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
Month: October 2023
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
glad tidings
Favorable, beneficial, or happy news. Usually used with the verbs “give” or “bring.” Watch the video
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
squalid
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
World Development Information Day
In 1972, the United Nations established World Development Information Day on October 24. The purpose of this observance is to raise awareness about world economic development and the programs devised by the UN to promote development. The date was chosen to coincide with United Nations Day and the adoption of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade. Discuss
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
cloud of suspicion
A general sentiment of suspicion of wrongdoing or illegality. Watch the video
The Mechanical Turk
In 1770, Wolfgang von Kempelen unveiled his Mechanical Turk, a chess-playing automaton. Dressed in a cloak and turban and seated behind a chessboard, the mannequin played chess and executed complex mathematical puzzles. The Turk performed before numerous world leaders before it was revealed to be a hoax; the cabinet beneath the chessboard, which housed the internal mechanism, actually hid a chess master who secretly operated the machine. Which French Emperor was defeated by von Kempelen’s Turk? Discuss