My Z News

Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of the smartest people in the world. He’s an astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, educator, and TV host. His Ph. D thesis at Columbia University was titled, “A study of the abundance distributions along the minor axis of the Galactic bulge.” We don’t even know what the Galactic bulge is. Tyson is an inspiration to millions of budding scientists across the world.  Of course, he was once just a student like everyone else, looking for a way to make the world a better place using his skill. One day in college a fellow student, a Rhodes Scholar, told him “the black community, cannot afford for someone with your intellect to spend it on that subject.” Tyson was understandably devastated by the comment, and it haunted him for years.  Then in 1989 everything changed. He got a phone call from a local FOX news station asking if he’d come on the air to discuss a cosmic event. What happened next changed his understanding of his life’s path, and the importance of his role as an expert. Sometimes breaking down doors just requires dissolving the stereotypes we aren’t even aware we’re fighting.  Read more: http://www.wimp.com/neil-degrasse-tyson-on-the-importance-of-visibility/

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Kyle Eschen describes himself as a combination of suave, sophisticated and awkward. Teenagers can come off as a bit odd to those around them, but Kyle takes this notion to a whole other level. Starting from a very young age, Kyle knew he was destined for the bright lights of the stage. He always had a fascination with magic, and this passion led him to become one of the premier junior members of the The Magic Castle – a Los Angeles clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. In combination with his dry-witted humor, Kyle’s performances are like nothing you have ever seen before. At just 15 years old, it isn’t hard to tell that this young performer is going to go far with his talents. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/best-teenage-magician-funny-performance/

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Sloths are one of nature’s most unusual animals. They almost seem like a mistake, but they are actually highly evolved, just not in the ways we usually associate with those words. They’re not an incredibly speedy predator like a cheetah. They’re not incredibly smart like a dolphin or, you know, human. Their evolution led to some pretty specific features. Their most notable one is their massive claws, which curl inwards and help them to cling to tree branches with little effort. Even their fur grows differently from other mammals, growing upward toward the head instead of downward toward the limbs. And of course, their uniquely slow movements. This is tied to their diet, which consists mainly of plant matter that doesn’t happen to provide a tremendous amount of calories and is also difficult to digest. The body weight of a healthy sloth is typically almost 70 percent food in their stomach. If it were the same in humans, I’d weigh another hundred pounds! And that digestive system, whoa. I mentioned the food is hard to digest? Well sloths have an ingenious solution to that. And their solution couldn’t be more slothlike. Their digestive process takes nearly a month to complete. In other words, sloths are simply astounding creatures that do simply astounding things, they just require a little more patience to appreciate. One thing that we can all appreciate is footage like this, of an adorable rescued sloth, deciding to forgo a tasty snack in favor and the world’s slowest, cutest hug. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/sloth-cuddle-sanctuary/

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Advertisement In a moment that people thought the world would never forget, a renowned celebrity lost everything. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 25 years. The tragic day in 1991 that Eric Clapton lost his son Conor was powerful for so many reasons. For many it was because of just how close people felt with someone of such fame. For others it was because of how senseless the death was. How in an instant, through no true negligence, a life was gone. In some ways it was a combination. The senselessness coupled with the celebrity. If it could happen to Eric Clapton, it could happen to anyone. Truly, it could happen to anyone. And Eric Clapton has worked hard in the years since to ensure it happens to as few people as possible. Eric devoted many hours to improving laws regarding child safety, and even recorded a PSA for the State of New York, urging parents to take proper precautions. This tragedy was something many people had trouble dealing with, due to its sudden and very accidental nature. Advertisement All it took was a moment. The housekeeper had left the window open after cleaning to air out. Because there was nothing to prevent it, an energetic child in the midst of a game of hide and seek was out of the window before anyone could even react. But of course nobody had more trouble dealing with the loss than Conor’s parents, Eric Clapton and Lory Del Santo. Conor had played a huge role in Eric’s life since his birth. The musician was something of a tortured artist in his youth and had struggled through the years with addiction. Drugs, alcohol, he had gone through it all. When Conor was born, Eric was free of drugs but was still drinking quite heavily. But seeing his baby child, he knew he needed to make a change. And he did. He kicked the habit and went on to have some of the happiest years of his life with the young boy until this awful event. Advertisement Adding both solace and more heartache to the situation was the letter Clapton received shortly after his son’s funeral. It was from Conor himself, and detailed his love for his dad and how much he enjoyed the time he spent with him. While Eric will never, ever forget his young son and the great loss he suffered, with time he begun to come to terms with it. In a 2005 interview with Mojo, Clapton said,  “I think it won’t make sense to me for maybe another ten years. You know when you can look back and say, ‘Oh, that’s why I did that.’ Someone once pointed out to me that the time I began taking heroin really heavily coincided with the death of my grandfather. Back then, I didn’t equate the two at all. The same could be said about the death of my son in 1991 and me getting into the weirdest relationships for the rest of […]

