Stratified_nomad
The Seattle Public Library
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Backpacker Hidden GemsBackpacker Hidden Gems, Book100 Greatest Undiscovered Hikes Across America
by Horjus, MarenBook - 2018Book, 2018
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Added Feb 02, 2019
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Jan 08, 2018
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Jan 08, 2018
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Jan 08, 2018
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Jan 08, 2018
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Mar 28, 2017
Brilliant BlundersBrilliant Blunders, BookFrom Darwin to Einstein - Colossal Mistakes by Great Scientists That Changed Our Understanding of Life and the Universe
by Livio, MarioBook - 2013 | First Simon & Schuster hardcover editionBook, 2013. First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Mar 03, 2017
Backpacking WashingtonBackpacking Washington, BookOvernight and Multiday Routes
by Romano, CraigBook - 2010 | First editionBook, 2010. First edition
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Feb 25, 2017
Up in the AirUp in the Air, DVD
DVD - 2010DVD, 2010
All copies in useView location availabilityView location availability for Up in the Air, DVD, All copies in use
Holds: 1 on 2 copies
Holds: 1 on 2 copies
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Dec 25, 2016
Comment:
Even though it was released more than 6 years ago, Up in the Air is still a relevant and quietly resonant film. It centers around around Ryan Bingham (Clooney): a smug, but likable professional personnel downsizer who lives for travel and touts an unapologetically single and Spartan lifestyle. Much like the people he fires, the itinerant nature of his job is threatened by technological developments spearheaded by a young coworker, Natalie Keener (Kendrick), who also contrasts Bingham by striving for a normal family life. Their contrasting philosophies and related arguments are highly engaging. The only minor criticisms I have occurs in the film's second act, when Bingham has doubts about his philosophy, causing him to do something with potentially dire consequences. This element of the film seems contrived and unnecessary, but fortunately it's only a minor flaw that does little to diminish the film's overall quality. Though it deals with contemporary themes, Up in the Air is very much a throwback to when Hollywood made mature plot and character oriented films that develop naturally. Sadly such films are exceedingly rare these days.Even though it was released more than 6 years ago, Up in the Air is still a relevant and quietly resonant film. It centers around around Ryan Bingham (Clooney): a smug, but likable professional personnel downsizer who lives for travel and touts an…
Wendy and LucyWendy and Lucy, DVD
DVD - 2009DVD, 2009
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Nov 26, 2016
Comment:
As with her previous film "Old Joy", Reichardt manages to capture the perspective of a socially marginalized outsider with a degree of authenticity and sympathy few -if any- other filmmakers can match. Riechardt's highly realistic aesthetic is believable, but usually not compelling: As is often the case in reality, the narrative is often so ambiguous and the pacing so plodding that the film is sometimes as boring as everyday life. The result is a film that is highly admirable but only sporadically compelling.As with her previous film "Old Joy", Reichardt manages to capture the perspective of a socially marginalized outsider with a degree of authenticity and sympathy few -if any- other filmmakers can match. Riechardt's highly realistic aesthetic is…
Embrace of the serpentEmbrace of the serpent, DVD
DVD - 2016 | SpanishDVD, 2016. Language: Spanish
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Jul 23, 2016
Comment:
While there are clear influences of earlier river-themed films like Apocalypse Now and The Mission, Embrace of the Serpent is a unique, creative film. It's one of only a handful of films I'm familiar with presented mainly from an indigenous perspective.
Based loosely on the travel diaries of two Western scientists, the story sporadically shifts between the two timelines about 40 years apart. It explores issues related to colonialism, exploitation and destruction of indigenous cultures and their environment, and questions perceptions of Western superiority.
