Guinness World Records | Filosofa's Word

Yawwwwnnnn …

OH!!! You startled me! Is it that time already? Well don’t just stand there … come on in where it’s warm … just let me go turn on the coffee pot

So tell me, dear friends, did you have a great weekend? Mine was pretty good. I was chuffed on Saturday afternoon when we went to Barnes & Noble and I was actually able to read the book jackets without using the magnifying glass, so I spent Saturday with a smile on my face! And I’m sure you guys aren’t exactly looking forward to going back to the salt mines today, right? Well, let’s see if we can find some fun things to put smiles on those gorgeous faces! Pull up a chair, grab a cuppa …

A tasty prank …

Y’know, I’ve often wondered what would happen if I called the local pizza place and ordered pizza sent to somebody else … just for a prank. Mind you, I wouldn’t do it, but the thought has occurred to me a time or two, and likely it has to some of you too! I know I’m not the only devious mind in this bunch!

Now, I don’t know who pranked German Attorney Guido Grolle, but it certainly wasn’t me! Whoever it was … or rather is … they are doing it up right! Guido’s office has received more than 100 pizzas that they did not order over the course of the last two weeks, and they keep on coming. Apparently, the toppings are becoming increasingly disgusting, as one of the more recent ones had something called ‘currywurst’ – I don’t even know what that is, and am fairly certain I’m better off not knowing! And there have occasionally been orders of sushi, sausage and Greek food!

Police have opened an investigation into the orders, but investigators said fraud charges are unlikely, as Grolle is not required to pay for the unwanted food. Whoever it is, has Guido’s email address, for he gets notifications of the deliveries via email, sometimes starting first thing in the morning.

EAttorney Guido Grolle’s email directory is full of announcements of pizza deliveries he did not order. Much was actually delivered. Photo: Oliver Schapernter a caption

So, any guesses as to who the perpetrator of this crime is? I would guess a disgruntled former client, or perhaps a lawyer from an opposing firm who lost a case to ol’ Guido! Then again … could be an angry ex-wife!

And speaking of pizza …

Steve Mallie, the owner of Mallie’s Sports Grill & Bar in Southgate, Michigan, broke a Guinness World Record last July by cooking up the biggest hamburger, weighing in at 1,794 pounds!

But then he decided to shoot for another, this time with pizza. He and his crew cooked up a 72 x 72 inch pizza … for those who are mathematically challenged or don’t have your calculator handy, that is six-feet long and six feet wide.

Now, that’s all well and fine, but frankly, it doesn’t look all that tasty to me, and by the time anybody got to eat it, it was no doubt cold. So, I ask the question: why? And the answer, I’m sure, would be “because we can”. Sometimes, just because you can do something doesn’t necessarily mean that you should.

Best use of a lottery win …

Bill Pendergast of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, lost his home in the summer of 2016 when wildfires swept through the area, relentlessly destroying nearly 1.5 million acres of Boreal forest, residential areas, and oil sands. 2,400 homes and other buildings were destroyed, among them Mr. Pendergast’s house.

While the Pendergasts have been struggling financially to re-build their home, it is still only partly complete, due to a lack of funds, among other things. But last week, Bill was on his way to visit his father when his father called and asked him if he would stop and pick up a cold soft drink for him. He did, and while he was in the store, he bought a lottery ticket. Well, guess what, folks? He won!!! A cool $1,000,000 USD, $800,000 Canadian dollars!

I don’t write about lottery winners very often, but every now and then there is a winner who I think is truly deserving, truly in need. Now Bill and his wife can finish that house, and just in time to welcome their first grandbaby!

All in favour, say “woof”

Now, I know I have long promised to keep Jolly Monday free of politics, but I couldn’t resist just one tiny exception … I hope you’ll forgive me.

