Where Will They Put The Lions

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

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When it opens in 2015 the new 53rd street branch of the New York Public Library will occupy the three lower floors of a condo-hotel being developed by the Starwood Group and Baccarat Crystal co.. The $20 library is being designed by TEN Arquitectos.

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Travel Trends

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

The travel business consultancy and technology company Sojern aggregates enormous amounts of data on U.S. and international travel. They recently put together this data-packed infographic for their paying customers on 2013 U.S. travel trends based on first quarter 2013 . The graphic reveals some interesting information. It seems that 25% of U.S. travelers actually book within a week of travel. And, 57% of U.S. travel is still for business. No surprise to see that 95% of flyers are in coach.

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A Tale of Two Cities

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

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When freelance photographer Daniella Zalcman is not on assignment, she divides her time between New York City and London. Zalcman recently completed a series of photographs titled New York + London which dramatically mixes images of both great cities in haunting double exposures.

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She has compiled the series in a limited edition book, which you can find at Kickstarter.

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Temporary Story

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

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What happens when two twentysomething guys quit their tech jobs and travel the world by bike, motorcycle, truck, boat and bus ? This little film chronicles that trip by Vadim Sahakian and Artia Moghbel through North America, Africa and South America . You can learn more about the trip at Artia’s blog.

Posted in Africa, Canada, Film, Photography, South America, USA | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Get Ready For Roadtrippin’

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

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Rand McNally has been publishing a terrific road atlas for 90 years. To celebrate the handy old-school atlas’ anniversary, they’ve combined all of the detail of the paper road maps with digital functionality. The iPad app ($4.99) includes maps for all 50 U.S. states, the Canadian provinces, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Once downloaded, no connectivity is required for map access. There’s even pinch and zoom functionality.

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The Pods Are Coming

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

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The ‘GoSleep’ is the latest, state of the art chair that converts into a private flat bed. Ten sleeping pods have now been installed in Terminal 3 and in the Al Dhabi Lounge in Terminal 1 at Abu Dhabi International Airport, with a further 35 on order for installation later this year.

The stylish, Finnish designed sleeping pods are easy-to-operate and feature a partial or fully enclosed sliding shade that isolates the customer from noise, light and crowds.  After an initial launch phase, the chairs will be upgraded to include Internet access, will include secure storage for luggage and other valuables, and will allow customers to charge their laptops, mobile telephones, and other electronic devices.  Passengers will be able to use the chairs at a rate of AED 45/hour ($12) using a credit card.

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Passengers interested in using the new chairs can pay hourly using a credit card. The airport has plans to further increase the number of chairs throughout the airport terminals in the coming months.

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Up In The Air

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

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New York-based photographer Jeffrey Milstein recently showed a captivating series of aerial photos of American airports. Most of us rarely get more than a fleeting glimpse during take-off or landing. Milstein’s photos provide an opportunity to see airports in a new way.

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Milstein describes his photos as revealing “the patterns, layering and complexity of cities, and circulation patterns for travel, such as waterways, roads, and airports that grow organically over time much like a living organism.”

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all images ©Jeffrey Milstein

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Book Design: Just Like Underwear

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

In this charming short video (below) by Michael Bierut of Pentagram, the legendary Italian book designer Massimo Vignelli explains his personal design process and why he enjoys being the “director and cinematographer” of book projects. You’ll also discover why his book design grid is like underwear—really.

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Posted in Art, Books, Film, Writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Better Know Middle Earth

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve been a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books since I discovered the world of Middle Earth at about twelve. So, I’m always tickled to find ways in which obsessed readers help others grasp the complexity of the stories.

Emil Johansson of the Lord of the Rings Project has created an amazing “periodic table of Middle Earth” to assist readers and viewers in tracking the myriad of characters. Arranged according to race, each of the characters has a symbol, birth and death date, as well as other pertinent information. Take a look:

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

How Orwellian

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

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Some perplexing news out of India this week reporting that George Orwell’s birthplace in Motari, Bihar is being developed into a memorial site—but to Mahatma Gandhi not Eric Blair.

The little bungalow, where Orwell was born and lived until he moved to England as a young child, has been in decrepit condition for decades. Five years ago the Bihar state government promised to repair the property, but never followed through.

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Local residents formed a committee dedicated to establishing a George Orwell memorial as a tourist attraction and  have protested the surprising move to build another Gandhi memorial at the house. They have even created a website to promote their competing plan.

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