The Meaning of the Red, White and Blue Colors of the American Flag

Many people want to know the answer to the question, why is the American flag red, white and blue. Knowing the American flag's meaning lets the citizens comprehend the symbols, colors and the design represent. It is also a reminder to the people how the country started.

1. The first answer to the question why is the American flag red, white and blue is because they are the colors the represent the thirteen state that battled the regime of the United Kingdom in the United States.

2. The second answer to the question why is the American flag red, white and blue is because the red represented courage, white represented purity and blue stood for the Americans' belief in justice. These are the character traits that Americans believe.

3. The third answer to the question why is the American flag red, white and blue is because it was the agreed colors by the congress in 1782. The national records however do not have the explanation why the congress back then chose these colors.

4. The fourth answer to the question why is the flag red, white and blue could be because the color red was taken from the flag of the United Kingdom. The white represented the end of the colonization of the Great Britain. The blue represented heaven. The stars symbolized the dreams of the citizens of the United States. It also symbolized that hopes of the people in America should not be limited. The five points of the stars could be the representation of the rays of the sun which symbolized light.

5. The fifth answer to the question why is the American flag red, white and blue is because these colors symbolized freedom. The colors collectively represented liberation from any form of alien sovereignty. The colors of the flag are the powerful symbols for America's stand for independence. It also represented all the important beliefs the forefathers of the United States bravely fought for to achieve.

It is important to observe the proper etiquette when you are in front of the flag. It should never fall. It should never be torn or made dirty. There is also a proper way of disposing a worn out flag. There is a federal law in the United States that bans anyone using the flag for business purposes however this law is continuously not being followed because the first amendment can always counteract this law.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenny_Leones

Reasons Why We Call the Smallest Finger the Pinky

The pinky is the smallest finger in the human hand. It has an important role in giving shape to our hands even with its tiny size. It is true that not all small fingers of people are colored pink but why do we call the smallest finger in our hand the pinky?

This is a term that has been used for many years already that we can't exactly pinpoint where or from whom it started. We can answer the question, why the small finger is called a pinky by looking at its etymology.

1. The first answer to the question why is your small finger called a pinky could be because it was derived from a Scottish term. According to a dictionary made in 1808 by the writer named John Jamieson, the term pinky originated in Scotland where it was a word used by the old folks to refer to anything that is small in size. The term was later adapted by the Americans to call the smallest finger in our hand as the pinky. This is the logical explanation why we have come to call it the pinky.

2. The second answer to the question why is your small finger called a pinky could be because it was originally a word used by the Dutch. The Scots actually got this term from them. The Dutch used the terms "pinck ooghen, " to refer to an eye that is not totally closed. If you translate these terms literally it would mean "pink eye". They also used it to refer to the smallest finger. This was the Dutch word that proliferated throughout Europe. It is not because the Dutch have fingers that are colored pink.

3. The third answer to the question why is your small finger called a pinky is because according to the dictionary from Oxford, it originated from an adjective that was used centuries ago to refer to something that is tiny in size. This was an adjective used widely to pertain to the smallest finger. It does not have any connection to the pink hue.

4. The fourth answer to the question why is your small finger called a pinky is because of the Americans who lived in the eighteenth century. They were the people who used it widely. The pinky swear even originated from that term since Americans during that time started using it as a symbol of staying true to a promise made.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenny_Leones

A Brief History of Glastonbury Tor

Tor is a Celtic word that refers to a conical hill. Glastonbury Tor is one of these hills that is located at Glastonbury, in Somerset. It rises up out of the middle of the Somerset Levels.

Previously, the Tor would have been an island as the Levels used to be wetlands and were regularly flooded by sea-water, often being submerged for decades or centuries. The reclamation that took place and turned them into the inhabitable farmland that they are now left Glastonbury Tor stood as a hill rising steeply out of the surrounding plain, rather than the island that it had been. This change has given it a dramatic appearance, as it is the one landmark for miles on the otherwise flat ground.

The Tor has shown evidence of settlement going right back to Neolithic times. Flint tools of the sort used by humans for thousands of years have been found there, along with signs of Dark Age settlement, such as postholes. Other remains of this period are seen in a hearth and a metal worker's forge that have been discovered, as well as burial plots.

What appears to be a 5th century fort was also discovered on the Tor, or the remains of it at least, but it appears that this had its spot stolen by a church that survived until 1275. Then an earthquake hit Britain and destroyed many buildings around it, including the church. Another one was built later, but it got torn down too.

There is a belief that the Tor is the island Avalon from the King Arthur mythology, partly based on the island apparently being called Ynys yr Afalon (The Isle of Avalon) by the native Britons

The Tor also has rings of terraces around it, thought to either have been crafted for agricultural purposes, as they would make planting, taking care of and harvesting crops easier, or as defensive ramparts.

Whatever the Tor has done in the past, it is still a popular and dramatic landmark, and draws many visitors every year. When in the Somerset Levels it is hard to miss.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Sangers

Crushing Most Out of Your Limited Study Time

Most of us don't have the luxury of a full eight hours a day to devote to our language studies. In fact, many language learners I know can only spare a few minutes on weekdays, along with a couple of hours on weekends.

While that may sound like a valid excuse to NOT learn a language, it really doesn't matter. Many people in the same boat have managed to squeeze the most out of their limited time to successfully acquire a language by applying themselves fully.

Focus on core activities. What are the specific learning activities that generate the most results for you? Do you learn best working with your language learning software? Does your progress hit a stride when you engage in interactions with native speakers? After identifying the core activities that help you best, arrange whatever time you can set aside around them.

Alternate lessons with practice. Sitting through a lesson is only good if you can retain enough of it for practical use. For actual retention, nothing beats the value of practice and application -- that's why it's best to alternate between the two on a regular basis.

Be confident. If you think you can successfully acquire a language, you're probably right. If you think you can't, you're probably right, too. Confidence can do wonders to your language learning. Instead of running around circles trying to reason with yourself, it spurs you to just go for it. Many times, this is the intangible needed for you to succeed.

Make a habit out of it. Turn your daily studies into a habit, instead of something you'll do when you feel like it. The more you can integrate it as naturally as taking a shower before going to work (assuming you're not one of those people who leave the house unbathed), the more you'll see results.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laurianne_Sumerset