Magpie News Collector

Look: Two dogs rescued from frozen lake in Montana

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/27/2026 11:28 AM

Firefighters in Montana came to the rescue of two dogs that wandered out onto a frozen lake and ended up going for a swim in the frigid water. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

'Random' ticket selection earns Mich. man a $2M lottery prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/26/2026 2:56 PM

A Michigan man shopping for a scratch-off lottery ticket at a gas station went with a "random pick" and scored a $2 million top prize. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Kenya activist breaks world record by hugging tree for 72 hours

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/26/2026 2:06 PM

A Kenyan environmental activist broke a Guinness World Record by keeping her arms wrapped around the trunk of a tree for 72 consecutive hours. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Cat escapes vehicle in Spain, walks nearly 155 miles home to France

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/26/2026 1:44 PM

A cat escaped from his owners' camper during a stop at a gas station in Spain and reappeared months later less than a mile from their home in France. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Trapped hawk rescued from batting cage in Virginia park

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/26/2026 11:36 AM

Animal services officers in Virginia came to the rescue of a hawk that visited a batting cage in a public park and was unable to find its way out. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Vancouver's Museum of Personal Failure finds victory in defeat

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/26/2026 10:49 AM

British Columbia residents are putting their personal, artistic and professional misfires on display at the Museum of Personal Failure in Vancouver. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Climber Alex Honnold scales Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes

By Sky News | | 1/25/2026 3:27 AM

American climber Alex Honnold ascended one of the world's tallest buildings on Sunday without a rope or protective equipment. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: TSA's most unusual finds of 2025 include turtles in a bra

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/23/2026 1:59 PM

The TSA said the most unusual items found at U.S. airport security checkpoints in 2025 include a replica bomb and turtles in pants and a bra. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Montana town perplexed by mystery of three bikes on a log

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/23/2026 1:49 PM

Residents of a Montana town are at a loss to explain a years-long local mystery -- the presence of three bicycles on a log in the Missouri River. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Train service interrupted by escaped emu

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/23/2026 12:57 PM

Officials with England's Network Rail confirmed service was briefly interrupted in East Yorkshire when an emu was spotted along the tracks. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

$6,270 in lost cash returned to California man thanks to neighbor

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/23/2026 12:43 PM

A California man who lost $6,270 cash had the money returned to him thanks to the kindness and honesty of a neighbor, authorities said. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Missing rock beloved by climbers turns up 1,700 miles from home

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/22/2026 1:15 PM

A granite rock that served as a beloved landmark for climbers in British Columbia vanished from its usual spot and turned up over 1,700 miles away. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Burglary alarm at New York bank triggered by intruding deer

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/22/2026 11:11 AM

Police in New York responded to a burglary alarm at a Suffolk County bank, and arrived to find the suspect was a deer that crashed through a window. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Maryland lottery player changes his mind, wins $50,000

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/21/2026 1:28 PM

A Maryland man said a last-minute change of his mind led to his buying a different scratch-off lottery ticket and winning a $50,000 prize. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Nebraska woman's long-lost class ring found on New Jersey beach

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/21/2026 1:08 PM

A class ring missing for decades was returned to a Nebraska family after being found buried on a New Jersey beach by a treasure hunter. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Microchip helps reunite family with dog lost for over 10 years

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/21/2026 12:28 PM

A Florida animal shelter was able to reunite a missing dog with her family more than 10 years after the canine vanished from her home. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Coyote swims to Alcatraz Island in first-ever documented case

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/21/2026 11:11 AM

A coyote caught on camera swimming to San Francisco's Alcatraz Island is believed to be the first of its species to visit the former prison. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Arkansas man follows a 'hunch' to $100,000 lottery prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/20/2026 3:38 PM

An Arkansas man followed a "hunch" and bought a scratch-off lottery ticket from his favorite store that ended up earning him a $100,000 top prize. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Austrian researchers document first case of a cow using a tool

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/20/2026 2:16 PM

Researchers in Austria detailed the unusual case of the first cow to be documented using tools -- specifically, a brush she uses to scratch herself. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: 12 tech workers keep 25 balloons in the air for one minute

By United Press International, Inc. | | 1/20/2026 12:09 PM

David Rush teamed up with 11 tech industry workers to take on the world record for most balloons kept in the air for one minute while standing. ... Read full Story

basketball

Rockets vs. Mavericks odds, prediction, time: 2026 NBA picks for Saturday, Jan. 31 from proven model

by CBS Interactive Inc | Jan 31 2026

book

The Wolf and His King

by BookPage | Jan 30 2026

connecticut

CT officials approve UConn acquisition of Prospect-owned hospital

by CT Mirror | Jan 30 2026

fashion

4 troubling signs that your nail salon will give you an infection

by NY Post | Jan 30 2026

food

The Aldi Fruit Spread We Ranked The Worst Is Too Tart For Our Taste

by The Daily Meal | Jan 31 2026

football

Baptism by Fire: Looking for Value on the Jaxson Dart Prop Market Ahead of First Giants’ Start

