Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

This Is Where We Live

Many thanks to Rick Pell for the link to this captivating short animated film produced by Apt Studio and Asylum Films for the 25th anniversay celebrations of British  4th Estate Publishers. Readers in the U.K. probably know that 4th Estate … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Books, Europe | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Time Travel NYC

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A Book Is Proof…

This wonderful graphic paean to the printed book is the work of Australian freelance illustrator Gavin Aung Than. His entertaining and educational website, Zen Pencils, was launched earlier this year and was inspired by quotes from famous figures as diverse … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Art, Books | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Life’s a Beach

Shooting from open helicopters, Hollywood-based photographer Gray Malin has been documenting beaches around the globe, from Miami Beach to Rio and from Europe to Australia. Seen from above, a crowded beach or hotel pool becomes a blank canvas that allows … Continue reading →

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The Rise of the eBook

I continue to be intrigued by clever, fact-filled infographics. So, here’s a well-researched one that explores the comparative details of the world’s main English language ebook markets. Who knew that there were more than 400 million ebook capable devices in … Continue reading →

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Not Just for New Yorkers

Way back in 2010, when The New Yorker released its first iPad app, Jason Schwartzman was the pitchman. For the brand new, updated version of the new iPhone app, and it’s Jon Hamm and Lena Dunham  doing the honors. The … Continue reading →

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No Place for Superman

São Paulo, Brazil now offers a reason to use a public phone rather than your mobile. Sponsored by Brazilian telecommunication company Vivo, Call Parade is a collaborative art project that uses public phone booths as its medium. One hundred phone booths … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, South America | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

I Never Met David Rakoff

I never met David Rakoff, but like so many other readers and NPR listeners I felt that I knew him. And, like so many fans of the author and humorist I was deeply grieved by the sad news that he … Continue reading →

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Best Tour Bus Ever

By now, we are all too familiar with the ubiquitous double-decker tour buses that clog the streets of every significant tourist destination around the world. But these neat Parisian models from 1950 actually look like fun to ride. Built on … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A Book Too Far

Irish novelist John Banville has been contracted to write a new novel about Raymond Chandler‘s iconic private detective, Philip Marlowe. Henry Holt will publish the book in 2013 under Banville’s pen name, Benjamin Black. Banville promises to create a “slightly surreal, … Continue reading →

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