The URDB Blog

Stay calm people, but the world has a new King of Kong. Photo:...

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:46:31 -0500

Stay calm people, but the world has a new King of Kong.

We just released a basic, read-only API

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:34:18 -0500

To access all current URDB records along with their associated images, tags and shortlinks, click on this magical link: http://urdb.org/api/json/records Link is cached five minutes at a time.

We’re working on the write API. Follow progress here: http://wiki.urdb.org/home/api-rfc Let us know if there’s other features you’d like to see.

Code on!

This looks to be our best lineup ever. Eliot Glazer setting his...

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:00:09 -0500

This looks to be our best lineup ever. Eliot Glazer setting his first-ever record, The Record Collection flying in from Toronto just for the event, plus Elna Baker, Ella Morton, Opus Moreschi, and much, much more. Get your advance tickets here, and RSVP on Facebook.

Our first-ever episode of The World Record Show. Huzzah! Give it...

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:48:24 -0500

Our first-ever episode of The World Record Show. Huzzah! Give it up for our lovely hostess, Ms. Ella Morton.

We’d love your thoughts, comments, suggestions for future themes, and more than anything, your records. Heck, attempt the sdrawkcab record right now and try to win an exclusive URDB World Record Holder Certificate.

The second video. (Hey Tumblr, why can’t we post two...

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:44:09 -0500

Most Pairs Of Underpants Put On In 30 Seconds (#2)

The second video. (Hey Tumblr, why can’t we post two videos in one post?)

UNDERPANTS CONTROVERSY (Please help!) Until yesterday, Sean...

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:41:00 -0500

Most Pairs Of Underpants Put On In 30 Seconds (#1)

UNDERPANTS CONTROVERSY (Please help!)

Until yesterday, Sean Kelley held the URDB World Record for Most Pairs Of Underpants Put On In 30 Seconds (9). Watch his video here.

Then, out of the blue, we received two submissions that both claim to beat Kelley’s feat. Heather Leonard and Todd DeFazio both put on 12 pairs in 30 seconds. Watch their videos above, and see their record pages here and here.

As you’ll see, DeFazio uses a very questionable technique: he has all of his underpants around his legs before the record begins.

Question: Should DeFazio’s submission be accepted? Do we make them co-world record holders? Or should we deny DeFazio and make Leonard the sole record holder?

Thanks in advance for your input, Team URDB

We made the (gulp) cover of this month’s Crochet Today....

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:53:29 -0500

We made the (gulp) cover of this month’s Crochet Today. Note the world record mention at the top of the page. Read more about the feat in the magazine, and see the video here.

At long last, our URDB “How To Set a World Record”...

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:17:00 -0500

At long last, our URDB “How To Set a World Record” video. Hearty thanks to Andrea Rosen for acting, Bob Geile for shooting, Ben Cheek for motion graphics, Kevin MacLeod for music, Ella Morton for writing/acting, and most of all, Eric Brown and Andrew Kornhaber of KornhaberBrown for producing/editing/making it happen. Much love to all of you.

URDB Valentine’s Day Challenge Is your girlfriend/wife...

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:15:00 -0500

URDB Valentine’s Day Challenge

Is your girlfriend/wife named Kristi? Do you know anyone who has a girlfriend/wife named Kristi? If anyone out there can beat this world record for Most Times Saying “I Love You Kristi” In 39 Seconds (49) by Monday, we’ll post a video of everyone at URDB HQ doing the Chicken Dance. Good luck, and remember: URDB loves you.

It’s confirmed—this blog post holds the official...

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:34:28 -0500

It’s confirmed—this blog post holds the official URDB World Record for Most Notes On A Single Tumblr Post. Congrats to Benjamin on a rad concept and extremely impressive feat. Will anyone out there try and beat it?

(via benjamin9)

Photo

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:28:34 -0500

What Would You Do with a URDB API?

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:53:07 -0500

Yo, webby types! We’re in the midst of pulling together specs for a public API.

We have a ton of ideas of for potential uses – video game high score submissions, enabling record holder widgets, etc. but wanted to to reach out and see if there are features you’re dreaming of we haven’t already considered.

Feel free to email the team directly at hello AT urdb DOT org, or you can get in touch via the wiki: http://sites.google.com/site/urdbwiki/home/api-rfc

Web on, webbies!

Congrats on a great feat, Jeff. To the rest of you: beat this...

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:10:56 -0500

Congrats on a great feat, Jeff. To the rest of you: beat this record!

jeffrubinjeffrubin:

Here it is - my world record run at “Most Trivial Pursuit 90’s Edition ‘Wired’ Questions Answered Out a Shuffled Deck in 60 Seconds.”

We did several attempts before we got one I was happy with, but I decided to put them all online anyway. If you just want to see the record setting 15-question run you can go the record’s home on the Universal Record Database site or skip to about 4:20 in the video above.

I’m still bummed I didn’t get to do this live at last week’s fundraising URDB live show, so here’s what I’m going to do. If someone beats my record in the next 90 days, I will donate $100 to the charity of their choice ($50 will come from me, $50 will come from my employers’ generous matching gift policy). I’m a big nerd but I’m by no means the biggest, and I’m sure someone else watching this knew most of those answers. The URDB website has a FAQ that explains exactly how to submit your record. If you’re somehow still interested in reading more, I explained my strategy in the description on Vimeo. Good luck!

Thanks again to everyone that helped, especially Amir who set a simultaneous record for “Most Trivial Pursuit 90’s Edition ‘Wired’ Questions Asked Out a Shuffled Deck in 60 Seconds.”

The legendary Opus Moreschi, holder of such records as Fastest...

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:06:00 -0500

The legendary Opus Moreschi, holder of such records as Fastest Time To Make A ShamWow Cocktail and Most Neckties Worn At Once, wowed a packed house at last night’s World Record Appreciation Society #11 by setting a record for Most Adjectives Stuck To A Person’s Body. The unofficial count was 409 adjectives.

World Record Appreciation Society #12 will take place on Tuesday, February 16th at Joe’s Pub in NYC. Confirmed record setters include Reggie Watts and The New Yorker’s Ben Greenman.

Photo by: Emily Wilson

URDB co-founders Dan Rollman and Corey Henderson backstage at...

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:20:20 -0500

URDB co-founders Dan Rollman and Corey Henderson backstage at The Tyra Show with Ann and Claire Recht, the world’s tallest living female twins. Corey isn’t as short as he appears - it’s just that Dan, Ann and Claire are all 6’7”.

Metropolis Fremantle, a legendary nightclub in Perth, Australia,...

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:53:51 -0500

Metropolis Fremantle, a legendary nightclub in Perth, Australia, invited URDB to document the World’s Largest Pajama Party on New Year’s Eve, 2009. 1075 people showed up in pajamas, making it an official world record. Dan and Marc from URDB were present as witnesses.

We’re beyond thrilled to be moving to Joe’s Pub....

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:52:06 -0500

We’re beyond thrilled to be moving to Joe’s Pub. This night should be bananas. Advance tickets here, with all proceeds to the “Yes, We Care” Soup Kitchen. RSVP on Facebook.

Want to host a World Record web show?

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:56:00 -0500

We’ve got a ton in the works at URDB HQ for 2010. First up is the launch of a weekly web show, tentatively titled, “Top 5 Records of the Week”. We’ve got a production company on board and a NYC location to shoot in - all we need is host.

Prospective talent should love web shows and understand what makes great web video tick. They should have a unique personality and appearance, be funny (!!!), have experience creating video for YouTube, a passion for world records, and be full of creative ideas and awesomeness.

The ideal candidate would want to dig into this project and truly make it their own. An essential part of the job would be a commitment to creatively promoting the show online, offline, and in outer space.

Time requirements:
2 shoot days a month, 2 episodes per shoot

Writing requirements:
Script 4 short episodes per month

This job is compensated.

To apply, please send an email to host@urdb.org containing all of the following: a link to a demo reel or videos you’ve made, a writing sample (sample script, blog link, article, or just paste in something you’re proud of), your resume, and a brief explanation of why you’d be great for this position. For bonus points, set a world record and submit it to our site. Must be based in NYC.

We’ll post video from this depressing fail shortly. Try,...

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:46:26 -0500

We’ll post video from this depressing fail shortly. Try, try again, Kenyatta. We have faith in you.

kenyatta:

URDB Fail

Caitlin, Eric (off cam), and I fail at helping Alex Young complete the Longest Chain of Suck and Blow.

via Idaho Bob’s 1 a Day Picture Blog

#1: Fastest Time To Recite "To Be Or Not To Be" Soliloquy While Balancing On A Rola Bola On A Picnic Table And Juggling Knives - Chad Lunders

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:47:15 -0500

We have mad love for all the records submitted to our site. The breadth of submissions we’ve received in the past year, from light and frivolous to arty and clever, have helped us define URDB as a truly open platform for world records.

When push comes to shove, however, our favorite type of records on the site feature people making a legitimate stab at greatness. They’re the records that fall at the intersection of innovation and achievement. They showcase brave souls inventing fresh feats that display their unique yet genuine skills.

Falling right in the heart of this category, our runaway favorite for Best Record of 2009 goes to Chad Lunders and his un-fudging-believable Fastest Time To Recite “To Be Or Not To Be” Soliloquy While Balancing On A Rola Bola On A Picnic Table And Juggling Knives.

Enormous respect and deepfound awe goes to you, Mr. Lunders. Your record raises the bar for what we as humans are capable of. We’re waiting with baited breath to see what achievements you send us in the year ahead.

A note and challenge to everyone else: take inspiration from Chad. That’s not to say you need to learn how to juggle knives. We just encourage you to think deeply about what you’re great at and find a way to turn it into a record. Our team has full confidence each and everyone of you have extraordinary feats waiting inside.

To raising the bar of awesomeness in 2010,

Team URDB