by ESNY | Sep 26 2025

game

Highguard Patch Gives Players What They Really Wanted From The Start

by GameSpot | Jan 30 2026

golf

Masashi Ozaki, Japan’s Dominant Golfer Known as ‘Jumbo,’ Dies at 78

by NY Times | Dec 30 2025

health

Healthgrades Names America’s Best Hospitals for 2026

by Healthline.com | Jan 30 2026

lifestyle

Minnie Driver then and now: see her transformation in photos as she turns 56

by Hello! Magazine | Jan 31 2026

long_island

Sunday marks last call for Buffalo Wild Wings at Broadway Commons

by greaterlongisland.com | Jan 30 2026

mental

People Who Did This One Thing in Their 20s Were the Happiest at Age 80

by thehealthy.com | Dec 22 2025

nation

Senate passes budget bills ahead of midnight deadline

by upi.com | Jan 30 2026

odd_fun

Watch: Lost dog found in Philadelphia after four years

by United Press International, Inc. | Jan 30 2026

science

'The problem isn't just Siri or Alexa': AI assistants tend to be feminine, entrenching harmful gender stereotypes

by LIVE SCIENCE | Jan 31 2026

Word of the Day

short shrift

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 31, 2026 is:

short shrift • \SHORT-SHRIFT\ • noun

Short shrift means “little or no attention or thought” or “quick work.” In religious use it refers to barely adequate time for confession before execution.

// Certain neighborhoods have received short shrift from the city government.

See the entry >

Examples:

“[Charlie] Caplinger echoed the concerns of many speakers at the meeting, with charter captains saying the recreational fishing industry’s economic contributions were being given short shrift.” — Mike Smith, NOLA.com (New Orleans, Louisiana), 6 Nov. 2025

Did you know?

We’ve got a confession to make, but we’ll keep it brief: while it’s technically possible to make “long shrift” of something, you’re unlikely to find long shrift in our dictionary anytime soon. Short shrift, on the other hand, has been keeping it real—real terse, that is—for centuries. The earliest known use of the phrase comes from Shakespeare’s play Richard III, in which Lord Hastings, who has been condemned by King Richard to be beheaded, is told by Sir Richard Ratcliffe to “Make a short shrift” as the king “longs to see your head.” Although now archaic, the noun shrift was understood in Shakespeare’s time to refer to the confession or absolution of sins, so “make a short shrift” meant, quite literally, “keep your confession short.” However, since at least the 19th century the phrase has been used figuratively to refer to a small or inadequate amount of time or attention given to something.

Look: Two dogs rescued from frozen lake in Montana

'Random' ticket selection earns Mich. man a $2M lottery prize

Look: Kenya activist breaks world record by hugging tree for 72 hours

Watch: Cat escapes vehicle in Spain, walks nearly 155 miles home to France

Look: Trapped hawk rescued from batting cage in Virginia park

Watch: Vancouver's Museum of Personal Failure finds victory in defeat

Climber Alex Honnold scales Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes

Watch: TSA's most unusual finds of 2025 include turtles in a bra

Watch: Montana town perplexed by mystery of three bikes on a log

Train service interrupted by escaped emu

$6,270 in lost cash returned to California man thanks to neighbor

Missing rock beloved by climbers turns up 1,700 miles from home

Burglary alarm at New York bank triggered by intruding deer

Maryland lottery player changes his mind, wins $50,000

Watch: Nebraska woman's long-lost class ring found on New Jersey beach

Microchip helps reunite family with dog lost for over 10 years

Watch: Coyote swims to Alcatraz Island in first-ever documented case

Look: Arkansas man follows a 'hunch' to $100,000 lottery prize

Austrian researchers document first case of a cow using a tool

Watch: 12 tech workers keep 25 balloons in the air for one minute

Rockets vs. Mavericks odds, prediction, time: 2026 NBA picks for Saturday, Jan. 31 from proven model

The Wolf and His King

CT officials approve UConn acquisition of Prospect-owned hospital

4 troubling signs that your nail salon will give you an infection

The Aldi Fruit Spread We Ranked The Worst Is Too Tart For Our Taste

Baptism by Fire: Looking for Value on the Jaxson Dart Prop Market Ahead of First Giants’ Start

Highguard Patch Gives Players What They Really Wanted From The Start

Masashi Ozaki, Japan’s Dominant Golfer Known as ‘Jumbo,’ Dies at 78

Healthgrades Names America’s Best Hospitals for 2026

Minnie Driver then and now: see her transformation in photos as she turns 56

Sunday marks last call for Buffalo Wild Wings at Broadway Commons

People Who Did This One Thing in Their 20s Were the Happiest at Age 80

Senate passes budget bills ahead of midnight deadline

Watch: Lost dog found in Philadelphia after four years

'The problem isn't just Siri or Alexa': AI assistants tend to be feminine, entrenching harmful gender stereotypes

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Watch: Lost dog found in Philadelphia after four years

2.Ohio man's stocking stuffer delivers $100,000 lottery prize

3.11-year-old juggler breaks world record using a pindaloo

4.Watch: Raccoon stows away to Belarus in shipped car

5.Watch: Bighorn sheep rescued from frozen river in Colorado

6.Maryland man collects his second big lotter prize in under 2 years

7.Watch: Semi crash covers Wisconsin highway in beer kegs

8.Watch: Production error turns 'crying horse' toy into viral sensation

9.Look: Michigan State Police capture mini donkey named Dolly Parton

10.Look: Kangaroo found hopping loose down Texas road