Toronto Stock Exchange Created (1861)

The largest stock exchange in Canada, the Toronto Stock Exchange is the main Canadian exchange for trading large-cap equity securities. In 1997, the exchange moved from traditional floor trading to electronic trading. In 2000, it demutualized to become a for-profit corporation. It is a leader in the oil, gas, and mining industries, with more such companies trading on it than on any other exchange in the world. The Toronto Stock Exchange is also home to all of Canada’s “Big Five,” which are what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Saffron Rose Festival

Saffron, the world’s most expensive spice, is harvested from the stigmas of the autumn-flowering Crocus sativus. Much of the world’s saffron comes from Spain’s La Mancha region. The Saffron Rose Festival held in the town of Consuegra each year celebrates this exotic crop, which must be harvested by hand so that the valuable stigmas are not crumpled. The celebrations include parades and contests, folk dancing, and the crowning of a pageant queen. Costumed characters from Cervantes’s 17th-century novel Don Quixote stroll among the crowds who flock to Consuegra for the fiesta. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Pablo Picasso (1881)

Among the most influential figures in 20th-century art, Picasso was a Spanish-born French artist and a founder of cubism. A prolific artist, he is best known for works from his so-called Blue Period and Rose Period, as well the enormous Guernica, whose violent imagery—inspired by the Spanish Civil War—condemned the useless destruction of life. Often a controversial figure for both his art and his politics, Picasso was once questioned about the theft of what famous painting? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Dark Matter

Dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter that is believed to make up more than 90% of the mass of the universe but is not readily visible because it neither emits nor absorbs light. Its existence could explain gravitational anomalies observed in the motion and distribution of galaxies. In 1993, astronomers identified part of the dark matter in the form of stray planets and brown dwarfs, and, possibly, stars that have failed to ignite. What acronym is used to refer to this hot, dark matter? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Cathedral of Chartres Is Dedicated (1260)

Dedicated in 1260 in the presence of King Louis IX, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Chartres is one of the most influential examples of High Gothic architecture. The main structure was built between 1194 and 1220 and replaced a 12th-century church—of which only the crypt, the base, and the western facade remain. Recognized by its imposing spires, the cathedral is known for its stained-glass windows and Renaissance choir screen. It is also home to the Sancta Camisa, which is what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632)

Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch scientist and maker of microscopes whose observations helped lay the foundations for the sciences of bacteriology and protozoology. He assembled hundreds of microscopes, nine of which survive today and can magnify objects as much as 275 times. In the course of his examination of innumerable microorganisms and tissue samples, he gave the first complete descriptions of bacteria and protozoa—which he called animalcules. What likely kindled his interest in microscopes? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Humphrey DeForest Bogart

Bogart, posthumously named the Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute, was an Academy Award-winning actor whose accomplishments in the film industry are recognized worldwide. Though Bogart began acting in theater, he is best known for his work in films like The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca. He became an international cult figure through his roles as a tough, romantic loner, appearing in 75 feature motion pictures. How many times was Bogart married? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary