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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.

Contents: Death Toll, Wildfire Count Rise in Chile Amid Severe Drought Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The death toll from the Chile wildfires has crossed 120 as the dry conditions have continued, making the risk of new wildfires even worse. The number of wildfires has escalated to over 160 across the region, which have been burning homes, cars, trees, and everything in their path. 102 have been contained, but another 40 are still out of control. This comes amid a severe drought and the weather pattern of El Niño raising temperatures and causing arid, fire-prone conditions. Officials still say that the death toll will rise, as the fires continue and many missing bodies have not been recovered yet. Rescue crews are trying their best, but the weather is not helping. Fact of the Day: Giraffe mortality rates from lightning are 30 times higher than those of humans. Quote of the Day: Concentrate all your thoughts on the task at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus. (Alexander Graham Bell) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Gratuitous (adj)- Gratuitous describes things that are not necessary, appropriate, or justified, as in "a gratuitous insult" or "a gratuitous assumption." Gratuitous can also mean "free." In a Sentence: The film was criticized for its gratuitous violence.

Contents: Flooding Engulfs Southern California as Atmospheric River Strikes Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day A deadly atmospheric river is dumping rain over southern California, and flooding is quickly inundating the area. Los Angeles and its surroundings were put on a Level 4 Flood Warning (very likely) by the National Weather Service over the weekend, as a river of storms is sweeping through. Rivers and creeks are overflowing and murky water from the ocean is washing into low-lying areas, as over half a foot of rain has already fallen. Hundreds of millions of people are out of power and parts of San Diego have even been evacuated ahead of the storm. Meanwhile, the same storm is delivering multiple inches of snow father inland in the mountains, but the worst threat is the rain and flooding closer to the coast. Upcoming Events: International Day of the Arabian Leopard (Saturday, February 10) World Pulses Day (Saturday, February 10) Super Bowl (Sunday, February 11) International Day of Women and Girls in Science (Sunday, February 11) Fact of the Day: Ants can lift and carry over 50 times their body weight. Quote of the Day: Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed. (Paulo Coelho) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Zeitgeber (noun)- Zeitgeber refers to an environmental agent or event (such as the occurrence of light or dark) that provides the stimulus which sets or resets an organism’s biological clock. In a Sentence: The ratio of daylight to darkness in the spring is an important zeitgeber that affects the activity of some migrating birds.

Contents: 51 Dead, Death Toll Expected to Rise As Forest Fires Ravage Chile Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day At least 51 people are dead as 92 forest fires rage across Chile, with multiple densely populated areas being burned to the ground. 1,100 homes have been burned so far and crews are fighting the flames as best they can. 40 fires have been contained and the others are currently being controlled, but the fires are moving extremely fast, covering multiple miles in a matter of hours. Dozens of helicopters and hundreds of firefighters are rushing in for backup, but the weather is not helping. Hotter than usual temperatures have been plaguing South America recently, and the death toll is expected to rise in the coming days as it has not been fully confirmed yet. Fact of the Day: In an average lifetime, people eat around 70 assorted insects while sleeping. Quote of the Day: Whether you're 9 or 90, stop trying to fix the things you're bad at, and focus on the things you're good at. (Gary Varynerchuk) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Acquisitive (adj)- Someone or something described as acquisitive is characterized by a strong desire to own or acquire more things. In a Sentence: The game aims to teach middle schoolers to balance their acquisitive instincts with a consideration of what will benefit society as a whole.

Contents: 3 Dead, Hundreds Injured After Nairobi Gas Plant Explosion Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Three people were killed and hundreds of others were injured after a gas explosion in Nairobi on Thursday night. A truck carrying gas exploded in a busy district of Kenya's capital city, with the ensuing flames engulfing nearby buildings. Survivors were badly burnt and lost everything in the massive fire, and it will take some time to recover. Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulation Authority (EPRA) stated that they had received applications to build a cooking gas filling plant in the area, but they rejected the applications due to the plant not meeting the proper criteria. However, it seems that the plant continued to illegally operate without a license. Kenyan officials are currently doing a deeper investigation into the explosion. Fact of the Day: Flamingos actually bend their legs at the ankle instead of the knee. Quote of the Day: It is wise to direct your anger towards problems-- not people; to focus you energies on answers-- not excuses. (William Arthur Ward) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Prognosticate (verb)- To prognosticate is to predict or foreshadow something. In a Sentence: Our company uses current trends to prognosticate what the workplace of the future will be like.

Contents: Thousands Without Power After Storm Ingunn Pummels Scandinavia Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day 12,000 people have been left without power and destruction has covered Norway after one of the country's strongest storms ever recorded, Storm Ingunn. Winds of over 120 mph were recorded, beating the national wind speed record, and another wind speed record was broken in nearby Sweden when winds were measured at 115 mph for 10 minutes straight. Winds of over 100 mph were also recorded in Britain and a gust of 155 mph was measured in the Faroe Islands. Windows were blown out of buildings, vehicles were swept away by the wind, and furniture was mangled. Debris flew around and took out other objects like roof tiles, forcing everyone to stay inside. Most meteorologists didn't even see it coming as it quickly became what they call a bomb cyclone, where the storm rapidly intensifies in a short period of time. Flights and trains were canceled and delayed throughout the region as the storm swept across Britain, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, with the latter being the hardest hit. Waves even reached 85 feet in some areas, with 30-foot waves being a common occurrence during the storm. This is Norway's worst storm in 30 years, and it will take some time to recover, but no people were killed. Fact of the Day: Crocodiles cannot stick their tongue out due to a membrane that keeps it stuck to the roof of their mouth, but alligators can. Quote of the Day: Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer. (Denis Waitley) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Damask (noun)- Damask refers to a usually shiny, thick fabric (as of linen, cotton, silk, or rayon) made with patterns. The word can also be used as a synonym of Damascus steel, or for a grayish red color. In a Sentence: The old chair was upholstered in a blue silk damask which was now faded and threadbare.

Contents: CEOs of Meta, Snap, TikTok, Discord, X Called to Capitol for Hearing Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The five major social media CEOs have all been called to the Capitol to be interrogated by the United States Senate over the topic of the exploitation of children and their information. Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Evan Speigel (Snap), Shou Zi Chew (TikTok), Jason Citron (Discord), and Linda Yaccarino (X), were called into the investigation and were grilled by the Senate on the first day of the hearing, with hundreds of families of kids affected by social media attending the hearing. They held up posters and signs and made reactions to certain comments that the CEOs and the Senate made, and Zuckerberg and Speigel both personally apologized to the crowd for the effects of social media on their kids. However, the Senate accused Meta of selling teens' information and interrogated Shou Zi Chew on their connections to China, and they are furious over this case and how social media has caused these children to engage in self-harm, experience low self-esteem, take drugs, and even lose their lives. They have been sued numerous times and bills continue to fail to go into effect at the federal level. Many bills Fact of the Day: The tongue of a blue whale can weigh as much as a young elephant. Quote of the Day: A 'no' uttered from deepest conviction is better than a 'yes' merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble. (Mahatma Gandhi) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Quotidian (adj)- Something described as quotidian occurs every day or occurs routinely or typically. More broadly, quotidian is used as a synonym of commonplace and ordinary. In a Sentence: The article offers suggestions on how to gamify quotidian tasks.