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• Subtle Words Cocktail

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    Author: B.D.Bhargava Preface Nothing is said now that hath not been said before; I am not being modest, whatever will be put here must have been said quite often, if not in print certainly in family conversation, in groups, in close circles etc. The only claim to originality, that I would like to make, is about BACRONYMS. They are my idea and my creation. I can claim that this is the world's first and only Dictionary of its kind. More about it I will place in the introduction. Also some of the words and sometimes the language may look odd, that will be because I would be reproducing ad-verbatim things of the past era. Words have been selected from the Oxford English Dictionary. INTRODUCTION Let me start with my own exhortation of the Dawn: - HYMN TO THE DAY The DAY dawns and brings with it new vistas! It is for us to explore and discover what we please? Some of us will probably make hay while the sun shines, While others would just let the opportunity slip away! Some of us would grab the chances and achieve success, But most of us will while away time in idle thoughts! Our excuse - we are busy with our routine activities? So, In time take time while time doth last, For time is no time when time is past!!! Now let me talk about Bacronyms: Have you ever thought of EAR as the 'Earliest Audio Receiver'? Or, EASY as 'Effortless And Simple, Yea'. And NEW 'Not Ever Witnessed'. I call this word play, BACRONYMS. Well I take it you must be familiar with Acronyms. In acronyms we normally pick the initial letters of the name of an institution, enterprise etc., and form a word, which may have no meaning taken by itself. But the word Bacronym, I am sure, most of you would be seeing for the first time. It is not a dictionary word. First of all let me explain to you my concept. I am going to form a phrase (like those illustrated above) using only the letters of the word itself (no more, no less) in their sequential order, so that the phrase yields one of the dictionary meanings of the word or its common usage. These can also be considered as hybrid of three types of wordplay. They are similar to bacronyms; they are essentially semantic spelling mnemonics; and they are also acrostics, in effect. Here are some more examples: Take BEST - doesn't it mean - By Every Standard Tops. WORDS - isn't it - What Objectively Record Definitive Speech. Take CRAM - ask any student, and he will say - Constantly Repeat And Memorize. CAGE - obviously it is - Captured Animals Guarded Enclosure. BEAR - if correctly put it is - Better Endure And Reconcile. BUT - well more often than not it means - Better Understand That. MAGIC - I believe it is merely - Mystery And Gimmickry In Collusion. CHAOS - It is just - Confusion Hyperactive At Operation Site. DREAMS - You can hardly disagree - Daringly Realistic Experiences Amidst Mystique Scenes. STOMACH - Ask anyone who has a stomach upset and he will painfully say - Sensitive, Turbulent Organ, Metabolism Activity Conducted Here. TABLEAU - Imagination running wild - Theatrical And Beautiful Looking Exposition Arranged Uncannily. In other words you can call my BACRONYMS an attempt to create a special dictionary or a work of literature for pure entertainment. I can confidently assert that if students/readers decide to go for this exercise – they would find it very thought provoking, it will enhance their interest in the English language and will certainly enlarge their vocabulary. Since one word has often more than one meaning, normally only one meaning can be incorporated. So you have plenty of scope to try your ingenuity and bring out the other meanings. In order to make it clear which meaning I have in mind I have classified the words under appropriate themes as far as practicable. Also in order to use as many words as possible, I have deliberately chosen uncommon words, wherever possible. I have also included some thought provoking items. I am sure after reading some of them you would like to add to what I have stated. I would welcome your additions. You may feel free to e-mail me at Subtle Words Cocktail: Schematic, Undoubtedly Bemusing, Truly Lively Expressions, What Ordinarily Record Definitive Speech, Conceptualized, Offering, Cosmetic, Knotty, Thoroughly, Appealing, Innovative Literature........................................ .................................... POWER OF ONE: One BABY can enliven our homes. One BELL can start a prayer. One BIRD can herald spring. One BLOT on your character can spoil your image. One CANDLE can light the hall. One FLOWER can kindle love. One GUST of wind can rain havoc. One HANDCLASP can lift a soul. One HEART can guide us to truth. One HOLE can empty a tank. One ray of HOPE can raise our spirits. One IDEA can make us stand apart from others. One INCIDENT can change our lives. One INVENTION can change our lifestyle. One LAUGH can conquer gloom. One LOOK can transform the mood. One PRAYER can lead us to Nirvana. One SIGN can lead us to our goal. One SMILE can start a friendship. One SONG can recall old memories. One SPARK can start a fire. One STAR can guide a ship. One STEP can begin a journey. One STIGMA can tarnish our character. One SUNBEAM can lift darkness. One TEAR can excite emotions. One THOUGHT can direct us to wisdom. One TIP can lead us to success. One TOUCH can heal a wound. One TREE can start a forest. One VOICE can brighten our day. One VOTE can change the fate of a Nation. One WORD of encouragement can be the key to ambition. One WRONG can result in our ruin. Overall One LIFE can make a difference to all it comes in contact with......................... BACRONYMS UNDER THEME ACTIVITY - AVER Affirm Vehemently, Emphatically Rather. BAR Block And Restrain. BASH Barbarically Attack, Seriously Hurt. BUG Brazenly Urge, Goad. BUMP Brake Unwarily; Mildly Push. CALL Come Asking Little Loudly. CLIP Conveniently Lock In Place. CURB Control, Unstintingly, Repugnant Behavior. DARE Defy And Ruggedly Express. DATE Dote Around Touching Erotically. DIG Doggedly Impact Ground. DONE I) Disposed Off Neatly, Enjoying. II) Dealt, Orders Neatly Executed. DRAG I) Doggedly Roll Along, Gaspingly. II) Draw Roughly, After Gripping. DROP Doubtlessly Released On Purpose. END Emphatically Notify – Desist. FIND First Investigate; Next Deliver. FLIT Flee Letting Insecurity Takeover. FOIL Frustrate Others’ Interference, Luckily. FREE Fortuitously Release, Ensuring, Escape. HALT Having A Little Trouble. JERK Jolt Energetically Roughly Kicking. JOKE Jesting Overbearingly Keenly Entertain. MAR Mastermind, Adverse Results. MEET Make Entry, Enable Togetherness. OVER Ongoing Visit Ends, Return. PACK Pile And Cautiously Keep. PEEP Painstakingly Eyeing, Enterprisingly Perceive. PICK Preference Indicate, Collect, Keep. PLOY Profuse Lip-service Outwitting You. PUT Place, Using This. REAP Realize Eventually, Actively Pursuing. RID Removal Is Deliberate. RIP Ruin Items Permanently. RUB Remove Using Brush. RUIN Render Unfit, Impairing Noticeably. RUSH Reach Up Stepping Hurriedly. SLAM Shut Loudly And Maniacally. SLIT Simply Leave In Tatters. SPIT Saliva Perversely, Impertinently, Throw. STIR Significant Trouble Inciting Rebellion. TRIM Transform Removing Irregularities Minutely. WADE Walk Across Difficult Expanse. WALK Waddle Along Little Keenly. WAY What Assertiveness Yields. WET Water Exposed Things. ABANDON Abruptly Betray And Nefariously Desert Or Neglect. ACTION Anticipating Certain Trouble Initiate Operation Now. ACCEPT Accord Consent, Clearly Expressing Pleasure Thank. BATTER Beastly Attack That Torments, Executed Remorselessly. CANCEL Confidently Annul Now, Consciously Exclude Logically. COLLECT Check Order List; Lift Everything Cited, Therein. COMPEL Contrive Obedience Making Persuasive Entreaties Lucidly. CONDEMN Considering Overall Nature Disapprove Exposing Machinations, Nastily. CONDUCT Confidently Oversee, Neatly Disposing Unanticipated Complications, Tactfully. CONSENT Concur Openly Now Supporting Every Novel Technique. CRUMPLE Crush Rapidly Using Manual Pressure, Leave Entwined. DABBLE Drift Along, Bit Brusquely, Lightly Engaged. DAMPER Diminishing Aftermath* Makes People Endure Risk. DEFEAT Daring Encounter Facilitates Early, Artistic, Triumph. DELIVER Distribute Entire Lot Identifying Various Eligible Recipients. DEPRIVE Deny, Extract Possessions, Rights Interfere Vexing Egoistically. DETECT Divine, Effectively Trace, Elaborately Concealed Things. DIRECT Discreetly Instruct Regarding Expeditiously Conducting Task. ENDORSE Enter Now Distinctly Offence Registered Stamping Entry. ESCAPE Exit Silently, Carefully Avoiding People Entirely. FINISH Firmly Indicate, Nay, Insist, Simply Hasten. FUTILE Forget, Useless Trying It, Literally Expendable. GATHER Get Articles, Thrown Hereabouts Earlier, Reassembled. GLANCE Gently Look And Notice Certain Essentials. GLIMPSE Glance Looking Intently, Moving Perpetually Sight Eventually. GRAPPLE Grimly Retaliate, Aggressively Push, Prod Lunging Energetically. HAMMER I) Hit After Making Maximum Effort Relentlessly. II) Hinder Activity, Maybe, Prevent Even Rowdily. HINDER Howsoever Impede, Needlessly Delay Execution Restlessly. HUSTLE Hurry, Unabashedly Steer Through Leading Eagerly. IMPEDE I) Interfere, Meddle, Purposely Endeavor Delay Even. II) Interfere, Meddle, Pursue Evil-mindedly, Delaying, Endeavor. INTRUDE Inquisitively Nip Through, Reach Unobtrusively, Deceptively Encroach. ISOLATE Inimically Separate Or Let Alone Totally Excommunicating. JUMBLE Just Unloosen, Mix Brusquely, Looking Expectantly. MANAGE Make Appropriate Noises And Get Established. PRONTO Promptly Rush Off Now, Timely Organize. PROTECT Plainly Remove Overt Threats Eliminating Current Tensions. PROTEST Pour Resentment, Often Taking Extreme Steps, Tumultuously. PROVIDE Procure Required Objects, Verify Items Deliver Early. ROUTINE Rendering Ordinary, Useful, Tasks, Inevitably, Necessary Everyday. SHARPEN Steadfastly Help Achieving Results. Positively. Exciting, SUPPORT Stand Uphold, Promote Particular Objective, Recommending Tacitly. TAMPER Twist And Manipulate, Possibly, Erasing Record. * Aftermath here means - unpleasant consequences...... ACTIVATE I) After Complete Testing Initiate Vital Actions, Timely Execute. II) Astutely Contribute Towards Initializing Venture, Assisting Tasks Execution. COMPRESS Contract, Often Meticulously Pushing, Reset, ensuring Space Saving. DIALOGUE Direct Interaction, Arguments, Luckily, Often Generating Understanding Eventually. ELECTION Explicitly Lets Every Contestant Tackle Individuals, Openly Nobbling. INCIDENT Ignominious, Noticeable, Clearly Irresponsibly Driven, Eventually Not Terrible. PERSUADE Painstakingly Explaining Rational Secure, Ultimately, Acceptance Desired, Explicitly. PURCHASE Pick-up Utilities Required, Charges Hand-over Assisting Smooth Exchange. SCAVENGE Search, Collect Anything Valuable Exploring Neglected Garbage, Earnestly. WITHDRAW When In Trouble, Hoping Deliverance, Retreat And Wait.............................................. .... ABERRATION Action Broadly Enigmatic, Rejecting Rational Approach, Tries Innovative Operations, Now. ANIMATION Artistic, Novel, Imaginative, Melodramatic Activities That Invite One’s Notice. COMPROMISE Considering Other Members Points, Respecting Opinions, Marginalizing Impact, Settle Everything. ERADICATE Effectively Remove And Destroy Immediately Causing Always-Total Extinction. PARTICIPATE Promptly Accepting Request Totally Involve Cheerfully In Proceedings And Truly Enjoy. SIMULTANEOUS Steps Initiated Methodically, Ultimately Linked Together And Neatly Expediting Our Utilitarian Schemes. Let us have a different type of interesting word-game? The most arrogant 1-letter word - 'I' Avoid It. The most pleasant 2-letter word 'We' Use It Often. The most poisonous '3' letter word 'Ego' Suppress It. The most used 4-letter word 'Love' Value It. The most pleasing 5-letter word 'Smile' Spread It. The most nonsensical 6 letter word 'Rumour' Bury It. The most sought after 7-letter word 'Success' Strive Towards It. The most undesirable 8-letter word 'Jealousy' Fight It. The most powerful 9-letters word 'Knowledge' Acquire It. The most essential 10-letter word 'Confidence' Win It. The most dangerous 11-letter word 'Provocation' Conquer It. The most desirable 12-letter word 'Perseverance' Cultivate It. The most indispensable 13-letter word 'Determination' Strengthen It. The most thought provoking 14-letter word 'Discrimination' Judiciously use it. The most desirable yet rarely followed 15-letter word 'Straightforward' Stick to it. Time to play with words in a different way - a number game: 1 word I am always receptive to – We. 2 words I always wait to hear - You too. 3 words I want always to echo - I love you. 4 words I am always eager to hear - I care for you. 5 words I always fear to hear - I miss you very much. 6 words that always delight me - Just be with me and relax. 7 words that always enliven my heart - The day dawns, we shall share together. 8 words that make my day wonderful - The day shall traverse with its sweet melodies. 9 words that bring peace - The night arrives, relax, and sleep soundly, enjoying sweet dreams. 10 words that I know to be true - God is in heaven watching all children of His land.............................................. . Now let us look at BACRONYMS under the theme ART, DRAMA, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT................ ACE Acknowledged Champion, Expert. ACT Astutely Copy Traits. ART Advertises Realistic Themes. BOW Bend Over Willingly. CUE Correct Understanding Enables. DIN Disorder, Immensely Noisy. HAT Hides Amazing Tricks. JOG Jostle Onwards Gradually. LAG Leave A Gap. OFF Obvious – Final Footwork. OPT Opinion Precisely Translate. PAD Protects Against Damage. RUN Rush Up Now. VIE Valiantly, Intelligently Engage. BALL Bounces And Lands Loudly. BETS Blithely Enchanted, Tries Speculation. CARD Creative Artist, Resolves Dilemma. CAST Competitive Artists Showing Talent. CLAP Cheer Loudly And Praise. DAIS Distinctly August, Imposing, Space. FEAT Flattering, Exceptional Accomplishment, Triumph. FILM Fantasy, Interfusing, Lively Mimicry. FLOP Film Low On Popularity. FOOL Fudge Or Outwit Light-heartedly. GALA Gathering Assuring, Lavish, Amusement. GAME* Gives, Audience, Maximum Entertainment. GOLF Gravitating Over Lambent Field. HAIL Hilariously Acclaim Intense Liking. JUDO Ju-jitsu’s, Universally Doted, Offshoot. JUMP Judiciously Unwind Maximizing Pounce. LEAP Lift Excitedly And Propel. PLAY Pastime, Leisure Activity Yearlong. POEM Portrays, Ostentatiously, Exotic Mood. POSE Pretend, Offering Sophisticated Explanation. RACE Run, Accelerate, Compete, Enthusiastically. SNAP Smile Naughtily And Photograph. STAR Superb, Talented, Artist Really. SWIM Stroke Where It Matters. TOSS Throw Offering Some Solace. WAFT With Alacrity, Float Through. WINS Wholesome Initiative Nets Success. ZOOM Zap, Often Outdistancing Miraculously. *Willing to go along............................................. ................................................ More BACRONYMS under the above theme - posted on 1.1.2008......................................... ADORN Artistically Decorate, Ornamentally Refurbish Nicely. AMUSE Almost Mocking Unabashedly, Somehow Entertain. BLARE Blow Loudly Almost Ruining Eardrums. CARVE Cut Artistically Rock Venturing Eclectically. CHESS Contest Having, Enticing, Sacrificial, Stratagems. CLOWN Comical Looks, Oafish, Wildly Naughty. DANCE Divine, Aesthetic, National, Cultural Exposition. DRAWN Divided Result Actual Winner, None. FARCE Funny, Admittedly Ridiculous, Comical Enactment. GAMES Glamour, Artistry, Mobility, Entertainment, Satisfying. HAILS Highly Appreciative, Instantly Lauds Sincerely. MAGIC Mystery And Gimmickry In Collusion. MARCH Move About Ritually Clinking Harmoniously. MIMIC Mocking Impassively, Majestically Imitating, Captivate. MUSIC Melodious Unruffled Sound, Is Celestial. PIANO Pacesetter Instrument; Accentuates Natural Overtones. SCALE Successfully Climb And Look Elated. SINKS Safety Ignored, Not Knew Swimming. SLIDE Swiftly Leave Inching Downwards Excitedly. SPREE Sudden Pampering, Rather Extravagant Entertainment. STAGE Show Theatre, Also, Grand, Entertainer. STORY Some Telling Observations Regarding Yesteryears. SWING Sway Widely In Neat Gyrations. TRACE Tenaciously Roll And Copy Exactly. VOCAL Voice, Obtrusively, Casting Aspersions Lavishly. WAGER Wantonly Adopt Gambling Expecting Riches...................... More BACRONYMS under the above theme - posted on 2.1.2008......................................... BRIDGE Best Regulated Inductive, Deft, Game, Entertains. CAMERA Captures All Moments Expertly, Really Amazingly. CENSOR Critically Examines Neutralizing Squarely, Objectionable, References. COMEDY Confluence Of Melodramatic Events Delighting You. CREATE Conceive Romantically, Execute Artistically, Tastefully Exhibit. CRITIC Censors Religiously, Indiscriminately Testing Intelligibly Comments. DESIGN Distinctly Evolve Some Intricate Graphics Now. GAMBIT Gradual Advance Masking Brilliantly Integrated Traps. GAMBLE Go Ahead Making Bets Literally Everywhere. INVENT Identifying Nascent Visions Evolve Novel Things. KARATE Key Acquisition Roundly Assists Tackling Evildoers. MELODY Musical Effort, Lavishly Oriented, Delighting You. PARODY I) Plagiarize And Recast Often Daringly Yodeling. II) Phrases Altered, Rhyming Overall, Delights You. PROMPT Placidly Remind Or Manipulate Performance, Trickily. PUZZLE Ponder, Unabashedly Zesting, Zealously Listen Earnestly. REGALE Revel Enthusiastically, Generating Atypical Lively Entertainment. RIDDLE Resolving It Demands Deft, Logical Examination. SEQUEL Successive Episodes Quizzically Unfolding Events, Literally. SPRING Suitably Positioning, Rising Instantaneously, Neatly Go. SPRINT Some People Run In Neat Treads. STUNTS Scary, Tantalizing, Unnerving, Nifty, Tricky Show. THRILL Tempestuous, High-spirited, Rapturous Incident, Lusty Living. UMPIRE Unusually Meticulous Person, Imposes Rules Expertly.......................................... .................................. More BACRONYMS under the above theme - posted on 3.1.2008........................................ APPLAUD Ardently Praise Performance, Loudly Acclaim Utmost Delightfully. CAPTAIN Conducts Affairs Promoting Teamwork And Inspires Nobly. CHARADE Clues Highlight And Relate Acting Dramatically, Extemporaneously. CLASSIC Clearly Laudable, Albeit Simple, Stirring, Immaculately Conceived. EPISODE Each Part In Sequence, Offering. Dramatic. Entertainment. FANTASY Fanciful, Astounding, Novel Theme, Artistic, Stupefies You. FICTION Features Incidents, Circumstances, Tactfully Inserted, Often Non-factual. IMITATE Ingeniously Mimic Identifiable Traits And Theatrically Enact. MIMICRY Mere. Intelligent, Manipulated Imitation. Comically, Regaling You. NARRATE Naively Address Recounting Ramblingly, Although Truthfully, Events. PASTIME Purposeful Activity Selected To Increase Mental Enlightenment. PATTERN Picturesque, Artistic Typeface Tastefully Executed, Repeated Nimbly. PERFORM Present Entertainment, Refreshing Fantasy Or Rapturous Music. REPLICA I) Represents Exact, Proportionate, Lookalike Image Created Adroitly. II) Realistic, Exactly Proportionate Lookalike, Impeccably Constructed, Artifact. SCRATCH Straightaway Cancel, Reacting Angrily To Complaints, High-handedly. TABLEAU Theatrical And Beautiful Looking Exposition Arranged Uncannily. TRAGEDY Troubles, Racking And Grieving Even Devastating You. TRIUMPH Thrilling Result, Implying. Undoubtedly. Masterly Performance. Honestly. TROUNCE Thrash Roundly,* Outmaneuver Under Normal Circumstances Easily. VICTORY Vigilance In Combat Triumphs; Obviously Rewards You. * Roundly here means - squarely.......................................... ........................... More BACRONYMS under the above theme - posted on 5.1.2008......................................... ACTIVITY Appealing, Creative, Tough, Itinerary, Vitally Important To Youth. APPLAUSE Appreciating Performance Praise Loudly And Unanimously Shower Excitement. ARTISTIC Aesthetic, Rapturously Traced Impeccable Scenario That Is Charismatic. AUDIENCE Assemblage, Understandably, Desiring Innovative Entertainment, Now Curiously Excited. CHAMPION Contestant, Honorably, Attaining Meritorious Position Inviting Official Notice. DISGUISE Differently Interact, Somehow Getting Unrecognisable Identity, Surreptitiously Emerge............................................ ...... More BACRONYMS under the above theme - posted on 6.1.2008........................................ ANNOUNCEMENT A Noisy Notice Of Utilitarian Nature Concerning Ephemeral Meetings, Events Now Transpiring. APPLAUD Acclaim Passionately, Praising Loudly, Appreciation, Unanimously, Demonstrate. CAMERA Captures Artistically Memorable Events, Resplendent Atmosphere. CHISEL Chip, Helps Improve Shape, Enhancing Looks. CLAP Cheer Loudly Appreciating Performance. CONJURE Cunningly Operate, Neatly Juggle Uttering Religious Expletives. DECORATE Deftly Engineer, Charismatic Objects, Rare Artistic Theme, Eclectically. DISPLAY Distinctly, Imaginatively, Showcase Products, Luring, Attracting You. GYMNASTICS Give Your Muscles Noteworthy Adaptability, Stimulus, Thereby Imparting Coordination Strength. PROCLAIM Publicly Reveal Or Clearly, Loudly Announce Important Message. PROGRAM Prime Rules, Overall Governing, Regulating Activity Manifesto. SLIDE Softly Leave Inching Downwards Easily/Excitingly/Elatedly. TELEVISE Transmit Electronically, Live, Every Visual Image, Sound Exquisitely....................................... ................ More BACRONYMS under the above theme - posted on 7.1.2008......................................... ADVENTURE Authentic, Dramatic, Vibrant Experience Narration That’s Unusually Romantic Exposition. APPRECIATION Acclamation, Passionate Praise Recognizing Exceptional Creativity, Interesting Achievement, That Is Ongoing Now. CARICATURE Comical, Artistic, Replica, Is Certainly Appealing, Though Usually Raises Eyebrows. CHALLENGE Contest Hotly, Asking Limpid, Logical Evidence, Nastily Glare Egoistically. CREATIVITY Clear, Refined, Enterprising Activity, That Intermixes Various Ideas, Tantalizing You. ENTERTAIN Excite, Normally Through Exuberant, Robust, Theatrical Activities, Innovations Nonchalantly. GRANDIOSE Gorgeous Representation, Attractive, Noteworthy, Design, Impressive Omnifarious, Spectacular, Environment. INTRODUCE Inform Name, Tactfully Recount Other Details Usually Considered Exemplary.................................... And now BACRONYMS under the theme ACTIVITY posted on 8.1.2008................................... ACTIVITY BAR Block And Restrain. BUG Brazenly Urge, Goad. DIG Doggedly Impact Ground. END Emphatically Notify – Desist. MAR Mastermind, Adverse Results. PUT Place, Using This. RID Removal Is Deliberate. RIP Ruin Items Permanently. RUB Remove Using Brush. WAY What Assertiveness Yields. WET Water Exposed Things............................................ ...................... More BACRONYMS under the theme ACTIVITY, posted on 9.1.2008...................................... AVER Affirm Vehemently, Emphatically Rather. BASH Barbarically Attack, Seriously Hurt. BUMP Brake Unwarily; Mildly Push. CALL Come Asking Little Loudly. CLIP Conveniently Lock In Place. CURB Control, Unstintingly, Repugnant Behavior. DARE Defy And Ruggedly Express. DATE Dote Around Touching Erotically. DONE I) Disposed Off Neatly, Enjoying. II) Dealt, Orders Neatly Executed. DRAG I) Doggedly Roll Along, Gaspingly. II) Draw Roughly, After Gripping. DROP Doubtlessly Released On Purpose. FIND First Investigate; Next Deliver. FLIT Flee Letting Insecurity Takeover. FOIL Frustrate Others’ Interference, Luckily. FREE Fortuitously Release, Ensuring, Escape. HALT Having A Little Trouble. JERK Jolt Energetically Roughly Kicking. JOKE Jesting Overbearingly Keenly Entertain. MEET Make Entry, Enable Togetherness. OVER Ongoing Visit Ends, Return. PACK Pile And Cautiously Keep. PEEP Painstakingly Eyeing, Enterprisingly Perceive. PICK Preference Indicate, Collect, Keep. PLOY Profuse Lip-service Outwitting You. REAP Realize Eventually, Actively Pursuing. RUIN Render Unfit, Impairing Noticeably. RUSH Reach Up Stepping Hurriedly. SLAM Shut Loudly And Maniacally. SLIT Simply Leave In Tatters. SPIT Saliva Perversely, Impertinently, Throw. STIR Significant Trouble Inciting Rebellion. TRIM Transform Removing Irregularities Minutely. WADE Walk Across Difficult Expanse. WALK Waddle Along Little Keenly.................................... More BACRONYMS under the theme ACTIVITY, posted on 10.1.2008...................................... ACTION Anticipating Certain Trouble Initiate Operation Now. ACCEPT Accord Consent, Clearly Expressing Pleasure Thank. BATTER Beastly Attack That Torments, Executed Remorselessly. CANCEL Confidently Annul Now, Consciously Exclude Logically. COMPEL Contrive Obedience Making Persuasive Entreaties Lucidly. DABBLE Drift Along, Bit Brusquely, Lightly Engaged. DAMPER Diminishing Aftermath Makes People Endure Risk. DEFEAT Daring Encounter Facilitates Early, Artistic, Triumph. DETECT Divine, Effectively Trace, Elaborately Concealed Things. DIRECT Discreetly Instruct Regarding Expeditiously Conducting Task. ESCAPE Exit Silently, Carefully Avoiding People Entirely. FINISH Firmly Indicate, Nay, Insist, Simply Hasten. FUTILE Forget, Useless Trying It, Literally Expendable. GATHER Get Articles, Thrown Hereabouts Earlier, Reassembled. GLANCE Gently Look And Notice Certain Essentials. HAMMER I) Hit After Making Maximum Effort Relentlessly. II) Hinder Activity, Maybe, Prevent Even Rowdily. HINDER Howsoever Impede, Needlessly Delay Execution Restlessly. HUSTLE Hurry, Unabashedly Steer Through Leading Eagerly. IMPEDE I) Interfere, Meddle, Purposely Endeavor Delay Even. II) Interfere, Meddle, Pursue Evil-mindedly, Delaying, Endeavor. JUMBLE Just Unloosen, Mix Brusquely, Looking Expectantly. MANAGE Make Appropriate Noises And Get Established. PRONTO Promptly Rush Off Now, Timely Organize. TAMPER Twist And Manipulate, Possibly, Erasing Record............................................ ....................................... More BACRONYMS under the theme ACTIVITY, posted on 11.1.2008...................................... ABANDON Abruptly Betray And Nefariously Desert Or Neglect. COLLECT Check Order List; Lift Everything Cited, Therein. CONDEMN Considering Overall Nature Disapprove Exposing Machinations, Nastily. CONDUCT Confidently Oversee, Neatly Disposing Unanticipated Complications, Tactfully. CONSENT Concur Openly Now Supporting Every Novel Technique. CRUMPLE Crush Rapidly Using Manual Pressure, Leave Entwined. DELIVER Distribute Entire Lot Identifying Various Eligible Recipients. DEPRIVE Deny, Extract Possessions, Rights Interfere Vexing Egoistically. ENDORSE Enter Now Distinctly Offence Registered Stamping Entry. GLIMPSE Glance Looking Intently, Moving Perpetually Sight Eventually. GRAPPLE Grimly Retaliate, Aggressively Push, Prod Lunging Energetically. INTRUDE Inquisitively Nip Through, Reach Unobtrusively, Deceptively Encroach. ISOLATE Inimically Separate Or Let Alone Totally Excommunicating. PROTECT Plainly Remove Overt Threats Eliminating Current Tensions. PROTEST Pour Resentment, Often Taking Extreme Steps, Tumultuously. PROVIDE Procure Required Objects, Verify Items Deliver Early. ROUTINE Rendering Ordinary, Useful, Tasks, Inevitably, Necessary Everyday. SHARPEN Steadfastly Help Achieving Results. Positively. Exciting, SUPPORT Stand Uphold, Promote Particular Objective, Recommending Tacitly......................... More BACRONYMS under the theme ACTIVITY, posted on 12.1.2008..................................... ACTIVATE i) After Complete Testing Initiate Vital Actions, Timely Execute. ii) Astutely Contribute Towards Initializing Venture, Assisting Tasks Execution. COMPRESS Contract, Often Meticulously Pushing, Reset, ensuring Space Saving. DIALOGUE Direct Interaction, Arguments, Luckily, Often Generating Understanding Eventually. ELECTION Explicitly Lets Every Contestant Tackle Individuals, Openly Nobbling. INCIDENT Ignominious, Noticeable, Clearly Irresponsibly Driven, Eventually Not Terrible. PERSUADE Painstakingly Explaining Rational Secure, Ultimately, Acceptance Desired, Explicitly. PURCHASE Pick-up Utilities Required, Charges Hand-over Assisting Smooth Exchange. SCAVENGE Search, Collect Anything Valuable Exploring Neglected Garbage, Earnestly. WITHDRAW When In Trouble, Hoping Deliverance, Retreat And Wait.............................................. ... More BACRONYMS under the theme ACTIVITY, posted on 13.1.2008..................................... ATTAIN Achieve Target Tenaciously Acting, Impediments Notwithstanding. ATTEMPT Activity Taken-up To Efficiently Manage Projected Tasks. ATTEND Ably Tend Tasks Entrusted Now, Duty-bound. CLEAR Carefully Looking Eliminate All Rubbish. COMMAND Cull Out Meaningful Messages, Assessing Needs Distinctly. COMPRESS Contract, Often Meticulously Pushing, Reset Ensuring Space Saving. DRASTIC I) Deals, Radically And Stringently, Tasks, Improbable, Complicated. II) Deadly Results Always Suggest Trying Innovative Corrections. DELETE Deeply Examine, Look Earnestly, Thereafter Erase. EMERGE Enter, Move Expectantly, Reveal, Get Exposed. MEDDLE Misguidedly Engage, Deal, Doubtless Lacking Etiquette. MISHAP Misadventurous Incident, Scary Happening, Accidental Predicament. MITIGATE Make Immediately Troubles Ineffective, Generally Assist Total Elimination. PREVENT Preemptively Resist, Even Violently, Eventually, Noticeably Tame. PROCEED Picking Route Offering Comfortable Environment Exit, Depart. PROVOKE Pass Remarks, Obviously Vacuous, Offensive, Kindling Estrangement. PURSUE Proceed Until Results Surface, Unflinchingly Endeavour. RESIST Refuse, Enduring Strong Insistence Stand Tough. ROTATE Revolve, Orbit, Turn And Transfer Everything. SENSATIONAL Sudden Exciting News, Surprise Achievement, Thought Impossible, Occurrence, Nevertheless, Adventitious Largely. STALL Slow-down Temporarily Activity, Leading Listlessly. STRIVE Seek Through Reasoned Initiatives Victorious Ending. TEMPT Tantalize, Entice, Making Promises, Trap.............................................. .................................... More BACRONYMS under the theme ACTIVITY, posted on 14.1.2008..................................... ABERRATION Action Broadly Enigmatic, Rejecting Rational Approach, Tries Innovative Operations, Now. ANIMATION Artistic, Novel, Imaginative, Melodramatic Activities That Invite One’s Notice. COMPROMISE Considering Other Members Points, Respecting Opinions, Marginalizing Impact, Settle Everything. ERADICATE Effectively Remove And Destroy Immediately Causing Always-Total Extinction. PARTICIPATE Promptly Accepting Request Totally Involve Cheerfully In Proceedings And Truly Enjoy. SIMULTANEOUS Steps Initiated Methodically, Ultimately Linked Together And Neatly Expediting Our Utilitarian Schemes........................................... ................... BACRONYMS under the theme NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL posted on 15.1.2008.......................... AIR Atmospheric Ingredient, Restorative. FOE Fiercely Outpours Enmity. GOD Grand Omnipotent Divinity. GEM Gorgeous, Exotic Mineral. SKY Scintillating Kingdom Yonder. SUN Solar Unit’s Nucleus. VOW Vital, Obligatory, Wording.
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• Most people on stilts

  • From: gwr_aleks
  • Description:

    Celebrating its 25th anniversary on 16 June 2009, the world-renowned entertainment troupe Cirque Du Soleil managed to set a record for the most people walking on stilts in multiple venues. By meeting all the minimum requirements, 1,908 successful participants can now proudly call themselves Guinness World Records™ record-holders.

     

    The event was received with much excitement around the world, with a great turnout of participants in Montreal, Moscow, New York, Las Vegas, Orlando, Macau and Brazil. With some of the participants arriving in wonderful costumes, the whole event took on a something of a carnival atmosphere. An official Guinness World Records Adjudicator, Aleksandr Vypirailenko, was present at one of the locations, Moscow, where he witnessed one of the biggest turnouts of the event and was able to confirm the record.

    

    

    18 June 2009

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• Gibson, The Tallest Dog In The

  • From: GuinnessWorldRecords
  • Description:

    It is with much sadness that we have heard that Gibson, the Guinness World Record™ record-holder for world's tallest dog, has lost one of his front legs to bone cancer.   
     
    Gibson, a Harlequin Great Dane, stands an impressive 107 cm (42.2 in) tall and is a dog loved by all who know of him and those who have been fortunate enough to meet him.  Owned by Sandy Hall of Grass Valley, California, USA, Gibson has been a great canine ambassador for Guinness World Records appearing on various television shows and being a part of many photo shoots and book launches.  Stuart E. F. Claxton, spokesperson for the company in the USA said, "I remember working with Gibson and Sandy on a TV show and it was wonderful the reaction Gibson would get every time he came on stage.  Old and young alike were in awe of this big, friendly dog, especially when he stood on his hind legs and put his front paws on the host's shoulders!  Without a doubt he's the biggest in more ways than one".

    Sandy has told us that fortunately the cancer was caught very early which meant Gibson could be treated quickly.  Gibson is now home on the way to recovery and his overall prognosis is good.
     
    Guinness World Records wish him and Sandy all the best.

