Search The Website!

Contents: 56 Dead, 117 Hospitalized After Deadly Alcohol Poisoning in South India Russia Blames US for Ukrainian Attack on Crimea Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day At least 56 people are dead after the spread of toxic illegal alcohol in India, and 117 others have been hospitalized. Arrack is a common distilled alcoholic drink found in South Asia in countries like India and Sri Lanka, and it comes from the fermented sap of coconut flowers or sugarcane. The alcohol by volume is quite high, ranging from 33-50%. Unfortunately, distilleries using unsafe products and ingredients can sometimes sell substandard drinks that can contain dangerous chemicals. Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a poisonous substance that can kill you if ingested in large amounts, and it is a toxic byproduct of fermentation. Moonshine contains up to 10% methanol if not distilled properly, which is why moonshine is illegal in most areas of India– it has killed thousands of people due to lead and arsenic poisoning. Also, many factories add methanol to increase the alcohol content without actually paying for alcohol, allowing them to reap the benefits at the expense of the lives of poor workers. Similarly, this batch of local arrack was laced with methanol, which has serious side effects. Methanol causes many severe effects on the body, such as blindness and kidney failure, and if you drink enough, it will easily kill you. Impoverished workers in the state of Tamil Nadu happened to buy this lethal batch of arrack, immediately killing some and severely injuring hundreds of others. Sadly, this isn’t the first time this has happened. Due to the improper distillation practices and how companies cut corners with liquor in small, poorer areas of India, dozens of people die each year from methanol poisoning from their alcohol. Due to laws prohibiting alcohol, buying illegal liquor is inexpensive and convenient for workers. Families of the affected are now urging the government to take action on this matter to make sure that events like this never happen again. On another note, on Sunday, Russia issued a statement saying that the U.S. was responsible for a Ukrainian attack on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. According to the statement, five U.S.-supplied missiles killed four people and injured 151 others. Russian authorities stated four of the missiles were shot down by air defense systems, and the fifth detonated in midair. Missile fragments fell just after noon next to a beach in northern Sevastopol, which killed/injured the affected people. The incident generated a furious reaction from public figures. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, said there was “no difference to us” between the U.S. government, Ukrainian leaders, and “crazy fanatics.” Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill said there "was no justification whatsoever for a missile strike on civilians" and voiced indignation that it had taken place on the Orthodox holiday of Trinity. Upcoming Events: International Day of Women in Diplomacy (Monday, June 24) Stanley Cup Finals-- NHL (Monday, June 24) Day of the Seafarer (Tuesday, June 25) International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (Wednesday, June 26) United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (Wednesday, June 26) Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (Thursday, June 27) International Day of the Tropics (Saturday, June 29) Tour de France Begins (Saturday, June 29) International Asteroid Day (Sunday, June 30) International Day of Parliamentarism (Sunday, June 30) Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix (Sunday, June 30) Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): At one point, the British Empire actually controlled 23% of the world's population and 13.7 million acres-- almost 25% of the Earth's land area. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): When people don’t want the best for you, they are not the best for you. (Gayle King) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Polemic (noun) - A polemic is a strong written or spoken attack against someone else’s opinions, beliefs, practices, etc. In a Sentence: Her book is a fierce polemic against societal inequalities.

