Magpie News Collector

Animal rescuers called to remove 'python' from fish and chip shop

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/16/2025 4:10 PM

Animal rescuers were summoned to a fish and chip shop in London to wrangle a loose "python" that turned out to be a local person's escaped pet corn snake. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Man accidentally buys two identical Powerball tickets, wins $2M

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/16/2025 3:08 PM

A Massachusetts man accidentally bought two identical tickets for the same Powerball drawing and ended up with a pair of prizes, each worth $1 million. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: British chefs cook up world's largest scotch egg

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/16/2025 12:54 PM

Two British social media chefs used an ostrich egg to create the world's largest scotch egg, which weighed in at a whopping 17 pounds and 3.48 ounces. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Dog lost in Alaskan wilderness found by pilot nine days later

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/16/2025 12:28 PM

A dog who fled into the wilderness during a camping trip in Alaska was found nine days later by a pilot who decided to go searching in his small plane. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Dolphin rescued from shallow lagoon in South Carolina

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/16/2025 11:24 AM

Firefighters and marine mammal specialists came to the rescue of a dolphin named Lucky who was found stranded in a shallow tidal lagoon in South Carolina. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

One peacock captured, one still on the loose in Pennsylvania

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/16/2025 10:57 AM

Authorities and animal rescuers in Pennsylvania's Bucks County said they are still searching for one of two loose peacocks spotted wandering in the area. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Ball python on the loose in Massachusetts

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/15/2025 2:17 PM

Residents of a Massachusetts city are being asked to keep an eye out for a ball python that has been caught on camera slithering on the loose in the area. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Overturned milk truck creates 'significant spill' on New York road

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/15/2025 11:59 AM

A tractor-trailer hauling a load of milk overturned in New York's Columbia County, resulting in what the local sheriff's office described as a "significant spill." ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Escaped sheep wrangled after social media plea in Oregon

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/15/2025 11:38 AM

Police in Oregon said an escaped sheep was safely reunited with its owner after "living its best life" on the loose in Beaverton's Murray Hill neighborhood. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Wandering dog rescued from elevated train tracks in New York

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/15/2025 11:31 AM

A malnourished dog spotted wandering on the elevated train tracks in New York's Queens borough was rescued by police, and the incident was caught on camera. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Disability group threatens legal action over Lamine Yamal's birthday party dwarfism row

By Sky News | | 7/15/2025 10:46 AM

A Spanish disability group has threatened legal action after people with dwarfism were reportedly hired as entertainers for Lamine Yamal's 18th birthday. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

N.C. man follows a dream, gut feeling to $1M lottery prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/14/2025 3:58 PM

A North Carolina man said a dream and a gut feeling led to his winning a $1 million prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Washington woman breaks record with 4,060 jigsaw puzzles

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/14/2025 2:48 PM

A Washington woman earned a Guinness World Record for her collection of 4,060 different jigsaw puzzles. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Tourists flock to see bright green pigeon in England

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/14/2025 2:13 PM

Residents of Northampton, England, have captured video of an unusual new neighbor causing a stir in the area: a bright green pigeon. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Goat rescued after nearly a week stranded on Hawaii cliff

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/14/2025 11:24 AM

A goat stranded on a Hawaii cliff for nearly a week was rescued by climbers and taken to a veterinarian, where she was found to be pregnant. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: 'Naughty tortoise' starts fire in London apartment

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/14/2025 10:59 AM

The London Fire Brigade responded to an apartment in the city where a "naughty tortoise" sparked a blaze by knocking over his heat lamp. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: American pronghorn calf rescued by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/11/2025 4:28 PM

Rescuers with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance swooped in to save an underweight American pronghorn fawn found struggling on private land in New Mexico. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Friend's advice leads Maryland woman to $50,000 lottery prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/11/2025 4:10 PM

A Maryland woman took her friend's advice and bought a scratch-off lottery ticket that earned her a $50,000 prize. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: California woman's home flooded with unwanted Amazon packages

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/11/2025 1:52 PM

A California woman said her house is being flooded with unwanted Amazon packages that have been arriving for about a year. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Small child climbs into claw machine at Ohio community center

By United Press International, Inc. | | 7/11/2025 1:39 PM

Security cameras were recording at an Ohio community center when a small child climbed into a claw machine and became stranded among the stuffed animals. ... Read full Story

animal

Some probiotics could feed, rather than fend off, infections

by Science News | Aug 01 2025

basketball

LOOK: Nuggets, Bucks, Hawks unveil NBA City Edition uniforms for 2025-26 season, move back to popular designs

by CBS Interactive Inc | Aug 01 2025

entertainment

Kelly Rutherford Compares Her Style to 'Gossip Girl's' Lily van der Woodsen and Spills What She Took from Set

by ET Online | Aug 01 2025

exercise

If You Don’t Walk Backward Every Day, a Sports Medicine Doctor’s List of the Benefits Might Convince You To Start

by thehealthy.com | Jul 11 2025

food

What Sets Beef Tallow Apart From Beef Fat?

