NavList:

   

Reply

> Navigation is a "guy thing" the way that math, science, and  engineering are
> "guy things".  Which is to say: "Not".

Thanks,  another good idea to pass on to her...

> I have read several times  that Polynesian and Micronesian navigators
> depended on the swinging of  their testicles to help them "read" the waves.
> But, after much study, I  have concluded that they are NOT REQUIRED and, in
> fact, CANNOT USEFULLY  BE EMPLOYED while actually doing celnav with charts,
> sextants, and  almanacs.

I assume you've verified this by personal observation and  experience?...  ;-)

> In my house, *I* wear the sextant.

(Note  to self: Happiness is two sextants in the house).

> I am not a  highly-acclaimed or even highly-experienced navigator myself, but
> here I  am working on the Silicon Sea BOOK for Celestaire.

Autographed copies to  made available to the nav mailing lists?

> I realized today, while I  was watching my kids' swimming lessons, that I was
> the ONLY parent  perusing a vintage copy of Bowditch.  This would make ANYONE
> an oddity.

I am stunned to hear that... really. But you should hear some of the  
questions I get from the surfers at the beach when I'm down there taking 
sights.  Now that I think about it, I'm gonna have to come up with some more  
"interesting" explanatory stories - I suppose the credibility would vary  
inversely depending on the amount of recreational controlled substances 
they've  consumed beforehand.  :-)

> But really, there is NO WAY that  Williams-Sonoma catalog is going
> to last you the whole  hour.

True, but working all those celestial sights can work up a huge  appetite...

> Hardly anybody is doing celestial navigation here on  earth, but NASA is
> teaching it to their planetary rovers.  And writing  navigational almanacs
> for other worlds.

Maybe the Mystic folks  will be kind enough to put together an 
adventure-vacation package deal for us in  the coming years.  :-)

> All it takes is some practice and a little  bit of math.
> Why should the boys have ALL the fun?

I'm trying to  emphasize the "little bit of math" part, and minimize the 
"you'll probably feel  like your head is going to explode before it all 
finally clicks into place and  actually makes sense" bit.  :-)

> Oh, and those celnav geeks will  probably be all OVER you if you go to Mystic
> for father's day.  Is that  a good thing or a bad thing?

I suppose that would depend on how many of  them were claiming to be my kids...  ;-)

--
GregR


----- Original Message ----
From: Renee Mattie 
To: NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM
Sent: Tuesday, June 6, 2006 9:39:24 PM
Subject: Re: Women Navigators

Here are some random thoughts from a woman pursuing celestial navigation:

Navigation is a "guy thing" the way that math, science, and engineering are
"guy things".  Which is to say: "Not".

I have read several times that Polynesian and Micronesian navigators
depended on the swinging of their testicles to help them "read" the waves.
But, after much study, I have concluded that they are NOT REQUIRED and, in
fact, CANNOT USEFULLY BE EMPLOYED while actually doing celnav with charts,
sextants, and almanacs.

In my house, *I* wear the sextant.

I am not a highly-acclaimed or even highly-experienced navigator myself, but
here I am working on the Silicon Sea BOOK for Celestaire.

I realized today, while I was watching my kids' swimming lessons, that I was
the ONLY parent perusing a vintage copy of Bowditch.  This would make ANYONE
an oddity. But really, there is NO WAY that Williams-Sonoma catalog is going
to last you the whole hour.

Hardly anybody is doing celestial navigation here on earth, but NASA is
teaching it to their planetary rovers.  And writing navigational almanacs
for other worlds.

All it takes is some practice and a little bit of math.
Why should the boys have ALL the fun?

Oh, and those celnav geeks will probably be all OVER you if you go to Mystic
for father's day.  Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Renee Mattie

   

Reply