Monthly Archives: December 2017

Escape Velocities

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

This week Arizona State University’s Center for Science and Imagination published Visions, Ventures, Escape Velocities: A Collection of Space Futures, a free digital book collection of fiction and nonfiction about space exploration. The free book, which was funded by NASA grants, is … Continue reading →

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Rationalizing Airport Security

Posted on December 10, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

During the last two weeks Amsterdam’s Schiphol International Airport has been testing a novel approach to airport security screening. The Personal Security Pass pilot project aims to demonstrate that it’s possible to reduce wait times and make passenger security screenings … Continue reading →

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Reasons to use a guidebook

Posted on December 9, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

As a former travel guidebook author, I am biased in favor of old-school print travel guidebooks. Not that I am completely averse to digital travel literature; I use e-book guides too. But print guides are easier to highlight and annotate, … Continue reading →

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Coffee Makes The World Go Round

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Folks who know me will vouch for my life-long love of coffee. For the most part, I’m a coffee purist; I tend to stick with simple and direct caffeine delivery systems. Give me a doppio espresso, a Red-Eye, or just … Continue reading →

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The Matter of Jerusalem

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

During the last few days, Jerusalem has once again been at the top of the world news. The clever short film below, which was inspired by a new exhibition on medieval manuscripts at Oxford’s Bodleian Library, reminds us that the … Continue reading →

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A few fomas and some granfaloons

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

During my adolescence, I was strongly influenced by reading Kurt Vonnegut’s brilliant novels. His thoroughly original mash-up of science fiction, satire, dark humor, and political commentary resonated with my angsty teen self. Over the years, I’ve collected and sold a … Continue reading →

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Not Quite The New Yorker

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The Not Yorker is an unofficial, unaffiliated site that collects and curates rejected New Yorker magazine cover illustrations. The project is the work of three Brooklyn-based illustrators still aiming for their own covers.

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Winter Fountains

Posted on December 4, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

What happens to public fountains during the winter? In many cities they are simply turned off until spring. But this year Philadelphia has come up with an imaginative way of using the fountains to brighten-up the dark months. Running from … Continue reading →

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Book Lovers Never Go To Bed Alone

Posted on December 3, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

These fabulous letterpress prints made by printer Amos Kennedy would make great holiday gifts for the book lovers in your life. And 100% from the sale proceeds go to the Elmwood Park Library in Detroit. Each piece is hand-pressed and … Continue reading →

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December is the toughest month

Posted on December 2, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

“December is the toughest month of the year. Others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, October, August, and February.” Mark Twain

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