The 50 Weirdest Guinness World Records

[iLikeMyiMac]

THEY'RE weird, wonderful and often totally mind-boggling.

The most extraordinary human feats are listed in the pages of Guinness World Records, which is 50 years old this week. To celebrate, here are 50 of the strangest achievements.

1 FASTEST TALKER: In 1995, Canadian Sean Shannon recited Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy, 260 words, in 23.8secs.

2 HEAVIEST VEHICLE PULLED OVER 100FT: This year, Derek Boyer of Australia pulled a 30.68-tonne truck-trailer combination 30.5 metres.

3 HIGHEST SHALLOW DIVE: In January, Danny Higginbottom of Louisiana dived 8.90m into 30cm of water.

4 BREATH HELD VOLUNTARILY: The USA's Robert Foster held his breath for 13mins 42.5secs in 1959.

5 LONGEST TIME TO ENDURE FULL BODY ICE CONTACT: Wim Hoff of the Netherlands stood in an ice cube-filled tube for 1hr 17mins in January.

6 MOST CONSECUTIVE POGO-STICK JUMPS: In 1990, Gary Stewart did 177,737 in California.

7 MOST GLASSES BALANCED ON THE CHIN: In 2001, Ashrita Furman managed 75 pint beer glasses for 10.6secs in New York.

8 MOST ONE-FINGER PUSH-UPS: In 1992, Paul Lynch performed 124 in London.

9 OLDEST PERSON TO LOOP THE LOOP: In 1998, Adeline Ablitt, 95, did a glider loop over Leicestershire.

10 HIGHEST TIGHTROPE WALK: Frenchman Michael Menin walked a 3,150 metre-high tightrope in 1989.link (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=14608739&method=full&siteid=50143&headline=the-50-weirdest-guinness-world-records-name_page.html)
Click the link for the other 40.
My favorite is number 26. :D

[musicpyrite]

I like #46.

[iLikeMyiMac]

I like #46.
Yes, I too often eat metal and glass. I find that it cleans out your system. :D

[wordmunger]

I used to love the Guinness book of world records as a kid. In fact, I nearly had the 1977 edition memorized. Looking back at it now, I realize that it's not so much a "record book" as an excuse to tell stories about people doing stupid things. Sort of a text-based "fear factor." They don't actually track records from year to year -- if you take a look at my old 1977 edition, practically none of the records are the same. Records aren't "broken," the editors simply look for new stupid things to publish each year.

If there's a really good story that they want to keep for the next edition, they'll just invent a new record. For example, Robert Earl Hughes used to be the "Heaviest Man," but his record was eclipsed in 1978, so now they keep him around with the "Largest Chest" measurement--a record invented to keep him in the book (he's #36 on the list).

[blackfox]

I find #'s 31,39 and 42 amusing (in addition to what is mentioned...)

interesting comentary on society when we give accolades to those who acheive new heights in the realms of idiotic/useless activities...

I prefer the beer...

[Dr. Dastardly]

If I had to endure number 14 I would probably kill myself. :eek:

[wdlove]

Happy 50th Anniversary Guinness World Records. The list reminds me of the David Letterman's "Stupid Human Tricks."

[maxterpiece]

'st.' stands for stone which is 16lbs right?

[QCassidy352]

I would have to say #3 is the most impressive. I can't even begin to imagine how that could be possible.

[Abstract]

Well I think a stone is 7 kg, so yeah, that sounds about right --> 15.4 lbs.

I think all these records are stupid. Its the Olympics of human stupidity.

[Mustafa]

Well I think a stone is 7 kg, so yeah, that sounds about right --> 15.4 lbs..

No, a stone is 14lbs, which is 6.36kg.

[KingSleaze]

I would like to be #45. Imagine the popularity to be gained from licking ones eyebrows! :)

[jefhatfield]

i think i have seen the man who carried the cross more than once in california unless it was a copycat

there used to be this man who dressed like jesus and he would walk up and down the highways in my area for years...i wonder if he made it in guinness