By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Have You Seen This? Always bring a spare parachute
de41932589219c1e03e705622274c5f520a4f99c224fc16f49a8297faf5c083c
A skydiving instructor shows us why it's important to always have a spare parachute. Granted she was her own worst enemy. - photo by John Clyde
John Clyde
KSL.com
Published: Nov 10, 2015, 3:49 PM


THE SKY It's always a smart idea to have a Plan B. For example, you wanted to be a baseball player when you grew up, but it turns out you have the hand-eye coordination of a blind turtle, and you're allergic to grass. What's your Plan B? Always have a Plan B.

Skydiving instructor Brianne Thompson shows us all why having a back-up chute, or a Plan B, is vital.

You never know what's going to happen when you jump from an airplane. Maybe your chute doesn't open. Maybe your chute gets tangled. Or maybe, just maybe, you shoot a flare gun straight into your chute and set it a blaze. The latter doesn't seem incredibly likely, but that's exactly what Thompson did. She shot a flare into her chute, setting it on fire, then she ditched the flaming parachute and opened her reserve.

I want to say the moral of this story is to always be prepared, but I think it's actually that we've found a way to make skydiving look even cooler; add fire.
Sign up for our E-Newsletters
Have You Seen This? Street musician slays with clarinet
638421_Screenshot_1.png
Better than almost every face-melting guitar or drum solo. - photo by Facebook video screenshot
Martha Ostergar
KSL.com
Updated: Dec 30, 2018, 5:00 PM
Published: Dec 29, 2018, 1:57 PM

THE BIG EASY — Yeah, yeah, we all know that New Orleans is stuffed to the gills will incredible musicians.

But knowing that fact and then hearing that fact are two different things. You can step into any number of jazz clubs on any given night on Bourbon Street, and you’ll probably be impressed with virtually every act. Or you can sit at home on your comfy couch and watch this featured video.

In the video, you’ll see a woman who is in the groove. She is swinging hard, and wailing on her clarinet with a practiced expertise that makes it sounds so easy.

From note one you’ll be drawn in; your appreciation will grow with every second, and then your face will melt off when you realize how incredible she really is.

If you’ve never played a woodwind or a brass, you may not know everything that comes with a performance like this. Lung capacity and breath control are huge factors in keeping your notes clear and loud, and hitting those high notes is especially difficult.

So when this woman hits that high note and holds it for several seconds, you know you’re dealing with an exceptional musician. It means she has worked hard for years to develop skill on top of her natural talent, and we get to benefit.

It kinda makes you wonder how we let people get away with mumble rap and autotune when talent like this exists in the world.

I wish this video were longer, and I wish I had more information about this woman, but as it is, we’ll just have to appreciate the little flavor of New Orleans jazz posted by the Facebook group Clarinet Life.

Martha Ostergar is a writer who delights in the ridiculous that internet serves up, which means she's more than grateful that she gets to cruise the web for amazing videos to highlight for your viewing pleasure.
Latest Obituaries