shadows upon your retina. This video from TED-Ed breaks down exactly what happens with floaters, including explaining exactly how they appear in your field of vision. Have you ever seen a floater? What did you think it was when you first saw it? Read more: http://www.wimp.com/what-are-those-floating-things-you-see-on-your-eyes/
Millions of Americans struggle with anxiety. It’s an affliction that affects every part of your life and can be difficult to explain to others. Among those living with anxiety is poet Brenna Twohy. To cope with her struggles, Brenna put together this spoken word poem comparing living with anxiety to a real life ghost story. As she puts it, loving someone with anxiety is like trying to love a haunted house. Brenna’s performance was part of the 2015 National Poetry Slam, an event established by Button Poetry. For more of Brenna’s work, you can visit her blog here. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/anxiety-ghost-story-brenna-twohy/
