Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Train dreams

Posted on August 31, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

“On the Train” by Gene Wolfe When I look out the window, the earth seems to have become liquid, rushing to flow over a falls that is always just behind the last car. Wherever that may be. The telephone poles … Continue reading →

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“Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week”

Posted on August 30, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Here is a great read by BBC on Finland’s libraries where you can borrow everything from sewing machines to tennis rackets to podcast studios. 55% of Finns visit at least once a month and libraries are legally required to promote democracy. They … Continue reading →

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Never has our future been more unpredictable

Posted on August 29, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Never has our future been more unpredictable, never have we depended so much on political forces that cannot be trusted to follow the rules of common sense and self-interest—forces that look like sheer insanity, if judged by the standards of … Continue reading →

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Prophets say the world is gonna end tomorrow

Posted on August 28, 2026 by Brian D. Butler
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Devotion of Suspect X

Posted on August 27, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Keigo Higashino, a bestselling Japanese mystery writer whose works were widely translated, died July 23 at age 68, the New York Times reported. Higashino published more than 100 titles, many of which were adapted into movies in Japan and abroad. His final … Continue reading →

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To be hopeful in bad times

Posted on August 26, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in … Continue reading →

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Lately, the weather aches

Posted on August 25, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

TRULY PATHETIC Neal Bowers Lately, the weather aches; the air is short of breath, and morning stumbles in, stiff-jointed. Day by day, the sun bores the sky, until the moon begins its tiresome disappearing act, making the oceans yawn. Even … Continue reading →

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The line between the magical and the real disappears in a story

Posted on August 24, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

“Consider Scheherazade, whose name meant “city-born” and who was without a doubt a big-city girl, crafty, wisecracking, by turns sentimental and cynical, as contemporary a metropolitan narrator as one could wish to meet. Scheherazade, who snared the prince in her … Continue reading →

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Sunday, Someday ?

Posted on August 23, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

🐱 Artful Cats: This collection of cat-inspired art and artifacts from across the Smithsonian is a truly delightful set to browse through. Paintings, sketches, ceramics, centuries of artists who just couldn’t resist drawing cats. You could easily lose an hour in here. … Continue reading →

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It’s Only A Paper Moon or Globe

Posted on August 22, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

I have always been fascinated by globes. When I was a wee lad I had a globe/lamp combo on my nightstand and I would spin the globe and dream of breaking out. I even made my own paper mache globe … Continue reading →

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