My Z News

The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole fighter jet introduced by the United States military this past summer. Designed to perform ground attack, aerial reconnaissance, and air defense missions, the F-35 has been in development since October 2001, with its creation and testing costing 1.3 trillion dollars over that period. The F-35B is designed for vertical landing, allowing it to hover down onto the deck of aircraft carriers. Feel the massive roar of the plane’s powerful engines and marvel as it swoops onto the flight deck for a graceful landing. The F-35A and F-35C are on track to finish development in Q3 of 2016, and 2018 respectively. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/hovering-fighter-jet/

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Whenever my sisters and I find ourselves going through a hard time, we take a trip to our favorite restaurant. The food is nothing to write home about, and it’s not that we’re particularly hungry anyway – it’s just that in a tragedy, no one really knows what to do. It’s a place where we can find just what we need: a quiet booth, some hot coffee, and service that always leaves us feeling well cared for.  After leaving the funeral of SWAT Officer Steve Smith on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, nine police officers in Columbus, Ohio were looking for their own place to decompress. Officer Smith had tragically died a week earlier after being shot in a stand-off on April 10. Thousands had showed up to honor the fallen hero, including a procession of police vehicles from nearly 120 different jurisdictions. These nine officers decided to go to Red Robin afterwards, but little did they know they were in for a lot more than burgers and fries.  As waitress Jessica Dunbar watched the table of nine somberly file into her section, she immediately knew something was off. She asked the group what was wrong, and an officer replied, “It’s always a rough day when you’ve gotta put a brother in the ground.” Jessica couldn’t help but think of her own father, a retired police officer. In his honor, and in the memory of Officer Smith, she made a kind gesture that touched hearts everywhere and immediately went viral.  It was a normal day at Red Robin in Columbus, Ohio, until nine officers entered the building. Somber and dejected, they had just left the funeral of SWAT Officer Steve Smith.  Patrick Kelly Waitress Jessica Dunbar was deeply shaken by the news. She had grown up watching her mom constantly worry about her dad, an active-duty police officer. Although he was now retired, Jessica knew that a similar tragedy could have just as easily happened to him.  wcmhnbc4 After all, Officer Steve Smith had already survived being shot three years earlier. With gun violence at an all-time high in America, the men and women who fight to keep us safe are in more danger than ever. Officer Smith had proudly returned to his duties after the shooting – a clear testament to his character, courage, strength, and commitment to his community.  nbc4i When it came time for the officers to receive their $123 bill, Jessica handed them this note instead.  wcmhnbc4 It reads:  “Officers, your bill is on me today. I can’t imagine the day you all have had, let alone what you go through every day. I hope your days get better. So much respect. #weseeyou #policelivematters #RIPOfficerSmith”  The officers were deeply touched by Jessica’s meaningful gesture, but to hear her tell the story, it meant just as much to her. “To have them shake my hand and say ‘thank you’ to me, that was incredible,” she told NBC.  To see more of the story and Jessica’s full interview, check out the video below.  Don’t forget to […]

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If there’s one thing that makes my blood boil the minute it’s mentioned, it’s child abuse. I’m a very peaceful guy, one who would rather resolve any differences over a drink than get into a fight, but when I hear about someone messing with innocent little kids, all I can see is red. Unfortunately, I’m not exactly the roughest, toughest guy in the world and my physique is a lot of things, but “intimidating” isn’t one of them.  Thankfully, there’s the Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA). These guys are like my prayers answered, because they’re a bunch of tough, scary-looking bikers who rally around victims of abuse and provide protection and support. Once BACA is contacted on behalf of a victim, members of the nearest local chapter ride out to meet the victim and watch over them. Beyond protection from their abusers, the bikers also provide victims with genuine friendships and a sense of hope. Take “FA” (name not given) for instance. She was a lively, rambunctious kid until her stepfather began to abuse her at age 10. She was so traumatized that she couldn’t eat or sleep, and took showers with all her clothes on. Eventually, her mom (identified here only as “Mother Duck”) found out what was happening and was able to kick her abusive husband out, but the damage was done. While her abuser was being tried, bikers from BACA, led by a man named Tombstone, made sure FA felt safe wherever she went, and they’ve remained a part of her life ever since.  Don’t forget to SHARE this heartwarming story with your friends on Facebook.  H/T: Yahoo Read more: http://www.wimp.com/hero-bikers-help-save-an-abused-teenage-girls-life/

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Sophi Green was born without arms, but you wouldn’t know it from her lust for life. Despite being differently-abled, Sophi has adapted to the challenges her body presents and can do anything any of her friends can do. She’s an inspiration to her whole family. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/born-without-arms-this-girl-doesnt-let-anything-slow-her-down/

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When the Nashville audience filed into their seats at the Grand Ole Opry this past February, they expected to see a performance by the smooth-singing country star Josh Turner. Josh has been singing for about a decade and is known for bluegrass hits like “Your Man” and “Time is Love.” He waited a long time for his first chance to perform at the most hallowed ground in all of country music, and when he got it, he certainly made the most of it.  But, when fans walked out of the Grand Ole Opry that night, it wasn’t Josh they were talking about. Instead, everyone was amazed by a 98-year-old piano wiz who left the audience on their feet after her short performance. Lois Cunningham has played the piano her whole life and always dreamed of performing at the Opry – she also happens to be the grandmother of Josh Turner’s wife. So, when Josh got the chance to headline a show at the Opry, he knew who he had to invite with him.  Lois played an impassioned version of the gospel hymn “How Great Thou Art.” When she finished, the audience jumped to their feet and gave a hearty round of applause for Lois and her lifetime of work. Just one look at her face and you can see how much this moment meant to her. It was a moment that Lois, Josh, and everyone in attendance will never forget.  Watch the video below to see it all happen, and don’t forget to SHARE this heartwarming moment with your friends and family.  H/T: Grand Ole Opry Read more: http://www.wimp.com/98-year-old-grandma-receives-standing-ovation-at-grand-ole-opry/

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Lions are the kings of the jungle – proud, majestic beasts with unparalleled hunting abilities. In the wild, they rule over fiercely defended territories which can span over 100 square miles of grass and woodlands. Putting a creature that instinctively needs that much space to roam over into a tiny cage is, understandably, very unpleasant. Yet, due to the demand for lions at circuses and other sideshows, there are an unfortunate number of lions suffering in captivity – just to satisfy our selfish desire for entertainment. Thankfully, there are organizations like Animal Defenders International, which recently managed to rescue 33 lions from illegal circuses throughout Peru and Colombia. After they were rescued, the lions were transported to the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa. This was the largest operation of its kind to date.  These lions had all been trapped in tiny cages, forced to perform, and badly mistreated. Many of them required medical attention, and most of them were underfed. Several of the lions had never even experienced grass under their feet or felt the warmth of the sun on their faces. These may seem like trivial pleasures, but as you’ll see, there’s just nothing quite like that first taste of freedom. Be sure to SHARE this video with your family and friends. H/T: Inside Edition Read more: http://www.wimp.com/33-rescued-lions-experience-freedom/

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It’s a nightmare every driver must consider at some point in their life. One day you could be driving around and suddenly, without warning, nature throws a curveball your way. A tree falls down, water floods or, in this case, a sudden rockslide throws a boulder at your car. Thankfully for this lucky driver, the magic of physics stopped this rocky monster for causing a tragedy. Watch close and hold your breath. Even with the happy ending, this is intense.  Read more: http://www.wimp.com/boulder-narrowly-avoids-crushing-car/

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As we grow older, our bodies start to deteriorate. While that might be a terrifying thought for some of us, have no fear! Just because you don’t have the same spring in your step as you did when you were a teenager doesn’t mean you can’t still live an active lifestyle. Sports like golf and tennis are ideal for senior citizens as they can be played well into your 80s, 90s, and beyond. Malls and public parks offer great walking routes with plenty of people to watch along the way. And if neither of these strike your fancy, you could always pick up weightlifting. No, we’re not joking. Just ask 78-year-old Shirley Webb. Webb didn’t have any experience lifting weights until two years ago, when her granddaughter convinced her to join a gym. Since then, the grandmother from Illinois has been pumping iron like nobody’s business. When Webb began lifting in 2014, she couldn’t even make it up a flight of stairs without relying on the handrail. Now, just two years later, she’s able to deadlift a whopping 245 pounds and is seeing improvements in every area of her life. “If I got on the floor, I couldn’t get up without a chair,” said Webb about her pre-workout life. “Now I can come right up off the floor. The harder I work out, the better I feel.” She’s even competed in multiple weightlifting competitions and holds the current Illinois state deadlift record for the 75-and-older division with 237 pounds. At this rate, Webb will be able to pick up her grandkids no matter how big they get! H/T: SoundFX Read more: http://www.wimp.com/grandma-deadlifts-225-pounds-shirley-webb/

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Parents often have a difficult time getting their children to take medicine. They’ll try everything from quoting Mary Poppins to promising a new toy to get their kids to take their meds. The trainers at the Seattle Aquarium had an even more trying task when one of their otters got diagnosed with asthma. Getting a kid to use an inhaler is one thing, but an otter? Here’s the incredible tale of Mishka. Mishka, a one-year-old sea otter, has the first reported case of asthma among her species. The AAAAI estimates that 300 million people around the world suffer from this incurable disease, but we have no hard stats on how many otters are impacted. Having learned to use an inhaler, Mishka can now live an active life with the other otters in her aquarium. Asthma can hit in unexpected places, even the animal kingdom. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/asthmatic-otter-learns-to-use-inhaler/

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