The Bee Eater, By Richard Whitmire
This book is about a woman who was the chancellor of the schools in Washington D.C.
It was very interesting to read about how the D.C. school system "worked" before and during her time as chancellor. It sounds like Michelle Rhee made dramatic reforms and improvements. Finding the best teachers and principals, and improving the bureaucracy.
Washington D.C. schools had, and still have, lots of problems and poor teaching records. It sounds as though the fight to improve the schools was against the teacher's unions and government rules and regulations. Apparently many teachers are teachers are teachers so that the can be government employees, which means to them they can be lazy unaccountable and have a very secure job. Living in Wisconsin during the past year has shown what teachers, and their unions, will do when they are asked to help balance the budget and improve in their teaching.
The book also highlights some of the achievements of Teach for America. Whose goal is to make the education system in this country better and to do a better job of educating kids.
We can certainly use more people as passionate about teaching as the people from Teach for America are.
It is a very interesting book, but I do need to note that because the book was rushed to completion to coincide with Michelle Rhee's firing the book was edited really very poorly. I had not before ever really noticed editing in books, but in this one you really can tell that it is lacking.
Heart of Asia True Tales of the Far East by Roy Chapman Andrews
This book is about many of the adventures of Roy Chapman Andrews in east asia. One remarkable thing about these stories is that if anyone remembers RCA they won't remember him for the stories in this book. He was famous in the twenties and thirties for his adventures in Mongolia after the stories in this book.
He worked for the American Museum of Natural History in NYC and was asked to become the world's first expert on whales. So one thing he did was to arrange to travel to Japan where whaling was still practiced and in addition to being the first scientist to study whales he even risked all the money he had in order to harpoon one himself.
He explored what is now North Korea before nearly any white man had ever done. And he accomplished many things while avoiding having the porters abandoning him in lands that they were constantly scared of.
He explored parts of southern China. Hunting the native wildlife, and collecting many plants, insects, and animal specimens that were new to science. He had a few close calls with violent natives. One of which he escaped by drawing on his limited doctoring skills to repair his enemies and then to escape.
If you want to write an action adventure story for a movie but you are having a hard time coming up with a script. I suggest that you open this book at random, read the chapter you stopped at, and then expand it until you have your story.
This book is excellent.
Showing posts with label Tim Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tim Reviews. Show all posts
Monday, July 30, 2012
Tim Reviews: Books
Since the first day of 2011 I have only read 3 fiction books. I thought that nonfiction might be more interesting for a while. I don't think that I have read as many good books in any stretch as I have since I have been almost exclusively reading non fiction.
Lets start with the books of fiction I have read recently:
My Man Jeeves, by PG Wodehouse
I picked up this book because both Vox Day and Ann Coulter had said that they liked his writing. It is an amusing book, and I am partway through another by this author. The stories are about a wealthy Englishman and his butler, or manservant, who saves the day with his wit an knowledge of the world.
The books are simple and easy to read. The English witticisms are cute and amusing. Jeeves' problem solving is interesting to read about.
All in all, I can see why someone would like to read PG Wodehouse. I would even recommend that if you have high school age children who like to read Have them read these books for some experience reading books from an English author who speaks how we'd hope the English spoke.
The Lost World, Sir Aurthur Conan Doyle
Written by the same author who wrote Sherlock Holmes. The Adventures, and so on, of Sherlock Holmes are all interesting and easy to read books. In those books you can get a feel of turn of the last century London was like.
With this book, however, you can tell that the author had never done exploring, or visited South America before writing this book. The story is interesting, but you may have to suspend your disbelief at how exploration worked a hundred years ago.
The story is about some scientists who have discovered a valley that is full of Dinosaurs, among other things. And they go to have a look.
The story is interesting, but it does not really compare to Sherlock Holmes.
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
A benefit of reading classic books is that you can get them very cheap or even for free if you own a Kindle or simmilar.
This book was a lot different than I had expected.
The story of the man landing on his island and not seeing another person for something like 28 years was more about the things that he needed to invent or discover in order to stay alive. Planting corn, taming goats, making cheese, making clothing, building shelter, and so on. If I were to write a book about being stranded on an island these too would have been my subjects for writing.
Robinson's adventures before and after his island ordeal also seemed to nearly as interesting as his stay on the island.
If you were to ask me which classic books are worth reading, and I've at least tried to read many of them, I'd say Robinson Crusoe, Sherlock Holmes, and Jane Austen's.
Lets start with the books of fiction I have read recently:
My Man Jeeves, by PG Wodehouse
I picked up this book because both Vox Day and Ann Coulter had said that they liked his writing. It is an amusing book, and I am partway through another by this author. The stories are about a wealthy Englishman and his butler, or manservant, who saves the day with his wit an knowledge of the world.
The books are simple and easy to read. The English witticisms are cute and amusing. Jeeves' problem solving is interesting to read about.
All in all, I can see why someone would like to read PG Wodehouse. I would even recommend that if you have high school age children who like to read Have them read these books for some experience reading books from an English author who speaks how we'd hope the English spoke.
The Lost World, Sir Aurthur Conan Doyle
Written by the same author who wrote Sherlock Holmes. The Adventures, and so on, of Sherlock Holmes are all interesting and easy to read books. In those books you can get a feel of turn of the last century London was like.
With this book, however, you can tell that the author had never done exploring, or visited South America before writing this book. The story is interesting, but you may have to suspend your disbelief at how exploration worked a hundred years ago.
The story is about some scientists who have discovered a valley that is full of Dinosaurs, among other things. And they go to have a look.
The story is interesting, but it does not really compare to Sherlock Holmes.
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
A benefit of reading classic books is that you can get them very cheap or even for free if you own a Kindle or simmilar.
This book was a lot different than I had expected.
The story of the man landing on his island and not seeing another person for something like 28 years was more about the things that he needed to invent or discover in order to stay alive. Planting corn, taming goats, making cheese, making clothing, building shelter, and so on. If I were to write a book about being stranded on an island these too would have been my subjects for writing.
Robinson's adventures before and after his island ordeal also seemed to nearly as interesting as his stay on the island.
If you were to ask me which classic books are worth reading, and I've at least tried to read many of them, I'd say Robinson Crusoe, Sherlock Holmes, and Jane Austen's.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Tim Reviews: Musky Lures
Surface Baits or Topwater lures
I think that surface baits need to do two things: float and have some action.
Woodchopper, Peacock Bass Special, and Big Game Woodchopper by Luhr Jensen
These are exceptional surface baits which come in a variety of names for some slight differences in size and shape. They have a prop or two, in back and or front.
I have used a small black/ orange one to great effect on small muskies, and I've caught them up to 45" on a bigger black/ gold/ orange one.
They work excellently. They have become just about the only surface bait that I have used for the past few years.
One modification you should make is to add a piece of shrink tubing to the last hook and split ring because the back hook often gets tangled with the prop.
One last note is that for some reason these lures are colossally hard to find, they are not even listed on the Luhr Jensen website. You'll really need to look for them if you want one.
Musky Lure Rating: 5/5
Hawg Wobbler by Mouldy's
This is a good working surface bait, and its an original lure.
It works well but it must be retrieved very, very, very slowly or it will just drag through the water sideways.
Don't expect any action from the prop at the rear those style of blades never seem to work very well. Blades like the ones the woodchoppers have are best.
Use it well the water is dead flat and you, and your boat, are hardly moving.
Muskie Lure Rating: 4/5
Loc A Motive (sp?) by Slammer Tackle
It may no longer be made but I am including it here because it is my second favorite surface bait.
It has the same lip as a Hawg Wobbler but it has more sections. It was advertised as having "a box of marbles" sound.
