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 …

Emergency Lifted, But Covid Still A Threat

by Kevin Burton      The Covid 19 virus will not disappear tomorrow, though many measures meant to track and prevent it, will.    All the trends with the virus are headed the right direction and have been for some time. Fewer cases, fewer deaths. There is a definition for “emergency.” Covid no longer meets it. …

My Grudging Acceptance Of The iPhone

by Kevin Burton    The cell phone, or more specifically, the cell phone call, turned 50 recently.    It’s a story I almost ignored. Here is part of a CNN Business story on the anniversary:    “On April 3, 1973, Martin Cooper stood on a sidewalk on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan with a device the …

Are You A Pessimist, Optimist Or Realist?

by Kevin Burton    I call myself a realist.  I’m guessing most people think I’m a pessimist.    I try to be a thinker, and I run most if not all decisions through a risk/reward assessment. Still, I could surely be true to this while putting a more positive spin on things.     It doesn’t …

Turkeys In Flight? Science And Thanksgiving

by Kevin Burton    If you’re like me, most of what you know about turkeys comes from a cookbook and WKRP In Cincinnati.  Good thing Nicole Cosgrove is here to help us out.    Cosgrove is the lead Pet Editor for http://www.petkeen.com.  Once our laughter at the classic Les Nessman turkey drop broadcast has subsided, …

Baby Boy’s Vision Saved Thanks To TikTok

by Kevin Burton     Sometimes we get tired of being beat up by the news and decide to go up-beat.    Today we present a second straight day of positive news from the Good News Network. In our first story, a young boy will be blessed to grow up with normal vision thanks to a …

Want Fries With That? Yes, Yes I Do

by Kevin Burton    Just learned that I missed out on a big, big opportunity this year and I’m just sick about it.    I love stories about people getting second chances and making it all work out. Happy endings. Sometimes though it’s just too late.    My big chance came from Idaho in February, …

Corneas Made From Pigskin Restore Vision

by Kevin Burton    Fourteen blind people had vision restored after receiving cornea implants made from pigskin, according to published reports.    Three of those people had perfect vision after undergoing a new surgical technique developed by Swedish researchers, wrote Sarah Kuta in Smithsonian Magazine.    The cornea is the clear outer layer that protects …

My Bilingual Doubletalk In Mexico

by Kevin Burton    My career as an English as a Second Language teacher came to an abrupt early end one night under the streetlights outside a small taco shop in Puebla.    To tell you how and why that happened, I first turn to BBC writer Nicole Chang, who recently wrote about what speaking …

Studying Social Interactions Of The Blind

by Kevin Burton    A North Carolina State University research study offers tips for blind people on how to make social interactions less awkward.    I found the story by NC State’s Matt Shipman on http://www.medicalxpress.com.    “A recent study highlights the range of uncomfortable situations people living with blindness or visual impairment encounter due …