Weird Traditions From Around The World

by Dictionary Scoop    Traditions come in all shapes and sizes, from a small family tradition involving a special breakfast treat to an annual activity shared by an entire community.    In that sense, some traditions around the world may seem downright strange to a keen observer. That’s why we’ve decided to highlight some of …

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 …

A Female Version Of The Beatles? Who Knew?

by Kevin Burton    I have read maybe two dozen books about the Beatles on talking book. But I didn’t know this.    In books by and about other contemporary artists, the Beatles emerge, as a yardstick, a cultural happening, a turning point. But not so much as a syllable about this.    Until very …

Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, Jumping The Shark

by Kevin Burton    America, do we hate the Chiefs yet?     On second thought, let me extend the question to the rest of the world, since the NFL plays games in London, Mexico City and Frankfurt, Germany. World, have we had enough?    It seems as usual I am behind the times, late to …

Blind Women Helping Detect Breast Cancer

   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 …

Thursdays With Mom: Golden Memories

by Kevin Burton    I took custody of the gold yesterday.  Didn’t make me any richer, not in the monetary sense anyway.     The transaction took place at my mother’s apartment at an assisted living facility twelve miles north of where I live.  I go there to visit her just about every Thursday.  We are …

This Scottish Song Brings In New Years

by Kevin Burton    As December fades and January rushes in, one song is ubiquitous.    Every year without fail, time zone by time zone, it’s difficult to avoid “Auld Lang Syne.”  It’s the song of New Year’s Eve, nostalgia and old friends.     “Auld Lang Syne is an international anthem and one of Scotland’s …

Merry Birthday Or Something Like That

by Kevin Burton    What if your big day got overshadowed every year by the biggest day of all?    What if the season to be jolly also brought your birthday?    This is probably not just a problem for Christmas Day babies.  I would guess any birthday between about Dec. 22 and 27 or …

New Christmas Music By Alison Trelfa

by Kevin Burton    Just broke my rule against playing Christmas music before Dec. 1.    Well it’s not a hard and fast rule and I had good reason.  On this Christmas album I had a very small singing role.     Yesterday was the digital release day for Winter Warmer, the latest project from British …

Important Research On Cows Peeing

by Kevin Burton    Did you know cows can be potty trained?    It’s not April first, please keep reading.    This I would have never believed had I not heard it from the BBC. And I would have never read this had I not signed up for their newsletter.    By all means kids, …