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Contents: Do Stanley Cups Contain Lead? Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Do Stanley tumblers contain lead? The short answer is, yes, but it is safe. After Stanley cups became a craze due to social media, rumors are circulating that the tumbler contains lead, which is extremely toxic. Lead builds up in the body and causes brain developmental problems, kidney problems, and even issues with the nervous system. Lead can be found in the base of the Stanley cup and is used to vacuum seal the insulation that keeps the drink hot or cold. Due to this, customers are safe because the lead is not accessible-- it is hidden behind a thick layer of stainless steel. Still, in the rare event that the bottom cap comes off when the Stanley cup is damaged, the consumer can quickly be exposed to high levels of toxic lead. It's not just Stanley, though. Many companies have been called out for high lead levels in their products, and lead is used to seal the insulation of various cups from numerous brands. If you have a Stanley cup and the cap comes off, make sure to stay away from the lead part and replace it immediately; any Stanley cup is eligible for replacement under their lifetime warranty. Fact of the Day: Humans have tongue prints, just like fingerprints, and they are also unique to each person. Quote of the Day: A man who has committed a mistake and does not correct it, is committing another mistake. (Confucius) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Lexicographer (noun)- A lexicographer is an author or editor of a dictionary. In a Sentence: Noah Webster believed that a lexicographer's work was to document a language as it is used, without any judgment or subjective influence.

Contents: FAA Clears Boeing's 737 Max 9 to Fly Under Condition of Mandatory Inspection Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cleared Boeing's 737 Max 9 to resume flying after the recent incident on an Alaska Airlines plane. One of the plane's doors flew off mid-flight, causing the flight to divert back to its takeoff airport, and multiple airlines have found loose bolts in similar areas. However, the FAA stated that each plane must undergo an inspection before being cleared due to the risk of loose bolts, and they have stopped Boeing from introducing any 737 Max production increases until they can prove that the aircraft quality is back to what it used to be. This will hinder Boeing's recent efforts to catch up with Airbus, who is slowly edging ahead of them in the global aircraft market. This means that their new expansion efforts will not be approved by the FAA until the quality control passes regulations, which means that they need to get their priorities in order before Airbus is too far ahead. Fact of the Day: In Japan, there are over 200 flavors of Kit-Kat. Quote of the Day: Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace. (Dalai Lama) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Vivacious (adj)- Someone or something described as vivacious is happy and lively in an appealing way. In a Sentence: Our vivacious host’s bubbly humor and welcoming spirit quickly set everyone at ease.

Check out this newly published deep dive by journalist Mihir Gupta on the opening of India's new Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir! Contents: 74 Dead After Strike Hits Russian Plane Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Russia has accused Ukraine of bringing down one of their military planes yesterday in the Belgorod region. According to Russia, all 74 people onboard were killed as it came down near a village, but Ukraine did not take responsibility for the three strikes that smashed into the plane. Russia also said that there were 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war on the plane, as it was en route to a prisoner exchange, and all of them were killed. Ukraine claims that Russia may have purposely endangered their lives and not warned Ukrainian officials, and it is their duty to protect the prisoners if they are onboard a Russian plane. Russia did not discuss beforehand with Ukraine, which is why they may not have known about the switch. However, Russia argued that Ukraine did know, so an investigation is being conducted by officials of the area so they can find out exactly who and what caused the incident. Fact of the Day: It is physically impossible for a pig to look upwards, due to the way their spine is built. Quote of the Day: The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new. (Socrates) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Capitulate (verb)- To capitulate is to surrender to an enemy, often after negotiating terms, or to stop trying to fight or resist something. In a Sentence: After months of organized boycotts, company officials finally capitulated to the protesters’ demands and announced significant changes to their practices.