Contents: Over 1,000 Dead After Extreme Heat Strikes Mecca During Hajj Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Over 1,000 people from various countries have been killed by extreme heat at Mecca, the holiest site in Islam. According to their local countries, at least 14 Malaysians, 165 Indonesians, 75 Jordanians, 35 Pakistanis, 49 Tunisians, 11 Iranians and 98 Indians have died. The United States government also mentioned that some of their citizens also died in the heat, but they didn't specify how many. Egypt confirmed that at least 500 to 600 of their citizens had also been killed by the heat. Dozens of other citizens from these countries have been hospitalized for heatstroke as well. Muslims try to make an annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and the date of this pilgrimage, called hajj, varies from year to year because in depends on the lunar calendar. This year, the five-year pilgrimage was between June 14 and June 19, and temperatures were scorching in the area. Much of Mecca experienced temperatures as high as 120˚F (49˚C), which caused most of the hundreds of deaths. Multiple other assorted health issues, such as heart disease and pneumonia, also killed many pilgrims. Unfortunately, the death toll is expected to rise. Saudi Arabia and Egypt have not released official death tolls yet, and these tolls only include registered pilgrims. Many others came unregistered, meaning that the death toll could be well over 1,500 or even 2,000. However, this isn't the first time hundreds of pilgrims have died during the journey. The pilgrimage is known to be quite dangerous, as 200 people died last year as well. In 2015, at least 700 people were killed after a stampede, and another 100 were killed after a crane collapsed. Around 360 people died in 2006 in a crush, and another 340 were killed in 1997 after a fire. The most deadly disaster at Mecca has been in 1990, where over 1,420 people were killed in a stampede, but this could soon top that. This is an ongoing story and we will keep you updated with the death toll in upcoming daily updates. Fact of the Day (Facts.net): Jeffrey Katzenberg produced some of Disney’s biggest hits, namely: The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. With the success of these classics, he requested a promotion. However, due to internal conflicts, he got fired, instead.  It was then that he founded DreamWorks Studios with other familiar film personalities, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen. Quote of the Day (BrainyQuotes): To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness. (John Dewey) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Supersede (verb) - Supersede is a verb meaning "to take the place of (someone or something that is considered old, inferior, or no longer useful)." It is used synonymously with replace and displace. In a Sentence: This edition of the manual supersedes the previous one.

Contents: June 27 Presidential Debate: The Guide Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is for sure going to be one for the history books, as this will probably cement who will be president and shape the United States for the next 4 years. Let’s dive into some of the reasons voters will elect these two leaders. First, let’s take a look at Trump. His usual policies over the past 8 years include invalidating abortion, keeping firearms legalized, reducing illegal immigration drastically, and quelling LGBTQIA+. As the 45th president, he has made himself quite popular with Republican voters as shown in the Republican primary elections, with the exception of Vermont and D.C. (who voted in favor of Nikki Haley). Biden has similar effectiveness on the Democratic side. Except for American Samoa, all the areas participating in the primary election elected Biden. His policies over the past 4 years have included addressing the COVID-19 situation in 2020, taking a no-hands-on stance on the illegal immigration issue, and helping Ukraine and Israel in their wars with Russia and Hamas, respectively. However, in the wake of the debate, these two major presidential candidates are re-doing a portion of their policy. Biden said on June 5th that there would be an asylum ban for migrants coming from the US-Mexico border, and on Thursday Trump announced he would like to see green cards being given to students just out of university. This debate is sure to clean up some of the chaos in Trump’s and Biden’s policies, while also adding new drama. People are expecting a slight debate on the two's age and "mental fitness." Let’s see what Thursday, June 27 brings us. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): People call emergency services for the craziest things. In the United Kingdom, the police released a report of one woman who had called 999 because her ice cream didn't have enough sprinkles. She said "there were bits on one side and none on the other," and became even more upset when the ice cream truck man didn't give her money back. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it. (Vincent van Gogh) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Vulnerable (adj) - A person described as vulnerable in a general way is someone who is easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally. Vulnerable can also describe a person, group, or thing that is open to attack, harm, or damage. Both senses of vulnerable are often followed by the preposition to. In a Sentence: It is common to feel especially vulnerable in the wake of major change.