In a town in Kentucky called “Rabbit Hash”, the mayor has been of the canine persuasion for as long as I can remember. There have been several different mayors, but all of them have been dogs:

First Mayor: Goofy Borneman- Calhoun
Second Mayor: Junior Cochran
Third Mayor: Lucy Lou
Current Mayor: Brynneth Pawltro
Ambassadors: Bourbon & Lady Stone

It’s never been a problem … Rabbit Hash, a thriving metropolis of 315 people, functions quite nicely. Now, over in Kansas, another four-legged fellow, Angus, filed the paperwork in a timely fashion to get his name on the ballot as a candidate for governor. Hey, why not? If it can work for the city of Rabbit Hash, why not for the state of Kansas?

But nooooo … Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who also just so happens to have thrown his hat into the same gubernatorial ring, says, “Officially, we will not allow a dog to run for governor.” Spoil sport. Some have speculated that Mr. Kobach felt threatened by the competition from Angus. Perhaps so. My own opinion is that Angus could not possibly be any worse than Kris Kobach, and now I will drop this topic before I ….

Angus not happy. Angus maybe challenge Kris Kobach to duel.

Bouncy, bouncy, bouncy …

Last but not least, this one is for Roger, the master of the British Oak Pogo Stick!

Who knew that there are serious pogo stick competitions? Earlier this month, Russian professional Xpogo athlete Dmitry Arsenyev traveled to Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania to break the Guinness World Record for most consecutive no-handed back flips on a pogo stick and highest jump on a pogo stick as part of Whistle Sports’ Chronicles of a Record Breaker series. Roger … you are NOT to even attempt this, understand? I will call your wife!

First Arsenyev attempted the no-handed back flip record which required him to complete more than seven consecutive flips on his pogo stick and release his hands from the handlebars while upside-down, without falling off or losing control.

He narrowly topped the previous record by completing eight no-handed back flips before landing outside of the cushioned area provided for him.

Next Arsenyev attempted the record for highest jump on a pogo stick, which Xpogo co-founder Nick Ryan described as “the mother of all pogo records.”

He built up momentum with several bounces before vaulting over a pole set at 11 feet 0.99 inches high, about a half-inch higher than the previous record of 11 feet and half an inch.

Well, folks, a look at the clock, and the obnoxious buzzing of my dryer tell me that our Jolly Monday time is up. I like seeing that you have beautiful smiles on your faces, and I ask only that you go out and share those smiles with people you run into today who have none. I admit that mine has been faltering a bit lately, and I can tell you from experience, that if somebody smiles at me, it lightens my heart just a bit. I hope you all have a terrific week – remember that spring is getting closer by the day! Love ‘n hugs from Filosofa!

Today I have a wonderful young woman and her foundation to tell you about, but first, I must make an apology for my faux pas in last week’s Good People post. My Ghanaian friend Senam, who I call ‘little brother’, gently pointed out the error of my ways, and I must admit he is quite right.

“I loved your recent article about the Nigerian woman, Olajumoke Olufunmilola Adenowo on Good People Doing Good Things…..

Like you wrote, the US doesn’t have a monopoly on good people so it was cool of you to shine the light on the works of this lady….

I have a little concern tho, and forgive me if this is a bit presumptuous…..

You started with “Can’t pronounce it? Neither can I”, and while I’m sure you really can’t pronounce it correctly, saying that feeds into the stereotype that African names generally are difficult to pronounce. When people say that, it usually means, to us, that they can’t be bothered to learn our names, which is actually funny when you consider how diverse the United States. I mean, nobody has any problem pronouncing schwarzenegger for example

Names are important to us here. Our names have meanings. Olajumoke for example means Cherished Wealth, and making the effort to pronounce is a sign of respect and appreciation….

Again though, it was really great of you to tell her story….. “

Senam is correct, and I was thoughtless, so for that I apologize, and promise to be more careful in the future. Names ARE important and we need to respect them. And now, please allow me to shine a light on yet another good person …

“These children are my family, I love them, will fight for them and will do all I can to help them succeed.” – Maria Conceição

Twelve years ago, Maria Conceição, then 27 years of age, was a flight attendant for Emirates Airlines when she flew her first flight into Bangladesh. Born in Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal, Maria became a flight attendant in 2003, and had flown mostly to luxury spots. But then in 2005, she was scheduled to work a flight to Dhaka, Bangladesh, which included a 24-hour layover. It was that layover that would change her life, and the lives of over a thousand children.

