Category Archives: History

Plaque to the Future

Posted on April 10, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is rightly proud of its rich history. To mark historic sites and events more than 2,300 blue and gold plaques have been erected around the State. Fittingly, the City of Philadelphia has more than 300 of … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

In-flight Entertainment

Posted on April 6, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

On this date in 1925, the first in-flight film was shown on an airplane on an Imperial Airways flight. The film was The Lost World, one of the first science-fiction films. Based on a 1912 Arthur Conan Doyle novel, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Books, Europe, Film, History, movies, Public Transport, Tourism, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Orwell, Animal Farm and Ukraine

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

In 1946, Ihor Szewczenko ,who was a linguist who had been editing pocket-sized Ukrainian-English dictionaries for refugees in displaced persons camps in Germany, wrote to George Orwell requesting permission to translate Animal Farm into Ukrainian. He explained that his Ukrainian … Continue reading →

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The Sweetest Attraction In NYC

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I love the internet for the surprising randomness of its gifts. The other day by chance I spotted the wonderful video below about a magical candy store on the Lower East Side of Manhattan that I haven’t visited since I … Continue reading →

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Art Against War

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

 The 4th Block is an association of Ukrainian artists and designers that is focused on social justice and environmental issues. It was founded in 1991 by graphic designer Oleg Veklenko  after his personal experience dealing with the Chernobyl nuclear plant … Continue reading →

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‘Theatrum orbis terrarum’

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I have been fascinated by globes and atlases all of my life. When I was in 1st grade, I convinced my Mother to buy me a small spinning globe for my bedside table. When I was at university, I came … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Libraries, Maps, Museums | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Is History Repeating

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

The pamphlet Plight of Ukrainian DPs : a few typical letters of many being received daily from Europe describing the tragic plight of Ukrainian displaced persons whom the Soviets would forcibly repatriate and doom to enslavement, persecution or death, was published in … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, History | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Historic Borders

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

With the tragic news unfolding daily in Europe, it’s an appropriate time to take stock of how we got here. I’ve always found that maps can be an excellent way to help visualize geo-political conflicts. I recently discovered this simple, … Continue reading →

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Ukraine: Finding Context

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Like most people these days, I have been trying to learn more about the regional war that Putin has launched against Ukraine and to put it all in context. Sadly, I must admit that I have always paid more attention … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, ebooks, Europe, History, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

How We Can Help

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I’m sure that most of you are following the horrible events unfolding in Ukraine. It has been an awful week for the people of the region and there doesn’t seem to be much to be hopeful about. However, instead of … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, History | Tagged , , | 2 Comments