China’s COVID-19 has brought extraordinary danger to the United States, and 2021 may see a different brand of peril. American Military News reports that “China has been expanding its ties with a number of countries in the Caribbean, increasing its influence […]

Anders Celsius (1701) Celsius was a Swedish astronomer who published observations of the aurora borealis and supervised the building of an observatory at Uppsala, Sweden, where he pioneered the measurement of the brightness of stars. Today, however, he is better known for an invention that has been adopted by almost the entire world—the centigrade, or Celsius, thermometer. Originally, his temperature scale had 0 as its boiling point and 100 as its freezing point. Who reversed the numbers after Celsius died? More…

Poverty doesn’t bring unhappiness; it brings degradation. George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

hard-bitten Definition: (adjective) Tough and callous by virtue of experience. Synonyms: hard-boiled, pugnacious Usage: He graduated from college a naïve idealist, but just a few years of chasing down stories had turned him into a cynical, hard-bitten journalist. Discuss.

STATEMENT FROM BRONX DISTRICT ATTORNEY DARCEL D. CLARK ON THE PASSING OF FORMER MAYOR DAVID DINKINS     “I am saddened about the passing of former Mayor David Dinkins. He served the City with dignity and humility through times as […]

Virgil Thomson (1896) An influential American music critic and composer, Thomson studied in Paris. There, he met Gertrude Stein, with whom he wrote the operas Four Saints in Three Acts and The Mother of Us All. He also wrote several film scores. As music critic for New York’s Herald Tribune, he delivered gracefully written criticism that was respected for its concern with music rather than the performers. What unusual method of composition was Thomson known for reviving? More…

We called him Tortoise because he taught us. Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)

grinder Definition: (noun) A large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States. Synonyms: hoagie, Italian sandwich, poor boy, sub, Cuban sandwich, zep, torpedo, wedge, bomber, hero Usage: I usually have a salad for lunch, but today I am going to treat myself to a carb-laden, ham-stuffed grinder. Discuss.

The District Council of Carpenters joined State Senator Jamaal Bailey to hand out one hundred and fifty turkeys to constituents of the Senator in front of his office. People lined up in front of the stores next to the senator’s […]

Councilman (and still undeclared candidate for Bronx Borough President) Rafael Salamanca joined Assemblyman Jose Rivera and 78th A.D. District Leader Angel Santana to distribute one hundred and fifty frozen turkeys to the residents of the Weinberg Apartments on Olinville Avenue. […]

Show of Support for 12th City Council Special Election candidate Kevin Riley   Bronx Democratic County Leader State Senator Jamaal Bailey brought out a large group of elected officials from the Bronx and other boroughs led by New York State […]

The Bronx saw $4B in total development in 2019, the most of Borough President Diaz’s tenure Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. released his “Bronx Annual Development Report” today, highlighting the most successful year in total development funding The Bronx […]

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864) Toulouse-Lautrec developed his interest in art as a teen during a lengthy convalescence after breaking both his legs in separate accidents. At 21, he set up his own studio in Paris, but alcoholism brought about his early demise at 36. Even so, he left an enormous and influential body of work, which captured the atmosphere of Paris brothels and cabaret life with intense colors and remarkable objectivity. His lithographs and posters are now world-renowned. What cocktail is he said to have created? More…

What is the matter with the poor is poverty; what is the matter with the rich is uselessness. George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)