corpulence Definition: (noun) Bulkiness or largeness of body; fatness; portliness. Synonyms: stoutness Usage: The corpulence of the adult pig astounded those who had never seen one before. Discuss.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been indicted on multiple weapons possession charges for illegally having five handguns, an ammunition feeding device, and high-capacity magazines in his car.           District Attorney Clark […]

As 2020 drew to a close, China and Russia strengthened their alliance through joint military maneuvers in both Europe and Asia. The move was solidified by joint operations of the two nations’ air and naval forces, as well as through […]

Heinrich Schliemann (1822) As a boy, Schliemann loved Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. After making his fortune, he devoted himself at the age of 36 to searching for the ruins of the ancient city of Troy, which played a prominent role in Homer’s account of the Trojan War but was believed to be fictional. In 1873, Schliemann not only found the remains of Troy—verifying the Trojan War’s place in history—but also uncovered the ruins of several other cities that had been built on the same site. Where did he find Troy? More…

An engaged woman is always more agreeable than a disengaged. She is satisfied with herself. Her cares are over, and she feels that she may exert all her powers of pleasing without suspicion. All is safe with a lady engaged; no harm can be done. Jane Austen (1775-1817)

feral Definition: (adjective) Of or suggestive of a wild animal. Synonyms: savage Usage: The mugger’s feral scowl was terrifying enough to make me empty my pockets without hesitation. Discuss.

New Supreme Court Judge Andrew Cohen announced his resignation from the 11th City Council seat on December 32, 2020, as did New Congressman Ritchie Torres from the 15th City Council seat. According to the City Charter, Mayor Bill de Blasio […]

Constanze Mozart (1762) When famed Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in 1791, he left his beloved 29-year-old wife, Constanze—herself a musician—with two young children and an uncertain financial outlook. Constanze went to work. She arranged for a pension from the emperor, organized memorial concerts, and collaborated on a biography of her late husband. Today, she is recognized as much for her business sense as for her influence on her husband’s music. Which of her sisters did Wolfgang originally pursue? More…

On the outskirts of every agony sits some observant fellow who points. Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)

linchpin Definition: (noun) A central cohesive source of support and stability. Synonyms: backbone, keystone, mainstay, anchor Usage: Reduced spending is the linchpin of their economic program. Discuss.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (1873) Born into a devout Catholic family, Thérèse entered the convent at Lisieux at age 15. Plagued by depression and guilt, she was prompted by her prioress to write an account of her spiritual development. It describes her “Little Way,” an absolute, childlike surrender to God. After her death at 24, the book was published as Story of a Soul, and her grave became a pilgrimage site. Though its national church does not recognize her as such, Catholics consider her a patron saint of what country? More…

Alliance, n.: In international politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted into each others’ pockets that they cannot separately plunder a third. Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914)

nonplus Definition: (verb) To put at a loss as to what to think, say, or do. Synonyms: bewilder, dumbfound, flummox, baffle, mystify, perplex, puzzle, stupefy, amaze, gravel, vex, pose, stick, beat, get Usage: He was nonplussed by the sudden announcement that the company where he had worked for the past 20 years was declaring bankruptcy and shutting its doors. Discuss.