Category Archives: USA

Diminished Galleries

Posted on August 25, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

DIMINISHED GALLERIES Keith Waldrop 1932-2023 too old for vision I must settle for dreams specific forms of cloud (body surrounded by body) every sensation con- ceals a dream fresco figurine sculpture in low relief (a motor halo a mental blue) … Continue reading →

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Do the Philly Crawl

Posted on August 24, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Dozens of indie bookshops in Philadelphia, Pa., are taking part this Saturday, August 26, in the first-ever Philly Bookstore Crawl, Philly Voice reported. The bookstore crawl will feature appearances from local authors, discounts, giveaways, and plenty of special activities. Iffy Books, for example, … Continue reading →

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So Long Simon and Schuster

Posted on August 20, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

The recent sale of the U.S. publishing house Simon & Schuster to some soulless private equity company that will probably sell it for parts reminded me of the story of the creation of the firm’s colophon. Richard Simon and Lincoln Schuster … Continue reading →

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This is just to say…

Posted on August 17, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

This Is Just To Say I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold -William Carlos Williams

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Fun With Maps

Posted on August 15, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I have spent way too much time playing with HoodMaps, which somehow I missed for the last two years. Be that as it may, it’s a cheeky project that annotates city maps with comments from users who have previously visited … Continue reading →

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Shelves of Time

Posted on August 10, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

The acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning American author Michael Chabon recently shared a very personal project that he worked on during the Covid-19 pandemic. In a serious bout of nostagia, he recreated the science fiction and fantasy section of his childhood bookshop … Continue reading →

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For some reason, the word ‘Sunday’ makes his head ache

Posted on July 30, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Vampire by Robert Coover He sets off one day on an arduous journey to a remote kingdom, wondering, as the weeks pass, about the wisdom of it. Even the purpose. When he launched forth, he was sure he had a … Continue reading →

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To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in … Continue reading →

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When is a travel book not a travel guide

Posted on July 26, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

As a collector of, and dealer in, the niche market of travel books, I’m always on the lookout for rare and unusual travel books. Many years ago, I read about a special travel book that was not in any way … Continue reading →

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Pushing back against AI

Posted on July 23, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

The Authors Guild has submitted an open letter to the CEOs of prominent AI companies, including OpenAI, Alphabet, Meta, Stability AI, IBM, and Microsoft, calling their attention “to the inherent injustice in exploiting our works as part of your AI systems without … Continue reading →

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