Magpie News Collector

Here’s What the Hole in a Safety Pin Is Really For

By Reader's Digest | Charlotte Hilton Andersen | 9/9/2025 2:32 PM

You'll never look at a safety pin the same way again. That tiny hole actually serves a very important purpose, according to experts. The post Here’s What the Hole in a Safety Pin Is Really For appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Here’s Why Maple Syrup Bottles Have Those Tiny Handles

By Reader's Digest | Charlotte Hilton Andersen | 9/5/2025 1:27 PM

We've all seen maple syrup bottles with that little loop on the side pretending to be a handle. Where did it come from? Syrup experts explain. The post Here’s Why Maple Syrup Bottles Have Those Tiny Handles appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Here’s the Real Reason Why Tennis Balls Are Bright Yellow (And Nope, They Weren’t Always That Color!)

By Reader's Digest | Charlotte Hilton Andersen | 8/27/2025 12:19 PM

Once upon a time, tennis balls had a whole different vibe. Now they're serving looks in neon—and for a very good reason. The post Here’s the Real Reason Why Tennis Balls Are Bright Yellow (And Nope, They Weren’t Always That Color!) appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Can You Pass This Back-to-School Quiz? It’s Harder Than You Think!

By Reader's Digest | Reader's Digest Editors | 8/21/2025 4:35 PM

Whether you graduated 5, 10 or 15+ years ago, it’s a fun challenge to see how much you remember from your school days. The post Can You Pass This Back-to-School Quiz? It’s Harder Than You Think! appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Here’s the Real Reason Why Pencils Are Yellow

By Reader's Digest | Charlotte Hilton Andersen | 8/15/2025 1:54 PM

Yellow for prestige, pink for panache and a secret connection to Dolly Parton—meet the most glamorous school supply you've ever owned. The post Here’s the Real Reason Why Pencils Are Yellow appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Here’s the Real Reason We Have Homecoming

By Reader's Digest | Charlotte Hilton Andersen | 8/14/2025 6:07 PM

It's not just about awkward slow dances and football rivalries—homecoming is a uniquely American mix of school spirit, small-town spectacle and enough glitter to choke a shop vac. The post Here’s the Real Reason We Have Homecoming appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

This Is Why Corn on the Cob Only Ever Has an Even Number of Rows

By Reader's Digest | Alyssa Sybertz | 8/14/2025 2:00 AM

Science is amazing, or make that a-maize-ing. Did you know corn on the cob nearly always has an even number of rows? Here's why. The post This Is Why Corn on the Cob Only Ever Has an Even Number of Rows appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Here’s the Real Reason We Call Students Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors

By Reader's Digest | Jo Ann Liguori | 8/13/2025 2:25 PM

Get ready for an education on classic school-year labels. Here's how the terms freshman, sophomore, junior and senior got their start. The post Here’s the Real Reason We Call Students Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Are Tater Tots French Fries?

By Reader's Digest | Allison T.S. Robicelli | 8/13/2025 11:33 AM

Tots and fries are potato-based products, but are they technically the same thing? We just know they're both delicious! The post Are Tater Tots French Fries? appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

10 Bad Habits Target Customers Should Stop Doing

By Reader's Digest | Charlotte Hilton Andersen | 8/8/2025 5:01 PM

Fess up: Are you guilty of these etiquette mistakes? Here's what you need to know before your next Target run. The post 10 Bad Habits Target Customers Should Stop Doing appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Here’s the Surprising Reason Why Coins Have Ridged Edges

By Reader's Digest | Charlotte Hilton Andersen | 8/7/2025 12:47 PM

From royal scandals to Depression-era street games, these ridges have seen some stuff. Here's how they originated—and why they stuck around. The post Here’s the Surprising Reason Why Coins Have Ridged Edges appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

13 Things You Never Knew About “The Addams Family”

By Reader's Digest | Mara Reinstein | 8/5/2025 3:10 PM

How much do you really know about Wednesday’s origins? Test your creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky knowledge below! The post 13 Things You Never Knew About “The Addams Family” appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

10 Scary Facts Behind the World’s Most Adorable Animals

By Reader's Digest | Beth Dreher | 7/29/2025 6:12 PM

Some of the world's cutest creatures have a dark side—and these scary animal facts about them might keep you up at night! The post 10 Scary Facts Behind the World’s Most Adorable Animals appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Here’s Why Restaurant Servers Hate When You Split the Check Like This

