WhiteBoard News for Wednesday, November 12, 2003

London, England (Reuters):

A burp from the loudest belcher in the world echoed round the Tate Modern Gallery as the Guinness World Records book celebrated the release of its 100 millionth copy. 

The book, which lists world records from the smallest dog to the highest paid TV guest star, has its own entry in the latest edition as the best-selling copyright book of all time. 

"Everybody has a dream to be the best at something in the world and the public has an incredible imagination," the book's editor Claire Folkard said at a reception in London on Tuesday. "That's what has kept us going." 

One guest who satiated her desire to be entered into the book as a record holder was Elaine Davidson who had 1,903 piercings, studs and rings over her tattooed body. 

The Brazilian living in Edinburgh said she does all the work herself and had once pierced herself 85 times around her waistline in just two hours. 

She started piercing herself four years ago because she wanted to be listed in the book. "Now, my dream has come true," she said. "Piercing is my stress relief." 

The country's tallest man was another eye-catching record-holder, towering over reception guests, drinking champagne and eyeing (surely, the smallest in the world) Peking Duck spring rolls. 

"I wish to remain anonymous," he said when asked his name. 

At 7 ft 6.25 inches (2.32 m), 59-year-old Charles Greener was listed in the Guinness book in 1969 but is still 19 cm shorter than the world's tallest woman. 

"I used to do book accounts, though not high finance," Greener chortled before scouring the tops of heads to see where the belching noise came from. 

Paul Hunn, 34, produced the loudest burp in the world on television in 2000 and is keen on retaining his record. 

"I started burping in the school yard and continued in the pub - it seemed a natural progression," he said, turning to talk to children's television presenter Katy Hill. 

Hill, who presented Blue Peter, the longest-running children's television programme, was at the reception to sign the 100 millionth copy of the Guinness book along with the other record-holders. 

"To be honest with all these people here, I feel a bit of a fraud," she said, looking up and around her. "Or maybe just normal." 
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Sao Paulo, Brazil (Reuters):

The Brazilian woman with the most body piercings in the world -- 1,903 -- fears returning to her crime-ridden home country as she would attract so much attention she could be robbed. 

"The last time I went to Brazil, I had to wear a face mask because since I have a lot of jewellery (pierced to the skin), I fear being robbed or attacked," Elaine Davidson told Reuters from Edinburgh in Britain where she lives. 

Brazil has one of the highest crime rates in the world. 

Davidson, who has been outside her home country for 10 years, won an entry in this year's Guinness World Records book after starting to pierce herself four years ago. In Edinburgh she runs a Brazilian restaurant. 

She considers feeling pain a motivating factor in her life and says she also walks on beds of nails, fire and bits of glass. 

"I like pain, I love pain," she said, explaining that she now wants to surpass exceed 2,000 body piercings. 

Her genitalia is the body part where she has the largest number of piercings -- 500 in all, externally and internally. 

"It hurts in the chest as well," she said. "I had to take some out because of the silicone, the doctor asked." 
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Strongville, Ohio (AP):

A motorist upset that he had been cut off pulled over the other driver, falsely claimed to be a U.S. marshal and called for a local police backup, authorities say. 

Donald Sebastian, 54, of Middleburg Heights, is charged with impersonating a federal agent in this Cleveland suburb. He was released on a personal bond after a court appearance. 

Sebastian's wish to become a U.S. marshal was blocked by a criminal record with 29 arrests since 1975, including state and federal gun convictions, the marshal's service said Monday. 

"Who would call for backup?" U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said. "That's what is so strange." 

A search of his home showed marshal service business cards, shirts, jackets, leather gloves and other marshal gear. He told authorities his ruse was his "way of giving back to the community." 

Sebastian, who does not have a phone listing in Middleburg Heights, could not be reached for comment. 
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LaPorte, Indiana (AP):

A truck driver crashed his semitrailer while trying to change clothes as he drove 60 mph on a northern Indiana highway, police said. 

Terry Gilmore, 59, of Ohio, told investigators he had set his cruise control so he could change clothes while driving on U.S. 6 Monday night about 25 miles southwest of South Bend, the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department said. 

He misjudged a curve and rolled the truck off the road and into two fences, police said. Gilmore was not seriously injured, but was taken to LaPorte Hospital as a precaution. 

The crash caused officers to close a portion of the road for more than three hours. 

A witness told investigators she found Gilmore naked when she went to check on him right after the accident. 

No charges were filed in the crash, police said. A hometown for Gilmore was not available from police. 
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Ruiru, Nairobi (Ananova):

A police chase in a Kenyan town ended in farce when villagers attacked officers thinking they were the criminals.

The police were chasing a car in Ruiru, northeast of Nairobi, which they wrongly thought contained a number of robbers.

The driver of the car thought the police were carjackers and sped away. The chase ended when the car was driven into a cul-de-sac and the occupants jumped out.

Armed officers shouted at the men to surrender, but as they searched the car they were attacked by villagers who'd seen the chase.

One officer was shot in the leg with an arrow, reports the East African Standard.

Police later established the car was actually a taxi taking people home.
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Oslo, Norway (Aftenposten):

A Norwegian court has sided with a man who claimed he can't use public transit for fear he'll be ridiculed because he's so short. The state may also need to waive his driver's license fees.

The 22-year-old man himself describes his body as "deformed" because his growth was stunted by radiation treatments he received as a toddler. He claims he was teased and bullied all through his youth and now won't dare take public transit because of social angst.

The plantiff was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of two. He underwent radiation treatments and chemotherapy that eliminated the tumor, but disturbed his hormone production and stunted his growth. Today he measures 149 centimeters tall, or about 4 feet, 2 inches.

He complained of bitter memories riding the school bus as a child, because of bullying and because he needed more time than his fellow passengers to go on and off the bus. Today he remains subject to anxiety attacks at the thought of riding the bus.

Local authorities in eastern Norway, where he lives, said this is a problem he must tackle himself. The special Norwegian court that decides social welfare conflicts nationwide (Trygderetten) disagreed.

The court sympathized with his claim, and ruled that society shouldn't expose him to the additional psychological burden of riding the bus. The court said he thus can demand that taxpayers finance the purchase of a private car for him.

A state-funded car, according to the court order, is the only way he could enjoy a relatively independent life.
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