Below are the 2 most recent journal entries recorded in Russel Foreman's Blurty:

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010
6:58 pm	Sextants For All Occassions The sextants development was a vital part in the evolution of navigation technology. Even in the modern day the sextant manages to cling to life as a navigational aid. In the very beginning the sextant was rather unrefined. The sextant was made to evolve slowly due to the many innovations that had to come before it. However, new innovations come along and make the old obsolete. While old-fashioned navigators may still cling to their sextants, the GPS is the commonplace navigational aid of the modern age. Sextants weren't always around, however. Before there was ever a tool to help, sailors knew how to use Polaris to their advantage. The Arabs in particular were proficient in using this technique. The "Kamal" was a device that the Arabs used to help locate Polaris. This Kamal made use of a dumpy rope and an instrument positioning Polaris at the top, and placing the horizon at the bottom. In the rope, the navigator tied a knot that aligned 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. The two instruments in question were the astrolabe and the quadrant. The astrolabe was a revolutionary sea travelling device as it could retain its position in relation to the fickle conditions that betray our senses 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. The astrolabe is then held at eye level, where one views through the sighting pinnules to locate the altitude of the celestial object on the alidade. The next instrument before the sextant was the quadrant. The quadrant was especially useful to the Portuguese. Explorers such as the renowned Christopher Columbus used the quadrant to mark off points of Polaris altitude similar to the Arab way of tying knots in the Kamal. For example, Polaris was marked off and recorded in ports that sailors frequented. The publishing of the alturas gave sailors a guide to travelling the coasts of Europe and Africa. The necessity for a navigational instrument of accurate value arose as explorers began taking to treacherously uncharted seas. The sextant required that a lot of work be accomplished first before it could be used properly. 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. This device 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 For All Occassions Spice UYp Your Deor With Sextants Spice UYp Your Deor With Sextants (Comment on this)
Thursday, December 9th, 2010
3:07 pm	Accenting The Home Or Office With Ship Wheels Are you considering turning a plain room into a nautical themed room? Nautical decorations can be found in all types on the Internet. For instance, your search will yield finely crafted and designed ship wheels. Ship wheels made of top quality are made from a wood called shisham, which has teak-like durability and is polished in the center. While searching for ship wheels online you will find some that range from 15 inches to 60 inches, or even more. All of the nautical ship wheel clocks come from the finest quality materials in order to look as authentic as possible. Your nautical decor room will benefit greatly from an authentic ship wheel or other nautical decor hung about the wall. 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. When the steam ship was put into mainstream use, the ship wheel was moved to the inside bridge, proving an easier and safer location for the captain. Ship wheels are among the best known symbols of the sea. Ship wheel clocks in particular are excellent gifts for nautical lovers. These ship wheels are decorations for home, office, and much more! The ship wheel's importance dates back several centuries. You can feel the power of the ocean surging through your hands when behind the helm of a ship. Those who have felt this know how intoxicating it can be to feel the entire ocean, and be able to explore it as if it were their personal playground. 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 instance, there is the wooden ship wheel clock nautical decoration. These nautical decorations inspired by ship wheels are perfect for any nautical themed room. These wooden ship wheels are also great for showing your love of nautical culture. Ship Wheel Ideas Ship wheel clocks bring a lot of history to the home, and add a nautical sense of adventure to any room. Authentic ship wheels can be found online at many reputable dealers. Placing a ship wheel on the wall of a nautical themed room is a tradition of model ship collectors. Because of this, there are several ship wheel decorations that can be hung from the wall, such as the ship wheel clock. Find out more about nautical wall decor here. Searching online for ship wheels is one of the most effective ways to attain your nautical decorative ship wheel. Look at the quality of the composition and materials of the nautical décor items on the site when determining the best ship wheels to buy. (Comment on this)