Category Archives: Uncategorized

Chop. Copy. Shred.

Posted on August 11, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Over the last month or so I have seen quite a few news articles and blog posts about how Anthropic, creator of the large language model (LLM) Claude, set out in 2024 to “destructively scan all the books in the … Continue reading →

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Hot Stuff and Sundry Sunday

Posted on August 9, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

“Explore the world’s only complete guide to the hot sauce types of the world. Hot sauces have been around for millennia, as Aztecs and other people of Mexico and Central America ground chile peppers, water and spices, adding heat and … Continue reading →

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Southern Gothic

Posted on August 8, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

“Where you come from is gone, where you thought you were going to was never there, and where you are is no good unless you can get away from it. Where is there a place for you to be? No … Continue reading →

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How to write like Ian Fleming

Posted on August 7, 2026 by Brian D. Butler
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Summer Reading

Posted on August 3, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

President Barack Obama has released his summer reading list. On social media, he wrote, “It’s that time of year again: here are some of the books I’ve enjoyed this summer. If you’ve read any good ones, let me know!…. And … Continue reading →

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Long, Long List

Posted on August 2, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

The 13-title longlist for the £50,000 (about $66,485) 2026 Booker Prize has been released and includes authors representing seven countries and three continents. A shortlist will be announced September 22, with the authors each receiving £2,500 (about $3,325). The winner will be … Continue reading →

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Be Kind, Please Rewind

Posted on August 1, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Inspired by Little Free Libraries, public boxes and mini-houses where people can donate or borrow books, Free Blockbuster allows folks to exchange films in a similar spirit. The organization — which was founded in Los Angeles in 2019 by Brian Morrison, a … Continue reading →

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“Luceros y Penumbras” (Starlight and Shadows)

Posted on July 30, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

With original art created by Los Angeles artist and printmaker Daniel González, paper engineering by Matthew Reinhart, and full scale engineering and fabrication by Goodnight & Co., this ambitious feat of scale and storytelling constructed in the Rotunda of the … Continue reading →

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The old that is strong does not wither

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

It was on this date in 1954 that The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic The Lord of the Rings, was published in the UK. Seventy-two years later, Tolkien’s masterpiece continues to captivate readers, inspire filmmakers, … Continue reading →

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What’s the day after overmorrow

Posted on July 28, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

   

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