Magpie News Collector

Iowa woman wins her second big lottery jackpot in six months

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/27/2025 7:57 PM

An Iowa Lottery player from Williamsburg scored a $59,500 prize from a Pick 4 drawing just a few months after collecting a $26,500 prize from the same game. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: 'Chunkosaurus Rex' wins Texas' inaugural Fat Squirrel Week

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/27/2025 5:48 PM

Rotund rodents from across the state of Texas competed in Texas Parks and Wildlife's inaugural Fat Squirrel Week, with Chunkosaurus Rex taking the top spot. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Creepy costumed figures on family's porch turn out to be relatives

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/27/2025 5:31 PM

A trio of creepy costumed figures caught on a Virginia family's doorbell camera sparked a police investigation -- but turned out to be family pranksters. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: David Rush throws water balloons at YouTuber for Guinness World Record

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/27/2025 5:04 PM

Serial Guinness World Record-breaker David Rush teamed up with a YouTuber to earn the title for the most hits of a person with water balloons in three minutes. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: 'Emo-chic' deer with hammock wrapped in antlers spotted in Texas

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/27/2025 2:56 PM

Texas authorities shared video of a deer with a hammock wrapped around its antlers. Officials said they will allow the "emo-chic accessory" to remain for now. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Police eject trespassing alligator from apartment hallway in Florida

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/24/2025 7:16 PM

Police in Florida were called to an Orlando apartment complex to eject an unwelcome squatter from a building's outdoor hallway area -- a 5-6-foot alligator. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Kitten rescued from under concrete highway barrier in Wash.

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/24/2025 5:37 PM

Washington State Patrol troopers came to the rescue of a kitten seen wandering loose on the shoulder of a busy highway -- and they found it a new home. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Escaped goats found wandering through Arizona subdivision

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/24/2025 3:59 PM

Police in Arizona are trying to find the owner of some "friendly suspects" rounded up in a new residential subdivision in Marana: a small group of goats. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: N.J. police blame hoax monkey sightings on AI-generated images

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/24/2025 3:36 PM

Police in New Jersey said reports of monkeys on the loose in Newark are a social media hoax perpetuated by photos and videos that appear to be AI-generated. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Quick pick numbers recycled for months earn a $140,000 lottery prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/23/2025 7:42 PM

A South Carolina woman said she recycled the same set of quick pick lottery numbers for several months, and was rewarded with a $140,000 Palmetto Cash 5 jackpot. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Black bear pays a visit to Montana distillery

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/23/2025 6:01 PM

A black bear took a stroll through downtown Bozeman, Mont., and was recorded by security cameras when visited the outdoor seating area of a distillery. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Indiana man digs up 2.71-carat gem at Crater of Diamonds in Arkansas

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/23/2025 5:52 PM

An Indiana man visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas spotted something shiny on his shovel and confirmed it was a 2.71-carat white diamond. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Skateboarding pig earns Guinness World Record

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/23/2025 4:12 PM

A poised pig from Illinois earned a Guinness World Record when he showed off his skateboarding swine skills and took a 33-foot ride in just over 11 seconds. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Cow found wandering in busy road in front of Texas gas station

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/23/2025 3:55 PM

A Texas deputy "had quite the 'moo-ving' morning" when he ended up wrangling a cow on the loose in a busy road in front of a Harris County gas station. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Man uses numbers from a license plate to win $50,000 lottery prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/22/2025 7:38 PM

A Washington, D.C., man transformed a set of familiar numbers he spotted on a license plate into a $50,000 prize from a Maryland Lottery Pick 5 drawing. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Animal nest inside kitchen exhaust fan sparks apartment fire

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/22/2025 5:21 PM

Firefighters in Michigan are warning of unexpected fire hazards after an apartment blaze was sparked by an animal nest inside a resident's kitchen exhaust fan. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Giant pumpkin boats race across Oregon lake in annual event

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/22/2025 5:03 PM

Gargantuan gourds were transformed into sailing squash for the 2025 West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, an annual pumpkin race taking place on an Oregon lake. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Escaped horses visit Manitoba high school

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/22/2025 4:31 PM

Police in Manitoba said a pair of escaped horses went for "a spirited stroll" through a district of Winnipeg and paid a visit to a local high school. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

AWS outage caused smart beds to overheat, get stuck upright

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/22/2025 3:18 PM

The Amazon Web Services outage that affected apps and sites from Reddit to Roblox also caused some smart beds to overheat -- and some were stuck upright. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: New Jersey safari park announces three zebra foal births

By United Press International, Inc. | | 10/21/2025 5:08 PM

Six Flags Wild Safari in New Jersey announced the recent births of three Grant's zebra foals, and they are viewable by the public for a short time only. ... Read full Story

animal

Deep Antarctic waters hold geometric communities of fish nests

by Science News | Oct 29 2025

art

Rirkrit Tiravanija at Galerie Chantal Crousel

by Contemporary Art Daily | Nov 02 2025

connecticut

CT Democrats targeting open Republican municipal seats

by CT Mirror | Nov 02 2025

entertainment

Star Sightings: Addison Rae Performs in Armani Beauty Looks, Riley Keough Attends a Chanel Dinner in New York

by ET Online | Oct 31 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

finance

My girlfriend, a widow in her 40s, pays off her credit card after every transaction. Is that weird?

by MarketWatch.com | Nov 01 2025

game

Fortnite Is Down: When Will Fortnite Servers Be Online For Simpsons Season?

