Magpie News Collector

Wedge-shaped 'pie house' sells for $350,000 in Chicago suburb

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/11/2025 1:37 PM

An unusual Illinois home dubbed the "pie house" due to its wedge shape sold for $350,000 shortly after being put on the market. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Pennsylvania firefighters rescue cat from car engine

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/11/2025 1:17 PM

Firefighters in Pennsylvania responded to a neighborhood for an unusual rescue when a resident discovered a cat hiding under the hood of a car. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

4-year-old calls 911 to report 'mom ate his ice cream'

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/11/2025 12:53 PM

A 4-year-old Wisconsin boy called 911 to report his "mom was being bad" by eating his ice cream. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Swiss Politician Fined For Buying Pink Water Pistols Online

By HuffPost.com | | 3/11/2025 11:29 AM

Authorities said the toys violate the country’s weapons law. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Overdue book returned to New Jersey library after 99 years

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/10/2025 4:34 PM

An 81-year-old woman going through boxes of her mother's belongings made a surprising discovery: an overdue library book checked out by her grandfather 99 years earlier. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

North Carolina man's prediction comes true with $100,000 lottery prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/10/2025 4:08 PM

A North Carolina man's prediction to his son came true when he scored $100,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Brothers become youngest to earn 171 NPS Junior Ranger badges

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/10/2025 3:35 PM

A pair of Idaho brothers are believed to be the youngest people to earn Junior Ranger badges at all 63 U.S. national parks -- as well as 108 other National Park Service Sites. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Skiers, snowboarders attempt to cross 80-foot pond

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/10/2025 1:44 PM

A Pennsylvania resort gave skiers and snowboarders the chance to win season passes -- and all they had to do was make it across a pond. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

London comedy club bans audience members with 'frozen faces from Botox'

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/10/2025 12:45 PM

The owner of a London comedy club announced he is banning audience members with Botox injections after performers complained about unresponsive faces in the crowd. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Police chase swan through traffic on Florida highway

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/10/2025 12:12 PM

Traffic was interrupted on a busy Florida highway when a swan wandered out into the roadway and led police on a chase. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Entangled dog rescued from edge of Florida river

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/7/2025 4:05 PM

Firefighters and animal control officers teamed up in Florida to rescue a runaway dog found stranded on the edge of a river with his leash and collar entangled in a tree. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Reality TV series leads Washington woman to $250,000 lottery prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/7/2025 4:03 PM

A Washington woman said analyzing the habits of lottery winners from a reality TV show led to her winning her own $250,000 prize. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Indian teen with 'werewolf syndrome' earns Guinness World Record

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/7/2025 12:47 PM

An 18-year-old from India was awarded the Guinness World Record for the hairiest face on a person when officials determined he had 201.72 hairs per square centimeter of skin. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: 'Bernice' the duck apprehended after breaking into Georgia jail

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/7/2025 12:28 PM

Sheriff's deputies in Georgia rushed into action when a jail break-in was perpetrated by a "white female" suspect: a duck. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Canadian man eats 25 Carolina reaper peppers in under 5 minutes

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/6/2025 4:16 PM

An iron-stomached speed eater broke a Guinness World Record by eating 25 Carolina reaper chili peppers in 4 minutes and 36.26 seconds. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Michigan police help round up 15 escaped horses

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/6/2025 2:18 PM

Multiple agencies responded in Michigan's Kent County after 15 horses absconded from a barn and went out for a run, with some of them making their way onto a highway. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Pokémon-shaped Flamin' Hot Cheeto sells for $87,840

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/6/2025 12:23 PM

A single Flamin' Hot Cheeto said to be shaped like a Charizard from the Pokémon franchise was auctioned for $87,840. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Giraffe escapes Arizona zoo enclosure to snack on tree

By United Press International, Inc. | | 3/6/2025 12:22 PM

An Arizona zoo opened late due to a 3-year-old giraffe escaping from her enclosure to make a meal out of a nearby tree. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Comedian grazes cows on Glasgow Green to mark receiving city's highest honour

By Sky News | | 3/6/2025 8:36 AM

Comedian Elaine C Smith has grazed cattle on Glasgow Green - a right that comes with being awarded the Freedom of Glasgow. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Artist abandons plan to starve piglets to death after animals stolen

By Sky News | | 3/6/2025 5:01 AM

An artist who tried to starve three piglets to death as part of a controversial exhibition says he has changed his plan after the animals were stolen. ... Read full Story

animal

‘Woolly mice’ were just a start. De-extinction still faces many hurdles

by Science News | Mar 28 2025

art

Filled with ‘Half-Pots,’ Adam Ledford’s Life-Size Room Drawings Reflect Timeless Routines

by Colossal | Apr 01 2025

beauty

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

by The List | Mar 03 2025

connecticut

Reject unsustainable spending: Defend CT’s fiscal guardrails

by CT Mirror | Apr 01 2025

finance

The stock market is riding an oversold rally for now. Here’s when it stalls out.

by MarketWatch.com | Mar 20 2025

football

Giants benching of QB Daniel Jones spotlights NFL-wide issue

by ESNY | Nov 18 2024

golf

PGA Tour and LIV Golf Look for Merger Deal Under Trump

by NY Times | Feb 18 2025

lifestyle

Jenna Bush Hager talks 'challenges' on Today without Hoda Kotb — exclusive

by Hello! Magazine | Apr 01 2025

mental

Audi Crooks on Keeping Eyes on the Prize and Caring for Mental Health

by thehealthy.com | Mar 07 2025

music

Liza Minnelli Is Headed to the ‘Drag Race’ Season 17 Finale

by Billboard | Apr 01 2025

nation

Attorney General Pam Bondi orders Justice Department to seek death penalty for Luigi Mangione

by upi.com | Apr 01 2025

odd_fun

April Fools' 2025: 'Silent' Crunch bar, ranch-flavored Olipop

by United Press International, Inc. | Apr 01 2025

people

Barack Obama lets his urban swag out showing how to greet LeBron James and Steph Curry

by marca.com | Apr 01 2025

sports

Drake invests in Venezia, will sponsor kit

by ESPN Inc. | Aug 14 2024

travel

A travel guide to Teshikaga, Japan

by Wanderlust | Apr 01 2025

Word of the Day

cynosure

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 1, 2025 is:

cynosure • \SYE-nuh-shur\ • noun

A cynosure is a person or thing that attracts a lot of attention or interest. As a proper noun, Cynosure may refer to the North Star or its constellation Ursa Minor.

// He was the cynosure of all eyes as he walked into the room.

See the entry >

Examples:

"Look at any picture of Kashmir and you'll understand why it is called heaven on earth. And Srinagar, framed by the majestic Zabarwan Mountains, is the cynosure of all travel itineraries, offering a mix of breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and spirituality." — Mallika Bhagat, Times Now (Mumbai, India), 17 Dec. 2024

Did you know?

Ancient mariners noted that all the stars in the heavens seemed to revolve around a particular star, and they relied on that star to guide their navigation. The constellation that this bright star appears in is known to English speakers today as Ursa Minor, or the Little Dipper, but the Ancient Greeks called it Kynósoura, a term that comes from a phrase meaning "dog's tail." Kynósoura passed into Latin and Middle French, becoming cynosure. When English speakers adopted the term in the 16th century, they used it as a name for both the constellation and the star (which is also known as the North Star or Polaris) and also to identify a guide of any kind. By the 17th century, cynosure was also being used figuratively for anything or anyone that, like the North Star, is the focus of attention or observation.

Wedge-shaped 'pie house' sells for $350,000 in Chicago suburb

Look: Pennsylvania firefighters rescue cat from car engine

4-year-old calls 911 to report 'mom ate his ice cream'

Swiss Politician Fined For Buying Pink Water Pistols Online

Watch: Overdue book returned to New Jersey library after 99 years

North Carolina man's prediction comes true with $100,000 lottery prize

Brothers become youngest to earn 171 NPS Junior Ranger badges

Watch: Skiers, snowboarders attempt to cross 80-foot pond

London comedy club bans audience members with 'frozen faces from Botox'

Watch: Police chase swan through traffic on Florida highway

Look: Entangled dog rescued from edge of Florida river

Reality TV series leads Washington woman to $250,000 lottery prize

Watch: Indian teen with 'werewolf syndrome' earns Guinness World Record

Look: 'Bernice' the duck apprehended after breaking into Georgia jail

Watch: Canadian man eats 25 Carolina reaper peppers in under 5 minutes

Watch: Michigan police help round up 15 escaped horses

Pokémon-shaped Flamin' Hot Cheeto sells for $87,840

Watch: Giraffe escapes Arizona zoo enclosure to snack on tree

Comedian grazes cows on Glasgow Green to mark receiving city's highest honour

Artist abandons plan to starve piglets to death after animals stolen

‘Woolly mice’ were just a start. De-extinction still faces many hurdles

Filled with ‘Half-Pots,’ Adam Ledford’s Life-Size Room Drawings Reflect Timeless Routines

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

Reject unsustainable spending: Defend CT’s fiscal guardrails

The stock market is riding an oversold rally for now. Here’s when it stalls out.

Giants benching of QB Daniel Jones spotlights NFL-wide issue

PGA Tour and LIV Golf Look for Merger Deal Under Trump

Jenna Bush Hager talks 'challenges' on Today without Hoda Kotb — exclusive

Audi Crooks on Keeping Eyes on the Prize and Caring for Mental Health

Liza Minnelli Is Headed to the ‘Drag Race’ Season 17 Finale

Attorney General Pam Bondi orders Justice Department to seek death penalty for Luigi Mangione

April Fools' 2025: 'Silent' Crunch bar, ranch-flavored Olipop

Barack Obama lets his urban swag out showing how to greet LeBron James and Steph Curry

Drake invests in Venezia, will sponsor kit

A travel guide to Teshikaga, Japan

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.April Fools' 2025: 'Silent' Crunch bar, ranch-flavored Olipop

2.Small dog plucked out of 'ruff waters' of New York's East River

3.Gas station trip earns Florida woman $5M lottery jackpot

4.Watch: Chopstick 'ninja' skills earn Idaho man a Guinness World Record

5.North Carolina family reunited with missing dog after 3 years

6.Watch: Freshwater crocodile found far from home in Australia

7.Watch: California woman uses world's longest tongue to play Jenga

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

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

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