Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

The pen is mightier than the keyboard

As someone with horrible penmanship, I sometimes struggle to even interpret my own notes, but I can’t quibble with the notion that handwriting can allow one to think more thoroughly about information. This neat infographic from Pens.com explains why we should … Continue reading →

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Worth a trip just for the pastries

The newest travel guide from the media brand Monocle is devoted entirely to Austria’s grand capital of Vienna. Much like the previous eleven editions in the travel guide series, this book is divided into nine sections focusing on the usual … Continue reading →

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Take Me Anywhere

Actor/performance artist Shia LaBeouf, along with traveling companions Nastja Rönkkö and Luke Turner are hoping to harness the power of social media for a road trip in the name of “art”. From May23rd through June 23rd, the collective are hitchhiking, … Continue reading →

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You Don’t Need To be Irish

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China has the best new bookstores

While beloved bookstores are closing all across the United States, remarkable shops are popping up throughout China. This incredible bookstore, designed by XL-MUSE group, is located in the new commercial center of Binjiang District in Hangzhou. photos © Shao Feng

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Picnic Is Canceled

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Underground Reading

Riding the New York City subways, you’re going to see lots of folks engrossed in a wide variety of reading material. Comedians Akilah Hughes and Scott Rogowsky elicit plenty of double-takes and much laughter with their twisted fake book covers. … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare Lives

The British Council commissioned a series of films to celebrate the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death. Director David Wilson’s contribution reinterprets Act 1, Scene V of Macbeth. The two-minute film starts with actress Vicky McClure as Lady Macbeth in … Continue reading →

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So we don’t die of truth

“We have our arts so we don’t die of truth” Ray Bradbury        

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Magic Mountains

Just about 20 minutes south of the famous Las Vegas Strip, Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone has erected a monumental installation of stacked boulders. Rising 10 meters above the desert, “Seven Magic Mountains” is constructed of colorfully painted limestone rocks, which … Continue reading →

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