Most People Applying Sunscreen in One Location at One Time

Supporters of the Spot A Spot project gathered on campus Nov. 20 to break the Guinness World Record for most people applying sunscreen in one location at one time.

There needed to be 252 participants, but there were only 152.

Despite pouring rain, Spot A Spot representatives from UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton and sponsors set up booths and handed out information to those who came for the event, or those who walked by.

“The purpose of this is to raise awareness of the effects of sun damage and the need to wear proper sunscreen,” said Tricia Trimble, 41, president of Suntegrity Skincare, sunscreen sponsor for UCI’s melanoma walk.

Trimble started the company because her mother died from melanoma.

Spot A Spot is part of a cancer prevention program for young people, which goes to high schools and middle schools to teach youth about the dangers of sun damage to the skin, said Lennie Sender, 52, director of the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program at CHOC Children’s Hospital and UCI.

“Melanoma, which is the most malignant skin cancer, the most dangerous skin cancer, occurs in young people,” Sender said. “Skin cancer is the number one cause of death as a disease under the age of 40.”

The project was started to honor a UCI second-year medical student, Joel Myres, who died from melanoma in 2001. Since its foundation, the group has spoken to thousands of students in Orange County, according to the Spot A Spot website.

Although it was founded at UCI, Spot A Spot has spread to CSUF as well. Part of the UCI chapter and the CSUF chapter worked together to put the event on.

“We started working with a group of CSUF students. They call themselves Kinergy. They had this idea of, why don’t we try to break a world record just so we can get Spot A Spot out there and let the public know that Spot A Spot is here,” said Amelia Ahmed, UCI Spot A Spot chapter representative.

However, with the weather hitting near 60 degrees and the rain at a constant shower, as well as the event taking place the first day of Thanksgiving break, the turnout was less than expected.

Regardless, the 152 students and supporters gathered in a roped off area in front of the Student Recreation Center and applied sunscreen under hooded jackets and umbrellas for two minutes.

“Maybe we could just break a record of how many students put sunscreen on in the rain,” Ahmed said.

Although the record was not broken, the Spot A Spot representatives were optimistic about the information they handed out. To them, if any life can be saved, it is a job well done.

“I think there’s a lot of people who go out and bake in the sun and don’t think it’s any big deal, and in essence, there’s foundations that have started for girls who have died at age 20 because of melanoma skin cancer,” Trimble said.

As the president of Suntegrity Skincare, she has developed a nontoxic version of sunscreen that also has an internal vitamin D3 supplement.

To get involved with the Spot A Spot or the National Melanoma Awareness Project at CSUF 

visit - SpotASpot.org.

Most Paper Collected in 24 hours set Guinness World Records

Cintas, a leader in secure document management services, announced recently that along with the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) it broke the Guinness World Record for most paper collected in 24 hours. As part of the third annual Protect Your Identity Week, Cintas partnered with the CBBB and NFCC to provide free shredding services for consumers at more than 175 identity theft protection events nationwide. Three events were specifically tracked for the Guinness record attempt in Irvine, Calif., Southfield, Mich. and Cherry Hill, N.J. on Oct. 23. A total of 31,979 pounds of personal, confidential documents were collected and shredded. The previous record held was 2,204 pounds.

"We are thrilled we broke a world record by uniting with community members to take a stand against identity theft," said Karen Carnahan, President and COO, Cintas Document Management. "Identity theft is a serious problem and we are pleased to have partnered with the CBBB and NFCC to provide consumers across the nation with our secure shredding services."

Cintas shredded a total of 1,132,000 pounds of confidential documents during Protect Your Identity Week. All of the paper collected was recycled into secondary paper products, such as paper towels, to reduce waste and impact on the environment. In doing so, consumers across the nation helped save trees, energy and water while reducing green house gas emissions.

"Protect Your Identity Week provides consumers with the education, tools and resources they need to protect themselves against identity theft," said Bob Ensinger, COO, NFCC. "We are delighted with the success of the week and had fun breaking a world record for a good cause."

Cintas is the first North American AAA NAID-certified and PCI DSS compliant document management provider. It provides cost-effective document shredding, storage and imaging programs. Cintas' services are designed to provide businesses with data privacy and security, compliance with regulatory requirements and greater control and access to information.

"We are pleased with how many community members came out to participate in the events," said Stephen A. Cox, President and CEO, CBBB. "With the combined forces of our organizations, this has been the most successful Protect Your Identity Week to date."

For more information, visit www.ProtectYourIDNow.org.

For more information, visit www.cintas.com/documentmanagement

Tamil Film Sets World Record

Even before its release, 'Sanikizhamai Sayangalam 5 Mani' is in the news for the technology used by the producer-cum-cinematographer SPS Gugan to shoot the film.

Produced by SPS Media Works, 'Sanikizhamai Sayangalam 5 Mani' has entered the Limca Book of Records as it is the only full-length feature film in the world that has been shot using an HD-SLR camera.

Gugan is on cloud nine these days as he received the Limca Book of Records certificate recently.

The film stars newcomers Sarath and Malini in lead roles. Ravi Bharathi has directed the film, which will hit screens on December 3.

Source

Tornadoes Set Two World Records

Tornadoes - the Motor Cycle Display team of the Army Service Corps (ASC) on Sunday broke two world records by being the only team in the world to achieve a distance of 1,100 metres with 54 persons on a single moving 500 CC Enfield motorcycle by covering a distance of 925 metres.
The team smashed the record set by the Corps of Military Police team which carried 48 persons on a single moving 500 CC motorcycle recently in Bangalore.

The Tornadoes was raised in 1982 after its stupendous display of daredevilry during the 1982 Asian Games and since then the team has rewritten various records.

At one point the team had achieved the distinction of holding seven world and national records of varying degrees of sports and adventure. They entered into the Guiness Book of World Records in 1992, 1994, 1995 and 2000 for carrying 93, 111, 115 and 181 persons respectively on 11 motorcycles.

In 2005, the team set a world record by carrying 37 persons on a motorcycle which was registered in the Limca Book of Records.

Source

Yukoners' Arctic trek makes Guinness record

Two Yukon-based adventurers have set a Guinness World Record for kite-skiing across Greenland's massive ice cap last year.

Derek Crowe and Devon McDiarmid of Whitehorse, along with British team leader Adrian Hayes, recently found out their expedition has been named the world's longest Arctic unsupported snow-kiting expedition.

"It gives you a little charge, especially in November when we all need a little bit of a lift," Crowe told CBC News from Whitehorse.

The Guinness World Records' website says the trio made a 3,120-kilometre "straight-line vertical crossing" of the Greenland ice cap during their 67-day journey, which concluded on July 25, 2009.

Crowe, McDiarmid and Hayes used wind-powered kites to ski from Greenland's southern Atlantic coast all the way to the northern Arctic coast, then back across to the west coast.

Much of the expedition involved crossing Greenland's inland ice cap, which covers 85 per cent of the country.

Crowe said recent attempts by others to duplicate their trek have come up at least 1,000 kilometres short.

"There's a very good reason that that hasn't been done before, because we were going uphill and upwind, and it was awful," he said.