Contents: 3 Dead After Massive Earthquake Strikes Northwestern China Israel and Hamas Resume Ceasefire Talks Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day A deadly 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck China's northwestern mountainous region of Xinjiang in the middle of the night, wreaking havoc across the area. It took place right next to China's border with Kyrgyzstan, and the quake was felt for thousands of miles in every direction. Dozens of aftershocks have rumbled in the mountains afterwards, and the authorities stopped all trains passing through due to the danger. Three people were killed as multiple houses and power lines came down, and hundreds of rescue workers have rushed to the scene to help. However, rescue efforts are being hindered by the freezing temperatures in Xinjiang, measuring at -9.4˚ Fahrenheit (-23˚ Celsius). On another note, Israel has proposed a big deal to Hamas. They stated that in exchange for all Israeli hostages still being held, they would put a two-month ceasefire into place. This could be the thing that Israelis have been waiting for, as anger in the country is growing over Israel's failure to bring back over 100 hostages still being held by Hamas. However, Hamas has stated that they are looking for a permanent ceasefire, not a temporary one. Then, Israel responded by suggesting a deal where Hamas would release all hostages and hand over six senior officials that lead the group, which was rejected immediately. The US, Egypt, and Qatar have been trying to help them negotiate a deal, and they are coming closer to doing it. Fact of the Day: Humans are the only animals who blush, which has sparked debate over whether other animals even feel embarrassment. Quote of the Day: Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder. (Henry David Thoreau) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Unfettered (adj)- Unfettered describes what is not controlled or restricted. It is a synonym of both free and unrestrained. In a Sentence: The biographer has been given unfettered access to the family's collection of personal correspondence.

Contents: India Celebrates Opening of Holy Ram Temple in Ayodhya Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day India has just opened one of the holiest temples in the country, and thousands of Hindu devotees attended the event in the city of Ayodhya. Ayodhya is the birthplace of Lord Ram, and the temple has been placed in that exact spot. The idol of Lord Ram as an infant was carved out of a 3 billion year-old rock before being put into the temple, where it will be worshipped by millions. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi fasted for 11 days for the celebration before breaking that fast during the opening. Celebrations have taken place all over the country in various ways. The states of Uttar Pradesh, where Ayodhya is located, and Maharashtra, where the massive city of Mumbai is located, declared January 22 as a public holiday in honor of the temple opening, while other states closed shops and schools. Prime Minister Modi then gave a nationally broadcasted speech marking the beginning of a new era with this temple, and this day will be revered for eons to come. Fact of the Day: The longest walkable distance in the world is from Magadan, Russia to Cape Town, South Africa; it's 13,910 miles, and no human has ever done it before. Quote of the Day: Wherever you go, go with all your heart. (Confucius) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Sarcasm (noun)- Sarcasm refers to the use of words that mean one thing to communicate the exact opposite of that thing, especially to insult someone, to show irritation, or to be funny. In a Sentence: Her monotone voice often made it difficult to tell whether or not she was using sarcasm.

Contents: Gaza Death Toll Surpasses 25,000 After Deadly Day Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day 178 people have been killed in Gaza in the past 24 hours, making it one of the deadliest days of the war and sending the death toll past 25,000. However, Israel's goal of completely eradicating Hamas is still far from over, as they have only killed a fraction of the group. Anti-government protests are now ramping up in Israel for the war to stop, and most of the rest of the world has already agreed that Israel is taking it too far. Hamas refuses to give up any hostages, though, which is the primary reason why protests are taking place in Israel; they aren't getting the hostages back. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly opposed a two-state solution, which means that the end of this war is still out of sight. Upcoming Events: International Day of Education (Wednesday, January 24) International Day of Clean Energy (Friday, January 26) Winter X Games Begin (Friday, January 26) International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust (Saturday, January 27) Fact of the Day: Ostrich eyeballs are larger than their brain. Quote of the Day: There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different than the things we do. (Freya Stark) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Conflate (verb)- Two closely related meanings of the verb conflate are “to confuse,” i.e. “to fail to differentiate,” and “to blend or bring together.” In a Sentence: Be careful not to conflate gossip with real news.

