A Chinese man has pierced his head with 2008 needles to commemorate the forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.
Dr Wei piercing his head
In a bizarre publicity stunt, Dr Wei Shengchu pierced the decorative needles in his head, face, hands and chest in the five colours of the Olympic rings.
The picture of Dr Wei’s was taken in Nanning, Southern China, and demonstrates the patriotic fervour among the Chinese people in the build up to September’s Games.
Dr Wei’s latest stunt was not the first time he had gained notoriety for sticking pins in his body…
In 2004 he secured a Guinness World Record after piercing 1790 needles into his head. [Telegraph, via Asianoffbeat]
What a freakish way to celebrate the Olympic Games.
Usain Bolt of Jamaica set a world record in the men’s 100m, clocking 9.72 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix meeting at Icahn Stadium in New York on Saturday (May 31).
Bolt bettered the mark of 9.74s set by countryman Asafa Powell last September.
Usain Bolt with his proud record (Image from
Xinhuanet)
I could still remember the days when people said that breaking the 9.80s barrier was impossible without drugs… but now it seems like 9.6x secs is something achievable.
Congrats Bolt, good job, and a fitting name.
It has been a busy week for Mount Everest.
Last Thursday (May 22) a record 86 mountaineers reached the 8,848m (29,029ft) summit of the world’s highest mountain. Among them is 47-year-old Appa Sherpa, who broke his own record for the most ascents after climbing the mountain for the 18th time. [BBC]
Bahadur Sherchan, a 76-year-old Nepalese man, has become the oldest person to conquer the mountain. He broke the record on Sunday (May 25) previously held by Japanese Katsusuke Yanagisawa, who climbed the mountain at age of 71 in May 2007.
The youngest Everest conqueror is Ming Kipa Sherpa who made it to the top in May 2003 when she was 15. Yes, a SHE. [Guardian]
Today (May 29) is the 55th anniversary of the first successful ascent to Everest summit. New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first to reach the peak in 1953.
A TV crew in Japan has captured a 45-second glide believed to be the longest recorded flight of a flying fish…
490 Ferrari sport cars have set a new Guinness World Record at the Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka, Japan, on May 11, for the largest parade of Ferrari cars.
The Ferrari cars on the track before the start of the parade (Image from
Eastday)
The Italian cars were required to parade for two miles while keeping the distance between each car for no more than two car-lengths apart to set the record.
The previous record was 385 at the Silverstone circuit, UK, in June 2007.
Chilli, a 6ft 6in tall Friesian bullock, is as big as a small elephant.
His owners have contacted the Guinness Book of Records who are currently assessing his credentials and comparing them to other big bovines.
The 9-year-old bullock lives at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary in Chard, Somerset, UK. Despite his grand stature, Chille only grazes on grass during the day and enjoys the occasional swede as a treat.
The closest in height (in Britain) to Chilli was one recorded in Dorset at 6ft 1in in 2007. The current British record holder is The Colonel at 6ft 5in tall, but he died in 2005.
The world’s tallest bovine at the moment is 6ft 8ins Fiorino, who lives in Italy.
I thought it was a photoshopped image when I first saw the picture… it’s just so huge. Can’t believe that there is still another bull that’s taller than him.
The Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel, was officially opened on yesterday (April 15) by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long.
Located at Marina Bay, the Singapore Flyer comprises a 150-metre-diameter wheel and a total height of 165 metres (equivalent to ~ 42 stories high), which is about 30m taller than the famous London Eye and 5m taller than the previous record holder, The Star of Nanchang in Jiangxi, China.
The Burj Dubai has become the tallest man-made structure in the world.
Burj Dubai as of early March 2008 (Image from
Wiki)
According to developer Emaar Properties PJSC, the Burj Dubai has surpassed the height of KVLY-TV mast, a 628.8 metres television transmitting mast in North Dakota, USA.
The Burj Dubai is expected to be over 700m in height upon completion. The developer is still keeping the final height as classified to avoid competition from other tallest-buildings-wannabe currently in construction.
