Category Archives: USA

An Honor Without Irony

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Last week, an outdoor sculpture honoring the iconic American author J.D. Salinger was dedicated on a hillside near his family’s ancestral home in Lithuania. The artwork celebrates the writer’s most acclaimed novel The Catcher in the Rye. Ironically, Salinger’s 1951 bildungsroman … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, History, Tourism, Uncategorized, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Reading Is Fundamental

Posted on June 19, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I just ran across these oldschool posters that were created by the American Library Association to encourage young people to read more. I guess that they were aiming for Star Wars and Back to the Future fans.

Posted in Books, Film, Libraries, movies, Music, USA | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Have you or a loved one been affected by persuasive cartography

Posted on June 18, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Although I am one of those odd people who actually took geography courses at university, Persuasive Cartography is a term I only recently encountered. It usually refers to propaganda art that uses cartography to make a point. An amazing collection … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Europe, History, Maps, Middle East, USA | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Shorter than the Day

Posted on June 17, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Last week, artist Sarah Sze unveiled an impressive new sculpture titled “Shorter than the Day” —a reference to Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I could not stop for Death”  at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport. Sze’s work, which weighs five tons, … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Art, Public Transport, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Drive Time Radio

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Drive and Listen is a terrific mashup of city driving videos with the same city’s local radio stations. Pick a city and cruise the streets to tunes, news and talk that you can’t hear at home. Each time you select … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Europe, Film, Photography, Public Transport, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

but whenever Monday comes…

Posted on June 15, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Julio Cortàzar h/t Anisa Makhoul LydiaDavis Driving in Iceland is not for the fainthearted. Route 1 north of Hofn in southeastern Iceland passing Eystrahorn Mountain. Charles Bukowski    

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

Couldn’t Hurt

Posted on June 14, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

h/t Wild Detectives Books

Posted in Art, Books, Bookstore Tourism, USA, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Just One of the Reasons We Love Iceland

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

According to the 2020 Global Peace Index, Iceland is the most peaceful nation on the planet. Since 2008, the Institute for Economics and Peace has ranked Iceland first. This year, it is followed by New Zealand,  Austria, Portugal and Denmark on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Freedom of Speech, Tourism, Uncategorized, USA | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Notes on a native son

Posted on June 12, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

The unfolding events of recent weeks in the United States have fostered a long overdue interest in the writings of many Black American authors. Few African American writers have had the deep and lasting impact on our culture that James … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

How You Can Help From Anywhere

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

If you would like to help the Black Lives Matter movement but don’t know how, or are not able to contribute financially, a group of thoughtful YouTubers have created monetized videos that directly support affiliated organizations — all you need … Continue reading →

Posted in apps, Art, Books, Music, USA, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment