A new ride at Germany’s Phantasialand in Bruhl, North Rhine-Westphalia is being called “the scariest in the world.” It’s called Talocan, a suspended Top Spin that features upside down twists, water and fire. Similar to the design of Disneyland, Phantasialand is divided into six different “land” themes: Berlin in the 20s, Fantasy Wuze Town, Mexico, China Town, Mystery, and Deep In Africa. Opened in 1967, it is one of Germany’s oldest and most popular theme parks. While it began as a theme park largely catered to small children, Phantasialand has rebuilt itself for Germany’s new, thrill-seeking family tourists. Today, Phantasialand is surrounded by themed resorts and is a major tourist destination for German and international travelers. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/frighteningride/
Whenever I go to an aquarium, I always make sure my first and last stop is the otters. They dive, swim, play with toys and love putting on a show for their audience. Otters can make you happier just by watching them be happy. This mama otter and her one-day-old pup just reminded everyone why they are the crowd favorites. Together, they spend some adorable bonding time and delight everyone who is watching. The special moment took place at the Great Tide Pool in the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The crowd of excited onlookers couldn’t help but watch in amazement at the delightful sight taking place before them. The Monterey Bay Aquarium works hard to give these animals a safe and fun environment. As the narrator says, “There’s no cause for concern, there’s just cause for grabbing your camera.” Read more: http://www.wimp.com/day-old-otter-falls-asleep-on-mom/
In 2014, the website Eater conducted a study that found the national average cost of a pizza is $13.21. Today we’re looking at two outliers of that number; a $1 a slice and a pizza that costs $1,000. Yes, $1,000. As someone who has done years of in-depth personal research into pizza — from deep dish to your traditional Napoletana pie, I’ve got to be honest. This $1,000 pizza is a hard sell simply from a flavor perspective. Setting aside the cost, the addition of wasabi is a bridge too far and seems to threaten to overpower the already intense flavors of caviar, lobster, and creme fraiche making up each slice. Then we have the humble $1 slice. Look at it. That slice is a work of art. Crispy crust, simple red sauce, and lots of cheese. It’s everything you could want from a basic slice of pizza and priced to move to everyone rich and poor alike. That being said we are willing to be proven wrong. If anyone would like to donate $1,000, I promise to go to New York and taste test the $1,000 pizza. Until then I will keep celebrating the joys of dollar pizza, and thank the heavens a whole pie can obtained for just $13.21 across this great land. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/the-difference-between-dollar-and-thousand-dollar-pizza/
Acclaimed singer Natalie Cole has passed away at the age of 65 from congestive heart failure. The daughter of the great Nat King Cole, Natalie brought us some of the 20th century’s biggest hits including “This Will Be” and “Our Love.” While she struggled with drug addiction following her explosive popularity in the ‘70s, Cole overcame those obstacles and proved that she could still produce songs that leave us speechless. In honor of her legacy, we bring you this clip from 2011 in which Natalie Cole sings a duet with her late father. This version of the song comes from her 1991 album Unforgettable… with Love. “Unforgettable” was originally recorded by her father in 1951, and people haven’t stopped listening to its piercing melody and thoughtful lyrics ever since. Her performance is a beautiful illustration of the bond between two greats, father and daughter, who forever changed music. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/natalie-cole-duet-father-ghost/
Back in December, Jordan Smith was making headlines by winning Season 9 of NBC’s popular reality singing competition, The Voice. Jordan was an early crowd favorite throughout the show, so it wasn’t a huge surprise to most people when he ended up taking the prize. Just in case anyone might have had any doubts as to whether he deserved to win, there’s now a new video of him singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a hockey game that should convince those haters of his talent. Standing in front of 71,000 people at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Jordan kicked off the opening ceremonies to the NHL Winter Classic by absolutely nailing the national anthem. His vocal prowess is on clear display as every note is crystal clear and pitch-perfect, but when he gets to the higher notes towards the end of the song? Look out! This is easily the best version of the song that I’ve ever heard over many, many years of watching sporting events. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/jordan-smith-sings-breathtaking-star-spangled-banner/
“A Game of Thrones,” the first book in George R. R. Martin’s popular fantasy series, was published in 1996. Fifteen years and four books later, HBO picked the massive story to become a series on their channel. The show was an immediate success due to its existing fan base from the novels and plenty of viewers experiencing the excitement for the first time. In the four and a half years since the series premiered, “Game of Thrones” has established itself as a cultural phenomenon in a way few other series have. The show’s theme, which was composed by Ramin Djawadi, has become hugely iconic as well, even being covered by popular bands like Chvrches. Having popular bands cover your theme song is one thing, but becoming so popular that the Queen’s Guards pay tribute puts “Game of Thrones” in a class of its own. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/queens-guard-plays-got-theme/
With little knowledge of and experience in the world, children are always filled with curiosity and a fascination for everything they encounter. This is a perfectly natural way to learn about their environment, but not every new experience ends with a satisfying outcome. As we know, trial and error can be a mixed bag of surprises. That’s why it’s important, as parents, to always keep tabs on your children while letting them explore their surroundings and engage in new activities. Three-year-old Ansleigh clearly possesses a passion for hair. With the typical curiosity and bravery of a young child, the ambitious girl decides to realize her dream career in haircutting. While her dad doesn’t seem too impressed with the results, Ansleigh is still as determined as ever to become a successful hairstylist. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/haircut-girl-ansleigh-learn-practice-herself-jessica/
It is widely known that dogs and cats respond well to human touch, but what about other animals? This was the question that inspired the Smithsonian to investigate whether or not tortoises enjoyed being touched by humans. One of the most common misconceptions about tortoises is that they can’t feel their shells. Since they provide protection, people assume tortoises are disconnected from their shells, instead of them being an extension of their bodies. With this myth cleared up, Reptile Biologist Matt Evans walks us through the different tactile sensations that tortoises enjoy. As it turns out, they love having their necks rubbed just like our dogs. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/touching-tortoises/
Sometimes all it takes to change our lives is one moment of perfect understanding. Tracy had been bullied her entire life, from grade school to her thirties. She was morbidly obese, and the world didn’t shy away from reminding her of that fact every chance it got. According to Tracy, she learned to numb herself to “all the mean things people would say.” Words hurt so bad that she learned to shut them out, but that meant shutting out a lot of other things, too. It seemed like her days would never get better, until one day everything clicked. Tracy realized that she was the only person with the power to change her life … but she didn’t quite know how. Instead of giving up, she consulted professionals. From fitness instructors to dieticians, Tracy began taking control of her life again. When she began her weight loss journey, Tracy weighed 345 pounds. Over the course of a year, she lost a total of 200 pounds and saved her life in the process. You see, it wasn’t a matter of vanity for Tracy. She wasn’t doing it to get the perfect beach body – she was doing it for her own health, happiness, and wellbeing. Losing 200 pounds is no small feat, and this video offers a small glimpse into the struggles she overcame. Tracy’s story is one that should inspire all of us to do better in each area of life. Most importantly, it should teach us that big changes like this don’t happen without relying on those around us to aid and encourage us along the way. H/T: carly asse Read more: http://www.wimp.com/inspiring-weight-loss-story-tracy/
There’s something exhilarating about watching someone at the top of their game. Greats like Michael Jordan, Taylor Swift, and now, this incredible dancing shawarma master. Watch with joy as he lovingly builds each wrap in perfect rhythm with the pulsing dance beat that plays behind him. Work only has to feel like work if you think of it that way. Keep on dancing shawarma master. Keep on rolling to your own invigorating groove. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/dancing-shawarma-master-chef/
