My Z News

This video from Inside Edition is a little tough to watch at first, but thankfully the ending makes it all worthwhile. The near miraculous recovery of this kitten after an hour of CPR effort by a young man named Branden Bingham is definitely a sight to behold. The name his adoptive parents gave him, Lazarus, seems fitting, if not a little tongue in cheek. Part of the reason this video seems so amazing is the strange paradox of young animals. We tend to attribute fragility and vulnerability to babies, be they human, cat or something else entirely. And while their size and lack of large muscles can put them at a disadvantage out in the wild, physically, these brand-new creatures are actually far more resilient than their adult counterparts. In very young human children, this can even extend to regrowing small bits of lost finger, for example. Babies, even baby kittens, are built to learn a few lessons and bounce back from them. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/frozen-kitty-resuscitated-family/

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Homelessness is a very serious issue in our society today. According to recent numbers by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, there were 564,708 homeless people in America on any given night of January 2015. These are people who are sleeping on the street in the cold, often not even knowing where their next meal will come from. It’s the kind of thing that’s unimaginable for most of us because we take those things for granted on a daily basis. Another aspect of homelessness that I’m ashamed to admit I never thought about is the aspect of hygiene – specifically feminine hygiene. I’ll be honest, as a guy, feminine hygiene is not really something I think about in general, but this video made me realize just how serious of a problem it is. Homeless women face all of the challenges that homeless men face, but with the added pressure of not having a bra to support them, or even worse, not having tampons/maxi pads during their periods.  Dana Marlowe is a mom from the Washington D.C. area who has come to be known as “the bra fairy” to many in her community. After shedding nearly 35 pounds of excess weight, she realized she had a lot of bras that no longer fit. After asking someone about what to do, she learned that homeless women are in desperate need of bras. One thing led to another, and she soon began collecting bras, underwear, and feminine hygiene products from friends, family, neighbors, and eventually even strangers. To date, her Support the Girls program has donated over 8,000 bras and 30,000 feminine hygiene products to women in need. H/T: NationSwell Read more: http://www.wimp.com/bra-fairy-helps-homeless-women-with-female-issues-donates-bras-tampons/

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What’s the secret to getting a boomerang to come back? You could train and learn all the technical secrets of the art form, or you could follow this gentleman’s advice. Step 1. Throw a boomerang. Step 2? Well you’ll have to watch to find out. This is easily the most effective method for retrieving a Boomerang. We salute you, sir. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/get-a-boomerang-to-return-to-you/

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For most teenagers across the country, homecoming is an important rite of passage. For those who may not be familiar with this predominantly American tradition, homecoming is an event that usually serves to welcome back alumni of the school. It’s usually held in mid-late fall and generally revolves around a central event such as a banquet along with a sporting event (often either football or basketball). Additionally, there may be a parade and/or some other events allowing current students and alumni to interact with one another.  One of the most important parts of homecoming to many high school students, however, is the opportunity to win the coveted title of Homecoming King/Queen. Every school holds nominations for the homecoming court, usually one boy and one girl (though some schools have added additional positions like Duke/Duchess), and then the student body selects their King and Queen via a secret ballot. In most cases, it’s yet another trophy for the popular/athletic kids to add to their mantles, but in 2013, three kids decided to do something extraordinary. At Community High School in Unionville, Tennessee, seniors Zeke Grissom, Drew Gibbs and Jesse Cooper were all nominated for the honor of Homecoming King. Secretly, however, the boys made a pact – if any of them won, they would hand over the crown to their mutual friend, Scotty Maloney. Maloney was born with neurodevelopmental disorder that makes it hard for him to learn like normal people, but makes him very friendly and outgoing. The three teens greatly valued his ability to bring smiles to all their classmates, so the decision to give him the crown was an easy one. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/homecoming-king-nominees-secret-pact-to-crown-unlikely-classmate/

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Tom Thum has come a long way since he started rapping in the Brisbane, Australia hip-hop scene. One of the few hip-hop artists ever asked to give a TED Talk, Thum has also won the World Beatbox Championship team competition and came in second at the Scribble Jam Beatbox Battles. His art has taken him to every corner of the world. It was during those travels that he recorded the song “Word To Spread.” How long did it take exactly? Three long years. Utilizing the natural ambient noise from different locations — a beach, a mountain, a street corner, etc. — as well as his beatboxing and vocals, Thum carefully crafted this subtle, yet gorgeous R&B song. Thum shot the video utilizing a range of cameras, from an iPhone to an SLR. The result is something that would sound right at home on pop radio. It’s a remarkable feat of planning, engineering and old-fashioned vocal ability. Take a look and listen. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/ambient-rnb-song/

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There’s a saying that goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” But no one ever says what it takes to raise an elephant. Moyo is a 14-month old elephant that was found as an infant after he was washed away from his family while trying to cross a river. Most animals left in that hopeless situation would have been in life-threatening danger. However, Moyo had a savior that knew just what to do to help him survive. When the baby elephant was found, he was taken to the Wild is Life sanctuary in Harare, Zimbabwe. That’s when animal rescuer Roxy Danckwerts stepped up and brought Moyo home to live in with her. Soon, the elephant and her new mom became inseparable. Moyo wouldn’t leave her side and made himself very comfortable in his new house.  As time passed, some trouble started to occur. Moyo soon became too big for his usual activities. He is, after all, an elephant. Moyo’s rambunctiousness has given way into chaos. He loves to try every food he can find and sit down in places he knows he shouldn’t. This is one elephant that was raised with a silver spoon in its mouth, literally. But that’s alright for Roxy, who is just happy to show love to an animal that desperately needs it. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/baby-elephant-loves-human/

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When it comes to dogs, I personally can’t get enough. Sure, I like cats too, but they’re just so weird and aloof in a way that I don’t totally get. Dogs, on the other hand are easy for me to relate to – they’re loyal, playful and always happy to see you! The one thing that I will give credit to cats for is that they’re very smart. They’re usually a lot better at figuring out how something works, while dogs will just bark at it in confusion. That’s what happened to Plato the Airedale Terrier, who was playing outside when he was confronted with a new toy – Chippy the Chattermunk. The toy, made by a company called Westminster, is a cute little stuffed chipmunk. Press on his paw and an indicator light will come on to show he’s recording. Anything you say for the next 30 seconds is repeated back by Chippy, in his own humorous way.  Sounds simple enough to you or me, but Plato was understandably confused by the toy. In this video, we see him having a hilarious “conversation” where Chippy repeats all the barks, grunts and groans coming from Plato. It’s absolutely hilarious to see Plato try to figure out what’s going on. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/dog-has-funny-interaction-with-talking-toy/

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Sir Ian McKellen is a great actor. Beyond being nominated for almost every acting award known to man, in 1991 he was actually knighted for his service to the performing arts. He’s an actual knight of theater, so when he gives you tips on acting you better listen. In this vintage clip, McKellen performs the opening line from The Merchant of Venice multiple times. With each performance, he interprets the dialogue in a slightly different way, giving stunningly different readings each time. It’s a brilliant tribute to the subtle variations that separate good actors from great actors. Whether you’re a professional actor or just enjoy the art form, this is a priceless lesson in the art of theater.  Read more: http://www.wimp.com/ian-mckellen-gives-a-master-class-in-acting/

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Growing up your parents might have told you that adorable old saying “sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite,” but the reality of bed bugs isn’t so cute. They’re tiny so they can sneak into your house through cracks or on other people’s clothes. Each female bed bug can lay up to five eggs a day and hundreds of eggs over the course of their lifetime. They’re nightmare creatures.  You’ve heard of these monsters before, but maybe you’re one of the lucky ones who has never experienced them. If that’s your situation, we’d like to give you an inside look at the world of bed bugs. Ever wonder what it’s like to get a bed bug bite? This scientist will show you, so you don’t have to. Enter the world of tiny vampire bugs. Enter the world of bed bugs. Sleep tight, and hope they don’t bite.  Read more: http://www.wimp.com/how-bed-bugs-drink-your-blood/

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One of the most important messages for people of all ages is that it’s okay to be different. This is something that 9-year-old Ezra Frech believes deep in his heart, and he’s speaking at schools and fundraisers across the country to get the word out. Born with only one finger on his left hand and a curved left leg, Ezra has lived with disabilities his entire life, but that’s not what he wants to define him.  According to his organization’s Facebook page, “Ezra thinks of himself as an athlete, not disabled.” Despite having a prosthetic leg and limited use of his left hand, Ezra has quickly become one of the top athletes in his age group. Ezra’s unflinching optimism motivates us to push through whatever challenges life throws our way. Click here if you’d like to learn more about Ezra’s story and what you can do to help support his efforts. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/ezra-frech-inspiring-rituals-prosthetic-leg/

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