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The US and Iran have failed to reach an agreement over a possible ceasefire after lengthy talks in Islamabad, with both sides accusing the other of having excessive demands. The negotiations lasted more than 21 hours and took place in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, following lengthy talks with each side. However, experts always knew that there would be lasting disagreements between the two sides– US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran's 10-point counterproposal was "workable," but it included several extreme demands. One of these core ideas was Iran's demand to continue their nuclear program, which involves enriching uranium to high levels before using them to produce nuclear weapons. The US has consistently denied this demand, claiming that Iranian possession of a nuclear weapon would pose a threat to the rest of the world. Many blame this entire situation on Israel and the previous Trump administration. In 2015, Israel began pushing the United States to leave the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, which limited Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relieving economic sanctions on the country. Israel attempted to convince the US government that Iran was not adhering to the agreement, which they labeled as "one-sided," and successfully lobbied the first Trump administration into withdrawing from the JCPOA in 2018. In 2019, Iran resumed their nuclear program despite the newly-imposed sanctions from the United States, which led to various events that many believe directly led to the ongoing war. Now, the US and Iran are at an impasse over the nation's nuclear program, with neither side willing to give up their position. It may take weeks for the next negotiations to take place, and an already-frail ceasefire is being further threatened by Israel's strikes on Lebanon, which are targeted towards the Iran-backed terrorist group of Hezbollah. Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz shut through the ceasefire due to Israel's attacks, throttling the world's energy and fertilizer supply. Trump claims that whether Iran confirms a deal or not "makes no difference" to him, and Vice President JD Vance stated that it was "bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the US." Nevertheless, American consumers are already bearing the brunt of sky-high gas prices, and prices of goods and groceries are expected to rise in the coming weeks as the effects of higher diesel prices for trucking ripple down to the public. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The commonly-known phrase “to a T” means something that fits just right. Interestingly enough, this expression derives from a similar phrase “to a tittle,” which is a small mark that is used in spelling norms, like the dots of i’s or j’s, or an accent mark. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The only true source of politeness is consideration . (William Gilmore Simms) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Subterfuge (noun, SUB-ter-fyooj) - Subterfuge is a formal word that refers to the use of tricks to hide, avoid, or get something. In a Sentence: They obtained the documents by subterfuge . Image credit to Getty Images

The astronauts aboard NASA's Artemis II returned to Earth safely in a capsule that splashed down yesterday in the Pacific Ocean. The f our astronauts – Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen – set off on their initial voyage on April 1 . NASA intended to send them to the Moon and back, with the Orion spacecraft conducting a brief flyby of the Moon before heading back to Earth, and the entire mission was executed as planned. Yesterday, at exactly 5:07 pm local time, the spacecraft successfully splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California, in the Pacific Ocean after a red-hot re-entry. Reaching temperatures of over 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit with an entry speed of over 25,000 miles per hour, the module's journey through the atmosphere was not one to miss. The spacecraft's atmospheric re-entry is also the most dangerous part of the process– even a single issue can compound quickly in those situations. To prepare, NASA equipped Orion with a heat shield that protects against extreme temperatures, but this is risky. NASA engineers confirmed that the more important factor in re-entry was the angle, which determined the amount of stress on different parts of the heat shield and, therefore, the spacecraft. After their successful splashdown, the astronauts now return to Earth with countless incredible photographs, which arrive alongside crucial data from complex technological tests across Orion. NASA plans to reuse the spacecraft for future Artemis missions, so this had been a crucial test flight. The mission also makes this group of four astronauts the farthest-traveling in history, having reached a peak distance of 252,756 miles from Earth. They are also the first to venture into deep space in more than 50 years– the last time a nation sent astronauts to the Moon was NASA's launch of Apollo 17 in 1972. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The average US household has 300,000 items, ranging from paper clips to ironing boards. US children make up 3.7% of children on the planet but have 47% of all toys and children’s books. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up. (Dean Karnazes) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Glaucous (adj, GLAW-kus) - Glaucous as a color word can describe things of two rather different shades: a light bluish-gray or bluish-white color, or a pale yellow-green. It can also mean "having a powdery or waxy coating that gives a frosted appearance and tends to rub off." In a Sentence: His glaucous eyes grew wide with curiosity. Image credit to NASA

