In a bare room in a remote government-run primary health center in Vapi, a city in the south-west Indian state of Gujarat, Meenakshi Gupta holds a diagram of a woman’s breast with five Braille-marked orientation tapes pasted on it. Speaking to the woman sitting on the bed, she says: “I’ll paste these skin-friendly tapes on your …
Category Archives: Europe
Traditions That Shape Graduation Ceremonies
by Kevin Burton Wanted to give a shoutout to all the 2023 high school and college graduates, but without reflecting, depressingly, on how long it has been since I became a new grad myself. So I decided to talk tradition, rituals, why we do what we do at graduation ceremonies. A lot …
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The Story Behind “Sultans Of Swing”
by Kevin Burton It turns out there really was a band called Sultans Of Swing that inspired the great 1978 Dire Straits hit. “Sultans Of Swing” is one of those tunes that stops you in your tracks. It just exudes cool. We tell its story, evoking a musical proverb from “Take It …
The History And Science Behind High Heels
by Kevin Burton Gather round kids, because it’s National High Heels day and boy do I have news for you. According to multiple websites, high heels were invented for men. It seems the heels helped warriors on horseback, providing leverage for them to stay in the saddle and stand up to fire …
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A Little Good News Goes A Long Way
by Kevin Burton Have you had enough of the shouters and the doubters, the doom and the gloom? How about a little good news? The Apostle Paul encouraged people to focus on things that are true, honest, just and pure. “If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on …
The Case For George Harrison, Best Beatle
by Kevin Burton I asked a co-worker, a big Beatles fan who has played guitar since high school, for his opinion on The Big Question: Who was the most essential Beatle? I suppose I was spoiling for a McCartney/Lennon fight. That discussion goes to Paul McCartney and John Lennon and stops there, right? …
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Blind BBC Reporter Gets Best Of Mugger
by Kevin Burton A blind BBC reporter, retrieved his cell phone from a mugger and restrained the assailant until help arrived, multiple sources reported in late December. “Wrong blind person, wrong day,” said Sean Dilley, a blind news reporter and project lead for the BBC’s Reframing Disability program. Dilley was taking a …
More Discrimination Against The Blind
by Kevin Burton Today, two stories about blind people standing up for their rights, one of a pending lawsuit, one of a successful suit in Ohio. I’m happy to see blind people demanding their rights, but sad that we should have to go to such lengths to get the right to lead basic, …
Lennon’s Thanksgiving Concert Appearance
by Kevin Burton On Thanksgiving night 1974, two of England’s best musical exports, John Lennon and Elton John appeared together in concert. The appearance was Lennon paying off a bet of sorts. His song “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night,” had just reached the top of the US Hot 100, something Lennon was …
Hotel Ejects Blind Woman Over Guide Dog
by Kevin Burton If I ever go back to London, I know where I am not staying. The Premier Inn in North London ejected a blind woman, her partner and her guide dog, saying the woman “didn’t look blind,” according to published reports. My information comes from reporter Jessica Frank-Keyes, writing …
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