October 13th: Just about the time I finished my coffee, a guy showed up to inspect Independence (inside, outside, underneath) - the entire length of the floor, is the main concern. When Holland was asked to pull the kitchen slide in … the sharp jolt and grind alarmed me π³ & I was wondering π€ if we'd be able to slide it out into place, again (we were π€, but it sounded awful).
Inspection Result ππ²: "Underneath Frame is cracked in several places, both sides & Structure Frame is bent" = road damage & a liability; "tow at your own risk" (she's not gonna move an inch). Holland knew, when we hauled it back up here from Coalinga-CA, back in March - that something wasn't right: he held his breath the entire trip & it's been sitting here, in Castle Rock-WA for months … waiting to be inspected. Today was finally the Day.
So, pictures were taken & the paperwork is being submitted to an Insurance Claim - where the inspector's pictures will be viewed, and an insurance inspector will sent out; at a snail's pace. It's another waiting game π
I'm still not feeing top notch ππ€§, so Holland went into town to fetch fried chicken π … and I lazed around π₯± (under strict Husband orders to do so), & read a few chapters of my Clive Cussler novel ππ΅π»
In this novel - "Lost Empire", Clive features Mexico's Chicomoztoc to be an island in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, from where the ancestors of the Aztec were exiled sometime in the 6th century. Of course, that is pure fiction … but that is what adventure stories are built on: Mexico itself, promotes much myths in it's [history]. What is truth, however, is that Earth's landmass was at one time whole; before it broke into the continents we know today. The only people who really knew where everyone came from are long dead, and written records are biased - as well as modern histories which have been politicized based purely on skin color, self-righteous/self-justification of ethnic nationalism/colonization, slavery, & the need to feed into victimization dramas to sanctify their hypocrisies.
That said, I'm going to delve into this story and let it take me where it will; preferably far, faaaar away from today's political drama-traumas.
As usual, Clive blends fact & fiction in his novels - which is 1 of the reasons they appeal to me; today's Read takes my mind to another exotic location & engages it in an adventurous swashbuckling exploration. My loving husband π¦ is keeping my coffee mug refreshed with several refills ☕️π©❤️ππ¨ … and I, in return, am gifting him with silence as he pampers me in real time, while I obediently sink ππ€° into a captivating fantasy π
There are times, like now, when I don't mind bending to my husband's will π€π
{{There is a known example of a diamond‑shaped coin from the mid‑17th century, but it is not from the 1690s and is not a standard circulating coin. It is a rare English siege coin from Newark, struck during the English Civil War, and is the only documented case of a diamond‑shaped coin in English numismatic history.
The Newark “9‑Pence” Diamond Coin
Origin: Newark, England, during the English Civil War (1645–1646).
Purpose: Local “siege money” struck from silverware melted down by supporters of King Charles I to provide currency while the city was under siege.
Shape: The silver planchets were cut into diamond (rhombus) shapes before striking — a practical choice for maximizing the number of coins from a flat sheet of silver.
Design
Obverse: Crown, “CR” (Carolus Rex), and denomination “IX” (nine pence).
Reverse: “NEWARKE” with the abbreviation “OBS” for obsidional (“associated with a siege”).
Date range: 1645–1646, not the 1690s.
Rarity: Only a handful are known; it is the only English coin of this shape and denomination.
Other Diamond‑Shaped Coins
While diamond‑shaped coins exist in other contexts — such as certain colonial or foreign issues, and modern commemorative coins — they are not part of standard 17th‑century English coinage. In U.S. numismatics, “diamond” often refers to decorative motifs (e.g., on Indian Head cents) rather than the coin’s overall shape.
~Various Information Sources
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George Booth — The Real Pirate
There was a pirate named George Booth, and he was a real historical figure active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Who he was
George Booth was an English pirate who operated in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea between about 1696 and 1701. He is remembered for leading the crew of the 54‑gun slave ship Speaker and for helping launch the careers of other notable pirates, including Nathaniel North, Thomas Howard, and John Bowen.
Career highlights
First recorded as a gunner aboard the Pelican under Robert Colley in 1696, later serving on the Dolphin under Samuel Inless.
In September 1699, the Dolphin and other pirate ships were trapped at St. Mary’s Island by a British fleet. While some pirates accepted a pardon, Booth and others escaped after burning the Dolphin.
