Magpie News Collector

Man wins lottery jackpot one day after buying house

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/20/2024 3:36 PM

A North Carolina man said he will use his $439,527 lottery prize to pay off the house he bought just one day before the drawing. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Apparent human skull found on California beach turns out to be a prop

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/20/2024 2:05 PM

Police were called to a California beach where lifeguards discovered what appeared to be a human skull -- but turned out to be something a bit more mundane. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Postcard arrives at Wales address 121 years late

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/20/2024 1:17 PM

A postcard arrived at its intended destination in Wales 121 years after the date on its postmark. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Police searching for three escaped bison in Connecticut

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/20/2024 12:38 PM

Police in Connecticut are on the hunt for a trio of escaped bison after one of the "feisty fluffernators" was spotted wandering in a road. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Stunt rider unofficially breaks 'bike surfing' world record

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/20/2024 11:17 AM

A California 19-year-old may have broken a Guinness World Record by "bike surfing" for a distance of more than 656 feet. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Woman believed to be world's oldest person dies

By Sky News | | 8/20/2024 4:00 AM

Maria Branyas Morera, an American-born Spaniard believed to be the world's oldest person at 117, has died, her family said on Tuesday. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Eating ice lollies 'should be part of school curriculum'

By Sky News | | 8/20/2024 2:55 AM

Primary school pupils should have the chance to eat ice lollies, plant vegetables and knead bread dough to help them learn about science, a group of experts have told ministers. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Dog rescued from abandoned cistern in Kentucky

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/19/2024 4:18 PM

An animal control officer in Kentucky came to the rescue of a dog found trapped in an old abandoned cistern. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Ultra rare 'Star Wars' Boba Fett figure sells for record-breaking $1.34M

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/19/2024 4:11 PM

An extremely rare prototype Boba Fett action figure made for Kenner's "Star Wars" line in 1979 sold for a record-breaking $1,342,000. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Ohio man's dog license number earns him $50,000 lottery prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/19/2024 3:59 PM

An Ohio man used the numbers from his beloved dog's license tag to play a Pick 5 lottery drawing and scored a $50,000 prize. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: David Rush becomes world's top record breaker with 181 titles

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/19/2024 1:03 PM

Idaho man David Rush officially holds the most Guinness World Records in the world -- a distinction he earned by earning a record for smashing records. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Museum exhibit explores mysterious 'Kentucky Meat Shower' of 1876

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/19/2024 12:39 PM

A Kentucky museum's new exhibit is dedicated to one of Bath County's most mysterious historical events: the so-called Kentucky Meat Shower. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Florida man records snake hitching a ride on alligator's back

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/19/2024 11:31 AM

A Florida man hunting for pythons in the Big Cypress National Preserve captured video when he spotted a snake hitching a ride on the back of a swimming alligator. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Loose kangaroo makes drivers late to work in West Virginia

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/19/2024 11:00 AM

Drivers on their way to work in West Virginia ended up delayed by an unusual traffic hazard -- a kangaroo on the loose. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Here Are 30 Famous People As Children. Think You Can Identify Them All?

By BuzzFeed, Inc. | | 8/18/2024 1:25 PM

Some of these are good. Almost too good.View Entire Post › ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Daredevil skis off 18,753-foot cliff to break Guinness World Record

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/16/2024 11:31 AM

A British daredevil broke a Guinness World Record by skiing off a 18,753-foot cliff and parachuting to the ground. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Origins of black ring in the sky over Virginia a mystery

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/16/2024 11:27 AM

Several Virginia residents captured video when a mysterious black ring was seen floating in the sky over the Williamsburg area. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Dog spooked by thunder runs 20 miles from home

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/15/2024 3:57 PM

Animal rescuers in Ireland said a dog spooked by a thunderstorm ended up running 20 miles from home. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Mother cat, kittens rescued from behind subway station stairwell

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/15/2024 3:43 PM

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority workers came to the rescue of a mother cat and kittens found trapped behind a stairwell at a subway station. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Spanish man collects 3,615 different cellphones

By United Press International, Inc. | | 8/15/2024 3:27 PM

A Spanish man with a special fondness for Nokia phones earned a Guinness World Record by collecting 3,615 unique models from the brand. ... Read full Story

animal

Bumblebees lose most of their sense of smell after heat waves

by Science News | Sep 06 2024

auto

Tested: 1987 Volkswagen Fox GL Is VW's Latest Starter Car

by Car and Drive | Sep 07 2024

basketball

Kevin Durant says he would get rid of the Dallas Cowboys if there was promotion and relegation in the NFL

by CBS Interactive Inc | Sep 07 2024

book

Alexis Hall does fantasy romance as only he can

by BookPage | Sep 04 2024

entertainment

Michael Keaton On Why He is the Best Batman & Initial Fan Hate Over His Casting

by WatchrMedia | Sep 07 2024

exercise

Actor, Executive Producer, and Activist Daniel Dae Kim on Balance & Staying Mellow

by thehealthy.com | Aug 14 2024

knowledge

August Holidays and Observances to Celebrate Year After Year

by Reader's Digest | Jul 05 2024

mental

Can Stress Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes? Expert Immunity Doctors Respond

by thehealthy.com | Aug 14 2024

metro

OEM boss worries fed probes could distract city leadership, undermine public safety: report

by New York Post | Sep 07 2024

nation

Newsom vetoes Calif. bill allowing undocumented immigrants to get home loan assistance

by upi.com | Sep 07 2024

science

Star-packed Triangulum Galaxy shines in new Hubble Telescope image

by LIVE SCIENCE | Sep 07 2024

sports

Drake invests in Venezia, will sponsor kit

by ESPN Inc. | Aug 14 2024

upstate

Albany Police arrest man for possession of handguns

by NEWS10 ABC | Sep 07 2024

wellness

6 Things to Know About the Updated COVID Vaccines

by Self.com | Sep 06 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.

Man wins lottery jackpot one day after buying house

Apparent human skull found on California beach turns out to be a prop

Look: Postcard arrives at Wales address 121 years late

Police searching for three escaped bison in Connecticut

Watch: Stunt rider unofficially breaks 'bike surfing' world record

Woman believed to be world's oldest person dies

Eating ice lollies 'should be part of school curriculum'

Look: Dog rescued from abandoned cistern in Kentucky

Ultra rare 'Star Wars' Boba Fett figure sells for record-breaking $1.34M

Ohio man's dog license number earns him $50,000 lottery prize

Watch: David Rush becomes world's top record breaker with 181 titles

Watch: Museum exhibit explores mysterious 'Kentucky Meat Shower' of 1876

Watch: Florida man records snake hitching a ride on alligator's back

Watch: Loose kangaroo makes drivers late to work in West Virginia

Here Are 30 Famous People As Children. Think You Can Identify Them All?

Watch: Daredevil skis off 18,753-foot cliff to break Guinness World Record

Watch: Origins of black ring in the sky over Virginia a mystery

Dog spooked by thunder runs 20 miles from home

Look: Mother cat, kittens rescued from behind subway station stairwell

Watch: Spanish man collects 3,615 different cellphones

Bumblebees lose most of their sense of smell after heat waves

Tested: 1987 Volkswagen Fox GL Is VW's Latest Starter Car

Kevin Durant says he would get rid of the Dallas Cowboys if there was promotion and relegation in the NFL

Alexis Hall does fantasy romance as only he can

Michael Keaton On Why He is the Best Batman & Initial Fan Hate Over His Casting

Actor, Executive Producer, and Activist Daniel Dae Kim on Balance & Staying Mellow

August Holidays and Observances to Celebrate Year After Year

Can Stress Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes? Expert Immunity Doctors Respond

OEM boss worries fed probes could distract city leadership, undermine public safety: report

Newsom vetoes Calif. bill allowing undocumented immigrants to get home loan assistance

Star-packed Triangulum Galaxy shines in new Hubble Telescope image

Drake invests in Venezia, will sponsor kit

Albany Police arrest man for possession of handguns

6 Things to Know About the Updated COVID Vaccines

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