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Have You Seen This? Stopping a charging elephant with a look
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There are hardcore people int he world, and then there is Alan McSmith, a safari guide who is officially the most hardcore person on the planet. - photo by John Clyde


THE WILD When I was a child, one day I was at a friend's house and playing in the backyard.

Suddenly my friend's little brother started yelling for us to come over to a shrub and see what he found. We trotted over and saw what was causing the commotion. It was a garter snake. I panicked, ran into the house and locked the door, because if there is one thing snakes know how to do it's open unlocked doors.

What I'm trying to say is I am a coward. I'm not proud, but I'm also a realist. I'm a coward. On the complete opposite end of that spectrum is Alan McSmith, a wildlife guide who is officially the most awesome person on the planet.

This video was captured during a guided tour by McSmith when an elephant charged, and once you watch it you'll see what I mean.

If I were in this situation, I would do everything in my power to run faster than other people in the party to try to get away from the animal. The rest of the group is on their own, I'm out of there. McSmith, on the other hand, stays calm, stares the giant mammal down and stops it from charging. McSmith does this more than once and it's more incredible each time.

I am in awe of this video and I would like to nominate McSmith as the most hardcore man on the planet. Time to step down from that throne, Liam Neeson, it's McSmith's turn to step up.
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Have You Seen This? Street musician slays with clarinet
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Better than almost every face-melting guitar or drum solo. - photo by Facebook video screenshot

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.
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