"I still have the pain in my hips from the endless tacking that we did just back and forth, so I don't know how you'd break the record."

Still, 18 months after the expedition wrapped up, Crowe said he has "snapshots in my mind of flying across powdery snow, catching 20 feet of air and landing in a big puff of smoke, and just watching your buddies next to you just flying along.

"Thankfully, the really hard times have sort of faded away and now you get to relive all the glory stuff," he added.

McDiarmid, the other Yukoner on the record-setting trek, is currently in Anarctica and getting ready for his sixth ski expedition to the South Pole, Crowe said.

Source

Most Number of Guinness World Records Holder - Ashrita Furman

He holds 122 Guinness World Records – and one of them is the official record for holding the most world records - New Yorker Ashrita Furman doesn’t pass up the chance of breaking a world record, no matter what he has to do.

Furman has walked 80 miles with a milk bottle balanced on his head,
performed 9,628 sit-ups in an hour, balanced a 93-pound stack of milk crates on his chin, and balanced 700 eggs on end simultaneously, reports The Sun.

His other feats include hula hooping for the fastest mile at Ayers Rock in Australia and completing the fastest mile on a pogo stick in Antarctica.

Born Keith Furman, he grew up obsessed with his yearly copy of the Guinness Book of World Records. At 15, he discovered yoga and meditation.

“I could make progress in every field if I meditated - in sports, mental agility, everything. I realised it wasn''t my body but my spirit that got me through - I could achieve anything if I put my mind to it. After that I knew I could achieve my childhood dream of breaking a Guinness World Record,” he said.

Furman broke his first record in 1979 performing 27,000 star jumps. And it was too much fun to stop. In 1986, he set the record for underwater pogo stick jumping and introduced it on US TV show Good Morning America on April Fool's Day.

That same year he began setting records at historic landmarks by doing forward rolls along the entire 12¼ mile route of Paul Revere''s Ride in Massachusetts and jumping 11½ miles up and down the foothills of Mount Fuji in Japan on a pogo stick.

"I think those are two of my favourite records," he recalled. Furman admitted his record breaking has become an obsession. "I would stay up until two or three in the morning, sifting through the 40,000 records on file for ones I had a shot at breaking - I came up with a list of about 1000,” he confessed.

"I've broken over 350 records in my life and it hurts when somebody breaks mine but I just think, 'Right, what would it take for me to win that one back?"

"I am always looking for the next challenge so I often train for about four or five records at once. There is no goal number in my head now, but lately I've been breaking about 50 records a year," Furman added.

So will he ever stop?

"Why would I when I'm having so much fun? Whether it's hopscotch, skipping ropes or hula hoops, I get to be a big kid every day. When it stops being fun, I'll stop. But until then there is always a new challenge to face, always another mountain to climb - I want to try Mt Fuji on stilts next!"

Fastest Marathon Wearing a Gas Mask

On Saturday, October 31 I traveled to Washington, DC for a very special record attempt - the fastest marathon wearing a gas mask.  Jeremy Soles, a former United States Marine and Operation Enduring Freedom veteran, was attempting to set the record at the annual Marine Corps Marathon in honor of Corporal John Peck of the United States Marine Corps, who was injured while serving in Afghanistan.

Jeremy and his support team were running on behalf of Team X-T.R.E.M.E. (Train, Rehabilitate, Empower, Motivate, Endure), a non-profit organization focused on raising awareness and funding for United States service members wounded while serving their country.  In order to bring attention to the cause, Team X-T.R.E.M.E. focuses on attempting difficult physical and mental challenges.

The record attempt certainly fell under that definition.  Jeremy ran the entire marathon while wearing an Avon Protection C50 gas mask, completely fitted with the filter on.  What makes this such a difficult feat is that the runner’s supply of oxygen is reduced – runners wearing a gas mask have a 20-30% oxygen resistance.

Jeremy took the attempt extremely seriously and did not leave much to chance.  He engaged in a strict training regimen that incorporated endurance running both with and without the gas mask as well as free weight training.  Per Guinness World Records guidelines the mask could not be removed while running, so Jeremy had to solve the problem of how to eat and drink during the grueling run.  He did so by inventing a ‘feeding tube’ from a metal turkey baster that was attached to a small backpack that held various nutritional gels and supplements.

Early in the morning on October 31, I walked with Jeremy and his support team to the starting line, where the runners stretched and limbered up.  I witnessed the gas mask being fitted, and held my hand over the filter to ensure that it was properly on.  Everything looked to be in good order, and Jeremy and his team were off, with an official start time of 8:08 am.

Now the only thing left to do was wait and see if Jeremy would beat the existing record of 5 hr 4 min 6 sec.

After Jeremy started the race, his team and I headed over to the finish line and welcomed a special guest – Corporal John Peck, in whose honor Jeremy was running the race.  Corporal Peck was severely wounded while serving in Afghanistan earlier this year, and is currently rehabilitating in Washington, DC.  He was able to attend the end of the event, and it was a pleasure to meet and speak with him.

As Jeremy’s estimated finish time approached, we were all nervously waiting at the finish line (I with my eye on the official race clock) while looking out for the runner in the gas mask.  At 4 hr 29 min 3 sec, Jeremy crossed the finish line – a new Guinness World Records achievement.

It was an honor to present the certificate to Jeremy and Corporal Peck after the race, and it was wonderful to be involved in such an exhilarating record.  The new world record was a fantastic achievement, although the focus of the day was on the dedication and sacrifice of the United States service members.  I was proud that Guinness World Records was able to be a part of such an inspiring event.

Longest Living Snake Passes Away

Guinness World Records has sadly been informed that Fluffy, the longest snake living in captivity, passed away yesterday in its home at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio, USA.

Fluffy, an 18 year old reticulated python (Python reticulatus), was over 7.3 m (24 ft) long when measured on 30 September 2009. Fluffy was a favorite at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and saw between 50,000 and 70,000 admirers a week.
 

The reticulated python (Python reticulatus) of south-east Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines, are regularly found to exceed 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in) in length. The longest snake ever was a reticulated python measured in Celebes, Indonesia in 1912, and was 10 m (32 ft 9.5 in) long.

Fluffy passed away the morning of Wednesday, 27 October 2010, from an apparent tumor. She was a standout record in this year’s Guinness World Records 2011 edition.

Most Fitness World Records Set In a Day - Stephen Buttler set World Record

Stephen Buttler, 35 of UK has set new world record for the Most fitness records broken in a day. He Set new Guinness world record with most clap press ups, most bench tricep dips, most squats on a Swiss ball, most squat star jumps in a minute, most squats on a Swiss ball in an hour, most jump clap press ups, most side jumps in 30 seconds and the fastest time carrying a 100lb backpack for 100 metres.

To Help the Heroes campaign and Hope House hospice, Stephen Buttler was raising money.

Guinness World record was broken the other day that was kept untouched for the past 100 years. The record was broken for the most fitness!

Mr Buttler, is the chap who broke this record with sheer determination and unstopped try. He is from Weston-under-Lizard, near Shifnal. The event was conducted at Lilleshall Hall Sports centre.

Mr Buttler has already bagged 12 Guinness World Records, 73 clap press-ups in 60 seconds. He proved to highly enthusiastic about breaking Guinness World Record!

Source - World Records News

Most Santa Hat Wearers Gathering Guinness World Record by Brockton

In order to celebrate the city's role as home of the first ever department store Santa, there were 872 people gathered in downtown Brockton, which has smashed the world record for the Most Santa hat wearers in one place at one time.

A member of the Greater Brockton Holiday Parade planning committee, who planned the Santa Hat Challenge, Merian said happily, "We took our record back".

John Merian told, "We're bringing attention to the City of Brockton and its history".

Previous Guinness World record of the Most santa hat wearers in one place at one time was 700, was set by people in Mullingar, Ireland, last year and prior to that Brockton was Guinness world record holder with 507 people in 2008.

The parade organizer, John Merian stated, "So apparently it looks like we went over 800 today and we're so thrilled because we're the city of champions and home of the first department store Santa and you can see how great everyone feels about it".

The gathered people danced on the songs "We are the champions" by Queen and "YMCA" by the Village People.

Linda Balzotti, Mayor said, “she was proud of the hundreds of residents who turned out”. "It's the City of Champions. I expected no less, so I am so proud of all Brocktonians who came out today to help us break this record," Balzotti added. "It's a great day in the city."

Merian said that Edgar was a philanthropic man and brought to life the character of Santa Claus. So this event is a way to honor him and bring our city together to have fun.

Source - World Records News

World's Largest Custard Cream Biscuit Guinness World Record

The largest custard cream biscuit in the world has been created by Simon Morgan & Paul Thacker on Guinness World Records Day, the massive treat measures a whopping 59cm long and 39cm wide and weighs 15.73kg.

The duo said they came up with the idea of creating a giant biscuit in a bid to raise money for charity while also gaining themselves a place in the record books.

Asked why they picked the humble custard cream to recreate the lads said they'd already made a big Bourbon and Jammie Dodger and wanted to do something different. Obviously.

The big biscuit -- which took 11 and a half hours to create is now being auctioned off for charity on eBay and bids have already reached £400 with a day left.

Source - World Records News

Most People Applying Sunscreen at the Same Time - World Record

To apply sunscreen before swimming is very normal task; but on Sunday lathering may be taken to a whole new level.

The Cancer Council is calling for more than 255 northern beaches locals to slip, slop, slap in a 60m by 60m area on Manly Beach to break the world record for the most people applying sunscreen at the same time.

The idea came from 19-year-old Narrabeen resident Cale Watson.

He said, ‘‘I was browsing over the Guinness Book of World Records website when I saw it’’.

“The northern beaches were an obvious spot for the record attempt in light of the crowds that head here in summer”, said Mr Watson.

‘‘The record to beat is 251, set earlier this year. It is required to be done for two minutes, simultaneously and individually.’’ The record has proven to be highly sought after around the world, the latest attempt recorded last weekend in California.

Fortunately, it was unsuccessful with only 121 people turning up.

Cancer Council spokesperson stated that when we found out about the Americans doing it we thought they would blow us out of the water but they failed massively.

To coincide with the attempt, the Cancer Council will be unveiling its Sun Sound jingle.

A spokesperson told, ‘‘The jingle was created by Ben Lee and will be played at Manly from this summer every few hours to remind people about sun protection’’.

To be a part of the record attempt, head to North Steyne Surf Club at 10am.

Source - World Records News

The 23-mile high jump: Daredevil's race to break sound barrier by leaping from the edge of space

Teetering on the edge of his space capsule at 102,800ft above the earth, Colonel Joe Kittinger readied himself for one of the most daring acts in history.

It was morning, not yet 7am, and murderously cold — despite his insulated pressure suit. The sun-tipped clouds were more than 80,000ft below the capsule, which was held aloft by large helium balloons.

The New Mexico desert lay another 20,000ft beneath the clouds. Whole cities could be seen in the distance — at this height, the world becomes a map.

Kittinger remembers: ‘I let my vision run from the barren blackness of the heavens down through the indigo to the gently curving horizon far below. I tried to relax. I glanced up once more and the disc of the sun was sharp and brilliant against the ebony ­backdrop of deep space.

‘Even shaded by my helmet’s tinted faceplate, my eyes burnt. Nothing was familiar up there. Nothing seemed real. What I was about to do struck some as gutsy, but to others it was flat-out crazy.’

And so, on August 16, 1960, Kittinger jumped — becoming the first man to freefall from 102,800ft at a speed of up to 614mph.

His glove tore on the way and the pressures of near-space made his hand swell to double its normal size — but he made it back to earth and his body recovered.

It was an extraordinary feat, which paved the way for man to land on the moon.

Now, 50 years later, two men are engaged in a fierce battle to recreate the ultimate ­daredevil journey.

Critically, they aim to exceed ­Kittinger’s speed — which was 9/10ths the speed of sound — and break through the sound barrier, going supersonic.

They are Felix Baumgartner, an extreme sportsman from Austria, and Frenchman Michel Fournier — arch-rivals, who have dedicated their lives to the race to conquer the skies.

Baumgartner, 41, is a professional daredevil and parachutist, who has completed numerous dangerous stunts.

His mission is backed by energy drinks ­manufacturer Red Bull, which has supplied expensive kit, a high-tech Californian ­laboratory base and a team of scientific and medical experts.

His jump was due to take place at a secret location in New Mexico next month, on a date determined by weather conditions — but, as we shall see, his mission has been hit by an unexpected problem.

Baumgartner grew up idolising Kittinger, the first man on the moon Neil Armstrong, Spider-Man and actor James Dean.

He joined the Austrian army, ­becoming a close-combat ­specialist and a member of the parachute display team.

Then, 20 years ago, he began ­base-jumping — leaping from bridges and buildings, opening a parachute on his descent at the last moment. Among his most breath-taking stunts was to jump from the giant statue of Christ The Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

From his home in California, he tells me: ­‘No one knows what’ll happen to a human body reaching supersonic speeds in freefall. That’s one of the ­primary goals of the mission — because ­finding out could be a step towards making high-altitude bailout ­possible for astronauts.

‘Given the extreme high speed, low air pressure, low temperature and so on, I would be foolish to think that nothing could go wrong.’

Is he prepared to die in this attempt? He says: ‘I don’t think this mission is suicidal. The evening before any ­dangerous skydive, I can’t help ­thinking that it might be the last night I’ll ever see.

‘The trick is to learn to love what you’ve been taught to fear. Fear is good because it keeps you sharp.

‘If I can break the sound barrier, at Mach speeds wearing nothing but a space suit, just imagine the value this mission could have for future human flight.’

He plans to jump from 120,000ft — higher than Kissinger. His freefall will take about ten minutes, with the ­parachute being deployed at 3,000ft, if all goes to plan. But, temporarily, Baumgartner has been brought back down to earth.

While scientists were putting the ­finishing touches to the pressurised suit needed for his jump, a writ was lodged at the Los Angeles Superior Court by Daniel Hogan, who claims rights to the project because, he says, he pitched the idea for a space dive to Red Bull in 2004.

