Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Blue Monday

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

h/t Michael Moon

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A Travel Guru To Follow

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

For more than three decades North American travelers have been getting advice on European tourism from a folksy, easy-going travel writer named Rick Steves. Over the years, Rick’s best-selling guidebooks and popular Public Television travelogues have encouraged millions of Americans … Continue reading →

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Baghdad Books

Posted on April 22, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Despite enormous obstacles—think bombs and bureaucracy—a 25 year-old Baghdad bibliophile has succeeded in launching both an indie bookshop and a bookmobile. Ali al-Moussawi has had a life-long passion for reading and books. With the help of friends and a like-minded … Continue reading →

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Every Library Is A Winner

Posted on April 21, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Every year, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Library Association (ALA) jointly recognize exceptional design in new library construction or renovation. Here are some of the marvelous winners of the 2017 Library Building Awards:

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Hey, It’s Still Poetry Month

Posted on April 20, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

h/t to Robert Montgomery

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National Poetry Month Is Here

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

LETTER TO SOMEONE LIVING FIFTY YEARS FROM NOW Matthew Olzmann Most likely, you think we hated the elephant, the golden toad, the thylacine and all variations of whale harpooned or hacked into extinction. It must seem like we sought to … Continue reading →

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Of course 4/20 is opening day

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

On 4/20/17, a former Lutheran church in Denver, Colorado will officially open as The International Church of Cannabis. The 113-year-old church building, which was decorated by renowned Spanish “ecclesiastical” street artist Okuda San Miguel and Kenny Scharf, is the new … Continue reading →

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Pop Up Museum

Posted on April 17, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the country’s finest museums. Since we live nearby, I get to visit often. When I stopped by to see the current special exhibition and to see the model for Frank Gehry’s $150 … Continue reading →

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That Old Book Smell

Posted on April 16, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

As a life-long book collector and a long-time bookseller, I have always loved that special woody, floral, dusky aroma that only emanates from books with age. But what precisely is “that old book smell”? The journal Heritage Science has published an … Continue reading →

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Is Terry Gilliam the Father of the Gif ?

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

h/t to Adam Koszary and the Bodleian Libraries.

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