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Review: Killing Floor

Killing Floor by Lee Child

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A good read that doesn't slow down. Lee Child keeps the mystery fresh as the story progresses. My only complaint is the end, a bit anti-climactic. I would assume this is a problem with most his stories, since his main character is a badass who whoops everyone he meets. I still recommend.





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Review: The Wise Man's Fear

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Though I enjoyed the first book of the Kingkiller Chronicles, I felt a bit more frustrated while reading A Wise Man’s Fear. The story was set up fairly spectacular in the first book, but I felt that the character languished as he went from adventure to adventure with no real character growth along the way. Things that I felt would now seem petty, like his ongoing conflict with Ambrose, after experiencing war, murder and near death in the fade continue as if their conflict held equal weight. There seems to be a disconnect between the boy in the story and the aged man who is telling the tale of his youth.

Patrick has stated that this will be a three book series but I don’t see how he is going to accomplish this task believable, especially since the main character seems to be stunted in his growth, despite the experiences that would age any other young man.




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Important December Statistics

December '12 was a pretty frigid month.  I'll post the averages once they are available from the National Weather Service.  My pond was affected as follows:

Temperature: 40 F
PH - 6.0 or less (drop from previous measurement)
NH3 - 0.25 ppm (drop from previous measurement)
NO2 - 0 ppm (stable)
NO3 - 80 ppm (stable)

My fish are now hibernating and eating much less. I assume the stable nitrates mean there is enough N+ for the plants. Added garden lime to sump tank to pull down PH (12 tbsp of Garden Lime by Espoma). In the past this has not been traditionally helpful. Added 5 gallons of water through a chlorine filter. I may try removing five gallons and then adding five gallons of fresh water to assist PH in future.

Review: Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure

Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure by Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I would highly recommend this book if Dr. Esselstyn's thesis was that a whole foods, plant based diet is an effective lifestyle change because it tempers the human condition against overconsumption of the fats and sugars that are present in today's environment. He offers great information educating the reader how to achieve this diet. I for one am a proponent of this way of eating. Unfortunately, Dr. Esselstyn error is that he reaches too far in his hypothesis of what this diet can achieve. Though I do agree that overall there are good initial studies regarding this diet, scientifically, there is still not enough data available to reach the firm conclusions he advocates. Though not a Dr. Andrew Weil or Dr. Oz by any means, Dr. Esselstyn still needs to develop more comprehensive studies that demonstrate this diet creates effects better than a diet that is well-balanced and moderate in it's consumption. A good book, a great way to eat, but my issue is only with the conclusions being derived. The emotional feeling of control this diet provides an individual along with it's related heath benefits are enough to advocate this way of eating, but not enough to advocate the dismissal of the Scientific Method.



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