Lata Mangeshkar - Guinness World Record Holder for Singing turn in to 81

Bollywood playback legend Lata Mangeshkar turns 81 Tuesday, with fans swearing by her golden voice even as she has chosen to cut down on assignments after singing for over 1,000 Hindi movies.

Starting her career in 1942, she reigned over the film industry for decades and is still the first preference of many filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Madhur Bhandarkar and an inspiration to established singers of today.

Lata, who was born Sep 28, 1929, also featured in the Guinness World Records book from 1974 to 1991 for having made the most number of Song recordings in the world. She was last heard in Bhandarkar’s ‘Jail’.

‘Lataji’s birthday is a great event. She has given us so much in terms of music, love and affection. I just hope that she lives on forever and gives her blessings to us. I am very close to her and I am happy, proud and fortunate that she is close to me,’ said filmmaker Yash Chopra who has vowed only to work with her among the female singers in the industry.

‘Jab bhi ji chahe’ (Daag); ‘Kabhi kabhie mere dil mein’ (‘Kabhi Kabhie’); ‘Neela asman so gaya’ (‘Silsila’); Meri bindiya teri nindiya (‘Lamhe’); ‘Dholna’ (‘Dil To Pagal Hai’) and ‘Tere Liye’ (‘Veer Zaara’) are some of Lata’s hit numbers for Chopra.

Bhansali is in fact composing an album as a tribute to her.

‘I know every nuance in her voice. She is a miracle of nature. And there’s so much in her throat that is still untapped. I first thought I’d create just one song for her in ‘Guzaarish’. Then I thought, why one song when a whole ethos, era after era of supreme excellence is embodied in that voice?’ Bhansali told IANS.

‘Lataji is far more than a singer. She mirrors all the beauty of the soul. It is that beauty that I want to capture in my songs,’ he added.

Not just this, Bhansali’s forthcoming film ‘Guzaarish’ is also inspired by one of Lata’s imperishable melodies, ‘Hai tere saath meri wafaa mein nahin to kya’, composed by Madan Mohan and written by Kaifi Azmi for the film ‘Hindustan Ki Kasam’.

Starting her career in 1942 with songs in Marathi, Lata’s first Hindi song was ‘Paa lagoon kar jori’ for Vasant Joglekar’s movie ‘Aap Ki Seva Mein’ in 1946. Two years later, composer Ghulam Haider gave Lata her first major break with the song ‘Dil mera toda’ in ‘Majboor’ and after that there was no looking back for the nightingale of India, as she is fondly called.

She has worked with all the major composers of the bygone era and mesmerised the current lot too.

Lata has recorded songs for over 1,000 Bollywood movies and sung in more than 36 regional Indian languages. She is the second vocalist ever to have received the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.

Lilting melodies like ‘Aayega aanewala’ from ‘Mahal’, ‘Aaja re pardesi’ from ‘Madhumati’, ‘Pyar kiya to darna kya’ from ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ and ‘Satyam shivam sundaram’ from the film of the same name still find a place on the favourite list of music lovers.

She has sung all kinds of songs in her long career, including romantic numbers like ‘Tumhen yaad karte karte’, ‘Ajeeb daastan hai yeh’, and naughty ones like ‘Main kamsin hoon’, ‘Bahon mein chale aao’, ‘Bangle ke peeche’ and ‘Choti si umar main’ as well as devotional songs like ‘Paoji maine Ram ratan dhan pao’ and ‘O palan hare’.

Even singers are still in awe of the great singer who is also the elder sister of singer Asha Bhosle.

‘I can’t express in words what she means to me and how I feel for her. Just want to wish her a happy and healthy life ahead,’ Sunidhi Chauhan told IANS.

Playback singer Sonu Niigaam added: ‘I want to wish a very happy birthday to Lataji. Many many best wishes to her. I would just like to tell her that keep enlightening India and world with your songs and bless me.’

Many Many Happy Returns of the Day from Team of  Amazing World Records

80 Glorious Years of Lata Mangeshkar, Journey Exclusive Video

80 Glorious Years of Lata Mangeshkar, Journey Continues… - These bloopers are hilarious

Bungee Jumping Guinness World Record in London set by James Field

A new Guinness World Record has been completed for bungee jumping. Bungee jumping has become a common recreation and is normally associated under the heading as a rush sport or an adrenalin sport, which basically means a sport that will get your pulse rate pumping to its limits.

James Field broke the world record of 19 jumps in one hour by performing a staggering 42 jumps in the allotted sixty minutes. Field completed the record yesterday in London close to Tower Bridge.

Health and safety was the number one priority for the world record attempt. After each and every jump the bungee rope was replaced with a new one and there were several assistants that checked and double checked all the equipment.

Field said that he felt a little bit dizzy after completing the new record. This is no surprise as he jumped from a platform 50 meters from the ground. He said that he had to concentrate his mind on the task as he threw himself of the platform, the task was made more challenging due to the windy weather.

He then went on to say that it was harder then he had expected and it required him to get into a rhythm and control his breathing. He also said that he thought that he had done his quota of jumps for the remainder of the year. So don’t expect to see him throwing himself from any other tall structures for some time to come.

World Largest kidney from a Human Body Removal World Record

Three Pakistani surgeons have been credited by the book of Guinness World Record for removing the largest kidney ever from a human body on Saturday.

