Simply Smashing

Thursday marked the third annual Guinness World Records Day. Started by the Guinness Book of World Records, more than 100,000 people around the world attempted to set a world mark in 2006. This year, Guinness publishers expected that number to double.

Here’s a look at some interesting record-breaking attempts that took place around the globe:

• Jackie Bibby, of Dublin, Texas, spent 45 minutes in a bathtub with 87 rattlesnakes, breaking his own record by 12. He helped kickoff the week by breaking this record Monday.

• In Great Britain, Manjit Singh attempted to set a record for “fastest time pulling a double-decker bus with only your ears.” He failed when he didn’t reach a mark of 33 feet (10 meters), pulling up just short.

• The Leaning Tower of Pisa lost its distinction as “most tilted tower” to a 15th century church steeple in the German village of Suurhusen. Pisa tilts 3.97 degrees, while Suurhusen tilts 5.19.

• Pianist Pat Jones attempted to set the record of “longest keyboard playing marathon by an individual.” The current record is 64 hours, but Jones is trying to hit 72 hours at 7:30 p.m. EST today.

• George Bell has been recognized as the “tallest person in the United States.” The 7-foot-8 sheriff’s deputy from Norfolk, Va. is still behind 8-foot-5.5 Leonid Stadnyk of Ukraine and 7-foot-8.95 Bao Xi Shun of China for the world record.

• Canadians are gunning for the “largest game of Twister.”

• People in Sydney, Australia planned to unveil the world’s “largest pair of underpants.”

Did you break a record today?