Archive for 'Culture'
The Blue Strawberry Turkey Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 19, 2020
Holiday traditions always include food. For Thanksgiving, which is celebrated on the last Thursday in November, the traditional main course is roast turkey. Well, I have a recipe for roast stuffed turkey which I have made for decades. My family and friends agree with me that the results are fantastic. It is, however, a very…
American News Sources Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 5, 2020
With everything that’s happening in the United States and the rest of the world, nothing matters more than dependable news sources. We have learned to expect misinformation and alternative facts on our social media platforms. But what about newspapers, television, radio, and magazines? Who do Americans trust to provide them with unbiased reporting? I wish…
Changing the Clocks Posted by Gary Locke on Oct 30, 2020
On the first Sunday of every November in the US, we gain an hour of sleep. It marks the end of daylight saving time (DST), and the beginning of standard time. It also forces us to ask the age-old question, “Why do we do this?” With standard time we gain daylight in the mornings and…
The Gadsden Flag Posted by Gary Locke on Oct 15, 2020
The United States is a country with many official flags on display across the land. But one flag, historically among the oldest, has had a fascinating and increasingly controversial history. This is the story of the Gadsden flag. Beyond the traditional American flag with its red and white stripes and the white stars on a…
English Vocab for the Fall Season Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 24, 2020
Are you a leaf-peeper? Do you enjoy sweater weather? Longing for a crisp feel to the air? If you answered “Yes” to all three questions then you’re in luck. It’s autumn! To be honest, I’m really a summer kind of guy. Give me lots of daylight, green grass, and the lazy pace of an afternoon…
Writing the Date in American English Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 17, 2020
One of the things that distinguish the United States from almost every other country is also one of the most basic. We write the date differently. In the U.S., the date is written mm/dd/yyyy, or sometimes mm/dd/yy. For most of the world, this is backward (or, more accurately, sideways.) Why we do this has been…
Sixteen Tons Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 3, 2020
Songs that tell the stories of workers and laborers seem to have always been a part of American culture. Popular hits include Dolly Parton’s Nine to Five and Billy Joel’s Allentown, to name just two. Bruce Springsteen has made a career out of songs of the American worker. But in the history of American music…