CDC

This is a very clever book and it's quite fun reading. However, my 4 year old and I read together all the time and I bought this for him thinking it would be good for him too, but some of the picture themes are not interesting for a small child. This would be good for a 9-10 years +.

If you enjoy struggling - and moaning at the punning clues - with the NYT crossword, you'll have a good time and a quick read, one that you'll want to repeat when feeling low. I brought my copy to the office; and am ordering more as gifts for twisted minds. FYI, the caption in question says to me, "Everyone here is dippy."

Couldn't figure out one puzzle that went something like - "Everyone here is ...." and then "D P".

Any clues please let me know the solution to the puzzle; it has been driving me and my 9 year old daughter crazy. Thanks.

I refer to this excellent resource frequently when advising international travellers prior to their departure. More travellers should consult informed physicians well in advance of trips that may require special immunizations and/or difficult-to-find medications.

Having read The Coming Plague, by Laurie Garrett, directly before Level 4:...CDC, and Ebola, by Wm. Close before that, I was surprised to find that Level 4 ...CDC still held my interest. Although I found Garrett's book more informative and Close's book more touching, the different perspective presented by the authors held my interest and increased my concern about our capability to understand, manage and control contagious disease. The author's premise regarding the relationship of poverty, overpopulation and contagious disease was very logical and persuasive. But still I was left asking what are we to do? Their agreement that they would rather get Ebola than AIDS may be an effective way to get more attention to the subject since everyone can grasp the existence and impact of Ebola. Of greatest personal concern to me, however, was their open controversy regarding the CDC. It is frightening to learn that, yet again, politics is controlling an institution that was established to perform the necessary research and provide the most medically sound recommendation as opposed to the most politically astute.

McCormick and Ficsher-Hoch are deserving of noting their personal quest against the ravages of the viruses they encountered. It is great a priveleged to glimpse into their lives that were surrounded by tragedy and death. While McCormick may seem a bit ego-centric in this book, it is allowable due to surrounding elements of his life at the time...dead and dying humans, poverty, and hopelessness. It is forgivable that the authors feel proud.

This is an outstanding book. First-hand true-life recollections of a diverse range of natural disasters across Africa over 3 decades.

The authors tell their stories well, putting you right there in the bush. They retain their sense of humanity throughout so you really feel for their patients and their families as human beings.

1 quibble : only towards of the end of the story do they get married; at the very end of the book they both thank their first spouses for their respective sacrifices - but you never even get to know their spouses first names - what sort of acknowledgement remains anonymous?

2 mysteries : whilst there are plenty of good maps, there are no photos; no pictures of colleagues or patients, and no pictures of the offending Viruses and Bacteria - why not?

Great value for money - I've had to pay much more for far lesser books.

The book was a good addition to my library, unfortunatelly some of the tying stepts and more difficult techniques were not well explained, if explained at all.

there is some hockey stuff about US tyers and our presumed inability to pronounce the French languatge that seems to be a bit strained and inappropriate.

overall nice pictures of flies, could have use less anecdotes and biographical material and more technical discussion

Who would have thought that preen-feathers would turn out to become such a fine addition to the tools of the flytyer? The Swiss & French are the culprits!

This book starts with a fine historical review and moves on to a number of excellent patterns and techniques. CDC dubbing is nicely addressed and it is a very valuable component of the book. Overall, it is a fine addition to any flytier's library.

There are a few areas that the book could have covered, and perhaps should have covered - but didn't. I don't know why - perhaps the editors limited what could be included - because I have no doubts about Mr. Links' skills and interest in the subject.

I would love to see more patterns and some newer techniques covered in this book.

For the last five years I've owned and used a tool of Japanese origin (sort of a three-pin bodkin) designed to allow a tyer to strip a hackle stem of all CDC plumes in a matter of seconds. I've seen the tool for sale (albeit with Japanese instructions) in many flyshops in the US, Europe and Canada and the exclusion of the tool mystifies me. Mr. Links uses the paper clamp / scissor / dubbing-loop method to transfer plumes, and he hand-strips or wraps or lashes the feathers - but simple strip-tie posts / wings are still more complex to tie than they need be.

Still, this is a fine work, and I strongly recommend it.