Magpie News Collector

12 Lesser-Known Weather Terms You Need to Know—They May Hit Your Area This Year

By Reader's Digest | Lisa Lombardi | 9/19/2025 7:15 PM

Heat domes! Derechos! Haboobs! Stay prepared for wild weather with this new climate cheat sheet. The post 12 Lesser-Known Weather Terms You Need to Know—They May Hit Your Area This Year appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

Here’s What the Names of Ikea Products Really Mean

By Reader's Digest | Jennifer Geddes | 9/18/2025 3:15 PM

There's a method to Ikea's madness! Here's how to decode Ikea's quirky naming system—and why it exists in the first place. The post Here’s What the Names of Ikea Products Really Mean appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

New Study: This Regional Accent Is Considered the Most Trustworthy in the U.S.—And the Results Will Really Surprise You!

By Reader's Digest | Jennifer Geddes | 9/17/2025 12:58 PM

Does your accent instill people with confidence—or fill them with rage? You'll be surprised at the results of this new study! The post New Study: This Regional Accent Is Considered the Most Trustworthy in the U.S.—And the Results Will Really Surprise You! appeared first on Reader's Digest. ... Read full Story

knowledge

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

animal

What the longest woolly rhino horn tells us about the beasts’ biology

by Science News | Oct 07 2025

beauty

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

by The List | Mar 03 2025

entertainment

New Music Friday October 3: Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl

by ET Online | Oct 03 2025

exercise

Here’s How Many Steps You Really Need To Walk, Says a Cleveland Clinic Sports Cardiologist Based on New Research

by thehealthy.com | Aug 28 2025

FFNEWS

Surprising surge: Trucking spot market rates climb overnight

by FreightWaves | Oct 07 2025

finance

Elon Musk’s xAI may be the next AI company to do a creative financing deal involving Nvidia

by MarketWatch.com | Oct 07 2025

football

Baptism by Fire: Looking for Value on the Jaxson Dart Prop Market Ahead of First Giants’ Start

by ESNY | Sep 26 2025

lifestyle

Hollywood icon stuns fans as he's spotted riding the subway like a local

by Hello! Magazine | Oct 08 2025

metro

Suffolk officers reunite with elderly dancing ‘ladies man’ they saved after a heart attack at town senior picnic

by New York Post | Oct 07 2025

music

This $18 Amazon Antenna Lets You Access ABC, NBC & Other TV Channels for Free

by Billboard | Oct 07 2025

new_jersey

New law requires NJ schools to teach Latino, Hispanic history

by NJ Spotlight | Oct 07 2025

opinion

Michael Goodwin: NY Times should be ashamed of covering up Biden-appointed Jack Smith spying on Republican senators

by New York Post | Oct 07 2025

real_estate

This home gains entry into one of the most exclusive gardens in NYC — here’s how much it costs

by NY Post | Oct 07 2025

soccer

Real Madrid target return of two former youth team stars in 2026; one expected to replace Tchouameni

by Yahoo Sports | Oct 08 2025

wellness

My Horrible Back Pain Was Actually This Weird Health Issue

by Self.com | Oct 06 2025

Word of the Day

finicky

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 8, 2025 is:

finicky • \FIN-ih-kee\ • adjective

Finicky describes someone who is very hard to please, or something that requires a lot of care, precision, or attentive effort.

// Although she was a finicky eater as a child, she grew up to become a world-renowned chef famous for her encyclopedic knowledge of global ingredients.

// The latest game in the series boasts amazing graphics but the controls are a little finicky.

See the entry >

Examples:

"Stardom is a fleeting concept, one that we've seen play out with the biggest of stars over time. Even without outright missteps, artists often find themselves scrutinized by the masses for reasons entirely unrelated to their work. More often than not, this pressure either drives them to prove their worth to a finicky fanbase—one that will jump ship the second something else catches their attention—or pushes them back into obscurity." — Aron A., HotNewHipHop.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Did you know?

If you're a reader of a certain age (say, a Boomer, Gen Xer, or even a Xennial) you may remember cheeky television commercials featuring Morris, a finicky housecat who only eats a certain brand of cat food. (Morris is still featured on product labels.) Morris's tastes in cuisine are not only very particular, but very fine as well, and that's appropriate given the origin of finicky. The word came about in the early 19th century as an alteration of finicking, itself a 17th century alteration of another adjective, finical, which in turn is a late 16th century coinage likely derived from the adjective fine.

12 Lesser-Known Weather Terms You Need to Know—They May Hit Your Area This Year

Here’s What the Names of Ikea Products Really Mean

New Study: This Regional Accent Is Considered the Most Trustworthy in the U.S.—And the Results Will Really Surprise You!

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?

What the longest woolly rhino horn tells us about the beasts’ biology

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

New Music Friday October 3: Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl

Here’s How Many Steps You Really Need To Walk, Says a Cleveland Clinic Sports Cardiologist Based on New Research

Surprising surge: Trucking spot market rates climb overnight

Elon Musk’s xAI may be the next AI company to do a creative financing deal involving Nvidia

Baptism by Fire: Looking for Value on the Jaxson Dart Prop Market Ahead of First Giants’ Start

Hollywood icon stuns fans as he's spotted riding the subway like a local

Suffolk officers reunite with elderly dancing ‘ladies man’ they saved after a heart attack at town senior picnic

This $18 Amazon Antenna Lets You Access ABC, NBC & Other TV Channels for Free

New law requires NJ schools to teach Latino, Hispanic history

Michael Goodwin: NY Times should be ashamed of covering up Biden-appointed Jack Smith spying on Republican senators

This home gains entry into one of the most exclusive gardens in NYC — here’s how much it costs

Real Madrid target return of two former youth team stars in 2026; one expected to replace Tchouameni

My Horrible Back Pain Was Actually This Weird Health Issue

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Maryland man leaves the gym, wins $31,118.30 lottery prize

2.Look: Ohio zoo asks for help naming newborn rhino calf

3.Watch: Venomous snake removed from inside Queensland home

4.Watch: Baby squirrel falls out of tree at Colorado mini golf course

5.Look: Overturned truck spills 46,000 pounds of applesauce on the highway

6.Look: Alligator tries to 'crash happy hour' at tiki bar in Florida

7.Watch: Virginia Zoo announces birth of three Asian small-clawed otter pups

8.Weeklong illness leads to $100,000 lottery prize

9.Watch: Alligator intently watches PGA golfer take shot in Mississippi

10.Watch: Water-skiing squirrel delights crowds at N.C. fair