Category Archives: Freedom of Speech

The Definitive Guide to Banned Books

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Brian D. Butler
Posted in Books, Freedom of Speech, History, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

When in the course of human events…

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

The Declaration of Independence in American H.L. Mencken 1921 WHEN THINGS get so balled up that the people of a country got to cut loose from some other country, and go it on their own hook, without asking no permission … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of Speech, History, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Trinkets & Trash

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

    During two days this month, teams of guerilla artists from the anti-corporate street art project Brandalism reclaimed  360 ads in ten British cities with hand made art work by forty international artists, such as Ludo, Ron English, Ankles, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, Freedom of Speech | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Portrait of the City (a little delayed)

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Regular visitors to TBTP know that I’m inordinately fond of  old travel guidebooks, whimsical book illustrations and tales of eastern European intrigue. Of course I couldn’t pass-up a crazy story that I ran across the other day that has all … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Freedom of Speech, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Out In The Cold

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

As the Winter Olympics finally get underway, Pen International has launched the “Out in the Cold” campaign to protest the draconian antigay laws that Russia has enacted. As a piece of the campaign, hundreds of writers, including Paul Auster, Orhan Pamuk, Margaret … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Freedom of Speech, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Better Out Than In

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

This month the legendary British street artist known as Banksy is hitting the streets of New York City with a new “show” titled “Better Out Than In”. The dodgy artist has launched a new website to accompany the show at … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Freedom of Speech, USA | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Banned Books Week 2013

Posted on September 21, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Banned Books Week is the American book community’s annual celebration of our freedom to read. Around the nation librarians, booksellers, publishers, teachers, students and readers focus attention on the ongoing threats of censorship. This year, Banned Books Week events will … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Freedom of Speech, Libraries, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Taksim Square Book Club

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

After weeks of demonstrations and clashes between protesters and police across Turkey, a new type of civil disobedience has emerged—the Standing Protest. Turkish performance artist Erdem Gunduz started it off by standing with his hands in his pockets facing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Books, Europe, Freedom of Speech, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Book Bloc !

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

The contemporary use of the book bloc began in Rome in 2010 when students protesting drastic educational funding cuts used oversized, handmade book covers as both shields and political commentary. The concept quickly spread to the UK, the rest of Europe … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Freedom of Speech, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Have You been To TrustoLand

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

We’re huge fans of the in-your-face social commentary from the clever folks behind the TrusoCorp collective. The brilliant “TrustoLand” project is a provocative, thought-provoking partnership between TrustoCorp and Mass Appeal magazine. The crew dropped-in at the long abandoned Lake Dolores Water … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Film, Freedom of Speech, Photography, USA | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment