I bet I can find Waldo...

[NOTE] This is a special announcement from my friend, Matt, who has organized a fantastic event at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. If you are in that area or know anyone there, spread the word -- You have the chance to do some good while being a part of history and setting a Guinness World Record!

Last year, Matt and more than 700 others set the Guinness World Record for most people dressed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This year, it's all about Waldo, and it won't be too hard to find him with potentially 1,800 people dressed as the stripey fellow. And hey, it's his 21st birthday this year!

Here are the details (ala Matt):

New Brunswick, NJ – On April 2, the Rutgers University Programming Association (RUPA) and Rutgers Student Life will attempt to break another Guinness World Record™. Over 1,500 Rutgers students, faculty, staff and community members are expected to overtake the historic State Theatre located in downtown New Brunswick, New Jersey, dressed as publishing phenomenon and pop culture icon, Where’s Waldo?

For an “entry fee,” each participant will be asked to bring at least one children’s book to donate to literacy efforts in the local New Brunswick School District. In addition to breaking the Guinness World Record™, the goal is to collect over 4,000 books. Candlewick Press, publisher of the best-selling “Where’s Waldo?” series, has also pledged to donate one book for every participant in attendance that evening.

The event will start at 8:00 p.m. with the doors of the State Theatre opening at approximately 7:00 p.m. Event participants are asked to wear blue jeans or pants and will be provided with Waldo’s iconic long-sleeved striped shirt, knit hat and glasses as stipulated in the official Guinness World Record™ requirements.

“The “Where’s Waldo? world record attempt is a truly unique charitable event,” said Matthew Ferguson, Assistant Director for Student Life and RUPA Advisor[ “The ‘double bottom line’ of collecting books for local schools and charities as well as attempting to break the Guinness World Record™ allows the members of our community to get involved with a philanthropic project while being a part of an exciting and memorable event.”

The event is a part of Entertainment Rights’ year-long 21^st birthday celebration for Waldo. Last summer, Waldo got his digital passport as he leapt off the pages of books, joining millions of other 20-somethings to travel the digital highway. An official Waldo online presence was established on key social networking sites including Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Waldo’s official online destination, www. findwaldo.com, launched in September, timed to his 21^st birthday.

In April of 2008, Rutgers University was successful in breaking the Guinness World Record™ for the Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Ninja Turtles.

This event is being co-sponsored by the Rutgers Center for Communication and Health Issues’ RU Sure? Campaign which debunks myths about alcohol-use on campus and encourages students to choose responsible alternatives. Barnes & Noble, the official campus bookstore of Rutgers University, is also a co-sponsor of the event.

Kinda makes you feel nostalgic, right? Thinking about your kiddie crusade to find Waldo amongst the pyramids and vikings. If you can, get out to RU and find/be Waldo! It's a great cause and is sure to get a lot of attention nationwide!

Luck o' the Irish

Happy St. Patrick's Day
from The Jerc Store!

It kinda stinks that St. Patty's Day is on a weekday this year, but that doesn't seem to stop millions from celebrating the notoriously drunken holiday. I will not be partaking, but Godspeed to those of you who do.

Little fun fact for you: The most leaves found on a clover is 18, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Think about how lucky that would be!

And for all you true Irish out there (1/2 of myself included), here's St. Patrick's tale:

Good St. Patrick traveled far, to teach God's Holy Word
And when he came to Erin's sod, a wondrous thing occured
He plucked a shamrock from the earth and held it in His hand
To symbolize the Trinity that all might understand
The first leaf for the Father
And the second for the Son
The third leaf for the Holy Spirit
All three of them in one.

Grandpa shooting the 'J

A 73-year-old Tennessee man scored two points in a college basketball game this week.

Ken Mink, a full-time student at Roane State Community College, scored two points Monday night in a 93-42 victory over King College's junior varsity. The shooting guard got in the game with about 16 minutes left in the second half and attempted one shot in three minutes. He came back into the game, was fouled and made two free throws.

The 6-foot-tall septuagenarian said it was the first time he shot a free throw in more than five decades. He played 52 years ago at Lees College in Jackson, Ky, but lost his spot on the team after someone soaped the coach's office and he was expelled during his freshman year. He still says he did not commit the prank.

Mink reportedly runs a 6.6-second 40-yard dash and has a 20-inch vertical. I'm pretty sure he'd beat me out for a spot on the team. That's sad.

The retiree wears number 54 on the team. Last year, after shooting baskets at a neighbor's house, he wrote to several area colleges, and Roane State coach Randy Nesbit agreed to give him a chance. Mink has practiced regularly with the team since school began in August.

“(Mink) gets up and down the floor and can get shots off in practice,” said teammate BJ Ware. “He can definitely still play for being that old.”

'Feast' your eyes on this world record

Maybe the country of Iran should change its name to Hungary (haaa):

On Friday, organizers in Tehran attempted to break the Guinness World Record for Largest Sandwich, but locals ate the sandwich before it could be measured.

The 1,500-meter-long sandwich was going to be stuffed with 700 kg of ostrich meat and 700 kg of chicken, but people rushed forward and devoured it "in minutes," according to a witness.

Mmmm, Ostrich-chicken sandwich - however could they resist?

Three Guinness representatives on hand had not yet measured the meal, but organizers of the event said video taken could still prove that the sandwich is (or was) capable of holding the record.

The current "largest sandwich" on record hales from the U-S-of-A (pictured right): Wild Woody’s Chill and Grill of Roseville, Michigan created a 5,440-lb (or 2467-kg) sandwich in 2005.

RELATED LINKS
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No-no for Zambrano

[BREAKING NEWS] Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano has just thrown a no-hitter.

Zambrano, who had not pitched since Sept. 2 due to "arm fatigue," struck out 10 and walked one in a 5-0 win over the Houston Astros.

It was the Cubs' first no-hitter since Milt Pappas on Sept. 2, 1972, and the second no-no of the 2008 MLB season: Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester threw a no-hitter back in May.

The Cubs were technically the visiting team, but the event seemed more like a home game as it was played in front of 23,000 fans at Milwaukee's Miller Park after Hurricane Ike forced the series out of Houston.

Guess ESPN picked the wrong game for Sunday Night Baseball tonight, eh?

RELATED LINKS
No-no for Lester

'Dark' curse?

By now, you may have heard about Morgan Freeman's car accident that put him in the hospital last night.

CNN.com is reporting that Freeman, 71, was in serious condition but appears to be "in good spirits" after suffering a broken left upper arm, several other fractures and neck and shoulder injuries in the wreck.

Freeman, who could have surgery as early as Monday, was enjoying the recent success of the latest installment in the Batman series. This got me thinking...

*Does anyone else see a somewhat ominous trend falling over the stars of "The Dark Knight"?

Similar to Poltergeist, perhaps this big blockbuster is carrying some sort of curse.

We've seen the death of star Heath Ledger ala painkillers and sleeping pills shortly after the movie wrapped. (Sources say his role as the Joker was causing insomnia.) Then, Christian Bale has assault charges filed against him by his mother and sister days after the movie's premiere. Now, Morgan Freeman's car flips off the road and he lands in the hospital as the movie continues smashing all sorts of records?

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"WHY SO SERIOUS?"
Update: Heath Ledger death an accident
Update: Heath Ledger's death
BREAKING NEWS: Actor Heath Ledger found dead

How to keep this headline PC, hmmm...

If you haven't heard about the enormous stray cat found in NJ this weekend, watch some morning television; the 44-pound cat will be on "Regis and Kelly" tomorrow and "Good Morning America" on Friday.

The cat, found Saturday without a collar in Voorhees, N.J., was nicknamed "Prince Chunk" by employees at the Camden County Animal Shelter where he is staying.

[UPDATE] The cat was formerly known as "Captain Chunk," but then referred to as "Princess Chunk" when workers thought he was a she. When it was later discovered that the cat was in fact a boy, his name was changed to Prince Chunk." So now not only will the cat have a complex about being fat, he's going through an identity crisis and his manhood was being called into question.

