Some people will do anything to get into the record books—eat cockroaches, catapult coins or just sit around and navel-gaze. Australian Graham Barker has extracted his own bellybutton fluff every day since 1984, collecting a world record 0.54 ounces. His collection is just one of the weird and wonderful feats recorded in the 2002 edition of Guinness World Records, published recently.“Some people gaze into their navel for inspiration. I look into mine and see navel fluff,”said Barker, whose ambition is to collect enough navel pickings to stuff a pillow. Briton Ken Edwards, a former rat-catcher and part-time entertainer, made it into the record book after eating 36 medium-sized cockroaches in one minute on March 5, 2001. Other record-breaking feats include the loudest burp, by Briton Paul Hunn, which registered 118.1 decibels—comparable to a plane taking off, according to the record book. Sooty was crowned the most romantic guinea pig after fathering 43 babies during a single night of passion with 24 partners in December 2000. British actor Vic Gallucci holds the record for most appearances as a television extra*. Since 1989 he has appeared 819 times as Detective Constable Tom Baker in police TV drama The Bill. He has yet to speak a line.
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