My Z News

Barrie Hall is 73 years old and lives alone in the small town of Lincoln, England but that doesn’t mean he can’t still make an impact on the world. After his wife died, Barrie decided to honor her legacy by transforming a mobility scooter into a model Coca-Cola delivery truck. Barrie spent eight months preparing the vehicle to drive and even wrote to the Coca-Cola corporate office to ask permission to use its logo.  Barrie’s goal is to use the truck to raise money for a cancer charity. His truck has become a welcome site in his English neighborhood. As Barrie puts it, “As soon as you see the truck, you know Christmas is just around the corner.” Read more: http://www.wimp.com/grandad-builds-coca-cola-scooter-for-christmas/

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With the advent of drones and tiny high definition cameras like the GoPro, exploring dangerous areas has become easier than ever, but risks still remain. One unlucky drone owner learned that lesson when his camera-equipped drone discovered a massive nest of rattlesnakes. We don’t want to give away the ending but be prepared to thank the heavens you aren’t this drone.  Read more: http://www.wimp.com/rattlesnake-vs-drone/

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If you’re afraid of clowns then you might want to stay away from the town of Tonopah, Nevada. The extreme small desert town has one notable claim to fame; it hosts what might be the world’s creepiest motel. The Clown Motel is host to hundreds of clown dolls, merchandise and protraits. Every room is equipped with a few clowns of its own along with pictures that would send chills down the spine of anyone who has seen a horror movie. As if it could get any worse, the motel is located right across the street from a cemetery. Despite its creepy aesthetic, the Clown Motel draws visitors from around the world. The motel even has almost unanimously positive reviews on Yelp. Do you think you would be brave enough to spend a night here? Let us know in the comments. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/creepy-clown-motel-nevada/

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You can’t weld two pieces of wood together, right? It’s simply impossible to melt wood and then attach it to another piece of wood, or so we thought. Thanks to a process called linear friction, this previously unimaginable possibility is now a reality. Friction welding is the process of welding two objects together by generating heat through mechanical friction. It has a number of industrial uses for welding metals and plastics, but now that we know the process works on wood the already incredible possibilities of this construction method have expanded even further. From building houses to sofas, we’re looking forward to seeing what friction welding brings to the world of woodworking.  Read more: http://www.wimp.com/bonding-wood-with-linear-friction/

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Before “Grumpy Cat” or “I Can Has Cheezburger,” there was the 1901 short film The Sick Kitten that started it all. Directed by George Albert Smith, who many consider to be a pioneer of modern film, the 34-second-long piece tells the story of two young children giving medicine to a kitten who has fallen ill.  The Sick Kitten offers us a fascinating glimpse into what early cinema looked like. In 1901, motion pictures had only been around for a few years, and artists like Smith were shaping the future of the industry with their innovative techniques. In fact, Smith was one of the first directors to use close-up shots, an example of which can be seen when the kitten is eating its “medicine.” This film proves that after 114 years, audiences are still just as in love with cat videos as they were back then. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/sick-kitten-oldest-cat-video/

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When we hear stories about rescue animals, we often think about them just being about the animal that’s no longer in a shelter. Sometimes, however, the stories involve more than one rescue. Sometimes the animal helps the person who adopts it just as much as its new owner.  Take the story of Owen and Haatchi. Owen, a young boy with a rare medical condition he was self-conscious about in public, needed a friend. Haatchi, a dog whose abusive early years left him missing a leg and his tail, needed someone to love. Together these two souls have built a bond of friendship that has helped them both overcome some of the darkest elements of their lives. Enjoy.  Read more: http://www.wimp.com/owen-and-haatchi-boy-and-dog-rescue-each-other/

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One common criticism of dance DJ’s, whether it’s true or not, is that they don’t do anything in a live setting. They just hit play on a laptop, pretend to fiddle some knobs, and bob their heads. If you’re a dance music cynic, we have you covered, thanks to this live music demonstration from artist Graham Dunning. Utilizing an old record player and some odd musical equipment, Dunning has crafted a complicated Rube Goldberg machine that busts out sick dance beats while you wait. This DJ might just hit play and step back, but we think you’ll agree, he’s doing plenty of work.  Dunning’s project was part of Rhythm and Drone, an artist residency project. You can read more about it here.  Read more: http://www.wimp.com/making-a-techno-song-without-computers/

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Superheroes don’t just exist in comic books; sometimes they come in the form of an 8-year-old girl with a katana. This little samurai performed in front of a panel of judges at a martial arts competition and became a viral sensation in the process. With flips, kicks and tons of sound effects, she performs a two-minute routine that looks straight out of a Jet Li movie. There’s an action movie career in her future, just make sure you’re never on her bad side. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/girl-with-sword-slices-competition/

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It’s a battle of the Jeffs in this alternative game of Jeopardy, appropriately titled “Jeffpardy!” Watch as three contestants named Jeff challenge each other in such categories as “Jeff,” “Jeff” and also “Jeff.” The returning champion, Jeff, was able to give the correct answer to the clue “Jeff” by responding with “Jeff.” Unfortunately, none of the contestants were able to answer the question “Jeff” to which host Alex Trebek revealed the correct answer to be “Jeff.” Read more: http://www.wimp.com/this-is-jeffpardy-jeff/

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