Contents: Russia May Send Weapons to Allies, Facing Backlash From International Community Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia may deliver weapons to their allies in hating the West, such as the reclusive country of North Korea. Putin stated this would not be any different from Europe and North America supplying weapons to Ukraine. This statement comes right after Putin and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un signed a treaty on Wednesday that proclaimed if either country ever got attacked, the other would supply military assistance to the attacked. Ukraine and the U.S., in turn, said North Korea has already given Russia a significant amount of artillery shells and ballistic missiles. Putin also said if South Korea decided to supply military aid to Ukraine, the former would respond in a way that would be "painful for Seoul." Fact of the Day (Facts.net): You may notice that your banana-flavored food products don't taste quite like the real thing. This is because commercially used banana flavoring is based on a type of banana that was wiped out by a plague in the 1950s. Quote of the Day (Brainy Quotes): We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. (Herman Melville) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Hue and cry (noun) - Hue and cry refers to a clamor of alarm or protest in response to something. It can also be used as a synonym for hubbub to refer to general noise or uproar. In a Sentence: After the popular professor was fired by the college, there was such a hue and cry from students that the administration was forced to reconsider its decision.

Contents: Tropical Storm Alberto Becomes First Named Storm of the Atlantic Hurricane Season Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season has formed, with Tropical Storm Alberto hitting Texas and Mexico with some strong winds and heavy rain this week. The storm formed around midday Wednesday with sustained winds of around 50 mph, and it is moving west at around 9 mph. It has already made landfall in northern Mexico, but the rain and flooding is affecting the entire western Gulf of Mexico region. Mudslides and serious flooding are expected across Mexico as over 20 inches of rain are expected in some areas, while southern Texas will receive around 5 inches. The storm is actually a boon, in some cases, as much of northern Mexico has been suffering from severe drought. Water supplies for multiple towns are running dry, so this round of strong storms should help ot replenish that. However, there may still be negative effects on the surrounding areas, so hundreds of shelters have been set up, and schools are closed through Friday. Thankfully, Alberto is expected to quickly fizzle out over land, so the rain won't last long. Tropical Storm Alberto is just the first of many storms to come this season. As the hurricane-helping weather pattern of La Niña begins, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted a very active season. Hurricane season is between June 1 and November 30, and NOAA expects 17-25 named storms, up to 13 hurricanes, and up to 4 major hurricanes. The average season contains 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. Meteorologists will be on the lookout for any potential storms coming up, but the number of storms really ramps up in August before peaking in September. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The winner of the 2015 French Scrabble Championship actually didn't even speak French. New Zealander Nigel Richards memorized the entire 386,000-word French Scrabble dictionary in nine weeks to win the tournament. He has also won the English World Scrabble Championship three times, the U.S. national championships five times, and the U.K. Open Scrabble tournament six times. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Never be ashamed of a scar, it simply means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you. (Demi Lovato) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Jubilee (noun) - Jubilee usually refers to a special anniversary or a celebration of such an anniversary. It can also refer generally to a season of celebration or act of rejoicing, or to a religious song of African Americans referring to a time of future happiness. In a Sentence: My grandparents will be celebrating their golden jubilee this year—as Grandpa puts it, "50 years of wedded bliss and occasional blisters."

Contents: Nvidia Passes Microsoft and Apple to Become World's Most Valuable Company Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Nvidia has passed Microsoft and Apple to become the world's most valuable company, becoming only the 12th company to ever do so. Nvidia has been on a spectacular rise ever since the beginning of the artificial intelligence boom a couple of years ago, and they have gone through one of the quickest rises in market cap since the dot-com boom of 1999 with technology company Cisco. Just two years ago, Nvidia's market cap was $400 billion, while it now stands at over $3 trillion. This comes after years of stellar growth from Nvidia, which has been considered the 'darling of the AI industry' right now. CEO Jensen Huang explained how he anticipated a rise in AI in 2022, so he realized that Nvidia would boom soon. Earlier, the