Joni Mitchell’s Masterpiece, “Both Sides Now”

by Kevin Burton    Turning on the radio is like opening a musical fire hydrant. The product comes at you fast and   furious.     When I was young I lacked the discernment to understand that some of the musical water being spewed out by that hydrant was more nourishing than some of the other.    …

Embrace Your Mother While You Still Can

by Kevin Burton    Hug your mom.    Hug her today if you can. Hug her tomorrow because tomorrow is Mother’s Day, but don’t wait for a prompt from the greeting card companies. Hug her any time.    Hug your mom.    You see this on Facebook all the time. Hug your mom because you will …

The Science Behind Flying Time And Aging

by Kevin Burton    This is a story about “approach motivation” and “the ganas,” also known as time flies when you’re having fun.    See also: time flies all the time.    “Time flies when you’re having fun.” Nobody had to explain that one to you, even the first time you heard it. Here’s some …

Playing Musical Instrument Good For The Brain

by Kevin Burton    I’m still hanging on to a notion, planted by a Steely Dan song.    If you know some of that Steely Dan imagery, that sounds kind of dangerous. Let me explain.    I love Steely Dan and I love “Deacon Blues.” I have judged the United States as a nation because …

Blind Nebraska Woman Denied Postal Delivery

by Kevin Burton    Dialogue magazine for the blind used to have a column called Abapita. Abapita is an acronym standing for “ain’t blindness a pain in the anatomy.”    Sadly that magazine stopped publishing in 2019.  Also sadly, for the blind, the pain in the anatomy continues.    I get all manner of news …

Songwriters Day, A Musical Day Of Reckoning

by Kevin Burton    I grew up mostly at the school for the blind in Ohio. But I had (still have) some partial vision and I played a lot of sandlot baseball in my day.    The school used to hire recreation leaders to work with us restless kids. I think these were students from …

Billy Joel, We Love You Just The Way You Are

by Kevin Burton    I’m inclined to give Billy Joel a pass, aren’t you?     Hasn’t he proven his brilliance?  Hasn’t his place in music history been settled, certified for decades now?     Any music-related hall of fame that he is not in, he should be in. Hey, if Dolly Parton is in the Rock …

Billy Joel To Release New Song Thursday

by Kevin Burton    Is it just that easy, like flipping a switch?    Guess we’ll find out Thursday, when Columbia Records drops the first new Billy Joel single in 17 years, a song called “Turn The Lights Back On.”    “In a press release from his label, Columbia Records, the song is said to …

“Here Comes Foster!” There Goes Al Michaels

by Kevin Burton    I love me some Al Michaels. Our sportscaster-sports consumer relationship goes back more than 50 years.    How much do I love Al Michaels?  Well, I watched the entire unwatchable Raiders-Chargers game Thursday because he was calling it. I didn’t even have any fantasy players involved.   And I’ve been watching …

A Moment With Mom And Sweet Victory

by Kevin Burton    My mother doesn’t know anything about fantasy football, but she knows a lot about perseverance.    Both truths were evident Monday night.    I was watching Monday Night Football when she called, and she was still on the line with me when the game ended.    To set the scene:    …