Category Archives: Uncategorized

Dickensian rizz

Posted on October 12, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

 

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When a blog was not a blog yet and more

Posted on October 11, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

In 1996, the Blondin family drove all around the US, blogging about it all before “blog” was even a word. “We were doing something that had no name and no manual, and we were doing it over a dial-up modem … Continue reading →

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Is this a perfect country

Posted on October 10, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

In this video, Johnny Harris attempts to visit all 26 Swiss cantons in under 24 hours  using only public transportation, revealing a train system precisely synchronized, like a Swiss watch. A perfect example of how public infrastructure, built with vision … Continue reading →

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Iconic Dictionary Glow-up

Posted on October 9, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Merriam-Webster.com has added 1,400 new words and definitions, “a glow-up to our iconic dictionary,” including looksmaxxing, parasocial, and meme coin. The new entries reflect words and meanings that have demonstrated widespread use over time, offering a window into the world … Continue reading →

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The robot replacement theory

Posted on October 8, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

In 2018, comedy writer Connor Relyea wrote a prescient letter to a group he feared might one day threaten his livelihood. Read and recorded at Letters Live at the Royal Festival Hall in London in September 2026. Charisma personified, Laurence … Continue reading →

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Let Books Be

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

The American Library Association is observing Banned Books Week, Oct. 4-10, under the theme “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.” To mark the occasion and ALA’s official 150th anniversary today, October 6, ALA has released a list of … Continue reading →

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“any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”

Posted on October 6, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

After repeating the much bandied about quote from Arthur C. Clark about technology for the third time in less than a week, I decided to actually verify the citation. You probably have heard  that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable … Continue reading →

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The Power of Place

Posted on October 5, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Wendell Berry and Annie Dillard: The Power of Place When Wendell Berry (August 31) and Annie Dillard (September 16) recently died we lost two significant voices who lifted up the power of creation. They were significant influences on my work … Continue reading →

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Book Dash

Posted on October 4, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Chinese state-owned bookstore chain Xinhua Bookstore is partnering with food delivery giant Meituan to roll out a nationwide same-day book delivery service, promising to deliver books in under an hour. The agreement, signed on Friday at the 34th National Book … Continue reading →

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A Toute Épreuve

Posted on October 3, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

The Surrealist Book: Tomorrow Lives in Mirrors at The Museum of Modern Art in New York will showcase the impact of artists’ books within the Surrealist movement. On view at MoMA from October 4 through January 23, 2027, the exhibition … Continue reading →

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