Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Life Lingers On Blank Pages

Regular visitors to TBTP know that I am a huge admirer of the Spanish street art collective known as Luz Interruptus. They recently completed this extraordinary installation for the first International Festival of Light at the beautiful Plaza Mayor in … Continue reading →

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This is the feeling I get before I take a plane

HOW TO WRITE Anne Waldman Perhaps I’m kidding myself about the life I lead Sometimes I feel I’m dying like a lot of things I see around me Then I turn on the TV and understand that everything must still … Continue reading →

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Literacy and Justice

It seems that every day brings another story of book banning or book burning in the United States. Anyone who believes in protecting freedom of the press should be terrified by the assaults on liberty from the Christo-Fascist rightwing mobs … Continue reading →

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A National Icon

Regular visitors to TBTP know that I am very serious about coffee. I am so commited to drinking good coffee that I actually roast my own green coffee beans. When I travel, the first thing that I research after  accommodations … Continue reading →

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Down and Out in Paris

In 1928, a former Colonial police officer and aspiring author named Eric Arthur Blair moved from his London home to Paris in order to buckle down and launch his writing career. The move didn’t work out so well, but it … Continue reading →

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The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men

John Steinbeck took the title of his 1937 novel “Of Mice and Men” from a line contained in the penultimate stanza of ” To a Mouse”, On Turning her up in her Nest, with the Plough, November 1785. by Robert … Continue reading →

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Covers and Sleeves

Over the years, I have shared some posts about the mesmerizing animations from German graphic designer Henning M. Lederer. I recently stumbled upon this fabulous video of his work titled “Books & Sleeves.” The intriguing film is a  compilation of … Continue reading →

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The Possibility of Evil (and much more)

I recently discovered a terrific Audiobooks on YouTube playlist of free audiobook readings with more than 130 different titles, each of which is a full book or short story, read in its entirety and available to listen for free at … Continue reading →

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Please Close The Door

I always enjoy a good Mark Twain anecdote and this one tickled my fancy. In 1908 burglars surreptiously entered his Hartford mansion and stole a set of silverware from the sideboard. In response, he posted this notice on the front … Continue reading →

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If you see one coming, you should run

Aa a child I was fascinated by the old European Jewish tales of the Golem. When I visited Prague just after the Velvet Revolution, I had the opportunity to walk the streets of the ancient Ghetto and see the places … Continue reading →

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