[UPDATE] Prince Chunk's 65-year-old owner said she is unable to afford the cat now that her home has been foreclosed. She is hoping the kitty--whose real name is Powder--will be placed in a loving home.

I can't believe this has become national news. Voorhees borders my hometown; I'm really glad this thing didn't waddle out onto Evesham Road because my car couldn't take the damage it might have caused on impact. Haaaa.

That picture is NOT doctored, by the way. That thing really does look like that. (And I thought Garfield was fat!)

Prince Chunk's owner has until Saturday to pick him up. If he is not claimed, the cat will be up for adoption.

The heaviest cat on record is a 46-pound tabby cat from Australia, but the Guinness Book of World Records has apparently dropped the record from its listing for fear that cat owners might harm the animals to set a record. Funny, because when we found out the shelter is putting the cat on a diet, my dad and I both said, "Screw that, go for the record." I guess that's why you wouldn't call us cat people.

You really have to be trying to lose a cat this big. How has Prince Chunk's owner not heard about the cat all over the news? Unless...Prince Chunk got a little too hungry one day, ate a small child and was banished from the household. I don't know. Just a guess.

Check out the "normal" sized cat next to Prince Chunk.

The week in sports, kind of...

It's been a week since I last posted - sorry - and a few different sports-related news items have come up that I should probably recap.

Let's just get the Favre news out of the way now...In case you haven't heard (and if you haven't, really? Do you live under a rock?), record-setting quarterback Brett Favre confessed this week that he retired too early and that he would still like to play professional football. Then he got mad that Green Bay told him he'd be a back up quarterback. And now you can't turn on ESPN without hearing about Favre every 30 seconds. Granted, it would seem like blasphemy for Favre to play for another NFL team, but this is his own fault. Everyone knew this might happen. Now the drama remains where --if not Green Bay-- Favre will take the field. It's going to be awkward when his Madden '09 cover comes out and he's not in that uniform, haaa.

***

Next up: Monday's Statefarm Home Run Derby, which drew the largest audience for the event ever as eight All Stars slugged it out for top honors...well, almost eight slugged it out...some of them didn't do so hot. Speaking of Chase Utley, though: If you missed him telling the NY faithful to f-off, check out this video below. Hilarious! Apparently there was only a five second delay in place for the competition, not the introductions.



Anyway, back to the actual derby...The biggest story was Texas Rangers' centerfielder Josh Hamilton destroying Bobby Abreu's single-round HR total, hitting 28 in the first round (four more than Abreu did in 2005). [click here to watch video of the hitting clinic he put on]

Hamilton (left), Morneau (right)

Despite Hamilton's record-breaking performance, the title went to Twins' first baseman Justin Morneau. In total, Hamilton hit 35 homers, while Morneau hit 22 - which begs a re-examination of the way this shindig is run. Regardless, Hamilton's story of breaking records after breaking a drug addiction is the one fans will remember when looking back at the first--and last-- Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium. (Betcha didn't hear them say that 17,000 times during the telecast!)

***

Hand-in-hand with the derby is last night's All Star Game, which admittedly I watched about three minutes of. The game apparently didn't get exciting until the end (15th inning), which was 4 hours and 5 minutes into the game (or 1:37 a.m. for those of you on the east coast).

Michael Young hit a game-ending sacrifice fly to give the American League a 4-3 victory over the National League (Justin Morneau pictured (left) sliding in to score the winning run). It was the longest All Star Game in major league history (time-wise; it tied the most innings played) and it was the 12th game in a row the American League remained unbeaten (11-0-1).

(Justin Morneau pictured (left) sliding in to score the winning run)

JD Drew was named the MVP after he hit a two-run home run in the seventh to tie the game 2-2. Both teams exhausted their lot of pitchers (11 for the NL and 12 for AL), bringing in aces to pitch innings they should not have been eligible to pitch. There's Uggla's multiple errors at second base; or Nate McLouth's one-hop throw to the plate in the 11th to keep the marathon alive; and AL manager Terry Francona's quote before the game, "Something will happen in this game that people will probably talk about for a long time," and him chugging Red Bulls in the dugout as the game moved into Wednesday morning.

