Magpie News Collector

Boy smashes 3,500-year-old jar, museum invites him back

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/28/2024 1:29 PM

A curious 4-year-old boy accidentally smashed a 3,500-year-old jar while his family was touring a museum in Israel. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Texas police officer wrangles alligator on resident's front porch

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/27/2024 4:43 PM

A Texas police officer used his bare hands to wrangle an alligator found trespassing on a family's front porch. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Man scores $2.64M with same lottery numbers he's used for 30 years

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/27/2024 4:34 PM

A Massachusetts man scored a $2.64 million lottery jackpot after using the same set of numbers -- his wife's former phone number -- to play Megabucks for 30 years. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Museum seeks 5-year-old who accidentally smashed priceless ancient pot - here's why

By Sky News | | 8/27/2024 2:28 PM

A five-year-old boy has accidentally broken an ancient urn dating to the late Bronze Age at a museum in Israel. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: 'Leaves of Grass' returned to Virginia library 50 years after due date

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/27/2024 1:55 PM

A Virginia library had an "exciting return" when a copy of Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" found its way back to the facility after being due back 50 years earlier. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Florida team's bat dog to keep her job, despite messy debut

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/27/2024 1:52 PM

A Minor League Baseball team in Florida introduced its new "bat dog" to the public, but the canine ended up being less interested in game than she was in doing her business. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Bottle of cognac from 1696 confirmed as the world's oldest

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/27/2024 11:56 AM

A bottle of cognac belonging to a collector in the Netherlands was officially dubbed the oldest in the world at 328 years old. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Baseball player is first to play for two teams in same game

By Sky News | | 8/27/2024 11:47 AM

A Major League Baseball (MLB) player has made history by being the first to bat for two different teams in the same game. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: 'Injured' bald eagle at Missouri national park was 'too fat to fly'

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/27/2024 11:35 AM

A supposedly "injured" bald eagle rescued from a national park in Missouri was found to be merely "too fat to fly" after eating a bit too much raccoon. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Riders stranded 243 feet up on Six Flags attraction during storm

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/26/2024 4:58 PM

A ride shut down in the middle of a storm at Six Flags Mexico, leaving those aboard dangling 243 feet in the air for about 10 minutes. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Car trouble leads N.C. man to $379,747 lottery jackpot

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/26/2024 4:42 PM

A North Carolina man found his car trouble to be unexpectedly lucky when a trip to the repair shop earned him a $379,747 lottery jackpot. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Detroit Zoo seeks help naming newborn baby girl gorilla

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/26/2024 4:07 PM

The Detroit Zoo is asking for the public's help to name a baby gorilla born at the zoo earlier this month. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Bear takes a dip in California home's hot tub

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/26/2024 1:33 PM

A bear visited the deck of a California home and was recorded by a security camera as it took a relaxing dip in the hot tub. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Soaked kitten rescued from Ohio car wash

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/26/2024 12:12 PM

Employees rescued a soaked kitten found lost inside an Ohio car wash, and the feline has now been dubbed Turbo Rinse. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

World's oldest living man celebrates 112th birthday

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/26/2024 11:15 AM

The world's oldest living man is celebrating his 112th birthday Monday at the care home where he lives in England. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Britain's oldest skydiver says it's 'mission accomplished' after birthday jump

By Sky News | | 8/25/2024 5:47 AM

A 102-year-old woman who celebrated the milestone birthday by throwing herself out a plane said it's "mission accomplished". ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Woman to mark 102nd birthday by breaking skydiving record

By Sky News | | 8/24/2024 4:06 PM

A woman from Suffolk plans to mark her 102nd birthday on Sunday with a record-breaking skydive. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Hawk rescued from netting on Massachusetts golf course

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/23/2024 3:41 PM

Animal rescuers in Massachusetts came to the rescue of a red-tailed hawk that became entangled in the protective netting surrounding a golf course. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Uncle's lottery luck inspires Maryland man's $50,000 prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/23/2024 3:01 PM

A Maryland man said he was inspired by his uncle's $1 million lottery jackpot from the 1980s to buy the ticket that earned him $50,000 decades later. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Man builds 54-level house of cards in 8 hours

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/23/2024 11:27 AM

A card-stacking expert broke a Guinness World Record by creating a 54-level house of cards in just 8 hours. ... Read full Story

art

Pop Life at Zodiac Pictures

by Contemporary Art Daily | Sep 06 2024

connecticut

Should CT increase care ratios for 2-year-olds? Legislators to vote

by CT Mirror | Sep 06 2024

finance

‘My husband blew a gasket’: I bought a $20,000 Toyota SUV using financing. My spouse said, ‘Pay it off immediately.’ Did I get a bad deal?

by MarketWatch.com | Sep 07 2024

golf

How do the 2024 FedEx Cup playoffs work on the PGA Tour?

by ESPN | Aug 13 2024

health

Per Alice + Olivia, “Romantic Parisian” Hair Will Be Everywhere This Year

by The Thirty | Sep 07 2024

music

The Weeknd Reveals ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ Album Cover, Launches Preorder Ahead of São Paulo Concert Livestream

by Billboard | Sep 07 2024

new_jersey

NJ Spotlight News: September 6, 2024

by NJ Spotlight | Sep 06 2024

nutrition

18 Ways Nutritionists Sneak More Vegetables Into Their Diet

by thehealthy.com | May 30 2024

shopping

I’ve Waited Decades for a Travel Backpack to Finally Nail This Feature

by Gear Patrol | Sep 06 2024

soccer

Aymeric Laporte rejects rumours he almost joined Real Madrid

by Yahoo Sports | Sep 07 2024

sports

Drake invests in Venezia, will sponsor kit

by ESPN Inc. | Aug 14 2024

technology

I ditched Squarespace for this platform with no fees

by PCWorld | Sep 07 2024

travel

Albany Police arrest man for possession of handguns

by NEWS10 ABC | Sep 07 2024

world

Hundreds of thousands march across Israel to demand return of hostages

by United Press International, Inc. | Sep 07 2024

Word of the Day

vilify

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 7, 2024 is:

vilify • \VIL-uh-fye\ • verb

To vilify someone or something is to say or write very harsh and critical things about them. The word is a synonym of defame.

// They were vilified in the press for their comments.

See the entry >

Examples:

“The eagerness to vilify ‘the other side’—usually on social media—complicates the less reactionary work that defines our mission.” — Jerry Brewer, The Washington Post, 11 June 2024

Did you know?

It seems reasonable to assume that the words vilify and villain come from the same source; after all, to vilify someone is—in some ways—to make them out to be a villain. Such is not the case, however. Although the origin stories of both vilify and villain involve Latin, their roots are quite different. Vilify came to English (via Middle English and Late Latin) from the Latin adjective vilis, meaning “cheap” or “vile.” Someone who has been vilified, accordingly, has had their reputation tarnished or cheapened in such a way that they’re viewed as morally reprehensible. Villain on the other hand, comes from the Medieval Latin word villanus, meaning “villager,” and ultimately from the Latin noun villa, meaning “house.” The Middle English descendent of villanus developed the meaning of “a person of uncouth mind and manners” due to the vilifying influence of the aristocracy of the time, and the connotations worsened from there until villain came to refer to (among other things), a deliberate scoundrel.

Boy smashes 3,500-year-old jar, museum invites him back

Texas police officer wrangles alligator on resident's front porch

Man scores $2.64M with same lottery numbers he's used for 30 years

Museum seeks 5-year-old who accidentally smashed priceless ancient pot - here's why

Watch: 'Leaves of Grass' returned to Virginia library 50 years after due date

Watch: Florida team's bat dog to keep her job, despite messy debut

Bottle of cognac from 1696 confirmed as the world's oldest

Baseball player is first to play for two teams in same game

Look: 'Injured' bald eagle at Missouri national park was 'too fat to fly'

Watch: Riders stranded 243 feet up on Six Flags attraction during storm

Car trouble leads N.C. man to $379,747 lottery jackpot

Watch: Detroit Zoo seeks help naming newborn baby girl gorilla

Watch: Bear takes a dip in California home's hot tub

Look: Soaked kitten rescued from Ohio car wash

World's oldest living man celebrates 112th birthday

Britain's oldest skydiver says it's 'mission accomplished' after birthday jump

Woman to mark 102nd birthday by breaking skydiving record

Watch: Hawk rescued from netting on Massachusetts golf course

Uncle's lottery luck inspires Maryland man's $50,000 prize

Man builds 54-level house of cards in 8 hours

Pop Life at Zodiac Pictures

Should CT increase care ratios for 2-year-olds? Legislators to vote

‘My husband blew a gasket’: I bought a $20,000 Toyota SUV using financing. My spouse said, ‘Pay it off immediately.’ Did I get a bad deal?

How do the 2024 FedEx Cup playoffs work on the PGA Tour?

Per Alice + Olivia, “Romantic Parisian” Hair Will Be Everywhere This Year

The Weeknd Reveals ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ Album Cover, Launches Preorder Ahead of São Paulo Concert Livestream

NJ Spotlight News: September 6, 2024

18 Ways Nutritionists Sneak More Vegetables Into Their Diet

I’ve Waited Decades for a Travel Backpack to Finally Nail This Feature

Aymeric Laporte rejects rumours he almost joined Real Madrid

Drake invests in Venezia, will sponsor kit

I ditched Squarespace for this platform with no fees

20 Best Hotels in Marrakech

Albany Police arrest man for possession of handguns

Hundreds of thousands march across Israel to demand return of hostages

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Watch: YouTubers build world's largest iPhone

2.Watch: Bear takes dip in California family's kiddie pool

3.Watch: Half a house for sale in California with 'open-concept floor plan'

4.Craving for potato wedges leads to $50,000 lottery win

5.Watch: World's largest string cheese ball made in Mexico

6.Watch: Loose bull sparks impromptu rodeo in Illinois neighborhood

7.Footballer injured after 'hefty sneeze'

8.Watch: Sumatran tiger cub born at San Diego Zoo

9.Woman wins $300,000 lottery prize two years after $1M win

10.Mystery chickens found wandering loose in Wisconsin neighborhood