Magpie News Collector

Slithering surprise: 5 shocking snake intrusions

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/16/2025 4:08 PM

Summer is finally here, and humans aren't the only ones enjoying the warm weather -- snakes are slithering out of their dens in search of food, mates and, in some cases, mischief. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Wildlife park's escaped mongoose spotted 15 miles from home

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/16/2025 2:02 PM

A yellow mongoose escaped from a wildlife park on Britain's Isle of Man and was spotted in a city 15 miles away. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: New York restaurant returns 110-year-old lobster to the sea

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/16/2025 1:17 PM

A 21-pound lobster estimated to be 110 years old was released back into the open sea by a New York seafood restaurant. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: 15 goats escaped trailer on Maine Turnpike

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/16/2025 11:41 AM

State troopers in Maine responded to a highway where 15 goats escaped from a trailer and wandered into traffic in both directions. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Pedro Pascal look-alike contest winner gets $50, free burritos

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/16/2025 11:18 AM

A Mexican restaurant in New York held a Pedro Pascal look-alike contest, drawing nearly 30 participants to compete for the best impersonation of the "Mandalorian" and "Last of Us" star. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Husband predicts N.C. woman's $150,000 lottery win

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/13/2025 4:30 PM

A North Carolina woman said her husband predicted she would "hit the big one" just before she scored a $150,000 lottery prize. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: World's largest game of red light, green light played in California

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/13/2025 1:12 PM

A fitness education group in California broke a Guinness World Record by gathering 1,423 people to play the playground game red light, green light. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Large, black and white tegu lizard found wandering California park

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/13/2025 9:44 AM

A large black and white tegu lizard spotted on the loose in California was safely captured by employees at a public park. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

'999' mosh pit warning issued by police before festival

By Sky News | | 6/13/2025 6:50 AM

Police are warning rock fans at this weekend's Download festival about the potential for accidental calls while in the mosh pit. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Chinese bank barred from offering customers free Labubu dolls

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/12/2025 3:47 PM

A Chinese bank was ordered to stop its practice of enticing new customers by offering them free Labubu dolls. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Escaped tortoise found wandering S.C. neighborhood

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/12/2025 1:53 PM

Authorities in a South Carolina coastal town were surprised to discover a shelled creature found wandering through a neighborhood was a non-native tortoise. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Oregon middle schoolers design prosthetics for paralyzed dog

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/12/2025 1:21 PM

Students at an Oregon middle school used recycled materials to design and build a prototype prosthetic for a dog with a spinal injury. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Escaped water buffalo herd wanders through British Columbia city

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/12/2025 11:36 AM

A herd of water buffalo escaped from a farm in British Columbia and went wandering through a city before being corralled. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: New York man plays golf for 36 consecutive hours

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/11/2025 4:26 PM

A New York man may have earned a Guinness World Record by playing golf for 36 consecutive hours. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Canadian man wins his fourth major lottery prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/11/2025 4:07 PM

An Alberta man scored a lottery jackpot of more than $730,000, marking his fourth major lottery prize -- and his third since August 2024. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Bear trapped using doughnuts after a soak in hot tub

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/11/2025 2:09 PM

A Florida bear seen enjoying a resident's hot tub and taking a long backyard nap was later captured and relocated with the help of doughnuts. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Winner of D.C. Lego contest shows pandas taking over the capital

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/11/2025 11:07 AM

The Lego Discovery Center Washington, D.C., unveiled the winner of its 2025 Mini Master Model Builder qualifying competition: a 12-year-old's creation showing the nation's capital being taken over by pandas. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Library returns 1953 wedding photo found in book to couple's family

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/10/2025 1:59 PM

A volunteer at a Michigan library found a wedding photo from the 1950s inside a book and the facility was able to return the precious picture to the couple's granddaughter. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Officials round up 60 cows set loose in California city

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/10/2025 12:19 PM

Animal services officials in a California city are asking residents to report any cow sightings after someone set about 60 cattle loose. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Mystery sheep on the lam wrangled in Milwaukee

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/10/2025 11:55 AM

Animal control officers in Milwaukee experienced a unique situation when they were called to round up a nearly 200-pound sheep wandering loose in the city. ... Read full Story

basketball

Ranking every NBA Finals since last Game 7: Thunder vs. Pacers high on list as LeBron James, Warriors dominate

by CBS Interactive Inc | Jun 20 2025

beauty

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

by The List | Mar 03 2025

connecticut

Trump has no queer pride

by CT Mirror | Jun 21 2025

FFNEWS

Running on Ice: Europe’s Cold Storage Sector Is Heating Up

by FreightWaves | Jun 20 2025

game

Rune Factory: Guardians Of Azuma Earth Dancer Edition Restocked On Launch Day

by GameSpot | Jun 20 2025

knowledge

8 Genius Inventors Who Regretted Their Popular Inventions

by Reader's Digest | Jun 20 2025

long_island

Virginia woman charged in hit-and-run that killed Hamptons real estate agent Sara Burack

