You Never Forget Your First Hate (Dodgers)

by Kevin Burton    My very first ecstatic sports moment came via a baseball wild pitch.    The Cincinnati Reds won the 1972 pennant by scoring two runs in the ninth inning of game 5. First Johnny Bench hit a tying home run. Then with two outs, Pittsburgh pitcher Bob Moose uncorked a game-ending wild …

Challenge And Opportunity On Sweetest Day

by Kevin Burton    Guys, Sweetest Day is Saturday. I am posting this on a Wednesday to give you time to react and prepare appropriately, as is my wont.    Let me break it down for you in a way you can understand:    According to social.com, 36 percent of sales in the $7.9 billion …

Prepare Yourself For International Kissing Day

 by Kevin Burton     OK, now I’ve got you covered, now I’ve got the goods. Here’s news you can use for sure.    Now this is something worth celebrating. Sunday is International Kissing Day, according to  Nationaltoday.com.    And see, I didn’t do something lame, like posting about it the day of International Kissing Day. …

Heart And Seoul: A S. Korean Dating Solution

by Kevin Burton    More than 2,000 single South Koreans are turning to local government today. to improve their love lives.    It’s called “Romance, Art Night,” a mass blind-date event organized by the city of Seoul, South Korea. This is the second such event. In November the city held “Romance In Han River.” Twenty-seven …

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 …

“Bachelor For A Day” Changes Cat Litter!

by Kevin Burton    So, what happens at the Burton household when Jeannette is away visiting relatives? Well it’s not fodder for a screenplay, I can tell you that.    You can call it bachelor for a day if you want, but this truly is not that.  We have long since commenced functioning as a …

Blind Author Shows Disabled As Real People

by Victoria Ivie San Gebriel Valley Tribune    Growing up blind, Fullerton-based author Melissa Whitney voraciously consumed representation of the blind community in media, hoping to connect with inclusive characters that reflect her and her disability.    “I always wanted a book where I could see myself as a main character,” Whitney said. “I can …

“No Hard Feelings” By Eric Carmen Is A Gem

by Kevin Burton     You remember Eric Carmen for “All By Myself” and for the Raspberries’ “Go All The Way.” But it’s one of his B-sides that resonates most with me.    We got word last week that Carmen had died at age 74. The news sent my mind to several places, including to a …

Tears Of Joy In This Valentine’s Day Music

by Kevin Burton    I have made the case for “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney as the greatest love song ever written.    But it’s Valentine’s week and nobody’s going to buy that claim just now. Feb. 14 calls for something with a different feel.    So I phoned a friend, so to speak. …

Tell Her She’s Beautiful In All New Ways

 by Kevin Burton   OK guys, Valentine’s Day is coming.  This gift from me to you, for use in your valentine’s messages, comes with a warning label.    This is a list of words that mean “beautiful,” supplied by our friends at Merriam-Webster. Some of these words don’t sound very complimentary though.  Wade through them …