Michael Jackson's Thriller album 25th Anniversary 2008

Michael Jackson's Thriller album 25th Anniversary February 2008


International Anticipation For Thriller 25, The New Edition Of The World's Biggest Selling Album Of All Time, Reaches Fever Pitch With New Hit Singles, An All-Star 40-Episode 'Thriller Cast' Podcast Event, The 'Thrillicious' Sobe Life Water Ad Campaign Launch At Super Bowl, Michael Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award At NRJ Music Awards At Cannes & More Thriller 25 - 2008's Most Eagerly-Awaited Album - Available Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Global anticipation for the release ofT hriller 25, the newly expanded deluxe 25th anniversary edition of Michael Jackson's Thriller, the world's top-selling album of all-time, is alreadyr eaching a fever pitch across the planet with surprise hit singles, an ongoing 40-episode "Thriller Cast" podcast event, the premiere of the"Thrillicious" Sobe Life Water ad campaign at the Super Bowl, the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Michael Jackson at the NRJ Music Awards at Cannes and a host of upcoming events and surprises.

Thriller 25 will be available stateside on Tuesday, February 12 anda vailable around the world the week of February 11. The album debuts sevenb onus tracks including new collaborations with Akon, Fergie, will.i.am anda Kanye West remix of "Billie Jean 2008." The Michael Jackson Thriller 25th anniversary celebration runsthroughout 2008 with a multi-faceted global marketing campaign featuringhigh-profile television, radio and online events around the world and themajor re-launch of Michael's official website, http://www.michaeljackson.com/

The first single from Thriller 25, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008"featuring Akon, is a surprise smash hit impacting Pop, Rhythm and Urbanradio stations across America with the single becoming the #1 On Demandsong online for all Clear Channel Radio station web sites since its releaseon January 18.

One of the best-received commercial highlights of Super Bowl XLII wasthe premiere of "Thrillicious," PepsiCo Inc.'s Sobe Life Water spotstarring supermodel Naomi Campbell and a cast of animated lizards bustingout a series of fiercely choreographed dance moves to the tune of MichaelJackson's "Thriller."

Michael Jackson was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Awardat the prestigious NRJ Music Awards ceremony at the opening of MIDEM inCannes, France. Following a video tribute to the artist, Michael Jacksondelivered a personal message via satellite to NRJ attendees and atelevision audience of more than 7 million viewers.

A recent Thriller 25 promotion in London featured professional dancersre- enacting the iconic "Thriller" zombie choreography on the LondonUnderground, Trafalgar Square and other unusual locations. A competitionhas been launched for UK Michael fans to submit their own versions of the"Thriller" dance to YouTube.

"Thrillercast," a groundbreaking 40-episode podcast event, launches onFebruary 12th and will be updated weekly throughout 2008. The seriesfeatures icons of music, screen and culture including hip-hop legend Darryl"DMC" McDaniels, superstars Nick Cannon and Chris Brown, choreographersShane Sparks and Mia Michaels from the hit show "So You Think You CanDance," and dozens of other special guests. Each episode takes us behindthe scenes into their lives to explore their own personal experiences withThriller and its influence on them, both personally and professionally."Thrillercast" will be available for free through iTunes, Zune, and allmajor podcast providers, as well as directly throughhttp://www.michaeljackson.com/.

Michael Jackson's Thriller album facts



Thriller 25 includes all nine of Thriller's original includes all nine of Thriller's original performances aswell as seven bonus tracks including five mind-blowing 21st century homagesto Thriller featuring some of the hottest performers in contemporary popand soul music:

Thriller 25's first single, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008,"produced by Michael Jackson and Akon, is a brand new version of Thriller'sopening cut showcasing newly recorded 2008 vocals by Michael Jackson andAkon.

Previously unreleased in any form, "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008"by Michael Jackson with will.i.am is Michael's original pre-album demoremixed by Michael and will.i.am with newly added vocals and productionfrom will.i.am.

"The Girl Is Mine 2008" is another Michael Jackson with will.i.amcollaboration based on a demo predating Michael's duet with Paul McCartney.This is a new, previously unreleased track, newly produced and mixed byMichael and will.i.am featuring a will.i.am rap. "The Girl Is Mine 2008" isbeing introduced as the album's first single in numerous internationalterritories and is already charting in Brazil, Germany, Holland, Ireland,Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, the UK and Japan, where it entered theTop 10 at #5.

"Billie Jean 2008" features the original tracks of Michael's watershedsignature hit, newly remixed by Kanye West.

"Beat It 2008" is both a remix and a new track featuring Michael'svocals and many instrumental tracks from the Thriller original coupled withseductive new vocals by Fergie with new band tracks and production byMichael Jackson and will.i.am.

Thriller 25 closes with "For All Time," a nascent classic recorded byMichael during the original Thriller sessions in 1982 but never completedor released until now. Michael has added new vocals and band tracks to hisoriginal recording. Mixed by Mick Guzawski and newly-produced by Michael Jackson, "For All Time" provides a sublime and fitting close to this new,definitive edition of Thriller, the top-selling album of all time.

As an added bonus for fans, Thriller 25 includes a DVD featuringMichael Jackson's groundbreaking short films from Thriller ("Thriller,""Beat It," and "Billie Jean") and the artist's Emmy-nominated breakoutperformance of "Billie Jean" from the legendary "Motown 25: Yesterday,Today, Forever" television special (first broadcast on NBC on May 16,1983).

The Thriller 25 CD/DVD set will be available in three collectibleeditions: a standard version with the album's original cover art; astandard version with a new "Zombie" cover; and a deluxe edition in ahard-bound casebook format with a 48-page booklet. Both standard versionscontain the CD and bonus DVD in a brilliant box with a rainbow holographicO-card and a 20- page booklet. Thriller 25 will also be available as aPlatinum MusicPass Album Card, a digital album card which will enableconsumers to download Thriller 25, and special bonus content in the form ofhigh-quality MP3 files.

Originally released in the US 25 years ago on November 30, 1982 by EpicRecords, Thriller, Michael Jackson's sixth solo album and second withproducer Quincy Jones, rocketed the former child-star lead singer for theJackson 5 into the stratosphere of international superstardom. Introducingthe "robot" and the "moonwalk" into the international lexicon of clublanddance moves via the pulsing sounds of Thriller, Michael Jacksonrevolutionized all aspects of mainstream pop culture -- from radio airwavesto the newly emerging art form of music videos -- becoming the world's mostpopular entertainer in the process.

The original Thriller spent an astounding 80 consecutive weeks in theAmerican Top 10, 37 of those at #1. Seven of the album's original ninetracks became Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 while Individualsingles from Thriller reached #1 chart positions in the US, the UK, France,Italy, Australia, Denmark, Belgium, South Africa, Spain, Ireland, NewZealand and Canada.

Thriller made history as the first and only record to be America's top-selling album two years running (1983 and 1984).

Thriller has been certified 27x platinum by the RIAA, giving it DoubleDiamond Award status in the US. In addition, the album has achieved Diamondor Multi-Platinum status in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Canada,Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand,Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. In 1985, the Guinness Book ofRecords named Thriller the Best Selling Album of All Time, an achievementwhich remains unsurpassed to this day.

In February 1984, Michael Jackson held a record-breaking 12 Grammynominations, going on to win eight, which stands as the record for mostGrammy Awards to be won by anyone in a single year. Seven of Michael'sGrammys that year were for Thriller: Album of the Year; Record of the Year("Beat It"); Best Male Pop Vocal Performance ("Thriller"); Best EngineeredRecording, Non- Classical (Thriller); Best Male Rock Vocal Performance("Beat It"); Best Male R&B Vocal Performance ("Billie Jean"); Best R&B Song("Billie Jean"). (Michael's eighth Grammy that year was in the BestRecording For Children - Single or Album, Musical or Spoken category for"E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial"). That same year, Michael Jackson took homeeight American Music Awards and three MTV Video Music Awards. The followingyear, "The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller" took home the Best VideoAlbum trophy at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards.
Named the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" by the GuinnessWorld Records, Michael Jackson is among the most highly acclaimed andinfluential artists in pop culture. He was named the World Music Award'sBest-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium and received the AmericanMusic Award's Artist of the Century Award. He has been inducted into theRock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: in 1997 as a member of the Jackson 5 and asa solo artist in 2001.

Non Stop Job 1100 Day Guinness World Record set by Indian

He is somebody every company would yearn to hire. Why not, if he has worked for 1,100 days without leave? K Vijayan, 59, employed with a city-based hotel, hasn’t taken a single day’s leave for over three years now. Leave aside casual or sick leaves, Vijayan hasn’t even taken a single weekly off. And, this unusual feat has earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The Guinness Book of World Records (GBWR) has acknowledged that no person in the world has worked for so long continuously, without a break. “I had never thought of creating a record. I am a workaholic and work is my religion. I have never liked missing out a single workday throughout my career,” Vijayan told TOI.

Vijayan works as night auditor at Surya Palace Hotel and his work starts at 11 pm and he leaves the hotel at 9 in the morning. “I had read about such records in newspapers a few months ago. It occurred to me that I hadn’t taken a single day off for years together and hence I decided to approach the GBWR,” added Vijayan.

When Vijayan went through the attendance register in the hotel earlier this year, he found that he hadn’t taken any leave or weekly offs for 1,100 nights. He contacted the GBWR authorities in March and informed them about his achievement. GBWR officials checked their records and found that no one held world record in such category. “They acknowledged my achievement and sent me procedural forms. The process to provide me a certificate is on,” said Vijayan who also fulfils all his social obligations during day time. This arts graduate came to the city about 36 years ago and began his career with Kalyan Hotel, one of the oldest food joint.

“I am proud to have a dedicated employee like Vijayan. He has been with us for the past 13 years and has never given us a chance to complain. I often tell him to take holidays, but he always refused,” said Piyush Shah, owner of Surya Palace Hotel. Didn’t his wife or children ever object to his workaholic ways? “I never objected or argued with him. He has always been dedicated to his work and I am proud of him. Also, he does fulfil all his personal commitments despite hectic work schedule,” said his wife Mrudula.

World’s Most Pierced Woman set New Guinness Record

Elaine Davidson, the world’s most pierced woman, has added even more metal into her body. Davidson’s latest additions bring her piercing totals to 6,005, the U.K.

Elaine Davidson: World’s Most Pierced Woman Guinness World Record 2008

Elaine Davidson didn’t need the new piercings for record purposes–she got into the Guinness Book of World Records back in the year 2000 with the comparatively miniscule 462 piercings. At the time, just under 200 of those were in her face.

As for her current 6,005 piercings, Davidson tells the Telegraph more than 1,500 of them are “internal.”

Davidson works as a nurse in Edinburgh. She also recently opened a piercing studio in Darlington, Durham.

Elaine Davidson Pierced World Record Video

The following video, from summer of 2008, shows Davidson a couple thousand piercings ago. It includes an interview with her about her unusual body art.

Domino Day 2008 set Guinness World Record

On 14 November 2008, Weijers Domino Productions celebrated the tenth anniversary of the TV show Domino Day by breaking more Guinness World Records on the programme than ever before!

On the latest edition of Domino Day, which was broadcast live in more than eight countries, a grand total of 4,345,027 dominoes were toppled – a record for the most dominoes toppled by a group.

Finnish circus artist Salima Peippo set the show going in spectacular fashion by toppling the first domino while suspended from ropes.

Apart from the overall record for the most dominoes toppled, there were nine other records set, each with outstanding results:

Most dominoes toppled in a spiral – 1,200.
Most dominoes stacked on one single piece – 727.
Highest toppling domino climb – 11.52 m (37 ft 10 in).
Largest toppling domino stones – 4.8 m (15 ft 9 high, 2.4 m (7ft 10 in) wide and 72 cm (2 ft 4 in) deep.
Longest domino wall – 15.86 m (52 ft) long.
Tallest domino structure – 2 m (6 ft 6 in) high.
Largest domino mosaic – 500 m² (5,382 ft²).
Fastest toppling domino setting – average speed of 7.13 m/s.
Most dominoes toppled by a group – 4,345,027.
Most mini dominoes toppled – 1,114.

All records were observed and ratified by Guinness World Records adjudicator, Andrea Banfi.
The 4,345,027 dominoes of Domino Day 2008 were set up during eight weeks of intense building by 85 builders from 13 countries and the expert team of Weijers Domino Productions, in a studio of 10,000 m². The toppling of the dominoes lasted for about two hours and created a unique and creative live television show.

Joscha Forstreuter Highest Bicycle Ramp Jump set World Record

Felt’s own Joscha Forstreuter and riding partner Timo Pritzel both were invited to participate in the recent Guinness World Record Show in China and each came home co-world record holders. Here is how Joscha described the experience:

“Nie Hao to everybody!

“Timo Pritzel and I just got back from being invited by the Chinese CCTV channel in Beijing to be part of the "Guinness World Record Show". This show had 60 million viewers last year, and this year they expect even more. I was pretty excited and visiting China for the first time made it even more special to me. Our record attempt was officially called "Highest Bicycle Ramp Jump". 5.12m was the old record, set by Timo eight years ago on a BMX bike. We were both unsure if we could top that on a mountain bike, especially with the bigger wheels. But, I was feeling very comfortable on my new Felt "Sure Shot" dirt jump bike and the ramps they built for the record attempt were perfect. The 8m high roll-in gave us tons of speed to hit the 1.80m launch-ramp and 3m high ramp landing.

“We started by 4.50m which wasn't too big of a deal. The next height of 5.00m looked way more impressive. It's totally different to jump over a high-jump pole. To me it's much scarier than a normal jump. It looks like one big wall even knowing it's not very dangerous to hit the pole. Even so, you still do not want to hit it.

“With two attempts at each height, Timo hit the pole at 5.00m, but then made it easily on his second try. The next height was 5.20m, the new record. From top of the start ramp it looked so high and I was quite sure I wouldn't make it on my first try. But, I pedaled hard down the 8m start ramp and pulling just right on the launch ramp and I took the 5.20m without touching the pole! Timo was next and he also cleared it! Both of us had the record under the belt. We decided to stop right there at 5.20m and share the record. The TV-Crew was happy and we were even more stoked!”

