‘Cannon dial for latitude 49° North. Cannon dials (or ‘time guns’ as they were occasionally known) were popular in the 18th century. A burning glass mounted above the plate would receive the sun’s rays at noon, so providing the heat to light the fuse at the end of the miniature cannon, causing it to fire and thus provide a signal for midday. Engraved on the dial-plate is the maker’s signature, Victor Chevalier Ingr. Breveté quai l’horlage 77 à Paris.’ (via National Maritime Museum)
I did meet sailors. And sailors. And sailors. They told of a phantasmagorical “Southern Ocean,” correcting my misconception from the world having four oceans to its recently acknowledged five, and can you imagine being the International Hydrographic Organization and having the power to bestow ocean status upon swaths of water? In this Southern Ocean, in the part of the world that starts to think about becoming Antarctica, you would encounter albatross, whales, sea birds. You might go around icebergs that seemed as if white skyscrapers. You might be cold for spiteful amounts of time.
Great article on sailors ‘Life at Sea.’
Anybody who doesn’t think sailors are worthy of being called some of the toughest most badass athletes there are should read this.
high tide and low tide in great britain. photographs by michael marten
reblogging for shearwater, even though it’s not explicitly boats
Why thank you!
These are really cool and about the ocean, so I accept the lack of boats :P
(Source: awkwardsituationist)
THANK YOU I use these all the time when people don’t understand a letter or something, and they look at me like I’m crazy.
when i was in army cadets i memorized this using the poke-rap
*cries*
(Source: robotcosmonaut)
