Magpie News Collector

Watch: Snake handler rescues pet bird from hungry python

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/28/2025 4:21 PM

A professional snake catcher in Australia was called out to a home where a pet bird had a close call with a coastal carpet python that squeezed its head into the avian's cage. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

S.C. man makes lottery run for his wife, wins $200,000

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/28/2025 4:14 PM

A South Carolina man won a $200,000 lottery prize from a ticket he purchased when his wife sent him out to pick up her preferred ticket. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Egyptian diver breaks world record for underwater pull-ups in Red Sea

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/28/2025 1:18 PM

An Egyptian free diver plunged into the Red Sea to break the Guinness World Record for the most pull-ups under open water with one breath. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Alligator puts up fight on Louisiana couple's enclosed porch

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/28/2025 12:45 PM

An alligator managed to enter a Louisiana couple's enclosed porch, sparking a reptile royal rumble involving a professional gator handler and Livingston Parish sheriff's deputies. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Raccoons impede attempts to capture Wis. zoo's escaped otters

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/27/2025 4:03 PM

The Wisconsin zoo searching for a pair of escaped otters said one of the animals was nearly caught in a trap, but the attempt was foiled by a meddling raccoon. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Minnesota cat's 18.5-inch tail earns Guinness World Records title

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/27/2025 3:47 PM

A silver Maine coon cat from Minnesota was awarded a Guinness World Record after his tail was measured at 18.5 inches long. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Dream inspired N.J. lottery player's $1.5M jackpot

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/27/2025 3:34 PM

A New Jersey Lottery player said a dream inspired them to buy a ticket that led to their winning a $1.5 million jackpot. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Mini dachshund spotted 16 months after disappearance on Australian island

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/27/2025 2:06 PM

A miniature dachshund who went missing while visiting South Australia's Kangaroo Island with her owners has been seen alive 16 months later. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Drawing bought for $12 in Pa. might be an authentic Pierre-Auguste Renoir

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/27/2025 1:29 PM

A Pennsylvania woman bought a drawing for $12 at a collector's auction and she later determined it might be a far more valuable work by French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Overdue book mysteriously returned to N.D. library after 51 years

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/26/2025 4:39 PM

A North Dakota library said a copy of "Rebecca" by author Daphne du Maurier was returned anonymously through the mail 51 years after its due date. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Owners of escaped highway cattle in Texas say one steer is still missing

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/26/2025 2:03 PM

The owners of the rodeo cattle that escaped onto a Texas highway this week said they discovered when the animals finally arrived home that one of the steers is still missing. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Man goes viral for 'mundane absurdity' of fixing a McDonald's sign

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/26/2025 1:15 PM

A British man has become an unlikely hero on social media after he took it upon himself to repair a McDonald's restaurant sign that had become an object of curiosity for a Facebook group. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

'March Napness' bracket tracks hibernation habits of sanctuary bears

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/26/2025 12:15 PM

An international animal welfare group announced the start of March Napness, a March Madness-style bracket tournament tracking when bears at sanctuaries across Europe will wake from hibernation. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Tiny goat is the shortest in the world at 1 foot, 3 inches tall

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/25/2025 2:09 PM

A full-grown goat standing at just 1 foot, 3 inches tall has been dubbed the shortest living goat in the world by Guinness World Records. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Escaped rodeo steers run loose on Texas highway

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/25/2025 1:54 PM

A Texas highway turned into an impromptu rodeo when six steers escaped from a trailer and took off running. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Judge Shames Royal Air Force Engineers Who Stole Paddington Bear Statue

By HuffPost.com | | 3/25/2025 11:10 AM

The judge chastised the two British service members for being the “antithesis” of everything Paddington’s character stands for. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

'Once-in-a-lifetime' Iron Age hoard found in Yorkshire

By Sky News | | 3/25/2025 3:24 AM

A "once-in-a-lifetime" hoard of Iron Age artefacts has been uncovered by archaeologists. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Idaho man breaks basketball passing record -- and a wall sign

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/24/2025 4:03 PM

An Idaho man broke a Guinness World Record -- and a sign at the organization's headquarters -- by completing 38 behind-the-back basketball passes in 30 seconds. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Lucky numbers 6-6-6 lead Michigan man to $2.39M lottery jackpot

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/24/2025 3:57 PM

A Michigan man who won $500 playing 6-6-6 in a Daily 3 lottery drawing used $100 of his winnings to buy Fast Cash tickets and wound up with a $2.39 million jackpot. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Police wrangle loose donkey with mints

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/24/2025 1:22 PM

Police in England's West Midlands were able to wrangle an escaped donkey wandering in traffic by "bribing him" with his favorite treat -- mints. ... Read full Story

entertainment

Patrick Johnston Shares the Meaningful Reason Kendall and Kylie Jenner Are Hugging Pots at His Ceramics Studio

by ET Online | Mar 29 2025

golf

PGA Tour and LIV Golf Look for Merger Deal Under Trump

by NY Times | Feb 18 2025

knowledge

Here’s Why Only Some Pickles Have Ridges

by Reader's Digest | Mar 20 2025

lifestyle

Eric Clapton's tragic last promise to his late son Conor, 4, revealed

by Hello! Magazine | Mar 31 2025

long_island

Photos: It sure felt like spring at the St. Pat’s parade in Lindenhurst

by greaterlongisland.com | Mar 29 2025

nation

'Destiny of humanity' at stake: Musk gives $1M to 2 voters in Wis. Supreme Court race

by upi.com | Mar 31 2025

new_jersey

NJ Spotlight News: March 28, 2025

by NJ Spotlight | Mar 28 2025

odd_fun

Watch: Snake handler rescues pet bird from hungry python

by United Press International, Inc. | Mar 28 2025

opinion

Meet DOGE’S patriotic Musketeers — led by Elon and the belief that America needs their expertise, now

by New York Post | Mar 30 2025

people

Why did Morgan Wallen leave SNL stage before the rest of the crew and why is it bad?

by marca.com | Mar 30 2025

real_estate

NYC Real-estate-related revenue hit record $37B last year

by NY Post | Mar 30 2025

retirement

Retirement plannomg: the differences between a traditional and Roth IRA

by Fox News | Mar 30 2025

science

Multiple species of ticks in the US can transmit red meat allergy, CDC reports reveal

by LIVE SCIENCE | Mar 30 2025

shopping

17 New Watches You Missed from Breitling, Seiko, Timex and More

by Gear Patrol | Mar 30 2025

upstate

Former cemetery general manager pleads guilty to grand larceny, identity theft

by NEWS10 ABC | Mar 27 2025

Word of the Day

penchant

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 31, 2025 is:

penchant • \PEN-chunt\ • noun

Penchant refers to a strong liking for something, or a strong tendency to behave in a certain way. It is usually used with for.

// My penchant for mathematics helped me become an engineer.

See the entry >

Examples:

"Sly Lives! is exceptionally strong in its attention to musical detail—even more than Questlove's previous cinematic effort, the Academy Award–winning Summer of Soul, Sly Lives! feels like a film made by a great musician. The film's interviewees offer illuminating ruminations on Sly's vocal arrangements, including his penchant for switching back and forth between unison vocal parts and harmonized ones ..." — Jack Hamilton, Slate, 13 Feb. 2025

Did you know?

English has multiple p-words that imply a strong instinct or liking for something, including propensity and proclivity, but to keep things precise, penchant is the proper word for implying a pronounced, persistent taste in a person ("a penchant for pretty pendants") or a predominant predilection for performing particular actions ("a penchant for petting penguins"). Penchant traces back all the way to the Latin verb pendere, meaning "to weigh," but is more immediately preceded in English by the French word penchant, from the present participle of pencher, meaning "to incline."

Watch: Snake handler rescues pet bird from hungry python

S.C. man makes lottery run for his wife, wins $200,000

Watch: Egyptian diver breaks world record for underwater pull-ups in Red Sea

Watch: Alligator puts up fight on Louisiana couple's enclosed porch

Watch: Raccoons impede attempts to capture Wis. zoo's escaped otters

Minnesota cat's 18.5-inch tail earns Guinness World Records title

Dream inspired N.J. lottery player's $1.5M jackpot

Mini dachshund spotted 16 months after disappearance on Australian island

Drawing bought for $12 in Pa. might be an authentic Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Look: Overdue book mysteriously returned to N.D. library after 51 years

Watch: Owners of escaped highway cattle in Texas say one steer is still missing

Man goes viral for 'mundane absurdity' of fixing a McDonald's sign

'March Napness' bracket tracks hibernation habits of sanctuary bears

Watch: Tiny goat is the shortest in the world at 1 foot, 3 inches tall

Watch: Escaped rodeo steers run loose on Texas highway

Judge Shames Royal Air Force Engineers Who Stole Paddington Bear Statue

'Once-in-a-lifetime' Iron Age hoard found in Yorkshire

Watch: Idaho man breaks basketball passing record -- and a wall sign

Lucky numbers 6-6-6 lead Michigan man to $2.39M lottery jackpot

Look: Police wrangle loose donkey with mints

Patrick Johnston Shares the Meaningful Reason Kendall and Kylie Jenner Are Hugging Pots at His Ceramics Studio

PGA Tour and LIV Golf Look for Merger Deal Under Trump

Here’s Why Only Some Pickles Have Ridges

Eric Clapton's tragic last promise to his late son Conor, 4, revealed

Photos: It sure felt like spring at the St. Pat’s parade in Lindenhurst

'Destiny of humanity' at stake: Musk gives $1M to 2 voters in Wis. Supreme Court race

NJ Spotlight News: March 28, 2025

Watch: Snake handler rescues pet bird from hungry python

Meet DOGE’S patriotic Musketeers — led by Elon and the belief that America needs their expertise, now

Why did Morgan Wallen leave SNL stage before the rest of the crew and why is it bad?

NYC Real-estate-related revenue hit record $37B last year

Retirement plannomg: the differences between a traditional and Roth IRA

Multiple species of ticks in the US can transmit red meat allergy, CDC reports reveal

17 New Watches You Missed from Breitling, Seiko, Timex and More

Former cemetery general manager pleads guilty to grand larceny, identity theft

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Watch: Snake handler rescues pet bird from hungry python

2.S.C. man makes lottery run for his wife, wins $200,000

3.Watch: Egyptian diver breaks world record for underwater pull-ups in Red Sea

4.Watch: Alligator puts up fight on Louisiana couple's enclosed porch

5.Watch: Raccoons impede attempts to capture Wis. zoo's escaped otters

6.Minnesota cat's 18.5-inch tail earns Guinness World Records title

7.Dream inspired N.J. lottery player's $1.5M jackpot

8.Mini dachshund spotted 16 months after disappearance on Australian island

9.Drawing bought for $12 in Pa. might be an authentic Pierre-Auguste Renoir

10.Look: Overdue book mysteriously returned to N.D. library after 51 years