by The Daily Meal | Aug 01 2025

football

“He’s a Great Kid” – Brian Daboll Excited to Get Started with #3 Overall Draft Pick Abdul Carter

by ESNY | Apr 24 2025

long_island

Pita Bowl opens its second Long Island spot with a third on the way

by greaterlongisland.com | Aug 01 2025

mental

Special Olympics Advocates: Don’t Leave This Community Out of Mental Health Discussions

by thehealthy.com | May 28 2025

metro

Columbia Sportswear sues Columbia University over merch in latest legal battle for Ivy

by New York Post | Aug 01 2025

nation

Photos show how White House gardens have bloomed in years past -- and today

by upi.com | Aug 01 2025

nutrition

Carnivore Diet: Expert Clinicians List the Foods, Effects, and Health Risks

by thehealthy.com | Jul 10 2025

opinion

Obama’s Russiagate meddling: Letters to the Editor — Aug. 2, 2025

by New York Post | Aug 01 2025

people

Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson recreate iconic Titanic scene in hilarious new video

by marca.com | Aug 01 2025

politics

Navarro on jobs report: 'It's either incompetence or political interference'

by The Hill | Aug 01 2025

sports

Pelé's life in pictures

by CNN | Apr 16 2023

Word of the Day

palimpsest

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 2, 2025 is:

palimpsest • \PAL-imp-sest\ • noun

Palimpsest in its original use refers to writing material (such as a parchment manuscript) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased; the underlying text is said to be “in palimpsest.” Palimpsest in extended use refers to something that has usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface.

// Scholars believe the motive for making palimpsests was often economic—reusing parchment was cheaper than preparing a new skin.

// The ancient city is an architectural palimpsest.

See the entry >

Examples:

“My aim was to trace the course of … the Aqua Marcia, built between 144 and 140 B.C. by Julius Caesar’s ancestor Quintus Marcius Rex. … The original tuff arches carried the Marcia across a steep ravine. Subsequent retaining walls and buttresses have transformed the bridge into a palimpsest of building styles.” — David Laskin, The New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024

Did you know?

Long ago, writing surfaces were so highly valued that they were often used more than once. Palimpsest in its original use referred to an early form of recycling in which an old document was erased to make room for a new one when parchment ran short. (The word is from the Greek palimpsēstos, meaning “scraped again.”) Fortunately for modern scholars, the erasing process wasn’t completely effective, so the original could often be distinguished under the newer writing. De republica, by Roman statesman and orator Cicero, is one of many documents recovered from a palimpsest. Nowadays, the word palimpsest can refer not only to such a document but to anything that has multiple layers apparent beneath the surface.

Animal rescuers called to remove 'python' from fish and chip shop

Man accidentally buys two identical Powerball tickets, wins $2M

Watch: British chefs cook up world's largest scotch egg

Watch: Dog lost in Alaskan wilderness found by pilot nine days later

Watch: Dolphin rescued from shallow lagoon in South Carolina

One peacock captured, one still on the loose in Pennsylvania

Ball python on the loose in Massachusetts

Look: Overturned milk truck creates 'significant spill' on New York road

Look: Escaped sheep wrangled after social media plea in Oregon

Watch: Wandering dog rescued from elevated train tracks in New York

Disability group threatens legal action over Lamine Yamal's birthday party dwarfism row

N.C. man follows a dream, gut feeling to $1M lottery prize

Watch: Washington woman breaks record with 4,060 jigsaw puzzles

Watch: Tourists flock to see bright green pigeon in England

Watch: Goat rescued after nearly a week stranded on Hawaii cliff

Look: 'Naughty tortoise' starts fire in London apartment

Watch: American pronghorn calf rescued by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Friend's advice leads Maryland woman to $50,000 lottery prize

Watch: California woman's home flooded with unwanted Amazon packages

Watch: Small child climbs into claw machine at Ohio community center

Some probiotics could feed, rather than fend off, infections

LOOK: Nuggets, Bucks, Hawks unveil NBA City Edition uniforms for 2025-26 season, move back to popular designs

Kelly Rutherford Compares Her Style to 'Gossip Girl's' Lily van der Woodsen and Spills What She Took from Set

If You Don’t Walk Backward Every Day, a Sports Medicine Doctor’s List of the Benefits Might Convince You To Start

What Sets Beef Tallow Apart From Beef Fat?

“He’s a Great Kid” – Brian Daboll Excited to Get Started with #3 Overall Draft Pick Abdul Carter

Pita Bowl opens its second Long Island spot with a third on the way

Special Olympics Advocates: Don’t Leave This Community Out of Mental Health Discussions

Columbia Sportswear sues Columbia University over merch in latest legal battle for Ivy

Photos show how White House gardens have bloomed in years past -- and today

Carnivore Diet: Expert Clinicians List the Foods, Effects, and Health Risks

Obama’s Russiagate meddling: Letters to the Editor — Aug. 2, 2025

Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson recreate iconic Titanic scene in hilarious new video

Navarro on jobs report: 'It's either incompetence or political interference'

Pelé's life in pictures

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Wild Pennsylvania Highway Spill Leads To Commuters' Wurst Nightmare

2.Thousands of hot dogs spill across busy highway

3.'This shouldn't have happened': Bishop who interrupted church choir in dressing gown apologises

4.Watch: Newborn squirrel rescued after falling out of tree

5.Watch: Paddleboarding pooches break three world records

6.Look: Escaped monitor lizard returns to Massachusetts, evades capture

7.Look: Firefighters rescue bobcat stuck in front grill of vehicle

8.Watch: Giant baseball with 6,750 signatures breaks world record

9.South Africa Hopes Injecting Horns With Radioactive Material Curbs Rhino Poaching

10.Wayward sea lion found wandering in California road