Monthly Archives: March 2012

And Now For Something Completely Different

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

The 1979 short film Away From it All is a Monty Python gem that sends-up those inane travelogues that we’ve all had to endure. The 13 minute film was written and narrated by the inimitable John Cleese and was shown … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s 1984 All Over Again

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

George Orwell’s groundbreaking novel 1984 is about to get a new movie make-over. Rumor has it that Imagine Entertainment, run by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, is developing a new take on Orwell’s iconic, dystopian classic. And, too add the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Film, Freedom of Speech | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We Love Margaret Atwood (even more)

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

The prophetic, bestselling author Margaret Atwood is galvanizing public support for striking library workers in Toronto, Canada, while challenging shortsighted proposed cuts to library budgets. This week, Ms. Atwood said that “People support libraries, but sometimes don’t understand that it … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Canada, Libraries | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Eurostyle Urban Hacktivism

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Self-described “urban hacktivist” Florian Rivière from Strasbourg has come up with a foolproof method for crossing busy European streets. His portable crosswalk would have come in handy last week in Madrid. Check-out his website for more of his tongue-in-cheek inventions and … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Amsterdam This Summer ?

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Yesterday marked the opening of the new temporary exhibition in the Anne Frank House: “We too might move on”. The exhibition sheds light on the flight of the Frank family, the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer from Germany to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Museums, Tourism | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Time to Chill

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Back in a few…

Posted in Travel Writing | Leave a comment

La Dolce Vita

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Following the devastation of World War I, and the loss of income from foreign tourism, the Italian government developed a promotional agency, ENIT, to encourage Italian tourism abroad. An integral component of the campaign was the use of fabulous advertising … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, History, Tourism, Travel Writing | 3 Comments

When I Come to be Old

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

In 1699 when author Jonathan Swift was just 32 years old he created this list of personal resolutions that he titled When I come to be Old. Thanks to Lists of Note for the transcript. “When I come to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Birth of a Medium

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Last year we posted a story about the first season of thePBS Arts web-original series Off Book, which explores avant-garde, experimental and cutting edge arts and culture. Now they’re back with a new series and the first episode is called … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Film | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Never Mind the Hype

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

“Within the next generation I believe that the world’s rulers will discover that infant conditioning and narco-hypnosis are more efficient, as instruments of government, than clubs and prisons, and that the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied … Continue reading →

Posted in Art | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment