Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

“Once upon a time there was a dragon,”

For fantasy is true, of course. It isn’t factual, but it is true. Children know that. Adults know it too, and that is precisely why many of them are afraid of fantasy. They know that its truth challenges, even threatens, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

International Flight Seat Map

I’m glad that I didn’t see this very amusing graphic prior to my recent 15 hour international flights; it would have been too depressing. This chart is from Matt Shirley. He clearly has been on some of the same routes that I’ve … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Kyoto Retreat

During my all too brief week in Kyoto, I was unable to visit one of the city’s best kept secrets due to scheduling conflicts. If find yourself in the old imperial capital and you want to escape the frenetic pace … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Asia, Books, Libraries, Tourism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Bookmobiles are the best

Open Books, a nonprofit bookstore and literacy organization in Chicago, Ill., has launched a bookmobile to bring free books to under-served communities. The Open Books Mobile made its debut on June 8 during the nonprofit’s annual Slide into Summer event, which … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Fake It Til You Make It (there)

Discover the world with Fake Trave l. This site lets you bring your travel fantasies to life with AI-generated images. Create convincing travel photos that capture you at your dream destinations in seconds. Fake Travel is your all-in-one platform for creating stunning … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

It started with a globe

Google Earth is celebrating its 20th birthday, and to mark the occasion, Google is bringing historical Street View imagery to the service. In a blog post, Google said the anniversary update allows users to “explore the wonders of the planet from … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Everybody needs a poetry camera

The Poetry Camera creates and prints poems about anything it’s pointed at: animals, people, objects, and landscapes. It photographs using AI. Much like an old school  instant camera, there’s a camera lens on the boxy frame, which scans the subject. … Continue reading

Posted in Tech, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A bit like Shakespeare

A bit of comic relief from my favorite Doctor and companion.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“What Kind of Times Are These”

“What Kind of Times Are These” by Adrienne Rich There’s a place between two stands of trees where the grass grows uphill and the old revolutionary road breaks off into shadows near a meeting-house abandoned by the persecuted who disappeared … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Reading the Air

Following my recent visit to Japan, I continue to process the experience and try and better understand Japanese culture. As I have previously mentioned, I was overwhelmed by the complexities of Japanese aesthetics and design that permeate Japanese life. The … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment