Hieronymus Carl Friedrich von Münchhausen (1720) Münchhausen was a German baron who became legendary for his fantastic stories about his adventures as a hunter, sportsman,and soldier. Sent in his youth to serve as a page, he later joined the Russian military and served until […]

The world in general doesn’t know what to make of originality; it is startled out of its comfortable habits of thought, and its first reaction is one of anger. W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965)

malediction Definition: (noun) The calling down of a curse. Synonyms: imprecation Usage: They muttered maledictions and curses, but we ignored them.

Fred Astaire (1899) Born Frederick Austerlitz, Astaire was an American dancer, actor, and singer who began his career as a child on a successful Broadway vaudeville team with his sister Adele. After his sister retired, Astaire became a film actor […]

A God that can be understood is no God. Whocan explain the Infinite in words? W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965)

paroxysm Definition: (noun) A sudden uncontrollable attack. Synonyms: convulsion, fit Usage: Michael strained backward in a paroxysm of rage,making fierce short jumps to the end of the tether ashe snarled and growled with utmost fierceness.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866) Gokhale was an Indian nationalist leader. Amoderate, he stressed negotiation andconciliation rather than non-cooperation orviolence—views that clashed with the moremilitant ideas of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Gokhalewas instrumental in founding the Servants of India Society, anationalist organization […]

Event Provides Residents Easy Option for Disposal of Potentially Harmful Household Items Residents looking to dispose of potentially harmful household materials may do so at the Bronx SAFE (Solvents, Automotive, Flammables, and Electronics) Disposal event, held this Saturday, May 14, […]

The man who is aware of himself is hence forward independent; and he is never bored, and life is only too short, and he is steeped through and through with a profound yet temperate happiness. Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)

windsock Definition: (noun) A tapered, open-ended sleeve pivotallyattached to a standard, that indicates the direction ofthe wind blowing through it. Synonyms: drogue, air sock, wind cone Usage: The air traffic controller noted that the airport’swindsock was fully extended.

Petrus Canisius (1521) Canisius was a 16th century Jesuit preacherwho fought against the spread ofProtestantism in Germany, Austria, Bohemia,and Switzerland. His catechism, SummaDoctrinae Christianae, authorized in 1566, wasone of the earliest popular expositions of thefaith. The reestablishment of RomanCatholicism in […]

Clairvoyant, n.: A person, commonly a woman, who has the power of seeing that which is invisible to her patron, namely, that he is a blockhead. Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914)  

raring Definition: (adjective) Full of eagerness; enthusiastic. Synonyms: impatient Usage: Standing at the starting line of the race, he shiftedfrom foot to foot and was raring to go.