Dr. Abdul Rashid along with two other doctors, namely, Dr. Altaf Hussain and Dr. Mool Chand, removed a kidney that weighed 1.8 kg in Larkana, Pakistan, on January 26th from a 30-year-old patient named Waziran Mallah of Mehar. The kidney was removed off the body since it was nonfunctional.

After the operation, Dr. Abdul Rashid sent the details of the operation as well as the weight of the kidney to the Guinness Book of World Records on March 16th, since the doctor has never seen such a large kidney, neither in his clinical practice nor has ever read about it in any book.
It took eight months by the Guinness World Record to confirm the entry of the surgery in the book and sent a recognition certificate to Dr. Abdul Rashid and his colleagues.

World’s Longest Serving Soap Star Guinness World Record set by William Roache

William Roache is quite used to receiving the odd award now and again – but even he must have been surprised to receive TWO in the same day.

The Coronation Street legend was presented with a trophy on the show’s Granada Studios set after entering the 2011 Guinness World Records book as the world’s longest serving soap star.

Then he went to a tribute night in his honour, organised by the Variety Club, where he received the children’s charity’s Lifetime Achievement award.

The evening also gave us the chance to see 78-year-old William’s new girlfriend up close for the first time. William, whose wife Sara died last year, looked delighted to have 41-year-old TV weathergirl Emma Jesson on his arm – even if she wasn’t too keen on the ever-present paparazzi.

As she encountered a clutch of paps in full snap, she exclaimed: “Oh, I’m not used to all this” but handled the experience well, laughing as she dashed into Bolton’s Reebok Stadium to the flashing blitz.

Emma, who wore a layered voile strapless dress, is more at home hosting charity events than being a top-table guest. She told The Diary she was “honoured to share in such a lovely evening – everyone loves Bill.”

Fans joined soap stars in the 550-strong audience which included Corrie’s Vicky Entwistle in a tailored striped suit, Helen Flanagan in micro-skirt, and Katy Cavanagh in a floating long dress.

Liz Dawn, resplendent in smart gold and bronze outfit, spoke movingly about Roache as “an amazing person.” Longtime friend Stuart Hall, aged 80, paid tribute to the actor’s longevity, stating “Bill will go on for eternity.”

Corrie executive producer Kieran Roberts described him as a “consummate craftsman” and said that he always told young actors new to the Street to “go and watch Bill work” to learn their trade.

Accolades also came from veteran comedians Johnnie Casson and Cannon and Ball and there were filmed tributes from Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Ian McKellen – who said he had “fulfilled a dream” by taking a role in the soap – and the Chancellor, George Osborne who praised William’s work in his Tatton constituency as well as his genuine warmth.

Modest William, who has played Ken Barlow for 50 years, overtook Don Hastings in American soap As The World Turns which wasn’t re-commissioned.

The star said he was “overwhelmed” by the night and the kindness shown.

He stated he had been “so lucky” to be in Coronation Street. He recalled the on-set practical jokes of the late Graham Haberfield (Jerry Booth), and the sharp off-screen tongue of Margot Bryant who played mild-mannered Minnie Caldwell.

Bolton bakers Greenhalghs created a celebration cake for him featuring the iconic scene where Ken punches love rival Mike Baldwin.

“I’m going to share this with the cast,” said William. “They love a bit of cake!”

Non Stop 108 Hour Dance Performance in Guinness World Records

Noted dancer Kalamandalam Hemalatha is all set to enter the Guinness Book of World Records by her performance of Mohinyattam lasting 108 hours.

The 35-year-old danseuse, who concluded her choreographic marathon last night, will soon be applying for the record for the 'longest dance show," the organisers of the show said.

The present record is that of eminent choreographer Dr Vattikotta Yadagiri Acharya of Hyderad set in 2008.

Hemalatha has over 20 years of experience as a dancer and had performed in India and abroad. A student of Kerala's premier school for performing arts Kalamandalam, she excelled especially in Mohiniyattam, Kerala's unique dancing tradition famed for its ability to depict subtle shades of emotions.

Though she had made an earlier attempt in June last, she was forced to give it up due to  health after 64 hours of dancing.

World's Fastest Lawnmower

American Bobby Cleveland claims to have set the world land lawnmower speed record after taking his custom-built grass cutter to a speed of 96 mph on Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats.

Cleveland averaged 96.5 miles per hour during two runs clocked according to Paul Hirsch, a spokesman the automotive supply company sponsoring the event.

Cleveland, riding the "104+" lawnmower, broke the record previously held by British driver Don Wales. Wales had been timed at 87 mph at Pendine Sands in Wales in May of this year.

"We were always shooting for 100, actually we were shooting for 104 of course. But, we did a few changes, we got back on our next run and we got up to 97.3 miles an hour. Man, now the difference between 97 and 81 is a big difference," Cleveland said.

"96 miles per hour. Unbelievable. It was great. It ran great," he said.

source

Australian women break record for racing in stilettos

Four Australian women have broken the world record for the fastest relay race in stiletto heels.

The quartet from Canberra completed a 263-foot course at Circular Quay in Sydney in about one minute and four seconds - while wearing 3-inch heels.

A record keeper from Guinness World Records confirmed that the women had set the record and presented them with a certificate.

