Category Archives: History

Hidden history of the world

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Last week, I ran across three different references to an eye-opening documentary titled A History of the World According to Getty Images. This impressive video created by British filmmaker Richard Misek  explores the way that historic films are hidden from public … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, History, movies, Museums, Photography, Tech | Tagged | Leave a comment

Saturday Sundries

Posted on April 15, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I won’t be spending my summer this year riding the rails in Europe, but I can still torture myself by reading articles about luxury trains and gourmet food. You can too, if you check out this excellent piece from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, apps, Europe, History, Maps, Museums, Public Transport, Restaurants, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

More Than Just The Great Wave off Kanagawa

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

If you stop by here on a regular basis, you are probably aware that I am a fan of Japanese woodblock printing. Most folks are familiar with “Under the Wave off Kanagawa”  by  ukiyo-e artist Hokusai, created in late 1831 during the Edo … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, History, Museums | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Decoding the Heavens

Posted on April 1, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

“The Astronomicum Caesareum (1540) by the German mathematician, astronomer and cartographer Petrus Apianus was used by the privileged – including the Holy Roman emperor Charles V, who commissioned it, and the Tudor king Henry VIII – to find guidance, knowledge and fate in the stars. … Continue reading →

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Barcelona’s Basilica Battle

Posted on March 27, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

La Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous religious structures in all of the world. Alomost every visitor to Barcelona makes a pilgrimage to this extraordinary church. The last time that I was in the city I went once … Continue reading →

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

Centuries of Sound

Posted on March 7, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Centuries of Sound:  is a fascinating website and podcast project that creates audio mixes for every year since the development of sound recording. Beginning with 1860, a mix is posted each month until they reach the present day. The scope … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Music, Tech | Tagged | 2 Comments

Egyptian Book of the Dead

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Earlier this year, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of a 52-foot-long papyrus scroll of the Book of the Dead discovered in the necropolis of Saqqara. This is the first complete ancient papyrus found in Egypt in … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Art, Books, History, Middle East, Museums | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Slightly bigger than my home library

Posted on March 4, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I have been waiting for my personal invitation to visit the extraordinary Walker Library of the Human Imagination in Ridgefield, Connecticut, but alas it does not seem to be forthcoming. However, I have discovered that it’s possible to take a virtual … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Books, History, Libraries, Maps, USA | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Piracy Rules

Posted on March 3, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I was today years old when I discovered that the Dread Pirate Roberts of Princess Bride book and movie fame was an actual person. Not only was Welsh pirate Bartholomew Roberts (1682-1722) a famous swashbuckler, he was the most successful … Continue reading →

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Worth the price of admission

Posted on February 20, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

The City of Paris has offered residents and visitors alike free access to 435 public toilet facilities, but today it is officially opening a public lavatory that charges a 2€ admission fee. From what I have seen so far, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Europe, History, Public Transport, Tourism | Tagged , | 5 Comments