Category Archives: Uncategorized

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Seeing Into Tomorrow

Posted on October 9, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

In my early adolescence I was deeply moved by the powerful writings of Richard Wright. It was difficult to imagine that anyone who read his novel Native Son or memoir Black Boy would not be enraged by his depictions of America’s … Continue reading →

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Nothing is more important than an unread library

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

“Collect books, even if you don’t plan on reading them right away. Nothing is more important than an unread library.” ― John Waters, director, author & national treasure  

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Six for Sunday

Posted on September 12, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

After reading Moby-Dick for the first time last year, Peter Gorman published a fascinating book called Kaleidoscope Brain that consists of 100 visualizations of Moby-Dick. The graphics, diagrams, and maps were his way of making sense of the iconic American … Continue reading →

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Five For Friday

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I just discovered this never before published novel by Simone de Beauvoir. It seems that it was deemed “too intimate” to be published during her lifetime. Inseparable has been described as a story of the power of female friendship and … Continue reading →

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Petite Biblioteque Gratuite

Posted on August 12, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I’m a sucker for any story about little free library concepts, especially when they involve repurposing old tech. The city of Geneva, Switzerland has done just that with some of its obsolete public telephone booths. This example can be found … Continue reading →

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Underground

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

The Underground There we were in the vaulted tunnel running, You in your going-away coat speeding ahead And me, me like a fleet god gaining Upon you before you turned to a reed Or some new white flower japped with … Continue reading →

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So this is a new kind of book burning

Posted on June 12, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I recently read a story about a novel type of book burning. It seems that British author Jeanette Winterson was extremely disappointed in new editions of her novels that were published with cover art and blurbs that she found highly … Continue reading →

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