With 24 hours to explore, Maria set out to do some sightseeing, and she kept noticing the large number of homeless and starving in every street, many of them children. Rather than touring museums and visiting upscale shops, Maria spent her free time touring slums, an orphanage and a hospital in Dhaka. What she saw there horrified her.

Dhaka – often called the worlds most overcrowded city

In the hospital, conditions were deplorable and Maria met a young girl who had just given birth to twins, was very sick and basically left to die. Near her hotel she met up with another young woman, this one living on the streets, and Maria was so moved that she took her food and other essentials, hoping that she could make some small difference in the homeless woman’s life. But when she returned home, she could not erase the images, and she realized she could not simply turn her back on those people.

Back home, she asked for every flight to Bangladesh, and returned multiple times, each time taking food and other items. Still, Maria was not satisfied and the following month, May 2005, Maria sold all her possessions save for a few clothes, cashed out her savings, and made her plans to head back to Bangladesh. Many of her friends helped by selling some of their own possessions and donating the proceeds to Maria’s cause.

Maria returned to Dhaka and set about raising both awareness and cash to help the people living in abject poverty in the slums. At first it was slow going, both because she was an unknown, and also because people’s pride kept them from accepting charity. But Maria persisted, and in 2006, along with three other people, established the Maria Cristina Foundation (MCF), named after her adoptive mother.

She received help from colleagues, friends and family, as well as her employer, Emirates Airlines. And she established a school that began with 39 students from the Korail slum. Although at first it was slow going, Maria managed to accomplish a lot in that first year. She opened a home sewing school so women could learn to work, a daycare center, a driving school for rickshaw drivers. And small things, like providing containers to families to capture rainwater, a first aid and dental center were established, trash cans distributed.

By the end of 2006, the school had expanded to some 150 students and, though still struggling for donations, the foundation was on the road to success. In 2007, Bangladesh saw floods and a major cyclone that caused inflation, thus the donations did not go as far, but nonetheless, the foundation began a vaccination program for the children. The foundation was now taking care of about 600 children, thanks to generous contributions from Maria’s employer, Emirates Airlines, as well as others.

2008 brought about many difficulties: natural disasters, the worldwide financial crisis, and naturally donations fell off. So, Maria did something extraordinary to draw attention to the needs of the foundation and its community — she set out to become a sportswoman of note, and in that she clearly succeeded, becoming the first Portuguese woman to climb Mount Everest; holding three records as a marathon runner; and establishing six Guinness World Records. Most recently, she attempted to swim the English Channel but was forced to abandon her bid due to overpowering tidal currents.

Her accomplishments did put the foundation in the limelight, and they now receive donations, job assistance and other forms of help from a number of large corporations.

Ultimately, the school that Maria started in 2005 was overwhelmed, and the foundation made arrangements for 450 of the 600 students to attend an excellent school in Bangladesh and the foundation pays their tuition. A handful have been offered scholarships to an excellent GEMS school in Dubai, UAE. By 2013, there were only 150 students remaining at the Gawair when the school was forced to close due to lack of funding.

Maria and MCF have done so much to help the poor of Dhaka, Bangladesh, that I cannot even begin to cover them all. They have adult programs, family programs, and of course the highest priority is always the education of the children, for it is that that will provide them with opportunities to rise well above their beginnings. There are numerous articles and interviews online with Maria, but the best I found was in Arabian Business. And there is a must-see Ted Talk. It is rather long … 19:18 minutes, but worth every minute, if you can spare the time, to listen to Maria tell her story in her own words.

We have come across a lot of wonderful people since I began this feature back in February, haven’t we? Today’s good person is no exception, for she is quite literally living her life to do good for others, and I give her a big thumbs-up!