IT'S WORLD HIPPO DAY!
Move over, lions, tigers, and bears — the animal you really need to watch out for is the hippopotamus. Hippos kill around 500 people per year, and these surly herbivores aren't even doing it for food: they're just doing it because people get on their nerves (which is a totally understandable impulse)!
Hippos spend most of their days chilling in swamps, rivers, and lakes, despite basically being superheroes. Their skin secretes a slime that protects them from sunburns and bacteria, their 2-inch thick skin makes them resistant to bullets, and they can run up to 30 miles per hour. Thank goodness they can't fly, or we'd really be in trouble.
Hippos love watermelons, but are not known for their table manners.
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Alright, maybe you can't deflect bullets with your extra-thick skin or run faster than an Olympic sprinter, but here are a few February 15th facts to impress your friends and family with:
• Born on this day: physicist Galileo Galilei (1564), comedian Chris Farley (1964), women's rights activist Susan B. Anthony (1820), rapper Megan Thee Stallion (1995), artist Shepard Fairey (1970), and cartoonist/creator of The Simpsons Matt Groening (1954)
• On this day in 2003 the largest peace demonstration in history took place when up to 30 million people in 600 cities protested the Iraq War
• Canada adopted its current national flag depicting the maple leaf on this day in 1965
• YouTube launched on this day in 2005
Alright, you've waited long enough — on to the links!
Admire this collection of funny flyers this artist made and posted in cities.
I think hating on Valentine's Day is almost as popular as celebrating it. The Boredwalk creator team has a few ideas for holidays that they'd like to replace V-day with.
Gasp at this eerily realistic cake slicing video.
4. ✍️ Dear future me...
This website invites you to write an email to your future self. Future you will get the message months or years from now, depending on the timeline you choose.
Kids today will never understand the struggle of paying to develop film full of selfies that make you look like a ghoul.
Bonus link! In case you missed it, Tess from our content team is issuing warning labels for college majors. Did she get yours right? Let her know in the comments!
OK! We'll be back here in your inbox on Friday with new art, more nonsense holidays to dissect, more notable birthdays (and maybe even some notable deathdays!) to celebrate, and more witty content in general. Don't miss it! Until next time...
Peace, love, and hippos,
Meredith
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