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has updated their Red List, and several well-known species have been part of a grim addition to the endangered list. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ™ is a comprehensive list compiled by the organization that establishes which animals, fungi, plants, and other living species are in danger of extinction. Species most at risk are labeled critically endangered, species at high risk are labeled endangered, and species with a growing risk are labeled vulnerable. These details are supported by various statistics regarding animal and plant populations and biodiversity in certain areas. As of right now, the Red List encompasses more than 48,600 species, making up over 28% of the world's biodiversity. Unfortunately, the Red List's latest update has added the emperor penguin, Antarctic fur seal, and southern elephant seal. The emperor penguin, the world's most well-known penguin species, reside exclusively in Antarctica, making them extremely vulnerable to climate change. To breed and molt, emperors rely on sea ice that remains attached to the mainland. Emperor penguins' annual molting process takes place every January and lasts until early March, where they must stay on sea ice for long enough to shed their old feathers and grow new, waterproof ones. Unlike other birds, emperor penguins shed all of their feathers at once, meaning that the sea ice is crucial to their ability to stay alive. It is also a time where the penguins cannot swim to hunt for food due to their lack of protection from the cold water, and the process is extremely energy-intensive– a stable platform of sea ice allows the penguins to feed just before and right after their fasting period. A similar problem is happening with the penguins' breeding process. Emperors use stable platforms of sea ice to breed, but sea ice has melted much faster than usual in recent years. Young emperor chicks have downy feathers, as their waterproof ones only grow in around 5-6 months of age. If the sea ice breaks before this point, the chicks can slide into the freezing ocean, leading to mass drowning events that can decimate emperor populations. Some scientists estimate that seven emperor penguin colonies near the Ross Sea have lost around 32% of their populations in the last 4-6 years. Meanwhile, the Antarctic fur seal is back onto the endangered list after making an incredible recovery in the 1900s. Across the 19th and 20th century, Antarctic fur seals were hunted for their pelts, almost driving them to extinction, but conservation efforts and a hunting ban in the 1970s brought them back to a status of least concern from the IUCN. However, their population has plummeted in recent years. Around the areas where the fur seals live, krill populations – their biggest source of food – have shifted farther offshore as waters near the surface warm. This has drastically reduced the availability of food for the seals– they have lost over 50% of their population, more than one million seals, since 2014. Lastly, the southern elephant seal has been shifted to vulnerable due to avian influenza, which has led to population declines of over 30%. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): According to the National Peanut Board, around 94% of American homes possess at least one jar of peanut butter in their home, making it as common as bread or soup. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Three keys to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others. (William Arthur Ward) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Decry (verb, dih-KRY) - To decry something is to express strong disapproval of it. In a Sentence: The editorial decried the shuttering of the movie theater, which has been a local landmark for many years. Image credit to Nature Picture Library

Lebanon has been bombarded by Israel once again, killing at least 254 people after evacuation warnings were issued just ten minutes before the strikes. Israel hit more than 100 targets across Lebanon, including buildings in the major cities of Beirut and Tyre, just ten minutes after issuing emergency warnings. The warnings sparked chaos across bustling cities and neighborhoods as locals scrambled to escape, but Israel struck before many could clear the area. The United Nations condemned the attacks as "horrific" and described the results as "carnage," and the Red Cross announced that the organization was " outraged by the devastating death and destruction" caused by the strikes– at least 254 people were killed and an additional 1,165 were injured. After the news spread, Iran quickly backtracked on the ceasefire established on Tuesday. The already-fragile ceasefire, established between the Trump administration and the Iranian government with Pakistan as the mediator, stated that the US and Israel would halt all attacks on Iran in exchange for a two-week reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, Israel soon claimed that Lebanon was not included in the deal, and they continued to strike the Middle Eastern nation. Yesterday, seeing the damage, Iran shut down the strait once again, calling Israel's actions a breach of the ceasefire. Members of the Trump administration assured reporters that the entire situation was simply a misunderstanding, and Israel mentioned that they might "check" themselves in Lebanon as negotiations continue. Nevertheless, they confirmed that they will continue to strike as part of their plan to destroy Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia. The strikes are already taking a toll on Lebanon, though. More than 1,530 people have been killed, and over a million others have been displaced from their homes. Israel has effectively taken over all of southern Lebanon as a "buffer" against Hezbollah, where they are obliterating border villages and tunnel infrastructure to ensure the end of the terrorist group. Lebanon is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful countries in the Middle East– it does not contain any desert, but instead varies between Mediterranean beaches and high, mountainous terrain. This unique difference leads to incredible biodiversity– despite only taking up 0.007% of the world's land surface area, Lebanon is home to over 9,000 species of flora and fauna. Additionally, the region's rich history and vibrant culture make it a fascinating, incredibly travel destination for many visitors. However, their consistently unstable government has not improved, and Israel's bombardment of the nation is sure to impact Lebanon's wildlife and landscapes alongside infrastructure and human deaths. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): People who donate blood in Sweden, particularly in Stockholm and Gothenburg, are sent a text message each time their blood saves a life. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I’ve never seen any life transformation that didn’t begin with the person in question finally getting tired of their own nonsense. (Elizabeth Gilbert) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Panache (noun, puh-NAHSH) - In simplest terms, panache refers to lively grace and style; it appears in contexts in which words like verve and flair are also applied. In a Sentence: The cast of the play was excellent—even those playing supporting characters acted with great panache . Image credit to AFP

Negotiations could begin between the US and Iran on Friday, and Donald Trump has confirmed a two-week ceasefire between the two countries. Several days ago, US President Donald Trump announced that he would launch a full-scale, massive attack on Iran by Tuesday evening if the Strait of Hormuz had not been opened. He threatened on Truth Social that a "whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if the strait was not opened– a threat that even many Republicans perceived as apocalyptic and brutal. However, just hours before the deadline, Pakistan proposed a two-week ceasefire during which all American military attacks would halt, and Iran would facilitate passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Both countries agreed, guaranteeing two weeks without military warfare between the US and Iran. Meanwhile, Iran has proposed a 10-point counterproposal in response to the United States' initial plan. The counterproposal includes the lifting of all sanctions on Iran, a complete end to all attacks on Iran and its allies, total military withdrawal of the US from the Middle East, reparations for the damage done to Iran, and establishes Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz. These demands have been seen as incredibly extreme, though, and will serve as the starting point for possible negotiations. Iran stated that the talks are set to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday, but the White House has not confirmed the negotiations yet. If they do take place, it could finally bring an end to a conflict between the US and Iran that has lasted more than 40 days. Nevertheless, Israel later added that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire, meaning that they will continue to bombard the Middle Eastern nation in order to destroy Hezbollah– an Iran-backed militant group. Many supporters believe in Israel's cause, as Lebanon has declared Hezbollah enemies of the state but lacks the firepower to eliminate them. Others claim Israel has gone too far and is using Hezbollah as a guise to justify the destruction of Lebanon, allowing them to push forward a far-right plan for Greater Israel, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly endorsed. The plan would see Israel capture territory all over the Middle East, including Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and parts of Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The odds of being born on February 29 are 1 in 1,461– a percentage of just 0.068%. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own. (H. Jackson Brown Jr.) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Laudable (adj, LAW-duh-bul) - Laudable is a somewhat formal word used to describe something as worthy of praise. It is a synonym of commendable. In a Sentence: Thanks to the laudable efforts of dozens of volunteers, the town's Spring Festival was an enjoyable event for everyone. Image credit to The New York Times