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Who doesn’t love a good makeover? Seeing someone who hasn’t had the time, energy, or money to put into their appearance get a whole new look is just exciting. Sometimes the aesthetic overhaul has a heartwarming meaning behind it, sometimes it’s a chance for bonding between fathers and daughters; whatever the reason behind the change in appearance, it’s always interesting so see what the subject of the makeover looks like on the other side. Take these two sisters, for instance. As happens to so many women, they suddenly found their lives had been totally taken over by caregiving. Gloria Flaherty, a 59-year-old grandmother, moved all the way to Queens, New York to care of her elderly mother, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Anyone who has been a full-time caregiver to someone with the disease knows that it is absolutely a full-time job. Then, there’s Gloria’s younger sister Marta Fugett. Although she’s the baby sister, she’s still a mother of six and grandmother of three! Spending her time with all the kids and grandkids is fun, but “she’s never done anything for herself. She takes care of everyone but herself,” big sis Gloria explains. Clearly that strong nurturing instinct runs in the family! Luckily, Plaza Ambush Makeovers absolutely saved the day. The popular segment featured on The TODAY Show with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb shows people getting pulled from the crowds outside NBC studios and sent off to the studio for fabulous makeovers. Celebrity hairstylist Louis Licari and television personality Jill Martin choose the lucky recipients and oversee the makeovers from start to finish. Although the makeover recipients don’t know what’s happening until the big reveal, it seems like these two sisters certainly weren’t disappointed! How adorable are the reactions of these two deserving sisters? If you loved seeing this awesome before-and-after, remember to SHARE with your friends! H/T: TODAY Read more: http://www.wimp.com/ambush-makeover-today-sister-gloria-marta/

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Let’s face it. When mainstream America hears about someone who lives without electricity, it seems pretty bizarre to us. Whether it’s the Amish or simply someone whose career takes them into the furthest depths of undeveloped American wildlands, it’s hard for those of us living in suburbs and cities to really fathom. At best we simply wonder how “someone could live like that.” At worst, we might even poke fun at them. Jeneve Mitchell might just turn your notions of off-grid living on their head, however. The teenager certainly seems the part of someone you wouldn’t expect to see walking down the streets of Los Angeles. From the classic cowgirl clothing to the earnest way in which she speaks, you’re not entirely surprised when she explains she lives in a place with no electricity, or that she has to crank up a generator to catch her favorite television show, American Idol. But when she steps on the stage as a contestant on that very same show, you suddenly get what not having all the buzzing, flashing distractions of the modern world has given her: time to practice. She’s not just a good singer, she’s a great singer. More than that, she’s an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. And we do mean “multi-”. Already she can play the fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, harp, cello, flute, piano, ukulele, trumpet, and even kazoo. Since her star turn on the famed show, Jeneve has had to spend a little more of her time online, keeping up on Twitter with her burgeoning fanbase. We hope that doesn’t distract her from her practicing! Read more: http://www.wimp.com/girl-has-to-hook-up-generator-watch-american-idol-sarah-mclachlan/

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How many times each day does your phone buzz with a notification, informing you that someone has liked your post on social media? Ten times? 20? 50? Maybe you don’t care about how many likes a post gets, and are happier using social media to connect with friends and loved ones instead of chasing validation in the form of tiny hearts. No matter how you use social media, though, there’s no arguing that it feels good whenever someone likes what you post. Dutch soccer player Demy de Zeeuw certainly gets his fair share of validation when it comes to social media. Demy runs the soccer-centric Instagram account 433, where he has built a loyal fanbase of 8 million followers. If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. Understandably, Demy has notifications on his phone turned off most of the time. If he didn’t do so, he’d hardly be able to make a phone call, much less make a new post. For anyone who’s ever wished they had more followers on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, Demy’s video is likely to convince you otherwise. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/8-million-followers-demy-de-zeeuw/

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My wife and I are currently looking for a new apartment, because currently we simply don’t have enough storage space and our home looks more like a set from Storage Wars. We don’t really even have that much stuff, we just have no shelves or cabinets to put it in! Besides, it’d be nice to maybe have the space to get a few other things we’ve been wanting but don’t have room for.  While I’m sure a lot of us can relate to the need for a little more space, there’s a growing movement out there that seeks to do exactly the opposite – the “tiny house” movement is all about living as minimally as possible, utilizing every last inch of space to maximize efficiency. Although I’m not 100% sure I could commit to that kind of life, I have to say I’ve seen some truly amazing examples while working at Wimp; homes that had me thinking, “Hmmm, maybe I could do that after all.”  If you’re really serious about tiny living, however, then you may want to track down and chat with Paul Elkins. Paul’s been touring the country for years with what he likes to call a “stealth” camper. The tiny domicile took him just $150 to construct, weighs only 60 pounds, and can be pulled by a bicycle (which is exactly what Paul does). Inside, he’s got a stove, a sink, a little bit of counter space, some storage, and a bed. It’s even insulated and has a skylight! Be sure to SHARE this incredible camper with your friends and family! H/T: Kirsten Dirksen Read more: http://www.wimp.com/man-lives-inside-bicycle-stealth-camper/

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What you are about to see looks incredibly futuristic, but in Empuriabrava, Spain? It’s just another day in the life at Windoor Realfly. The 14-foot wind tower, located in the middle of a stunning restaurant and bar, is typically open to the general public. Thousands of visitors come from around the world to visit the local beaches and try “flying” for themselves. Once a year, however, Windoor is taken over by professional “flyers,” competing in the annual “Wind Games.” 2016 marks year three of the games, and as you’ll see, the phenomenon shows no signs of slowing down. While the sport has been compared to “indoor skydiving,” even that description does not do it justice.  The tunnel works by generating adjustable flows of vertical air, which lift and drop participants as they are supervised by instructors. Most of us would probably flail around with a severe lack of grace, but the professional flyers? They combine music, dance and flawless timing to create a performance that is unlike anything we have ever seen before. If you can’t exactly make it to Spain anytime soon, check out the list of wind tunnels around the world here. There are several in the U.S., but be warned – it’s going to cost you some serious cash. Just 5 minutes in a wind tunnel costs an average of $100, while a full hour will set you back close to $1,000. That’s a serious amount of money for a short period of time, but after seeing this video, I can’t help but think it would be worth every penny.  Read more: http://www.wimp.com/wind-tunnel-games-flyers-indoor-skydiving/

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The moment you become a parent, your whole world changes. All of a sudden, you’re no longer thinking about what’s best for you – your concern now is your kids and what’s best for them. Everything becomes about your kids and you’d literally do anything for them. When your child gets hurt, you feel their pain too. That’s why the most devastating experience any parent can ever have is to mourn the loss of their child. Nothing really compares to how truly horrible that feeling is, and even with lots of time and love, the scars will always be there. There have even been cases of parents who experience a mental breakdown caused by grief, going temporarily mad (especially in the immediate aftermath of the loss). Last September, Joy Ganda Vibar-Alamares of the Philippines had to say goodbye to her beloved 7-year-old son, Trebby. As she sits there, crying inconsolably while looking at the white coffin that contains her baby boy, something incredible happens. One of the several white, helium-filled balloons decorating the altar starts to float away from the coffin and towards Joy. It brushes up against her head and seems to continue on, but as Joy starts crying more profusely, the balloon changes direction and comes back around to her other side, where it stays for a while. The video, originally posted to social media, has been viewed over three million times. While some argue that the balloon’s movements are just the result of it starting to lose helium, most people – including Joy – believe there was something else afoot here. They believe that the balloon was guided by Trebby’s spirit as a way to console his mother one last time. At the very least, it certainly is a remarkable coincidence. Besides, who among us would deny a grieving mother the feeling of contacting her dead son one last time? Read more: http://www.wimp.com/miracle-balloon-floats-to-grieving-mother-at-her-sons-funeral/

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