Guinness book takes step up
The “Guinness World Records 2008” glows – and not just because of the glorious achievements of the record holders.
It actually glows and sparkles.
For the first time since the Guinness books went to press in 1955, there’s a section of glow-in-the-dark pages.
And it’s no longer a soft-covered, dull-colored collection of thousands of records listed in simple black-and-white agate type.
Rather, “Guinness World Records 2008” (Guinness, 288 pages, $28.95) is colorful, chock-full of photos – we could’ve done without the shot of athlete’s foot (most common skin infection) – graphics and easy-to-decipher feats.
We went through the new edition and came up with our list of the best – and most ridiculous – entries.
Beauty takes time
Most rhinestones on a body: Mem Bourke, New Zealand, applied 31,680 rhinestones to Alastair Galpin from Nov. 12-14, 2006.
No couch potatoes here
Fastest furniture: Marek Turkowski achieved a speed of 92 mph while driving a motorized sofa, designed and built by Edd China of the UK for sofa.com, May 11, 2007.
Calling Lady Norelco
Longest beard (female): Vivian Wheeler, United States, wears her beard in a ponytail because in 2000 its longest whisker was 11 inches long.
This is a record because …?
Heaviest vehicle pulled by rice bowl suction on the stomach: Zhang Xingquan of China pulled a 7,287-pound car for 32 feet.
Ready for an orgy
Most bras undone in one minute: Thomas Vogel, Germany, unfastened 56 bras in one minute using one hand on Sept. 9, 2006.
Hold the hot dog
Fastest time to drink a bottle of ketchup: Dustin Phillips, United States, earned his way into the record book by drinking a 14-ounce bottle of ketchup – with a straw – in 33 seconds.
Out of his head
Most needles in the head: Wei Shengchu, China, put a record 1,790 acupuncture needles in his head and face on March 23, 2004. Don’t try this at home: Wei is a medical aesthetics and cosmetology doctor.
Really deep pockets
Most functions on a penknife: The Giant Knife Version 1.0 by Wegner, the maker of the Swiss Army Knife, has 85 tools and weighs 2 pounds, 11 ounces. It is 8.75 inches long.
Catch any keepers?
Farthest cast into a fishbowl: Maria Dolores Montesinos Fernandez, Spain, cast a weighted fly into a fishbowl with an opening of 6.8 inches – without the fly touching the sides. Fernandez was 22 feet, 11 inches away when she set her mark.