In recent weeks, Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, particularly areas near the Black Sea and Baltic Sea. As the US-Iran War rages on, many have forgotten about the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which began in February 2022 and has seen almost continuous strikes between the two countries for more than four days. Several weeks ago, US President Donald Trump announced that he would be lifting sanctions on Russian oil as part of an attempt to lower fuel prices, which had skyrocketed in the early days of the war in Iran. With the Strait of Hormuz closed, other oil providers ramped up exports, and the Trump administration's move to un-sanction Russian oil permitted them to do the same. However, this came at the expense of Ukraine– Russia had already been running low on funds due to the extreme sanctions placed on them at the beginning of the war. With the removal of sanctions, Russia could now sell oil to any country in the world, turning their oil into an option for dozens of nations, and more importantly– it has allowed them to begin replenishing their depleted money reserves. According to the Financial Times, the Russian government earned somewhere between $1.3 and $1.9 billion in taxes on oil exports within the first two weeks of the war, with estimates placing their extra revenue at approximately $150 million per day. Because of this, Ukraine has chosen a different approach towards limiting Russian exports. Instead of striking ships or blocking off waterways, Ukraine is directly striking Russian oil infrastructure all over the country. On Sunday, Ukraine struck the Sheskharis oil terminal in the city of Novorossiysk, located along the Black Sea. As a whole, the city's port is Russia's largest seaport– it sees more than 6,000 vessels annually and handles around 100 million tons of cargo each year. Videos circulating online showed the oil terminal ablaze, and local reports confirmed that other ports and cities had also been targeted by drones. Meanwhile, Ukraine also sent attacks farther north, towards the Leningrad Oblast. Located along the Baltic Sea, Leningrad is home to St. Petersburg, a prominent tourist destination that has been largely unaffected by the war, until now. Ukraine's attacks on Leningrad hit the ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, which are the most crucial ports in the country for crude. Together, they make up more than 40% of Russia's total crude export capacity, and considerable damage was reported after the Ukrainian strikes. The number of tankers loading oil at the port fell significantly following the attacks, and local reports confirmed that the damage could take time to restore. However, according to the New York Times, Russia taxes oil extraction, not oil shipping. Because of this, Ukrainian strikes on Russian ports affect the shipping and distribution of the oil, but the Russian government makes the same revenue whether the oil is exported or not. Higher fuel prices across the globe are also enabling Russia to charge a higher tax on oil extraction, meaning that Ukraine must launch massive, coordinated strikes to prevent Russia from simply reducing exports and ramping up prices. Nevertheless, if Ukraine is successfully able to dent Russian exports enough where the government runs out of storage capacity, it could begin to impact their financial state. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Credit card chip technology has been around since the 1980s. It was first implemented in France, with Germany following shortly after. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): People with a strong will power will always have the bigger picture in mind. They will be able to forgo small pleasures in order to help attain bigger goals. (Brian Adams) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cotton (verb, KAH-tun) - The verb cotton is used with on or on to to mean “to begin to understand something; to catch on.” Cotton used with to alone means “to begin to like someone or something.” In a Sentence: It took a while, but they are finally starting to cotton on. Image credit to AP

We apologize for the recent issues with our daily push notifications providing you, our readers, with the Daily Update. The problems have been resolved, and the notifications are now back up and running. The United States military has successfully recovered a missing pilot from Iranian territory, requiring an operation involving hundreds of people. On Friday, a United States F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by Iranian forces over the southern portion of the country, but both pilots were able to eject safely. One was quickly rescued by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in the region, but the helicopter soon faced enemy gunfire and was forced to move away. Meanwhile, the Air Force pilot moved away from the site of his ejection, and he was confirmed to have sustained an injury from the crash. According to the New York Times, the CIA launched a disinformation campaign targeted at distracting Iranian forces soon after receiving word of the crash. The Iranian government placed a $60,000 bounty on the pilot in the hours after the crash, hoping to motivate locals to search for the American man, but the CIA plan spread the word that the pilot had already been found and was being transported by forces on the ground. This sparked significant confusion among Iranians, but many remained on the hunt for the pilot. Eventually, after more than 24 hours, the pilot was able to complete an arduous, 7,000-foot climb before reaching a nook in the mountain where he could hide. According to other sources, he was equipped with just a lone pistol, a beacon, and a communications device. From his secure point, he signaled forces in the region using technology specific to