Indian Guitarist Music Marathon set Guinness World Record

Sebastian Joseph, a Thrissur-based guitarist, started a music marathon on Thursday in a bid to set a Guinness world record.

Mr. Joseph plans to play the guitar for 60 hours at a stretch to break the existing record of 48 hours created by an American.

The rules of the Guinness allow a 15-minute break every 8 hours. Mayor R. Bindu flagged off the guitar ‘yagnam’ at the Regional Theatre. The session was started with the popular Malayalam song ‘Keranirakaladum….’. Students of Nandanam Dance and Music Centre performed to the tunes of Sebastian.

Melodious old Malayalam songs flowed non-stop from Sebastian’s guitar accompanied by orchestra.

The audience applauded gently whenever he stopped to start the next song. During the next two days, he will play on his guitar 700 songs.

Mr. Sebastian, an All India Radio grade guitarist, is one of the leading musicians in Kerala. He has worked with famous singers such as K.J. Yesudas, M.G. Sreekumar and P. Jayachandran. He has been running Grand Music Academy for the last 13 years and has done many solo guitar performances on national and international stages.

The programme sponsored by Worldwide Corporation, Thrissur, will include a ‘music-dance dialogue’.

Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattom and Theyyam performers will dance to music played by the guitaristThe ‘yagnam’ will be concluded on Saturday evening with a flute recital by Doordharsan director Raghavan.

Most Audio Books for One Author Guinness World Record

With 185 audio books, L. Ron Hubbard has just garnered his 3rd world record as confirmed by Guinness World Records, it was announced today at the London Book Fair. The official statement reads, "Most audio books for one author is L. Ron Hubbard with 185 published audio books as of 21st April 2009."

"Past Guinness world records issued include 'Most translated author,' and the world's 'Most published author,'" stated Gunhild Jacobs Executive Director for Trade Operations Author Services, Inc., the literary agency that handles the combined works of Hubbard, from her offices in Hollywood upon receiving the news (See www.goldenagestories.com). She also pointed out that the New York Times bestselling novelized version of Hubbard's screen play Ai Pedrito! written by Kevin J. Anderson, held the record from Guinness as the largest book signing in history, until the New York Times bestselling version of Hubbard's A Very Strange Trip,

novelized by Dave Wolverton, beat this record a year later.

"We have had excellent success with our new line of audiobooks," Jacobs continued. "With the attention to detail that we put into their production, our audiobooks have already been recognized by Publishers Weekly, AudioFile Magazine, School Library Journal and Booklist for their superb quality. Plus, two of our audiobooks are up for Audie Awards. We feel that we are contributing to a reading renaissance with these stories."

In a recent published review of the just released Orders is Orders audiobook, Publishers Weekly stated, "Demonstrating his unique ability to relate even the most complicated story with a keen eye for detail and realism, Hubbard's stunning writing ability and creative imagination set him apart as one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century."

Man Gets World Record For Being Hits By Car

Matthew McKnight holds a death-defying world record that not even the most courageous daredevil would seek to break.

Six years ago, McKnight , of Fayette County, Pa., was struck by a car doing 70 mph along Interstate 376 in Monroeville while he was trying to aid two accident victims.

He was thrown 118 feet -- about the height of a 12-story building -- and lived to tell the tale.
For his pains, and there were plenty of them, McKnight became the holder of a Guinness World Records mark in 2003. And just last month he discovered that his feat -- unsolicited as it was -- finally earned a hard-copy entry in the encyclopedia of superlatives' 2008 edition.

"Greatest Distance Thrown in a Car Accident," trumpets the headline above a brief description.
McKnight, a paramedic and volunteer firefighter, has some heady company on page 69, including "Largest Tummy Tuck Operation" (132 pounds of fat removed), "Highest Body Temperature" (115.7 degrees), and "Largest Gall Bladder Stone Removed" (7 by 5 by 3.7 inches).

While the record is not exactly the kind of accomplishment anyone would strive for, a Guinness representative did not hesitate to compliment McKnight, 29, upon verifying his winning documentation.

"I am pleased to inform you that you have been successful in setting a new Guinness World Record," the July 2003 letter states.

McKnight was nominated by Mercy Hospital's Dr. Eric Brader, who was the emergency room's attending physician on Oct. 26, 2001, when McKnight was brought in at death's door with six broken bones.

Brader could not be reached for comment. But McKnight noted that the physician has a somewhat different sense of humor.

To see McKnight today, one wouldn't guess that he had once broken his pelvis, shoulder, lower leg and tailbone. He walks without a limp, said he pops only an occasional over-the-counter painkiller and is back to fighting fires and rescuing those in need.

McKnight said he wouldn't hesitate to stop by the side of the road to help someone again and, in fact, has done so several times.

As for his record, McKnight is in no hurry to best it -- nor, he said, is anyone else.
"It's not something that someone wants to try to beat."

Guinness Book World Records 2007 for Most Squats in One Hour

Guinness World Records (GWR) adjudicator from the United Kingdom will attend a record-breaking attempt by Dr. Thienna Ho. Dr. Thienna is challenging the current record of 4,656 squats in one hour. The event will be held at the San Francisco State University Basketball Gymnasium.

Currently, Dr. Thienna's personal record is 5,389 which exceeds the current record held by Attila Horvath, recorded on January 30, 2002. At the age of 40, Dr. Thienna can still do over 10,000 squats per week and is ready to grab the record-holding title.

Dr. Thienna explains that the reason she is so thrilled about this event, is not only the attempt to break the record, but to share through the event, how healthy squats can make people.

"Squats can really keep people looking young and healthy," she explains. "It's the king of all exercises."

Generally, people hate the idea of squatting because it can be so repetitious. However, if done correctly, squats work every muscle in the body. They also strengthen the heart and maintain flexibility.

"My strength and stamina/endurance have primarily been gained from practicing my 'Natural Fairskin Method' in a book I recently authored, 'Unlocking the Mystery of Skin Color,'" Dr. Thienna, says. "Skin health reflects overall health."

Dr. Thienna was born in Saigon, Vietnam three months after Viet Cong forces attacked the city during the infamous Tet Offensive. Eleven years later, Dr. Thienna and her family fled communist Vietnam in a 50-foot wooden boat that carried 285 passengers. On its way to Indonesia, the vessel was attacked by pirates. Less than one year later, Dr. Thienna's family immigrated to the U.S. and settled in San Francisco.

Dr. Thienna is founder of Thienna, Inc. and is one of the world's leading authorities on human skin color. She holds a number of academic degrees, including a BA in Economics; a BS in Microbiology; a Graduate Certificate in Genetic Engineering; an MA in Business Administration; and a Ph.D. in Scientific Nutrition. She also has performed significant additional study in the fields of chemistry, biology, and molecular biology. At the age of 27, Dr. Thienna started a small business that has blossomed into a million-dollar success.

Several sponsors have joined together to support Dr. Thienna in her personal achievement and they include: CaliToday.com; GG Connections; KTR; NetworkPCB.com; Legaldigitalvideo.com; Piercey Toyota; Redgraphic.com; Saratogadentalspa.com; Call Centers International; and Thienna, Inc.

For more information on the book and the event: visit: www.thienna.com/global-event_avi.html