Category Archives: Uncategorized

Tokyo Sounds

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

By pure serendipity I happened to stumble upon a documentary about the catchy little melodies that the train stations in Tokyo play when a train pulls in to a platform. This lucky find happened before I visited Tokyo, so I … Continue reading →

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Is the Age of Reading really over

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

The Atlantic’s August-issue cover story by staff writer Rose Horowitch “The Age of Reading Is Over” argues that humanity is heading into a post-literate era: one where the greatest number of people are capable of deciphering text, but where a … Continue reading →

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Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Posted on July 21, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

On July 21, 356 BCE, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis in the ancient city of Ephesus (present-day Selçuk, Turkey), was destroyed by arson. This magnificent sanctuary, dedicated to Artemis, goddess of the hunt and protector of women, once stood as a … Continue reading →

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Everyone Loves A Diorama

Posted on July 20, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

When I was a wee tike back in elementary school, I always relished to opportunity to create a diorama for any class assignment. However, when I was a teacher, I discovered that my love of the process was not shared … Continue reading →

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How we live now

Posted on July 18, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

The Economist offers up its annual assessment of the world’s most livable cities and the absolute hellholes to avoid. I’m not surprised to see Copenhagen at the top of the list once again, but I have reservations about Vienna being number … Continue reading →

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Uncovered Gems

Posted on July 17, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Uncovered, a site for judging books by their first pages. “No cover. No bestseller sticker, no celebrity book club, no BookTok trend. You read the opening of a real book, blind, and answer the only question that matters: would you … Continue reading →

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Fictional Journeys

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

I don’t know who created the wonderful website Reading Maps, but I’d love to buy them a cup of coffee. Reading Maps is a very simple, but wildly diverting, project that takes fictional journeys and plots them on a world map. The site … Continue reading →

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From The Heart

Posted on July 15, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Travelers on Philippines Airlines learn essential safety procedures through a dramatic storyline featuring cabin crew and passengers. The guide covers cabin preparation, seat belt usage, emergency exits, and water landing protocols while highlighting the importance of care in every journey. … Continue reading →

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My Kind of Truck

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

“Rachel Cleveland dealt with challenging health issues for a number of years. After overcoming those challenges, she chose to share her love of books and reading while giving back to the Twin Cities. With a master in public policy and … Continue reading →

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Insomnia IYKYK

Posted on July 13, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

INSOMNIA All over the world people can’t sleep. In different times zones they’re lying awake Bodies still, minds trudging along like child laborers. They worry about bills, they worry whether the shoes they just bought are really too small. One’s … Continue reading →

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