Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Games for Booklovers

Posted on December 3, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

 

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The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I was today years old when I discovered that America’s greatest living short story writer George Saunders published a children’s book more than 20 years ago. Issued in 2000 by Villard Books, an imprint of Random House, The Very Persistent … Continue reading →

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

Recognition At Last

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Each day, nearly 12 million French consumers visit a bakery and leave with an iconic loaf of bread. Each year, French bakeries produce more than 6 billion baguettes. It is an international symbol recognized as part of the daily life … Continue reading →

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Chain Gang

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

When the public library in Rawicz, Poland needed to move its entire collection from it’s 70 year-old library to a new building 350 meters away it put out a call for help from the local community. On November 25, 2022, … Continue reading →

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

What’s the Word

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Merriam-Webster  dictionary reports that its word of the year is the manipulative, misdirecting term that causes the target to question the surety of their own sanity, is taken from the title of the George Cukor 1944 classic film Gaslight. Although in … Continue reading →

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Some You May Like, Some You May Need

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

What better way to start the week than unexpected photographs of animals being amusing from the 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. Who wouldn’t love to spend an afternoon riding a tourist train in Japan’s verdant countryside powered by leftover ramen broth. … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Books, Photography, Restaurants, Tourism, USA | Tagged | 1 Comment

Nation States

Posted on November 27, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I recently discovered that one of my favorite sci-fi authors has been running a wonderful website for 20 years that allows users to create, grow, and administer their own nation state. Australian writer Max Barry’s website NationStates offers the opportunity to own … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Maps, Tech, Writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Just Another Caturday

Posted on November 26, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

   

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The Direction of Travel

Posted on November 25, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

When I ran across Christian Nolle’s terrific periodical Directions of Travel I thought that some of you other travel and map geeks might need to know about the project. Nolle’s fascination with air travel and maps began when he was … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Europe, History, Maps, Public Transport, Tourism, Travel Writing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The First Thanksgiving

Posted on November 24, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Warrington Wickham Colescott Jr. (March 7, 1921 – September 10, 2018) was an American artist, he is best known for his satirical etchings. He was a master printmaker and operated Mantegna Press in Hollandale, Wisconsin, with his wife and fellow … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, USA | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments