Not too long ago, Dick Van Dyke was one of the biggest stars in the world. He starred in his own television show as well as a number of famous films. However, his legacy will always be his role as the loveable chimney sweep from Mary Poppins. As the celebrated actor turns 90 years old, Disney wanted to do something spectacular to celebrate his impact on millions of people across the world. A legion of fans showed up at The Grove in Los Angeles and surprised the actor with a choreographed rendition of his most well known songs. After the perfomance, Van Dyke climbed down to sing along with the crowd himself. The whole ordeal shows why Dick Van Dyke is one of the world’s greatest treasures. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/dick-van-dyke-90th-birthday-flash-mob/
In case you weren’t aware, April is Autism Acceptance Month. Autism is a condition that affects nearly 1 in 68 children in the United States alone. The term “autism/autistic” actually refers to a wide spectrum of behavioral disorders that are collectively known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). An individual described as autistic usually displays some combination of the recognized behaviors consistent with autism. Generally speaking, individuals on the spectrum have problems with communication, socialization and/or cognitive development. In the case of 16-year-old Dillan Barmache from California, his autism has resulted in severe speech problems. For the longest time, Dillan couldn’t really speak or communicate with anyone. Unfortunately, just because he couldn’t talk didn’t mean he had nothing to say. It was torture for him – he had so much he wanted to express, but literally couldn’t form the words to get his thoughts out to the world. Luckily, we live in an age where technology is constantly being used in exciting new ways to help improve the lives of others. Thanks to a slightly modified iPad, Dillan can now type out his thoughts and have them read out loud by a special software. Just like that, a whole new world has opened up to him. He can finally have people see him for more than his condition, he can finally connect with people, share his intelligence, and most importantly, he can finally tell his loved one how much they really mean to him. If you were touched by Dillan’s story, please SHARE it with your friends and family on Facebook. H/T: Apple Read more: http://www.wimp.com/technology-has-helped-one-teen-with-autism-find-his-inner-voice/
We celebrated Veterans Day on November 11, but do you ever wish you could do more to thank the troops for serving our country? The dangers they face, the long months spent away from friends and family, the physical and mental strength that their job demands … it’s a debt we’ll never be able to repay. However, when Shlomo Rechnitz, a businessman from Los Angeles, ran into 400 soldiers at an airport in Shannon, Ireland, he wanted to do something to show his gratitude. Why not buy them dinner? Rechnitz gave each soldier $50 to spend in the airport restaurant of their choosing, a generous gift with a total bill of $20,000. Judging by the soldiers’ enthusiasm, it was a gesture they will never forget. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/man-buys-dinner-400-soldiers/
A lot of cities and neighborhoods have leash laws that prevent dogs from being off their leashes in a public area. Apparently, this cat has appointed itself as a vigilante enforcer of said laws. Sammy the dog is just trying to enjoy his day at the park and, like a good dog, is trying to run over to his owner who is calling to him. Unfortunately for him, this cat’s got its paws gripped tightly on the other end of his leash and refuses to let go. Poor Sammy tries his best to walk away, but it’s all in vain. In the battle between canine and feline, the cat clearly wins this round. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/funny-cat-refuses-to-let-dog-leave-leash/
Advertisement We know her as Bea Arthur, but before she was the star of TV shows like All in the Family and The Golden Girls, she was a girl named Bernice Frankel. Born in 1922, Bea was just coming of age when World War II broke out in the fall of 1939. Eager to serve her country, the feisty young woman became one of the United States’ first ever female Marines. Although Bea would later deny it, she served as a truck driver and typist in the United States Marine Corp Women’s Reserve for 30 months. Trek to the Troops Here is her 1943 Marine identification card. For reasons unknown, Bea received an Honorable Discharge in 1945. The Smoking Gun However, some Marine Corps entrance interviews hint that an “argumentative” personality might have been to blame. It was a trait viewers would come to love when she joined the cast of All in the Family in 1971 as outspoken feminist Maude Findlay. CBS Advertisement Although Maude became a successful spin-off show, staying on the air for six seasons and winning multiple awards, the real fame came when The Golden Girls premiered in 1985. NBC It’s hard to think of any TV show that’s ever made us laugh as hard as this one. Although Bea passed away in 2009, her legacy – from serving her country to becoming a much-loved television figure – will never be forgotten. NBC Watch one of our favorite Golden Girls moments below – it always makes us laugh and cry! Farewell to Bea/ Dorothy … they’ll never be another like you. Via: American Overlook Read more: http://www.wimp.com/golden-girl-first-female-marine/