Hogan says the firm expressed ­initial interest but did nothing until it came up with a separate plan, four years later.

Consequently, for now, the Red Bull challenge has been put on ice. A spokesman said it had ‘acted ­appropriately in its prior dealings with Mr Hogan’. This delay for
Baumgartner could give his rival the chance to make the jump ahead of him — an advantage he badly needs.

For Michel ­Fournier’s operation is a rather more home-made affair.

The former paratrooper has been plotting his ‘grand saut’ (big jump) since the late Eighties from a tiny ­airstrip in North Battleford, ­Canada.

The 66-year-old’s first attempt, in 2002, was ruined by a ripped inflating tube. The following year, the balloon tore. In 2006, unfavourable weather scotched the mission.

A fourth effort two years later ended when his £120,000 balloon floated away before his space capsule had been attached. This year, his ­compression suit failed. Then his ­parachute popped open on the ­Tarmac and the ­operation was aborted.

His spokeswoman, ­Francine Lecompte ­Gittins, says Fournier has run out of money, having sold his car, ­furniture, medals and even his home. ‘He needs to find a sponsor. We don’t know when his next attempt will be,’ she says.

But Fournier is unbowed, ­saying: ‘I haven’t led a very conventional life. I have to live at 1,000mph and do crazy stuff.’

So JUST what do these two very ­different men hope to achieve? And can they do it?

Well, both want to go supersonic by ascending higher than Kittinger and, consequently, falling faster.

The trouble is — as Baumgartner says — no one knows exactly what will happen.

Experts believe the effects of the force ­generated could range from creating a mere wobble to the jumper’s body to their skin being peeled back.

Other ­dangers include the freezing cold atmosphere, the sun’s ­unfiltered rays, decompression sickness and hypoxia (or lack of oxygen).

If the suit lost pressurisation, it would trigger a process called vaporisation, in which the blood — in the vacuum of near-space — literally boils inside the body. Also, should the body go into a spin of more than 180 rotations a minute, the brain is likely to liquidise.

The history of freefalling and space exploration is, of course, littered with failure — from the Greek Icarus who got too close to the sun to the U.S. Challenger disaster in 1986.

On an early test jump from 76,000ft, Kittinger nearly perished. He passed out mid-fall when a parachute cord wrapped around his neck.

In 1962, a Russian air force colonel emulated Kittinger’s feat, jumping from 86,000ft.

However, his ­parachute either deployed far earlier than planned (and he ran out of ­oxygen as it slowed his descent to earth), or he died of decompression when his ­helmet failed. Either way, he was killed.

Skydiver and adventurer ­Nicholas Piantanida was fatally injured in an attempt to set a freefall record in 1966. It is believed he opened his visor to scratch his nose and died of oxygen starvation.

And so Kissinger remains a hero for his successful jump. In his new ­autobiography, Come Up And Get Me, he says: ‘My freefall mark has stood for 50 years and some say the record will never be broken. I don’t agree, but if it was easy, somebody would have done it by now.’

Apart from the problems of descent, it will be a huge challenge to reach the altitude necessary for such an endeavour. It cannot be done using an aircraft — even a spy plane can ascend only to about 80,000ft.

A balloon is an option, but it would need to be as thin as Clingfilm and the size of an office block. Red Bull Stratos — the drinks firm’s space division — has developed a ­capsule for the ascent, which is expected to take three hours to reach the jump-point. Now Kittinger is helping them.

Aged 82 and living in Orlando, Florida, Kittinger explains exactly what it was like hovering 19 miles above our planet and jumping into space.

‘Only a handful of human beings have ever experienced what I felt, seeing this magnificent planet set against the utter black backdrop of outer space. I realised that man will never conquer space — he will learn to live with it, but never conquer it.

‘I’m sure that every one of the NASA astronauts who saw such sights in the years to come felt the same way. You can’t prepare yourself for it. Looking up, the sky is absolutely black. Void of anything. I missed my family terribly in that moment. I seemed a long way from ­everything I cherished.

‘I grabbed the sides of the doors, inched the toes of my boots over the edge and glanced up at the black heavens and said: “Lord, take care of me now.”

‘And then I jumped. Thirteen minutes and 45 seconds later, I had stopped moving. I was back on Earth. I was alive. We’d done it. Mission accomplished. It was a terrific feeling.’

He adds: ‘I wish both men who follow me the best of luck. Space is an extremely hostile environment.’

Source

Top 10 Richest Person In The World 2010

Worlds Richest People 2010

1. Carlos Slim Helu

$53.5 billion
Telecom, Mexico.
Telecom tycoon who pounced on privatization of Mexico’s national telephone company in the 1990s becomes world’s richest person for first time after coming in third place last year. Net worth up $18.5 billion in a year. Recently received regulatory approval to merge his fixed-line assets into American Movil, Latin America’s biggest mobile phone company.


2. Bill Gates

$53 billion
Microsoft, U.S.
Software visionary is now the world’s second-richest man. Net worth still up $13 billion in a year as Microsoft shares rose 50% in 12 months, value of investment vehicle Cascade swelled. More than 60% of fortune held outside Microsoft; investments include Four Seasons hotels, Televisa, Auto Nation. Stepped down from day-to-day duties at Microsoft in 2008 to focus on philanthropy.


3. Warren Buffett

$47 billion – Investments, U.S.
America’s favorite investor up $10 billion in past 12 months on surging Berkshire Hathaway shares; says U.S. has survived economic "Pearl Harbor," but warns recovery will be slow. Shrewdly invested $5 billion in Goldman Sachs and $3 billion in General Electric amid 2008 market collapse. Recently acquired railroad giant Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $26 billion.



4. Mukesh Ambani

$29 billion- Petrochemicals, oil and gas. India.
Global ambitions: His Reliance Industries, already India’s most valuable company, recently bid $2 billion for 65% stake in troubled Canadian oil sands outfit Value Creations. Firm’s $14.5 billion offer to buy bankrupt petrochemicals maker LyondellBasell was rejected. Since September company has sold Treasury shares worth $2 billion to be used for acquisitions. Late father, Dhirubhai, founded Reliance and built it into a massive conglomerate.



5. Lakshmi Mittal

$28.7 billion - Steel, India.
London’s richest resident oversees ArcelorMittal, world’s largest steel maker. Net profits fell 75% in 2009. Mittal took 12% pay cut but improved outlook pushed stock up one-third in past year. Looking to expand in his native India; wants to build steel mills in Jharkhad and Orissa but has not received government approval. Earned $1.1 billion for selling his interest in a Kazakh refinery in December




6. Lawrence Ellison

$28 billion – Oracle, U.S.
Oracle founder’s fortune continues to soar; shares up 70% in past 12 months. Database giant has bought 57 companies in the past five years. Completed $7.4 billion buyout of Sun Microsystems in January; acquired BEA Systems for $8.5 billion in 2008. Studied physics at U. of Chicago; didn’t graduate. Started Oracle 1977; took public a day before Microsoft in 1986.



7. Bernard Arnault

$27.5 billion
Luxury goods, France.
Bling is back, helping fashion icon grab title of richest European as shares of his luxury goods outfit LVMH–maker of Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon–surge 57%. LVMH is developing upscale Shanghai commercial property, L’Avenue Shanghai, with Macau billionaire Stanley Ho.



8. Eike Batista

$27 billion
Mining, oil. Brazil.

Vowing to become world’s richest man–and he may be on his way. This year’s biggest gainer added $19.5 billion to his personal balance sheet. Son of Brazil’s revered former mining minister who presided over mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce got his start in gold trading and mining.



9. Amancio Ortega

$25 billion
Fashion retail, Spain.

Style maven lords over Inditex; fashion firm, which operates under several brand names including Zara, Massimo Dutti and Stradivarius, has 4,500 stores in 73 countries including new spots in Mexico and Syria. Set up joint venture with Tata Group subsidiary to enter India in 2010. Betting on Florida real estate: bought Coral Gables office tower that is currently home to
Bacardi USA.



10. Karl Albrecht

$23.5 billion
Supermarkets, Germany.
Owns discount supermarket giant Aldi Sud, one of Germany’s (and Europe’s) dominant grocers. Has 1,000 stores in U.S. across 29 states. Estimated sales: $37 billion. Plans to open New York City store this year. With younger brother, Theo, transformed mother’s corner grocery store into Aldi after World War II. Brothers split ownership in 1961; Karl took the stores in southern Germany, plus the rights to the brand in the U.K., Australia and the U.S. Theo got northern Germany and the rest of Europe.

Source

Largest Dinosaur Museum

Viewing geological treasures,
Learning about the evolution of life
Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature

The Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature, located in Pingyi County, Shandong Province, China, is a large museum specializing in the natural world and popular science. The museum, which opened in 2004, boasts a floor area of 32,000 sq m (345,000 sq ft), holds display areas totaling 28,000 sq m (301,000 sq ft), and contains a scientific research center, a 4D cinema and 28 exhibition halls.
With its wide and varied collection, the Tianyu Museum has drawn considerable attention from within China – and from abroad. The museum houses 1,106 dinosaur specimens and thousands of other ancient fossils. This wealth of material has led two institutes from the Chinese Academy of Sciences – the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing – to establish scientific research centres at the Tianyu Museum.

In addition to its six Guinness World Records titles, the museum has published more than ten research articles in top international scientific journals such as Nature and Science. Among these, papers on the dinosaur Tianyulong confuciusornis and on the development of early feathers readily captured the world’s attention when they appeared in print.
Step into the mineral specimen exhibition halls and view a variety of original mineral crystals; these delightful specimens preserve millions of years of the Earth’s history in a concrete form. You will be astonished by the magical wonders of nature: the largest amethyst geode, and largest scheelite and turquoise specimens; a splendid tourmaline chosen in 2006 as one of the Annual Best Ten Mineral Specimens in the world by the European magazine Mineral Jewel Specimens; a coruscating 338.6-carat diamond, regarded as the largest in China’s recorded history; crystals from Uruguay and Brazil, aquamarines from Pakistan, emeralds from Columbia, apophyllites from India; and many more. These rare original gem stones embody the essence of the universe, shining with colors and lights, can only be described as amazing and breathtaking.
Entering the world of paleontology in the Tianyu museum, you will be shocked again and again by the clear renderings in stone of creatures that lived millions of years ago. Look out for…

• the longest piece of silicified wood and the largest specimen of the dinosaur Sinosauropteryx, both official Guinness World Records titles;

• many kinds of marine reptiles that lived 200 million years ago, including ichthyosaurs that once dominated the seas and now appear as vivid figures on thousands of stone slabs of different sizes and shapes;

• beautiful and mystic fossil crinoids, each one a “stone picture and natural sculpture” that stands out like a miracle among animal fossils;

• Mesozoic dinosaur and bird fossils that reveal the wondrous origin of birds – about 120 million years ago – and the extinction of the dinosaurs;

• groups of docile deer and fierce-looking rhinoceros that wandered 18 million years ago on vast stretches of grassland only to be overtaken by a change in the order of nature and end up in the exhibition halls;

• thousands of small fish that have struggled on the surfaces of stone slabs for 120 million years, but will never recover the freedom and happiness they enjoyed in the water;

• traces of life that may be tiny as the egg of a worm, light as a single feather, or slim as the vein of a leaf, all there to be found in the unique and mysterious world of fossils.
            
The collections of the Tianyu Museum are not only “a book of ten thousand volumes” describing life and nature, but also a valuable reference for human beings seeking to understand the past history of life and the future of the universe. Tianyu Museum offers a scientific platform for researchers and explorers and a key that will open the gates of science and knowledge to those who love nature and treasure lives.

Largest Piggy Back Race

Let me take you back to the beginning. To the beginning of time that is, when, according to the Book of Genesis, Noah built an ark to save the world's animals from a devastating flood. Upon entering the ark, the animals "came in two by two."
Now let me bring you back to reality, to Allen Gardens in Brick Lane, East London where Diesel UK, with the help of neon, staged their Noah's Ark themed record attempt and the animals "came in two by two" by participating in the largest piggy back race. The animals were in fact Diesel's loyal customers wearing bespoke animal suits created by the Japanese brand Kigu. Noah himself was on hand to guide his animals, or piggys, to the finish line.
The record breaking Noah's Ark themed piggy back race was the culmination of Diesel's 'Be Stupid' campaign, in line with their ethos of taking risks, aiming high and achieving something to be proud of. The idea for a record attempt emerged after running a competition in which the public were encouraged to submit ideas for what they would do to "be stupid" if they were given £50,000. For the winner, Abi, her idea of epically re-creating Noah's Ark was brought to life.
Upon entering the designated record attempt area, the budding participants registered one by one so that the overall number of participants could accurately be recorded and also so that they collect their animal suits, which Diesel were generously giving away. Noah then led a warm up to protect his animals from the British weather/impending flood of doom.
The animals then paired up and got ready at the race start line to jump on the back of their piggy. The race started on Noah's signal and the animals stampeded towards salvation/the finish line. The most important guideline for this record attempt stated that if somebody fell off their piggy's back they had to return to the start line and restart the race. Amazingly, only one (rather embarrassed) couple had to restart the race and they were cheered to the finish by the rest of the animals.

With all animals safely across the finish line Diesel UK had not only saved the animal world but they had also achieved a new Guinness World Records title for the largest piggy back race, with 296 participants completing the 100m race in just 2 minutes and 5 seconds. The fastest animal pair crossed the finish line in just 20 seconds!
Huge congratulations to Diesel UK, neon, and all who participated in an incredibly creative and particularly wild record attempt!

Largest Voodoo Doll

On Wednesday, November 17 I was in New Orleans, Louisiana to judge a record that to many conjures up the image of the city itself - the largest voodoo doll.

Louisiana voodoo is a religion that is a synthesis of African religions, Catholocism, and Francophone influence, and originated in the 1700s.  Most people are familiar with the voodoo dolls often seen in movies, in which people stick pins in order to harm an individual.  This is indeed one type of voodoo doll, although the record-setting doll was made of positive energy, with the intent of bringing prosperity to the doll's owners.
 

The idea to make the doll came from Fusion-io, a computer hardware company based in Utah.  The company hosted a party for attendees at the SC10 conference for supercomputing, and wanted to add a unique touch by building a huge voodoo doll.  Fusion-io didn't want just any large voodoo doll, though - they wanted a world-record setting doll.

Guinness World Records did not previously have a record category for the largest voodoo doll, but we are always on the lookout for fun and exciting new records.  This one definitely fit the bill, so our records team created guidelines stipulating that the doll must be an authentic, scaled-up version of the original item - and at an estimated 20 feet tall, there was no doubt the doll would be large enough to qualify.
 

In order to meet the criteria for authenticity, Fusion-io contacted one of the most well-known voodoo priestesses in New Orleans - Catherina Williams of Intuitions - to create the doll.  Catherina made the doll out of Spanish moss, which is tradition, and included various oils and blessings full of positive energy.  Once the doll was erected, party guests were invited to pin small denominations onto the doll and make a wish for prosperity.  Catherina also led the guests in a dance around the doll to harness his good energy.
 

The only thing left to do was physically measure the doll, which I did by standing on a movable platform.  From the base to the tip of his plume, the doll measured an impressive 21 ft 8 in (6.6 m) - a new Guinness World Records achievement!  In addition to his height, the doll had an arm span of 8 ft 6 in (0.5 m).

Congratulations to Fusion-io and Catherina Williams, and best wishes for peace and prosperity from New Orleans!

The Biggest Card Tournament

The people of the province of Biscay began to reach the BEC (Bilbao Exhibition Centre) around 9 am, lining up to enroll in an attempt to break the tournament record for the world's largest letters. There was a great atmosphere among 2,292 people who wanted to win the 6,000 Euros to be the winner of the tournament and also be part of Guinness World Records ™.

They decided to try to beat this record playing Mus, seen to have originated in the Basque Country, due to the popularity of the game. The tournament was organized by the newspaper "The Courier" and had to BBVA as a sponsor, all to celebrate the 100 th anniversary of the newspaper.

The previous record was held in Móstoles, Madrid in 2008 with 512 pairs. To beat this record to take at least 513 couples playing in the tournament.
 

While waiting to start, muslaris were challenged each other, trying to gain mental advantage against their opponents. The atmosphere was electric and all eager to win.

Louise Ireland, the official adjudicator for Guinness World Records, was responsible for verifying that the organizers had followed the guidelines required by regulation. He arrived early and was there to greet everyone when they arrive.

Players had previously enrolled and took the forms to the registration tables where volunteers were given a number corresponding to a seat in the pavilion. It was a knockout format and Louise confirmed that 1,146 couples were seated and ready to play Mus.

It sounded a horn to signal the start of the tournament. Each round lasted about 45 minutes and the organizers of the Courier and volunteers monitored as was the contest. The presenter announced the names and numbers of people who continued to the next round (winners) and continued to play with great concentration until there were only 8 couples finalists in the tournament.

At this time the atmosphere became much more tense, with the reality that someone would win shortly. There should be a winning team to be a new Guinness World Records and continued to play with a large audience watching them.

The crowd sometimes noticed the head tilts to one side, the raised eyebrows, the air kisses and lifted from the shoulders ... the players were doing legal signs allowed in the Mus to communicate with your partner and develop a strategy. 

At the end of the tournament came to the last two pairs, at about 8 pm. They began to play the last two games in the scene where they were to make presentations.
 

The last game was hard fought but won the best couple, Angel and Juan Unda Geijo.
There was great applause and Louise were presented with the official certificate for the biggest tournament of cards, with 1,146 couples, a new Guinness World Records.

Congratulations to the participants and also to the Courier!

Largest Wine Glass

On 29 October 2010 I had the pleasure of being invited to the Vinifest wine festival in Lebanon to adjudicate Eventions events company’s Guinness World Record attempt for the largest wine glass. The event took place in the Beirut hippodrome and wine producers from around the country came to showcase their finest selection of wines, yet the potentially record breaking wine glass was the event’s star attraction.
 

Lebanon is famous for its record breaking culinary expertise, having achieved Guinness World Record titles including the largest serving of hummus and the largest serving of tabbouleh, but this time their wine production was put into the spotlight. When I arrived on-site the huge wine glass stood on a platform covered from public view before its dramatic unveiling and the adjudication, the result of which was eagerly anticipated, since the record had not been broken since 1998.

Hundreds of people, wine lovers and record lovers alike, came to watch the adjudication. The record was based on the physical dimensions of the wine glass and therefore I measured the height of the giant vessel, which was made out of Plexiglass, using a tape measure and with the help of representatives from HSBC Lebanon who were one of the official sponsors of the event.
I then had to measure the glass at its widest point by climbing on a platform and looking down on the glass…ever conscious of the danger of falling into 1557 litres of wine and suffering from the world’s worst hangover! The official guidelines stated that the glass had to be filled with wine and Lebanese wine producers donated bottles of wine to fill the glass and to be a part of the world record attempt.

The wine glass measured an incredibly impressive 2.40 m (7.87 ft) in height and 1.65 m (5.41 ft) in width and therefore Eventions had succeeded in achieving the record and ending Portugal’s 12 year hold on the title. The event organisers and supporters alike aptly celebrated with a very well deserved (standard sized) glass of wine. Congratulations to Eventions…and Cheers!

UAE set Solar Powered Wheelchair World Record

Haidar Taleb has just embarked on a journey to take him across the United Arab Emirates in a solar-powered wheelchair.

Haidar will travel over 350km in an effort to promote renewable energy and during his 11 day journey, he'll be stopping off at schools, universities and community groups to display the technology.

47 year old Haidar is no stranger to world records. He already currently holds the record for the longest distance in a motorised solar powered wheelchair, set recently when he travelled for 14 hours non-stop from Masdar City to Sharjah.

The wheelchair was developed in collaboration with Masdar and has a maximum speed of 15–20 km/h. The solar wheelchair is equipped with four deep cycle batteries, and even in cloudy weather provide enough power for up to 6 hours of travel. Aside from charging the batteries, the overhead solar panels also offer shade to the driver.

Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy initiative, is sponsoring Haidar on his journey. "Masdar is very proud to sponsor Haidar and his mission to inspire millions of people across the UAE.We share passion and commitment for renewable energy and sustainable use of resources", said Dr Nawal Al Hosany, Director of Sustainability at Masdar.

With a goal of helping people with reduced mobility using clean power sources, Haidar would like to see his solar powered wheelchair developed for the commercial market. You can follow his journey and leave messages for Haidar via his web site.


UAE set Solar Powered Wheelchair World Record 2010 Video

Source - worldrecordsnews

Fastest Woman in the World on a Motorcycle, Leslie Porterfield Guinness World Record

Leslie Porterfield is breaking stereotypes and records almost every time she gets on a motorcycle. “She's hot, fast and fearless”. Porterfield even has the nicknames to go with it like "Speed Queen" and "Dallas Diva", say her friends.