the CIA, allowing US forces to circle in on his location. Soon, the US military arrived, dropping bombs around the mountain to expel Iranian forces before rescuing the pilot and carrying him to Kuwait to be treated for his injuries. In total, the mission required hundreds of people, including Navy SEALs, elite Delta Force commandos, CIA operatives, and the President himself, who skipped his weekend golf session to remain at the White House while the mission went on. However, it came at a cost. Two MC-130J special operations jets, which cost over $100 million each, were damaged during the pilot's rescue. Iran claimed that they had struck several flying targets during the same time as the mission, but neither the US nor any external sources confirmed this information. Rather than attempt to extract them or risk Iran gaining possession of the jets, the military decided to blow them up and send in new planes. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Honey and items immersed in honey can be preserved for centuries, or even millennia. This long shelf life is due to an enzyme found in the stomachs of bees, known as glucose oxidase. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Even when this rain stops, when clouds go away, I stand here, just the same. (j-hope) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Verdant (adj, VER-dunt) - Verdant describes something that is green in tint or color, or green because it is covered with growing plants. Verdant can also describe a person who is inexperienced or has not yet developed good judgment. In a Sentence: The golf course is noted for its tricky hazards and lush, verdant borders along its fairways. Image credit to USAF

Iran is beginning to allow more countries to send their ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightening pressure from the US and Israel to completely open the crucial waterway. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut down for the past month, cutting off oil, natural gas, fertilizer, sulfur, and methanol exports from Middle Eastern countries. Furthermore, all inbound ships have been halted, preventing import-dependent nations like Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE from getting access to important materials. Now, several nations have already gained access to the strait via talks with Iran, and the United States' European allies are also looking to negotiate with Iran after Trump told them to "get [their] own oil." Trump has maintained that the US does not need the Strait of Hormuz and is simply fighting to destroy the regime, but his administration and Israel continue to ramp up pressure on Iran to reopen the strait. So far, Iran has allowed at least 12 countries to send goods through the strait, and more are requesting negotiations. China, Pakistan, and Russia, as close Iranian allies, obtained permission for their ships to pass through several weeks ago, and India – a nation known for its neutrality – soon followed. Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka later achieved safe passage following initial negotiations, and Bangladesh was recently established as a friendly nation by Iran. Iraq, which has recently been increasingly overrun by Iran-backed militias, was also confirmed yesterday as a friendly nation by the Iranian government. The situation with Turkey remains restricted, as some ships have been allowed through but others have been held back, but the Turkish government remains confident in their relations with Iran. Oman and Panama have also successfully sent tankers through the strait, but on a limited scale. France sent their first ship – though it was flagged under the nation of Malta – through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, and they have requested talks with Iran. Japan also has dozens of ships waiting for entry, and the first went through on Thursday. Meanwhile, Donald Trump continues to claim that they can "easily" open up the strait, and they have given Iran yet another 48-hour ultimatum to do so. Iran, once again, has threatened to target all US military infrastructure in the region if their own infrastructure is attacked, further raising the stakes in the conflict. However, the fact that negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz are taking place – especially with longtime US allies like France and Japan – means that the world is beginning to move away from the US and Israel, shifting towards Iran during a time of crisis where supply chains have been throttled all over the world. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Scientists have found that mixing nanoplatelets from carrots and other root vegetables can significantly strengthen concrete mixtures, meaning less cement is needed to achieve the same effect. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death. (Omar Bradley) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Wiseacre (noun, WYZE-ay-ker) - A wiseacre is someone who says or does things that are funny but annoying. Wiseacre is an informal and old-fashioned word, as well as a synonym of smart aleck . In a Sentence: Some wiseacre in the audience kept heckling the comedian throughout the performance. Image credit to AFP