A memorable game indeed --definitely worthy of being played in the House that Ruth Built-- but I think I'm okay with taking Sportscenter's condensed highlights of the game over a 2 a.m. bedtime.

***

And quickly...There may be evidence to prove that Roger Clemens lied under oath about knowingly taking steroids. Convicted steroid distributor Kirk Radomski handed over shipping receipts to federal investigators for a package of human growth hormone that he claims he sent to Roger Clemens' home in Texas in 2002 or 2003, according to The Daily News.

His ass is grass

I should have posted this Sunday, but I was distracted by work and bad reality television. Are you surprised?

Thanks to my boyfriend, I dove headfirst into the Wimbledon match this weekend--something that I haven't been interested in since I was 10 years old, sitting at home during my summer vacation from school--but thank the Lord I did. This was one for the record books, in more ways than one.

Nadal won the match 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7.

Until that match, Federer had won 65 straight matches on grass. Federer didn't capitalize on break points and Nadal couldn't handle 16 ace serves from the five-time Wimbledon champ. Two rain interruptions--one arguably helping Federer and one helping Nadal-- kept the match going until 9 p.m., and any longer it would have been held til Monday. Federer had the opportunity to become the first man since the 1880s to win six Wimbledon titles in a row. Nadal had the opportunity to--and ultimately did--become the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win titles at Wimbledon and at the clay-court French Open in the same year.

This match is being called the greatest in Wimbledon history, and certainly I --a relative tennis novice-- can do it no justice. I'll just say that every point, every set and every minute of the nearly 5-hour match was a roller coaster, with no one knowing what would come next...and it was totally worth my entire Sunday.

To read a comprehensive description of the match, click here.

No-no for Lester

From the AP--

BOSTON (AP) — Jon Lester can now add pitching a no-hitter to his already amazing list of accomplishments.

The 24-year-old lefty, who survived cancer to pitch the clincher of Boston's 2007 World Series victory, shut down Kansas City 7-0 Monday night for the first no-hitter in the majors this season.

'When the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza line...'

A Florida pizza parlor has set the Guinness World Record for longest line of pizzas. Delicioso!

Scott Van Duzer and employees of Big Apple Pizza and Pasta created a chain of pizza on Saturday that reached just over 722 feet. A judge believes it broke a previous Guinness World Record of just over 611 feet that was set in Italy in 2006.

The record-breaking event was also for a good cause: The parlor raised money for a St. Lucie County firefighter and his family who had their home destroyed by fire earlier in the week.

I still question where people come up with this stuff? Longest line of pizza? Like, what? But I love how Florida steals this record away from Italy. That's just messed up.

Teams of people turned out for the pizza line, which I'm sure had nothing to do with the fact that it was free pizza all around once the length had been tallied.

RELATED LINKS
Who wants to break stuff?

Bowling turns a blind eye

The 78-year-old Dale Davis of Alta, Iowa, rolled a perfect bowling game Saturday night--impressive, right? But oh, I forgot...he's blind.

After over sixty years on the lanes, it was Mr. Davis' first 300 and the first-ever bowled at Century Lanes. He has a 180 average and bowls in two leagues. His 300 came in the last game of the league's rolloffs.

Read an in-depth look at Mr. Davis' perfect game here.

I read in USATODAY, though, that Mr. Davis is a World War II veteran who lost his vision to macular degeneration. But wait a tick...if he just turned 78, was he 15 when he fought in the war?? I'm confused. Someone please let me know if you know the deal.

Ear today, hair tomorrow

So, here's another interesting Guinness Book of World Records feat...and a little 'hair raising,' if you will...




The tufts coming out of the man's ears were more than 5 inches long when he set the record five years ago. Now, the hair has grown to nearly 12 inches. Getting ready for the day, the man shampoos and combs the hair, and plans to continue growing it...until the point he can braid it.

Favre saying goodbye to Green Bay

That's right. Brett "Still One of the Best Ass's in Spandex" Favre has announced he is retiring from the NFL after breaking a number of records, including most career TD passes.

"I know I can still play, but it's like I told my wife, I'm just tired mentally. I'm just tired."--Brett Favre.

It's a shame that interception versus the Giants in OT will haunt him for the rest of his life, haaaa.

Brett retires with 5,377 career completions in 8,758 attempts for 61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions.

Is he definitely, 100% gone for good? I guess we'll see when the season gets closer. And if he is, thoughts about the Hall of Fame? If nothing else, people will forever cite the following play as Brett Favre's ability, even as he approached age 40. (Sorry the quality is poor.)

Dare I say, 'Where's the beef?'

This weekend, Michigan saw the birth of one big, bad-ass burger. A record-breaking burger, if you will.

Steve Mallie, owner of Mallie's Sports Bar and Grill in Detroit, has created what he believes to be the Guinness World Record's "largest hamburger commercially available."

The record is unofficial, but the 134-lb burger beats out the 123-pound burger made last year by Denny's Beer Barrel Pub in Pennsylvania. It requires 12 hours to prepare and three men to flip it using two steel sheets.

The joint needs 24-hours notice to prepare and you can purchase the burger--which is your standard bacon cheeseburger on crack--for $350.

I'm sorry, but based on the pictures, this thing looks appalling! It looks like the fake, plastic hamburgers that I had in my kitchen set as a kid, except, like, way bigger. And how the shit do you eat that thing!?

Thanks, Dave!

Contestants, ready...to become Gladiators?

The first season of American Gladiators has come to a close with one male and one female contestant winning $100,000 and an SUV each and being crowned the newest Gladiators.

Evan Dollard and Monica Carlson will join the ranks next season, and hopefully be shot up with steroids to be on par with the likes of Wolf and Siren (just kidding...kind of).

Evan clearly smoked his contestant, beating his own personal best record on the Eliminator (1 min, 23 sec.) by four seconds. The other guy had no shot, especially because Evan terrorized any climbing activity and made the incredibly difficult handlebar thing look like child's play.

The girl's race wasn't quite a blow out, as Shanay Norvell gave Monica a run for her money up the cargo net, but Shanay died on the pyramid (one of the easiest parts of the Elimiator) and Monica ran away with the competition.

Enthralling stuff, really, I know. Try to find a hobby until the second installment of the show returns.

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Mini-muscleman

Aditya 'Romeo' Dev, who measures 2 ft 9 inches, is the world's smallest bodybuilder.

To read more about Romeo, click here. And though it looks it, this picture is not doctored.

Don't tell me to chill

So...it was cold today. -41 degrees - heyyyo!

Hiccup in the plan

It's almost 2:30 a.m. and I cannot freaking sleep because I've had hiccups for like, 35 minutes now. No one's here to try and scare me and I've already tried drinking upside down and holding my breath and counting sheep or whatever the shit you're supposed to do.

This lead me to the story of Charles Osbourne (right), who apparently hiccuped for 68 years straight. WHAT THE $%^. I would probably ask someone to shoot me if this lasted for more than two hours.

The Iowa man was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for Longest Attack of Hiccups after he his bought started in 1922 and ended in 1991, close to one year before his death. He began hiccuping 40 times a minute, and it later slowed to 20 a minute. I'm sure he wasn't inconvenienced at all.

And a fun fact from the incredibly credible source that is Wikipedia: It has been estimated that Osborne hiccupped 430 million times over the 68 year period. The average human only hiccups about 2,300 times in an average lifetime.

Give me baby, one more time

Every news source puts out the same story every year: 'So and so was the first baby born in the new year at such and such hospital.'

But you don't often see a story like the Armstrong's from Gettysburg, Pa.

Becky and Kyle Armstrong welcomed new baby Faith Lynn to the world--and 2008--at the Gettysburg Hospital Tuesday at 5:23 a.m. But...she wasn't their first, first baby.

The couple delivered their firstborn child, Kaden Skye Armstrong, on New Year's Day last year and Kaden was the same hospital's first baby of 2007.

Hospital employees said they've never seen anything like it. No kidding, I don't think anyone could do that if they tried, which I'm sure they will now.

And a little fun fact: the babies' great-grandmother also shares the same birthday.