Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Middle Earth (more of)

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

With “The Hobbit: The desolation of Smaug” hitting theaters everywhere on December 13, 2013, and another Middle Earth media blitz, Google has released “Journey Through Middle-earth, A Chrome Experiment“. This interactive application provides a first person perspective for a trip … Continue reading →

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Another Day in Middle Earth

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Back in 2012, Air New Zealand produced an amusing in-flight safety video called “An Unexpected Briefing” with help from Peter Jackson and the Hobbit gang. They recently followed up with a new promotional video titled “Just Another Day in Middle … Continue reading →

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Buy Them A Book This Year

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I’m always a sucker for witty bookshop signage, so I was tickled by the staff’s clever efforts at Kaleido Books in Perth, Australia. If you would like to see more, or connect with the independent bookstore, which is located at … Continue reading →

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Transforming Topography

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Ed Fairburn is a Cardiff-based Welsh freelance artist who melds geography and art in a powerful marriage of form. His evocative and moving map art is complex, richly textured and always visually stunning. You can see more of his phenomenal … Continue reading →

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Genuine London

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

London-based illustrator and designer Jack Noel has created an ongoing series of shrewdly observed, colorful prints that celebrate the distinct personality and character of London’s boroughs. The project wisely eschews most of tourist London for the genuine, quotidian city. You … Continue reading →

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Literary Coffee

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Gianluca Biscalchin is an accomplished food and cookbook illustrator, and you may have seen his wonderful series of author illustrations called “Scrittori”. Now he has created this marvelous graphic (see below) called “Literary Coffee”. Enjoy:

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All Aboard Starbucks ?

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

In my dotage, my last remaining vice is a serious coffee habit. And, while I try and patronize indie coffeeshops whenever possible, I’m still an unashamed fan of Starbucks. The global coffee colossus is now launching a felicitous collaboration with … Continue reading →

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Cycle City

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I freely admit that I’m a big hypocrite when it comes to using my bike for transportation rather than recreation, but I do admire the people of the Netherlands for their steadfast resolve to replace automobile travel with bicycling whenever … Continue reading →

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Nous Sommes Dangereux (vraiment)

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Here in the United States we are accustomed to overwrought travel warnings issued by our State Department on foreign travel. To be fair, most of the governmental travel alerts and notices are based on some reasonable concerns. Now I hear … Continue reading →

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Virtual Venice

Posted on November 16, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

When it’s overrun by cruise ship passengers and daytrippers, Venice can seem more like an Italian Disney World than the true gem that it is to those who love the city. But if you visit out of season, or just … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Photography, Tech, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments