Category Archives: Tech

Science Fiction Inspires Science IRL

Posted on September 18, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

News of scientist Giovanni Aldini’s electric reanimation experiments on corpses in 1803 reached author Mary Shelley before the publication of her  iconic science fiction book Frankenstein. It was an instance of science informing fiction. In turn, Shelley’s masterpiece would eventually … Continue reading →

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Don’t Get Lost

Posted on August 15, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

  Google Maps: Live View If you still managed to get lost despite using Google Maps, augmented reality directions are here. On August 8th, Google launched a beta version of its Live View mode in Google Maps, which uses your … Continue reading →

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Poetry Generator

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Last week, Google launched its AI poem generator, PoemPortraits.  How  does it work? It’s really quite simple. The generator asks you to input, or “donate,” a word to be produced into an algorithmic couplet, as lifted from millions of words … Continue reading →

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Making Your Mark

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Most of us don’t give a second thought to the greatest human achievement in history. But now the British Museum’s new interactive exhibition Writing: Marking Your Mark is celebrating more than 5,000 years of our most amazing legacy. The exhibit, which runs … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Art, Asia, Books, ebooks, Europe, History, Libraries, Middle East, Museums, Tech, Tourism, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A B C …

Posted on March 29, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Wow, I really love this terrific animated alphabet from the award-winning British design studio Mr.Kaplin.

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Lunar Library

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Last week, a SpaceX rocket launched a lunar landing module from its base in Florida. That would be interesting in its self, but the mission is an Israeli crowdfunded project to land a module the size of a home washing … Continue reading →

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Book Recommendations

Posted on March 3, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

 

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Fancy a Pint ?

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Way back in the 20th century I spent considerable time visiting London. While I was there I occasionally popped into the random pub to quench my thirst with a pint or two of real ale. As a foreigner, it was … Continue reading →

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Still Alarming

Posted on January 29, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

I first discovered the science fiction novels by Ray Bradbury when I was 10 or 11 years old. In retrospect I’m certain that many of the themes of his books went way over my head. But when I read Fahrenheit 451 I … Continue reading →

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How to tell your tittle from your swash

Posted on January 22, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Most of us happily read text each day giving little thought to the complex anatomy of the typography on the page or screen. The excellent infographic below created by Micah Bowers will help to demystify the intricacies of letter and … Continue reading →

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