Why Valentine’s Day Is A Fake, And Worse

by Kevin Burton    A co-worker of Jeannette’s told her that he and his wife didn’t celebrate Valentine’s day, calling it a “fake holiday.”    Many people agree. But as it turns out it’s worse than that.    “Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate romance and love and kissy-face fealty. But the origins of …

The Blind At Work: Two Stories, Two Traumas

by Kevin Burton    Just a sampling today, as you carry on with life, of what blind people face every day when they dare go into the workforce.    Our first look is in New Jersey, the second, across the Atlantic in Wales.    I could string all the news like this into a blog …

Giving Women Credit Where Credit Is Due

by Dictionary Scoop    Did you know that women made many scientific contributions, but their names were hidden and their discoveries attributed to men?     This phenomenon is so common that it even has a name: the Matilda Effect. American historian of science Margaret W. Rossiter coined the term in 1993 in honor of Matilda Joslyn Gage, …

Cruise Ship Tourism Threatens Alaska’s Capital

by Christian Karim Chrobog The Guardian    “The noise never stops,” says Karla Hart, her voice competing with the hum of approaching helicopters. “I can feel them before I see them.” She looks at her phone to check a website that monitors air traffic and identifies operators. Hart wants to know whether the pilots are adhering …

Grandpa Kev’s (Grumpy) After-Christmas Sale

by Kevin Burton     Your favorite retail outlet will be having an after-Christmas sale just now. It’s sort of their version of New Year’s resolutions, you know,  out with the old, in with the new.    They won’t spare the hype, the bold print or the volume. God help you if you miss this sale! …

Ten Festive Facts About Christmas Trees

by Nicole Garner Meeker interestingfacts.com    Christmas trees are perhaps the most recognizable symbol of the winter holiday season.    Whether you buy one from a tree lot or cut your own, nearly 30 million evergreens are sold every year in the lead-up to Christmas, and that’s just a fraction of the 350 million that are …

Blind Businessman Changing Minds

by Katie Oborn Plymouth Herald (UK)    A young Plymouth man who has been blind since birth has been making the world a better place for visually-impaired people.    After feeling judged and at times discriminated against, Brandon Hulcoop came up with an idea that has made a huge difference to so many lives.    …

Silent Services Are “Introvert Happy Hour”

by Alana Semuels  Time Magazine    It can be easy to go a day without talking to another human, especially if you work remotely. But increasingly, people are avoiding talking to one another when they leave the house, too, thanks to businesses and activities that allow them to request quiet time.    “It’s just the …

Was This The Worst Idea Of The 1970s?

by Kevin Burton    Pet rocks I remember. Mood rings, yep. Little sawed-off Gremlin cars. Yeah, I remember those.     I was part of the 70s. I was on the scene baby! I watched the Jackson 5 cartoon. Didn’t dance much but I sang a lot of disco. I remember the bicentennial and staying up …

Uber And Lyft Corporations Are To Blame

by Terri Gerstein Slate.com    Last year, former U.S. Circuit Court Judge David Tatel, who is blind, was denied a Lyft ride to court when a driver refused to accept his guide dog.    It should not be necessary to state this, but: People who are blind deserve full access to trains, airplanes, and other transportation …