My Z News

Researchers at the Women’s Health Aging Project recently found that a little time spent with the grandkids can increase cognitive function in elderly people and decrease the chances of developing Alzheimer’s. As part of the study, three groups of women between the ages of 57 to 68 were given a variety of mental tests. The women who spent at least one day per week with their grandkids scored the highest on the test. However, women that spent more than five days a week with their grandchildren scored significantly lower. So this Christmas, make sure to carve out a little to spend with the little ones, but maybe not too much time. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/grandparents-less-likely-to-develop-alzheimers-with-grandchildren/

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When you grow up playing sports, you regularly hear the phrase “keep your head in the game.” It means you shouldn’t allow any outside distractions to get between you and winning. There aren’t many exceptions to this rule, but when your dad is also your 1st base coach there is one adorable exemption sports fans are willing to accept. Confused? Watch this young baseball player run to first and relay a special message to his father. You’ll agree, it’s okay to be distracted from the game once in awhile, so long as it’s for your family. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/kid-stops-ball-game/

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Life isn’t easy, pretty much anyone could tell you that. But the attitude we carry through life goes a long way in determining our enjoyment of it. We can’t dictate what happens to us – whether you believe everything happens for a reason or things happen by chance, we often are not in control. The only thing we do have control over is the choices we make and how we make them.  Richard Williams knows this better than anyone. Richard, better known by the name Prince Ea, is a rapper and spoken word poet who is respected all over the world for his eloquent thoughts on life, politics, and the environment. He got his start in 2009 by creating the “Make SMART Cool” movement. The goal was to “promote intelligence to everyone, everywhere and integrate it with hip-hop.” The idea quickly spread and soon Richard began to sell a clothing line promoting the idea. Prince Ea began to find success in the rap community as well, winning several national awards and releasing his own mixtapes to tons of praise.  His real passion is to help people improve their lives through his words, and his latest video is an inspiring example of that. It’s titled “Everybody Dies, But Not Everybody Lives” and its purpose is to encourage everyone to not live with regret. It’s easier said than done, but after listening to Prince Ea’s words, you will be determined to do so.  Be sure to SHARE this inspirational video with your friends and family.  H/T: Prince Ea Read more: http://www.wimp.com/everybody-dies-but-not-everybody-lives/

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In September 2014, we showed you this story about a single man who adopted two abused brothers in need of a guardian. Jack Mook was a gruff detective who’d lived his entire life as a bachelor, and many saw him as the last person who would adopt two young boys. But, the story doesn’t end there. The Mook boys had no idea that their small family was about to get a whole lot bigger. Jack ended up meeting a woman named Mary, a single mother with three children of her own. Mary had heard about Jack’s story, and when the two of them hit it off, they didn’t hesitate to join their two clans into one big family. Jack Mook’s transition from single man to married father of five is pretty remarkable, and it all happened over the course of a few years. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/jack-mook-detective-adoption-marriage-follow-up/

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It’s hard not to get excited about new technology that promises to completely change how you do something as fundamental as hydration. Water is one of the building blocks of life. We can’t live without it. You’d think in 2016 it wouldn’t be so hard to come by clean drinking water. But as we’ve seen in the news lately, there are still plenty of challenges. So, what does that have to do with a new water bottle? Well, it’s not the bottle itself, but that big lid on top. Hidden inside is a small device known as a Peltier element, along with a fan, and some sort of fancy hydrophobic material. Hydrophobic materials have been everywhere the past few years, whether in devices like this water bottle, or simply in the form of a fun, science-y children’s toy. A Peltier element is actually an older technology that’s been given renewed focus lately as researchers have developed more efficient versions. They are a type of device known as a thermoelectric cooler. You might find them in small refrigerators for cars, and some clothing designers are even using them to create self-cooling jackets. In this prototype water bottle, the cooler and the fan are used to collect water vapor out of thin air (much like a dehumidifier), causing it to condense inside the cap. That’s where the hydrophobic material comes in. The condensation turns into beads as it tries to form on the water-repelling material, and those beads fall quickly into the bottle below. That’s right folks, this is a self-filling water bottle, that thanks to a solar panel that wraps around the bottle when not in use, can be used anywhere to gather clean, fresh drinking water, right out of the air. Whether the device will work as intended in all environments or once it’s mass-produced are big questions still lingering, but the crowdfunding campaign is coming up, and we’re thinking this one crazy idea might be worth seeing happen. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/fontus-self-filling-water-bottle/

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Apparently, the teachers at the Maroochydore High School in Queensland, Australia, had reached the end of the line in answering phone calls from concerned parents. The most surprising part of this “tough love” approach to getting parents to keep their little brats in line? It’s not a real message. The sarcastic voicemail message has been circulating for several years and has even produced this re-enactment video. Versions of the hoax have it occurring in a school in the Pacific Palisades in California, but it’s the Queensland school that’s stuck with it. Reporters note that calls to this school are answered by a courteous human being, not an answering machine, so relax and have a laugh at this little bit of wishful thinking. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/schoolanswering/

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From the video, it’s clear to see that the bond between James Bowen and Bob is an incredibly strong one. Closeness is common between pets and their humans, but the effect it has had on Bowen’s life is rare. While he’s now an acclaimed writer with two international best-sellers under his belt, things were not always so easy for Bowen. Following his parents’ divorce, he had an unhappy childhood filled with bullying and mental health issues; these issues led to him using drugs and eventually becoming homeless for the better part of a decade. Since Bob’s entrance into his life and the ensuing fame, however, Bowen has written six books and production has started on a film to tell their story. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/james-bowen-street-cat-named-bob/

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Steve Harvey is an absolute legend. He does just about everything. He hosts his own television show, his own morning radio show, the much-beloved and long-running game show Family Feud, and more. He’s written several books and previously hosted the well-known Showtime at the Apollo. He’s won three Daytime Emmy Awards, 13 NAACP Image Awards, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He’s an actor, a comedian, producer … the list goes on and on. But, do you know what his most important role is? All-around good guy. Harvey likes nothing more than to put the spotlight on others, make people laugh, and do what he can for people who’ve fallen on tough times. That’s why, when his birthday rolled around, he decided he didn’t want anything in the way of conventional gifts. Instead, he wanted to do what he could to help someone and make their life better. Along with his friend, rapper T.I., Harvey invited single mother Latasha Thomas on his show to give her the surprise of her life. Latasha was already stretched thin, trying to make a living and raise four kids; so, when one unfortunate thing after another kept happening, her life, and the lives of her children, quickly spiraled out of control. After producers of Harvey’s show heard her story, they were able to help in a way that will do a lot to get her back on her feet. It might not be the gift that’s on everyone’s birthday wish list, but after seeing the looks on the faces of Thomas and her children, I think it’s safe to say that Harvey got the best birthday present he could ever wish for. Be sure to SHARE this heartwarming surprise with your friends and family! H/T: Steve Harvey Read more: http://www.wimp.com/steve-harvey-helps-a-single-mom-of-4-get-back-on-her-feet/

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One of the challenges facing humanity in our quest to explore space is creating a way to navigate the uneven terrain and odd gravity we encounter along the way. To help solve this problem, NASA has developed a robot concept called Hedgehog. Rather than moving around on wheels the Hedgehog moves by hopping and rolling around. Utilizing a complicated series of three wheels inside the device, the Hedgehog can jump, roll, bounce, and even slightly adjust its position. These different moves are accomplished by spinning the three interior wheels and quickly hitting their brakes. The Hedgehog is still in the testing stages, but this video provides a captivating look into the future of space exploration. We can’t wait to see what this machine will help us discover. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/nasa-comet-asteroid-hedgehog-rover/

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