Bao Xishun..world's tallest father after getting his 5ft 5in wife pregnant.

Bao Xishun (R), 57, a 2.36-metre (7 feet, 9 inches) herdsman listed by the Guinness World Records as the tallest living man, chats with his pregnant wife Xia Shujuan, 29, 1.68-metre (5 feet, 5 inches), at their apartment in Zunhua, Hebei province September 25, 2008. Guinness World Records has returned the title of world's tallest man to China's Bao after Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk refused to be measured under new guidelines. Picture taken September 25, 2008.

Bao Xishun (L), 57, a 2.36-metre (7 feet, 9 inches) herdsman listed by the Guinness World Records as the tallest living man, touches the belly of his pregnant wife Xia Shujuan, 29, 1.68-metre (5 feet, 5 inches), as they pose for a photograph at their apartment in Zunhua, Hebei province September 25, 2008. Guinness World Records has returned the title of world's tallest man to China's Bao after Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk refused to be measured under new guidelines. Picture taken September 25, 2008.



Bao Xishun (R), 57, a 2.36-metre (7 feet, 9 inches) herdsman listed by the Guinness World Records as the tallest living man, walks with his pregnant wife Xia Shujuan, 29, 1.68-metre (5 feet, 5 inches), outside their apartment in Zunhua, Hebei province September 25, 2008. Guinness World Records has returned the title of world's tallest man to China's Bao after Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk refused to be measured under new guidelines. Picture taken September 25, 2008.


World's tallest man will be world's tallest dad
Bao Xishun, the world's tallest man, has announced he will become the world's tallest father after getting his 5ft 5in wife pregnant.

7ft 9in Bao married his normal sized wife Xia Shujuan last year and while they insist they are equal partners in marriage she only reaches her husband's elbow.

They are now said expecting their first child and Bao, a herdsman from Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, said he would like his son or daughter to be tall enough to play basketball.

He could also be given a second place in the Guinness World Record book - and it was easier and more enjoyable than holding ten live rattlesnakes in his mouth for longer than ten seconds.

Bao says the marriage is going well, he has obviously learnt how to fain laughter each morning when his wife asks 'what's the weather like up there?' The news has prompted many people to question the practicalities of the conception and wonder what the Karma Sutra would look like if the characters had a similar disparity in height as Bao and his wife.

Last year Bao lost his title as the world's tallest living man to Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk who measured a whopping 8ft 5.5 inches. But amendments to the rules would saw him given the title back for the Guinness World Records book 2009.
All contenders to the title must now be measured in person by an official Guinness World Records adjudicator, something Stadnyk did not allow, possibly because he is really three children on each others shoulders wearing a long coat.

Sri Lankan hanuman langur watches from the tree tops just outside the ancient kingdom of Sigiriya

In this photograph taken on September 5, 2008 shows a Sri Lankan reptile crawling over a mound of earth at the ancient kingdom of Sigiriya, about 170 kilometers (106 miles) north of Colombo. Sri Lanka is showcasing its rich biodiversity ranging from butterflies, dragonflies to primates, to lure tourists who have a taste for the wild.



In this photograph taken on September 5, 2008 a Sri Lankan common Indian Crow butterfly is pictured at the ancient kingdom of Sigiriya, about 170 kilometers (106 miles) north of Colombo. Sri Lanka is showcasing its rich biodiversity ranging from butterflies, dragonflies to primates, to lure tourists who have a taste for the wild.

Marine scientists have discovered hundreds of new animal species on reefs in Australian waters

An undated handout photo obtained September 19, 2008, shows Colonial Salp jellyfish captured in a mid water column. Hundreds of new marine species have been found on Australia's coral reefs, surprising an international team of biologists who announced details of their findings September 18, 2008. The three expeditions to Lizard and Heron islands, and Ningaloo Reef, included a first systematic scientific inventory of spectacular soft corals, named octocorals for the eight tentacles around each polyp.

In the this 2008 photo provided by the Queensland Museum is sabellids or fan worms in the waters off Heron Island, Australia. Marine scientists have discovered hundreds of new animal species on reefs in Australian waters, including brilliant soft corals and tiny crustaceans.

In this 2008 photo provided by the Queensland Museum is a green banded snapping shrimp, Alpheus parvirostris, taken from dead coral head off Heron Island, Australia. Marine scientists have discovered hundreds of new animal species on reefs in Australian waters, including brilliant soft corals and tiny crustaceans.


In the this 2008 photo provided by the Queensland Museum is dendronepthya soft coral in coral gardens on Australia's Lizard Island Reef. Marine scientists have discovered hundreds of new animal species on reefs in Australian waters, including brilliant soft corals and tiny crustaceans.

People try to fly in human-powered machines, is held in Colombia.

One of thirty-six teams from different Colombian cities participate on September 14, 2008 in Bogota in the Red Bull flugtag contest. It is the first time that this event, in which people try to fly in human-powered machines, is held in Colombia.

One of thirty-six teams from different Colombian cities participate on September 14, 2008 in Bogota in the Red Bull flugtag contest. It is the first time that this event, in which people try to fly in human-powered machines, is held in Colombia.

One of thirty-six teams from different Colombian cities participate on September 14, 2008 in Bogota in the Red Bull flugtag contest. It is the first time that this event, in which people try to fly in human-powered machines, is held in Colombia.