by GameSpot | Nov 01 2025

long_island

No Suffolk elementary schools make New York’s top 100 — but these 10 came closest

by greaterlongisland.com | Oct 31 2025

new_jersey

NJ Spotlight News special edition — ‘Painting Community’: October 31, 2025

by NJ Spotlight | Oct 31 2025

nutrition

Sebastian Maniscalco Reveals How Jerry Seinfeld Helped Him Establish a Mental Health Routine

by thehealthy.com | Oct 15 2025

odd_fun

Watch: Venomous snake rescued from backyard swimming pool

by United Press International, Inc. | Oct 31 2025

people

Rob Dyrdek Net Worth: How much did he make from 46 seasons of 'Ridiculousness'

by marca.com | Nov 02 2025

politics

Hegseth: Military strikes alleged drug vessel in Caribbean, killing 3

by The Hill | Nov 02 2025

real_estate

Rolex Headquarters Nears Completion at 665 Fifth Avenue in Midtown, Manhattan

by New York YIMBY | Nov 02 2025

technology

Scientists discover elusive ‘dance’ of electrons, atoms that kill electricity

by Interesting Engineering | Nov 02 2025

Word of the Day

arbitrary

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

arbitrary • \AHR-buh-trair-ee\ • adjective

Arbitrary describes something that is not planned or chosen for a particular reason, is not based on reason or evidence, or is done without concern for what is fair or right.

// Because the committee wasn’t transparent about the selection process, the results of the process appeared to be wholly arbitrary.

// An arbitrary number will be assigned to each participant.

See the entry >

Examples:

“The authority of the crown, contemporaries believed, was instituted by God to rule the kingdom and its people. England’s sovereign was required to be both a warrior and a judge, to protect the realm from external attack and internal anarchy. To depose the king, therefore, was to risk everything—worldly security and immortal soul—by challenging the order of God’s creation. Such devastatingly radical action could never be justified unless kingship became tyranny: rule by arbitrary will rather than law, threatening the interests of kingdom and people instead of defending them.” — Helen Castor, The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV, 2024

Did you know?

Donning black robes and a powdered wig to learn about arbitrary might seem to be an arbitrary—that is, random or capricious—choice, but it would in fact jibe with the word’s etymology. Arbitrary comes from the Latin noun arbiter, which means “judge” and is the source of the English word arbiter, also meaning “judge.” In English, arbitrary first meant “depending upon choice or discretion” and was specifically used to indicate the sort of decision (as for punishment) left up to the expert determination of a judge rather than defined by law. Today, it can also be used for anything determined by or as if by chance or whim.

Iowa woman wins her second big lottery jackpot in six months

Look: 'Chunkosaurus Rex' wins Texas' inaugural Fat Squirrel Week

Watch: Creepy costumed figures on family's porch turn out to be relatives

Watch: David Rush throws water balloons at YouTuber for Guinness World Record

Watch: 'Emo-chic' deer with hammock wrapped in antlers spotted in Texas

Watch: Police eject trespassing alligator from apartment hallway in Florida

Watch: Kitten rescued from under concrete highway barrier in Wash.

Watch: Escaped goats found wandering through Arizona subdivision

Watch: N.J. police blame hoax monkey sightings on AI-generated images

Quick pick numbers recycled for months earn a $140,000 lottery prize

Watch: Black bear pays a visit to Montana distillery

Look: Indiana man digs up 2.71-carat gem at Crater of Diamonds in Arkansas

Watch: Skateboarding pig earns Guinness World Record

Look: Cow found wandering in busy road in front of Texas gas station

Man uses numbers from a license plate to win $50,000 lottery prize

Look: Animal nest inside kitchen exhaust fan sparks apartment fire

Watch: Giant pumpkin boats race across Oregon lake in annual event

Look: Escaped horses visit Manitoba high school

AWS outage caused smart beds to overheat, get stuck upright

Watch: New Jersey safari park announces three zebra foal births

Deep Antarctic waters hold geometric communities of fish nests

Rirkrit Tiravanija at Galerie Chantal Crousel

CT Democrats targeting open Republican municipal seats

Star Sightings: Addison Rae Performs in Armani Beauty Looks, Riley Keough Attends a Chanel Dinner in New York

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

My girlfriend, a widow in her 40s, pays off her credit card after every transaction. Is that weird?

Fortnite Is Down: When Will Fortnite Servers Be Online For Simpsons Season?

No Suffolk elementary schools make New York’s top 100 — but these 10 came closest

NJ Spotlight News special edition — ‘Painting Community’: October 31, 2025

Sebastian Maniscalco Reveals How Jerry Seinfeld Helped Him Establish a Mental Health Routine

Watch: Venomous snake rescued from backyard swimming pool

Rob Dyrdek Net Worth: How much did he make from 46 seasons of 'Ridiculousness'

Hegseth: Military strikes alleged drug vessel in Caribbean, killing 3

Rolex Headquarters Nears Completion at 665 Fifth Avenue in Midtown, Manhattan

Scientists discover elusive ‘dance’ of electrons, atoms that kill electricity

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Watch: Venomous snake rescued from backyard swimming pool

2.Ohio man forgets winning lottery ticket at home, wins another $500,000

3.Watch: Lost dog found 5 years later, 520 miles from home

4.Ozzy Osbourne pumpkin mosaic breaks Guinness World Record

5.Watch: Deer rescued from between bars of metal fence in Virginia

6.Ohio State marks mascot's 60th by breaking a world record

7.Watch: Utah man drops 1,917-pound pumpkin onto his Geo Metro

8.Watch: Dog rescued after fall from San Francisco cliff

9.Please, Please, Please Do Not Wear Any Of These Wildly Offensive Halloween Costumes This Year

10.Watch: Dog reunited with owner 7 years after burglary in Florida