By Reader's Digest | Charlotte Hilton Andersen | 7/29/2025 11:02 AM

Nothing says "fun night out" like turning dessert into a group accounting exercise. Here's what to know before your next night out. The post Here’s Why Restaurant Servers Hate When You Split the Check Like This appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Here’s What “Preaching to the Choir” Really Means

By Reader's Digest | Jo Ann Liguori | 7/28/2025 6:16 PM

You might know the meaning of "preaching to the choir," but you probably don't know the real reason we use this phrase. The post Here’s What “Preaching to the Choir” Really Means appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Here’s How Potholes Got Their Name—It’s Not What You Think!

By Reader's Digest | Jo Ann Liguori | 7/28/2025 12:03 PM

Join us on the bumpy road to where this word began. Spoiler alert: The real story is not the origin story you've probably heard. The post Here’s How Potholes Got Their Name—It’s Not What You Think! appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Only One Country’s Flag Doesn’t Have Red, White or Blue—Can You Guess It?

By Reader's Digest | Jennifer Geddes | 7/25/2025 12:26 PM

Yup, there's just a single national flag on earth without any of these common colors. Can you guess what it is? The post Only One Country’s Flag Doesn’t Have Red, White or Blue—Can You Guess It? appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Gen Z Rewrote the Rules on Phone Etiquette … Again. Find Out the New Mistake You May Be Unknowingly Making

By Reader's Digest | Charlotte Hilton Andersen | 7/24/2025 11:10 AM

Here's what it is, why they're doing it, what it means and how to avoid committing a phone faux pas of your own. The post Gen Z Rewrote the Rules on Phone Etiquette … Again. Find Out the New Mistake You May Be Unknowingly Making appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Shoppers Say This Is One of the Most Annoying Things About Costco—And No, It’s Not the Parking Lot

By Reader's Digest | Charlotte Hilton Andersen | 7/21/2025 1:05 PM

No, it's not trying to find a parking spot. Here's what irritates shoppers at Costco—and how you can avoid this problem. The post Shoppers Say This Is One of the Most Annoying Things About Costco—And No, It’s Not the Parking Lot appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Here’s Why a Dollar Is Nicknamed a “Buck”

By Reader's Digest | Jo Ann Liguori | 7/19/2025 4:01 AM

The truth is, this one-dollar nickname has roots that stretch back centuries—long before modern currency or credit cards. The post Here’s Why a Dollar Is Nicknamed a “Buck” appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

basketball

The Conversation: With Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson, the Pistons are just getting started

by CBS Interactive Inc | Sep 15 2025

beauty

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

by The List | Mar 03 2025

book

Boy from the North Country

by BookPage | Sep 15 2025

connecticut

A new CT law seeks to get all schools on the same page about handling library book challenges

by CT Mirror | Sep 15 2025

entertainment

Celebrity Trainer Harley Pasternak Reveals How the Right Outfit Can Enhance Your Sweat Sessions

by ET Online | Sep 11 2025

fashion

Feather-clad NYFW fashionistas are slumming it on the subway — rather than suffering through rude drivers and infuriating traffic jams

by NY Post | Sep 15 2025

FFNEWS

Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern roll out new domestic intermodal

by FreightWaves | Sep 15 2025

food

The 1970s Burger King Sandwich We Wish Would Return

by The Daily Meal | Sep 15 2025

game

Overwatch 2 Persona 5 Crossover Skins Are Ready To Steal Your Heart (And Wallet)

by GameSpot | Sep 15 2025

nation

Trump threatens to take over D.C. police again over cops not helping ICE

by upi.com | Sep 15 2025

new_jersey

This year’s Anchor property-tax relief payments are on the way

by NJ Spotlight | Sep 15 2025

opinion

Trump will Make America Healthy Again with an unlikely coalition

by Opinion on Fox News | Sep 15 2025

real_estate

Bette Davis’ former Maine home has sold for $13.4M — the state’s priciest residential deal in a decade

by NY Post | Sep 15 2025

shopping

Filson’s Most Versatile Bag Has Never Looked Better

by Gear Patrol | Sep 15 2025

technology

World-first 3D placentas print early tissue, test drugs, and reveal pregnancy risks

by Interesting Engineering | Sep 15 2025

Word of the Day

askance

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 15, 2025 is:

askance • \uh-SKANSS\ • adverb

Askance means "in a way that shows a lack of trust or approval" or "with a side-glance."

// I couldn't help but look askance at the dealer's assurances that the car had never been in an accident.

// Several people eyed them askance when they walked into the room.

See the entry >

Examples:

"In other cultures they might look askance at such a gnarly, leggy thing wedged into a loaf. But we know that a whole fried soft shell crab is one of the gifts of southeast Louisiana's robust seafood heritage." — Ian McNulty, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate Online, 1 May 2025

Did you know?

As with the similar word side-eye, writers over the years have used askance literally when someone is looking with a side-glance and figuratively when such a glance is conveying disapproval or distrust. Back in the days of Middle English you could use askaunce and a-skans and a-skaunces to mean “in such a way that,” “as if to say,” and “artificially, deceptively.” It’s likely that askance developed from these forms, with some help from asqwynt meaning “obliquely, askew.” Askance was first used in the 16th century with the meaning "sideways" or "with a sideways glance.”

Here’s What the Hole in a Safety Pin Is Really For

Here’s Why Maple Syrup Bottles Have Those Tiny Handles

Here’s the Real Reason Why Tennis Balls Are Bright Yellow (And Nope, They Weren’t Always That Color!)

Can You Pass This Back-to-School Quiz? It’s Harder Than You Think!

Here’s the Real Reason Why Pencils Are Yellow

Here’s the Real Reason We Have Homecoming

This Is Why Corn on the Cob Only Ever Has an Even Number of Rows

Here’s the Real Reason We Call Students Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors

Are Tater Tots French Fries?

10 Bad Habits Target Customers Should Stop Doing

Here’s the Surprising Reason Why Coins Have Ridged Edges

13 Things You Never Knew About “The Addams Family”

10 Scary Facts Behind the World’s Most Adorable Animals

Here’s Why Restaurant Servers Hate When You Split the Check Like This

Here’s What “Preaching to the Choir” Really Means

Here’s How Potholes Got Their Name—It’s Not What You Think!

Only One Country’s Flag Doesn’t Have Red, White or Blue—Can You Guess It?

Gen Z Rewrote the Rules on Phone Etiquette … Again. Find Out the New Mistake You May Be Unknowingly Making

Shoppers Say This Is One of the Most Annoying Things About Costco—And No, It’s Not the Parking Lot

Here’s Why a Dollar Is Nicknamed a “Buck”

The Conversation: With Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson, the Pistons are just getting started

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

Boy from the North Country

A new CT law seeks to get all schools on the same page about handling library book challenges

Celebrity Trainer Harley Pasternak Reveals How the Right Outfit Can Enhance Your Sweat Sessions

Feather-clad NYFW fashionistas are slumming it on the subway — rather than suffering through rude drivers and infuriating traffic jams

Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern roll out new domestic intermodal

The 1970s Burger King Sandwich We Wish Would Return

Overwatch 2 Persona 5 Crossover Skins Are Ready To Steal Your Heart (And Wallet)

Trump threatens to take over D.C. police again over cops not helping ICE

This year’s Anchor property-tax relief payments are on the way

Trump will Make America Healthy Again with an unlikely coalition

Bette Davis’ former Maine home has sold for $13.4M — the state’s priciest residential deal in a decade

Filson’s Most Versatile Bag Has Never Looked Better

World-first 3D placentas print early tissue, test drugs, and reveal pregnancy risks

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Peru wins viral “World Cup of Breakfasts” with pan con chicharrón

2.Watch: Florida woman punches alligator to rescue her dog

3.Watch: Hundreds of people named Ryan gather for 'Rytoberfest' in New York

4.Look: Herd of escaped goats munch on lawns in Baltimore neighborhood

5.Stowaway gecko travels from Portugal to Guernsey in suitcase

6.Michigan man's Powerball winnings are 3 times more than expected

7.National Video Games Day: 5 stunning world records

8.Watch: Raccoon steals package from New York porch

9.Watch: Ice skater breaks Guinness World Record for jumping rope

10.Look: Zoo announces hatching of eight iguanas with no father