by greaterlongisland.com | Jun 20 2025

nutrition

Seed Oils: Are They Healthy or Not? Nutrition Experts Explain

by thehealthy.com | Jun 20 2025

people

Logan Paul sets $1 million ask to race IShowSpeed

by marca.com | Jun 21 2025

real_estate

NASCAR’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has sold his North Carolina home for $12.2M all-cash — and broke a local record

by NY Post | Jun 20 2025

retirement

Americans face vastly different retirement costs across states as Social Security cuts loom

by Fox News | Jun 20 2025

science

Science news this week: 'Dragon Man's' identity and the universe's 'missing matter'

by LIVE SCIENCE | Jun 21 2025

sports

Pelé's life in pictures

by CNN | Apr 16 2023

travel

World Rainforest Day: Our guide to the top wildlife-filled rainforests around the globe

by Wanderlust | Jun 20 2025

wellness

What Makes Plantar Fasciitis Worse, According to Foot Experts

by Self.com | Jun 20 2025

Word of the Day

litmus test

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 21, 2025 is:

litmus test • \LIT-mus-TEST\ • noun

A litmus test is something (such as an opinion about a political or moral issue) that is used to make a judgment about whether someone or something is acceptable.

// At our family’s Thanksgiving dinner, the litmus test for good mac and cheese is whether or not it is baked.

See the entry >

Examples:

“The audience in a Broadway show can be intoxicating, and it’s like a litmus test. If a joke doesn’t land one night, you tell it differently the next night. It’s terrifying, on set, to have no idea if something is working.” — Erika Henningsen, quoted in The Hollywood Reporter, 1 May 2025

Did you know?

It was in the 14th century that scientists discovered that litmus, a mixture of colored organic compounds obtained from lichen, turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions and, thus, can be used as an acid-base indicator. Six centuries later, people began using litmus test figuratively. It can now refer to any single factor that establishes the true character of something or causes something to be assigned to one category or another. Often it refers to something (such as an opinion about a political or moral issue) that can be used to make a judgment about whether someone or something is acceptable or not.

Slithering surprise: 5 shocking snake intrusions

Wildlife park's escaped mongoose spotted 15 miles from home

Watch: New York restaurant returns 110-year-old lobster to the sea

Watch: 15 goats escaped trailer on Maine Turnpike

Watch: Pedro Pascal look-alike contest winner gets $50, free burritos

Husband predicts N.C. woman's $150,000 lottery win

Watch: World's largest game of red light, green light played in California

Large, black and white tegu lizard found wandering California park

'999' mosh pit warning issued by police before festival

Chinese bank barred from offering customers free Labubu dolls

Look: Escaped tortoise found wandering S.C. neighborhood

Watch: Oregon middle schoolers design prosthetics for paralyzed dog

Watch: Escaped water buffalo herd wanders through British Columbia city

Watch: New York man plays golf for 36 consecutive hours

Canadian man wins his fourth major lottery prize

Watch: Bear trapped using doughnuts after a soak in hot tub

Winner of D.C. Lego contest shows pandas taking over the capital

Watch: Library returns 1953 wedding photo found in book to couple's family

Look: Officials round up 60 cows set loose in California city

Watch: Mystery sheep on the lam wrangled in Milwaukee

Ranking every NBA Finals since last Game 7: Thunder vs. Pacers high on list as LeBron James, Warriors dominate

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

Trump has no queer pride

Running on Ice: Europe’s Cold Storage Sector Is Heating Up

Rune Factory: Guardians Of Azuma Earth Dancer Edition Restocked On Launch Day

8 Genius Inventors Who Regretted Their Popular Inventions

Virginia woman charged in hit-and-run that killed Hamptons real estate agent Sara Burack

Seed Oils: Are They Healthy or Not? Nutrition Experts Explain

Logan Paul sets $1 million ask to race IShowSpeed

NASCAR’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has sold his North Carolina home for $12.2M all-cash — and broke a local record

Americans face vastly different retirement costs across states as Social Security cuts loom

Science news this week: 'Dragon Man's' identity and the universe's 'missing matter'

Pelé's life in pictures

World Rainforest Day: Our guide to the top wildlife-filled rainforests around the globe

What Makes Plantar Fasciitis Worse, According to Foot Experts

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.North Carolina woman predicts $200,000 lottery win

2.Items left on British buses include bales of hay, a frozen turkey

3.Escaped wallaby caught on camera, continues to evade capture

4.Watch: World's largest cheese tasting held in Colombia

5.Look: Loose chicken rescued from Buffalo Wild Wings in Iowa

6.Maryland man's lottery strategy earns him a $100,000 prize

7.Watch: Great blue heron found entangled in fishing line in Michigan lake

8.Watch: Severe weather drops mysterious dome on Indianapolis road

9.Look: Eight escaped sheep rounded up in N.C., two remain on the loose

10.Diaper-wearing spider monkey found wandering loose in Texas

Logan Paul sets $1 million ask to race IShowSpeed