Birders going ‘cuckoo’ after unexpected sighting in New York City area
A bird sighting on New York's Long Island has avian enthusiasts flocking to the region in the hopes of spotting a feathered friend who has never been seen before in the state. The common cuckoo is typically found from Europe to Japan, with the majority of the population wintering in Africa. But one was recently spotted in Riverhead on the north shore of Long Island. Once the bird was confirmed as a common cuckoo, birders quickly shared the news in their online communities. The bird has since been spotted more than 200 times. It’s not clear how or why the bird ended up there.
A solid gold toilet is up for auction with a $10 million starting price
LONDON (AP) — Sotheby’s has announced it will auction a solid gold toilet, a sculpture by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan called “America.” The auction is set for Nov. 18 in New York. The starting price will be based on the value of the gold's weight, currently about $10 million. Cattelan, known for provocative art, created “America” as a satire on excessive wealth. The piece gained fame after a similar version was stolen from England’s Blenheim Palace in 2019. The toilet will be on display at Sotheby’s New York headquarters from Nov. 8, but visitors won’t be able to use it.
The long and unexpected afterlife of the Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest
NEW YORK (AP) — In the year since the viral Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest, a group of contestants have found opportunity and community. Winner Miles Mitchell attended the Golden Globes and appeared on “The Drew Barrymore Show.” Mitchell and Zander Dueve have modeled for a hair care company. A photo book, “Call Me Timothée," features polaroids of the lookalikes from the Washington Square Park contest. Dubbed the “Brothers Chalamet," the group has become a sort of support network as members pursue comedy and acting. Their shared experiences have turned a park gathering into friendships and unexpected career boosts.
Vermont town draws 'Beetlejuice' fans to iconic horror movie site
EAST CORINTH, Vt. (AP) — A tiny town in Vermont has attracted “Beetlejuice” fans eager to visit the film’s iconic locations for nearly 40 years. East Corinth, with its population of 1,500, has become a hot spot for spooky-themed road trips. The original “Beetlejuice,” released in 1988, was set in a fictional Connecticut town but filmed in East Corinth. Director Tim Burton chose the town for its unique charm. Resident Sarah Polli recalls the excitement and surprise when the film came out. Burton returned to film the sequel, drawing even more tourists. Fans from around the world visit, and a walking tour highlights the movie’s filming locations.
Years after Argentina shut a notorious zoo, the stranded animals are finally being rescued
LUJAN, Argentina (AP) — Lions, tigers and bears that managed to survive in substandard conditions at a now-shuttered zoo on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, paced weakly in their claustrophobic cages on Thursday, waiting their turn to receive urgent veterinary care for the first time in years. The 62 big cats and two brown bears were being evaluated and treated before their eventual transfer to animal sanctuaries around the world. Argentine authorities in 2020 shut down the Lujan Zoo — famous for letting visitors handle and pose for pictures with tigers and lions — over mounting safety concerns. After striking an agreement with Argentina’s government, Four Paws took over responsibility for the surviving wild animals in Lujan last month.
WWI soldiers' messages in a bottle found on Australian beach more than 100 years later
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Messages in a bottle written by two World War I soldiers have been discovered on Australia's coast. The Brown family found the bottle on Oct. 9 at Wharton Beach in Western Australia. Inside were letters from Australian soldiers Malcolm Neville and William Harley, dated Aug. 15, 1916. Their troop ship had left port three days earlier for Europe. Neville was killed a year later, while Harley survived the war. The letters were in good condition, allowing the Browns to contact the soldiers' relatives. Harley’s granddaughter and Neville’s great nephew expressed amazement at the discovery.
A San Francisco dog wags its tail and kisses rescuers after it's plucked from the side of a cliff
Rescuers have saved a pet dog that fell off an oceanside bluff in San Francisco and spent more than 20 minutes clinging to a narrow ledge. Officials say the dog was playing with another pooch on Tuesday at Fort Funston, which is a coastal park with steep bluffs. Firefighters say the dog slipped on some vegetation, lost its traction and fell over the cliff. One rescuer rappelled down, attached a harness to the dog and held it as they were pulled back up top together. Rescuers then reunited the dog with its owner.
Studying the wrong ancient Roman ruler gets Australian high school seniors out of a history exam
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Teachers at nine high schools in northeastern Australia discovered days before an ancient history exam that they had mistakenly taught their students about the wrong Roman ruler — Augustus Caesar instead of his predecessor, Julius Caesar. The students in Queensland ended up being exempt from the statewide exam on Wednesday while Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said he would investigate the mix-up, describing the experience for the students as “extremely traumatic.” Since the error in the curriculum was discovered on Monday, schools applied — and were granted — an exemption from the exam for their students. Students said there was “no way” they could “learn a semester’s work in a couple of days.”
Picasso portrait of muse Dora Maar in vivid hat, long hidden from view, sells for 32 million euros
PARIS (AP) — A long-hidden Picasso portrait of muse Dora Maar has sold for 32 million euros at an auction in Paris. The vividly hued portrait had remained out of view for more than eight decades in a family collection. Auctioneer Christophe Lucien called Friday's sale to a buyer in the room “an enormous success." Painted in July 1943, “Bust of a Woman with a Flowered Hat (Dora Maar)” depicts Maar in a brightly colored floral hat. She had been the artist’s muse for about seven years, and the relationship was coming to a painful close. The work was purchased in 1944 and had not been on the market since.
This seat taken? Thieves busted for stealing over 1,000 restaurant chairs in Spain
MADRID (AP) — Spanish police have arrested seven people suspected of stealing over 1,100 chairs from outdoor seating areas at restaurants and bars. The thefts occurred in Madrid and a nearby municipality over two months. The group, consisting of six men and a woman, targeted 18 establishments in August and September. Police estimate the stolen property is worth around $69,000. The suspects face charges of theft and belonging to a criminal organization. They allegedly resold the chairs in Spain, Morocco and Romania. In Spain, outdoor furniture is often left outside overnight, usually stacked and chained.