Who doesn’t love a good magic trick? Even if you know how the trick works, there’s something about seeing it performed by an expert magician that makes it thrilling nonetheless. Simply put, we love the sensation of being “fooled” in that way. As I’ve pointed out in some of our other posts about brain teasers, our brains love simulation – and novel experiences that challenge us to think? Well, our brains react to those the way bears do to honey. We’ve seen quite a number of great magicians here at Wimp, including my personal favorite, Piff the Magic Dragon. As much as I love Piff, though, I’ve got to hand it to 25-year-old Richard Jones for having one of the most mind-blowing tricks I’ve seen to date! A soldier by profession, Jones dreamed of being a magician his whole life. Having seen this video and the reactions that the judges had to it, I’d say he’s well on his way. Unfortunately, Jones’ solid performance is not without some controversy. Debbie McGee, wife and assistant to beloved late British magician Paul Daniels, says that both the origami celebrity portrait and the pouring of hot tea from a soda can are very similar to tricks that Mr. Daniels performed several decades ago. It appears, however, that the similarities are largely coincidental, and the tricks themselves date back to well before either magician’s time. Don’t forget to SHARE this incredible trick with your friends and family. H/T: Britain’s Got Talent Read more: http://www.wimp.com/soldier-has-a-magical-gift-for-the-judges-on-britains-got-talent/
Glen Keane has worked at Disney for decades and during that time has drawn up some of the world’s most iconic film characters. From “The Little Mermaid” to “Beauty and the Beast,” Glen has been at the forefront of the animation industry. However, in the last decade hand-drawn animation has all but disappeared in favor of computer animation. Many have said that 2D animation is a lost art form. Glen doesn’t think so. With new virtual reality technology, 2D artists keep the spirit of their work alive by creating images by hand in a virtual workspace. As Glen demonstrates, this allows familiar 2D images and characters to come alive like never before. Hopefully with this new technology, talented 2D artists can bring their work to mainstream film audiences once again. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/step-into-the-page-with-animator-glen-keane/
Boating is always a fun experience. The smell of fresh air and the wind in your hair is one of the best ways to spend time outdoors. Boats come in all shapes and sizes, but the most important factor in having a good time is being safe. Simple things like a life jacket and knowing where the emergency kits are can save a life. Accidents always happen, and it’s up to you to be prepared. Designed by Hard Drive Marine, the incredible boat featured in this video is more than meets the eye. Described by the company as a “crawling landing craft,” these kinds of boats are engineered to be docked right up against the shore whether it be rocky or sandy. However, Hard Drive Marine takes this notion one step further by adding a self-docking mechanism. At the push of a button, watch how this ingenious boat can pull itself ashore, then push itself back off into the water. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/self-docking-boat-hard-drive-marine/
Sometimes when you see a video of an animal doing a human activity, like playing music, you wonder if the animal is having fun. Thankfully that’s not the case with this adorable Metallica playing pug drummer. Just look at the joyful smile that crosses this little guy’s face when the beat kicks in. See that wagging tongue? He’s panting in joy. When he finally kicks into the main beat about 50 seconds into the video and starts to ride the groove, you’ll realize this is one cool puppy. Do Slayer next time Pug, and keep on rocking. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/pug-metallica-cover/
Everything is better when you make it yourself, even when making it yourself requires seven months, $900 and 1,100 miles. That’s what Andy George went through to make one root beer float for his ongoing video project “How To Make Everything.” Andy’s root beer float is the definition of homemade. He milked the goats, gathered the maple syrup and even foraged for roots and herbs. In the past, Andy has made a sandwich that cost him $1,500 and a full suit that cost $4,000 over the course of 10 months. To watch some of his adventures, you can check them out here. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/900-dollar-root-beer-made-from-scratch/
