My Z News

For many parts of the world, the coming of winter goes hand in hand with shorter amounts of daylight.  It’s easy to dismiss it as being “no big deal,” but reduced exposure to sunlight actually has a negative effect on our everyday routines. One of the more obvious detriments is impaired visilibility on the road. Driving in inclement weather such as snow or sleet is bad enough, but drivers also become more prone to accidents in the winter due to reduced visibility. It’s a scary contributor to thousands of mishaps each year, but many of these could have been prevented. Wearing reflective clothing goes a long way, but this video shows another great solution that uses reflective tape. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/reflector-door-save-lives-car-winter-dark/

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Over the years, we’ve seen some truly incredible auditions on Britain’s Got Talent. There was Becky O’Brien, a single mother who got a chance to showcase her stunning voice, the now-famous Matrix dancer, and so many other acts of all kinds. Some have even gone on to the finals, either via the regular competitive process or by impressing the judges so much during their auditions that they earn the “golden buzzer.” Each of the judges gets one opportunity per season to press the buzzer, which sends that act straight through to the live finals. Recently, we posted about another act that managed to get the coveted golden buzzer – a gospel choir with 100 voices. Well, they’ve got some competition headed their way, because Simon Cowell just buzzed in a bunch of dancing Stormtroopers! I have to admit, the Stormtroopers are pretty great dancers. They are all performers from a company called Empire Parties, whose website states that they’re trained thespians, martial artists, dancers, and athletes. They’ve got plenty of other costumes too, so there’s definitely room for more than what we saw here. Still, Simon’s choice has been viewed as highly controversial, with many longtime fans feeling that while the performance was great, there were more deserving candidates for the golden buzzer. Remember to SHARE this incredible performance with your family and friends. H/T: Britain’s Got Talent Read more: http://www.wimp.com/dancing-storm-troopers-get-simons-golden-buzzer/

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Most dance routines tend to take place on stages, but very rarely does the stage floor simultaneously serve as the background. The dance group Another Kind of Blue takes the stage from a different angle when they stun the judges on Britain’s Got Talent. Special effects and a projector/camera combo are used in the most incredible way, transforming a simple choreography into, simply, magic. In some ways, this is the same simple camera trickery that was used by the old Batman television series in the ’60s, to super-cheesy effect. In others, it’s a cutting edge dance routine where the choreography extends into the carefully planned computer-generated imagery projects onto the stage. If that sounds confusing or strange, don’t worry! It’s pretty confusing and strange to watch! But it’s also incredibly beautiful, and shows how a little creativity and “lateral” thinking can turn even jaded judges upside down in surprise. The looks of fascination and bewilderment on the judges’ faces say it all. Watch and see for yourself. Don’t forget to SHARE this stunning performance with your friends and family! H/T: Britain’s Got Talent Read more: http://www.wimp.com/dancing-duo-turns-the-britains-got-talent-stage-on-its-side/

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Jeopardy is known for asking difficult questions, but none quite as difficult as these three simple words… Read more: http://www.wimp.com/what-are-frogs/

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It seems like this little guy is no different than many other baby elephants; they’re always playing in the mud or needing help getting out of sticky situations! Luckily for this fellow, he’s got his family to help him out. He’s also lucky to live on the Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in Africa. Located in South Africa, the park was founded in 1898, although it was originally known as the Sabi Game Reserve. It was established to control hunting and protect the animals native to the region. Today, there are over 517 species of birds and 157 species of mammals, including all of the “Big Five” game animals, that call the park home at some point throughout the year. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/kruger-national-park-baby-elephant-mud-rescue/

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The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Pearl Jam – none of these rock bands would be where they are today without the King. Elvis Presley may not be with us anymore (or is he?), but he keeps making headlines. As one of the most influential rockers of all time, Elvis Presley was a national sensation by 1956. He’s sold over 250 million records and had no less than 148 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 Pop Chart in America, including 18 number one hits. Taking the country by storm with his swinging jams, slick dance moves, and fly jackets, everybody wanted a piece of The King. Recently, rare footage of the rocker was undercovered. At the height of his career, Paramount Pictures offered to fly Elvis from his Memphis abode to California for a screen test. Screen test footage is usually kept private, making this an especially nice treat. Watch Elvis jam out to his hit song, “Blue Suede Shoes.” Despite using a stringless prop guitar, Elvis still shreds as if he’s in front of thousands of screaming fans. His rocking performance certainly impressed Paramount, who swiftly offered the musician a three picture deal. Take a stroll down memory lane with musical nostalgia. Keep on rocking, Elvis. Don’t forget to SHARE this bit of history with your friends and family. H/T: You Can’t Download Vinyl Read more: http://www.wimp.com/never-before-seen-footage-of-elvis-presley/

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There’s an old wedding tradition that says brides must wear “something old, new, borrowed and blue.” Though it is not exactly clear where that tradition started, it is meant to represent the bride’s past, present and future. Not every bride abides by this rule, but when they do it is usually a neat demonstration of the importance of tradition.  No one quite knows tradition like this family. Sarah was about to get married to her beloved fiance Johnathan, but there is something she needed to do before of became official. Her mom and grandma shared a very unique wedding tradition. Both of them got married on the same date and in the exact same dress. Sarah didn’t want to let the tradition die so she made sure to schedule her wedding to match up with the previous two and had the old dress brought back out.   “As soon as I put it on and held the veil onto the back of my head, I knew that I wouldn’t be trying on any other dresses,” Sarah said. According to Sarah, the dress fit perfectly and she was ecstatic to carry out the tradition that her mom and grandmother started.   Read more: http://www.wimp.com/three-weddings-same-dress/

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“Talking turkey” is a popular idiom, but this kid is taking it to a whole other level. While he and his mom are outside one day, they happen to see some wild turkeys down the road. The little boy decides to try to communicate with the gobbling turkeys, and surprisingly, they seem to respond! There’s a whole “conversation” between the two in this clip, and it really, really makes me wish I had a turkey translator so I could know what was said. The phrase “talking turkey” or “to talk turkey” is a uniquely American expression that generally means to get down to business and talk about whatever relevant matters need discussion. During a negotiation, for instance, you may hear one party tell the other, “Don’t come back until you’re ready to talk turkey!” So where did this odd phrase come from?  There are several competing stories, but expert Michael Quinion at World Wide Words seems to think that the most likely origin was during the days of the early European settlers. Many of the contacts between settlers and Native Americans revolved around the purchase and sale of wild turkeys, to an extent that when Natives saw a European settler approaching, they would ask, “You come to talk turkey?” Another popular story is that a colonist and a Native went hunting together and bagged 4 turkeys and 4 crows. While splitting up the catch, the colonist gave himself all the turkeys and proposed the Native take all the crows. Understandably, the Native protested and remarked “you talk all turkey for you, only talk crow for Indian.”  Remember to SHARE this hilarious clip with your friends! H/T: Justin Read more: http://www.wimp.com/little-boy-has-a-conversation-with-wild-turkeys/

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What is it about puppets that so fascinates us? From an early age, we come into contact with finger puppets, marionettes, or possibly even sock puppets. They introduce us to speech, interaction, and imagination. It’s no wonder they’ve been around since ancient times. After a time, they are still amusing (just look at the popularity Jim Henson’s Muppets still carry), but we move on to other forms of entertainment. In this digital age, it is so easy to overlook those simple hand-operated characters that once held our attention indefinitely. Still, every once in a while, we see an innovation that sparks that old, child-like sense of wonder. Meet Barnaby Dixon, YouTube host, animator, and, yes, puppeteer. Barnaby’s interest in animation started back in 2003 when a media center opened near his home. He focuses mainly on stop-motion animation, inspired by films such as The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wallace and Gromit, or The Nightmare Before Christmas. When he couldn’t get the shots he wanted, he knew he needed something to make the job easier. Thus, a puppet was born.  “It took some time to refine, and alterations may still be made,” he states on his YouTube channel. “But it’s at a stage now that I’m happy to show y’all.” As you watch this, or one of his other videos, it is easy to see why he is passionate about his creations. The fluid movements of his puppet are quite mesmerizing. They say necessity is the mother of invention, and this maxim clearly holds true for Barnaby and his sidekick. Be sure to SHARE this fascinating video with your friends. H/T: barnabydixon Read more: http://www.wimp.com/2-hands-1-puppet-endless-possibilities/

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When Tim Leblanc went home one evening, he had no idea he was about to make a shocking discovery. It was a discovery that no parent ever expects, and one that should be a cautionary tale for others. It all started when Leblanc was up late one night and noticed that his 12-year-old daughter’s bedroom window was open. Confused by what he was seeing, Leblanc proceeded to check his daughter’s bedroom, only to discover that she wasn’t home. As you would imagine, he immediately started searching for his daughter, until eventually, he came across a suspicious looking truck in his neighborhood. He soon discovered that his daughter had gotten inside the vehicle with a stranger she met online. Leblanc immediately approached the man, who claimed to be a teenager, but later turned out to be 27 years old. His motives were clearly sick – he wanted to take advantage of this young girl, even resorting to sending inappropriate pictures of himself before meeting up with her. Upon this realization, Leblanc held the 27-year-old man to the ground and called the police. He also took a picture of the man to send a chilling message to other parents about what can happen if children are left unattended on social media. Leblanc says, “What I’ve gained from my interaction with this guy is I don’t think she would’ve ever come home alive.” He urges all parents to limit the time their children spend online if they want to reduce the chances of sexual predators targeting them. Following this incident, Leblanc has banned his daughter from using social media sites. Personally, I completely agree with his decision, and it’s something everything parent should consider in order to keep their children safe. Be sure to SHARE this important information with your family and friends. H/T: CBS Los Angeles Read more: http://www.wimp.com/father-saves-daughter-from-online-predator/

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