The team, known as the Pinkettes, were the favourites to take first place in the charity race because they are all students at the Australian Institute of Sport.

The women - Brittney McGlone, Laura Juliff, Casey Hodges and Jessica Penny - plan to use their $10,000 (£6000) prize for a trip to Thailand.

About 100 ladies — and one man — competed in the race, which helped raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Miss McGlone, a hurdling champion, said before the race that the secret to running in heels was to get up on your toes.

However, the event was harder for some.

Darren Kelly was the only man to take part, strapping on a pair of size eight heels with regulation 3-inch heels.

A cheque for $20,000 was presented to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, $1000 of which was raised on the day.

source

Most concerts performed in 24 hours

VIENNA, Austria--German musician Vicente Patiz, 34, gave concerts in eight countries:  Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria-- all in 24 hours - setting the new world record for the Most concerts performed in diffrent countries in 24 hours.

Vicente Patiz performed in the northwester in German city of Oberhausen, then drove more than 1,000 kilometres to give 1 1/.2-hour concerts in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland and Liechtenstein and Austria, playing Mediterranean guitar music he had composed himself.

The concerts, at which Patiz played Mediterranean guitar music he had composed himself, lasted up to 1-1/2 hours and were attended by between 20 and 100 people.

"The concerts weren't all held at sociable times," he said. "It was a bit difficult to get the Swiss to come to a concert first thing on Sunday morning."

"I'm a little bit tired but very proud," the professional musician said.     

The previous Guinness World record for the Most concerts performed in diffrent countries in 24 hours was held by Jeff Aug, who gave six concerts in six countries within 24 hours in March 2009.

source - worldrecordsacademy.org

Matt Smith takes world record for youngest debut in new edition of Guinness World Records

Doctor Who star Matt Smith has materialised in the record books, it was announced today.

The actor is officially recognised as the youngest star to take the role in the new edition of Guinness World Records.

The 2011 book also features another record for his hit show which is listed as the longest-running science-fiction TV series in the world.

Smith – who made his debut as the Time Lord last year – was just 26 when he filmed his first scenes, three years younger than Peter Davison.

And the show has extended its own record for a lengthy run, after notching up 769 episodes up to June of this year, made up of 212 storylines plus a TV movie.

The last time book bosses included the category, the show had run to 709 episodes and 173 stories. this year, publishers have included a whole section dedicated to Doctor Who records.

Advertisement – article continues below »

Another well-loved BBC1 show is also included for a record-breaking run. Casualty is the longest-running “primetime” medical drama with in excess of 700 episodes broadcast since 1986, surpassing shows such as ER.

But US daytime show GeneralHospital is still the longest running medical drama, with more than 12,000 shows.

Casualty’s executive producer Belinda Campbell said: “It is an absolute thrill to be able to call Casualty the world’s longest running primetime hospital drama.

“It’s a great testament to the hard work and expertise of the casts and crews over the years that Casualty is now in its 25th year and still in such fantastically good health.”

Musical hit Glee also lands a record for the accolade of most simultaneous hits on the UK singles chart debut.

The cast of the US TV series made their UK chart debut with five tracks entering the Top 75 at the same time. Dame Vera

Lynn previously held the record.

source

Hundreds gather on soccer field at UMKC for Guinness notoriety

Daylight began fading to dark, the temperature dipped a few degrees, and nearly 600 people danced on the soccer field at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

The Black Eyed Peas’ six-minute hip-hop hit “Rock That Body” blared through the stadium’s public address system. Students, faculty members and members of the community marked the beat by moving simultaneously like robots.

Some even wore costumes of cardboard painted silver.

The Monday night event was staged in part to break the Guinness world record for the largest group of people doing the robot dance at one time in the same place.

Another reason? To draw public and student attention to the new automated book retrieval system that began operating this summer at the Miller Nichols Library on campus.

“This isn’t just about getting students together,” said Chaz Walgren, a senior and vice president of the UMKC student body, which organized the event. “It is also about community involvement.”

High school students from the YMCA Young Achievers program joined the effort along, with Missouri State Sen. Jolie Justus and Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser. Neither politician danced, but both bobbed their heads a bit from the bleachers.

London’s Whitgift Independent School holds the current record of 429 dancers. With Monday evening’s gathering, UMKC unofficially broke that record, getting 550 dancers doing robot dance steps choreographed by students from the university’s dance conservatory.

“We tried to make the steps simple so that everyone could do them,” said Lynley Schaffer, a UMKC dance major from Pennsylvania.

UMKC’s retrieval system is unique in the region.

When someone requests a book, an automatic crane locates the item and delivers it to a pickup station on the first or third floor. There, a staff member takes the item from a bin and keeps it until it’s retrieved by the patron.

The university on Wednesday will dedicate the new addition that houses the retrieval system.

source

World record 291 pound watermelon

Chris Kent with his newly certified 291 pound world record watermelon at the yardkin Valley pumpkin Festival in Elkin, North Carolina on Saturday, September 25, 2010.

source

Most people dressed as superheroes

CHaD, a dually upright cause and celebrated superhero in its own right, is at it again!

The Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, located in Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA, on 29 August reclaimed from abroad the Most people dressed as superheroes Guinness World Records™ record, a title the organization previously earned in 2009:

Guinness World Records™ Adjudicator Danny Girton Jr. was present at both the 2009 event and CHaD’s latest record attempt, and authenticated this year’s 1,500 participants gathered Sunday morning at Hanover, New Hampshire's Dartmouth Green.

According to event sources, the record attempt took place during CHaD's 'Fifth Annual Hero Half Marathon & Relay,' during which over 1,875 runners and walkers participated and raised more than $434,000 to benefit families and children of CHaD: an organization that helps to provide a comprehensive system of care and superior “clinical services for children throughout all of New Hampshire, Vermont and beyond."

Source - guinnessworldrecords

Largest sihu ensemble

On 6 September 2010,in Baokang Town, Horqin Left Middle Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, a new Guinness World Records™ record for the largest sihu ensemble was set by 1,151 participants.

Sihu is a traditional stringed musical instrument, very popular in Inner Mongolia. And Horqin Left Middle Banner is famous for its sihu musicians and sihu playing tradition. The event took place at the opening ceremony of the First Da’erhan Art festival. It was organized by Horqin Left Middle Banner Committee of the Communist Party of China and People's Government of Horqin Left Middle Banner. This sihu ensemble was also to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the great master of sihu, Mr. Sun Liang, who was from Horqin Left Middle Banner. The 1,151 participants played together for more than 5 minutes. And they played so well and so neatly, when the playing was complete, the audience cheered for the wonderful performance.

Guinness World Records™ Adjudicator Angela Wu adjudicated at the event. When she checked that everything was done according to the guidelines, she presented an official certificate to the organizer to celebrate the achievement.

Source - guinnessworldrecords

Most people twirling lassos

In her 200 year history, Mexico has never seen as many Guinness World Records set as 2010! From Mentos and Soda fountains in Mexico City, to carpets of flowers and now rope-wielding Charros in Guadalajara Mexico is fast becoming a hub of record-breaking. Last year at the 16th international meeting of mariachi and charrería, the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism organised the largest mariachi performance with a 549 mariachis performing. This year, on 4 September 2010, they wanted to embrace the charrería aspect of the annual event so what better record to attempt than the most people twirling lassos.

Ralph Hannah, the Guinness World Records adjudicator for all of Latin America, was invited to oversee the attempt. The previous record stood at 23 people, set last year during the Stockyards Rodeo Championships in Texas, USA. On a sweltering day at the Lienzo Charro Nito Aceves a total of 81 people, including national Charro champion Nito Aceves himself, gathered together to bring this record to Mexican soil.

Registration had been done in advance with each participant receiving a sticker on arrival to indicate where they had to stand in the carefully marked out bull ring. The participants had varying experiences of twirling a lasso, from children still at Charrería schools, to women who practice for fun, to professional Charros. It was wonderful to see so many people getting involved. The rules state that all participants must twirl the lasso simultaneously for two minutes. These participants kept going for 3 minutes and they did much more than simply twirl rope. They performed tricks and passed the rope around their head or entire body in what is referred to by Charrería enthusiasts as "floreando la soga", the closest English translation being "trick roping".

Ralph Hannah had to discount 12 people who didn't maintain the lasso moving for the duration of the attempt but with 69 people in total the Guinness World Records record had been truly thrashed! It was another record for Guadalajara who also boasts the fastest restaurant, largest CPR training session and the truly traditional largest tequila exhibition, to name but a few. The Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism are already thinking what record attempt to bring to this beautiful city next year!

Source - guinnessworldrecords

The longest carpet of flowers

On 29 August 2010, Colgate Fabuloso, created the longest carpet of flowers ever made.

With a length of 1,915 m (6,284 ft 9 in) and a width of over 1 meter (3 ft 3 in), tons of flowers were displayed in a continuous multicoloured carpet in the Parque de Chapultepec, in Mexico City, Mexico.

This event was part of the celebrations for the bicentenary of Mexico.

With the message ‘Mexico es Fabuloso’ (Mexico is fabulous), Fabuloso broke the record, which was announced by Guinness World Records™ Adjudicator Carlos Martínez.

Fabuloso is a cleaner product by Colgate-Palmolive. The flowers were later donated to the Parque de Chapultepec and distributed amongst the visitors to the event

Congratulations to Mexico for this successful world record



Source - guinnessworldrecords

Most people using mouthwash

On Sunday 12 September I was in Mumbai in India to witness an attempt at a new Guinness World Records achievement for the most people using mouthwash. The event had been organised by Listerine India in conjunction with the Indian Dental Association (IDA) to celebrate World Oral Health Day and to raise awareness of the importance of good dental care. Registration started the previous day, and at 3pm on Sunday participants started to flood into the attempt area. Well known MTV India VJ and Bollywood actor, Cyrus Sahukar, entertained the crowd of participants as they waited for the attempt to begin.