company only produced Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), which are primarily used for gaming devices like Xbox and Playstation, while they now produce mostly computer chips and software for artificial intelligence. Almost every big tech company uses their chips, including Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle, Google, Meta, and more. These companies may be competing against each other in the AI race, but Nvidia is the one powering both sides of the battle. OpenAI, the creator of the first-of-its-kind chatbot ChatGPT, also used Nvidia chips to create the system. One year ago, Nvidia's first quarter earnings reported a revenue of $7.2 billion, and their 2024 Q1 earnings reported $26 billion in revenue. Its stock has tripled in 2024 alone-- less than two years ago, its stock price was $120, and it came up to a staggering $1,200 before the company's 10-for-1 stock split last week. From another perspective, 12 months ago, Nvidia's market cap was at $1 trillion. In just 9 months, it shot up to $2 trillion, and it only took another 3 months for the market cap to reach an astonishing $3 trillion. Microsoft and Apple have been fighting for the title of world's most valuable company for a while now, but Microsoft's latest announcement of the integration of AI into Windows had taken them to the top. However, after Apple's WWDC event where they announced the arrival of Apple Intelligence, the two companies became neck-and-neck this week. However, after a 3.51% rise on Wednesday, Nvidia powered ahead of both tech companies to end the trading day with a market cap of $3.335 trillion, while Microsoft sat in second with $3.317 trillion and Apple in third with $3.285 trillion. Only six companies have held the title since 2001 after the dot-com boom: General Electric, Exxon Mobil, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and now, Nvidia. The massive demand for AI is still growing, and some investors expect Nvidia's market cap to reach $5 trillion in the next few years, with a couple of bullish estimates even expecting $10 trillion. After the recent announcement of Nvidia's new Blackwell AI chips, which will sell at around $30,000 to $40,000 apiece, its stock boom is sure to keep going. In addition, Jensen Huang announced that they would start releasing new AI chips every single year, contrary to the company's previous two-year interval before the announcement of a new chip. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The world's first-ever novel is called the Tale of Genji, and it actually ends mid-sentence. After 54 intriguing chapters, the book ends halfway through a sentence. Some researchers say that it's supposed to end that way, while others say that there are some missing pages. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Work hard. Work smart. Perseverance is everything. It allows you to create and do things you wouldn’t otherwise think you could achieve. (Micky Watkins) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Brainiac (noun) - A brainiac is a very intelligent person. In a Sentence: Her ability to solve almost any puzzle within minutes secured her place as the brainiac of the family.

Contents: Post Fire, Other Wildfires Roaring Across California Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The out-of-control Post Fire is still raging across Los Angeles County in California after it began on Saturday, and it has already burned over 15,600 acres. The Post Fire started on Saturday near the town of Gorman, and has since spread across the county and into a state park. Winds of over 50-60 mph were fueling the fire and dry conditions were not helping, as mentioned in yesterday's daily update concerning the severe heat wave gripping the United States. As of Monday evening, the fire had covered 15,611 acres across Los Angeles and Ventura counties with the fire primarily being located between the town of Gorman and Pyramid Lake. Pyramid Lake has been temporarily closed, and the entire town of Gorman has been engulfed by the fire. It quickly sparked local evacuations across the area, and two adults and a child were hospitalized. A large swath of Interstate 5 has also been given a red flag warning, advising drivers to stay away from the area due to the active fire. Firefighters are working as hard as they can to stop the fire from spreading farther, but it is only 20% contained so far. Meanwhile, on the other side of the state, the more fires have been scorching other parts of California. The Sites Fire started on Monday afternoon in Colusa County near the town of Sites and has quickly spread to 4.463 acres, but the winds have calmed down slightly to around 10-20 mph. However, the humidity is still extremely low, and unfortunately, it is 0% contained. Thankfully, the fire is in an area with a very low population, and it is more of a grass/bush fire. The Aero Fire also started Monday afternoon in Calaveras County north of the town of Copperopolis, and it is spreading very fast. Due to the high winds in the area, the Aero Fire burned 900 acres in under an hour and a half, and it has already covered 1,525 acres. It is 0% contained, and firefighters have been dispatched to deal with it. The good news is that the fire is located in an area with a very low population, similar to the Sites Fire, which means that there is less of a danger to human lives. Lastly, the Point Fire began on Sunday afternoon in Sonoma County near Lake Sonoma and has been raging across 1,207 acres of a populated area. Multiple structures have been burned down, and many evacuations have taken place. As this fire is in a more populated area and is also spreading fast, California has dispatched more resources to help fight this blaze. According to Cal Fire, as of Monday night, they had sent over 400 personnel, 4 helicopters, 50 fire trucks, 10 bulldozers, 10 water tenders, and 12 crews. It is about 20% contained. Of course, these aren't the only fires burning across California. According to Cal Fire, at least 18 blazes are searing different parts of the state. However, the largest ones as of right now are the ones listed above, with the Post Fire being the most destructive. All of this is due to climate change, which is exacerbating severe weather like droughts and storms, and more of these devastating events are happening every day. We at YNH hope that any residents of the affected areas can pull through this disaster. Also, if you live anywhere close to a blaze, remember that wildfire smoke is dangerous, too! Inhalation of smoke can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, respiratory and heart problems, and a host of other issues. If you live in the United States, you can check out this wildfire smoke map to see if it's safe to step outside. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The first-ever commercial passenger flight was only 23 minutes-- from St. Petersburg to Tampa in Florida. People paid $400 ($8,500 today) to fly on this short cruise through the sky, though, as it made history and changed aviation forever. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I learned that the moment you want to slow down is the moment you should accelerate. (James Dyson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Apocryphal (adj) - Something described as apocryphal is of doubtful authenticity; the term is often applied to stories or legends that are often repeated but likely not true. Apocryphal can also describe something resembling or relating to the Apocrypha, the ancient Jewish books that are not part of the Hebrew Bible but are considered canonical in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. In the biblical use, the word is often capitalized. In a Sentence: The legend of how the song was fully composed while the singer was in a deep fever state is probably apocryphal.

We apologize that this daily update was published late today due to a scheduling issue. Here is the article: Contents: Week-Long Heatwave Hitting Midwest and New England Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The U.S. is going to experience a week-long heatwave. It has already started, with the Midwest experiencing scorching temperatures on Sunday and the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic regions getting hit over the next few days. This will result in major cities such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis receiving temperatures in the high 90s. Even Vermont and New Hampshire are receiving those same highs. In the nights, temperatures will drop to the 70s, giving some relief. This is the first major heatwave of the year in the U.S., and this extreme weather is becoming too common and intense due to climate change. This particular event started happening after a heat dome gave sweltering temperatures of over 100℉ to the Western and Southwestern regions of the country. People most at risk of heat-related illness are infants/young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with chronic illness. Anyone living in the areas affected, we at YNH wish you a safe progression through this. Upcoming Events: International Day for Countering Hate Speech (Monday, June 17) Sustainable Gastronomy Day (Monday, June 17) Eid ul-Adha (Monday, June 17) International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict (Tuesday, June 18) World Refugee Day (Wednesday, June 19) Juneteenth (Wednesday, June 19) International Day of Yoga (Thursday, June 20) June Solstice (Thursday, June 20) International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice (Friday, June 21) United Nations Public Service Day (Sunday, June 23) International Widows' Day (Sunday, June 23) NBA Finals Finish (Sunday, June 23) Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix (Sunday, June 23) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Baseball umpires actually used to sit in rocking chairs while watching the game. In 1878, the National League declared that home teams would have to pay $5 per game to the umpires as well. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Let me fall if I must fall. The one I become will catch me. (Sheryl Sandberg) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Paradigm (noun) - Paradigm is a formal word that refers to a pattern or example, and especially to an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype. It can also refer to a theory or group of ideas about how something should be done, made, or thought about. In a Sentence: Her latest book provides us with a new paradigm for modern biography.

Happy Fathers' Day! Contents: Voyager 1 Spacecraft Now 100% Up and Running Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft is fully back online after months of issues, and it we can now resume researching its journey into deep space. Voyager 1 first experienced issues in November 2023 when it started sending incomprehensible data back to Earth. Instead of binary code, it was sending back gibberish, but that wasn't too surprising given its age. Voyager 1 was launched in September 1977 to explore the outer reaches of our solar system, making it 46 years old, and had been working smoothly (for the most part) until November. In April, scientists finally managed to re-establish contact with Voyager 1. They discovered that there was a corrupted chip aboard the vessel which was jumbling all of the outbound data. Troubleshooting was a huge pain, though-- since Voyager 1 is so far from Earth, it takes 22.5 hours to just send one message to the spacecraft, and another 22.5 hours to get a reply. Thankfully, they were able to get it up and running again in April, but only two of its four scientific instruments were functioning. Recently, they managed to fix the other two instruments, meaning that Voyager 1 is fully operational-- for now. The Voyager program, launched in 1977, contained two spacecrafts: Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. Their aim was to research Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and they would keep collecting data until around 2020. Voyager 1 passed Jupiter and Saturn before heading into deep space, while Voyager 2 passed all four gas giants before heading in a different direction. Since then, Voyager 1 has traveled 15 billion miles, and Voyager 2 has traveled about 12.7 billion miles. That seems like a lot, but it is actually barely anything in the realm of deep space. 1 light year is 5.88 trillion miles (almost 400 times how far Voyager 1 has traveled), and the nearest star to us, Proxima Centauri, is 4.24 light years away. However, the lifespan of these scientific is coming to an end. The spacecrafts are powered using plutonium, but their power supply will come to an end in a couple of years. NASA is hoping to keep them going for as long as 2036, but their life expectancy is more realistically around 2030. 2027 will be the program's 50th birthday, so NASA is trying to help them at least make it until then. After 2036, they will be too far for our network to reach, and they will then float through the galaxy as a beacon of human life in deep space. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Some boars actually wash their food before eating. Scientists spotted boars at a zoo in Switzerland washing off a sandy apple in a lake and also later watched them wash a dead chicken before they ate it. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Nobody likes to fail but failure is an essential part of life and of learning. If your uniform isn’t dirty, you haven’t been in the game. (Ben Bernanke) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Unbeknownst (adj) - Unbeknownst means “without being known about by (a specified person or group of people).” In a Sentence: Unbeknownst to the students, the teacher had entered the room.

Contents: Counterfeit Titanium Discovered in Boeing and Airbus Planes Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Counterfeit titanium has been discovered in multiple aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has immediately launched an extensive investigation into this crucial issue. Boeing and the part manufacturers are also involved in the investigation. Spirit AeroSystems, the manufacturer, is the company that delivers the fuselages (the main body of the aircraft) to Boeing and Airbus, and it is currently investigating the forged documents that were used to pass the questionable titanium as intact. Spirit bought the titanium and later supplied it to Boeing and Airbus, who used it in Boeing 737 Max, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and Airbus A220 aircraft made between 2019 and 2023. According to the research so far, it shows that Turkish Aerospace Industries actually purchased the falsely documented titanium in 2019 from a small Chinese company (which is still unknown) before selling it to Spirit AeroSystems, who then built it into Boeing and Airbus planes. It was discovered after Italy's Titanium International Group, another buyer of the questionable titanium from Turkish Aerospace Industries, spotted unusual corrosion on it, and that sparked the inquiry into the metal. Unfortunately, almost no information is known right now. It is still unclear whether the problematic titanium may pose a risk to the planes which were built using it, how many planes were built with the metal, which airlines they belong to, or the supplier of the falsely documented titanium. They also don't know if it will even need to be removed or not -- it could meet safety regulations despite its fake documents -- but Spirit is working on a plan to replace the parts in all of the aircraft containing them if needed. However, all of Boeing and Airbus' tests so far show that the titanium alloy is completely safe, so travelers have no need to worry (for now). Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Queen Elizabeth I found the tricycle fascinating when she first saw it in 1881, and she actually had the inventor personally deliver two of them to Buckingham Palace. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The richest and fullest lives attempt to achieve an inner balance between three realms: work, love and play. (Erik Erikson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Rebuff (verb) - To rebuff something, such as an offer or suggestion, is to reject or criticize it sharply. One can also rebuff a person by rudely rejecting or refusing them. In a Sentence: When their request was immediately rebuffed by upper management, the staff was left frustrated yet also more determined.