Tag Archives: United States
America’s Belt Regions Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 15, 2019
The United States has belts. I’m not talking about the kind which holds up your pants. I’m referring to select regions of the country which are distinctive in some way. Those distinctions, over time, have led to these areas being designated as a belt region. Some of these areas can be quite important because their…
The American Veteran Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 7, 2019
Americans celebrate Veterans Day every November 11 as a way of honoring every person who has ever served in the United States Armed Forces. Note that the word Veterans has no apostrophe. Memorial Day, which is celebrated on the last Monday of May, honors those service members who died in combat while serving in the…
Shenandoah: An American Ballad Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 19, 2019
I was recently listening to a favorite radio station which played a recording of the classic American folk song, Shenandoah. The station host confessed that he didn’t know the exact story behind the song, but he believed that it was from the time of fur traders in the American west in the 18th century. Well…
What is Up With Pumpkin Spice? Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 29, 2019
If you are learning English and trying to gain knowledge of American culture, then you need to be aware of something which appears throughout the country every year around the beginning of September and lingers into December. That thing is called pumpkin spice. Its popularity, indeed, its hold on much of the American public, may…
Mankind’s Greatest Achievement Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 18, 2019
“I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth.” That quote, by President John Kennedy on May 25, 1961, set the stage for what may well have been humanity’s greatest moment. There are certainly…
Farm Stands and Farmer’s Markets Posted by Gary Locke on Jun 13, 2019
A sure sign of summer, and one of the best things about the season, is a farm stand. Like everything else which goes dark and quiet during the cold months, the reemergence of a local farm stand is greeted with smiles and excitement by many. Fresh vegetables, fruit, plants, and flowers appear near the side…
UFOs in America Posted by Gary Locke on Jun 6, 2019
There has been an increase lately in the news concerning UFOs – Unidentified Flying Objects. I’m talking about serious journalism from respected media sources talking about something which was dismissed as tabloid junk for years. If you’ve always wanted to learn the unique vocabulary and terminology of flying saucers, this is your lucky day! The…