About a month ago Richard Welsh from Public Relations emailed and asked if I’d share a pair of links with you. I looked them up and said sure. They’re all about vetting a doctor if you live in Florida, but the advice applies anywhere. Here are the links Richard sent me, and what I thought about them. Picking a doctor is important, but it’s critical if you’re facing surgery. You want the best doctor doing your operation. An ounce of pre-op research is worth a pound of post-op complications. The 1st link: Vetting a doctor before surgery - fhvlegal.com/vetting-doctor-before-surgery/ The 2nd: A checklist to keep things simple - Vetting a Doctor Before Surgery Checklist Part 4 – Red Flags – Look for red flags when you vet a new doctor. When you have a bad feeling, listen and check it out. Maybe it’s your imagination, but maybe it isn’t. Do your due diligence. Then decide if you want to move forward, or search for a new doctor. - Lacks board certification. If a doctor doesn’t have it, there’s a reason why. Either they lack the training and evaluation, or it’s been pulled because of malpractice. This is a HUGE Red Flag that you should find someone else. Check credentials. Look at a physician’s experience. If you have a choice between someone who does 1-2 surgeries a week versus someone who does 50, who would you pick? My father chose the one in the 50-a-week club for his, and I’m glad he did. Don’t forget to check for malpractice claims, disciplinary actions, and for patterns of negligence. These are NO-GO signs. My advice – find another doctor. - Examine everyday behaviors for flags. When you meet with the doctor, do they rush through the appointment, or fail to answer your questions? Do they dismiss your concerns without explanation, or refuse to consider other alternatives? You’re paying the doctor, and he serves you. If he doesn’t, look elsewhere. Look to see if the doctor’s office is clean and organized. If it’s not, it tells you something about the way they do business. Do what feels right for you – after all, you’re paying the bill. Finally does the doctor pressure you to make a decision, without getting a second opinion? My daughter had one of those doctors, so we checked with another one. He offered advice and monitored her for changes over the next several years. I’m glad we said thanks, but no thanks to the first one. Tomorrow – final thoughts and conclusions.
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About a month ago Richard Welsh from Public Relations emailed and asked if I’d share a pair of links with you. I looked them up and said sure. They’re all about vetting a doctor if you live in Florida, but the advice applies anywhere. Here are the links Richard sent me, and what I thought about them. Picking a doctor is important, but it’s critical if you’re facing surgery. You want the best doctor doing your operation. An ounce of pre-op research is worth a pound of post-op complications. The 1st link: Vetting a doctor before surgery - fhvlegal.com/vetting-doctor-before-surgery/ The 2nd: A checklist to keep things simple - Vetting a Doctor Before Surgery Checklist Part 3 – Get Referrals – Ask people you know. They’ll help you in your search for the right doctor. How? Ask them to refer you to a specialist or to a procedure. - Get referrals from your primary care doctor. That’s where I go to find a specialist. I trust my doctor and his/her suggestions. Doctors get feedback when the patient returns. If they’ve had a good experience, they’ll continue to send the specialist new patients. If it was a bad one, my doctor would have to decide if they’d recommend them again. I’ve been happy with all the specialists my primary care doctor recommended, except one. Practically perfect is a great record😊 - Get referrals from people you trust. Ask the people you know. Like family, friends, or acquaintances for their recommendations. I was lucky, I always found someone in the teachers’ lounge who’d experienced the new problems that appeared with age. I never asked someone I didn’t trust. - Ask for another referral, or a second opinion. If something feels wrong, get another opinion. It will either confirm the information you already have, or it will confirm your suspicions. Sometimes you have to listen to your gut; then do the research to help you make a good decision. Tomorrow – the red flags that make you stop, and think. About a month ago Richard Welsh from Public Relations emailed and asked if I’d share a pair of links with you. I looked them up and said sure. They’re all about vetting a doctor if you live in Florida, but the advice applies anywhere. Here are the links Richard sent me, and what I thought about them. Picking a doctor is important, but it’s critical if you’re facing surgery. You want the best doctor doing your operation. An ounce of pre-op research is worth a pound of post-op complications. The 1st link: Vetting a doctor before surgery - fhvlegal.com/vetting-doctor-before-surgery/ The 2nd: A checklist to keep things simple - Vetting a Doctor Before Surgery Checklist Part 2 – Ask Questions – Some questions will come from your research. Others will pop up as you move forward. Think about the things you want to know about the surgery and the doctor who’ll do it. If you’re worried, jot down your questions. The answers will make you feel better, or they’ll drive you to find more information. Maybe you’ll even seek a second opinion. Here are some suggestions from the Florida site that might help you find your way. - Ask about experience – How often does your doctor operate per week? The more, the better. What’s their experience, positive and negative? (Ask your surgeon, their patients, even your friends and family doctor.) - Ask about successes – How does your doctor define success, and what’s their success rate for your surgery? What kind of anesthesia will they use, and are there side effects? Where can I find testimonials/referrals for you as a surgeon, or from your patients? - Ask about continuing education – What’s your doctor doing to stay current with new developments within their area of expertise? Are there alternative options, and what do they say about them? - Ask about surgery, post-op, and recovery – What are the risks and side effects of surgery? What will it cost? How long will I need hospital care? What is the post-op plan? Will I need therapy? What will insurance cover, and what’s my cost? How long until I’m recovered and back to work/normal? These are all basic questions from the Florida website. They can help you find answers to your own unique situation. Tomorrow – referrals and second opinions About a month ago Richard Welsh from Public Relations emailed and asked if I’d share a pair of links with you. I looked them up and said sure. They’re all about vetting a doctor if you live in Florida, but the advice applies anywhere. Here are the links Richard sent me, and what I thought about them. Picking a doctor is important, but it’s critical if you’re facing surgery. You want the best doctor doing your operation. An ounce of pre-op research is worth a pound of post-op complications. The 1st link: Vetting a doctor before surgery - fhvlegal.com/vetting-doctor-before-surgery/ The 2nd: A checklist to keep things simple - Vetting a Doctor Before Surgery Checklist Part 1 – Research – This is the first, and most important step. That’s because research plays a part in all the other steps you take to find that doctor, who’s just right for you. - Check their credentials. Search your state’s Department of Health for your doctor’s name and license status. Check to see if there are any errors or mistakes on their record, or if they’ve received any disciplinary action. Richard shared Florida’s Department of Health link, but your state should have one too. - Check for board certification and professional associations. The American Board of Specialties has a button that lists all of them. Find the one you need, then your doctor’s name. You’ll see what he/she is certified in. The Florida site also has a list of associations. Use it as a guide to find the ones in your home state. - Check reviews online or from people you know. Try websites like Healthgrades, Vitals, RateMDs, and local hospitals, and don’t forget to talk to the people you know. Part 2 – Ask Questions – Some questions will come from your research. Others will pop up as you move forward. Think about the things you want to know about the surgery and the doctor who’ll do it. If you’re worried, jot down your questions. The answers will make you feel better, or they’ll drive you to find more information. Maybe you’ll even seek a second opinion. Here are some suggestions from the Florida site that might help you find your way. - Ask about experience – How often does your doctor operate per week? The more, the better. What’s their experience, positive and negative? (Ask your surgeon, their patients, even your friends and family doctor.) - Ask about successes – How does your doctor define success, and what’s their success rate for your surgery? What kind of anesthesia will they use, and are there side effects? Where can I find testimonials/referrals for you as a surgeon, or from your patients? - Ask about continuing education – What’s your doctor doing to stay current with new developments within their area of expertise? Are there alternative options, and what do they say about them? - Ask about surgery, post-op, and recovery – What are the risks and side effects of surgery? What will it cost? How long will I need hospital care? What is the post-op plan? Will I need therapy? What will insurance cover, and what’s my cost? How long until I’m recovered and back to work/normal? These are all basic questions from the Florida website. They can help you find answers to your own unique situation. Part 3 – Get Referrals – Ask people you know. They’ll help you in your search for the right doctor. How? Ask them to refer you to a specialist or to a procedure. - Get referrals from your primary care doctor. That’s where I go to find a specialist. I trust my doctor and his/her suggestions. Doctors get feedback when the patient returns. If they’ve had a good experience, they’ll continue to send the specialist new patients. If it was a bad one, my doctor would have to decide if they’d recommend them again. I’ve been happy with all the specialists my primary care doctor recommended, except one. Practically perfect is a great record😊 - Get referrals from people you trust. Ask the people you know. Like family, friends, or acquaintances for their recommendations. I was lucky, I always found someone in the teachers’ lounge who’d experienced the new problems that appeared with age. I never asked someone I didn’t trust. - Ask for another referral, or a second opinion. If something feels wrong, get another opinion. It will either confirm the information you already have, or it will confirm your suspicions. Sometimes you have to listen to your gut; then do the research to help you make a good decision. Part 4 – Red Flags – Look for red flags when you vet a new doctor. When you have a bad feeling, listen and check it out. Maybe it’s your imagination, but maybe it isn’t. Do your due diligence. Then decide if you want to move forward, or search for a new doctor. - Lacks board certification. If a doctor doesn’t have it, there’s a reason why. Either they lack the training and evaluation, or it’s been pulled because of malpractice. This is a HUGE Red Flag that you should find someone else. Check credentials. Look at a physician’s experience. If you have a choice between someone who does 1-2 surgeries a week versus someone who does 50, who would you pick? My father chose the one in the 50-a-week club for his, and I’m glad he did. Don’t forget to check for malpractice claims, disciplinary actions, and for patterns of negligence. These are NO-GO signs. My advice – find another doctor. - Examine everyday behaviors for flags. When you meet with the doctor, do they rush through the appointment, or fail to answer your questions? Do they dismiss your concerns without explanation, or refuse to consider other alternatives? You’re paying the doctor, and he serves you. If he doesn’t, look elsewhere. Look to see if the doctor’s office is clean and organized. If it’s not, it tells you something about the way they do business. Do what feels right for you – after all, you’re paying the bill. Finally does the doctor pressure you to make a decision, without getting a second opinion? My daughter had one of those doctors, so we checked with another one. He offered advice and monitored her for changes over the next several years. I’m glad we said thanks, but no thanks to the first one. Tomorrow – final thoughts and conclusions. Look familiar? This is the path a solar eclipse takes from start to finish. It was the same path the Great American Eclipse followed in 2017 and the Total Solar Eclipse did today (April 8, 2024). Now I'm putting them together in one new post. This is the link to the original post: http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/august-26th-2017 Part 2 – To Totality and Back Again The first picture is totality. Did you know that one minute before totality, the sun starts giving you signs that it’s almost time? I didn’t. The second picture shows that first sign, shadow bands. The earth’s atmosphere refracts the last rays of the sun. Refracting bends the light, like with a rainbow. If you want to see shadow bands, look at something white or light colored. We watched a white truck in the parking lot. My husband spotted them first, of course! This time, I had no need for shadow bands. I wouldn’t have seen them in the grass anyway. Instead I enjoyed totality for 3 minutes and 56 seconds. That’s like 4 WHOLE minutes. Do you think the first picture looks like a diamond ring? Scientists did! It’s the 2nd sign, and it happens about 10-15 seconds before totality. The ring is the sun’s corona. The diamond is the last burst of sunlight. I think it looks like the 6th picture, right before totality. I don’t think I saw the first diamond ring in 2017. I tend to pull my glasses on and off and on again – so it’s easy to miss. It’s only up for 10 seconds. This time I KNOW I didn’t see it. ☹ When the diamond fades, the corona’s left. It’s the sun’s outer layer of atmosphere. The sun’s surface is 1.8 million degrees