How Deep Is Your Love?, Good Question

by Kevin Burton   My sister and I had one last shared musical moment, in the days before her death Aug. 25 of last year.    We had thousands of them over half a century together. What I wouldn’t give to have a few more of them now.    The final one came last August, …

One Last Try, For the Love Of The Music

by Kevin Burton    It is very much like me that I saved a fortune cookie message which reads: “share your musical talents generously, for they are a gift to others.”    Saved it even though I know sayings in cookies from my favorite Chinese restaurant can be amusing, but they are not messages.    …

Blind Cincinnati Woman’s Love Of Music

by John Johnston United Way of Greater Cincinnati (The Cincinnati Enquirer and United Way of Greater Cincinnati have joined forces for the 38th year to help families in need with the Wish List program. After wishes are granted, remaining funds assist people with similar needs throughout the year.)    Barbara Liszniewski, who is 79, harbors a …

Blind Lawyer Pioneer Fought For The Disabled

by Kevin Burton     Here’s the story of a woman I had never heard of before, who could and should be put on a US postage stamp.    As a woman and a disabled person, she was way ahead of her time in effectively fighting the good fight for marginalized people. May God bless any …

Blind Band, From Darkness To Limelight

by Xinhua GUIYANG — During the day, Yang Zhi works as a blind massage therapist, and at night, he is the lead singer of ‘Zhe Er Gen,’ a band that enchants the vibrant streets of Guiyang, capital of southwest China’s Guizhou Province.    Bathed in the stage lights, passersby often halt in surprise as four …

Five-Dollar Words At A Deep Discount

by Kevin Burton    Some lamps that my mother has and loves, I don’t like. I think they’re ugly.    For years my insult of choice was to call them “obtuse.”  But I was using that word incorrectly.    My good buddies at Merriam-Webster say obtuse means: “not pointed or acute” or “ of an …

Can You Imagine Elton John As A Banker?

by Kevin Burton    Elton John turns 76 today.  So when I was nine years old listening to Crocodile Rock, he was all of 26.    He wasn’t called Sir Elton back then, not hardly.  He was a sight to behold.    His wild costumes and antics on stage. His huge international hit songs, these …

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 …

Raised On Radio: Gaga For That Sound

by Kevin Burton    Can’t remember how we got on the topic, but a co-worker was telling me last week how radio was the life blood of his youth.    Radio was the conveyor belt on which everybody travelled in my day, as in his (he is roughly ten years older than I am, if …

Happy Wife, Happy Life, Happy Meals

by Kevin Burton    The happy whirring has begun.    I meant the whirring from our brand new purchased-on-sale, matches-the-oven, shiny, silver refrigerator.  My wife may be whirring happily too, not sure.     I told the story of our kitchen appliance upgrade last week (“So Long Old Fridge, Good Riddance,” June 1).    I said …