spangle, Long Jump, take a dim view of sth

Starwood Hotels is rolling out a robot to help fulfil room-service requests for its guests. The butler known as a "botlr" is being tested in its Cupertino hotel in Silicon Valley. Botlrs come complete with bow ties and resemble a cutesy cross between Disney's Wall-E and R2-D2 from Star Wars. Unions, fearing for members' jobs, have taken a dim viewhttp://econ.st/1tld3u2

Spotlight:

Flag of the United States
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June 14 is Flag Day in the United States. It has been 232 years since the Stars and Stripes was officially adopted as the nation's flag. The first Flag Act called for the flag to consist of 13 stripes, alternating red and white, and 13 stars, representing the 13 colonies, which would be white on a blue background. In 1818, the design was adapted to include a star for each state. The term "Stars and Stripes," coined by Marquis de Lafayette to describe the United States, became a common nickname for the country's flag. Later, the name "Old Glory" was used by ship captain William Driver for a flag that was presented to him as a gift and that he fought to protect.

Quote:

"O! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?" — Francis Scott Key, "The Star-Spangled Banner"

Inside Europe | 16.08.2008 | 07:05

The Long Jump from the US to Italy!

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Andrew Howe is reaching for the skies in the blue of Italy

The Beijing Olympic Games are now into their second week. And while the success of American swimmer Michael Phelps has captured the imagination of sports fans, one of America’s best track and field athletes will not be sporting the red, white and blue.

Andrew Howe is representing Italy at the Olympics, even though he was born in the U.S.A. He’s a speedy sprinter but is limiting himself to the long jump at the Olympics since he’s recovering from an injury. Andrew Howe is on track to gain a medal after winning silver at last year’s world championship.... just don’t expect to hear the Star-Spangled Banner.

take a dim view of sth

› to disapprove of something:

I take a dim view of this kind of behaviour.

spangle
n.

1. A small, often circular piece of sparkling metal or plastic sewn especially on garments for decoration.
2. A small sparkling object, drop, or spot: spangles of sunlight.

v., -gled, -gling, -gles. v.tr.
To adorn or cause to sparkle by covering with or as if with spangles: Lights spangled the night skyline.
v.intr.
To sparkle in the manner of spangles.

[Middle English spangel, diminutive of spange, from Middle Dutch, clasp.]

spangly span'gly adj.