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Contents: Major North American Solar Eclipse Approaches Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Start buying eclipse glasses now if you live in North America, because one is on the way! A total solar eclipse will take place on Monday, April 8, 2024, going through much of the middle part of the United States. Cities in the path of totality include Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Rochester. It will actually begin in western Mexico, passing through the cities of Mazatlán, Durango, and Torreón before sweeping through the US and finishing by passing Montreal and southeastern territories like Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Make sure not to miss it, because this sort of event only happens once every few years in each area. The last eclipse in North America was the Great American Eclipse of 2017, which took place on August 21 and swept across the entire nation from coast to coast. The last eclipse to be visible from all 48 contiguous states was in 1979, and the last one to pass from coast to coast was in 1918! However, make sure to wear the right glasses-- staring at the sun (even if it's covered by the moon) can do permanent damage to your eyes. Fact of the Day: It is more likely for you to remember your dreams after a bad sleep than a good one. Quote of the Day: Be so good they can't ignore you. (Steve Martin) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Enervate (verb)- Enervate is a formal word used for situations in which someone or something is being sapped of physical or mental vigor, vitality, or strength. The verb is most common in the participial forms enervated and enervating, as in "children enervated by the summer afternoon heat" and "a tedious discussion we found completely enervating." In a Sentence: The person giving the lengthy toast seemed to be completely unaware of the degree to which he was enervating his audience.

Contents: Tobago Beaches Become Black Due to Oil Spill Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Officials from Trinidad and Tobago claim to have cleaned up the oil spill near the islands, but their beaches are becoming black as oil swamps the area. They are trying to discover where the ship came from, who was on it, how much oil is left in the ship, or if there were any casualties, which makes the entire situation a real mystery. It seems to have been an overturned barge that has been leaking oil since it crashed, with the spill going almost 50 miles out from Tobago. However, all of the other information is unknown. Officials are trying their best to stop the spill from causing an even worse environmental disaster, as it is expanding into the open sea and onto 10 miles of Tobago's famous beaches. Equipment from Trinidad was sent and multiple booms, floating barriers used to control the spread of oil, are in place around the spill area. Fact of the Day: Lego bricks withstand more compression than concrete. Quote of the Day: The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. (Walt Disney) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cupid (noun)- Cupid is the Roman god of erotic love. The word cupid in lowercase refers to a figure that represents Cupid as a naked usually winged boy often holding a bow and arrow. In a Sentence: She purchased a large Valentine's Day card decorated with hearts and cupids.

Happy Valentine's Day! Contents: Israel Accused of Holding Up Resources for Palestinians Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day According to the main UN agency operating in the Middle East, Israel is holding up food and resources for over 1 million people in Gaza. Aid packages have been sent from countries into Israeli ports, who continue to hold the food there. 1,049 containers of various foods have been held up, which is enough to feed over 1 million people for a month, and the port staff claims that they have received direct instructions to not send the package onwards to Gaza. They were able to reroute some of the aid through Egypt, but it is just another delay in the rush to get supplies to Palestinians. Israel also claims that some members of the UN agency were involved in Hamas' initial attacks on Israel, which has led multiple countries to halt funding. Some organizations estimate that Gaza could enter a famine period by May amid this Israeli siege, and it is only getting worse as attacks ramp up on the Rafah border crossing, where over 1.3 million Palestinians are camped out in temporary tents. Fact of the Day: 145 million greeting cards are exchanged each year for Valentine's Day. Quote of the Day: Don’t worry about being successful but work toward being significant and the success will naturally follow. (Oprah Winfrey) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Maladroit (adj)- Maladroit is an adjective that means "incompetent" or "very awkward." It is usually used in formal speech and writing, and often describes people who lack skill in handling situations. In a Sentence: The governor has been criticized for his maladroit handling of the budget crisis.

Contents: Environmental Disaster Strikes Trinidad and Tobago Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day A massive oil spill has taken place in the Caribbean, and Trinidad and Tobago's prime minister has described it as causing a national emergency. The cause is still unknown, but officials do know that a ship somehow flipped over and gallons of oil are pouring out, but the remaining oil still left in the ship is unknown as well. This is quickly becoming an environmental disaster, as high amounts of oil can be extremely deadly to marine life and the leak has not been contained. Divers are now trying to find out what to do next and how to further prevent more oil from spilling, as they need to control the spill before they can assess the environmental impacts and brainstorm further plans for the wreck. Fact of the Day: Los Angeles' full name is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora, Reina de los Angeles del Rio Porciuncula. It means the city of our Lady, Queen of the Angels on the river Porciuncula. Quote of the Day: You can’t change someone who doesn’t see an issue in their actions. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Inveigh (verb)- Inveigh is a formal word that means "to protest or complain bitterly or vehemently." Like its synonym rail, it's typically used with against. In a Sentence: Students inveighed against the new dress code policy.

Today, we have a YNH Exclusive on the Super Bowl that took place last night. Enjoy! Contents: Kansas City Chiefs Defeat San Francisco 49ers in Crazy Overtime Win Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The Kansas City Chiefs took their second NFL Championship win in two years in last night in the Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada with a stunning win over the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers were originally the favorites to win despite losing the toss, but the Chiefs came back to pull off a comeback, sending it into overtime and eventually winning the game. Following four drives that ended in punts and a scoreless first quarter, the 49ers managed to put the first points on the scoreboard with a 55 yard field goal from kicker Jake Moody, which marked the longest field goal ever kicked in a Super Bowl. They followed that up with a touchdown on their next possession when QB Brock Purdy flipped the ball to WR Jauan Jennings, who ended up cornered by the Chiefs defense. He sent the ball across the field to RB Christian McCaffrey, who leaped up and caught the ball before sprinting 21 yards into the clear air ahead of him and adding 6 points to their lead. After San Francisco's 10-0 lead was established, the Chiefs came down the field over 13 plays but were unable to score a touchdown. Instead, kicker Harrison Butker nailed a 28 yard field goal before halftime. Usher headlined the halftime show along with guest appearances from Alicia Keys, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R, and will.i.am, with rappers Lil Jon and Ludacris also being featured in certain songs. The Chiefs did not start the second half in style, with QB Patrick Mahomes throwing a nasty interception that ended up giving them a total of -2 yards on the drive following a fumble that they managed to recover earlier. The Chiefs followed that up with two back-to-back scoreless drives, but Harrison Butker hit a 57 yard field goal on the third one. That instantly broke Jake Moody's record, but he did earn another one for shortest duration ever for holding a field goal length record! With the score at 10-6, both teams failed to score on their next drive, but the Chiefs then took their first lead of the game after a mistake by the 49ers. As kick returner Ray-Ray McCloud III was telling his players not to touch the ball, it landed and ricocheted off of teammate Darrell Luter's foot. McCloud attempted to grab the ball but lost it, turning the ball over the Chiefs at their 16-yard line. Patrick Mahomes sent the ball directly to WR Marques Valdez-Scantling on the next play for a Chiefs touchdown, making the score 13-10. The 49ers then realized that they needed to pick up the pace and blasted down the field in 12 plays across 75 yards. Jauan Jennings ended up being the one to bring in the 10-yard touchdown from Brock Purdy, but the extra point was blocked by Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal, making the score 16-13. Following a 24-yard field goal from Harrison Butker, a 53-yard field goal from Jake Moody, and a 29 yard field goal from Butker over the next three drives, the score was knotted up at 19-19 when the fourth quarter came to a close, sending the tight game into overtime. After 13 plays over 66 yards, the 49ers only came up with a 27 yard field goal, meaning that it was still anyone's game. On the next drive, the Chiefs sent the ball down the field, with Patrick Mahomes flipping the ball to WR Mecole Hardman Jr. for a 3 yard touchdown that won them the Super Bowl. Congratulations to Chiefs fans! These are the first back-to-back Super Bowl wins by an NFL team since the Patriots in 2004-2005! Upcoming Events: International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism (Monday, February 12) World Radio Day (Tuesday, February 13) Table Tennis World Championships Begin (Friday, February 16) Global Tourism Resilience Day (Saturday, February 17) Fact of the Day: Some bees fly up to 60 miles per day. Quote of the Day: We are made wise not by the recollection of our past but by the responsibility for our future. (George Bernard Shaw) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Quirk (noun)- Quirk refers to an unusual habit or way of behaving. It can also refer to something strange that happens by chance, as in “a quirk of fate.” In a Sentence: For an icebreaker, we were each asked to share a noteworthy quirk about ourselves. Mine was that I have to make sure every square of my waffles is buttered evenly before I eat them.

Contents: Volcano Near Iceland's Grindavík Erupts for Third Time Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Iceland's active volcano near the town of Grindavík has erupted again, with the lava setting a record for fastest-moving lava ever. The volcano erupted for the third time a few days ago with a huge lava blast that spewed 260 feet into the air. Initially, it did not pose a threat, but the lava sped down towards a geothermal energy plant. Thankfully, the lava did not reach the plant, but it did take out multiple hot water pipes. Power is still up and running, but the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa has closed due to the fact that lava has covered the main access road leading to the attraction. The eruption seems to have cooled down, though, with no more lava spewing out of the fissure and seismic activity coming to a stop. The volcano previously erupted in December and January, but scientists are saying that the volcano's recent activity could be slowing down. Fact of the Day: Maine is the only US state with only one syllable. Quote of the Day: Being responsible is an enormous privilege… It’s what marks anyone a fully grown human. (Barack Obama) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Callous (adj)- Someone or something described as callous does not feel or show any concern about the problems or suffering of other people. In a Sentence: Several employees cringed at the callous remark their supervisor made about the team's performance.

Contents: Lunar New Year Kicks Off Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Lunar New Year commences today, with the 15-day festival starting on the first new moon of the year and ending on the following full moon. It is also known as Chinese New Year in parts of the world, though people in China actually call it the Spring Festival. The animal for the year follows the Chinese zodiac, which is a cycle of 12 animals; 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. Homes are thoroughly cleaned to drive away bad luck for the new year and people sweep their ancestors' tombs before the festival begins. Numerous traditional foods are eaten, such as rice cakes and dumplings, and the color red is most prominent. Red represents energy, happiness, and good luck in Chinese culture, which is why most people wear the color during the Lunar New Year and most decorations have red. Red envelopes that contain money are given to family and friends as a symbol of good luck and happiness, and lanterns are lit along the streets. Dragon dances are also performed under these lanterns on the streets; the dances are supposed to bring good luck and are a beautiful spectacle to watch. If you know anyone who celebrates the festival, make sure to wish them a Happy Lunar New Year! Fact of the Day: Almonds are actually not true nuts. They are part of the peach family. Quote of the Day: Between stimulus and response, there is space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. (Viktor E. Frankl) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): MacGuffin (noun)- A MacGuffin is an object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance. In a Sentence: The missing document is the MacGuffin that brings the two main characters together, but the real story centers on their tumultuous relationship.