     

     

    15th May 2009

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• World's Oldest Dog Turns 21 Wi

  • From: GuinnessWorldRecords
  • Description:

    Our sincerest birthday and congratulatory wishes go out to the record holding dachshund herself, Chanel, the Oldest Living Dog who turned a very impressive 21 years old on May 6th, 2009.
    
    To celebrate this milestone, a birthday party was held in her honor at the New York Dog Spa & Hotel. The party was sponsored by Dogswell®, a privately owned pet food company which produces the treats in which her owners, Karl & Denise Shaugnessey of Port Jefferson, New York attribute the dog’s long life to. Guinness World Records representatives Jamie Panas & Kate White attended the birthday party and presented Chanel and her owners with an updated certificate.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Party on May 6 in New York City Features Guinness World Records® Presentation
     
    What:   
    Chanel is 147 years old in dog years and will soon be 21 years old in human years. Just like your grandma, her hair is completely white, she gets cold easily and needs glasses (or in this case, “doggles” for her cataracts).
    
    On May 6, 2009, DOGSWELL®, the fastest growing private pet food company in America, will throw Chanel a birthday bash at the New York Dog Hotel & Spa complete with an oversized birthday cake, many canine attendees and an official presentation by Guinness World Records®. Chanel, a dachshund and resident of Port Jefferson Station, NY, is a longtime fan of DOGSWELL’s® HAPPY HIPS® Lamb & Rice treats. Her owners, Denice and Karl Shaugnessey, attribute her long life and agile hips to the tasty treat.
    
    When & Where:   
    May 6, 2009                         
    12:30 p.m.
    New York Dog Hotel & Spa
    32 West 25th Street (Between 6th Ave. and Broadway)
    New York, NY 10010 
    *Due to limited space, this event is not open to the public.
       
    About DOGSWELL®
    DOGSWELL® is located in Los Angeles, Calif., and was founded by Marco Giannini in 2004. DOGSWELL® and CATSWELL® products are carried in more than 5,000 pet stores and natural food stores nationwide. DOGSWELL® is proud to have donated over a million dollars of food and treats to shelters and rescues. For more information about DOGSWELL® products, please visit www.dogswell.com.
    
    DOGSWELL® recently launched a Nationwide Bow-Wow Bailout. From April 15 – May 15, DOGSWELL® is offering one free bag of dry dog food to the first 10,000 eligible people who have either lost their job or received a pay decrease. Viewers can submit the DOGSWELL® Bow-Wow Bailout redemption form, which is available at www.dogswell.com, by emailing bailout@dogswell.com, or calling 1-888-559-8833.

    Download full press release as pdf >>>

    Tuesday 05th May 2009  

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• GWR Official Statement

  • From: GuinnessWorldRecords
  • Description:

    It has been brought to the attention of Guinness World Records that 11-year-old Michelito Lagravere’s recent killing of six calves in a bullfight in Merida, Mexico will be submitted to Guinness World Records for recognition as a potential world record.
    

    Guinness World Records was not aware that this event was taking place, and will not recognise the result. We do not accept records based on the killing or harming of animals.
    

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  • 10 months ago
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• Most step-ups completed in one

  • From: gwr_danny
  • Description:

    To a soundtrack of rock music pumping throughout the Club Phoenix gym in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a well-conditioned, superbly focused Arran McLellan faced not just one, two, nor three challenging obstacles… but a staggering 1,805 on his way to establishing a Guinness World Records™ record for the most step-ups completed in one hour with a 40 lb pack, as verified by Guinness World Records Adjudicator Danny Girton Jr.

    As family, friends and fitness enthusiasts cheered for McLellan, the determined athlete set about meeting this world-class challenge by methodically elevating his feet atop a standard exercise bench and back down to the gym floor 1,805 times within 60 energy-packed minutes on 21 February 2009.

    

    As entrepreneur of New Image Personal Training and a certified Commando Krav Maga instructor, McLellan maintains “a passion to continuously improve his knowledge and understanding of the human body as well as empower others to have the mental/physical tools they need in order to encounter life’s challenges”.

    4 March 2009

    

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  • 8 months ago
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• Largest Three-legged Race (Mos

  • From: gwr_angela
  • Description:

    On 10 January 2009, a new world record, certified by Guinness World Records™, was set in Hong Kong, China, for the largest three-legged race (most pairs). A total of 80 pairs (160 individuals) of lawyers – from the Law Society of Hong Kong, Guangdong Lawyers Association and Macau Lawyers Association – took part.

    

    The attempt took place at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Guangdong, Hong Kong & Macau lawyers Athletic Meet 2009 – and the lawyers were clearly very excited about taking part! Before the event, they paired up to tie their chosen ankles together to form one three-legged pair. After the signal, the 200-m (656-ft) race began. The participants had great fun, and when the last pair reached the finishing line, everyone cheered for them.

    When Guinness World Records Adjudicator Angela Wu announced the new record and presented the certificate to the representatives of the associations, everyone present broke into loud applause. And the record-breaking event set the scene perfectly for the Meet’s sports contests that followed.

    7 February 2009

    
    

  • Blog post
  • 9 months ago
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• World Record, 1 fingernail Hol

  • From: Crazyfool
  • Description:

    Hello to the world, come challenge me. watch this video! see u can do it or not!!

    http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1271706/worlds_new_record_1_fingernail_hold_10_pen_funny/

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  • 1 year ago
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• Largest Buffet

  • From: gwr_carl
  • Description:

    On the 27 August 2009, I attended the Festival Gastronomico in Guatemala to adjudicate the record for the Largest Buffet. This was not going to be an easy achievement to beat as the current record was set only four months earlier in Turkey, where a group of cooks managed to assemble a very impressive 1,028 individual dishes.

    Not only did the organizers of this event know they had a massive task on their hands trying to break the record, but they were also raising money for a Guatemalan charity, which added to the pressure to make it a success.

    

    When I arrived in Guatemala, I was greeted by the president of the local restaurateurs association, Peter Meng. Peter is the main contributor and organizer of Gastronomico and, along with his very hard working team, had been organizing the incredible celebration of cooking skills for many years, raising a lot of money for charity in the process.

    Chefs come from all over the country just to display their cooking talents at Gastronomico and enter their specialty dishes into the competition, where they have the chance to win a prize and trophy.

    

     

    I watched all the chefs set up and finish preparing their dishes. Most had spent hours making sure they were 100% happy with their decorations. There were a large amount of categories the chefs could enter, but my favourite was the one for the young chefs. I could easily see how happy they were to be involved and the passion they had for what they were doing and trying to achieve.

     

    

    As the event got underway, I started verifying the dishes to make sure they were all edible, individual, and would serve a large quantity of people. Words can’t describe the craftsmanship I saw while adjudicating this record attempt, the detail the chefs had gone to was nothing short of amazing. Some had made cake replicas of their restaurants and hotels, while others had very cleverly crafted statues to represent the names of their dishes.

    A few hours later, and feeling pretty full from the random tasting I was required to do, I had the final figure of successful dishes that had been on display at the festival.

    

     

    It gave me great pleasure to announce a new Guinness World Records™ achievement with a spectacular 1,158 successfully served individual dishes. And of course, this record wouldn't be complete without a Guinness World Records cake to finish.

     

    

     

    It was great to see how the crowd celebrated with Peter and his colleagues, who had worked so hard to bring this record to Guatemala.

     

    Adjudicated by Carl Saville

    29 August 2009

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• Photographing the 33 provinces

  • From: chinaphotographer
  • Description:

    Photographing the 33 provinces of China:
    An interview with Tom Carter, author of CHINA: Portrait of a People , the most comprehensive book of photography on modern China EVER published by a single author.

    

    Your upcoming book focuses heavily on photographs of people, from peasants to punk rockers, ethnic groups to entrepreneurs. As a lone foreigner in a faraway country, how did you approach so many strangers, let alone become intimate enough with them to take their portraits?
    Most of my photos came about as a natural result of my curiosity and interaction with Chinese people during my travels. It wasn’t until the end of my trip that I thought about compiling them into a book. This is a tribute to all the people I met along the way.
    For the portraits, it just takes a sincere interest in your subjects to get that close. I don’t believe in hiding behind a zoom lens; I was actually as near to all those people as you see in the pictures, sometimes just inches away. The candid life shots, which comprise a good third of the book, were actually more of a challenge. As a foreigner walking down the street in China, all activity stops the moment you are seen, so it’s tricky to photograph life before life stops to stare at you.
    I don’t believe any book can capture the true spirit of a country with only pictures of places. Sure, a photo of a sunset over the Great Wall is nice, but what do you really learn from it? I wanted to show the people, and dispel the stereotype of the Chinese as a homogeneous single nationality.

