Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Spain says: Ausentarse to tourists

Posted on February 6, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Chronic overtourism has prompted Spain to implement significant restrictions on travelers as local resistance grows. Long a welcoming destination for global travelers, Spain now faces the challenge of balancing its thriving tourism economy with the well-being of its communities, which … Continue reading →

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Remember the Moments

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Try to Praise the Mutilated World By Adam Zagajewski Translated By Clare Cavanagh Try to praise the mutilated world. Remember June’s long days, and wild strawberries, drops of rosé wine. The nettles that methodically overgrow the abandoned homesteads of exiles. You must … Continue reading →

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The You You Are

Posted on February 4, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Readers who are in thrall to the genius of Severance will not want to miss the opportunity to get their own copies of The You You Are. Available for free on Apple Books, in both text and audiobook versions. The audiobook is read by … Continue reading →

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Please turn down your volume

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Those of you who visit regularly know that I am a fan of clever transit poster art and of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printing. I recently stumbled upon this series of posters from the Tokyo region Seibu Railways that I absolutely … Continue reading →

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Starring Great Britain

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

According to research conducted by VisitBritain in 20 overseas markets, nine out of ten people who are interested in visiting Britain would be keen to see film and TV locations as part of their trip. This learning has underpinned the … Continue reading →

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A Century of The New Yorker

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

The New Yorker is 100 years old this year and part of the celebrations include an exhibition at the NYPL that showcases “founding documents, rare manuscripts, photographs, and timeless cover and cartoon art” from the magazine. On February 22, 2025, A Century of … Continue reading →

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It’s a small world

Posted on January 31, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I’m a huge fan of tilt-shift and timelapse videos. Some of my favs are from Little Big World. Here is a compilation of some favorite clips from previous Little Big World episodes, including Sudan, Hallstatt, Ore Mountains, Melbourne, Doha, Dubai, Kyiv, Chernobyl, … Continue reading →

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We’re dancing animals

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

It’s just Kurt Vonnegut talking to his wife about going out to get an envelope (we’re here on earth to fart around):  

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A Little London

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

So, I know nothing about the Grime music scene in the UK, but I do know a bit about London and its trains. I love this video and catchy song which puts rappers Jme and 8syn into tiny London in this short … Continue reading →

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Why don’t we do it in the road

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

It’s one of the most famous images in pop culture: the four members of the Beatles — John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and George Harrison — striding single-file over a zebra-stripe crossing on Abbey Road, near EMI Studios in … Continue reading →

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