SeanCMNJ

Everything I find interesting today.

[seancmnj]

My review of Penpal

I have to admit I really struggled with what to rate this one. It began it's life as connected short stories posted online, and it still feels like that is what you're reading. The writing itself, though often simple and straightforward, is better than what you'll find in most forum posts, but each chapter feels at least a little like its own tale. There is much to recommend this book though. To start with, the main characters are all very well-drawn out, which is especially impressive given how young they are through much of the book. Most chapters begin fondly reminiscing about the protag...

[seancmnj]

My review of The Rent Collector

This book took a bit of time to really become a hit, as such I don't really recall hearing anything about it when it was first released. Over the last year however it has come up more and more, with several people telling me to read it. I am glad I finally picked it up. It is easily clear just why it has resonated so deeply with so many people. We follow the lives of a young couple and their sickly son who struggle to live in a large garbage dump in Cambodia (and who are based off of real people) as they do what they can to try and improve their child's life. The wife, Sang Ly, discovers th...

[seancmnj]

My review of 1924: The Year That Made Hitler

The timing of this book's release couldn't be better, as there are some very alarming parallels between what was going on in Germany in 1923 and 1924 and what is going on here in America today. Keeping aware of history is a good way to avoid the mistakes of the past, a lesson all too few people seem to have any interest in heeding these days. The book itself is very well-written (though periodically a bit dry) and extensively researched. Beginning with a summation of the state of Germany itself leading up to the titular year, which opened its citizens up to a mindset that made the rise of a...

[seancmnj]

The real reason this elephant chart is terrifying – NewCo Shift

This is the second in a series to show why it’s so essential for all of us to understand the implications of exponential technologies, and…

We are in for what is very likely to be a rough transition, which seems to be approaching faster than many of us expected. I fear that as with many problems that seem to be in the future, not enough people are worried enough about it to do anything until it becomes too late.

[seancmnj]

My review of The Sellout

This book is a bit of a challenge to get through. The subject matter is interesting, and the story is certainly unique, as it follows a black Los Angeleno who keeps a slave of sorts and who attempts to reinstitute slavery. This sets up a scathing satire in which no one and nothing about the myth of a "post-racial America" is left untouched, and it is very clever in its send-ups. The characters are pretty universally crazy, but the main protagonists manage to be endearing enough to care about. That all being said, the writing style was initially slightly off-putting, as it seemed to be overl...

[seancmnj]

My review of The Nest

Despite being self-absorbed and somewhat insufferable, the Plumb family of this book makes for pretty engaging reading. Each of the 4 siblings of the aforementioned clan are well drawn out enough to make you at least partially understand why they behave the way they do; and I would be lying if I didn't recognize a few of my own less-than-admirable traits mirrored in one character of another. The plot centers around them fighting over an inheritance (the titular "Nest"), and just what money, or even the very idea of money, can lead people to do. There are of course a host of other familial d...

[seancmnj]

Donald Trump's business failures: a comprehensive guide

Trump’s business career is a long, long list of bankruptcies, defaults and deceptions.

Of course, no matter how much evidence you give people that virtually everything this man says is a lie, there are some people who will stupidly cheer and vote for him anyway. Nonetheless, at least a few will hopefully see the light after reading this.

[seancmnj]

My review of The Last Mile

I haven't read anything by Mr. Baldacci before, and seeing how popular he has become I figured I should give him a try. I didn't realize that this was the 2nd in a series until after I had started it, though it doesn't really matter that much, as any important information from the 1st book is quickly recapped in this one. Private Investigator Amos Decker has become part of a special team within the FBI that investigates older cases to try and bring them to a resolution. He has a rare, football-injury-induced condition that grants him perfect memory, both a blessing and a curse, that makes h...

[seancmnj]

My review of Before the Fall

The description of the book (who crashed a private jet killing nearly everyone on board) makes it sound like another twisty-turny thriller along the lines of "The Girl on the Train", and while the central mystery does have some surprises and keeps one wanting to read, this is actually a much smarter book than that. It is far more interested in human nature, what makes each of us what we are, how we cope with tragedy, and how our minds can jump to make conclusions that aren't there. It even manages to dig into themes like art, the recent financial crisis, and the 24-hour news cycle. All of t...

[seancmnj]

My review of The Fireman

The idea of an infection that leads to people spontaneously combusting is a pretty terrifying one, and it makes the beginning portions of this book very distressing. Things around the world quickly spiral out of control leaving civilization in tatters. Our main protagonist, Harper, becomes infected, pregnant and on the run from her husband, which leads her to wind up living with a cult-like group that has managed to find a way to control the infection while also avoiding the groups of people who now roam about hunting those with the disease. It is not hard to guess that many things wind up ...

[seancmnj]

The biggest weekend of the Summer means it’s time for another Dance Mix 2016 playlist! Volume 3 contains songs and remixes by Rihanna, Calvin Harris, Alessia Cara, Halsey, Martin Garrix, Years & Years, ZAYN, Tiesto, MK, The Chainsmokers, Axwell, Antoine Clamaran, Sebastian Ingrosso, Vince Staples, Major Lazer, Robin Schulz, Sander Van Doorn, Todd Terry, Tegan & Sara, Galantis, Cash Cash, M83, Cahill, Syn Cole, Delerium, CAZZETTE, & many more! Recommended to be played in sequence, with crossfade set to 10 seconds.

[seancmnj]

Milk and Other Surprising Ways to Stay Hydrated

A new “beverage hydration index” provides evidence-based suggestions for how to most efficiently hydrate.

Interesting study, with a couple of surprises.

[seancmnj]

Apple Computer seems to think that you should not be allowed to repair your own devices, nor should you be able to take them to a local shop to have them repaired. They only want you to take them to their stores, where they can charge you an arm and a leg. They now even appear to be threatening to shut down a small laptop repair shop in New York as a result of their incredibly anti-consumer position. Let Apple know that this sort of behavior is unacceptable and stop supporting their products. Nearly every move they have made as of late has been to fuck people over while convincing them it’s what they want, and for some reason it’s working. Please stop falling for it.

[seancmnj]

Republican Leaders Block Gay-Rights Bill After Orlando Attack

So much for solidarity.

Like anyone actually thought for one second they gave a shit.

[seancmnj]

People Are Sharing An Orlando Shooting Victim's Video Of Dancing Before The Attack

The Facebook video of two people dancing would be the last thing Brenda Marquez McCool, a single mom of 11, would ever post.

It’s so hard not to lose it when reading about these people.

[seancmnj]

Nothing I can say to improve on this. Just a quick warning, it is more than a little NSFW.

[seancmnj]

Wow. There’s no way I’m not watching this one.