Today was the birthday in 1918 of Robert Pershing Wadlow. Fans of world records remember him as the tallest man who ever lived, but there was more to the Alton Giant than his height. Plus: starting today in Glendale, California, it’s the Twist & Shout Balloon Convention.

100 facts about Alton's gentle giant, Robert Wadlow (STL Today)

Twist & Shout Balloon Convention

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It's National Mother Language Day. Many of the world's thousands of languages are spoken, written and/or signed... and at least a few are whistled. Plus: researchers say they've found evidence of the largest penguin species that ever lived. 

Just Put Your Lips Together and Blow: How Whistled Languages Work (HowStuffWorks)

Nearly extinct whistling language revived (CNN via Archive.org)

The largest penguin that ever lived (University of Cambridge)

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Today is the observance of President's Day, originally a holiday marking the February 22nd birthday of George Washington, but along the way it also became known as Bicycle Day. Plus: chocolate wizard Amaury Guichon took over 500 pounds of chocolate and turned into an eight foot tall velociraptor. 

When Presidents’ Day Was Bicycle Day (The Atlantic)

Making a Chocolate Velociraptor (The Awesomer)

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There’s a new effort during this Black History Month to highlight the work of a man who helped get people talking about Black inventors: a patent officer named Henry Edwin Baker. Plus: this weekend in Waseca, Minnesota, it’s the annual Sleigh & Cutter Festival.

How one man’s list gave Black inventors the credit they deserved (WTOP) 

Henry E. Baker (1857-1928) (BlackPast)

Waseca Sleigh & Cutter Festival 

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Today in 1931, the birthday of Edward Packard, who along with R.A. Montgomery founded a book series that let millions of young readers pick the ending to the story: Choose Your Own Adventure. Plus: today in 1967, the first appearance of the Star Trek villain Khan Noonien Singh, who Gene Roddenberry named as a shout-out to an old war buddy. 

The Enduring Allure of Choose Your Own Adventure Books (The New Yorker)

The Name's Familiar Mr. Leotard, Barbie, and Chef Boyardee (via Google Books)

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Engineering students at Johns Hopkins University have been building adaptive controllers to make the Minecraft universe more accessible. Plus: today in 1564, the birthday of astronomer Galileo Galilei, who didn't like being told what to wear. 

JOHNS HOPKINS ENGINEERING STUDENTS DEVELOP GAMING PROSTHESES FOR AMPUTEES (Johns Hopkins University)

15 Fascinating Facts About Galileo (Mental Floss)

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If you know your biology, you know that the classic heart shape we see everywhere on Valentine's Day is not at all what an actual human heart looks like. So where does this shape come from and how did it get associated with hearts? Plus: how a place called Why, Arizona got its name. 

The Shape of My Heart (Slate)

WHY WHY IS WHY (Arizona Oddities) 

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Today in 1997, a container ship ran into a massive wave off the coast of Cornwall, in southwest England. Close to 4.8 million Legos went overboard, and ever since that day, they've been washing up on beaches all over. Plus: the Bronx Zoo has an unusual Valentine's Day offering for you and your significant other. 

20 YEARS AFTER THE GREAT LEGO SPILL, THEY'RE STILL WASHING ASHORE (Inverse)

10 ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY IN NYC (Untapped New York)

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Today in 1955, the birthday of a basketball champion named Lusia “Lucy” Harris. Though "basketball champion" may not be quite the right term for her: she’s also been called the Queen of Basketball. Plus: this weekend in Martin City, Montana, it’s Cabin Fever Days, featuring the world championship for barstool ski races.

Lusia Harris, ‘Queen of Basketball,’ Dies at 66 (New York Times)

LUSIA HARRIS (1955- ) (BlackPast)

Montana’s Barstool Ski Races Are Exactly What They Sound Like (Thrillist)

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Today was the birthday in 1914 of the wildest owner Major League Baseball ever saw: Bill Veeck. We'll look through some of his unusual life in baseball. Plus: tomorrow is known in The Netherlands as Warm Sweater Day.

Bill Veeck (SABR)

Warm Sweater Day (Treehugger)

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