Compared to the sad stories and pessimism found on most news programs, morning news shows are a bastion of positivity. They’re always there to let you know when the zoo has a new red panda or if there’s a harvest festival this weekend. These masters of infotainment don’t just let you know about community events and school closings; sometimes they talk about science. That’s what happened when the morning crew at ABC 13 in Toledo, Ohio invited Chief Scientist Carl Nelson of the Toledo Imagination Station on the air to play with a vacuum chamber. Their test object? That tasty Easter morning treat we all know and love as Peeps. See what happens when a puffed marshmallow has all of the air inside of it removed with the power of science. Then stick around for a bonus experiment involving shaving cream. Thank you morning news for focusing on the silly. We have the rest of the news to bum us out. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/peeps-in-a-vacuum/
We all get scared of the dark sometimes. The question “what goes bump in the night?” has been the basis of horror stories since recorded history began. It’s a common fear, one that lays at the heart of the delightfully spooky short film “Lights Out.” Thanks to its mix of humor and a slowly building sense of dread, “Lights Out” won filmmakers David Sandberg and Lotta Losten the “Best Director” prize in 2014’s “Who’s There Film Challenge.” So turn out the lights, turn up your sound, and get ready for a scary Halloween treat. Then buy a night light. You might need it after this one. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/lights-out-the-scariest-short-film-you-will-see/
If you were a child in the 1960s-90s, there’s no doubt you encountered Fred Rogers. Made famous by his children’s program “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” which ran from 1968-2001, Rogers forever changed children’s entertainment. Unlike other kids’ programming that came before it, his show treated young audiences with the respect they deserved. Speaking honestly about traditionally heavy topics like death, divorce and war, Fred Rogers hoped to inspire the next generation to lead a compassionate life. Here, he shares a piece of wisdom that his mother always told him whenever they witnessed tragedy. This message is as relevant today as it was when it first aired and is something that we can all benefit from remembering in our daily lives. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/look-for-the-helpers-fred-rogers/
Bill Moore was 20 years old when he wrote a love letter to his soon-to-be wife Bernadean. 70 years later, he sat in tears at his retirement home reading the words he once wrote. “My darling, lovable, alluring, Bernadean,” begins the letter. “I ran out of space, but I could have written a lot more adjectives describing you. You are so lovely, darling, that I often wonder how it is possible that you are mine. I’m really the luckiest guy in the world, you know.” The long lost letter was found in by a woman in Westminster, Colorado who discovered it tucked away in an antique record she bought. Because of the age of the letter, the woman thought the prospects of returning it to the original owner was a longshot. Turns out, the author lived just a few towns over in Aurora, Colorado. The power of love is a curious thing. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/foundletter/
Everyone knows how much cats love chasing laser pointers around, but you might not know that fish enjoy a good laser pointer chase as well. Just think how much easier it would have been to defeat Jaws had we discovered that its weakness was a simple laser pointer. All Chief Brody would have had to do was shine a laser away from the shore, keeping the shark occupied while tourists safely enjoyed the beach. Fish have feared cats for years, but hopefully this new shared interest can help them set aside their differences and chase lasers in peace. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/fish-love-laser-pointers/
Meet DJ Arch Jr., he is one of South Africa’s hottest DJs and has a knack for driving crowds crazy with his beats. There’s one more thing you should know about Arch Jr., he just turned three years old. That’s right, this toddler has developed an incredible ear for music at such a young age that he has become a worldwide phenomenon after competing in South Africa’s Got Talent. DJ Arch Jr.’s audition was so successful that he earned the last golden buzzer of the competition, which means he can immediately advance to the next round. Arch Jr. first began gaining notoriety in early 2015 when a video of him performing on the street became a viral YouTube hit. Since then his fame has steadily increased and now he is ready to take his own place in the world of electronic music. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/3-year-old-dj-south-africa/
Turtles may look a little bit like grumpy old men, but don’t let those looks fool you. Underneath the tough exterior, they’re all heart. It turns out that turtles are actually really good at friendship, especially when one of them gets in a bind like the turtle seen here. Somehow, he’s managed to get himself stuck on a rock that’s lifted him high enough that he can’t get his flippers a solid foothold to get back down. He’s struggling in vain when all of a sudden, his buddy comes crawling in from the right and helps push him off – because that’s what friends are for. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/turtle-rescues-friend-stranded-on-rock/
Visiting family members can be a special and memorable time. But when this man went to visit his in-laws, he noticed a small problem with his car on the way home. A strange whining noise was coming from inside the vehicle. Despite lifting the hood and opening the door, he still couldn’t spot the source. Maybe he should have called this kid mechanic to come and take a look. Or maybe the issue isn’t the car but the mechanic himself. If you have any ideas of what could be the problem or if you’ve experienced this problem yourself, make sure to let us know. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/car-makes-whining-noise/
Japan seems to always be on the forefront of innovation, even if it tends to be on the weird side. At the Henn-na Hotel in Nagasaki, technology and the bizarre collide in glorious fashion. The Henn-na Hotel is a fully-working vacation destination staffed almost entirely by robots. These aren’t just any robots. If you are lucky enough to spend the night, you’ll be checked in by a talking velociraptor at the front desk. You’ll even receive hot dinners from one of the many vending machines inside the property. Are these robot hotels the future of the hospitality industry? It has advantages, but as many of the people who stay there admit, there is something missing. No velociraptor robot can replace the warmth and fulfillment of human interaction. Will the Henn-na Hotel be the future of the hotel industry or is it just an expensive gimmick? Let us know in the comments. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/inside-robot-hotel-japan/
Millions of Americans struggle with anxiety. It’s an affliction that affects every part of your life and can be difficult to explain to others. Among those living with anxiety is poet Brenna Twohy. To cope with her struggles, Brenna put together this spoken word poem comparing living with anxiety to a real life ghost story. As she puts it, loving someone with anxiety is like trying to love a haunted house. Brenna’s performance was part of the 2015 National Poetry Slam, an event established by Button Poetry. For more of Brenna’s work, you can visit her blog here. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/anxiety-ghost-story-brenna-twohy/