One of thirty-six teams from different Colombian cities participate on September 14, 2008 in Bogota in the Red Bull flugtag contest. It is the first time that this event, in which people try to fly in human-powered machines, is held in Colombia


One of thirty-six teams from different Colombian cities participate on September 14, 2008 in Bogota in the Red Bull flugtag contest. It is the first time that this event, in which people try to fly in human-powered machines, is held in Colombia.

Sleep ... 350 mats for parents accompanying freshmen students

Parents of freshmen sleep on mats laid out on the floor of a gymnasium inside a university campus in Wuhan, Hubei province, September 3, 2008. The university set out about 350 mats for parents accompanying freshmen students on their first day of school, local media reported. Picture taken September 3, 2008.

Parents of freshmen sleep on mats laid out on the floor of a gymnasium inside a university campus in Wuhan, Hubei province, September 3, 2008. The university set out about 350 mats for parents accompanying freshmen students on their first day of school, local media reported. Picture taken September 3, 2008.

Parents of freshmen sleep on mats laid out on the floor of a gymnasium inside a university campus in Wuhan, Hubei province, September 3, 2008. The university set out about 350 mats for parents accompanying freshmen students on their first day of school, local media reported. Picture taken September 3, 2008.

China Arnold...murder for killing her baby in a microwave oven

Dr. Russell Uptegrove, background, with the Montgomery County Coroner's office, testifies while a doll, in a case, sits on top of the microwave that was taken from the apartment of China Arnold, on Monday, Aug. 18, 2008 in Dayton, Ohio. Arnold, 28, is accused of killing her infant girl, Paris Talley, by placing her in a microwave oven.

China Arnold looks towards the potential jurors during the jury selection phase of her trial in Dayton, Ohio, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008. Arnold is on trial, for aggravated murder, in the death of her baby Paris Talley. Arnold is accused of killing her baby by placing her in a microwave oven. The court proceedings are taking place in a Montgomery County courtroom.

China Arnold enters the Montgomery County Common Pleas Courtroom for her trial sentencing phase Wednesday morning, Sept. 3, 2008 in Dayton, Ohio. Arnold, 28, was convicted Friday of aggravated murder for killing her baby in a microwave oven in August 2005. Her trial continued Wednesday as closing arguments were presented for sentencing, and the jury began deliberations. Arnold could face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.


China Arnold reacts to being found guilty of aggravated murder, in the death of her 28 day old baby, Paris Talley, in a Montgomery County courtroom, in Dayton Ohio on Friday, Aug. 29, 2008. The baby was found dead due to burns from a microwave oven in 2005.

Guinness World Record......"The Guitarist" mosaic using cork at the Sheraton Hotel in Tirana

A man walks past the mosaic of Albanian painter Saimir Strati, 42, on September 4, 2008 in Tirana. Strati won a third Guinness World Record award for his work "The Guitarist," the world's largest cork mosaic, made with some 300,000 corks on a board measuring 96 square-meters. Strati was recognized by Guinness World Record officials in 2006 for creating the world's largest nail mosaic with some 500,000 industrial nails and in 2007 for the largest, three-dimensional toothpick mosaic using around 1.000,000 toothpicks.

Albanian painter Saimir Strati, 42, poses on September 4, 2008 in Tirana with the Guiness award he won for his work "The Guitarist," a mosaic made with cork. Strati won his third Guinness World Record for creating the world's largest cork mosaic, using around 300,000 corks on a board measuring 96 square-meters. Last two years Strati was recognized by Guinness World Record officials as having created the world's largest nail mosaic with some 500,000 industrial nails and the largest, three-dimensional toothpick mosaic using around 1.000,000 toothpicks.


Albanian painter Saimir Strati, 42, works on "The Guitarist" mosaic using cork at the Sheraton Hotel in Tirana on August 21, 2008. Strati will use around 300,000 corks on a banner measuring 96 square-meters in an effort to secure for the third time a place in the Guinness World Record with the largest, 3-dimensional cork mosaic ever attempted. This work will take around 27 days after which experts from the Guinness World Record will give their verdict. Last two years Strati was recognized by Guinness World Record officials as having created the world's largest nail mosaic with some 500,000 industrial nails on a 8 square meter wooden board and the largest, 3-dimensional toothpick mosaic using around 1.000,000 toothpicks.

Albanian painter Saimir Strati, 42, works on "The Guitarist" mosaic using cork at the Sheraton Hotel in Tirana on August 21, 2008. Strati will use around 300,000 corks on a banner measuring 96 square-meters in an effort to secure for the third time a place in the Guinness World Record with the largest, 3-dimensional cork mosaic ever attempted. This work will take around 27 days after which experts from the Guinness World Record will give their verdict. Last two years Strati was recognized by Guinness World Record officials as having created the world's largest nail mosaic with some 500,000 industrial nails on a 8 square meter wooden board and the largest, 3-dimensional toothpick mosaic using around 1.000,000 toothpicks.

Halloween Character Parade at the Universal Studio Japan (USJ) in Osaka,

People clad in Halloween costumes, Woody Woodpecker (R), Winnie Woodpecker (L) and local famous charachter "Kuidaore Taro" (C) wave to the audience from a limousine during the press preview of the Halloween Character Parade at the Universal Studio Japan (USJ) in Osaka, western Japan, on September 3, 2008. USJ will hold the parade once a day as the main feature for Halloween events from September 4 until November 3.