Q. ‘The moment of betrayal is the worst, the moment when you know beyond any doubt that you’ve been betrayed: that some other human being has wished you that much evil.’ So wrote Margaret Atwood in her 1985 ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’ The best fictional villains fascinate and forewarn. Who is

Q. With museums full of glorious art, it’s interesting to see how nations come together in nominating their favourites. What say you, Britain? . A. In 2017, BBC reported out on a poll of 2000 Brits. The topic? Favourite British artworks from a list compiled by art experts. And which

Q. Which desserts are most pleasing to Canadian sweet teeth? . A. Well, let’s get out the mini-plates and see… . . Canadian Living Magazine mined their data to unearth the most popular dessert recipes of 2024: Most Popular Dessert. Canadian Living Magazine. 2024 i.    Classic Nanaimo Bars ii.

Q. Pugs have played an outsized role in fiction. Jane Austen brings us Mansfield Park’s Lady Bertram who would rather spend time with her pug than her children. ‘To the education of her daughters Lady Bertram paid not the smallest attention. She had not time for such cares. She was

Q. They did you dirty, but now they’ve sent you flowers. An apology? Perhaps. But if, like the Victorians, you’re keen on analyzing the meaning of bouquets, then you might want to look closer. What are some flowers that – traditionally, cross-culturally – have been assigned, at minimum, mixed meanings?

Q. Are there certain cities whose food you find particularly appealing? Which cities whet the appetites of your fellow travellers? . A. Here’s one look in from Trip Advisor. To derive their ‘Best of the Best’ ranking of Food across the world, they amassed ‘above and beyond reviews and opinions’

Q. Over the years, plenty of renowned painters have captured people whiling away the hours, playing cards. What are some examples? . A. . Le Nain Brothers. Les Petites Joueurs de cartes. 1630-40 . Le Nain Brothers. Les Joueurs de cartes. 1635-40 . Antoine Le Nain. Petits Joueurs de cartes.

Q. Magic wands are waving willy nilly. Enchanted potions are bubbling out of every glass. Which superpower will you choose? . A. Take the following list, for instance. Which one of these superpowers would you most like to wield? The ability to a) fly b) read people’s minds c) teleport d)

Q. How did cinnamon come to be called ‘the fabulous spice?’ . A. Others may vie for the title, but it’s cinnamon that has most often been dubbed ‘The Fabulous Spice.’  Be it ‘Cinnamomum, cassia, zeylanicum, burmanni, loureiroi –  there’s been mention of cinnamon in the Bible, in ancient Chinese

Q. This particular idiom refers to people who are perennially cranky, irritable, quick to go off. Why? Because they feel they have been ill-treated in the past. Where does this phrase originate? . A. Chips on shoulders stem from a call to fighting in the 19th Century US. A person