Monthly Archives: March 2013

Looking at a gift horse

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

One of the perks of running this little travel/book/art blog is that I receive lots of free books. Some are advance reader copies, some are uncorrected proofs and others are just pre-release copies. I’ve been sent novels, memoirs, reference books, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Books, Canada, Europe, Middle East, South America, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How do you say moose in Suomi

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

There are lots of reasons to envy the lucky citizens of Finland—gorgeous landscapes, crystal clear air and water, the midnight sun all summer-long—and now there’s one more. Finland’s new, updated passports double as an amusing animated flip-book. This Youtube video … Continue reading →

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Geography Is Always In Fashion

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

We have featured diverse and miscellaneous maps and cartographic forms, but this is probably the most fashionable use of maps to date. London-based artist and designer Elisabeth Lecourt painstakingly created her marvelous series titled “Les robes géographiques” from prints of historical … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Europe, History, Maps, Middle East | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Have You been To TrustoLand

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

We’re huge fans of the in-your-face social commentary from the clever folks behind the TrusoCorp collective. The brilliant “TrustoLand” project is a provocative, thought-provoking partnership between TrustoCorp and Mass Appeal magazine. The crew dropped-in at the long abandoned Lake Dolores Water … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Film, Freedom of Speech, Photography, USA | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Mapping Urban DNA

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Painter Lu Xinjian uses Google Earth views of major urban centers as the starting point for his intriguing series called City DNA. Beginning with Google’s aerial views, he initiates the pieces by sketching a “map” of each city. He then … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Maps, Tech | Tagged | Leave a comment

Low Fares and High-Speed

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

One week from today, the French national railway SCNF is scheduled to launch a new low fare, high-speed passenger service between the Paris region and southeastern France. With fares starting as low as €10 ( €5 for children ), the … Continue reading →

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Start Saving Your Pennies

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

VeryFirstTo is a British upscale product and experience website whose motto is “Be the very first to know about and have newly launching luxury products and experiences”. Now they are offering the world’s most expensive vacation package: a £990,000, two-year … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Architecture, Art, Asia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, South America, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

All Aboard

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Okay, I admit it, I’m just a big old train geek. I love to ride them, to watch films of iconic train jouneys and to read about them too. But you don’t have to be a diehard trainspotter to enjoy … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Film, Museums, Photography, Tourism | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Finding Neverwhere

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I first discovered Neil Gaiman‘s work through his collaboration with the great Terry Pratchett on the novel Good Omens. Then I found a copy of his novelization of his TV series Neverwhere on a trip to the UK. I’ve been a proselytizing … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Pulp Fictions

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

London-based architect and freelance graphic designer Sharm Murugiah created this droll set of Penguin-style book covers as imagined for Quentin Tarantino films. Echoing the classic Penguin paperback design configuration, he has inserted the movie titles where book titles are usually set. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, movies, Writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment