Cockroach - Intermezzo

Cockroaches have lived unchanged for more than 320 million years. They are among the oldest fossil insects and are also among the most primitive living, winged insects. If a nuclear war broke out cockroaches would be the only living creatures to survive!

FIVE FASCINATING COCKROACH FACTS
1. In Australia there is an annual Cockroach Racing Championship. The winning roach scoops a top prize of $500.
2. A cockroach has at least 18 knees!
3. It can live for a month without a head!
4. Female cockroaches are larger than males because they produce and carry their eggs.
5. A lobster is often called the cockroach of the sea since it is a scavenger.

Most Cockroaches Eaten



Ken Edwards; London, UK; March 5, 2001.

Ken Edwards of Glossop, Derbyshire, England ate 36 cockroaches in one minute on the set of The Big Breakfast, London, England on March 5, 2001.

Ken is a retired ratcatcher and part-time entertainer who first took to the stage at age 18, but his talent for carrying out bizarre stage acts was unveiled on the British TV show Over The Top when he was 39. Ken's 47 rats-down-the-trouser trick caused such a stir that he became a celebrity overnight! His friends and family are now used to his freaky acts and Ken says, "If I were to actually do something normal then they would react!"

WANT TO KNOW MORE?
When Ken munches on his cockroaches, he says "It's like having an anesthetic at the back of the throat." This is due to the scent they let off to ward off predators! Tasty!

Source: Guinness World Records 2007

Strangest Diet



Michel Lotito (aka Mr Mangetout); France; As of 1959.

Michel Lotito (aka Monsieur Mangetout) from Grenoble, France, has been eating metal and glass since 1959. Gastroenterologists have described his ability to consume 900 g (2 lb) of metal per day as "unique". Mangetout - Michel's nickname - literally translates as "eats everything". Michel says bananas and hard-boiled eggs make him sick.

Source: Guinness World Records 2007

Fastest Time to Pluck a Turkey



Vincent Pilkington; Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland; November 17, 1980.

Vincent Pilkington of Cootehill, County Cavan, Republic of Ireland, plucked a turkey in 1 minute 30 seconds on November 17, 1980. His past best time was 2 minutes 44 seconds. Vincent is so enthusiastic about his skills that he even carried out 24 hours of turkey plucking to raise funds for his local Holy Family School. In this time he plucked 244 turkeys.

Source: Guinness World Records 2007