All Honor To The Keeper Of The Seven Bowls

by Kevin Burton Dear Cat Sitter,    The worker is worthy of her hire. But you are no ordinary worker.  You are most worthy.    You are chosen. You are select among mortals. Yours is no ordinary task. This is a venerated trust. Be you ever so steadfast in your appointed rounds. For you, are …

Good News! Quicksand Love, Cows In Distress

by Kevin Burton     An Indiana boy who was paying attention and cared, saved the day for a young mother.    A young mother cow that is.    “A nine-year-old boy was convinced something was wrong when he spotted a cow in a field acting erratically—and he would not stop begging his mother to turn …

Can’t Forget The Breakfast Club, Simple Minds

by Kevin Burton    It’s been 40 years and I haven’t forgotten.    But it would appear that my limited affection for Simple Minds begins and ends with Ally Sheedy and The Breakfast Club.    Both the band and the Brat Pack were white hot in 1985, 40 years ago this week, when “Don’t You …

Here Comes The Bride…With 95 Bridesmaids?

by The Times (UK)    In a traditional wedding, when bridesmaids start to walk down the aisle, the bride is typically a few steps behind.    Guests at one wedding in Northern Ireland last week, however, had to watch nearly 100 bridesmaids pass in pairs before getting a glimpse of the bride.    Kathryn McGowan, …

Facts About Languages Around The World

by Dictionary Scoop    Language is like a passport to the world; it connects us, teaches us, and sometimes leaves us scratching our heads.    With more than  7,000 languages spoken globally, the world of words is full of surprises and stories. If you are a language lover, these 13 facts about languages will keep your curiosity …

Garage Sale Principle On A Grand Scale

by Kevin Burton   It is garage sale season in my hometown. The new-to-you possibilities are fun to think of.   But one company has taken this concept beyond fun to sublime.    What if the furniture that is a little too old to live up to the image that major companies seek to project, …

Des Moines Isn’t Boring, Really, I Mean It

by Kevin Burton    Did you know there is a Memphis, Missouri?    Fewer than 2,000 people live there. We came perilously close to joining them on vacation two weeks ago.    We had planned to see the big Memphis – the BB King-Jerry Lee Lewis-Johnny Cash Memphis – but a flood warning for the …

Mark Twain And Hannibal To The Rescue

by Kevin Burton    Thirty-six little hours before we were to set sail for Memphis, my wife Jeannette checked the weather.    And we never set sail for Memphis.    The National Weather Service had issued a flood warning covering Memphis at exactly the same time we had planned to hit town. That sort of …

This Girl Had A Pocket Full Of Determination

by Kevin Burton    It’s girl power times three on Page 7 today.    The third story is about car repair, the first two about clothing, beginning with my favorite, a rare tale of a big company responding to consumers. All three are from the Good news Network:    “A young English schoolgirl named Georgia …

Hand Gestures: More Than Words Can Say

by Dictionary Scoop    Hand gestures are everywhere. Whether expressing emotions, adding context to our words, or simply enhancing spoken communication, gestures are a vital part of our shared culture, passed down through generations for centuries.    From ancient Rome to the modern day, here are 12 hand gestures and their origins explained. 1-Thumbs up    The exact origins …