Contents: US Personnel Injured After Iran-Backed Militia Strikes Iraqi Base Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Tensions are running high in another part of the Middle East now after multiple Americans were injured at a base in Iraq after an attack by Iranian-backed militants. The attack took place at the Ain al-Asad base in central Iraq and consisted of numerous strikes, most of which were intercepted by defense systems. However, some strikes did damage the base and injure multiple Americans, and it is all due to Hamas' Iranian backing. Since Hamas is still being bombarded by Israel, Iran and other groups are protesting by launching strikes of their own. For example, the US has also been tussling with Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, as they are also supporting Hamas. The US cannot let it escalate into any sort of war, though, as that would cause major problems. Fact of the Day: Ketchup used to be used as medicine to treat all sorts of stomach problems such as indigestion. Quote of the Day: If they spit at you behind your back it means you're ahead of them. (Confucius) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Kindred (adj)- To say that two people or things are kindred is to say that they are of a similar nature or character, or that they have the same ancestry. In a Sentence: I believe she and I are kindred spirits.

Contents: Space News: US Crashes, China Launches, Japan Lands Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day There has been a lot of space news lately, especially with various countries launching rockets. The US's NASA launched their Peregrine moon lander on January 8 in collaboration with Astrobiotic Technology, and it was the first US mission to the moon since Apollo 17 in late 1972. Although the launch went smoothly, soon after takeoff, the lander suffered severe issues, dooming the mission, and they decided to test the technology on the lander before crashing it into Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, China's Tianzhou 6 launched as a resupply mission on May 10, 2023, and it delivered goods to China's Tiangong Space Station. After successfully completing its mission, it was docked for over 246 days until China brought the craft back and burned it up in the atmosphere. They also launched Tianzhou 7 recently, which has now docked at the Tiangong Space Station as well. Lastly, Japan became the fifth country to land on the moon yesterday when their Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) successfully touched down on the lunar surface. It was launched on September 6, 2023, and completed its mission yesterday; it will now get to work on investigating and researching the moon! Fact of the Day: The letter J was the last letter to be added to the alphabet, as it was added in 1524. Quote of the Day: If you hate a person, it means you're defeated by them. (Confucius) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Harrangue (noun)- A harangue is a forceful or angry speech or piece of writing. In a Sentence: After watching the popular documentary, he delivered a long harangue about the dangers of social media.

Contents: 40 Dead After US Winter Storms, Another on the Way Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day 40 people are dead after severe winter storms pounded the United States, and more is on the way. Areas of the northeast US received multiple feet of snow with the possibility of more in the coming days, and the Midwest also received blizzard conditions and heavy snow in some areas. Parts of the South like Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, who don't normally receive snow, had multiple inches fall in the region, causing incidents everywhere. The northwestern US has also received blizzard conditions, and they have been the first to be impacted by all of these storms. Deaths have been reported in Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, and Oregon, and the toll may rise. The freezing temperatures are returning soon along with this winter storm, which could add onto the already significant amount of snow already on the ground. Fact of the Day: M&M's are named after their creators, two businessmen named Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie. Quote of the Day: If you are depressed you are living in the past, if you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. (Lao Tzu) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Axiomatic (adj)- Axiomatic is a formal adjective that describes something—usually a statement—that is understood as obviously true, such that it is or should be taken for granted. In a Sentence: It is axiomatic that successful athletes are not just talented, but have put in years of dedicated training.

Contents: US Launches Retaliation Attacks on Houthis Again Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The US has attacked Houthi ships in the Red Sea for the fourth time in the past week, which is continuing their retaliation against their attacks. Yemen's Houthi rebels are striking cargo ships in protest of Israel's war on Palestine, and they refuse to stop until the attacks on Gaza cease. Missiles have been hitting ships across the Red Sea for months, and it is ramping up. In response, the US and UK have been launching missiles back across Yemen to hit the Houthi bases and silos, but the strikes continue. However, they are being very careful as to not escalate the conflict into a war. Fact of the Day: Blue whale hearts weigh over 400 pounds, and their heartbeat can be detected by over 2 miles away. Quote of the Day: Life is too deep for words, so don't try to describe it, just live it. (C.S. Lewis) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Whinge (verb)- Whinge is a verb used especially in British English to mean "to complain fretfully." In a Sentence: Everyone at the pub was whinging about the television not working.