Archive for 'Culture'
Public Broadcasting in the U.S. Posted by Gary Locke on Oct 4, 2018
Broadcasting in the United States is widespread and highly competitive. There are an estimated 1700+ television stations and over 15,000 radio stations! There are networks for almost any interest, from California wine to CrossFit. Most of these are commercially owned and operated, meaning that they exist to make a profit. There are also, however, many…
The Strange World of Sports Mascots Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 27, 2018
By now, no matter where you are from, you have certainly seen a sports mascot. These animals, or not-quite-real creatures who appear on the sidelines of many sporting events to excite the crowd and make us laugh, have been around for over a century. The Olympics have had mascots for 50 years. But, where did…
5 Westerns You Must See Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 20, 2018
Notice that I didn’t say that these are the best Westerns. There are thousands of Westerns made by filmmakers over the decades, and I certainly haven’t seen them all. Many, in fact, have been lost forever to the vagaries of time. Still, I have seen quite a few Westerns, and I have a deep love…
When Western is a Noun Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 13, 2018
“It’s Americana, it’s part of our history, the cowboy, the cattle drive, the sheriff, the fight for law, order, and justice.” Clayton Moore, the actor who portrayed The Lone Ranger, on Westerns. Western is a word most commonly used as an adjective to describe either a direction or some characteristic representative of the US or…
The star signs in English Posted by carol on Aug 31, 2018
Hello, my dear readers! How are you feeling today? Are you in a good mood or in a bad mood? How have things been working out for you this friday? And do you think the position of the planets have anything to do with that? Some people are really into talking about star signs. Whether…
Asheville Day Three Video Posted by sasha on Aug 29, 2018
It’s been a busy couple of days in Asheville. So far on our trip around this beautiful city, we’ve seen the Biltmore Estate, cruised on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and had some amazing food and drink. I hope you still have room for more, because the third and final day is a good one! Watch…
Sleepless in America Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 23, 2018
Americans are not getting enough sleep, and that presents an economic, health, and social crisis for the entire country. Studies show that lack of sleep contributes to obesity, poor performance in work and school, and unhealthy lifestyle choices. In the United States, this adds up to a stunning economic cost in lost productivity and health…