Some things in life are over before they even begin. A forgotten load of laundry, a half-finished Netflix series and, apparently, a five-day career in the White House. With President Donald Trump’s newest press secretary, Katie Zacharia, making headlines after just five days on the job, it got me thinking about all the things that have somehow managed to last longer.
- . The Longest Someone Has Been Trapped in an Elevator
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The world record for the longest time someone has been trapped in a elevator is six days. The record holder, 76-year-old Kively Papajohn, was stuck in a residential apartment building’s elevator in Limassol, Cyprus, from Dec. 28, 1987, to Jan. 2, 1988, after returning from grocery shopping. Thankfully, she had some groceries with her to help her survive the ordeal!
- . The Bubble Wrap Popping Marathon
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In 2015, a radio station in Canada decided to break a world record for the longest continuous bubble wrap popping session. A dedicated team popped plastic bubbles for 150 consecutive hours, which is over six days straight.
- . Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries’ Marriage
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The couple’s high-profile marriage famously lasted just 72 days before Kim decided to break it off.
- . The Longest Someone Has Gone Without Drinking Water or Eating Food
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The longest recorded case of survival without food or water lasted 18 days. In April 1979, an 18-year-old Austrian man named Andreas Mihavecz was mistakenly placed in a holding cell and forgotten by police. He was discovered on April 18, close to death, after being left without food or water. Now that’s a nightmare no one wants to experience!
- . Shark Week
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Shark Week, the annual week-long television programming event broadcast on the Discovery Channel dedicated to shark conservation, and dramatic encounters, lasts seven days. No matter what you’re tuning in for, you can count on it lasting longer than five days!
- . The Amount Of Time It Takes For a Boat To Cross The Atlantic Ocean
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Crossing the Atlantic Ocean by boat can take anywhere from several days to several weeks, depending on the type of ship, route, and weather conditions. While a fast vessel can make the crossing in less than a week, a traditional cruising sailboat may take three to four weeks.
- . The Great Dress Debate (Blue/Black vs. Gold/White)
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In 2015, a poorly lit photo of a dress completely shook the world and started an internet-wide war over what color the dress actually was. The debate went on for two weeks, prompting scientific papers and eye doctors to weigh in on how human brains process light. Fun fact: the viral dress turned 10 years old this year!
- . The World’s Longest Monopoly Game
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According to Hasbro (the publisher of Monopoly), the longest continuous game of Monopoly ever recorded lasted for 70 straight days (1,680 hours). The game took place in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and was played continuously for 70 straight days by rotating players.
- . Lady Gaga’s Meat Dress Preservation
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Lady Gaga wore a dress made entirely of raw flank steak to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, and most assumed it would rot within 48 hours. Instead, taxidermists blasted it with chemicals and turned it into literal beef jerky. It has since been preserved and displayed in museums for over 15 years.
- . A Calendar Week
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A calendar week lasts seven days. That’s two days longer than a five-day career — and somehow, even an ordinary week managed to outlast the White House’s latest press secretary!