I wonder how many of you have used the Guinness Book of Records to settle some argument or just to verify some facts or even to see what all made it into the book? First of all, why was the book published in the first place? Well, it was originally published by Guinness Breweries as a reference for settling bar arguments. According to what I found on www.funfactz.com, "Its roots date back to 1951, when Sir Hugh Beaver, the managing director of Guinness Breweries was out on a hunting trip and missed a shot. Subsequently, he got into a heated argument over what was the fastest game bird in Europe."
He tried to settle the argument by looking up information and couldn't find a reference, so he then realized a need for a quick and accurate information book on world records. At the time, there was a London-based agency that dealt with facts and figures run by Norris and Ross McWhirter and Beaver commissioned them to publish their book, which hit the shelves in 1954. Then the next year, 1955, it went to the top of the British bestseller lists.
I guess now, the internet holds a lot more information than that book does, but there is something more solid getting information from something you hold in your hands and turn the pages. Of course, I guess I would first use the internet to search for information. How about all of you? (Or for you southern speaking people, how about you all?) Now, you all have a great day today, you all hear?
The Internet Search function is the greatest invention since Algore invented the Internet. There is probably not a day that goes by that I do not do a Search.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I, too, search multiple times a day and use different search engines.
DeleteAnd I believe that if you research it, Dizzy, you will find that we say y'all here in Texas and most of the South, not you all. Maybe even pronounced yaw'll....
ReplyDeleteI believe I have heard yaw'll more than y'all. When I living in North Carolina, their southern drawl was quite different than here in Texas and for a guy who grew up in Pennsylvania and lived in Michigan, N.C., and Texas, I have a real mixed up speech. English was never my best subject in school.
DeleteJanuary 30, 2015
ReplyDeleteMorning to All Yaw’ll
The difference is Guinness Book of Records, records require certification, or witnessed to be inclused and recorded in the books official record. With the internet there could be “records” without witness or certification. I will always respect a Guinness Book record over an internet record.
George
http://busterstravelsgeo-bon.blogspot.com
I sure do understand and agree to that. The Guinness Book of Records is on the internet. You can find it here: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/
DeleteCheck it out.
January 30, 2015
DeleteYes I would trust that because it is a certified record.
George
I don't know how I missed your post yesterday, but I did.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that the Guinness Book of Records was published as recently as 1954. Guess I just thought it was around forever. It is also true you can't trust everything you find on the internet; I hate it when a search brings me to Wikipedia.
I was also surprised to learn that it was first published in 1954.
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