Monthly Archives: January 2023

Insomnia

Posted on January 31, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Insomnia All over the world people can’t sleep. In different times zones they’re lying awake Bodies still, minds trudging along like child laborers. They worry about bills, they worry whether the shoes they just bought are really too small. One’s … Continue reading →

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Literature vs Traffic

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Regular visitors to TBTP are likely aware of my enormous regard for the brilliant installations from the Madrid-based street art collective Luzinterruptus. Somehow I missed their most project titled Literature vs Traffic that they created in one of my favorite cities, Utrecht, … Continue reading →

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The Wacky Wonders of Street View

Posted on January 29, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

As they say in the oldtimey Noir stories, I have a beef with Neal Agarwal. His new time-stealing website sucked up an hour of my life that I’ll never get back. But I loved it. The Wonders of Street View: … Continue reading →

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My AI Tale

Posted on January 28, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

To say that I am ambivalent about the rush to use AI in the arts would be an understatement. In many instances it seems more like an automated plagiarism machine than cutting edge technology. However, I was game to give … Continue reading →

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“what I said was that writing makes everything clearer and worse.”

Posted on January 27, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

“Not His Best” by Joy Williams from 99 Stories of God Franz Kafka once called his writing a form of prayer. He also reprimanded the long-suffering Felice Bauer in a letter: “I did not say that writing ought to make everything … Continue reading →

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Stephen King Rules

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Stephen King is widely considered to be royalty when it comes to popular fiction writing. In recent years, he has also become a voice for political sanity in the U.S., as well. So when King shares writing tips, we all … Continue reading →

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Around the world in just 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

On this day in 1890, New York City police cleared a path through a cheering throng for reporter Nellie Bly as she stepped off a train just 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds after setting sail east … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Public Transport, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

And so much satisfaction when a train goes by.

Posted on January 24, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Living at the End of Time –Robert Bly There is so much sweetness in children’s voices, And so much discontent at the end of day, And so much satisfaction when a train goes by. I don’t know why the rooster … Continue reading →

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Who reads what where

Posted on January 23, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I’m a sucker for a clever infographic, especially if it pertains to books or reading. The graphic above shows which reading genres are most popular in 36 countries around the world. To collect the data, the folks at Study In … Continue reading →

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Historic Peregrinations

Posted on January 22, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Shifting Borders: A Journey to the Centre of our World(s) at the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery in Leeds, England, focuses on the world of travel, guidebooks, and historic maps as well as contemporary artists’ books. For my money the … Continue reading →

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