Fahrenheit, but the corona is 200-300 degrees hotter. Water boils and becomes steam at 180 degrees. Can you imagine how hot the sun is? YIKES!!! I didn’t write about the corona last time, so I probably didn’t see it. This time I was more interested in totality and my 4 precious minutes without glasses. Do you see the tiny beads of light in the 1st picture? The diagram calls them Baily’s Beads. They show up 5 seconds before totality. I missed them, but my husband saw them, of course. Baily’s Beads aren’t real beads. During an eclipse, the sunlight travels through the moon’s mountains and valleys. From earth the light looks like beads. I didn’t see Bailey’s Beads this time either. They’re only visible for 5 seconds before totality. So me missing them, totally makes sense. My husband didn’t say, but he’s an engineer, so he probably did see them. See the red ring again? It’s called the chromosphere, and it’s the middle layer of the sun’s atmosphere. You see it just a few seconds before totality. Then the other 2 layers of the sun’s atmosphere make it disappear once more. A few seconds – there’s no way I saw this. I would remember a red ring circling the dark of the moom. I’m glad there are pictures, so I can see what I missed 😊 After 90 minutes the moon made the sun disappear. It also made Sweetwater colder and darker. At 2:30 in the afternoon a few stars came out. Finally! Totality! It was incredible! The whole town cheered, including hundreds of visitors. Google Sweetwater, and you can see and hear us. We also took off the special eclipse glasses. Totality is the only time you can look at an eclipse without them. Before, and after totality, we wore them. Outside the totality zone, you didn’t see stars in the middle of the day, and you couldn’t take off the glasses, at all. I’m glad we made the drive. Totally! TOTALITY again! Four Whole Minutes of IT! The moon covered the sun that whole time. It’s something I’ll never forget. Totality started at 3:09PM, but I didn’t check my watch. I spent my four precious minutes looking up at the sun and the moon. The sky was dark, like the sun was about to set, and it was a lot darker than 2017. I counted three stars. That’s it. And the temperature, it slowly got colder all afternoon, from 1:54 on. It was exactly the way I imagined a total eclipse would be. When Totality started, there was no big cheer, but we live just outside town. Instead, fireworks popped every minute or two until it ended. I was surprised anyone bothered – Totality only lasts a few minutes. I didn’t notice the animals in 2017. This time the birds were out in the yard, flying and landing, chirping and cawing like they usually do. But they grew quiet as we approached Totality. Then, they disappeared. With totality over, the stars disappeared, and the signs reappeared, but in reverse order. First Bailey’s Beads, then the Diamond Ring, the Corona, and finally the Shadow Bands. This is the return from Totality to the partial eclipse, except the order’s reversed. This time I saw the first 3 signs, but not the Shadow Bands. In 2017, I saw all 4. 😊 When the 1st Diamond Ring appeared, we were on the 6th picture of the diagram. Within 4-5 minutes of time, we were on the 2nd Diamond Ring and the 7th picture. My family stayed to watch for a few more minutes as the moon kept moving away from the sun. Then we left. I’m glad we did! The roads back to the Lafollette were packed, even when we got off interstate and onto back roads. When totality was over, it seemed like everyone in Tennessee was leaving Sweetwater. Looking back at the Great American Eclipse, just 10 days ago, I am so glad we drove to totality, and that I can share it with you. If you weren’t in the zone this time, you’ll have another chance, in only 7 years. Mark your calendar! The next one is coming to a state near you on April 8, 2024. Be there or be square! The best part – no driving this time! When Totality finished, I walked back inside the house and over to the TV. Would you believe the sun and moon were over Maine and New York? It’s amazing how fast they traveled, and how much of the country they could shine down on. Totality ended at 3:13PM in Ohio, but I went in and out of the house so I could watch. Outside the sun and moon slid apart! The moon disappeared into the darkness, and the sun kept on shining. The time – 4:25 in the afternoon. The great eclipse was over 😊 ☹ As for the temperature, it slowly warmed up, but it never got warm, like it was at the beginning. Still, it was the right temperature for an April afternoon at 4:25PM. The Total Solar Eclipse was a week ago. If you missed it, I’m so sorry. The next one is in 20 years – August 23, 2044. I hope we’re both around. I”ll be 85. WHOAH! BUT, if you’re willing to brave the crowds and pay for airfare, you only have to wait 2 years. The date – August 12, 2026. Your destination – Greenland, Iceland, or Spain. I want to go. Now, to convince my husband 😊 Source: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/total-solar-eclipse.html My biggest source for this post is this link. My husband found it and printed out a packet. Without this source, we would have missed things like shadow bands. Thanks to the folks at timeanddate.com for teaching the teacher, and the engineer! Look familiar? This is the path a solar eclipse takes from start to finish. It was the same path the Great American Eclipse followed in 2017 and the Total Solar Eclipse did today (April 8, 2024). Now I'm putting them together in one new post. This is the link to the original post: http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/august-26th-2017 Part 1 - The Path to Totality The sun starts on the left side of this diagram. In the next 5 pictures, the moon moves across the sun until it reaches totality, or full eclipse, in the 7th picture. In the last 6 pictures, the sun and moon move back into their regular orbits. If you could view an eclipse from space, and could connect the dots, this is what it would look like. Find the white lines that touch the earth. If you were standing anywhere between them, you’d get to see part of the eclipse. But, if you were standing at the end of the black cone, you’d see the whole entire eclipse from start to finish, the entire totality. Lucky you! This is the Great American Eclipse’s map of totality. You can follow the 3 lines from Oregon to South Carolina. I was close in Lafollette, Tennessee, but we drove 90 minutes southwest to Sweetwater. It was our sweet spot, and totally worth the drive. This is the 2024 map of totality. Follow it from Mexico all the way to Canada. This time – no driving. I just walked out my backdoor to check how the eclipse was progressing in Wapak. I walked back inside to watch it cross North America, live on TV. Photo: NASA SVS | The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse This is part of the path, from Illinois to Ohio. If you find Lima in Northwest Ohio, scan down to Celina. The dot for Wapak should be beside the ‘a’ in Celina. Me too! Photo: NASA SVS | 2024 Path of Totality Want to know what time the eclipse starts? Google it! I found a chart that takes you from Oregon to South Carolina, but it didn’t have Sweetwater, so I googled again. In Sweetwater the eclipse started at 1:04. Totality at 2:32. We saw 2 minutes and 33 seconds of totality. Their site said so! If you want to know what time the 2024 eclipse started, take a look at this screenshot from astronomy.com. Of course, Wapak isn’t on the table. We didn’t even get a dot on the map of Ohio ☹ But don’t worry! Thanks to the local town fathers and mothers, I found the starting time, 1:54, and I was outside. Ready to go 😊 Totality was SO much longer this time. I got to stare at the sun without glasses, for almost 4 WHOLE minutes. I didn’t look away – I may not have another chance. At my age, who knows if I’ll be around in 2044 for the next big eclipse. Source: Home | Wapak Solar Eclipse Part 2 – To Totality and Back Again The first picture is totality. Did you know that one minute before totality, the sun starts giving you signs that it’s almost time? I didn’t. The second picture shows that first sign, shadow bands. The earth’s atmosphere refracts the last rays of the sun. Refracting bends the light, like with a rainbow. If you want to see shadow bands, look at something white or light colored. We watched a white truck in the parking lot. My husband spotted them first, of course! This time, I had no need for shadow bands. I wouldn’t have seen them in the grass anyway. Instead I enjoyed totality for 3 minutes and 56 seconds. That’s like 4 WHOLE minutes. Do you think the first picture looks like a diamond ring? Scientists did! It’s the 2nd sign, and it happens about 10-15 seconds before totality. The ring is the sun’s corona. The diamond is the last burst of sunlight. I think it looks like the 6th picture, right before totality. I don’t think I saw the first diamond ring in 2017. I tend to pull my glasses on and off and on again – so it’s easy to miss. It’s only up for 10 seconds. This time I KNOW I didn’t see it. ☹ When the diamond fades, the corona’s left. It’s the sun’s outer layer of atmosphere. The sun’s surface is 1.8 million degrees Fahrenheit, but the corona is 200-300 degrees hotter. Water boils and becomes steam at 180 degrees. Can you imagine how hot the sun is? YIKES!!! I didn’t write about the corona last time, so I probably didn’t see it. This time I was more interested in totality and my 4 precious minutes without glasses. Do you see the tiny beads of light in the 1st picture? The diagram calls them Baily’s Beads. They show up 5 seconds before totality. I missed them, but my husband saw them, of course. Baily’s Beads aren’t real beads. During an eclipse, the sunlight travels through the moon’s mountains and valleys. From earth the light looks like beads. I didn’t see Bailey’s Beads this time either. They’re only visible for 5 seconds before totality. So me missing them, totally makes sense. My husband didn’t say, but he’s an engineer, so he probably did see them. See the red ring again? It’s called the chromosphere, and it’s the middle layer of the sun’s atmosphere. You see it just a few seconds before totality. Then the other 2 layers of the sun’s atmosphere make it disappear once more. A few seconds – there’s no way I saw this. I would remember a red ring circling the dark of the moom. I’m glad there are pictures, so I can see what I missed 😊 After 90 minutes the moon made the sun disappear. It also made Sweetwater colder and darker. At 2:30 in the afternoon a few stars came out. Finally! Totality! It was incredible! The whole town cheered, including hundreds of visitors. Google Sweetwater, and you can see and hear us. We also took off the special eclipse glasses. Totality is the only time you can look at an eclipse without them. Before, and after totality, we wore them. Outside the totality zone, you didn’t see stars in the middle of the day, and you couldn’t take off the glasses, at all. I’m glad we made the drive. Totally! TOTALITY again! Four Whole Minutes of IT! The moon covered the sun that whole time. It’s something I’ll never forget. Totality started at 3:09PM, but I didn’t check my watch. I spent my four precious minutes looking up at the sun and the moon. The sky was dark, like the sun was about to set, and it was a lot darker than 2017. I counted three stars. That’s it. And the temperature, it slowly got colder all afternoon, from 1:54 on. It was exactly the way I imagined a total eclipse would be. When Totality started, there was no big cheer, but we live just outside town. Instead, fireworks popped every minute or two until it ended. I was surprised anyone bothered – Totality only lasts a few minutes. I didn’t notice the animals in 2017. This time the birds were out in the yard, flying and landing, chirping and cawing like they usually do. But they grew quiet as we approached Totality. Then, they disappeared. With totality over, the stars disappeared, and the signs reappeared, but in reverse order. First Bailey’s Beads, then the Diamond Ring, the Corona, and finally the Shadow Bands. This is the return from Totality to the partial eclipse, except the order’s reversed. This time I saw the first 3 signs, but not the Shadow Bands. In 2017, I saw all 4. 😊 When the 1st Diamond Ring appeared, we were on the 6th picture of the diagram. Within 4-5 minutes of time, we were on the 2nd Diamond Ring and the 7th picture. My family stayed to watch for a few more minutes as the moon kept moving away from the sun. Then we left. I’m glad we did! The roads back to the Lafollette were packed, even when we got off interstate and onto back roads. When totality was over, it seemed like everyone in Tennessee was leaving Sweetwater. Looking back at the Great American Eclipse, just 10 days ago, I am so glad we drove to totality, and that I can share it with you. If you weren’t in the zone this time, you’ll have another chance, in only 7 years. Mark your calendar! The next one is coming to a state near you on April 8, 2024. Be there or be square! The best part – no driving this time! When Totality finished, I walked back inside the house and over to the TV. Would you believe the sun and moon were over Maine and New York? It’s amazing how fast they traveled, and how much of the country they could shine down on. Totality ended at 3:13PM in Ohio, but I went in and out of the house so I could watch. Outside the sun and moon slid apart! The moon disappeared into the darkness, and the sun kept on shining. The time – 4:25 in the afternoon. The great eclipse was over 😊 ☹ As for the temperature, it slowly warmed up, but it never got warm, like it was at the beginning. Still, it was the right temperature for an April afternoon at 4:25PM. The Total Solar Eclipse was a week ago. If you missed it, I’m so sorry. The next one is in 20 years – August 23, 2044. I hope we’re both around. I”ll be 85. WHOAH! BUT, if you’re willing to brave the crowds and pay for airfare, you only have to wait 2 years. The date – August 12, 2026. Your destination – Greenland, Iceland, or Spain. I want to go. Now, to convince my husband 😊 Source: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/total-solar-eclipse.html My biggest source for this post is this link. My husband found it and printed out a packet. Without this source, we would have missed things like shadow bands. Thanks to the folks at timeanddate.com for teaching the teacher, and the engineer! 4/2/24 I knew I had to read this when the treaty with the Barbary pirates came up as one of the big events of 1794. Once I picked up the book, I realized it started earlier, in 1785, and it finished in 1809. The prologue begins when Captain Richard O’Brien’s ship is captured in July of 1785, two years after the end of the Revolution. The pirates kept the ship, but they threw the crew into slavery. Most were freed 10 long years later. A few died as slaves. Chapter 1 begins in March of 1786 when Thomas Jefferson and John Adams met to talk about piracy, and how they could free O’Brien’s crew. They’d already been held as slaves for 3 years. A treaty wouldn’t be signed into law until 1794. The US paid tribute to the Barbary states. In return they promised to leave American merchant ships alone, and to free the sailors who’d been forced into slavery. Would you believe during that time American merchants had to buy insurance for their ships sailing the Mediterranean? Or that they paid 20 times the rate of European merchants? But there was no choice. Our new country was deep in debt from the Revolution, and it needed the trade from southern Europe. American merchants no longer had British protection. Even King George III paid tribute to the Barbary states. This is a modern map of the Barbary states. Their boundaries may have changed, but their names haven't. Can you find, east to west, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya? In May of 1800, William Bainbridge was given command of the USS George Washington, one of the first ships in the American navy. It was carrying a few of the things promised in the treaty, but the gold and silver was delayed. Bainbridge knew that meant trouble, but he had no idea. When its ruler, the ‘Dey’ didn’t get it, he decided the ship should carry his ambassador and entourage across the Mediterranean to Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman empire. (Now known as Istanbul, Turkey.) He wanted the Americans to deliver his own yearly tribute. Bainbridge let an Algerian pilot take him to the dock, and he parked the USS George Washington right under the fortress guns. BIG Mistake! Bainbridge didn’t realize until he was ready to leave. He couldn’t – unless – he did what the ruler wanted – sail everyone to Constantinople – the ambassador, 100 attendants, 100 captive Africans (AKA slaves). Plus, gifts that included 4 horses, 25 cows, 150 sheep, 4 lions, 4 tigers, 4 antelopes, and 12 parrots. But the final blow – the ‘Dey’ ordered the American flag taken down, and the Algerian one put up. The ship’s 7 guns had to fire a salute to the new flag. Bainbridge thought it was the worst thing ever. That it would never be forgotten. Turns out it was, and the worst was yet to come, , and it didn't stop. It was now July of 1803, and Bainbridge was commanding the USS Philadelphia. When he was chasing an Algerian cruiser, he struck some rocks, leaving his ship dead in the water. Bainbridge would surrender the ship and his crew. Then it got WORSE. A storm came up and swept the Philadelphia free. The Algerians controlled the ship and forced their slaves, the American crew to fix their own ship. To arm it with their own cannons. Later the Algerians planned to turn them on our navy. But Bainbridge had the last laugh – he was still a hostage, but he managed to send intelligence to the American Navy in the Mediterranean. They found a way to destroy the Philadelphia. Yes, they lost a ship, but they kept the Algerians from using it against them. The last chapters are about how the Americans almost toppled the Bashaw (the Dey’s boss). They couldn’t because an American diplomat negotiated a treaty in 1805 that undercut our fighting forces. It paid a tribute for the return of our sailors, but it ended the war. It made the seas free for merchant ships again, and captives would be treated like prisoners of war, not as slaves. President Jefferson was satisfied to see an end to the conflict. But the piracy finally ended after the War of 1812. The Navy returned to Tripoli in 1815. American ships and their guns made it clear the days of piracy were over. A treaty was signed, and the US didn’t pay a dime of tribute. This time the Barbary States paid restitution to the Americans. Don’t forget to check out the back matter. It’s all about each historical event and the men who shaped them. Amazon’s Description: This is the little-known story of how a newly independent nation was challenged by four Muslim powers and what happened when America’s third president decided to stand up to intimidation. When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, America faced a crisis. The new nation was deeply in debt and needed its economy to grow quickly, but its merchant ships were under attack. Pirates from North Africa’s Barbary coast routinely captured American sailors and held them as slaves, demanding ransom and tribute payments far beyond what the new country could afford. Over the previous fifteen years, as a diplomat and then as secretary of state, Jefferson had tried to work with the Barbary states (Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, and Morocco). Unfortunately, he found it impossible to negotiate with people who believed their religion justified the plunder and enslavement of non-Muslims. These rogue states would show no mercy—at least not while easy money could be made by extorting the Western powers. So President Jefferson decided to move beyond diplomacy. He sent the U.S. Navy’s new warships and a detachment of Marines to blockade Tripoli—launching the Barbary Wars and beginning America’s journey toward future superpower status. As they did in their previous bestseller, George Washington’s Secret Six, Kilmeade and Yaeger have transformed a nearly forgotten slice of history into a dramatic story that will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next. Among the many suspenseful episodes: ·Lieutenant Andrew Sterett’s ferocious cannon battle on the high seas against the treacherous pirate ship Tripoli. ·Lieutenant Stephen Decatur’s daring night raid of an enemy harbor, with the aim of destroying an American ship that had fallen into the pirates’ hands. ·General William Eaton’s unprecedented five-hundred-mile land march from Egypt to the port of Derne, where the Marines launched a surprise attack and an American flag was raised in victory on foreign soil for the first time. Few today remember these men and other heroes who inspired the Marine Corps hymn: “From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli, we fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea.” Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates recaptures this forgotten war that changed American history with a real-life drama of intrigue, bravery, and battle on the high seas Do you recognize this landform? It’s the continent of Antarctica. It’s the only continent without a single country, although 22 have a ‘consultative’ status. That’s because they agreed to a 1959 treaty. They promised to keep Antarctica as a scientific preserve, like a national park. It was to be preserved as a place of scientific study and environmental protection. One of my critique partners, Sandra Martin Denis just got back from Antarctica. She was there during the summer, the warmest time of year. It’s funny – Antarctica’s summer is during our winter. Part 1: It came straight from Sandra’s trip – her photos and her words. Enjoy! Penguins live in Antarctica. Penguins live in colonies. They're great swimmers. They spend half their time in the water and half their time on land. They are expert divers. They eat krill, fish, and squid. Penguins mate for life. They build nests of stones. Most penguins lay two eggs in a clutch. The male and the female take turns incubating the eggs, except for the emperor penguin. They build "highways" on the snow. Their main enemy is the Leopard Seal. Sandra didn’t have a picture of one, but I found these two on Pixabay. Yikes! Look at those teeth. OUCH! Part 2: A trivia question about Antarctica’s climate. What is the average temperature range for Antarctica per year? 10°C to -60°C 10°C to -10°C 30°C to 20°C -5°C to -10°Celsius 50°F to -76°F 50°F to 14°F 86°F to 68°F 23°F to 14°Fahrenheit Take a guess, then check below the map. I completely missed this one. Antarctica is warmer than I thought! The annual temperature for the whole continent ranges from about −10°C on the coast to −60°Celsius. In Fahrenheit that’s 50°F to -76°F. Wow, 50 is way warmer than I imagined. That’s like a warm March day in Ohio! But it all depends on – location, location, location. That 50°F was near the coast, in the summer. That’s where Sandra was, but she said she wore a parka. Maybe at night when the sun goes down, the coastal temperature drops too. In the winter – that coastal temperature gets even colder, -40, and that’s the reading on both Celsius and Fahrenheit thermometers. That surprised me. I’ve never seen the two temperature scales match, with the same exact number. Incredible! I’m glad Sandra didn’t go inland, especially to the mountaintops. Their warmest temperature – -22. That’s one of the worst winter days in Ohio, ever. I don’t want to think how cold it gets in their winter. Ready? That’s -112?! Holy frostbite, that’s cold! And the coldest temperature ever recorded on earth? -128.56, at the Vostok station in Antarctica. That’s where scientists live. And the date – July 21, 1983. YIKES! Part 3: Wind Speed and Snowfall by the Numbers Those temperatures, like -112 F are without the windchill. To find that, I looked up the wind speed on the antarctica.gov link below. I don’t want to do the math, but if you can imagine, an Antarctic wind can blow at 100 km/h, and it can blow for days! I don’t do kilometers, so in miles per hour – that’s 62. If you want to imagine it, stand beside a highway. That’s how fast cars will drive by. I’m feeling colder already! Are you ready for the strongest winds? That’s 200 km/h or 124 mph, or the wind speed of a Category 3 hurricane. YIKES – x 2! ☹ As for snow – the average accumulation for the whole continent of Antarctica is 150 mm of water per year, or 5.9 inches. If you’re not sure what that looks like, find 6 on a ruler. When you go inland to the elevated plateau, the annual value drops to 50 mm. That’s only 1.96 inches. But at the coast, it rises to 200 mm or 7.87 inches. But for the heaviest rain or snow, find the peninsula in the northwestern corner of the map. It stretches to the north, and the Bellingshausen Sea is below it, to the south. It’s not labeled, but it gets over 1000 mm of water. In inches that’s 39.37. Think yardstick, then add your index finger for another 3 inches. That’s a lot of water! Sources: For more information: www.antarctica.gov.au My source: What is the average annual... | Trivia Answers | QuizzClub Map: By Robert Simmon - en:Internet Archive - https://web.archive.org/web/20070823123915/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17838 (originally http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17838 NASA Earth Observatory), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3126858 I wrote the original post back in November, and I shared the update on my vlog. At the end, I predicted where I would be at the end of February. Today is March 13, and here’s where I am on my journey to tell the story of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence. Part 1 – Where I Was: I believe you need to know where you were, to take stock of where you are. It also allows you to see progress, and that’s a good thing. The original post went live on November 20. I was on Chapter 17, and I was writing about Ben Franklin. Oh My Goodness! I remember that chapter – not in a good way! It took me 3 weeks to find my way in. If you’d like to read the original post, here’s my link: http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/me-and-my-middle-grade-novel-where-am-i-now My vlog went live on January 28. I finished Chapter 21 with Francis Hopkinson that week. If you’d like to listen, here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2796790403792630 Part 2 – Where Am I Now? This week I finished Chapter 30. Only 27 chapters to go 😊 And the signer – Carter Braxton from Virginia. I’d never heard of him, but now I won’t forget him either. His mother died after she’d given birth to two baby boys. He was her second son. Carter married young like his father, and his wife died after she’d given birth to two baby girls. Heartbreaking. But he married again. She gave birth to ten boys and six more girls. Eighteen – that’s a lot of children! Milestones from my Journey : Chapter 19 = a third of the way to the end. Chapters 28 = halfway done. I celebrated both milestones with a tiny bit of shopping. It makes a memory and keeps me moving. Chapter 38 = two thirds of the way to the end. That’s seven chapters or seven weeks from now, I hope. Story Stats – 29 founders, dead Two states with all its signers dead – North Carolina (3) and New Jersey (5) The state with only one death – Massachusetts. The signer, John Hancock Part 3 –My Conclusions and How They're Working: Back on July 17 of 2023, I wrote a post about failing. I even thought about quitting. Back then I was struggling with Stephen Hopkins from Chapter 12. Here are my conclusions after a week of struggle, plus the answer to the postscript – how my conclusions are working. 1. It’s OK to fail. Sometimes you need to stop and make a new plan. The last time I failed/got stuck was on Chapter 17 with Ben Franklin. 2. Change when you need to. When I get stuck, I should take a break. I need fun and family too. I still take breaks when I need to. But after Chapter 17, I found a new technique. I haven’t missed a deadline since then 😊 3. When I get stuck, I should step back. Later I’ll see how to edit and revise. I don’t need to step back with my new strategy. At least so far 😊 4. Each chapter feels like I’m climbing some steep hills. I need to write at this story’s speed. Sometimes that’s fast, and the story just flows. Other times it’s slow or no-speed at all. That’s when my ideas need time to develop. I still feel like I’m climbing steep hills, especially at the beginning, but my new technique makes it easier to climb that first one. Then the story usually flows along. Sometimes I find a steep hill near the end, but the strategy works there too 😊 Post Link: http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/when-you-feel-like-quitting-inspiring-quotes-for-you-and-me Vlog: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=6554628911271624 Part 4 – Three New Strategies: How did I find them? The old-fashioned way – trial and error – until I find what works. For today. When they stop working – I go back to my drawing board. 1. Finding my way through research – I’m much faster than I used to be. I look for three internet sources for each signer, then what was going on just before his death, and finally what Charley and his family were up to. Sometimes I find my way into the chapter from it, but a lot of times, I don’t. 2. I write less – but not on the chapter of the week. I still write all day, taking breaks when I need to get up, until about 8PM. Sometimes just getting up and moving around will get me unstuck. And, so far I’m staying on track, writing a chapter a week. The less, that’s on my blog. I realized over the summer, when I thought about quitting, something had to give, and it couldn’t be me. So, now I write a blog section in two days. The first day I put up pictures and outline what I want to write. The second day I write and revise that section. If life gets in the way, and occasionally it does, I give myself a day of grace. Less is also on my vlog. I’m doing more classic posts. LOL, it’s just another way of saying an old one. I also look for blogs, beyond the original one, but they need to add to the vlog’s topic. 3. This is the BIG ONE! I write questions to Charley (Charles Carroll), and I answer them. After spending the last year and a half with him, I know him pretty well. This week I’m working on Oliver Wolcott. I’d never heard of him either. He was the governor of Connecticut in 1797, and a Major General in the Continental Army. He was one of the heroes of Saratoga, one of the first big wins for Washington’s army, but – that didn’t help me figure out how to write Chapter 31. What did? Questions! I started with ‘Where is Charley?’ and ‘What is he doing?’ Sometimes that works. Sometimes I have to ask more questions. I knew Oliver died on December 1, and Charley would have been in the Maryland Senate. So I asked what he might have been doing. That was a dead end, but it’s part of the process. Then I asked the question, and I hit pay dirt! I asked what Charley was doing at Christmas time. I got the answer the next morning. I realized I’d already written something about a priest visiting him. I don’t know if one really did, but it fits my research. Charley’s cousin was the first Catholic bishop in the US, and he started St. Mary's College and Seminary in Baltimore. The priest had to visit, because there were no Catholic Churches in Annapolis. Not yet. The first one was built next door to Charley’s house. BINGO! I started writing, and I finished the WHOLE rough draft in one day. I even started my first round of revision. I didn’t finish – I needed to write this part of the blog for you. If I hadn’t found my way into the chapter – I would have asked Charley more questions, until I found it. I know when I have a good answer, because I can keep writing. Even when I question the last paragraph I wrote. When that happens, I take a break, AND I can push past it. Part 5 – My New Middle Grade Goals: The next one – to finish Chapter 36 by May 3rd. That’s the first Friday in May. My critique group is taking Good Friday off. Then I'll return to my usual pace – a chapter a week – to research, write and revise. It’s the fastest I’ve ever written, and the most I’ve written in years. I have another goal that’s on the back burner. I’m moving as quickly as I can, but the other chapters come first. My second goal is to polish the first 3 chapters until they’re submission ready. It’s a work in progress. Finished 3/11/24 In Book 4, two characters finally take the lead. Timothy, Viscount Linwood was an unlikeable character in the first 3 books. Stiff, with no sense of humor. Now we learn why – he followed 313 rules. I’d be stiff too! Jasmine Fleury was likeable, but barely mentioned in the other 3 books. I knew she was a free spirit, an artist. That she believed souls could find each other across time and space. Sounds like fantasy to me, and this story was a good one! When Timothy comes forward to 2015, it’s Jasmine who discovers his back story. She helps him find himself. And it’s Timothy who helps Jasmine piece the past back together again. They’re a match made only in fantasies. My favorite line – trust the process. I do as a writer, and in my own life. And it’s what Jasmine and Timothy do as they find themselves, and each other. Another favorite – you can advise others, but never yourself. So true! I love back matter, where you find the ideas that shaped the story. Nichole Van researched King Arthur, Druids, foundlings, and English oak trees for this one. Did you know they could live for 1300 years? And that one small fact changed the course of this story! Amazon’s Description: Each life is tethered to others, tendrils wrapping through time itself . . . drawing people to each other . . . In 1815, Timothy, Viscount Linwood--handsome, arrogant, privileged--never veers from the refined rules of his world. Cheerfulness and other unsavory emotions are for lesser persons. Anything that smacks of trade is to be shunned. Honor and pride above all else. Consequently, when he discovers his estates are bankrupt, he decides to woo and marry an heiress post-haste. After all, love is for lesser-mortals. But Fate intervenes and draws him to a vibrant woman who makes him want things he can never have. Can a pompous lord change enough to find redemption? In 2015, Jasmine Fleury just wants her happily-ever-after. If only she could stop losing people instead--her grandmother, boyfriends . . . and now her entire family. Worse, she finds herself babysitting a haughty nineteenth century lord who can't even shave himself. What grown man can't shave himself? She has no interest in playing damsel-in-shining-armor to his knight-in-distress. But Fate has other plans . . . . This fourth installment in the Amazon bestselling House of Oak series can easily be read as a stand-alone book. Check out the other books in the series. Finished 1/23/24 Meet Book 3 from the House of Oak series. This time the main character is Mark, Emry’s brother. He’s barely mentioned in the other books. My guess – the author saved him for this one. You’ll also meet James’ brother, Arthur and his wife, Marianne. They only play supporting roles in the story, sort of like furniture, but Marianne’s brother, Timothy, Viscount Linwood is much more interesting. He’s more than a member of the aristocracy. Read for yourself to find out how. The best part of Nichole’s writing is her character development. She introduces two new ones in Book 3. Kit is the female lead, and both she and Mark time travel back to Duir Cottage. The portal has a reason for bringing them together. BTW, Kit is there to find her missing brother Daniel. He has the biggest reason for traveling back to 1814. I’m usually a big fan of back matter. Nichole had some interesting tidbits, but I really wanted to know more about the spies, the War of 1812, and what was going on with Napoleon in 1814. I did run across a bit in another book because I’m researching the founding fathers, the ones who signed the Declaration, but unfortunately, I’m writing a chapter about someone who died in 1793. Shucks! But would I recommend this book? Absolutely! I love a good historical romance, and this one adds in time travel too. I love two-fers! Amazon’s Description: Fate will draw two people together, moving them through centuries if necessary. But even predestined lovers have the choice to walk away . . . In 2014, Marc Wilde—martial artist and actor—finds his life a mess. His latest film, Croc-nami, is being trashed on social media, sending his acting career into a tailspin. His love life isn’t doing much better. And then there is the tiny matter of blackmail. Someone knows about the time portal in the cellar of Duir Cottage and is threatening to tell the world unless Marc pays up. So yeah . . . his life is not going so well. In 1814, Kit Ashton has problems of her own. Her brother has disappeared (again), leaving Kit penniless and forcing her to take up employment as a lady’s companion (sigh). Worse, there are French spies in the area, and Kit finds herself pulled into the conspiracy. Add in the sudden appearance of a handsome, silver-tongued rogue who makes Kit want to flirt, flirt, flirt . . . it’s the perfect recipe for disaster. Kit is determined to find her brother, return home, and (most importantly) keep her secrets, well, secret. This hilarious, quick-paced installment in the Amazon bestselling House of Oak series can easily be read as a stand-alone book. Finished 12/26/23 This is Book 2 from the House of Oak series. The best part of a series is meeting the characters you already loved. Emry and James were the lead characters in Book 1, and Georgiana had a supporting role. Her starring moment came when Emry had to take her back through the portal to save her life. In Book 2, Georgie takes the starring role. She’s cured, but she’s struggling to find her place in the 21st century. THEN the impossible happens . . . she receives a love letter from the past, and she wrote it! As a lover of mysteries, there’s only one thing she can do – time travel back to discover the love of her life, but there’s a twist . . . gooseberries! Watch whenever they’re mentioned – they’re the key to the plot. In 2013 Georgie’s boyfriend belongs to GLIB – Gooseberry Lovers International Brotherhood. Back in 1813 they figured into the plot too. Sebastian Carew enters the story when he becomes the Earl of Stratton. There’s only one small problem – if he isn’t married by his birthday, he will forfeit 60,000 pounds, and the money will go to 3 gooseberry societies. I’d never heard of gooseberries until I read this book and its back matter. If you’re curious what gooseberries look like, take a look under this paragraph. Gooseberry societies and competitions were a fad in the early 1800’s. If you were a gooseberry back then, you were a lax chaperone who wasn’t keeping an eye on your charge. Gooseberries are still popular in Britain, but now it means you’re the third wheel in a group. Amazon’s Description: Georgiana Knight--born in the nineteenth century, but now living in 2013--has certain standards when it comes to mysteries: they must involve blood curdling threats, late-night rendezvous and the terror of Imminent Danger. So far, her current mystery has been a terrible disappointment. No ghosts, no dastardly villains, not even an actual murder weapon. Just a suspicious symbol, a drawing of a bloody dagger, and an old love letter. Though the centuries-old love letter is written in her own handwriting, so that's something, right? And there is a time portal in her cellar. Should she risk giving up hot showers and return to the past to discover the mysterious stranger who inspired (will inspire?) her passionate letter? In 1813, Sebastian Carew has his own mystery to solve. As a teenager, he fell madly in love with his childhood friend, Georgiana. Ten years later, he returns from fighting abroad as an eligible man of fortune who must marry. And soon. He is determined to fend off fortune-hunting women, find Georgiana, and win her affections. However, she has utterly vanished. Can he divine the truth of her disappearance and convince her to marry him before time runs out? Finished 11/12/23 This was Nichole’s debut book from February of 2014. I found it in June, and I’ve been reading her work ever since. Intertwine is a time travel novel with Emry coming from 2012, and James from England, 200 years later. It’s a parallel story with the plot moving back and forth between the two characters. I love how she weaves them together. Nichole was an award-winning photographer before she started writing. I think it gave her an edge in picturing her characters and their story. She also uses Pinterest to store photos and notes to use later. I’d never heard of that before. I finished Nichole’s newest book before I started her first one again. I never noticed her growth as a writer until now. I loved her stories before, but her writing feels richer and deeper. I think it comes from the way she shows her characters’ emotions through their actions. She also uses historical details like furniture and clothing to help you picture the setting. Amazon’s Description: Outlander meets Bridgerton in a love story for the ages! Time is not a river. It is a vast cosmic sea. Where each life exists as rippling circles on its surface, past and future being eternally present. And occasionally, one expanding ring intertwines with that of another, weaving the lives of two people together. . . . In 2012, Emme Wilde can’t find the right guy. She wants to feel that swept-off-your-feet dizziness of true love. But so far, her dating life has come up short. Star Trek geek? Nice but too serious. Hippy artist? Cute but too vulnerable. Instead, Emme obsesses over the portrait of an unknown man in an old locket. Granted, a seriously dreamy guy with delicious, wind-swept hair she just itches to run her fingers through. But still. Dead men may be great listeners, but they are not exactly boyfriend material. Emme travels to England, determined to uncover his history and conquer the strong connection she feels. In 1812, James Knight has given up finding the right woman. All he wants is someone to share his love of adventure. Instead, his life has become a Shakespearean drama. His brother languishes in a tragic star-crossed romance. His beloved sister clings to life, slowly dying of consumption. But then he finds a beautiful mystery woman, dripping wet and half-dead, beneath a tree on his estate. Now if he can uncover her history, perhaps adventure—and romance—will find him at last. |
AuthorWhen I write, I can only have one voice in my head, mine. A little noise is fine. But too much, or worse yet, WORDS, and I must change rooms or pull out headphones. Then I can write on! Categories
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