Like the Hawg Wobbler it needs to be very, very, very slowly retrieved. It really sounds like nothing else. If the water is dead flat it is the lure I would use first.
Add a split ring to the front eye, it works much better with that extra joint.
Muskie Lure Rating: 4/5
I think that surface baits need to do two things: float and have some action.
Woodchopper, Peacock Bass Special, and Big Game Woodchopper by Luhr Jensen
 |
| Woodchoppers |
I have used a small black/ orange one to great effect on small muskies, and I've caught them up to 45" on a bigger black/ gold/ orange one.
They work excellently. They have become just about the only surface bait that I have used for the past few years.
One modification you should make is to add a piece of shrink tubing to the last hook and split ring because the back hook often gets tangled with the prop.
One last note is that for some reason these lures are colossally hard to find, they are not even listed on the Luhr Jensen website. You'll really need to look for them if you want one.
Musky Lure Rating: 5/5
Hawg Wobbler by Mouldy's
 |
| Hawg Wobbler |
It works well but it must be retrieved very, very, very slowly or it will just drag through the water sideways.
Don't expect any action from the prop at the rear those style of blades never seem to work very well. Blades like the ones the woodchoppers have are best.
Use it well the water is dead flat and you, and your boat, are hardly moving.
Muskie Lure Rating: 4/5
Loc A Motive (sp?) by Slammer Tackle
It has the same lip as a Hawg Wobbler but it has more sections. It was advertised as having "a box of marbles" sound.
Like the Hawg Wobbler it needs to be very, very, very slowly retrieved. It really sounds like nothing else. If the water is dead flat it is the lure I would use first.
Add a split ring to the front eye, it works much better with that extra joint.
Muskie Lure Rating: 4/5
Tim Reviews: Gengis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
I've been reading Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford.
It is a good book and I recommend it.
Some interesting things that I have learned from it are:
1. Mongols made their camps about a half hours walk from their water sources, so that they would not pollute it and so they could avoid the bugs and flash floods.
2. When a band of Mongols feared attack from another band they would often just jump on their horses and run away. They would leave their wives and other things because if they stayed and fought they could get killed or injured, but if they ran away they could always get another wife or tent (ger) or whatever.
3. One of their secrets to success was to approach a city and ask for its surrender. If the city surrendered then that city was treated well and absorbed into the Mongol empire. But if the city refused to surrender, then that city and its citizens were destroyed.
4. Another secret of their success was that they were always on the lookout for people with skills. The Mongols knew only horses, hunting, and archery so anyone with another skill was sent to what is now Mongolia to work at their trade.
5. A tactic for defeating an opponent was to show themselves but then to retreat. Their enemies would pursue the Mongols thinking that they had been defeated and ready to be destroyed. When the enemy was tired from pursuing, the Mongols would wipe their enemies out.
6. I think that the most important reason for the Mongols success was that their goal of fighting was winning and looting their enemies. They weren't trying to prove their prowess in battle or to demonstrate their bravery. If they won through fighting, which they avoided when they could, or they won through trickery all was good so long as they won.
It has been a while since I read a book that is as enthralling as this one; it is very good.
It is a good book and I recommend it.
Some interesting things that I have learned from it are:
1. Mongols made their camps about a half hours walk from their water sources, so that they would not pollute it and so they could avoid the bugs and flash floods.
2. When a band of Mongols feared attack from another band they would often just jump on their horses and run away. They would leave their wives and other things because if they stayed and fought they could get killed or injured, but if they ran away they could always get another wife or tent (ger) or whatever.
3. One of their secrets to success was to approach a city and ask for its surrender. If the city surrendered then that city was treated well and absorbed into the Mongol empire. But if the city refused to surrender, then that city and its citizens were destroyed.
4. Another secret of their success was that they were always on the lookout for people with skills. The Mongols knew only horses, hunting, and archery so anyone with another skill was sent to what is now Mongolia to work at their trade.