Las Vegas Boy set a World record by Collecting Business Cards

Last year, Brandon Rayner beat out a brain tumor. He was a survivor. Then, as if that weren't enough, Brandon was diagnosed with leukemia, a type of cancer of the blood. He didn't have enough strength for this battle. On Christmas Eve, after months of chemotherapy and two bone marrow transplants, the 10-year-old Las Vegas boy who was trying to set a world record by collecting business cards died.

His parents, Jo and Moe Rayner, were with him when he died at Phoenix Children's Hospital in Arizona, said his sister, Brittany.

Brandon was taken to the hospital in October for bone marrow transplants.

The first transplant was unsuccessful, his family said. Although he underwent a second bone marrow transplant, he was too weak to handle a lung infection, Brittany Rayner, 25, said.

"He couldn't fight it,'' she said.

This past summer, Brandon began his quest to collect the most business cards so that his name could be included in the Guinness World Records.

At the time, he figured he needed to gather more than 150,000 cards. But Guinness officials said there was no number on record for the feat.

By July, Brandon had collected 14,000 cards while undergoing treatment at Sunrise Children's Hospital in Las Vegas. By September, his stockpile had swelled to more than 500,000.

Officials at Sunrise said Brandon counted just over 900,000 cards before his death.

But there are boxes of cards that have yet to be counted, said Ashlee Seymour, a hospital spokeswoman.

"The family is no longer collecting cards at this point,'' she said Tuesday. "They still plan to pursue the record in Brandon's honor."

Jo Rayner said that she submitted the application to Guinness for the record on her son's behalf in September but that she had not heard back from the company.

In a previous interview about her son's quest, Rayner said Brandon always showed a fascination with collecting things. However, she said, "I didn't think it would go this far. Ever since he was 2, he wanted to collect something. But it would only last a short period of time."

As Brandon received business cards, he sorted them into stacks of 100. He would then put those 100 in alphabetical order based on the business name.

He would put some of his favorites in a leather three-ring binder.

In addition to collecting business cards, Brandon inspired others at Sunrise Hospital, said officials, who spoke of him as if he were the hospital's main guest. He was considered quite "bubbly."

"Brandon became a spokesperson and young advocate for blood and bone marrow transplants, and we will continue his mission to encourage those donations," Seymour said. "Brandon meant a lot to the hospital, and we will miss him greatly."

Brandon also was among the first patients to participate in a new classroom for hospitalized children at Sunrise. Through a partnership with the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Tourino Foundation, Sunrise has added an education component to the oncology unit for children who must spend a lot of time at the hospital.

A memorial service for Brandon will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Canyon Ridge Christian Church, 6200 W. Lone Mountain Road, at Jones Boulevard.

Monetary donations can be made to The Brandon Rayner Benefit Fund through the Bank of America.

Donations also can be made to the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation and Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern Nevada.

Besides his parents and sister Brittany, Brandon is survived by brothers Chris, 24, A.J., 23, and Marcus, 21

Most People Dressed as Santa Claus and Giving out Gifts World Record

A total of 3,939 red and white clad people gathered in front of the parliament building in Bucharest.

Watched by a representative of Guinness World Records, they paraded through the city handing out gifts.

Romania hopes to break other records after Christmas, including the world's largest sausage and the longest cake.

"It's Christmas spirit, we're all better and more generous this time of year," the Bucharest Herald quoted Mayor Sorin Oprescu as saying.

Speaking as the volunteers donned their outfits, Guinness representative Lucia Sinigagliesi said the minimum requirement for the record to be judged was a "very challenging" 3,000.

"We never know what really is going to happen with mass participation records but it looks very good."

"There are a lot of people already, so we are hoping for the best," she said.

When the record was confirmed, Ms Sinigagliesi presented a certificate to the mayor, to delight of the massed Santas.

The event easily broke a previous record of 3,618 simultaneously gift-giving Santas, set in Taiwan, in 2003.

New Santa Claus Guinness World Records 2008 set in Romania Video

Fastest Loading of Cars onto Aircraft World Record set by TNT Express

A team of seven people managed to fit 30 smart fortwo cars into a TNT B747 in only 35 minutes and 34 seconds.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the smart car, the most compact car in the world, TopGear Italia, the Italian edition of the leading U.K. magazine and BBC, wondered how many could be fit in the belly of a Boeing B747, one of the world’s largest airplanes.

The 30 smart fortwo cars were provided by Mercedes-Benz Italia SpA and Mercedes-Benz Belgium Luxembourg SA. Christine Heine, head of ground operations at TNT Liège Hub, who coordinated the operation, said, "One of the critical aspects was to find a suitable time window to try to break the record, fitting with the arrivals and departures of all the other aircraft scheduled 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The take-off time for each TNT aircraft is really imperative, considering its impact on the synchronised network that delivers hundreds of thousands of express parcels anytime, anywhere.”

The seven staff had only three hours to load the smart cars into the Boeing 747, unload them and re-load the plane with goods leaving for Shanghai. An incredible result, celebrating both the professionalism of TNT employees with their ‘sure we can’ mission and the smart fortwo, a unique car that has already obtained many records in its 10-year life.

Notes to the editor:

The event took place at TNT’s European air hub in Liège. A total of 1,300 people are employed at the hub, 130 trucks and 47 aircrafts arrive from and depart to destinations all over the world, including its two Boeing 747s, the flagship of TNT Express.

Best Guinness World Record Moments of 2008

Hollywood, Height And Heavy Metal Headline As 'Brangelina', The World's Tallest Man and Guitar Hero Top List of Record Breakers From Britney Spears' unparalleled comeback to Brangelina's Hollywood ascension, 2008 has been a year marked by record-breaking achievements from around the globe. Grabbing headlines throughout the year, Guinness World Records has chronicled hundreds of amazing feats from all across the globe, perhaps none as captivating as the improbable meeting between Svetlana Pankratova, Longest Legs, and the World's Smallest Man - He PingPing.

"Guinness World Records has spent over 50 years chronicling remarkable record-breaking feats and 2008 was one of the best years yet," said Craig Glenday, Editor-In-Chief, Guinness World Records. "With well over 1,000 claims a week, we were thrilled to validate some of the most jaw-dropping, triumphant and mind-boggling records from around the world."
After sifting through its voluminous files, Guinness World Records highlights the following record moments as the best of the year.

He PingPing and Svetlana Meet - Opposites attract, especially when it comes to the media as He PingPing, the World's Smallest Man, met Svetlana Pankratova, the World's Longest Legs, in London on September 16, 2008. Standing at an astounding 6' 5" tall, the Russian beauty's legs measure 51.9 inches long where as the tiny 20-year old from Inner Mongolia, China, measures only 21.9 inches total!

Powerful Actor and Actress in Hollywood - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie nabbed Tinseltown's top spot this year when they were crowned the Most Powerful Actors in Hollywood. Jolie jointly held the title with her hubby's ex Jennifer Aniston in 2007, while Pitt ended Tom Cruise's four-year reign as the Most Powerful Actor.

High Score on a Single Song for Guitar Hero III - Video game prodigy Chris Chike scored a staggering 899,703 points on the song "Through the Fire and Flames" on August 29,2008. Chris set the Guinness World Record on Guitar Hero's toughest track besting the previous record
holder Danny Johnson's score of 890,971 points on the same song.

Tallest Man - China's Bao Xi Shun (7 feet 8.95 inches) recaptured the record as the world's Tallest Living Man from Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk (8 feet 5.5 inch). In order to ensure the highest level of accuracy in this category, guidelines for the title were amended earlier
this year. After repeated requests to measure Stadnyk in person went unanswered, Guinness World Records returned the title to Xi Shun in compliance with its new regulations.

Gathering of People Wearing Underpants - 116 bold and nearly-naked people gathered in their underpants at St. Pancras station on November 13, 2008. The members of Pants to Poverty not only received the Guinness World Record but brought global attention to their ethical fashion cause.

Highest Revenue Generated by an Entertainment Product in 24 Hours - In May 2008, Grand Theft Auto IV became the most profitable entertainment release of all-time when it crushed the competition by selling 3.6 million units and earning $310 million in its first day of release. The
record-breaking sales far surpassed any video game, film and book release including Harry Potter.

Largest Group Shower - Eco pioneers Ludacris and Tommy Lee along with hundreds of people took part in the world's Largest Shower at the Planet Hollywood Hotel in Las Vegas for the show Battleground Earth, which explores ways to help the environment.

Fastest Bed - Racing full-throttle through the streets of London, Britain's Edd China set the record for the Fastest Bed on November 13, 2008. At a whopping 69 mph, China raced his way to another Guinness World Record.

Largest Rubber Band Ball - Florida resident Joel Waul unveiled the world's Largest Rubber Band Ball at 9,032 pounds. Measuring 6 feet, 7 inches tall and with a diameter of 25 feet, this popular record easily surpassed the previous mark by more than 4,000 pounds.

Fastest Circumnavigation Cycled Around the World - In February 2008, modern day Magellan Mark Beaumont of Scotland completed the fastest cycling circumnavigation around the world in 194 days and 17 hours. Beaumont pedaled a distance of 29,445.81 km (18,296.74 miles) and
traveled over 40,100 km in total (including transfers) with stops in France, Pakistan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

World's Fastest Production Car Record 2009 set by Shelby SuperCars

The 2009 Ultimate Aero boasts 1,287 horsepower and a top speed of 270 mph. Last year's supercar set the Guinness world record for fastest production car by reaching a top speed of 256.19 mph when the car made 1,183 horsepower. The power increase is largely made possible by a one-piece billet aluminum engine block that is stronger and allows for better lubrication. The midengine twin-turbo V8 is good for 1,112 pound-feet of torque. Outside, there's a new front fascia to enhance aerodynamics and carbon-fiber louvers on the side to increase the amount of air directed over the radiators. The company has also added an AeroBrake, a spoiler that raises by 8 inches during braking to assist in slowing the vehicle. The interior has been thoroughly revamped with carbon fiber on the dash, doorsills and steering column and a PC-based infotainment unit.

Shelby SuperCars set the speed record for a production car on September 13, 2007, with 71-year-old Chuck Bigelow piloting the Ultimate Aero. That run broke the record previously held by the Koenigsegg CCR by 15.09 mph. It was also the first time an American automaker had claimed the title since Ford held it with the GT40 in 1967. SSC hasn't yet said if the company will make another attempt to break its own record with the 2009 Ultimate Aero.

World Longest Horse Tail - 12ft 6in Long Record

If she were a racehorse, she could have her nose in front and still be a tail-ender.

And with a tail measuring a staggering 12ft 6in long, Summer Breeze has gone down in history as the horse with the longest in the world.

The mare, who lives in Kansas in the U.S., has been officially recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records and owner Crystal Socha certainly has a job keeping her animal groomed to perfection.

Crystal, 26, combs out and shampoos the horse's tail once every two months and the operation takes her around three hours.

Each hair strand has the consistency of the fishing line.

'She's our little queen. She knows it, too,' said Ms Socha who owns the horse together with her brother, Casey, at Hoof Print Farm in Augusta, Kansas.

'I don't think I've ever gotten every knot out of that tail,' she continued.

'It takes a lot longer in the summer when she's flicking at flies.

'When it's out and it's flowing, then I know why it's worth it.'

According to her owner, Summer, who is 11-years-old, was born with a normal sized tail.

But as she aged, her tail just kept on growing. When she is outside the arena, her owners sometimes have to bunch her tail up and fasten it up.

She also has an impressive mane, which has had to be groomed to stop her chewing it off when she eats her food.

She is renowned at the the annual EquiFest event held at the Kansas Coliseum in Wichita where she gets into the arena to show off her champion tail.

24.9 Pounds World's Biggest Sweet Potato

Lebanese farmer Khalil Semhat holds a giant potato in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on December 6, 2008. The farmer couldn't believe his peeled eyes when he discovered he had grown a massive potato weighing 11.3 kilos (24.9 pounds), he said, adding that he now hopes to enter the Guinness World Records book.

On Tuesday, the BBC decried the end of the 10-year reign of the eight-pound Manx Potato as the world's heaviest. Its record had apparently been uprooted by a 25-pound spud from Lebanon. In photos, circulated across the Internet, farmer Khalil Semhat hoists his misshapen tuber up like a proud father.

"I didn't use any chemicals at all," Semhat proclaimed to Agence France-Presse. "I've been working the land since I was a boy, and it's the first time I've seen anything like it."

The Manx's owner, Nigel Kermode of the Isle of Man, reluctantly conceded the crown: "We're still a world champion – we'll call it the second biggest potato in the world." His decade-old tater was reportedly "grey and brown" and hadn't been on display for quite a while.

But experts contacted by Scientific American say that Kermode has nothing to concede. This is all a case of mistaken identity. Michigan State University potato expert David Douches says the vegetable in Semhat's hands looks an awful lot like a sweet potato – a crop more closely related to morning glory flowers than to hash browns.

To settle the matter, we decided to talk to Kenneth Pecota, a plant breeder who has spent 15 years working on roots as part of North Carolina State University's (NCSU) Potato and Sweetpotato Breeding and Genetics Program.

Peruvian Chefs set World's Largest Ceviche Record

Peruvian chefs, elbow deep in more than six tons of sliced fish, onions and lime, won on Sunday the Guinness World Record for preparing the largest ceviche, a Peruvian seafood specialty.
The classic dish, made from raw fish and a spicy citrus sauce that "cooks" it, weighed in at 6.8 tons, 2 tons more than the previous record.

Some 450 students and chefs worked in an open-air sports stadium in Callao, a working-class district near Peru's capital -- slicing, dicing and mixing white fish with lime, salt, onions and aji peppers.

A Guinness representative was on hand to make the count official. "Today, we have brought together all the people of Callao so that in the name of Peru, we can take back the Guinness record," said Callao's regional president Alexander Kouri, who stood in front of 14 giant metal containers filled with fish.

The previous record for the world's largest ceviche, weighing in at 4.5 tons, was set in Mexico in 2005. Prior to that, Peru held it at 4.1 tons.

To weigh the ceviche, students scooped it into smaller boxes that they put on top of a movable scale. It took some two dozen hands to lift each container.

Ronald Espinoza, 25, was one of the students on hand to prepare the ceviche. He said the dish, which has been a constant in Peru since the time of the Incas, gives people a reason to get together and celebrate.

Hundreds of people from the neighborhood waited outside the Callao stadium for a plate of food.
"A Peruvian who does not eat ceviche is not Peruvian," said Espinoza.

602 Taps in 60 Seconds Guinness World Record

Tony Adams has just had confirmation that he smashed the Guinness World Record of 512 tap beats a minute, previously held in England, with a staggering 602 beats.

Crippled at birth, Mr Adams was sent to tap lessons by his mother in the hope it would straighten his calliper-bound legs without invasive surgery. "She lost her mother to a medical misadventure when she was 13, and lost my brother to an operation on a brain tumour, so she wasn't having a bar of me having an operation," he said.

He compared himself to Forrest Gump as a toddler, with crooked, underdeveloped legs, but the discipline and exercise of tap dancing were just the cure.

Mr Adams attended Naenae College, where he was teased by classmates for dancing, but he went on to win many national dance titles and become New Zealand's first male tap-dancing teacher in his late teens.

From the age of 15 he knew he had the skill to break world records, but it was not till early this year that someone challenged him to prove it. He attempted and broke the record live on New Zealand national television.

His speed tap-dancing record equates to an average of 10 tap beats per second, but he reached 15 per second at his fastest.

"It's pretty challenging to sustain that pace for 60 seconds, and a minute has never felt longer," he said. His mother, Mary Adams, 82, watched her son break the record. "I'm very proud of him but I really can't understand what all the fuss is about. He was a much better dancer when he was younger," she said.

His 602 taps were recorded with a microphone and specialised computer software, which converted each individual tap from audio to digital so they could be more easily counted. The technology enables sound waves to be displayed graphically like heartbeats on a heart-rate monitor.

Tap-dancing teacher Jeanette Mullins acted as an official witness at the attempt. She was astonished to see Mr Adams don the patent leather tap shoes he last performed in 32 years ago, describing them as antiques.

Cycling Non-stop for 86 Hours and 45 Minute World Record

It was a moment of pride mixed with pleasure for Ramu Pandey who created history when he formed the world record of cycling non-stop for 86-hours and 45-minutes here on Sunday.

He started cycling at the Central Park, Samar Vihar Colony, Alambagh on November 26 at 2.30 pm and continued till 3.00 pm on Sunday, thus, breaking the previous world record.

Despite one of the bicycle pedals being broken midway, an undaunted Pandey continued his campaign and cycled about 1038 kms in 86.45 hours that is at an average of 12 kms per hour.

He just depended on juice, cold drinks, Electral and coffee during this entire period. AK Saxena, general secretary of UP Non-Olympic Association said that Pandey was allowed to undertake this campaign only after being insured and medically checked by a team of doctors.

He said that in order to enter his name in the Guinness World Records, the association has obtained Claim ID and Membership ID after sending the agreement form to the Guiness Book of World Records, London. Similarly, Limca Book of Records have also been approached to enter his name in the book. After establishing the world record, Pandey was presented with a cash prize of Rs 5,100 and a bicycle by the chief guest, Chandra Prakash, DIG, Lucknow.

Ludacris - World Largest Group Shower Record

Rapper and eco pioneer LUDACRIS has landed in the Guinness Book of Records - after stripping off to take part in the world's largest group shower.

The Area Codes star completed the challenge as part of his and pal Tommy Lee's TV show Battleground Earth, which explores ways to help the environment.

He reveals, "Saving planet earth is hard. It's all about reducing, reusing and recycling.
"We had a load of different events, racing solar powered vehicles and we got in the Guinness Record book for the largest group shower. We had a 1,000 people."

But Ludacris insists the shower wasn't as raunchy as it may seem: "People did have their swimsuits and trunks on." And he insists off camera, he is practising as he preaches: "I've just bought a hybrid car, I've got to lead by example."

Longest Line Pizza at Guinness World Records Day 2008

To celebrate the launch of Chicago Town’s new Edge To Edge pizzas, an attempt to break the current world record for the longest line of pizzas edge to edge will be made on Guinness World Records Day, Thursday 13 November 2008.

Chicago Town pizzas has teamed up with Guinness World Records on World Records Day 2008 to smash the current record of 220.09m for the longest line pizzas by lining the pizzas 250m along the edge of the canal at Camden Lock. All the pizzas used in the attempt will be donated to the Spectrum Centre in Camden Town, part of the Homeless London charity network.

Record Facts

What : A 250 metre line of 1300 freshly cooked Chicago Town Edge To Edge pizzas snaking along the edge of Camden Lock - the length of two football pitches, twice the height of St. Paul’s Cathedral and 3 times the height of Niagara Falls!

Why : To celebrate the launch of Chicago Town’s new range of pizzas, Edge To Edge, an attempt to break the current world record (220m) for the longest line of pizzas edge to edge will be made.

Who : Chicago Town pizzas will attempt to smash the world record in the presence of an official Guinness World Record adjudicator.