Contents: ESPN, Fox, Warner Bros. Announce Joint Super-Platform for Sports Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. have announced that they are launching a super-sports platform solely for sports in fall of 2024 that will house sports events from all three companies. This revolutionary partnership move will change the face of sports streaming, as the platform will host games from the NFL, NBA, NASCAR, NHL, MLB, UFC, PGA Tour, and FIFA World Cup. It will contain all of the games from the channels from ESPN and all of its networks, ABC, Fox's FS1, FS2, and BTN, and TNT, TBS and TruTV from Warner Bros. Each company will own 1/3 of the platform, which will be its own independent company, but they have not specified any possible subscription price yet. This comes amid the rise of streaming services, which generate much more profit than cable networks. Fact of the Day: Sharks can blink their eyes. In fact, they are the only fish who can. Quote of the Day: Focus on the possibilities for success, not on the potential for failure. (Napoleon Hill) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Fissile (adj)- Fissile describes materials that are capable of undergoing fission—that is, the process in which the nucleus of a heavy atom is split apart, releasing a large amount of energy. Fissile can also be used to describe something, such as wood or crystals, capable of or prone to being split or divided in the direction of the grain along natural planes. In a Sentence: The wood of most conifer species is fissile, making it much easier to cut than that of sycamore and hornbeam.

Contents: Coca-Cola Announces Launch of New Permanent Flavor Coming Soon 30 Dead, 40 Injured After Pakistan Blasts Ahead of Elections Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Coca-Cola is launching another new flavor in the United States and Canada, and this one is staying for good. Recently, Coke has been experimenting with limited-time flavors like Starlight, Dreamworld, and Y3000, but this new flavor is being added to their permanent lineup: Spiced. Along with the regular, cherry, and vanilla flavors, Coke will now offer Coca-Cola Spiced and Spiced Zero Sugar in the US and Canada starting February 19. Coca-Cola has been falling behind in the market to companies that produce water and sparkling water, as well as other drink companies, so they have conducted research and developed Spiced to be appealing to the consumers of today-- possibly boosting Coke's growth by the amount they need to catch up. We will be waiting and watching to see how the new flavor sells and how the interesting idea does on the market. On another note, 30 people are dead, and over 40 others are injured after two explosions in Pakistan yesterday. The blasts struck the region of Balochistan and the motive was most likely to cause chaos ahead of Pakistan's general elections taking place today, as the explosions were quite close to election offices and the offices of some prominent candidates for government positions. The Islamic State -- Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), a branch of the Islamic State terrorist group, claimed responsibility for the attacks, further extending the unrest and violence in Pakistan over the current elections. Fact of the Day: There are 293 ways to make change for a United States dollar. Quote of the Day: Always remember, your focus determines your reality. (George Lucas) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Absolve (verb)- To absolve someone is to free them from responsibility or commitment, or the consequences of guilt. In a Sentence: The plaintiff asserts that the company is not absolved of responsibility for the false claims simply because its ownership has changed.

Contents: Scientists Think of Adding Category 6 Hurricane to Saffir-Simpson Scale Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Hurricanes are intensifying due to climate change, leading to a debate over a new topic in the meteorology world: should there be a Category 6? The Saffir-Simpson scale is currently used to measure hurricane categories by wind speed, meaning that a Category 1 hurricane has winds of 74-95 mph, Category 2 has 96-110 mph, and so on. Right now, the scale stops at Category 5 (exceeding 157 mph), but scientists are thinking of tacking on another category. Since hurricanes are becoming stronger, they may stop Category 5 at 192 mph, and say that any hurricane with wind speeds above 192 mph will be considered a Category 6. If this were to happen, then only five storms would have ever met these criteria-- 2015's Hurricane Patricia in the Eastern Pacific (214 mph), 1961's Typhoon Nancy in the Western Pacific (214 mph), 1958's Typhoon Ida in the Western Pacific (202 mph), 2013's Typhoon Haiyan in the Western Pacific (196 mph), and Typhoon Meranti in the Western Pacific (196 mph). This is another sign of our continuously warming world, and how climate change is affecting everything from storms to the animals outside our homes. Fact of the Day: SOS actually doesn't stand for 'save our souls.' It doesn't stand for anything. Quote of the Day: Focus 90% of your time on solutions and only 10% of your time on problems. (Anthony J. D’Angelo) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Signet (noun)- Signet refers to a seal used officially to give personal authority to a document in lieu of a signature, or to the impression made by or as if by such a seal. In a Sentence: The ring had been passed down for generations and bore an intricate intaglio signet.