Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Failing Societies

Posted on October 15, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

When Chekhov was asked what the nature of failing societies was, he replied: “In failing societies, there is a thousand fools for every enlightened mind, and a thousand crude words for every conscious word. The majority always remains ignorant, and … Continue reading →

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The sadness of the zoo will fall upon society.

Posted on October 14, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

We are moving into a period of bewilderment, a curious moment in which people find light in the midst of despair, and vertigo at the summit of their hopes. It is a religious moment also, and here is the danger. … Continue reading →

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Travel trends 2026

Posted on October 13, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Just when I thought that I was out of the loop on travel trends, I ran across this round-up from TripAdvisor. It was a bit of a surprise to see from the above graphic that I had been to four … Continue reading →

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Dickensian rizz

Posted on October 12, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

 

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When a blog was not a blog yet and more

Posted on October 11, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

In 1996, the Blondin family drove all around the US, blogging about it all before “blog” was even a word. “We were doing something that had no name and no manual, and we were doing it over a dial-up modem … Continue reading →

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Is this a perfect country

Posted on October 10, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

In this video, Johnny Harris attempts to visit all 26 Swiss cantons in under 24 hours  using only public transportation, revealing a train system precisely synchronized, like a Swiss watch. A perfect example of how public infrastructure, built with vision … Continue reading →

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Iconic Dictionary Glow-up

Posted on October 9, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Merriam-Webster.com has added 1,400 new words and definitions, “a glow-up to our iconic dictionary,” including looksmaxxing, parasocial, and meme coin. The new entries reflect words and meanings that have demonstrated widespread use over time, offering a window into the world … Continue reading →

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The robot replacement theory

Posted on October 8, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

In 2018, comedy writer Connor Relyea wrote a prescient letter to a group he feared might one day threaten his livelihood. Read and recorded at Letters Live at the Royal Festival Hall in London in September 2026. Charisma personified, Laurence … Continue reading →

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Let Books Be

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

The American Library Association is observing Banned Books Week, Oct. 4-10, under the theme “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.” To mark the occasion and ALA’s official 150th anniversary today, October 6, ALA has released a list of … Continue reading →

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“any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”

Posted on October 6, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

After repeating the much bandied about quote from Arthur C. Clark about technology for the third time in less than a week, I decided to actually verify the citation. You probably have heard  that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable … Continue reading →

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