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 #1 leader in meta-records (09 May 2006 at 13:30)
This morning David Blaine failed to take the world record in competitive apnea, perhaps because he spent 177 hours underwater beforehand to melt his skin and give himself liver failure and then decided also to perform an escape routine while holding his breath. Thing is, David, why do you need to be such an overachiever? Why not, like Ashrita Furman, simply go for more obscure records like the longest distance walked by a person balancing a milk bottle on their head (sic) and most hopscotch games in 24 hours? This kind of nickel-and-diming netted Mr. Furman the record for most Guinness records in different categories, and once you start getting records about how many records you have, it's like the gift that keeps on giving.
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t		 Jessica 8 (nelson-laptop.lrdc.pitt.edu) – 05.09.06 14:45:41
You know, most of those records sound kinda lame, but then you see stuff like fastest 10k sack race, and I'm thinking I can barely even run 10k. It must be really really tiring to jump it in a sack! And who would even race against you? Is 10k sack racing a common company picnic activity? What kind of time do you need to get the record? So I tried googling "10 km sack race" and only got 3 hits, and I think they were all for this Furman guy. Apparently his time was 1:25:10. My time RUNNING was like 1:02:00. So that's some pretty awesome sack racing. This one I'm a little confused about -- fastest pogo stick ascent of Canada's CN tower. Apparently they mean up stairs. But why is this a world record? Like, okay, the 10k sack race was kind of weird, but I know people do 10ks and people do sack races. But I never knew people were just itching to pogo stick up the CN tower stairs. Does he just do stuff and then they make records for it? Most milk crates balanced on chin? Like could I get the world record in making the most dots on my knee with a pen?
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t		 Stephen (cymbal.pc.cs.cmu.edu) – 05.09.06 15:02:57
I like longest continuous somersaulting. Reminds me of <a href="http://homestarrunner.com/sbemail87.html">this</a> strongbad email. Ready and 1 and set and go!
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t		 Stephen (cymbal.pc.cs.cmu.edu) – 05.09.06 15:04:24
Aw, no html in comments?
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t		 Anonymous (chiggins.ce.cmu.edu) – 05.09.06 15:07:34
I have to say, I like this from the wikipedia article on the guinness book of world records, it is "a highly-illustrated, colourful product, targeted at boys in the 9-13 age group" and "The book is usually published just ahead of the Christmas buying season in most markets."

During my youth I was obsessed with weird true story tales and recall checking out a huge tome full of weird stories including that of feral children, like these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amala_and_Kamala

Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
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t		 Tom 7 (gs82.sp.cs.cmu.edu) – 05.09.06 16:55:34
j8: that's basically what I was implying; that there is no actual competition for these records. I think that, at a minimum, your feat needs to be somewhat amazing. Honestly I don't think 1:25 10K sack race would be out of my ability with a little training, though I haven't sack raced in a while. ;)

s: the prohibition on href is to prevent linkspam!

c: Yeah, I used to collect each year's Gunness book, approximately in the 9-13 age range! I was really bummed when they switched to the glossy holographic version.
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t		 Tadbot (c-68-80-152-28.hsd1.pa.comcast.net) – 05.09.06 20:32:06
In anticipation for the upcoming Sin: Episodes game, I was looking at the website for the anime based on the game, and saw the dbz "Secret Labs" font used on the first desktop here:

http://www.sinthemovie.com/main/extras/extras.html
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t		 Tom 7 (pool-70-20-105-11.pitt.east.verizon.net) – 05.09.06 23:46:08
Wow, you're not kidding! I never thought I'd see that font used in all seriousness. Nice spotting!!
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t		 jcreed (pool-68-162-183-244.pitt.east.verizon.net) – 05.11.06 09:05:58
And only one link away from that Wikipedia page is the one for Pogo Stick, which mentions Illah Nourbaksh et al's "BowGo"
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t		 Tadbot (c-68-80-152-28.hsd1.pa.comcast.net) – 05.13.06 19:52:23
more tom7fontspotting -
someone's "ransom" tattoo:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=21237455&imageID=404161971&MyToken=2e257927-b1ec-4f15-986a-041f47d8aea8
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t		 Tom 7 (h-67-100-132-190.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 05.13.06 23:29:07
That friend deleted his account already, it seems!
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t		 Tadbot (c-68-80-152-28.hsd1.pa.comcast.net) – 05.14.06 02:40:41
Hmmmm, it's still showing up for me. Maybe delete that "&MyToken..." stuff?
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t		 Tom 7 (h-67-100-132-190.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 05.14.06 09:47:23
Oh, I had to log in first. What a terrible error message!

Anyway, thanks for the link! It's not the first time someone has permanently etched a drawing of mine into his or her body (see e.g., http://rog.gameslate.com/gallery/branding) but it is fascinating when it happens.
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t		 Jessica 8 (c-67-171-71-227.hsd1.pa.comcast.net) – 05.14.06 13:38:12
I think you should go for the sack race world record then... it would be something to do anyway!
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t		 Tom 7 (h-67-100-132-190.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 05.14.06 14:11:15
Anyone want to train with me?
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t		 Max (c-71-235-198-237.hsd1.ma.comcast.net) – 05.14.06 15:02:42
I'll be the assistant coach, or something. I mean I don't want to actually have to step inside a sack, but I want to marginally provide support in some way is what I'm saying.
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t		 Tom 7 (pool-70-20-111-37.pitt.east.verizon.net) – 05.14.06 23:44:12
There's no 'assistant' in 'team', max.
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t		 Max (c-71-235-198-237.hsd1.ma.comcast.net) – 05.15.06 17:34:33
There's no 'Guinness world record for the fastest 10km sack race time' in 'team', either.

But, there is 'assistant coach' and 'team' in 'Guinness world record for the fastest 10km sack race time'. Makes you think.
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