Category Archives: Uncategorized

“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.”

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Like many old codgers from my generation, the Beat writer Jack Kerouac had a tremendous influence on my adolescent world view. His seminal novel On The Road encouraged wanderlust for millions of young people, including yours truly. This week marked the centennial … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Uncategorized, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Life Lingers On Blank Pages

Posted on February 7, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Regular visitors to TBTP know that I am a huge admirer of the Spanish street art collective known as Luz Interruptus. They recently completed this extraordinary installation for the first International Festival of Light at the beautiful Plaza Mayor in … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, Tourism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

If you see one coming, you should run

Posted on January 29, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Aa a child I was fascinated by the old European Jewish tales of the Golem. When I visited Prague just after the Velvet Revolution, I had the opportunity to walk the streets of the ancient Ghetto and see the places … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

What’s The Word

Posted on January 23, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

If you haven’t heard about the daily word game Wordle, you must have been off on a silent retreat somewhere. Launched in October, with no fanfare whatsoever, the simple little online game has gone viral, with millions of users. Josh Wardle built … Continue reading →

Posted in Tech, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Books Saved the Town, Now the Internet Is Killing It

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Four decades ago, the little Belgian town of Redu was revitalized by its transformation into the Village Du Livre. The village that had been shrinking fast as farm jobs disappeared and families moved away. But in the mid-1980s, a group of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Tourism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Mary Shelley Shattered Expectations

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Each year at this time I check out the Rare Book Hub Top 500 prices paid at auction in the books and paper field for the previous year. In 2021 prices skyrocketed across the board. Here’s a link to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

How is a book like a spoon ?

Posted on January 3, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I was recently asked by a TBTP subscriber why I never posted any stories about e-books or e-readers. My flippant response was to share the quote (above) from the late, great author/philosopher/bibliophile Umberto Eco from his book This Is Not the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, ebooks, Tech, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Foxfires New Year’s Eve

Posted on December 31, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Foxes gather at the large, old enoki (hackberry) tree on New Year’s Eve to prepare to pay homage at the Ōji Inari shrine, the headquarters of the Inari cult in eastern Japan (Kantō). The cult centers on the god of … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

There’s Nothing Funny About The Haunted Clown Motel

Posted on November 16, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I have stayed at some sketchy motels over the years, but nothing quite equals the bizarre Clown Motel in Tonopah, Nevada. Located adjacent to and on top of an old west cemetary, the motel/roadside attraction offers spooky, and IMHO very creepy, accomodations … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Hotels, Tourism, Uncategorized, USA | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Just in time for Halloween

Posted on October 30, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I have no intention of ever setting foot inside the Salem, Massachusetts Salem Witch Board Museum but this spooky little museum in the historic town seems like the perfect spot for Halloween. The attraction located in the town that’s famous … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Museums, Tourism, Uncategorized, USA | Tagged , , | Leave a comment