Booth’s crew captured a French merchant ship by feigning trade for slaves, and Booth was elected captain.
In April 1700, he joined forces with John Bowen to capture the massive 450‑ton, 50‑gun slave ship Speaker near Majunga.
As captain of the Speaker, Booth sailed toward Zanzibar. In early 1701, while going ashore for supplies, he and Bowen were attacked by Arab troops; Booth was killed in the fighting.
Legacy
Booth’s death led to John Bowen being elected captain of the fleet. He is also noted for being one of the “Pirate Rounders” — early pirates active in the East Indies trade routes — and for influencing the careers of later famous pirates.
In summary: George Booth was not a fictional character but a documented pirate whose exploits are recorded in historical sources, including The Pirates’ Own Book and modern pirate history archives.
~Various Information Sources
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Road to Speaker Ship
Famous pirate George Booth was first recorded as an artilleryman in 1696 at Pelican under the command of Captain Robert Colley. Later, he was assigned to Dolphin under the command of Captain Samuel Inless operating in the Indian Ocean. The pirate Booth's ship and several other pirate ships, who took part as artillery on this mission, were sent to St. Petersburg by a British fleet in September 1699. He was trapped on Mary's Island. The crew was pardoned by the British commander. Some of the famous pirates like Robert Culliford accepted the offer of amnesty. But, Booth, North, and the others escaped after burning the ship. Booth and his friends, who escaped and started piracy, behaved like merchants. Following the famous order of pirate ships, they captured a French merchant ship, demanding the trade of liquor and other goods for the slave. Pirate Booth was named the captain of the captured ship. Then the looting pirates sailed to Madagascar.
The Capture of the Speaker
Booth encountered British pirate John Bowen. In this encounter, the famous pirates decided to join forces. In April 1699, the pirate troop captured the Speaker, which was among the 450-ton 50 armed slaves and pirate ships near Majunga. Elected captain of the 54-armed Speakership, Booth set sail for Zanzibar in late 1700. In early 1701 he paused his journey to save the pirate Thomas Howard. Howard was a member of John James' crew. James's ship was wrecked after returning to the Cape of Good Hope. Tom Collins, who later set out with Howard, joined Booth's crew.
Stocks of food and drinks ran out as the pirate ship advanced. It was necessary to shop for the crew to continue their work. Speakership stopped at Zanzibar to get supplies. Booth and Bowen were attacked by Arab troops on their way ashore. Booth was killed in the clash between them. After Booth's death, Bowen was chosen by the crew to replace Booth as captain of the small fleet.
https://www.suustunde.com/en/content-details/speaker-.html?ContentID=615
Did the Ship Speaker Have a Bell?
There is no evidence that the 17th‑century English ship Speaker (1650) carried a ship’s bell in the sense of the maritime signaling and ceremonial bell used by later navies.
What the Speaker was
The Speaker was a 50‑gun third‑rate ship of the line built at Woolwich Dockyard in 1650 for the Commonwealth of England. It was a warship of the early 1600s, designed for combat and command, not for the ceremonial or signaling functions that ship bells later served.
Ship bells in the 17th century
While ship bells existed in the 16th and 17th centuries, their use was more limited than today. The earliest recorded mention is on the British ship Grace Dieu around 1485, and by the late 1500s some English ships (e.g., Regent) had “wache bells” for timekeeping and alarms. However, these were not universal, and not all warships of the period were equipped with them. The standardized requirement for a bell in British naval regulations came much later — in 1858.
What Speaker likely had instead
On a 17th‑century warship like Speaker, internal communication would have been handled by means such as speaking tubes or trumpets rather than bells. A “speaker trumpet” was a brass device used to project the captain’s voice to the crew, but this is different from a ship’s bell.
Conclusion: The Speaker almost certainly did not have a ship’s bell in the modern sense, and there is no record of one in its inventory or historical accounts. Any bell it might have had would have been a rare, possibly ceremonial, item, not a standard feature like today’s maritime law requires. Its primary signaling and communication methods were likely visual signals, trumpets, and speaking tubes, not a bell.
~Various Information Sources
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Aztec Sun Stone (Aztec Calendar Stone) Political Meaning: The Aztec sun stone was dedicated to Motecuhzoma II and was likely carved during his reign, 1502-1520. A sign representing the date 13 Acatl, 13 Reed, is visible on the surface of the stone. This date corresponds to the year 1479 AD, which, according to archaeologist Emily Umberger is an anniversary date of a politically crucial event: the birth of the sun and the rebirth of Huitzilopochtli as the sun. The political message for those who saw the stone was clear: this was an important year of rebirth for the Aztec empire, and the emperor's right to rule comes directly from the Sun God and is embedded with the sacred power of time, directionality, and sacrifice.
Archaeologists Elizabeth Hill Boone and Rachel Collins (2013) focused on the two bands which frame a conquest scene over 11 enemy forces of the Aztecs. These bands include serial and repeating motifs that appear elsewhere in Aztec art (crossed bones, heart skull, bundles of kindling, etc.) which represent death, sacrifice, and offerings. They suggest that the motifs represent petroglyphic prayers or exhortations advertising the success of the Aztec armies, recitations of which might have been part of the ceremonies which took place on and around the Sun Stone.
~https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-the-aztec-calendar-stone-169912
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Tenochtitlan was the political, economic, and religious heart of the Aztec Empire, renowned for its advanced urban planning, massive population, and strategic location.
Political and Military Significance
Tenochtitlan served as the capital of the Aztec Empire, forming the core of the Triple Alliance with Texcoco and Tlacopan, which allowed the Mexica to dominate central Mexico by the 15th century. Its location on an island in Lake Texcoco provided natural defense, with causeways and removable bridges controlling access, making it a formidable military stronghold. The city’s rulers, including Montezuma II, centralized power and coordinated tribute collection from conquered territories, reinforcing the empire’s political structure.
Urban Planning and Architecture
The city was a marvel of urban engineering, built on marshy islands expanded with artificial land and chinampas, or floating gardens, which supported intensive agriculture. Canals and causeways facilitated transportation and trade, while aqueducts supplied fresh water and dikes controlled flooding. Tenochtitlan featured monumental architecture, including the Templo Mayor, palaces, schools, and ball courts, reflecting both religious devotion and administrative sophistication.
Economic and Commercial Hub
Tenochtitlan was a major economic center, with the Tlatelolco market attracting tens of thousands of people daily to trade goods from across the empire, including cacao, textiles, obsidian, and exotic feathers. Professional merchants, or pochteca, traveled long distances to acquire resources and acted as spies and messengers, linking the city to distant regions and enhancing its economic and political influence.
Religious and Cultural Importance
The city was also a sacred site, founded according to a prophecy involving an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake, symbolizing divine approval. Temples and ceremonial spaces were central to Aztec religious life, with rituals and offerings, including human sacrifices, performed to maintain cosmic balance and honor gods like Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc.
Population and Influence
At its peak, Tenochtitlan housed 200,000 to 400,000 people, making it one of the largest cities in the world at the time and the largest in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Its size, organization, and influence made it a model of urban and imperial power, rivaling contemporary European capitals in scale and complexity.
In summary, Tenochtitlan’s importance lay in its strategic location, political authority, economic vitality, religious centrality, and innovative urban design, which together made it the beating heart of the Aztec Empire and a symbol of Mesoamerican civilization.
~Various Information Sources
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Jade Quetzalcoatl with Broken Tail: There is no known published archaeological report, museum catalog entry, or reputable auction record confirming the discovery of a specific 4‑inch by 7‑inch jade Quetzalcoatl statue with a broken tail.
~Various Information Sources}}
When my eyes got tired & I started yawning, I closed my book & posted a few posts to a couple Blog Hops π»π; and saw one of my design patterns π§Ά✍️ featured:
Then, before shutting off the light for the night - I felt a little guilty about skipping body toning while fighting this cold; so, I did a short (but effective) Darebee Burrito Mode Workout π§π½: the Burrito Mode is a six-pose = 6 minute floor (or bed) sequence in which you lie horizontal & never get up. Each pose is held for 30 seconds and the sequence is then repeated on the other side, which makes six minutes of lying down with a purpose. Burrito mode is what people call being rolled up in a blanket with no plans to move. The action starts flat on the back … and ends curled on one side: and every pose in between wraps you up a little more.
No muscle should be pulled - and no movement should be forced.
Breathe slowly through the nose with each movement & do not hold breath during the count.
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