Below are the 3 most recent journal entries recorded in Darren May's Blurty:

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010
6:30 pm	Sextants For Decoration And More The sextant detailed a great step in the history of navigation. Centuries after its conception, the sextant continues to be a valued tool to traditional navigators. However, the introduction of the sextant required an evolutionary process of its own. The creation of the sextant evolved through several other inventions prior to it. Sadly, all innovations must eventually become replaced by newer innovations. As such, sextants are viewed rather primitively in relation to the GPS, though traditional travellers prefer the analog nature of the sextant. Before the sextant there were a long list of other navigational aids that helped sailors find their way around. Way before the first sextant was invented, sailors learned how to use Polaris to travel back and from home port. In particular, the Arabs were very skilled users of this method. Arab sailors used to their advantage a device which they called a "Kamal". The Kamal used a short rope and an object that placed Polaris and the horizon on the top and bottom respectively. A knot was tied in the rope in order to mark the distance between Polaris and horizon. The knot which showed the relation of Polaris to the horizon was used for the sailors to find their way back to their original port. The Arabs were responsible for introducing Europe to two navigational aids that would prove significant in the evolution of navigational technology. Among the two important instruments were the astrolabe and the quadrant. The astrolabe was useful against the erratic conditions at sea. Because of this, the astrolabe saw over 200 years of use. The astrolabe uses a circle-like scale and rotating alidade with pinnules for sighting. When an astrolabe was held at eye level a celestial object could be viewed through the pinnules, and the altitude could be read from the point of crossing by the alidade on the scale. The next instrument before the sextant was the quadrant. The quadrant was used to great extent by the Portuguese in particular. A little known man by the name of Christopher Columbus enlisted the help of the quadrant to navigate the ocean easier. The alturas (latitude) of a port was marked off using the quadrant similar to the way the Arabs used the Kamal. The publishing of the alturas gave sailors a guide to travelling the coasts of Europe and Africa. As the needs of nautical exploration arose, so did the need for a navigational instrument that was accurate and reliable. In order to use a sextant, a few things had to be done first. For one, an almanac that detailed the location of stars and other points had to be accounted for at every hour of every day for several years. Not to mention that there had to be something that could accurately measure time. The latter was called a chronometer. The plotting and charting of maps was done by a cartographer. A mathematical formula for relating a celestial body with the horizon and navigator's position was also necessary. With these things in place the sextant would be the final key in locating an accurate position of one's ship on the globe. Sextants - An Important Part Of Maritime History Spice UYp Your Deor With Sextants Sextants For Sea and Land (Comment on this)
Thursday, December 9th, 2010
3:59 pm	Accenting The Home Or Office With Ship Wheels Are you considering turning a plain room into a nautical themed room? Searching online will yield a lot of results for different nautical decorations. Specifically, there are many replicas of ship wheels that make excellent nautical decorations. Many great ship wheels are composed of shisham, a hardwood that is similar to teak, as well as a polished brass or chrome center. There are plenty of nautical decor sites online that sell ship wheels as small as 15 inches and as big as 60 inches across. Authentic ship wheel clocks are manufactured by hand from master artisans using the highest quality materials available. The collection of nautical items you will find in online stores is sure to add an air of sophistication and elegance to any home or office. The huge selection of wooden ship wheels available online is sure to yield one that you like. The need for Ship Wheels Since the 18th century, ship wheels have been implemented as the standard steering tool on large scale boats. In the beginning, ship wheels were used close to the rudder, exposing the captain to the elements. Eventually with the introduction of the steam ship, the ship wheel was moved inside to the bridge, where it was much easier and safer for the captain to navigate. The ship wheel is perhaps the most widely known symbol of the sea. Such nautical decorations as ship wheel clocks make excellent gifts for nautical enthusiasts. These ship wheels are decorations for home, office, and much more! The ship wheel's importance dates back several centuries. When behind the helm of a ship, the ship wheel transfers the power of the ship to the ocean. The feeling of being behind the ship's wheel is a tremendous surge of power that can prove to be intoxicating. Ship wheels are a very important part of navigating the open seas, as well as an important aspect of symbolizing the nautical culture. Because of this, ship wheels are the driving force behind the designs for a lot of nautical decor items. There are several different types of ship wheel designs for nautical decor. For example, wooden ship wheel clocks are very popular nautical decor items. Wooden ship wheel clocks make great nautical wall decorations around the home. These wooden ship wheels are also great for showing your love of nautical culture. Ship Wheel Designs Ship wheel clocks are terrific additions to any collector's decorated nautical room. Most authentic ship wheels are composed of the finest woods available, and can be found for affordable prices. Most model ship collectors have at least one ship wheel in their home or nautical themed room. The ship wheel clock is just one of the many types of wall nautical decorations available. If you are looking to find such ship wheels, then you will be pleased to find great sources online with just a quick search. When searching online, looking for nautical decor ship wheels that are crafted to be as close in resemblance to the real thing as possible. Accenting The Home Or Office With Ship Wheels Make Ship Wheels A Part Of Your Decor Accenting The Home Or Office With Ship Wheels (Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
1:34 pm	Nautical Clocks Are Perfect For The Home Or Office Vintage collecting is an experience that belies many connections and stories. Looking for vintage valuables is an adventurous experience unparalleled by the ordinary shopping experience. Vintage items like clothing, furniture, films, or clocks can be found in thrift stores with an exciting tale to go along with your purchase. Rather than: "Oh, I bought this at IKEA"; your story can go a little something like: "There I was...at a gypsy yard sale, where everything except the yard was being sold, when I noticed it...wedged in between a Billy Idol vinyl and a Candy Land board game." Which story sounds more appealing? The one about going to a popular store and standing in line, or the one about a chance finding in the unlikeliest of situations? There are several hobbies, such as model ship collecting, that have a lot of vintage items. Collecting nautical decorations can lead you to some pretty interesting places of gossip-worthy back stories. Vintage clocks are one of the most sought after vintage nautical decorations, and with good reason. Accurate nautical clocks played a critical role in establishing the way we travel on sea. Finding a truly vintage nautical clock is a thrilling quest that takes you back and forth to several locations. With each vintage clock you find there will be a back story that goes along with it. A detail you will definitely find on more than a few old vintage items is a crack. Such a mark may come with its own story from the people who owned the vintage clock before you. I think that many vintage hunters will agree that vintage clocks with cracks have more character than does those which are unscathed. Such vintage clocks make great nautical wall decor, nautical home decor, nautical gifts, and even beach house decor. So where can you find these vintage clocks? All over the place! As the saying goes, "the world is your oyster". Well, when it comes to finding historic and vintage clocks, then the entire world is at your feet. A great place to start is with your own neighbors to ask if they have any knowledge of vintage clocks. Use bulletin boards, flyers, and other means within your city to ask about vintage clocks. If your search proves unsuccessful, you will have at least met new people in the process! Another way to go about it is to use the Internet to your advantage. Look for deals on ebay and other sites that specialize in vintage clocks. Using a search engine will link you to several reliable vintage clock blogs, websites, and stores. Use the wealth of information at your fingertips to find the vintage clocks you want at the most affordable prices. Find out more about beach house decor. (Comment on this)