Two American fighter jets have crashed in the Middle East, one of which was shot down by Iran– one of the plane's pilots is still missing, and the race to find him has begun. A race to recover a missing pilot began yesterday when an American fighter jet, an F-15E Strike Eagle, was shot down over Iran. Three F-15s were accidentally shot down by Kuwait, a US ally, earlier in the war, but this incident marks the first time an American warplane has been shot down by enemy fire during the war so far. Additionally, the strike came despite the Trump administration's recent claims that Iran's air defenses have been practically destroyed, sparking concern from experts that the Middle Eastern nation may possess even more firepower than previously expected. Both crewmembers aboard the F-15E were able to eject safely, and one was quickly located and rescued by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in the region. However, the second was not found, and a search to find the missing member commenced. Nevertheless, Iran is also aiming to find the pilot, as his capture would further complicate negotiations for the United States. According to local reports, Iran has urged locals to search for the pilot as well, and they are offering a $60,000 bounty to anyone who successfully captures the American pilot. Because of this, the US is racing to find the pilot before Iran does. The same Black Hawk that rescued the other crewmember was hit by ground fire during the search, injuring several military members onboard, but the helicopter was able to escape the situation. Israel is also assisting in the search for the pilot, and they have halted all airstrikes to avoid impacting the ongoing rescue operations. Meanwhile, Iran confirmed around the same time that they had shot down another American warplane– this time, an A-10 Warthog. The A-10 crashed near the Persian Gulf, but the plane's sole pilot was quickly rescued. The US has not confirmed what downed the plane, but Iranian reports announced that they had shot down an A-10 around the same time as the crash. Following the crashes, Trump's approval ratings dropped to new lows, with 57% of Americans saying they disapprove of the current president. A mere 39% still approve of Trump, while 4% say they are unsure. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Movie theaters make roughly 85% of their profit off concession stands. This is because ticket revenues have to be shared with the movie distributors. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. (Max Ehrmann) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Adroit (adj, uh-DROYT) - Adroit describes someone or something that has or shows skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations. In a Sentence: We marveled at how adroit the puppeteers were, the marionettes responding to each precise shift of their hands, each flick of their wrists. Image credit to USAF

"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," Nintendo's sequel to "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" from 2023, is already smashing expectations at the box office. The animated film follows main characters Mario and Luigi as they take on Bowser Jr., the son of the villain from the movie's predecessor. The series is based on the original Super Mario Bros. video game from the 1980s, developed by Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Miyamoto still serves as one of the executive directors at Nintendo and has held the position since 2002. 2023's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" was just Nintendo's third attempt at adapting the renowned video game franchise into a movie, but it proved to be a massive success at the box office. The film garnered $31.7 million on its opening day at the domestic box office, setting a record for the most successful opening Wednesday in April. The movie went on to generate $575 million domestically and $786 million internationally, grossing over $1.36 billion worldwide. That made the first installment the highest-grossing video game film of all time, and it still stands as the sixth highest-grossing animated film in box office history. Meanwhile, its successor appears to be on a similar track. "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," Nintendo's second installment in the franchise, grossed $34.5 million domestically on its opening day – a Wednesday – breaking the record of $31.7 million set by the first movie. Including international markets, the movie grossed a staggering $68.4 million on its opening day, and the movie will not release in theaters in Japan, South Korea, Poland, or Israel until later this month, setting it up for further success. Critic reviews were mixed, with the film receiving a mere 6.6 on IMDb and 42% on Rotten Tomatoes, but viewers appear to be loving Nintendo and Illumination's latest smash hit. However, whether this film can surpass the incredible records set by its predecessor is yet to be seen. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): “Tater Tots,” a registered trademark, originally failed because people thought the product was too cheap. Popularity actually rose after the price was raised. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Don’t fear failure . Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today. (Michael Hyatt) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Fawn (verb, FAWN) - To fawn over or on someone (usually someone important or powerful) is to try to get their approval through praise, special attention, or flattery. Fawn is also sometimes used—especially but not exclusively of dogs—to mean “to show affection.” In a Sentence: Still new to celebrity, the musician blushed at the restaurant staff fawning over her during her recent hometown visit. Image credit to Nintendo and Illumination