Kookiness Abounds on Guinness World Records Day

World records always intrigue us. Sometimes it's because we are amazed at the feats, and sometimes it's because the records are just plain strange. Today, we are already seeing a little of both as a number of wacky world records are broken across the globe as part of the fifth annual Guinness World Records Day.

In England, 59-year-old Londoner Manjit Singh earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Record for pulling a double-decker bus 23 yards ... with his hair. Ow! For Singh, the record-breaking hair pull was vindication for a failed attempt to pull a double-decker bus the farther distance ever ... using only his ears. Double Ow!

"I will never be discouraged by defeat, because I know that success can be waiting around the next corner," he told Reuters. "The only way to get there is to try again and stay positive." (Sturdy hair follicles don't hurt, either.)

London can boast other record-breaking events today. During this morning's rush hour 112 commuters coordinated themselves to set a record for the most people hugging for one minute. Meanwhile, Londoner Shaun Jones gained fame for the fastest hot water bottle burst at 18.81 seconds.

Countries throughout Europe clearly got in the record-breaking mood. In Italy, one resident set a new fastest time for eating a bowl of pasta: one minute, 30 seconds. (It's so fitting this happened in Italy.) In Norway, the largest-even gingerbread man was crafted, weighing in at 1,435 pounds and sure to give kids nightmares for life. In Finland, people from 76 nationalities squeezed into a single sauna to break a record, although in the wake of what happened in Sedona, perhaps not the most advisable one.

Alas, despite all the victories, not all record-breaking attempts proved successful. In Australia, residents aimed to break the largest bikini parade record, but sadly learned 228 people wouldn't cut it.

There's always next year, Aussies. It's good to have goals.

Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Rustamov via Wikimedia Commons.