Category Archives: USA

Bookstore Lover on the Road

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Bob Manson is a retired teacher from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He’s also a superfan of independent bookstores. So much so that he has now visited over 600 of them across the country. At each one, he talks with the owners … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Forget Dystopia

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Thinking about all of the dystopian speculative fiction that I’ve been binging on in recent years, I am reminded of the great Ray Bradbury’s imagining of a more positive future for humanity. The 1984 short story The Toynbee Convector tells the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Theater, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, Maps, Middle East, South America, Tourism, USA | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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