It's truly a unique viewing experience because it presents a naturalistic indigenous rather than Western perspective of reality. It's so haunting and emotionally resonant as to leave an indelible psychological imprint on your mind as few other films do.While there are clear influences of earlier river-themed films like Apocalypse Now and The Mission, Embrace of the Serpent is a unique, creative film. It's one of only a handful of films I'm familiar with presented mainly from an indigenous…
The WireThe Wire, DVDThe Complete Third Season
DVD - 2006DVD, 2006
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Jan 03, 2016
The Man Who Quit MoneyThe Man Who Quit Money, Book
by Sundeen, MarkBook - 2012 | First Riverhead trade paperback editionBook, 2012. First Riverhead trade paperback edition
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Sep 16, 2013
Comment:
As several others have argued to a great extent this book serves as a "Walden" for the 21st century. Even those who uninterested in Suelo's ultra-Spartan lifestyle can appreciate his perspective/lifetyle. Sandeen describes how Suelo has consciously exchanged the material comforts -most of us take for granted- for a higher level of personal contentment than most of us can imagine. Surprisingly, Suelo has managed to scavenge most of us material needs, or obtain them in exchange for work. There are certainly trade-offs/exceptions: He reluctantly accepted help for dental expenses, and his foraged eye-glasses probably aren't an exact prescription for his vision. But by (mostly) decoupling himself from the money-based economy, he has found new freedom. Early in the book, Sandeem describes how Suelo is charged with overstaying the limit for camping on public lands. Since he doesn't use money, the judge can't impose a monetary penalty, so instead sentence him to perform community work at women's shelter where he already volunteers. "The Man Who Quit Money" is one of those rare works that presents a compelling alternative and criticism of the domiant economic paradigm.As several others have argued to a great extent this book serves as a "Walden" for the 21st century. Even those who uninterested in Suelo's ultra-Spartan lifestyle can appreciate his perspective/lifetyle. Sandeen describes how Suelo has…
Who Owns the Future?Who Owns the Future?, Book
by Lanier, JaronBook - 2013 | First Simon and Schuster hardcover editionBook, 2013. First Simon and Schuster hardcover edition
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Sep 06, 2013
Comment:
In some respects "Who Own's the Future" is a continuation of "You Are Not a Gadget!", which discusses the missteps of early web development and how those misstakes -and social media like Facebook- have larvely homogenized humanity and severly curtailed the ability of the creative class to earn a living (file sharing, etc.). While WOTF reiterates some of the some arguments, Lanier focuses more on how what he calls "Siren Servers", specifically: Google, Amazon, and Facebook. He argues that these sites are only nominally free, but are dependent on the data/perspective of their unpaid users. He also argues that automation has the potential to elminate human jobs in virtually every field from health care to transportation. Most of his arguments are convincing, but some of what he forsees seems implausible, at least within the next few decades. For instance, it seems unlikely to me that robot technology will advance enough to replace human nurses anytime soon. Overall, Lanier makes a compelling argument that, as currently strutured, the web and other technology will render many human jobs obsolete unless the dominant techno-centric paradigm is replaced with something more humanistic. While he never pretends to have all the answers, he provides many details of how such a new paradigm might work. However, he doesn't really offer a method for implementation. This was the only minor shortcoming I found with YANAG, and while WOTF is more detailed, to great extent this flaw is repeated. Unlike YANAG -which is more concise- WOTF eventually feels somewhat redundant; it seemed like it could've been about 50 pages shorter. WOTF also contains several "interludes" between chapters. Some of these asides are often interesting and entertaining, and serve as effective illustratations; others only seem tangentially related, are somewhat distracting. Despite it's flaws, Lanier discusses vital issues that few other writers seem concerned with. If his proposed solutions seem inadequate that's more indicative of the monumental issues he describes than of shortcomings on his part.In some respects "Who Own's the Future" is a continuation of "You Are Not a Gadget!", which discusses the missteps of early web development and how those misstakes -and social media like Facebook- have larvely homogenized humanity and severly…
A Skeptic's Guide to the MindA Skeptic's Guide to the Mind, BookWhat Neuroscience Can and Cannot Tell Us About Ourselves
by Burton, Robert AlanBook - 2013 | First editionBook, 2013. First edition
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Aug 11, 2013
Comment:
This is an insightful, but easily accessible accessment of modern neuroscience that is both cautiously skeptical and complimentary. Burton explains how so many extraordinary claims by neuroscientists and others associated with the field are often hyperbolic, and sometimes even disingenuous. He explains the irony and conflict-of-interest of the human mind studying itself. While acknowledges that neuroscience research has yielded some interesting and important information, he convincingly argues that there are limits to what it can tell us about ourselves; and there probably always will be.This is an insightful, but easily accessible accessment of modern neuroscience that is both cautiously skeptical and complimentary. Burton explains how so many extraordinary claims by neuroscientists and others associated with the field are often…
You Are Not A GadgetYou Are Not A Gadget, BookA Manifesto
by Lanier, JaronBook - 2010 | First editionBook, 2010. First edition
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added May 29, 2013
Comment:
[To echo what so many others have written...] This is an insightful, highly readable first-hand perpective of internet and it's pervasive influence over humanity and society. As someone who was an integral member of the tech industry during an inchoate stage of web development, Lanier explains how the early decisions about the archecture affected it's subsequent development. Consequently, the fundamental structure of the internet has become unchangeable; mostly for the worse. Lanier convincingly argues that the web is not only homogenizing human personalities, it's also rendering many creative professions -music, art, etc.- financially unviable. Lanier's only minor shortcoming is his proposed remedies; they seem facile and nebbish relative to the scale of the problems he describes. But in much the same way that environmental problems are a fundamental consequence of modern society, so many be the case with the internet: As is the case with so many other technological developments (think cars), the web may have changed society and humanity in such a fundamental way, we're now largely controlled by our own invention.[To echo what so many others have written...] This is an insightful, highly readable first-hand perpective of internet and it's pervasive influence over humanity and society. As someone who was an integral member of the tech industry during an…
Guns, Germs, and SteelGuns, Germs, and Steel, BookThe Fates of Human Societies
by Diamond, Jared M.Book - 2003Book, 2003
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added May 07, 2013
The World Until YesterdayThe World Until Yesterday, BookWhat Can We Learn From Traditional Societies?
by Diamond, Jared M.Book - 2012Book, 2012
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added May 07, 2013
Comment:
While this book isn't as exceptional and comprehensive as Diamond's two previous books (Collapse; and Guns, Germs, and Steel), The World Until Yesterday is still a valuable, fair comparison of traditional (hunter/gatherer) and modern (agricultural/industrial) societies. While it doesn't contain many new insights, and some of the personal annecdotes can be somewhat prolix and tedious, it's still an informative distillation of his previous books. Diamond makes a convincing argument that there are significant attributes and liabilities of both traditional and modern societies: By incorporating some traditional practices into our societies, we moderns would greatly improve our mental and physical health.While this book isn't as exceptional and comprehensive as Diamond's two previous books (Collapse; and Guns, Germs, and Steel), The World Until Yesterday is still a valuable, fair comparison of traditional (hunter/gatherer) and modern…
Lone SurvivorsLone Survivors, BookHow We Came to Be the Only Humans on Earth
by Stringer, ChrisBook - 2012 | First U.S. editionBook, 2012. First U.S. edition
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Mar 23, 2013
Comment:
While highly informative, I just don't find Stringer to be a very compelling writer. He obviously commands a thorough understand of paleoanthropology, but most of his presentation is fairly mundane. That said, this book is absolutely worthwhile for those interested in human evolution. I agree with another poster that some of the terminology is fairly scientific/technical for general readers; a glossary would have been very useful.While highly informative, I just don't find Stringer to be a very compelling writer. He obviously commands a thorough understand of paleoanthropology, but most of his presentation is fairly mundane. That said, this book is absolutely worthwhile…
Kayaking Puget Sound, the San Juans, and Gulf IslandsKayaking Puget Sound, the San Juans, and Gulf Islands, Book50 Trips on the Northwest's Inland Waters
by Washburne, RandelBook - 1999 | Second editionBook, 1999. Second edition
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Jun 30, 2011
Comment:
This is a fairly comprehensive guide to sea kayaking in general, while also providing specific trips in the Puget Sound region. Washburne provides information about weather, tides and currents, camping, safety equipment, and just about anything else you need to know to kayak in Puget Sound. I would like to have seen a few more trips (50 seems merely adequate), but there's certainly enough info for readers to make up our own. One of the best (and few) Puget Sound kayaking guides.This is a fairly comprehensive guide to sea kayaking in general, while also providing specific trips in the Puget Sound region. Washburne provides information about weather, tides and currents, camping, safety equipment, and just about anything…
Happy-go-luckyHappy-go-lucky, DVD
DVD - 2009DVD, 2009
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Dec 27, 2010
Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy)Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy), Unknown
by Eno, BrianUnknown - 1989?Unknown, 1989?
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Dec 27, 2010
American SplendorAmerican Splendor, DVD
DVD - 2004DVD, 2004
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Dec 27, 2010
Snow AngelsSnow Angels, DVD
DVD - 2008DVD, 2008
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Dec 27, 2010
Factory GirlFactory Girl, DVD
DVD - 2007 | Unrated versionDVD, 2007. Unrated version
Stratified_nomad's rating:
Added Dec 27, 2010
Comment: