How to Choose Your First Bow

“The history of the bow and arrow is the history of mankind.”

• Fred Bear

I wasn't raised to be an archer or hunter so I'm not sure what sparked the idea to buy my first bow and arrows, but I won't doubt that the sport is in my blood. Archery has accompanied humanity for more than 10,000 years, and though it has changed some, the essentials remain the same. When shopping for a bow, the archer must make one decision that will dictate all other decisions: What kind of bow do I buy? The two main choices are compound or traditional. 

The first compound bow was made in 1966 and has developed into the preferred type of bow for hunting. The pulley system on the limbs of the bow provide better range and arrow penetration, while the sites mounted on the riser allow for direct aiming. If someone is looking to purchase a bow specifically for hunting purposes, I'd recommend buying a compound. Other necessary purchases include a mechanical release and arrows tipped with mechanical broadheads.

     Traditional bows carry with them a longer history and provide a greater challenge during the hunt. Traditional bows come in many styles, such as the long bow or recurve bow. Without any accessories, the traditional bow is basically a stick and string. No sites come stock on a traditional bow, so it may take longer to develop consistent accuracy. However, this does not mean the traditional bow is less accurate than a compound. Other necessary purchases include a shooting tab and arrows with feather fletchings tipped fixed broadheads.

     The first bow I purchased was a Bear Grizzly recurve bow with a 50 pound draw weight. After some practice, my arrow groupings became consistent, and archery became a sort of meditation for me. If archery sounds like a hobby you might be interested in, there is plenty more information online to help you discover which style of archery is best for you. I will leave you with this video about how to perfect your aim with a traditional bow.    

Colorblind, Not Colorless

“An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight... the truly wise person is colorblind.”                                                                                                                                               
                                                                           -Albert Schweitzer

             

    

Though it seems insignificant, discovering I was colorblind is the main reason my thought process works the way it does.  Imagine learning as a young child the way you see isn’t like the way the majority of the world sees.  My grandfather and two of my older brothers are colorblind. My mother grew concerned when I would consistently ask about the colors of my crayons.  She’d try to teach me, but certain colors looked indistinguishable from others.

          At first I felt stupid, like I wasn’t smart enough to learn the difference between blue and purple, but my mother quelled that fear quickly by telling me I was simply different.  Soon I began to question what it was to see “correctly.” Philosophical thoughts about the true nature of reality boggled my six-year-old mind.  I began to think that maybe everyone saw the world differently and no one knew it, or I was the one who saw what was real and everyone else was wrong. I decided at a young age that reality is subjective, and though all realities may be different they are all equal and real.  This realization helped me cope with many difficulties in life, such as my brother being diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder, but that is a story for another time.

Being colorblind also has many benefits. Sure, it can become a little irritating when people try to test your sight by asking about the color of every object in the room, but it is a good conversation topic. Also, I have read that colorblind people can see better in the dark and are able to distinguish some camouflaged patterns better than someone with normal sight.

 Here is a video to help you discover whether or not you’re colorblind (it’s much more typical in men than women).   

If you’re looking for a more accurate test, here are a couple you can buy online.

Tom Waits for No Man

“Don’t you know there ain’t no devil, that’s just God when he’s drunk.”

-Tom Waits

          
                Within the previous 40 years Tom Waits has released 24 albums, won two Grammy’s, appeared in more than 20 films and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Not only is Tom Waits a renaissance man, he’s a legend. Though he’d prefer it if he was simply known as a storyteller.

                In the early 1970’s, Waits started his career playing piano in smoke-filled L.A. nightclubs, an appropriate backdrop for his music . Shortly after, Waits was signed to Asylum Records.  Though his albums were critically acclaimed, Waits remained relatively unknown until his songs were covered by greats such as Rod Stewart, Bruce Springsteen and the Eagles. Even Scarlett Johansson made an album of Tom Waits covers.

                I first discovered Tom Waits through friends in high 
school.  Waits’ guttural growls, unconventional percussion and beat-style lyrics meshed into something I’d never experienced before.  Two albums in particular, Rain Dogs and Swordfish Trombones, cemented my appreciation for his music.

            In 2008,I was lucky enough to catch Tom Waits performing in Knoxville, the first time he’d performed there since the 1970’s.  What surprised me most about the show was his stage presence and humor.  The man definitely knew how to connect with a crowd.  If you ever have the chance to see Tom Waits perform, I highly recommend it.  But until then, I’ll leave you with this video.

The NDAA and You

“Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither.”

                                                                              -Benjamin Franklin                                                               

     Do the words “National Defense Authorization Act of 2012” mean anything to you?  If not, I cannot blame you.  The press was mysteriously silent when Obama signed it into law on New Year’s Eve.  How about the words “habeas corpus?”  

                The NDAA itself is nothing new.  Every year the national defense budgets are agreed upon and signed by the president.  However, this year, two sections buried deep within the 600-page document granted the U.S. government an immense and deeply concerning power.  Sections 1021 and 1022 allow the military to capture and indefinitely detain, without trial, any U.S. citizen who is suspected of being a terrorist. 

    “Innocent until proven guilty” is no longer applicable. It is now legal for the government to invade your home and take you to an undisclosed location for an undisclosed amount of time.  No proof must be asserted, only the suspicion of terrorist involvement.  Hoarding non-perishable food or paying with cash could make you pop up on the government’s “terrorist radar.”

    What you choose to do with this information is up to you. Do your own research and make your own decisions. I’ll leave you with this video.