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The latest viral challenge is claiming hundreds of lives around the world
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Don't let it happen to your children. - photo by Camila Ignacia Gmez Gonzlez
A few months ago we learned that children and teens were participating in the Blue Whale challenge, a challenge with several stages the last one being suicide. Needless to say, it claimed several innocent lives. After this came the challenge of throwing boiling water on a person to see how much pain they could endure. Many of these viral challenges are becoming dangerous and inappropriate.

Another new and dangerous viral challenge has appeared on social networks that parents need to be aware of. It's the #SaltAndIceChallenge. This challenge is another way to prove who can endure pain the longest. The challenge consists of putting salt on your skin and holding a piece of ice on top of it. This produces a chemical reaction that makes the salt dissolve and lowers the temperature of the ice to almost 20 below zero. This reaction can lead to serious second and third degree burns.

Teens everywhere are accepting the challenge and filming their attempts. They post their videos on their social channels and compete with friends or strangers. They want to know who can endure more pain and get the most impressive wounds on their skin.

One of the scariest cases is when a 12-year-old boy competed in the challenge for 20 minutes, leaving a wound on his skin that might leave a permanent scar.

According to Dr. Marc Jeschke, "In general, frostbite takes some time to develop, as the blood slowly crystallizes and causes damage. The salt and ice challenge causes injuries much more quickly, damaging the skin and nerve endings in the process.

While this challenged started in the United States, there are many cases of the #SaltAndIceChallenge around the world. Authorities are asking parents everywhere to keep their teens social media under strict supervision in order to prevent serious injuries.

We always say Its all fun and games until someone gets hurt," but there are only injuries from the #SaltAndIceChallenge.
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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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