5. A tactic for defeating an opponent was to show themselves but then to retreat. Their enemies would pursue the Mongols thinking that they had been defeated and ready to be destroyed. When the enemy was tired from pursuing, the Mongols would wipe their enemies out.
6. I think that the most important reason for the Mongols success was that their goal of fighting was winning and looting their enemies. They weren't trying to prove their prowess in battle or to demonstrate their bravery. If they won through fighting, which they avoided when they could, or they won through trickery all was good so long as they won.
It has been a while since I read a book that is as enthralling as this one; it is very good.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Tim Reviews: Musky Lures
Tim (that would be me) has caught over 300 30" muskies so far and is here to review some muskie lures.
Reef Runner Ripstick
These are good crankbaits they work well casting.
Despite their odd, and small, lips they work beautifully. The 900 Series is 7" long and has a bit bigger look than Rapala's Original Floating Minnow; this makes it preferable to the Rapala during the summer. (Although during the spring while using smaller baits why would you use anything but the best minnow bait?)
A taller version would be nice during the summer and they may be a bit too small for fall fishing.
Also available: are a deep diving version and a Little Ripper
Muskie Lure Rating: 4/5
Suick
These are one of the original muskie jerkbaits and are the standard by which all other jerkbaits are measured.
They work well. But a few years ago they had a quality issue where the metal tail was not inserted strait. If the tail is not strait the lure is junk, be careful when buying. The tail should enter the wood parallel to both the top and bottom of the wood.
We sometimes think that one particular Suick is extra special, but we will not know until it has been casted for thousands of hours. It could be that they don't hit their peak until the hooks and fish teeth have worn their marks into the wood.
They come in various sizes and are weighted or unweighted. If you are buying your first Suick buy a 9" or 10" weighted version.
Muskie Lure Rating: 4/5
Burt
A plastic jerkbait designed after the wood Stalker jerkbait, that does not compare to the original.
These were designed to be similar to Stalker jerkbaits, but I suspect that they are not wide enough where the front is carved out, so they do not work well or have much action.
The regular unweighted is particularly useless, as I am only ever able to get it to go sideways across the surface.
They come in 1 size, with a rubber tail or without.
Muskie Lure Rating: 2/5 (weighted versions) 0/5 (unweighted versions)
Reef Runner Ripstick
These are good crankbaits they work well casting.
Despite their odd, and small, lips they work beautifully. The 900 Series is 7" long and has a bit bigger look than Rapala's Original Floating Minnow; this makes it preferable to the Rapala during the summer. (Although during the spring while using smaller baits why would you use anything but the best minnow bait?)
A taller version would be nice during the summer and they may be a bit too small for fall fishing.
Also available: are a deep diving version and a Little Ripper
Muskie Lure Rating: 4/5
Suick
These are one of the original muskie jerkbaits and are the standard by which all other jerkbaits are measured.
They work well. But a few years ago they had a quality issue where the metal tail was not inserted strait. If the tail is not strait the lure is junk, be careful when buying. The tail should enter the wood parallel to both the top and bottom of the wood.
We sometimes think that one particular Suick is extra special, but we will not know until it has been casted for thousands of hours. It could be that they don't hit their peak until the hooks and fish teeth have worn their marks into the wood.
They come in various sizes and are weighted or unweighted. If you are buying your first Suick buy a 9" or 10" weighted version.
Muskie Lure Rating: 4/5
Burt
A plastic jerkbait designed after the wood Stalker jerkbait, that does not compare to the original.
These were designed to be similar to Stalker jerkbaits, but I suspect that they are not wide enough where the front is carved out, so they do not work well or have much action.
The regular unweighted is particularly useless, as I am only ever able to get it to go sideways across the surface.
They come in 1 size, with a rubber tail or without.
Muskie Lure Rating: 2/5 (weighted versions) 0/5 (unweighted versions)
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