At around 5.30 there was a quick demonstration and then the attempt began. As per the guidelines supplied by Guinness World Records, participants would have to gargle the mouthwash continuously for at least 15 seconds. Being a new category, Guinness World Records had set the minimum requirement at 250. When the 15 seconds were up, I approached the stewards who were on hand to make sure that all participants had successfully gargled for the full 15 seconds. I then prepared to announce the result. An impressive 361 people had simultaneously used the mouthwash, making it a new Guinness World Records achievement. I presented an official Guinness World Records certificate to the organiser to conclude this successful event. Source - guinnessworldrecords

Largest interactive weather report

Knocking off a record set by the UK’s BBC TV was never going to be a simple task, but for the passionate cloud-gazers at Australia’s The Weather Channel it was a matter of national pride. The record for the largest interactive weather report had been set in March, 2010, when 261 schools across the UK collected temperature readings simultaneously, the results broadcast in a single weather report. Five months later, on August 18, 2010, it was time for the Aussies to attempt to rain on the Brits’ parade.

The attempt was three months in the planning, with a special website built for schools to register their interest in taking part and, of course, for them to report their temperature measurements. On the day of the event, excited wannabe record-breakers had to wait until midday (Eastern Standard Time) to begin their temperature taking.
When the moment arrived, thousands of Australian schoolkids and more than a few meteorologists headed outdoors across the enormous continent to take their readings.

Throughout the country readings varied from a low of three degrees Celsius at the aptly-named Snowy Mountains Grammar School in Jindabyne, New South Wales, to a scorching 40 degrees Celsius (and it’s still winter!) at Mutchilba State School near Mareeba in Queensland.

The final count? The Aussies almost doubled the British tally with a grand total of 502 schools for a new Guinness World Record. By succeeding in an event that could well become The Ashes for meteorologists, The Weather Channel, ably assisted by Australian school students, well and truly knocked the BBC off the weather map.
Source - guinnessworldrecords

Most people twirling flags

My first adjudication for Guinness World Records took place in sunny Spain. True to form, the sun shone down on Plaza Zorilla, Valladolid, on Sunday 5th September to welcome the participants for the world record attempt for the most people twirling flags.

For the event organisers, Coordinadora de Peñas de Valladolid, attempting to break Guinness World Record categories has become an annual tradition, and their way of celebrating the city's week of fiestas. In 2007 they broke the record for the largest water pistol fight, and in 2008 they achieved the the record for the longest chain of people licking lollipops. The events attract visitors from across the globe...and this year was certainly no exception.

The initial stage of this record event involved record participants registering and collecting a Spanish flag which, in matter of hours they would be waving collectively (and almost certainly with a great deal of national pride). Within four hours the number of participants had well exceeded the previous record of 5,268, achieved in India just a month prior to the attempt...but Valladolid still had a long way to go before the much anticipated record title could officially be theirs.

Once the final participant had entered the designated area for the record attempt, the ring leaders (or perhaps more aptly, the flag twirling leaders) demonstrated the correct way to twirl flags according to Guinness World Record guidelines, which stipulate that all participants must follow the same rhythm for 5 minutes without dropping their flags...who knew flag twirling could be so complicated!?

Participants rehearsed and ready, I signalled for the record attempt to begin, armed with stopwatch and eager eyes. A vibrant sea of red and yellow flags moved harmoniously in time to the music for over 5 minutes- proving that practice really does make perfect.

The record was a success, and the final number of participants was...35 000 people exactly! Now that's what I call mass participation and certainly deserves recognition as a Guinness World Records achievement. Well done Valladolid!
Source - guinnessworldrecords

Largest high heel race

Saturday September 11 marked the 3rd year that the Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau in Indiana, USA organized a high heel race to raise funds to support victims of sexual assault, but the very first year that also saw a world record broken!

Participants began registering for the annual run as early as 7 a.m. and were each fitted with a pair of bright red patent leather stiletto heels. By the time I arrived there were hundreds of enthusiasts trying on their shoes and practicing their walk. A huge majority of the participants were men, so they could certainly use the practice!

After registration was complete, participants gathered for a group photo, which was taken from above as the red-attired runners in red high heels stood in the shape of a giant stiletto. After being led in stretches to prepare for the event, everyone gathered behind the starting line. The first group of guys were especially enthusiastic, sprinting through the course trying to outdo each other!

As participants passed the finish of the 100-metre course, they each dropped a wooden coin into a bag held by one of Fort Wayne’s enthusiastic (and very helpful!) roller derby team members, who would then shuttle the bags over to me for counting. Once all of the entrants had crossed the finish line, I could confirm the final total of a whopping 967 people! Despite the rain and chilly weather, the citizens of Fort Wayne managed to completely blow the previous record of 763 out of the water.

I presented the certificate to an elated Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau as everyone gathered to shelter from the rain. The women and especially men of Fort Wayne have a lot to be proud of!

Source - guinnessworldrecords

Largest litter bin mosaic

Last Saturday, 18 September, I was invited to Berlin to judge a new Guinness World Records attempt. Trenntstadt Berlin, a project dealing with waste prevention and recycling in Berlin, had enlisted 180 volunteers to construct the largest litter bin mosaic. The attempt was organised as part of ‘Clean Tech World’, a trade fair focussing on renewable energy sources and recycling. The venue was the airfield of the impressive former Tempelhof Airport.

When I arrived at the airfield I immediately saw rows and rows of different coloured wheelie bins, used for separating recyclable materials. Volunteers began wheeling the bins into place, following the plan which had been chalked out on the tarmac. The image took shape in no time as some volunteers wheeled 4 bins at a time!

At around 2pm I was taken to a high vantage point where I could see the mosaic in all its glory. It depicted a polar bear, one of the species most at risk from global warming due to melting polar ice, its natural habitat.


As this was the first time this record had been attempted, Guinness World Records had set the minimum number of bins at 1,000 in order for the mosaic to qualify. The counting took a while, but finally I arrived at a result and prepared to announce whether or not this had been a successful Guinness World Records attempt. The huge litter bin mosaic consisted of a total of 6,401 bins, and I presented an official Guinness World Records certificate to mark the occasion.

Source - guinnessworldrecords

World’s Youngest CEO and Web Designer - Sreelakshmi Suresh

Sreelakshmi Suresh is One of the Youngest CEO and Web Designer in the world. She is also only & youngest member of the Association of American Webmasters under 18 years of age.

Suresh Menon, lawyer & proud father of Sreelakshmi Suresh, and mother, Viju Suresh said “she started using computer computer at the age of 4 years, she had started with MS Paint and within 2 years she went on web design”

Sreelakshmi Suresh, Youngest CEO and Web Designer had designed her first website for her school “Presentation Higher Secondary School” and the same was inaugurated on January 15, 2007 by Binoy Viswam, Forest Minister.

American Association of Webmasters has awarded her with “Gold Web Award”, highest award for web designing.

Mrs. Sonia Gandhi has awarded her with “Exceptional Achievement 2008”, highest Award for Children in India, in a event held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 05-02-2009.

Sreelakshmi Suresh has established her own web designing firm eDesign (www.edesign.co.in), wherein she is the CEO, with her this venture along with “Youngest Web Designer” she has also earned title of “Youngest CEO in the World”.

Here is the list of Website Designed by Sreelakshmi Suresh
Source - worldrecordsnews

World’s Smallest Gita in Pendant set Limca Book of Records

World’s smallest Bhagwad Gita in the form of a pendant and containing 18 chapters and 700 shlokas in 24 carat gold letters is available for sale in select Ludhiana jewellery stores.

The product has been created by Pawan Sinha, an associate professor of neuroscience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Sinha had entered the Limca Book of Records in 2008 for his creation. The product had been available at Tanishq stores for the last one year; but now, it is available for sale in Ludhiana with a new brand name, Dijyo, said Rajiv Arora, CEO of Dijyo. It was formally launched in the city on Friday evening.

The price of this spiritual pendant ranges from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 and it can be worn in a gold chain or mangal sutra, Arora added. The Bhagwad Gita on pendent has been made using nanotechnology and it can be read using a microscope, said Vikas Vashisht, regional manager of Dijyo, adding that so far, more than 15,000 pieces have already been sold off in the last one year. The money raised in selling these pendants will go into the treatment of congenitally blind children whose families are too poor to afford medical help.

Worlds Largest King Cake Set World Record

The Superdome was the site of another record as bakers attempted to make the world's largest king cake.

The cake circled the Superdome twice as bakers from Haydel's tried for a new Guinness world record.

Taking three days to bake and over six hours to assemble, bakers said the cake measured 5,300 feet in length.

Funds raised from the sale of the king cake go to cancer research for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Officials are hoping to raise $50,000.

Judges from Guinness measured the record not by length, but by weight.

The previous record for the largest king cake was in Houston and weighed 3,000 pounds. Officials believe that the New Orleans king cake weighs nearly 8,000 pounds.

Worlds Largest King Cake Set Guinness World Record 2011 Video

World's Smallest Stop Motion Animated Film World Record by Nokia N8

Meet Dot: the world's smallest stop-motion animated character. Designed to demonstrate Nokia's latest cutting-edge technology, her filmed tale, above, has set a Guinness World Record.

The back story: Dot was shot on the latest Nokia N8 as a means to showcase the smartphone’s 12-megapixel photography capabilities and the CellScope, a Nokia device with a microscope attachment.

Realized by the UK's Aardman Animation, the Oscar-winning creators of the Wallace and Gromit series, the short film was commissioned by Nokia to depict the 9mm character's struggles to navigate a microscopic world.

An impressive technological feat, to be sure. What's next? Nano-level image capture? (See the making of after the jump for more details.)

Not yet. The CellScope is a tiny, microscopic device that attaches to a Nokia handset, for use as life-saving technology. It has helped remotely diagnose fatal diseases in inaccessible regions of third world countries. Carl Zeiss optics also helped capture the miniscule action.

In order to promote these extraordinary micro-technologies to a broader audience, Nokia’s agency W+K hired stop-motion masters Aardman to create and capture Dot's world. The teeny animated film was shot on a set that was only a meter and a half long, with elements painted under a microscope and animated with tweezers.

According to W+K’s Mark McCall and Richard Dorey in the behind-the-scenes look below, “Achieving our goal of setting a world record with a Nokia N8 is the perfect celebration of the campaign’s core message — it's not technology, its what you do with it.”

Dot. The world's smallest stop-motion animation character shot on a Nokia N8

World's Oldest Twins World Records 2011 - Raymonde and Lucienne

Raymonde and Lucienne Wattelade, who are officially recognised as the world's oldest twins by the Guiness World Records 2011, said the other secret to long life was regular sport.

Both were in the French gymnastics team in the 1930s and continue to dance waltzes as the local casino in Saint-Georges-de-Didonne, south-western France.

The pair, in perfect health, have lived together in a family home for the past five years and are partial to tarot card reading and their favourite tipples: pastis for Raymonde and whisky for Lucienne.

Born on 23 September 1912, the twins have been married a total of four times, have between them four children, seven grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Raymonde worked for the French nuclear energy commission and Lucienne was a housewife.

They said their most painful memory was seeing their father leave for the First World War and their mother in tears.

But they have no regrets.

"We live in the present, it's pointless thinking about the past or the future - we're still 20 (in our heads)," said Lucienne, who is ten minutes younger than her sister.

Above all, laughter was the key to a good life, she added. "If you don't laugh, you don't live."

Double world record for Coronation Street

Following quickly on the cobbles of its unique street party to celebrate the countdown to the show’s 50th anniversary on Friday, Coronation Street has announced that it has officially made it into the Guinness Book of Records. Not once, but twice.

The soon-to-be-tram-totalled drama is now officially the longest running TV soap in the world, while, in a double whammy, actor William Roache (Ken Barlow) has also become the world’s longest serving soap actor.

Corrie picked up the accolades as a result of previous record holder, American soap ‘As the World Turns’ (CBS), being cancelled by its network this month.

The street is currently nearing its 7,500th episode.

Executive Producer, Kieran Roberts, said of the achievement: “These days it’s rare for any drama to run for more than a few years.  In fact, back in 1960, Coronation Street was originally commissioned for just 13 episodes.

“Therefore it truly is an extraordinary achievement, that fifty years later, the show which first aired just after The Beatles were formed remains hugely popular in Britain and around the world.”

He said of Roache: “William Roache has played Ken Barlow since episode one.

“His character has had 27 girlfriends, three wives, numerous scandals, accidents and memorable stories and he’s still at the heart of our now 60-strong cast”.

Source

Largest parade of Mazda cars

On Saturday 18th September I travelled to Essen in Germany to witness the largest parade of Mazda cars. The record to be broken was 249 cars, which belonged to New Zealand since the year 2005.

The event was held for Mazda’s 20th anniversary. The location of the event was very different as it took part in an old coal mine called “Zeche Zollverein Essen”.

When I arrived at the venue, Mazda MX-5 cars had already filled the area as far as the eye could see. The drivers were charged with enthusiasm while getting themselves prepared for the parade.

The number of attendants was known by the organizers prior to the event, since all the attendants had made online registrations beforehand. There were attendants from every generation and remarkably, many women drivers were present. According the Guinness World Records guidelines, the minimum distance of the parade had to be 3.2 km (2 miles) long and all vehicles had to be continuously moving. At the same time, the distance between two cars had to not more than two vehicle-lengths apart. 

The record attempt started at 17.30 pm and was broadcasted live on Facebook.

The cars started moving in a parade. Incredibly, 13 Mazda owners came from Moscow, from about 2050 km. away!

There were other drivers from Italy, France, Sweden and Denmark too… This red Mazda is one of the first Mazda cars, manufactured in 1989.

During the parade, I stood at the finish line and counted the cars which passed by. Although a few cars had to be disqualified, eventually Germany took over the record from New Zealand with 459 cars

I presented the Guinness World Records certificate to the organizers Punkteins.de and Mazda’s Managing Director for Germany, with a ceremony on stage. It was a perfect organization event and the success was celebrated by everybody!

Source - guinnessworldrecords

Largest virtual aerobics/exercise class

I’ll admit – I wasn’t the biggest fan of gym class as a kid in school. Being an awkward grade schooler really made me a little skittish of climbing rope or running the mile in front of girls I had crushes on.

That being said, I never had the chance in P.E. to take a half hour class with my sports idols in the name of setting a new Guinness World Record. I might’ve felt differently if that was the case, as it was for hundreds of Washington, D.C.-area schoolchildren at the NFL Washington Redskins’ FedExField in Landover, Maryland, USA, on 21 September.

With the help of star quarterback and six-time Pro Bowler Donovan McNabb, two-time Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall, and fellow Redskins Rocky McIntosh (pictured, above), Lorenzo Alexander and Kedric Golston, 646 kids set a new Guinness World Records mark for the “largest virtual aerobics/exercise class” with a little help from their famous instructors.

The record attempt was conceived as a way to promote the NFL’s Play 60 campaign, which encourages children to play for at least 60 minutes a day to promote healthy lifestyles.

The local children relished the chance for some time on the field of one of the NFL’s largest stadium by seating capacity and took away the experience of having had some of their biggest heroes exercising right alongside them. Most into it was McNabb (below), who jumped, danced, and stretched along with the students, not showing any ill effects of 12 years playing one of the most physically demanding positions in sports.

I got the feeling that just being there that day was enough for the children in attendance. Overhearing their conversations as they stepped onto the field, I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous of their enthusiasm for the big day (comments from the youngsters ranged from “I gotta put my foot in the end zone!” to “I wonder if they’ll let us take some of the grass from the field with us”).

Counted by turnstiles upon entry and kept in 25 neatly uniformed rows by a dozen United States Marine Corps volunteers, the children stretched from one goalline all the way to midfield. Their exercise lesson came via the virtual program HOPSports, an interactive program that allowed the Redskins to create personalized lesson plans with some of their actual players to then broadcast on one of the stadium’s giant end zone monitors.

It was obvious by the time I took the microphone after the lesson that these kids wanted to know if they’d earned a Guinness World Record. The resounding “Yes!” they all gave when I asked if they thought they’d set it told me all I needed to know about their desire for it.

So my official certification of a new record served as the cherry on top of a pretty sweet day for all the children who partook. Whether the joy equalled what Redskins fans feel after any win over their rival Dallas Cowboys, I can’t say, but it was certainly a day 646 kids – and maybe a few famous pros – will never forget.

Source - guinnessworldrecords

Largest Cooked Ham

Last Saturday, 18 September, I was invited to Vicenza, Italy to judge a new Guinness World Records attempt for the largest cooked ham. Fratelli Beretta S.p.A, the organisers are one of the largest packaged meat producers in Italy. They produce both cured and cooked meat and they explained how it was the director’s idea to try and break the largest cooked ham record.

When I arrived at the “ipermercato Auchan”, Vicenza, a large supermarket within a shopping centre in the small town near Venice, people had already began gathering. Many of the people were just there to do their Saturday morning shop with the family and were extremely happy to be able to witness this exciting event.
Fratelli Beretta had made two cooked hams, one slightly larger than the other, containing a total of 30 pigs. The two hams were wheeled on trolleys through the length of the supermarket to the central area which had been set up with many Fratelli Beretta products.

As the crowds grew, I began weighing the hams. Announcements were made over the PA system and people were walking around with loud speakers, encouraging people to come and witness this great effort. The atmosphere was building and a huge cheer went up when I revealed the first ham weighing a massive 79.40 kg (175lbs). The second ham was then carefully manoeuvred onto the large industrial scales, allowing me to announce the brand new Guinness World Records achievement of 82.95 kg (182.9 lbs), even heavier than the first

I presented the director (below) with the certificate and the largest cooked ham was generously shared out amongst the hungry onlookers, as they began to go about their shopping once again.

community.guinnessworldrecords

The Snowbird on its record-breaking flight

Ornithopters, aircraft that fly by flapping their wings, are a staple at birdman rallies the world over, inevitably resulting in the pilots of such craft plunging headlong into the drink. Now, more than 500 years after Leonardo da Vinci sketched the first human-powered ornithopter in 1485, a team from the University of Toronto have succeeded where so many before them have failed and made aviation history by achieving a world record for sustained flight in a human-powered aircraft with flapping wings.

The record-breaking flight of the craft, called the “Snowbird”, took place on August 2 at the Great Lakes Gliding Club in Tottenham, Ontario. On it the Snowbird managed to sustain both altitude and airspeed for 19.3 seconds, covering a distance of 145 meters (475.7 feet) at an average speed of 25.6 km/h (15.9 mph). That might not sound overly impressive, but it was enough to set a world record for such a craft that is expected to be confirmed next month.

The Snowbird itself weighs just 94 lbs. (42.6 kg) and has a wingspan of 32 meters (105 feet). Although its wingspan is comparable to that of a Boeing 737, the Snowbird development team says its craft weighs less than all of the pillows on board that aircraft. It was piloted and powered by Todd Reichert, an Engineering PhD candidate at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) who lost 18 lbs. (8 kg) of body weight this past summer to facilitate flying the aircraft.

The Snowbird development team comprised two University of Toronto Engineering graduate students: Reichert, and Cameron Robertson (MASc 2009) as the chief structural engineer; UTIAS Professor Emeritus James D. DeLaurier as faculty advisor; and community volunteers Robert and Carson Dueck. More than 20 students from the University of Toronto and up to 10 exchange students from Poitiers University, France, and Delft Technical University, Netherlands, also participated in the project.

The team undertook the challenge to learn to design and build lightweight efficient structures. The research also promoted "the use of the human body and spirit," says Reichert.

"The use of human power, when walking or cycling, is an efficient, reliable, healthy and sustainable form of transportation. Though the aircraft is not a practical method of transport, it is also meant to act as an inspiration to others to use the strength of their body and the creativity of their mind to follow their dreams,” Reichert added.

In 1929, a man-powered ornithopter designed by Alexander Lippisch apparently flew a distance of 820 to 984 feet (250 to 300 m), but because a tow launch was used some have questioned whether the craft was capable of sustained flight. In April 2006, Yves Rousseau succeeded in flying a human-muscle-powered ornithopter a distance of 210 feet (64 m) on his 212th attempt, which was observed by officials of the Aero Club de France. Unfortunately, on his 213th flight attempt, a gust of wind led to a wing breaking up, causing the pilot to be gravely injured and rendered paraplegic.

Professor DeLaurier also had success with an engine-powered ornithopter which we first looked at back in 2004. In July 2006, Professor DeLaurier's machine, the UTIAS Ornithopter No.1 made a jet-assisted takeoff and 14-second flight. According to DeLaurier, the jet was necessary for sustained flight, but the flapping wings did most of the work.

The Snowbird’s record-breaking flight also involved the craft initially being towed by a car until lift was achieved and was witnessed by the vice-president (Canada) of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world-governing body for air sports and aeronautical world records. The official record claim was filed this month, and the FAI is expected to confirm the ornithopter's world record at its meeting in October.

Source - gizmag

HPO MVI 0045 from U of T Engineering on Vimeo.

HPO MVI 0052 from U of T Engineering on Vimeo.