When the Guinness Book of World Records was first conceived I’ll bet the creator had no idea of what a long and sustaining business he’d have. What started out as a way to settle arguments in ‘pubs’ across Britain and Ireland by recording facts and record feats has exploded into a world wide sensation. The ‘book’ itself is also part of its own world record in that it is the most stolen book from libraries and that it is the best selling copyrighted series of all time. It’s been around since 1954 and it seems almost everybody wants to be in the listings and will do just about anything to get in.
This fevered competition covers almost every aspect of life and human activity. Everything from fastest man to egg tossing records are kept in the pages of this coveted ledger but with one record set it seems that someone comes along vying to break it and be in next years addition. Recently on the news here in Florida a little boy set the record for most pairs of underwear put on at once. This hilarious sight of 215 Fruit of the Looms bulging out as wide as a Mooses butt and the kid having to hang onto the adults for balance was pretty funny. His only comment when he was being interviewed is that he was worried someone would come along before the August cut off date and usurp him from his rightful record and they would make the pages of history, not him.
That seems to be the theme for the record setting crowds and so Guinness Book of Records has to be republished once per year just to keep up. There is one conspicuous record however that’s been around for quite a long time as records go. Ken Edwards of Glossop, Derbyshire, England ate 36 cockroaches in one minute on the set of The Big Breakfast, London, England on March 5, 2001 and it seems no one has been able to break that record since. Now I can’t imagine why this record hasn’t been broken yet?
There’s the eating champs who woof down dozens of hot dogs and marshmallows so I don’t think it’s a matter of needing a more skillful approach. I’m not sure of the rules but you should be able to have a drink in between to help these crustaceous creatures go down a little easier. Have you ever stepped on a roach? They’re just all goo and slime so it seems like you’d have no problem chugging down more than a mere 36. One strategy might be to put them in your mouth head first so you ensure that they wiggle down your throat and not try to crawl back up your tongue. Now their legs might get stuck in the crannies of your teeth but a quick chomp and that hardly seems like
something that would slow you down. Besides, they have 18 knees so it’s not like you’re being overly cruel if a few of em snap off as you try to swallow this exoskeleton filled with bug guts. Hey and they actually have a greasy/waxy coating over that protective shell so there’s another distinct advantage. Still this record stands after 9 years and nobody even wants to challenge it. I just can’t figure it out.
Well, the cutoff date is fast approaching and it looks like Mr. Edwards record will be safe for another year. They say that records are meant to be broken but perhaps this is one will always stand because it seems no one wants to even give it a try. I guess you have your reasons for passing up this glorious and seemingly easy title and I must confess I don’t think I’ll have at it either. So, tune in tomorrow for another quality article on pestcemetery.com as we strive to bring you all things pest related knowing that you just don’t get this vital information from anyone else. I’ve got to get going for now, I’m off to the store, I’ve got some underwear to buy, that kid is going down.
