April 2015

Besa is Best! How Albania Saved Thousands from the Holocaust

Albanian culture has something it calls “besa”, which is concept that “obligates Albanians to provide shelter and safe passage for anyone seeking protection, particularly if there has been a promise to do so. Failure to act results in a loss of honor and standing. “It involves uncompromising protection of a guest, even at the point… Read more Besa is Best! How Albania Saved Thousands from the Holocaust

Ladies Who Launch

I admit to a certain fascination with female pirate captains who were just awesome levels of badass. So much so, I might write a book about it. If I do, I call dibs on Ladies Who Launch as the title. Seriously, I might write the book just because I have fallen deeply in love with… Read more Ladies Who Launch

Was everyone an offshoot of the Plantagenets??

One of the things I discuss in my book on Edward VI is whether or not there was likelihood that Arthur, Fitzroy, and Edward all received a mutated CRFT gene (inherited an atypical cystic fibrosis) from both parents. After a quick romp in the genealogy I am slightly surprised that royal babies weren’t born three… Read more Was everyone an offshoot of the Plantagenets??

Making Mono Look Easy

As I have posted about recently, I am on the semi-recovery end from the mono I contracted in February. My family’s long-ago-scheduled trip to Disney World occurred the week before I got my diagnosis. When they heard about it, all those who had suffered with mono as adolescents or adults had one thing to say… Read more Making Mono Look Easy