Could you set a record?

Some people will do anything for attention - even if it means looking like an idiot in the eyes of others.

I used to get a kick out of looking through the Guiness Book of World Records and seeing the weird things that people want to be recognized for - and I wonder what the parents (no matter what age) of those making their way into the book think of their sons or daughters.

There is Ken Glossop of England who ate 36 cockroaches in one minute to get into the book. Did his parents have a bug infestation problem and raise him on bugs, or what? Probably not. It seems to me that he just likes disgusting things. It is reported he also, for attention, put 47 rats down his pants on a British TV show. His friends and family are now used to his freaky acts and he says, "If I were to actually do something normal then they would react!"

And speaking of diets, Michel Lotito of France has been dining on metal and glass since 1959. Gastroenterologists have described his ability to consume two pounds of metal per day as "unique." He claims bananas and hard-boiled eggs make him sick.

Now here's a guy that really knows how to use his head. England's John Evans balanced a car on his head for 33 seconds. (Imagine the headache he must have had!) Apparently he's balanced people, books and beers on his head but if the wind would come up, it could be the end for him!

And "ears" to Zafer Gill of Pakistan who lifted gym weights hanging from a clamp attached to his right ear; he held the weight for seven seconds. Nice earring, dude!

Tedious tasks such as clipping fingernails and shaving legs has also gotten people into the record book.

Lee Redmond who lives in America hasn't cut her fingernails since 1979 and at the time she made the book, her fingernails were 24 feet, 7.9 inches long. So, what happens if she has to scratch her eye? Youch!

An Australian missed a hair when she was shaving her legs and allowed it to grow to nearly 5 inches in length. Sounds gross but it was enough to make her known.

Do you think you have what it takes to break any of these records or to doing something just as bizzare to make a name for yourself? Then contact the Guiness Book of World Records and let them know if you want to break an existing record or if you want to try something that hasn't been attempted, the suggestion needs to be passed on to the research department where it will be decided if it's something that they're interested in establishing as a new record category.

If you want to do something stupid and think making it into the Guiness Book is going to make you rich, forget it. No money is paid to record breakers.

"Our record holders are fueled not by financial gain but the satisfaction of setting, achiving and surpassing their goals - AND receiving the official Guiness World Records certificate."

Exciting! Phink of all the conversations you could be the subject of...

. * Reach the columnist at lglawe@stormlakepilottribune.