    
    You must speak the language pretty well.
    That’s the very first question I always get from other expats I meet in China! It humbles me to admit that my Putonghua borders on offensively poor. I taught English when I first arrived in China, which left me no time to formally study Mandarin. I picked up my entire vocabulary while travelling. I call it Survival Chinese. I can communicate, but I’m usually left out of the gossiping granny circles. A friendly smile works well when all else fails. I might add, though, that Chinese dialects vary widely by province, so even most nationals have trouble understanding other Chinese outside their own hometowns.

    
    You say you came to China as an English teacher, but four years later you’re a published photojournalist and author. Did you plan this career move?
    Never, but that’s China for you, a real land of opportunity. Teaching was just a means to an end, which was travelling. Out of that first long year on the road sprung my collection of photos, which resulted in a book contract and travel assignments from various periodicals, which brought me full circle back to my second spin around China. I believe I stand apart from my contemporaries in that I’m not sitting around a cushy foreign correspondents’ club “networking” [makes mock quotes with his fingers] and waiting for my next assignment; I’m out on the road finding my own. But maybe that’s why Reuters still hasn’t called me.

    
    You’ve had a few run-ins with Chinese censorship of your images and articles. Care to share?
    The concept of Freedom of the Press, something the west takes for granted, is still entirely alien in Communist China. The media is state-run and every single word and image that comes in and out of the country needs to be approved by the Ministry of Information. Crazy, huh? But since I’m an independent freelancer without the backing of any news agency, I lack official journalist credentials. Most of my images I’ve had to get the hard way, which has often resulted in confrontations with local authorities who view foreign correspondents as a threat.
    For example, for the three single frames of coal miners with soot-covered faces that appear in this book, I and my Chinese travelling companion had to spend several days in the mountains of South Shanxi before we were able to sneak into a coal mine, grab a few shots then get the hell out before being caught. Mining is one of the most dangerous and controversial occupations in China, and is entirely off limits to journalists. Some of my best photos are hit-and-run like that.

    
    There’s one incident in particular I want to hear about: a peasant riot that you photographed and which almost got you arrested. Tell us about that.
    To be caught up in a proletarian uprising – something both foreign and Chinese reporters in China rarely even hear about, due to rapid suppression of information, let alone eye-witness – was extremely frightening but probably one of the book’s most powerful images. I was subsequently “implored” by the local police to hand over all my photos, under penalty of incarceration, but a couple have managed to slip into the book [winks mischievously]. I’m still in China and would like to be able to leave without a trip to the clink, so it’s not something I can talk about in further detail, nor can we make the photo public until the book is on the shelves.

    
    Guerilla-style documentary photography is something you are obviously proud of. Someone said you have “turned mundane daily life in China into a work of art” but one reviewer wrote that your photographs are “an assault on ordinary people who should be left alone.” What’s your take on such extreme responses?
    Which one was the criticism? [Laughs] Actually, I prefer the term ‘street photography’, because that’s exactly what I do. I’m out pounding the pavement from 6am to 6pm every day, learning about the culture through observation and interaction. Many photojournalists cover their assignments as quickly as possible so they can remove themselves from the elements, but I revel in the elements. I don’t have any technical or artistic preconceptions to my photos. The whole idea of spending an hour setting up a shot and then photoshopping it to death afterwards is not what I’m about. I just capture life as it is, then move on. If the picture turns out crooked, so what! Life is crooked!
    I have no desire to make something palatable, even if it means not getting on Getty. On the other hand, any of my photos that are considered beautiful I credit entirely to my subjects. They are the ones who deserve the compliments.

    
    China really is a vast country to explore, and you have been to every corner of it – 33 provinces and over 200 cities and villages. Travelling for a living sounds like a life of leisure, but what’s the reality?
    You know, forall the tourism I’ve promoted for China with my photos and travel articles, you’d think the CNTA [China National Tourism Administration] could at least have comped my hotels. But the truth is I’ve never received a cent in financial backing. During the two years I spent travelling across China, I slept in 15 RMB [2 USD] flophouses with particleboard walls – which are illegal for foreigners to stay in – with the occasional youth hostel or night on a bus station floor. I taught English for two straight years beforehand so I could save up to travel, and I really had to pinch my pennies to make it last. The upside is that my insolvency resulted in experiences that staying at the Sheraton could never produce.

    
    All travellers are running away from something. What’s your excuse?
    I come from a long line of nomads – my mother a Danish immigrant of good Viking stock and my father a hybrid Panamanian-Cuban-Italian – so drifting is in my blood. It’s my dream to travel the world, take pictures and write about it. I have no intention of succumbing to that thirtysomething syndrome of settling down. The world is my home.

    
    So what day-to-day difficulties did you encounter during your marathon journey across China?
    You mean hour-to-hour difficulties. My photos might excite a lot of potential tourists, but I’m not going to sugar-coat the reality of actually travelling in China. The consensus among backpackers is that China is probably the single most challenging country in the world to navigate. Aside from the obvious language barriers, you have 5,000-year old customs and extreme cultural differences that can be quite vexing for the typical westerner. Most of these nuances are not something that you can catch on film; travellers have to discover them for themselves, and that’s part of the fun.

    
    What keeps you going?
    I delight in the challenges that a country like China poses to westerners. Sure, I occasionally catch myself pounding the wall in frustration, but the thing about the PRC is that every turn is a new adventure. For me there’s nothing worse than being bored, and boredom is just not possible in China. See these lines on my face? They weren’t there before.

    
    How did you plan your routes?
    I haven’t planned a single route since I arrived in China four years ago. I just point myself in a direction, then let life carry me on its current. Not only does every Chinese person you ask where to go have an excitedly different opinion – even about which way is north – but there are so many undiscovered villages that are off the charts. Not to mention that the time it takes to get to these places is often days longer than how it appears on a map, making an itinerary kind of pointless.

    
    Tell us more about surprises along the way, and any dangerous situations you’ve been in.
    Surprises are the rule, not the exception. In addition to clashes with the authorities over my pictures, I’ve had everything from a near-lethal bout of encephalitis during my first year in China, to getting shanghaied by crooked English schools, which I wrote about for the Wall Street Journal. One of my favourites is the time I found myself at the business end of a North Korean machine gun when I accidentally crossed into the DPRK at Changbaishan. These are all stories I can laugh about now, though my mother doesn’t think so.

    
    It’s said that China is now undergoing the most prolonged period of sustained change in history. How has it changed since you have lived there, and how will it change in the near future?
    I think China’s most dramatic changes have been brought on by itself and that the now-clichéd term “New China” was something methodically planned out in their boardrooms. The Chinese government is addicted to what I call hyper-urbanization. You’ve got historic cities like Beijing, where they are bulldozing these ancient hutongs by the hour so they can build office towers, or the 2,000-year-old village of Gongtan in Chongqing that is going to be levelled this summer for a new power plant. I wrote an article about Gongtan for a local magazine but it was quickly quashed because the censorship bureau said “We don’t want to bring any attention to that place.” These contrasts in architecture appear in my book because I feel it is imperative to capture this last glimpse of China’s old slate rooftops before the skyline becomes pure steel and glass. CHINA: Portrait of a People will probably become a history book, something Chinese people will look at twenty years from now and say “Ah yes, I remember.”

    
    It seems like everyone wants to know more about China these days. Do you see more people planning on visiting the country?
    China will become the world’s largest tourism destination of the next decade, no doubt about it. The 2008 Beijing Olympics and Shanghai’s World Expo in 2010 are expected to attract between 50 to 100 million tourists annually. China’s doors were closed for so long that it’s only natural the world is curious about what’s behind them. What the pictures in Portrait of a People are doing is fuelling this curiosity by offering an intimate glimpse of humanity in China, and scenes of daily life that even publications like National Geographic overlook.

    
    You’re something of an authority now on Chinese travel. Can you offer any tips for travellers?
    Well, what China wants tourists to see is often at variance with what is actually marvellous about the country. You’ve got these highly-sheltered tour group packages that cover the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Terracotta Warriors in Shaanxi, a boat ride on the Yangtze and shopping in Shanghai [makes yawning noise]. Or you can remove yourself from the souvenir shops and luxury hotels, get a local street map and travel on word-of-mouth. Lonely Planet would go bankrupt if people actually took my travel advice, but you definitely see more of the real China my way.

    
    Finally, what’s next for someone who’s been everywhere in China?
    My publisher and I have been talking about taking the “Portrait of a People” concept to other countries in the region. I would jump at the chance. So I have no idea where I’ll be this time next year.

    ###

    CHINA : Portrait of a People , by Tom Carter

    Genre: Travel / Photography / Art / China

    ISBN: 978-988-99799-42

    Size: 15cm x 15cm, soft cover, 640 pages, 800 full color images, with maps of each province

    Published: Summer 2008 by Blacksmith Books, Hong Kong, in association with Haven Books

    Price: US$35.95

    

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• Stargate Atlantis needs our he

  • From: batholo
  • Description:

    Stargate Atlantis needs our help! Sign the petition!
    
    I’m such a fan of Stargate Atlantis. I watch it religiously and I know all the scenes! It’s in my system and I just can’t imagine life without this show on TV. Have you heard? MGM has already announced that they are going to end the show after their 5th season. Why? It’s probably the best sci-fi show on TV to date! Why cancel a show that has a very solid audience that watches it religiously the same as I do?
    
    Obviously, the producers know how popular Stargate Atlantis is and thought that it’s just too good for TV and should be made into a movie. Great! Who wouldn’t want to watch a movie version of their favorite sci-fi TV series? But why would they cancel the show just to pave the way for its movie series? There’s too much here and the purpose is not to benefit the fans but so they could fatten their pockets even more! Come on now! Why hurt us after we supported your show? It is just not fair!
    
    I am so happy to see many fans who decided to start a petition. It’s a great idea! It’s time for us to save our favorite TV show. Let us save Atlantis! It’s our time to be a part of the show’s story. Now is our time to save Atlantis, Of course it’s not like we have to pack our bags and train to be one of these futuristic scientists but it’s time for us to unite and save the show! These petitions are calling for all the Stargate Atlantis fans and supporters to sign their names so our voices would be heard by SGA’s executive producers. It’s not fair! We have to show them that what they plan on doing is really not fair!
    
    Friday nights would no longer be fun. I usually prepare myself after dinner and find a comfortable place in front of the TV in anticipation of this show. I look forward to Friday nights all the time! Without SGA, what’s there to look forward to? It’s sad… tragic! Looking forward for the next movie is like waiting for your birthday each year!
    
    I’m just one of the many disappointed fans of SGA. These executive producers should reconsider. Should we boycott and show them our disappointment? But then we’d be missing more of their awesome shows. We should all support the circulating of the online petition asking for these executive producers to change their mind and start thinking about the 6th season. The 5th season of Stargate Atlantis is a lot better than the previous seasons and we are expecting for the 6th. It can’t just end here. It’s just too good to end.
    
    SciFi will have nothing to boast about after their station won’t have Stargate Atlantis for their audience. Come on now, what’s left to watch in that channel after SGA?
    
    Would it have been different if they have used a different channel to show Stargate Atlantis? SG1 was a great show and it was canceled prematurely as well. I was a die-hard fanatic of SG1 also and I was so disappointed when they announced that my favorite show on TV was about to say it’s goodbye. I was sad but I thank God for Stargate Atlantis. At least, SG1 had 10 seasons so I was able to enjoy watching it for years! Stargate Atlantis only had 5 episodes and it’s even better than SG1 but why only 5 episodes? Can the executive producers answer this question for us?
    
    Why the sudden death for our favorite sci-fi shows? They can cancel all those other boring shows on Sci-Fi if they want to, but why cancel the most popular one? It doesn’t really make sense to me. I will miss the characters whom I already grown to love. What will happen to them after this? Will they be on the movie version of Stargate Atlantis? I hope so. But, still that’s just not right. They deserve to be on Air every Friday! I am not saying that they don’t deserve to be on the silver screen. Heck, I’d die to watch the movie version of SGA but I just can’t stand the fact that they are canceling the show.
    
    I’m sure many would agree that there’s not much on TV right now that is worth watching. I don’t watch TV on most days except for the news and some sports shows but that’s just about it. No new shows interest me that much anymore except for Stargate Atlantis. I’m a sucker for sci-fi shows but I am very choosy as well. Sci-fi shows can be really boring when the storyline is boring. SGA has an awesome storyline that caught me right from the first time I watched it. I even have DVDs of the shows so I could watch them over and over again. I’m a die hard fan and I am here, asking all of you die hard SGA fans out there, to support the online petition. Please, please, let’s support our favorite show.
    
    I’m done voicing out my opinion but I’m still not through with my disappointment and I will continue to fight for my favorite show. Its one great show that we just have to keep on air. Whether or not we’d be successful, at least we can say that we did our part in keeping it on air. If the executive producers won’t listen to our plight, I bet it’s time for us to start looking for other shows that may interest us and just wait for the movie series then. It’s unfair and disappointing but I will never say never. I will sign as many online petitions and start a petition asking my fellow fans to support our loved team of scientists led by Major John Sheppard.
    
    You gave us a great show SCI-Fi, please don’t just take it away from us. It will break many hearts and will disappoint even more. Hope you’ll make the right decision and keep the show on air!

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  • 1 year ago
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• Welcome to my blog!

  • From: RobBeaton
  • Description:

    Greetings from Ocean Gate, New Jersey, USA!  A quick introduction: I am a three-time Guinness World Record holder.  My two current records involve eating rice grains with chopsticks (78 grains in 3 minutes, 23 grains in 1 minute).  My first record was 'most eggs held in the hand' (17 eggs), and it has since been broken.

    Being a Guinness World Record holder is an interesting experience to say the least!  On Monday, I was interviewed on the SoJO 104.9 Morning News.  I was declared a "Hometown Hero" by host Marc Miller for my GWR accomplishments.  It was my second time on the show; Marc interviewed me a year earlier after I broke my original egg-holding record.

    The radio appearance is the most recent nugget of exposure in a surprisingly long list of GWR-related media exposure that I've had, including live television news, magazines, and newspapers.  I was even mentioned by name in The Hindu, India's national newspaper!

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• GWR Day - Most Concrete Blocks

  • From: gwr_day
  • Description:

    Datca Turkey, November 2009 - Record holder Ali Bahcepete is back for Guinness World Records Day 2009 and will try to break his own records for the most concrete blocks broken in one minute and most concrete blocks broken in a single stack.

    

    He will also be attempting to get his record for the most concrete blocks broken in 30 seconds back – record currently held by his Norwegian competitor Narve Laeret.

    

    Ali Bahcepete has been performing Taekwondo for over 42 years and won 10 world championships organised by the Taekwondo World Federation for concrete blocks breaking, including two in the year 2009.

    

    The event will take place on 12th November in Datcha, Turkey as part of Guinness World Records Day 2009 and for the Datca Sport Club’s charity.

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• Seeds to Mt. Everest

  • From: The Garden Foundation
  • Description:

    Media Release

    Immediate Release: April 15, 2008

    Winchester Public School Sending Seeds to

    Top of Mount Everest

    (Winchester) - Winchester Public School is making big news sending tiny seeds on a monumental climb up one of the world’s tallest mountains in a voyage meant to inspire interest in gardening.

    Under the guidance of Educational Assistant Jeff Arsenault, students have launched the Seeds to Mount Everest project. The project is sending 5,000 sunflower seeds to the top of Mount Everest over the next few weeks with climbers participating in an International Mountain Guides (IMG) expedition. The school is working with Tacoma, Washington-based adventurer Eric Simonson, who helps run IMG guided trips to the top of the world’s most famous mountain and is currently leading a climb expected to hit the peak in mid May. Simonson is sending regular e-mails to the students reporting on the progress of the climb.

    Arsenault devised the plan a few months ago as a way to help students take part in a neat horticultural project and to inspire a love of gardening. The idea is to send the seeds to the top of the mountain and then later redistribute them to elementary students across North America to grow over the summer months. Students will be asked to report back on any changes in the sunflower plants resulting from the exposure of the seeds to high altitudes.

    “I’m always looking for a way to manipulate people into gardening,” says Arsenault with a grin. “I’m doing this to spread the message that gardening really is cool.”

    He hopes the novel seeds will spark an interest in gardening among the younger generation. He wants students to grow the seeds into sunflowers and in turn pass on seeds from those plants to other students, turning them on to the joys of gardening as well.

    “Gardening creates a peace of mind,” he explains. “It creates conscientiousness about life – a wisdom and ability to see things grow, live and die. Nowadays a lot of people are on a treadmill because things are going too quickly. Gardening is a tool for slowing things down. It creates patience, a sense of endurance and a wonder at seeing what you have helped nurture.”

    Students at Winchester Public School are not the only ones interested in the project. Peers in Las Vegas, Nevada and New York City are also participating in the project after hearing about it on the Web. A special portion of the seeds will be sent to sick kids at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario to get them in on the fun and give them a diversion as they battle their illnesses.

    …/2

    -2-

    Currently, the climbing team is delayed at a base camp near the bottom of the mountain after the Chinese government closed the north face of Everest until May 10 when the Olympic torch will pass through the area. Due to recent public demonstrations over Tibet, which have disrupted the torch run, the Chinese government is restricting movement of climbers until after the flame is through the area. The mountaineers will start climbing again on May 11 and the journey should be finished by May 31.

    Arsenault is working on one other way to make the project fun for students. He has contacted Guinness World Records and will submit the project for world record consideration for the most seeds to the top of Everest.

    -30-

    For more information, please call:

    Jeff Arsenault

    Educational Assistant

    Winchester Public School

    613-774-2607

    Greg Pietersma David K. Thomas

    Chair

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• Michael Jackson dies at 50

  • From: GuinnessWorldRecords
  • Description:

    Guinness World Records is saddened to hear of the death of Michael Jackson at the age of 50.

    Jackson holds numerous Guinness World Records including the most Grammy Awards won in a year, most hit singles in the UK charts in a year, best selling album of all time, longest span of No.1 hits by an R&B artist, best selling music video, highest annual earnings ever for a pop star, and most successful pop music family.

    

    Speaking in London tonight, Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief, Craig Glenday commented "I will always be immensely proud to know that Michael considered me a friend, and I know that everyone at Guinness World Records will be numb from hearing the news that this gentle, kind, shy man is no longer with us. On his last visit to the Guinness World Records office, he devoted a few valuable hours of his time being photographed with everyone, and we were all touched by his humility and willingness to please everyone present with autographs and photos. I'm honoured to have had the chance to spend some time with such a wonderfully talented artist - the man we called the Most Famous Living Man on Earth - and to present him with his favourite world record of all, the biggest selling album of all time, for Thriller, of course. He leaves behind an incredible musical legacy and a body of work unrivalled by any other performer."

    

    26 June 2009

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• La mayor cantidad de personas

  • From: gwr_carlos
  • Description:

    El pasado 25 de junio de 2009, con 1,257 participantes, Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública (México) estableció el record mundial para la Mayor cantidad de personas en space hoppers en el Campus Tlalpan de la Universidad del Valle de México, in México D.F., México.

    

    El Adjudicador de Guinness World Records™, Carlos Martínez, acudió en persona para certificar este hecho, en el que el número total de participantes fue establecido por aquellos que saltaron durante un minuto.

    

    Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública pretendía demostrar así,  que  con la fuerza de 1,257 corazones impulsando a México, en salud, educación y alimentación, y en apoyo a los que menos tienen y más lo necesitan, se la ¡Juega con México!

    
    

    22 Julio 2009

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  • 4 months ago
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• My nail-biting first encounter

  • From: gwr_craig
  • Description:

    GWR Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday recounts his first, nerve-wracking meeting with the “Lady with the Nails”

    When I first met the wonderful Lee Redmond, I was playing the role of chauffeur. I’d been asked to collect Lee and her granddaughter at Heathrow and bring then back to GWR Towers without any fuss.

    This was a few years back, and my first experience of the “airport run”. I’ve since welcomed the likes of smallest man He Pingping and tallest man Xi Shun to the UK, but this was my first experience waiting in the throng of expectant families and anxious girl- and boyfriends for a record holder.

    I was getting increasingly nervous as every moment passed – what if she never made the connecting flight? Had she even left Utah? If she did make the flight, was it comfortable? The launch of the 2007 book was relying on her cooperation with the press and without Lee, there’d be no launch! Yet we’d never met her! What would she be like? What kind of a woman would grow her nails like giant talons?

    Nervous? I certainly wouldn’t win any records for the length of my nails that day!

    Then the air seemed to change. It’s that moment just before a GWR holder as striking and as arresting as Lee enters the Arrivals hall. The faces of the usually weary travellers change – you notice the furrowed brows, the widened gapes, excited children looking back over their shoulders, a general buzz of excitement.

    Then she appeared - a vision in electric turquoise jogging pants, her face haloed by that amazing shock of bright blonde hair. By her side was her granddaughter, but the petite Lee really could have mistaken for her sister. It’s only then that you notice the nails; Lee cuts such an incredible figure that, even without her nails, she catches your eye.

    It’s inevitable in our technological times that mobile phone and digital cameras are going to be whipped out whenever someone famous or noteworthy appears in public. It was no different with Lee – but she took the flashes in her stride, even stopping to show a dumbstruck traveller her nails up close. One of the inescapable side effects of having metre-long fingernails, I guess!

    On the road back to the office, Lee spoke about her flights to the UK. Despite being booked on Business Class, Lee’s first aircraft, from Salt Lake City, was Economy-only, so she squeezed her tiny self and her nails into her even tinier seat. The fold-down seats on her transatlantic jumbo offered little more comfort. Worse still, he’d been unable to use the restrooms – should could (just) fit in to the cubicle but could neither turn around nor lock the door.

    But Lee quickly brushed aside the discomfort and set my mind a rest – she was happy to be in London and looking forward to seeing the sites. She worked hard that week for the launch, appearing on TV shows, being interviewed with the same set of questions time and time again, and offering pose after pose to countless snappers. Throughout the whole arduous period, she remained cheery and obliging and a joy to spend time with.

    My most recent encounter with Lee was on her home turf in Salt Lake City, Utah. Concerned about her health after the car crash, I popped over to see her and help our press team film the first interview after her life-threatening accident. Once again, I was struck by her joie de vivre and strong sense of survival. Life had thrown her a curveball, she said, but she just just got right back up again.

    Thankfully, Lee made a spectacular recovery, albeit sans her nails! “That time in my life is now over,” she said over dinner. “I truly believe that the decision for me to lose my nails was taken out of my hands and made by a higher authority. It’s a sign – I may not have known that I needed to move on, but I do now!”

    So, enjoy the exclusive video footage of Lee discussing her life with long nails then her new existence without them. You see that I had nothing to be worried about – she’s the sweetest, kindest and most open record holder I know. I’m honoured to have known the old Lee and now the new Lee, one of the world’s most recognisable women… with or without the fingernails!

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• Tallest Dog Gibson Dies from C

  • From: gwr_press
  • Description:

    A few months ago we wrote that Gibson, the tallest dog in the world, had sadly lost a leg to osteosarcoma, a form of canine bone cancer. Although terrible news, we were pleased to hear that, nevertheless, our big canine friend was doing well and seemed to be on the road to recovery.  Unfortunately, we have recently learned that Gibson has lost his fight with cancer and has passed away.

    "We will miss Gibson very much as he was a wonderful record-holder and a  memorable member of the Guinness World Records family" said Stuart Claxton of Guinness World Records.  "We extend our condolences to his owner Sandy Hall with whom we shared many happy moments as we celebrated Gibson and his record all over the world".

    Gibson, a 7-year-old Harlequin Great Dane and Guinness World Record holder for the world’s Tallest Dog (42.2 in tall) passed away from cancer on Friday, Aug. 7 2009 near Sacramento, California, USA.

     

     

    12 August 2009

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  • 3 months ago
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• Oldest Living Man

  • From: gwr_press
  • Description:

    Guinness World Records regrets to inform that Tomoji Tanabe died at his home in southern Japan on Friday the 19th of June 2009 at the age of 113. Tomoji held the record for oldest living male since 24 January 2007.  Tomoji was an inspirational record holder and will be missed by all of us at Guinness World Records.  

    Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this time. 

    Henry Allingham (UK) inherits the title of oldest living man.  Henry was born in Clapham, London, on 6 June 1896 and took the British title on 19 January 2007 aged 110 years 227 days. Mr Allingham is also the oldest surviving member of the armed forces, having served in both World Wars.

    Craig Glenday, Editor in-chief of Guinness World Records said "We're pleased to see an English man take the world record- the last time someone from England held the title was Frederick Butterfield, who died on 9 March 1974 aged 110"

    

    19 June 2009

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  • 5 months ago
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• Sultan Kosen – The World’s Tal

  • From: gwr_paul
  • Description:

    For all enquiries contact: tallestman@guinnessworldrecords.com.

    26-year-old part-time farmer Sultan Kosen, who measures a staggering 8ft 1 in (246.5 cm) in height, has been handed the hallowed title of new ‘tallest man in the world’.

    

    Craig Glenday, Editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, said: “Sultan is the first man over 8 ft (2.43 m) to be measured by Guinness World Record in over 20 years. Indeed, we know only of 10 confirmed or reliable cases in history of humans reaching 8 ft or more. To be totally sure of Sultan’s height, I travelled to Turkey in February this year to measure him personally. He’s an imposing figure, towering above all others, but at the same time a gentle, quiet man who’s totally relaxed and unfazed about his unique standing in the world. It’s a pleasure to welcome him into the Guinness World Records family.”
    
    Appearing in front of the world’s press for the very first time, Sultan from Mardin, South-East Turkey declared ‘I never imagined I would be in the book, I dreamed about it, but it was still a huge surprise’.
    
    Sultan is one of five, three brothers and one sister, and his family, including his mum and dad, are all ‘normal’ sized. Because of his extreme height he was never able to finish school but works occasionally as a farmer to support his family. He describes one of the advantages of being tall as being able to help out his mum out with jobs such as changing a broken light bulb and hanging curtains. Disadvantages to his height he lists include not being able to find clothes or shoes that fit or finding it extremely hard to fit into a regular size car.
    
    Like every young man in their twenties, Sultan enjoys listening to music, playing computer games and watching movies.  When asked what he looks forward to by being officially the tallest man, Sultan said, “To travel and see the world and have a car that accommodates my size! My biggest dream though is to get married and have children – I’m looking for love.’”
    
    For all enquiries contact: tallestman@guinnessworldrecords.com

     

    17 September 2009

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