But, her official title is "Fastest Woman in the World on a Motorcycle."

Porterfield said, "My top average through the mile is 240 miles-per-hour".

Her top official speed at the Bonneville Salt Flats that got her into the Guinness Book of World Records is 232 miles-an-hour.

"I get a whole lot of people tell me that I'm crazy," Porterfield said. "And, they're probably right. Actually, I know they're right."

It all started when she was 16 in the Dallas suburb of Flower Mound.

Porterfield said, "It was more of a fluke". "I purchased my first bike from a neighbor. It was an old beat up machine. I just thought it would be neat."

And, she says no one was going to stop her.

"I think part of the reason I was so determined to ride was because everybody said at 16 I wouldn't be able to ride this motorcycle," Porterfield said. "There is just no way I would ever be able to ride it."

Well, that fluke encounter with a motorcycle turned into fate as her passion started her ride into the history books, along with a few trips to the courthouse.

"I got a few speeding tickets when I was younger," Porterfield said. "(Then) a friend of mine convinced me to get out on the track."

She started racing at 19. Then she eventually started her own motorcycle shop in Dallas called High Five Cycles. In 2006, she built her first superbike. In 2007, she went for her first record.

"2007 didn't go so well," Porterfield said. "I actually didn't break any records. I broke seven ribs, punctured a lung and had a concussion and I came off the bike at a little over 100 miles-an-hour and had a pretty bad accident."

Her body was broken, but not her confidence. She rebuilt her bike and her dream a year later.

"In 2008, my first record was 209 miles-an-hour which got me into the Bonneville 200 mile-an-hour club," Porterfield said. "The first woman on a motorcycle to do so, which is a huge accomplishment."

Then in 2009 she hit 232 miles-an-hour.

"It's a long time at wide open," Porterfield said. "It's a big test on the machine and it's big test on the rider. Things go by really fast."

Her life has been going even faster ever since with fashion photo shoots and bike building, along with a little time for family and hanging out with her boyfriend.

And when asked if her boyfriend rides she said, "Yes, he sure does." But, can he beat her in a race? "NO, he knows that I'm faster than him," Porterfield said. "But, he's really gracious about it too. It doesn't bother him at all."

Now she has her eyes on another record that has nothing to do with gender.

"I'd love to have the top record," Porterfield said. "I'd like to be the fastest person in the world on a motorcycle."

To do that, she'll have to go faster than 254 miles-an-hour. The fast money says she'll do it.

"It's been an amazing experience," Porterfield said. "I'm really living a dream."
Current or prior Motorcycle Land Speed records in 4 classes:

    * FIM Mile Record Class MPS-BF 2000 at 232.522
    * FIM Mile Record Class P-P 1000 at 192.930
    * FIM Kilometer Record P-P 1000 at 193.077
    * FIM Kilometer Record Class MPS-BF 2000 at 232.492
    * AMA Record Class MPS-BF 2000 at 232.523
    * AMA Record Class P-P 1000 at 192.930
    * SCTA Record Class M-BF 1350 at 209.398 AMA APS-BF 1350 at 234.0
    * TOP speed: 246.6mph
Video of World Fastest Woman on a Motorcycle Guinness World Record set by Leslie Porterfield

Source - world records news

World's Oldest Wing Walker, Thomas Lackey - Guinness World Records Day 2010

Thomas Lackey (UK, b. 22 May 1920), oldest wing walker in the World, who has completed a wing walk across Cirencester, Gloucestershire, at the age of 90 years and 5 months, for Guinness World Records Day 2010.

Take a Look at World oldest wing walker Guinness World Records 2010 Video


Source - world records news

World’s Largest T-shirt Guinness World Record by Qatar Petroleum Company

Qatar Petroleum Company (Qapco) yesterday uncovered the world’s largest t-shirt, entering the Guinness Book of World Records.

The event was the latest show of support for the Qatar 2022 World Cup Bid ahead of FIFA’s announcement of the host nations for 2018 and 2022 on December 2.

The biggest t-shirt the world was shown at Aspire Zone, and the event was attended by Qapco officials, Qatar 2022 bid officials as well as members of the public and a judge from the Guinness Book of World Records.

The previous world’s largest t-shirt was verified by Guinness World Records in September of this year in South Africa.

The 2,782 sq m shirt which is housed in an airport in Johannesburg occupies the same area as 10 tennis courts and is big enough for some 16,692 people to stand upon.

The area of Qapco’s t-shirt is 3,516.25 sq m and is made of cotton.

Qapco board director and general manager, Mohamed Yousef al-Mulla expressed his pride at the achievement and highlighted the importance of supporting the Qatar 2022 bid.

He said of the bid that, this will be an opportunity to the rest of the world to get a better understanding, not just of Qatar, but the whole region, its people and its culture.

Al-Mulla stated, “Qapco wanted to find a way to support the bid and the community, and had decided that this world record attempt would be the ideal way to do so”.

He told, “The six-tonne t-shirt had been produced in China before being transported to Doha and its location at Aspire Zone”.

Al-Mulla said, “The t-shirt was kept at Aspire yesterday, but will be housed at the Museum of Islamic Art in the future”.

Gareth Deaves from Guinness World Records stated, “The t-shirt had been verified as being a real t-shirt before it was officially measured”.

“I’m happy to announce that we have a new world record measuring 72.2m by 48.7m,” said Deaves adding “congratulations to Qapco and congratulations to Qatar.”

Director of communications for the 2022 bid, Nasser al-Khater thanked Qapco for their efforts in supporting the bid, and praised the whole country for getting involved with Qatar’s efforts to host the World Cup.

“With just 10 days until the announcement we are feeling the pressure and the excitement,” he said, adding “I hope that next time I speak to you we will be the winners of the race.”

VIPs and officials signed the t-shirt last night after al-Mulla was presented with a certificate by Deaves.

The evening was a celebration of the bid and the impact it has had on corporate organisations getting involved with the project.

And the buzz around the world’s largest t-shirt was all about December 2 and whether the day will bring good news to Qatar.

Source - world records news

Troy Polamalu's Highest Insured Hair

Troy Polamalu: two-time Super Bowl winner, five-time Pro Bowl selection, and one of the best defenders in the National Football League.

Now, the Pittsburgh Steelers safety can add one more notch to his belt: owner of the Guinness World Records mark for the highest insured hair at $1 million (£622,713).
The nearly 3-foot-long locks were insured at Lloyd's of London by Procter and Gamble shampoo brand Head & Shoulders on 30 August 2010. Polamalu has not cut his hair since 2000 as a tribute to his Samoan ancestors and has served as a Head & Shoulders spokesman for two years.

I had a chance to sit down with Troy for a minute after presenting him with a certificate for his achievement. Also, be sure to check out videos below of my presenting Troy with his newest recognition and the commercial that is making his million-dollar head of hair famous.

How does it feel to be recognized by Guinness World Records for your highest insured hair? It’s a pretty unique record and it’s all yours to have.
You’re right, it’s a tremendous honor. People have won Super Bowls before and people have been to Pro Bowls and been All-Pro before but to be the one and only is a very special and unique feeling.

Did you ever think that the hair growing from your head would get you recognition?
Absolutely not. You know, what’s happened in my life is extremely unreal to me.
So you’ve won two Super Bowls, you’ve been to the Pro Bowl five times. What’s the plan for your GWR certificate?Honestly, I don’t know. I think if you walked into my house you wouldn’t see that I’m a football player at all, but it’s definitely going to go up somewhere special.
This puts you in a group with a lot of different people – David Beckham getting his legs insured, Keith Richards having his hands insured – how does it feel to be a part of that kind of group that you’re not normally associated with?
I never thought about it that way. I guess if you put all of our body parts together you’d have one expensive human being, that’s for sure!

You didn’t get your record in time to get into the 2011 Guinness World Records book, but you’ve had a chance to look through it, what are your thoughts?
I think I’d like to get my record next to the longest female beard, that’s pretty impressive. It’s really cool, I just opened up to this section [in the book] that I think I would go in with human beings and their hair and it’s pretty cool.

Here's a clip of Troy getting his Guinness World Records certificate:

Source - community.guinnessworldrecords

Longest non-stop Double Track Cable Car

On 23 October 2010, a beautiful and remote corner of southern Armenia, I had the pleasure to to seal with a Guinness World Records certificate the extensive efforts undertaken by National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia to open its ancient Tatev Monastery to larger flows of visitors and encourage the revival of tourism and development in the region.

The new $13-million, double track Tatev Aerial Tramway, part of the $50-million Tatev Revival Project led by the public-private National Competitiveness Foundation, now connects the village of Halizor with the medieval Tatev Monastery in a non-stop, 5,752 m (18,871 ft) 11-minutes journey, offering a spectacular journey across the Vorotan River Gorge, with its deepest drop at 360 meters (1,181 ft).

On my way to Tatev, I had a first-hand experience of the secludedness of the monastery, which is bautifully perched on a green hilltop. The car journey up the hill took almost an hour, with the scenic road winding around the mountain in a succession of curves and turns. For the locals and visitors alike, thanks to the Tatev Aerial Tramway, there is now an easier, more comfortable option, which has the added benefit of offering a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding area.

The design process and foundation work for the aerial tramway began in 2009, with its opening ceremony and the official launch of the Tatev Revival Project on 16 October 2010. The aerial tramway is supported by three towers between its two terminals. One terminal is on a hill overlooking the village of Halidzor and the other is near Tatev Monastery, on the road to Tatev village. At top speed, the tramway will travel at 37 kilometers per hour, with the two cabins (each with the capacity to hold 25 people) operating at once and travelling in opposite directions. There are six cables altogether (three per cabin, with two cables suspending and one cable pulling each cabin), each uniquely built for the specifications of this project.

Source - community.guinnessworldrecords

Largest Food Court

The Tivoli Dome, Cairo, Egypt, is attempting to achieve a Guinness World Records title for the Largest Food Court in the world.
The adjudication ceremony will be held on the night of the 26th of November at 8:00 pm in Tivoli Dome, which is located at 70 Omar Ibn El Khattab Street, Almaza Area, Heliopolis. Tivoli Dome is a stand-alone food court on a 5,700 square metre piece of land and can seat up 2,100 guests at the same time, and can host many more.

Tivoli Dome has an average of 7,000 visitors walking in daily (recorded by an electronic gate at the entrance), this number reaches up to 9,000 on weekends and the maximum number of guests visiting Tivoli Dome on one given day (a public holiday) was 10,000 guests.
Tivoli Dome is inspired by perfection and serves as a place for Cairo’s high society to socialize and enjoy a private meal at one of its 16 international restaurants and cafes. The  international restaurants and cafes housed in Tivoli Dome are: Outback Steakhouse; Chili's; The Noodle House; Starbucks Coffee; Cedars; Coffeeshop Company; Café Etoile; Tres Bon; Crave; Mori Sushi & Grill; Pascussi Café; Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf; Beans, Pies & Cookies; Cilantro; Burger King and Venezia.
Tivoli Dome has the biggest outdoor LED screen within Egypt at 20 meters (5mX4m), a special channel with music video clips is broadcasted directly from the states and major soccer games are broadcasted for guests and fans to enjoy.

Tivoli Dome is home to a vast array of guests of all ages and tastes. Since its grand opening in September of 2009, it has attracted a crowd that can truly appreciate the venue’s delicious food, attention to detail and insistence on offering only the highest quality available. Tivoli Dome is considered to be a popular place for Cairo’s musicians, stars, and elite; a place to gather and meet over a cup of coffee or a gourmet meal and enjoy the outdoor weather and beautiful scenery.
Tivoli Dome was founded and created by the Chairman of Spear International who was deeply touched by the social life in Lazio region of Italy, where Tivoli is located. In an effort to recreate that atmosphere he designed and built Tivoli Dome in homage to the social life he had once enjoyed during a summer holiday. He worked round the clock with his team to build his dream and since its grand opening Tivoli Dome has attracted a crowd that can truly appreciate the fine foods, relaxing ambience indoors and outdoors and painstaking details.

Tivoli Dome is only the first of many Dome projects to come; Zayed Dome will be open on 11th November 2011, followed shortly by Maadi Dome and many more to come locally in Egypt and internationally as well.

Source - community.guinnessworldrecords

Over 1 Lakh Kidney Stones Removed From Single Kidney Guinness World Record by Dr. Ashish Rawandale-Patil

Dr Ashish Rawandale-Patil, urologist from Dhule, Maharashtra, India has got place in Guinness Book of World Records for removing a record number of 172,155 kidney stones from a single kidney.

Doctor, Ashish removed the stones from a single kidney of his patient Dhanraj Wadile on 8 December last year at the Institute of Urology at Dhule.

Before approaching Doctor Mr.Wadile Owner of a betel shop, 45 from Shahada town was suffering the pains for six months.

Rawandale-Patil said, "Wadile was suffering from severe lower abdominal pain. He had consulted many doctors and was on medication for months but could not get relief. We found Wadile had Pelvi-Ureteric Junction obstruction of the left kidney".

Rawandale-Patil determined to post the patient for surgery. After getting medical fitness of the patient, then he made a detailed plan of surgery as the patient was observed to be having large number of renal stones.

Rawandale-Patil told, "The doctors who helped me operate upon Wadile could not believe the number of stones we removed after the surgery that lasted for four hours".

The stones were mainly made up of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate and were one millimetre to 2.5 cm big.

Dr Ashish stated that getting the exact count of the stones was going to be another major job. I decided to call for a diamond worker, who regularly counts and verifies diamonds and teamed him up with one of my doctors.

Dr Said that it took three hours a day for a month to finish counting the stones.

The doctor said "I then wrote to the Guinness Book of World Records and they asked me to send the stones and related documents. They verified it and wrote back to me in October telling me that I have made a record". He added that I got the hard copy of the certificate only a couple of days back.

"This is an important milestone for me and my institute. It is the combined effort of my team that could take this small town to an international level", said Rawandale-Patil.

Source - world records news