Monthly Archives: July 2020

Copenhagen and Coffee

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Like many folks, I’ve had to forego any travel plans this summer and kickback at home for the duration of the pandemic. That doesn’t mean that I’ve not indulged my travel dreams on lockdown. If you visit TBTP on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Europe, History, Restaurants, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

You Are An Acceptable Level of Threat

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

A new book called Banksy: You Are An Acceptable Level of Threat and if You Were Not You Would Know About has just been published. The book features a huge collection of photos highlighting some of the most iconic works by … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Middle East | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Bookstore Tourism

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

After many delays, New York City’s historic Strand Bookstore has opened its Upper West Side location at 450 Columbus Avenue, between 81st and 82nd Streets in Manhattan. The store features a combination of new, used and rare books of all genres, … Continue reading →

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wave down to future generations

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

“Photograph of a Gathering of People Waving” by Clarence Major based on an old photograph bought in a shop at Half Moon Bay, summer, 1999 No sound, the whole thing. Unknown folk. People waving from a hillside of ripple grass … Continue reading →

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It’s really about the coffee

Posted on July 27, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

These days I spend an inordinate amount of time on my coffee roasting obsession. When I’m not researching green beans to buy, I’m looking for books and articles on coffee in general. I recently stumbled on this unusual artist book … Continue reading →

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NYC: Word on the Street

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

The NYC-based street artist known as “Almost Over Keep Smiling” gave a minor update to  slightly reinterpret this 19th century warning poster telling anybody who was Black in a “free” state like New York to stay away from the police … Continue reading →

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Why not wear a smart mask

Posted on July 25, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

The Japanese tech start-up Donut Robotics has upped the game for the face mask by creating a “smart” version capable of translating and transmitting messages from Japanese into eight other languages. The “c-mask” (made from plastic and worn over a … Continue reading →

Posted in apps, Asia, Tech | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Decameron 2020

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

The New York Times magazine recently published a Decameron for our plague times. The  29 free short stories were written by some of today’s most acclaimed writers. The project editor wrote: Inspired by Giovanni Boccaccio’s “The Decameron,” a 14th-century collection … Continue reading →

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When The Libraries Closed

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

 

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

We All Have a Touch of Fernweh These Days

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

It’s highly likely that you know Teju Cole for his innovative novels and essays, but he is also a dedicated photographer. This spring he release a photobook called Fernweh. The word in German translates literally to “farsickness”, the opposite of … Continue reading →

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