Category Archives: USA

Banned In the USA

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Banned In The USA isn’t a classic Springsteen tune, but instead it’s the newly released report from PEN America  documenting  public school book bans for the full 2023-2024 school year. The report records 10,046 instances of books banned nationwide, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Freedom of Speech, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

As the human village prepares for its fate

Posted on November 4, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Tom Clark  

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Happy Halloween

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

A few years ago, I spent a very happy Halloween in Taupo, New Zealand. The charming lakeside town is sadly overlooked by many foreign visitors to the country. Along with stunning natural beauty, the community is surprisingly welcoming to tourists. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, Tourism, USA | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Is it human or is it AI

Posted on October 27, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

We have reached the point where the Authors Guild, the professional association representing published novelists and nonfiction writers in North America, is planning to offer  its 15,000 members a new certificate they can place directly on their book covers. About … Continue reading →

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“The tourist is the other fellow.”

Posted on October 26, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

                                               “The tourist is the other fellow.”                       … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Libraries, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Spooky Times

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

It’s that spooky time of the year here in North America. Folks in the U.S. alone will be spending close to $13 billion on holiday decorations, costumes, candy, and parties. I recently spent an afternoon visiting a nearby town that … Continue reading →

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Geography Is Destiny

Posted on October 19, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I am an open Geography nerd and have been since childhood. One of my most treasured possessions as a kid was my globe. And, my favorite game was actually called “Geography”. So, it will come as no surprise that I … Continue reading →

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The Wildlife

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I was captivated by Wildlife Photographer of the Year Shane Gross’s amazing image above of tadpoles. Like many young lads, I often would wade into murky creeks and ponds to collect jars of tadpoles to examine. Gross won the title … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, USA | Tagged , | 1 Comment

General Headquarters

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

When I first read about a lost board game called “General Headquarters” that was created by Kurt Vonnegut, I was certain that it was an elaborate internet hoax. But, apparently I was wrong. Vonnegut’s life was not without its ironies. … Continue reading →

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Obvious travel advice and more

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Obvious travel advice, including “Mindset matters more than where you go”, and “Don’t confuse scarcity with value. A really good afternoon in the park (a really good one) is maybe about as good as it gets.” I recently purchased what may be … Continue reading →

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