Below are the 3 most recent journal entries recorded in drjeffreywebb's InsaneJournal:

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011
10:41 am	An Old Man And His Marine Compass Picture an old-time vessel sailing through the ocean's waves, with a stalwart sailor at the helm. While in the dark of night, he has the stars to guide him, during the day he has nothing to help him pinpoint his location. All he had was the direction of the wind and a sense of which way he should go. Before the invention of the first magnetic marine compass, this was how early seafarers had to navigate the waters. The first version of the magnetic mariner's compass can be traced back to around 1,000 B.C. to the Olmec people of South America. They constructed the compass out of lodestone, which was discovered to exhibit magnetic qualities. While the lodestone compass was used in navigation, it was mostly used in the measurement of astronomical phenomena. I Never Get Lost With My Marine Compass The first design of the magnetic marine compass as it is used today was first conceived by the Chinese. Architects and Feng Shui artists had been using magnets since 300 B.C. It was then discovered in the latter part of 1000 A.D. that a needle made from a magnet, when placed in a container of water, would always point to true north. This lead to the beginning of an important navigational tool, the magnetic mariner's compass. Through travel and trade with other countries, the Chinese were able to introduce the concept to the rest of the world. The Middle East was the first land with which China traded to benefit from the magnetic marine compass. Religious practice, however, was their main use for the compass. It helped the Islamic people to find the exact direction of Mecca so that they could pray daily the way they were supposed to. Starting A Marine Compass Collection It was in the Middle East where the design of the magnetic marine compass experienced its first revision. They changed the design by shaping the straight needle magnets into fish, then placing them in an enclosed ornamental glass bottle, instead of a bowl of water. This design improved the looks of the compass; however, the design did not give the directional precision needed for use at sea. This lead to the development of the most accurate design known at that point in history, which was the 32 point compass rose. Follow The Marine Compass Every Time The Europeans are credited with the magnetic mariner's compass design which is still used today. Europe's first introduction to the Middle Eastern design can be traced to around 1200 A.D. Trying to use a glass container of water was found to be too bulky and fragile, especially when used to navigate while traveling. It was discovered that using a small magnetic needle on a post would still give an accurate reading of true north. Compasses seen in the modern age still use this design concept, as an improvement has still not been discovered. The magnetic mariner's compass introduction to the world enabled mankind to experience new discoveries by aiding in the navigation of the globe. On both land and sea, the compass's precise and simplistic design has helped explorers safely find their destinations. (Comment on this)
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
6:15 pm	How I Left My Wife For A Brass Telescope Many romantic ideas are conjured when thinking of a ship's captain, face careworn by the elements and by many years at sea. As his ship is tossed about on rough, turbulent waters, he uses his brass telescope to look for land and for what he hopes is a safe harbor to rest his ship and his crew. Even though many have this image when it comes to the brass telescope, it has in fact been used in many different areas in the history of human development. The telescope has also been a major contributor in such areas as astronomy, navigation, exploration, and defense. Its origins can be traced to the Netherlands over 400 years ago. The beginnings of the brass telescope can be traced to the year 1608. Although it is not completely clear as to the first person to actually invent it, many experts track its origins back to three different individuals. Sacharias Jansen, although never awarded a patent, is often regarded as the man who first crafted the telescope's initial design. This honor was granted to Jacob Metius. Hans Lippershey asked for a patent for his design of the brass telescope as well, shortly after Metius was granted the patent for his ideas. Even though Lippershey was not given the patent, the Dutch government did in fact compensate him monetarily for his design ideas. How I Started Collecting Brass Telescopes Telescopes were first manufactured using brass, since the metal is known to be highly durable. It has the ability to withstand a wide variety of environmental stressors, as well as the natural stressor of time. These qualities were of particular importance to sailors, since the brass could withstand the detrimental effects which salt water can have on materials over a period of time. It did not corrode like other metals used at the time, such as iron or lead. Why Brass Telescopes Rule The use of brass telescopes was not only of importance to seafarers. They were also useful to observers on the other side of port who worked in what were referred to as counting houses. These men were responsible for the tracking of the ships which were approaching the harbor, not only to keep track of friendly ships, but also to keep a look out for hostile entities. This use contributed to the telescope's reputation, and subsequent reference, as a "trade telescope." Brass Telescope - Seeing The World Through New Eyes The telescope has had a major impact in the charting of the stars as well. Its invention helped scientists who studied the heavens discover more phenomena than had been previously possible when viewing the sky without its magnification qualities. One of the first astronomers in history to use the brass telescope was Galileo. When called to Rome in 1611 in order to defend his findings about which he had written in his book, The Starry Messenger, he carried within his luggage a brass telescope. Modern materials have since replaced brass in manufacturing of telescopes. They do not, however, take the place of the brass telescope's significance. Its importance in the history of defense concepts, astronomy, and navigation has been secured, thanks to it revolutionary design and durability. (Comment on this)
Monday, March 7th, 2011
6:00 pm	Which Ship Is In That Bottle? Many online nautical decor retailers offer large selections of nautical decorations for both your pleasure and convenience. To enumerate, there are: ship wheels, sextants, spyglasses, compasses, and more available at these stores. Collecting model ships, such as the ship in a bottle, is a tradition passed on for centuries, allowing everyday people to have pieces of history in their home or wherever they go. Even throughout the modern era, the nautical decorative ship in a bottle remains just as relevant as ever. The mystery behind the creation of these masterpieces amuses and mystifies many people to this day. You can find authentic replicas of historical ships made within bottles for low prices at respected dealers. There is little known about the origin of the ship in a bottle. Among the only things we know about the first ship in a bottle models is pointed out by Jean Randier who claims that the earliest bottled ships emerged in the 1830s. The main reason for this was the dramatic shift from dark glass to clear and see-through bottles. However, some point out that there where ship in bottle models during the 1700s, even though the bottles they were contained in were not completely see-through. The nautical culture is highlighted by the aesthetic value of bottle ships. A set of unique skills and unwavering patience is needed to craft such authentic replica ships in bottles. Ship in a bottle making is an art form that has transcended both time and culture. Ships in bottles are sought out by model ship collectors all around the globe for these reasons. Several online model ship vendors offer authentic ship replicas in bottles. The authenticity of the ship in a bottle is attributed to the handicraftsman who spend hours constructing each one. Even within the bottle, the unique hand craftsmanship allows for a genuine reproduction of popular ships from the last several centuries. At some model ship retailers, Donald McKay's Flying Cloud is a popular authentic ship in a bottle model. Notoriously, The Flying Cloud was navigated by a woman named Eleanor Creesy. Eleanor, who was a prolific scholar of ocean currents, weather, and astronomy, sailed with her husband, John Perkins Creesy, and set a world record transit from New York to California. Furthermore, there are bottled ships that reproduce other historical ships, such as: HMS Surprise, USS Constitution, and HMS Victory, among others. The authenticity of the ship in a bottle is related to the quality of materials and the fashion of its creation. Model ship creators make use of the finest materials to craft the best models possible. There are several different ways to create a ship in a bottle of high quality, including variations in the color of the glass. When shipped, your order should be boxed with a substance like memory foam and/or Styrofoam to ensure a safe trip from the factory to doorstep. The manufacturer plays the most important role in the collection of model ships. For quality boat models to exist, there has to be respectable manufacturers. Keeping that in mind, seek out retailers based on the above criteria when searching for quality model ship merchants. (Comment on this)