These days, the records you hear about Illinois setting are usually not good ones. Record pension deficits, record budget deficits, record budget impasse...you get the idea. Believe it or not, our state has produced some world records that we can actually be proud of.

I've been sitting here, muttering "I didn't know that" over and over as I've read through a piece published by the Pantagraph, a Bloomington based newspaper. They went looking for Guinness Book of World Records achievements that have been set right here in Illinois, and surprisingly enough, there are plenty. Such as:

Most Whoopee Cushions Sat On in 30 Seconds:

The most whoopee cushions sat on in 30 seconds is 54 and was achieved by Matt Bray (USA) in Naperville, Illinois, USA, on 18 April 2015. Matt previously held this record with 37 whoopee cushions before losing it in 2013.

The Smallest Cat:

The smallest cat on record was a male blue point Himalayan-Persian, named Tinker Toy that measured only 7 cm (2.75 in) tall and 19 cm (7.5 in) long when full grown (aged 2.5 years). The unusually tiny feline was owned by Katrina and Scott Forbes (USA) of Taylorville, Illinois, USA. Tinker Toy was born on 25 December 1990 (the runt of six kittens) and died in November 1997 at the age of six.

Most Cloves of Garlic Eaten in One Minute:

The most cloves of garlic eaten in one minute is 36 and was achieved by Patrick Bertoletti (USA) at Sierra Studios, East Dundee, Illinois, USA, on 14 January 2012.

The Tallest Man Ever:

The tallest man in medical history for whom there is irrefutable evidence is Robert Pershing Wadlow (USA) (born 6:30 a.m. at Alton, Illinois, USA on 22 February 1918), who when last measured on 27 June 1940, was found to be 2.72 m (8 ft 11.1 in) tall.

Longest Ears on a Dog Ever:

The longest ears on a dog measured 34.9 cm (13.75 in) and 34.2 cm (13.5 in) for the right and left ears, respectively, on 29 September 2004. They belong to Tigger, a bloodhound, who is owned by Bryan and Christina Flessner of St Joseph, Illinois, USA. Tigger has won many show titles and over 180 Best of Breed awards. He was inducted into the Bloodhound 'Hall of Fame' in 2003. Unfortunately Tigger passed away in October 2009.

Longest Tornado Path Length:

The longest tornado path length travelled at least 352 km (218 mi) through the US states of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, on 18 March 1925. On 18 March 1925 a tornado travelled at least 352 km through the US states of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. It killed 695 people, more than any other tornado in US history. The tornado lasted 3.5 hours, longer than any other in recorded history.

Most People Wearing Groucho Marx Glasses:

The most people wearing Groucho Marx glasses was achieved by 4,436 participants in an event organised by the City of Chicago's Outdoor Film Festival in partnership with the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on 21 July 2009. The event started at 5:00 pm and finished at 8:33 pm

There are lots more records that were set right here in Illinois, click here to see more.

And, just for the fun of it, check out the world record for "Largest Human Mattress Dominos" (set in Maryland, not in Illinois):

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