Where : Camden Lock, Camden Town, London, NW1

Belmar Hokey Pokey Dance set Guinness World Record

Sarah Sharp, 15, of Sea Girt said she knew Julianne Hendrickson well; they were classmates at Sea Girt Elementary School. So she was devastated when she heard about her friend's sudden death.

"Losing Julianne was really a hard thing. She was always really nice, always smiling and fun to be with," Sharp said.

Fourteen-year-old Julianne Hendrickson and her 9-year-old sister, Emily, were killed in a plane crash Aug. 6 in Sitka, Alaska. Their father, Robert Hendrickson, 45, of Spring Lake Heights, and his fiancee, Linda Khudair, 34, of Wall, also were killed.

A hokeypokey event to support the Julianne and Emily Hendrickson Fund for Children took place Saturday afternoon at the Fifth Avenue boardwalk and beach. Saturday marked the first time the event was put on, said Lu Stierman, an event coordinator, and it is planned to become annual.

Participants gathered and made a circle. When the music kicked in, the event started, and it lasted for about 20 minutes.

Coordinators said more than 500 people took part, and the event raised more than $3,000. The Hendrickson Fund's mission is to break the cycle of poverty and welfare through outdoor experiential education, according to the event flier.

"It's really amazing to look out there and see how many people came out," Stierman said.

There were two main objectives on Saturday: to raise money for the organization and to attempt to get into the Guinness World Records as the largest hokeypokey event.

Lindsay Holeman, 25, of Marlboro said, "This event not only generates support for the cause, but it also educates the community."

The sun was shining, and dancers were comfortable wearing T-shirts in weather that was unseasonably warm in contrast to the snow earlier in the week.

Kevin Kennedy, 52, of Toms River stood on the boardwalk at Fifth Avenue watching his wife and 12-year-old daughter, Olivia Kennedy, among a swarm of other participants.

"I think anytime you get people together for a community event, it has a positive outcome," Kevin Kennedy said. "You're creating goodwill, and during times we have right now, that is what we need."

Click here to visit official website
http://www.hendricksonfundforchildren.org/

World's Biggest Bowl in Malaysia set Guinness World Record

People pose for photos in front of the world's biggest bowl of Bak Kut Teh in Klang, Malaysia, Nov. 22, 2008. The bowl of Bak Kut Teh with 182.88 cm in diameter and 91.44 cm in height, and containing 500kg of pork, 450kg of soup and 50kg of herbal medicine, has been listed in the Malaysian Book of Record, and is now applying for Guinness World Records.

The Malaysian Klang Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCCI) will collaborate with five Bak Kut Teh (meat bone tea) sellers in Klang to cook the world's biggest bowl of Bak Kut Teh, KCCCI said on Friday.

This activity is in conjunction with the "Klang Bak Kut Teh Carnival 2008" held on Nov. 22 and 23 in Klang in Malaysia's central state of Selangor.

Meat bone tea is a Chinese soup popularly served in Malaysia and Singapore. It consists of meaty pork ribs in a complex broth of herbs and spices, including star anise, cinnamon, cloves, dang gui and garlic, boiled together for hours.

The stoneware bowl measure 3 feet (0.91 meter) tall with diameter spanning 6 feet (1.83 meters). It can hold 1,244 liters and weighs approximately 280 kg.

The world's biggest bowl of Bak Kut Teh is equivalent to 2,976 bowls of Bak Kut Teh one usually finds in the restaurants.

In addition, the organizer also prepared 2008 pieces of limited edition bowls to commemorate the Klang Bak Kut Teh Carnival 2008. These bowls will be sold to raise fund for the event.

The organizer has selected 55 out of the 2008 bowls to be auctioned during the carnival. These bowls have special serial numbers including 1, 8, 88, 888 and more.

Worlds Largest Image Made from Candles World Record

Students from Loreto Abbey secondary school in Dalkey assisted in setting a new world record today when they helped to build the world's largest image made from candles.

The students were among a number of groups across the world who were attempting to smash new records on Guinness World Records Day, a 24-hour celebration of record breaking around the world, which was established in 2005 to commemorate the sale of the hundred-millionth copy of Guinness World Records .

A total of 26,800 LED candle tea-lights were included on a purpose built 37ft floor image of Disney character Donald Duck by the students. The achievement took six hours to complete in Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre, where it was deemed by a team of adjudicators from Guinness World Records as a new record.

The record breaking attempt was made following the sale of a commemorative pin which was available in Tesco stores nationwide over the past few months. Every pin sold enabled one of the 26,800 plus tea lights to be lit with all proceeds from the sale of the pins going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

An attempt to break the world record for the largest game of Chinese Whispers in Dublin failed this afternoon when too few participants turned up as did an attempt to set a new record for the most people running in high-heeled shoes in Belfast.

In Britain, attempts are taking place to set a number of world records including the record for the most people arm wrestling and the largest gathering of people dressed as superheroes.

Elsewhere, attempts at the world's largest leap frog are taking place in Canada while the largest ever dog wedding will be attempted in the US.