A look at some of the deadliest natural disasters around the world in the past 40 years:

- May 2008: Earthquake (magnitude 7.8) hits Sichuan province in central China. Thousands are killed.

- May 2008: Cyclone Nargis strikes Myanmar, killing more than 30,000 and leaving an additional 30,000 missing.

- October 2005: Northern Pakistan earthquake (magnitude 7.6) kills about 78,000 people.

- August 2005: U.S. Gulf Coast Hurricane Katrina kills at least 1,600 people in Louisiana and Mississippi.

- December 2004: Indian Ocean tsunami (triggered by magnitude 9.0 earthquake) kills 230,000 in a dozen countries.

- December 2003: Southeastern Iran earthquake (magnitude 6.5) kills 26,000.

- January 2001- Gujarat earthquake (magnitude 7.9), epicenter: Bhuj, Western Gujarat. Over 20,000 killed.

- October 1999- Orissa’s super-cyclone- Over 10,000 killed.

- August 1999: Western Turkey earthquake (magnitude 7.4) kills 17,000.

- October 1998: Central America Hurricane Mitch kills 9,000.

- April 1991: Bangladesh cyclone kills 140,000.

- June 1990: Northwestern Iran earthquake (magnitude 7.7) kills 50,000.

- July 1976: Northeastern China earthquake (magnitude 8.2) kills 240,000, with some estimates at 655,000.

- November 1970: Bangladesh cyclone kills 300,000. World's deadliest cyclone on record.

It is said that the mustache is a symbol of male vanity. A vanity that was lost in the western world. But not in other parts of the world. In India, mustached men impose more respect. And this man must impose a lot of respect: Badamsinh Juwansinh Gurjar, 60, an Indian villager from Ahmedabad (western India).

On February 29, 2004, his mustache was measured to be
12.5 ft long (4.2 m) long, a world's absolute record. The man had not cut his mustache for 22 years, in order to be admitted into the Guinness Book of World Records. We have to admit the mustache of Badamsinh is relatively unstylish, unsmeared, with mustache goops.

In fact, an Indian is also the proud possessor of another Guinness Book record of hair: the longest ear tufts: Radhakant Bajpai, a grocer from the city of Kanpur, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, northern India.

Bajpai's ear tufts were already 13.2 cm (5.2 in) when he broke the record in 2003 and now the man is really unbeatable: his ear hair has grown to almost 25 cm (10 in). Bajapai had defeated BD Tyagi of the city of Bhopal (central India), whose ear adornments measured 10.2 cm (4.1 in) (could it be because of the Bhopal accident?), and the amazing length was confirmed for the Guinness Book of Records by medical examiner Dr. R P Gupta.

The man washes his ear hair with a special shampoo (for a brighter hair and rapid growth) and has ceased wearing rings and necklaces, in order not to damage it. The ear tufts are long enough for wearing two small ponytails. But Bajpai does not fully enjoy his record, as he feels that the authorities do not really appreciate his efforts. Moreover, his own son regards his father's fascination with his ear tufts as, let's say, at least weird.