Category Archives: Europe

Keep a sharp lookout

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

“The Peasant and the Cucumbers” by Leo Tolstoy (trans. by Leo Wiener) A peasant once went to the gardener’s, to steal cucumbers. He crept up to the cucumbers, and thought: “I will carry off a bag of cucumbers, which I … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Writing | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

An Unknown Hobbit

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Slovak illustrator Peter Klúcik was commissioned to illustrate a new version of J R R Tolkien’s The Hobbit in 1988. For the project he created 40 illustrations that were rich in detail and quite different from previous works for Tolkien … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A Social Distance

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I found this simple film of everyday people from 30 countries most impacted by COVID-19 who filmed themselves in isolation to be surprisingly moving. This touching three-minute short was directed by Ivan Cash and Jacob Jonas, and it is accompanied … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Europe, Film, Music, USA | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Mostly Miscellaneous Monday

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been using this down time to plan some travels. One of the top destinations on my list for next spring is a return to Iceland. I’ve been many time over the years, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Libraries, USA | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Radio Radio

Posted on April 19, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Due to the pesky pandemic, international travel is not on the table right now. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t get a taste of foreign cultures from around the world, without ever leaving your home. Radio Garden is a … Continue reading →

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Human Hotel

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

The Human Hotel project was created last year by the folks behind WOOLOO.ORG — an online community for professional artists. The concept is an AirBnB-like service for artistic types who like to travel and meet like-minded people. Visiting creatives get … Continue reading →

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Berlin: Museum Goes Mobile

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Berlin’s Museum of Now (MON) along with Yes,And…Productions(YAP) have come up with an ingenious way to bring art to city residents during the corona virus lockdown. Loading a projector and speakers onto a truck, they make nightly visits to neighborhoods … Continue reading →

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In April

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

In April Rainer Maria Rilke Again the woods are odorous, the lark Lifts on upsoaring wings the heaven gray That hung above the tree-tops, veiled and dark, Where branches bare disclosed the empty day. After long rainy afternoons an hour … Continue reading →

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Oh, but it’s weird and wonderful

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I generally avoid making many reading recommendations as people’s tastes and interests are so varied. However, in these strange days with some much time on our hands, many folks are clamoring for book suggestions. Fortuitously, I stumbled on an endorsement … Continue reading →

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Plague Tales

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio follows ten young people–seven women and three men–who take shelter from the Black Plague outside of medieval Florence. Each day, over the course of ten days, members of the group must entertain the others with … Continue reading →

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