United States Archives | Page 2 of 8

9 Apr 2018

The Mental Health Benefits of High Concentration Sports (Like Archery)

There’s a never ending stream of celebrity confessions about mental health issues (such as this recent one from “The Rock”) at the moment. If it isn’t that it’s a pressure group highlighting the lack of funding given to this growing problem.

Mental health is a modern issue and one that’s seemingly on the rise. Or has it always been this way?

Are mental health issues just a byproduct of our modern lives? What’s the cause?

Here are a few stats on psychological problems we found from nami.org.

1 in 5 adults in the US experiences mental health issues in a year.
1 in 25 adults experiences a serious mental health issue in a year that interferes with their daily life.
1 in 5 youth (aged 13-18) experiences severe mental disorder and for children 8-15 the estimate is approximately one in 8.
Mental Illness costs the us $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year.
Mental health issues are the third most common reason for hospitalization in the US for both youth and adults (aged 18-44).
Each day approximately 18-22 veterans die by suicide.

If the hospitals are filling up and all anyone wants to do is give you prescription medications what can individuals do to help themselves?

How high concentration sports can help

When we exercise, the brain releases certain chemicals which can help with mood and alleviate issues such as anxiety and depression.

Sport in general is very much in vogue at the moment, not just for the evident physical health benefits but for the well documented effect that physical activity can have on the mind. Physical activity and sport has a huge part to play in promoting and sustaining good mental health.

Collective sport, where we engage with other people also promotes our mental health as it offers interaction with others, fundamental for a healthy mind and outlook.

High concentration sports are a great elixir for those struggling with mental health issues.

The demand for concentration varies with the sport and is divided into three types:-

Intense concentration – used in sports like sprinting, target archery, darts
Short burst concentration – evident in golf and cricket
Sustained concentration – relevant to sports such as long distance running

Success in high concentration sports requires learning techniques to concentrate intensely for short periods of time. These sports train the brain to concentrate on the here and now, to ignore negative self-talk and doubt by utilizing positive self-talk. removing unhelpful thoughts and emotions and putting them to one side for a defined period of time.

From this, it is easy to understand why these techniques used by successful athletes in high concentration sports, can have a positive effect on almost anyone.

Let’s take Archery as an example

Archery as a target sport requires high levels of concentration.

The practice of good shooting is a mindful one.

Archery requires intense short-burst concentration through the shot cycle. From picking a target and nocking an arrow to raising, drawing, aiming and release, the participant needs to intently concentrate on all aspects to achieve good form. This is necessary to create a repeatable process that leads to consistent aim and good shot groupings.

That process of concentration throughout the shot is one where the mind is encouraged to blank out all negative thoughts and focus solely on itself. Correct placement of your fingers on the string. The touch of your hand to your face when you anchor the shot. The push and pull in your arms. Slow and steady breathing. Tension in your back throughout the release. All this is only possible when the mind is fully in the here and now.

Becoming more aware of immediate physical sensations and our environment allows us to understand and process our mental traffic; it’s not about changing it but more the ability to disassociate ourselves from it and see it for what it is which is something that does not need to govern and define our lives.

Mindfulness is a heightened state of self-awareness, a way of slowing down the moment and focusing only on that point in time, developing deep levels of consciousness, of how the body feels rather than by being solely driven by the constant jumble of thoughts and emotions in our heads.

How you benefit

High levels of focus and concentration give rise to these faculties and emotions:

Mindfulness – Focus and concentration
Patience
Motivation
Self-efficacy

This can lead onto the following, positive lifestyle developments:

Reduced levels of stress and depression
A lessened anxiety level
Improvements in sleep patterns
Sharpened mind and mental faculties including memory

There are other indirect benefits that can come from taking part in archery:

Healthy competition
Co-operation
Teamwork
Leadership skills
Relaxation
Improved social skills
Self-esteem improvements
Fun and enjoyment!
New experiences and friendships

More than just the mind

It is possible for the young, the old and the less physically able to participate at the archery range. But does target archery offer any physical benefit?

You may be surprised to learn that an average female can burn up to 144 calories an hour doing just that at an archery range.Target shooting at modest ranges with medium power compound bows isn’t as physical as a gym session would be, but it IS physical and you will see benefits like these:

Balance
Core strength
Hand-Eye Co-ordination
Flexibility
Upper body strength development

Archery isn’t the only sport that does these things. There are other less popular ranged sports like skeet, clay pigeon shooting, and in the US hunting! Hunting involves much more than just shooting as there’s usually a decent hike added on before the thrill of the hunt begins.

Don’t always look to the main sports pages when you’re seeking out a new passion.

There is loads of useful resources on this and other target sports at targetcrazy.com.

7 Apr 2018

Rope For Boating and Marine Use: What You Need to Know

Anchors away – but, wait, what’s your anchor attached to? Rope is an important but often overlooked part of maritime activity, serving many functions.

Most widely used for docking, anchoring, towing, and rigging, rope is an important member of any boat crew! That’s why it’s important to pick rope for anchors and general marine use that will do its duty.

In the end, most boaters will generally use either Nylon rope or Polypropylene rope, depending on the size of their boat, weather conditions, and the activity they need it for of course.

To learn about the best rope for boating and marine use, read on!

What Rope Should You Use For An Anchor?

Unless you want to float away, having a good anchor in place is vital. The ground tackle system consists of the actual anchor and then the anchor rode, which can be a rope/chain combination or, all chain. Which kind of system you’ll uses largely depends on the size and type of boat you have.

However, if you decide that a rope/chain combo is the way to go, you should use Nylon rope. The elastic quality of nylon gives this rope great shock absorption. This is necessary given the force of the wind and waves. In addition, Nylon rope is very strong, flexible, rot/mildew resistant, and generally inexpensive. This rope is also easy to handle (compared to other types of rope) and holds up very well in the sunlight.

For nylon anchor lines, three strand rope is the preferred type, as it has stretch and resistance to abrasion, but braided will work as well. If you go with a braided line, be sure to pick a type that is less likely to snag. Remember, although your Nylon based anchor line will have no problem under tough conditions like wind, its breaking strength will decrease with age from knots, kinks, etc.

What’s the Best Rope For a Dock Line?

Just like with anchor lines, Nylon rope is generally your best choice for dock lines. When selecting rope for a dock line, it’s important to have two sets in mind: temporary slips and permanent slips, as they’ll both have different needs.

Nylon rope is the best for docking and mooring because of its strength and stretch. Double braid or three-strand line should do the trick. Easy to splice and reasonably priced, nylon rope is the way to go.

If you have permanent dock lines, you’ll want to protect the rope from chafe since it will be constantly in use. This can be done with chafe guards, eye splices or galvanized shackles. Transient, or temporary dock lines, are lines stored on board designated specifically for travel.

What Rope Do I Need For General Marine Use Like Pulling/Towing?

Polypropylene rope (sometimes referred to as the “Yellow Rope”) is most commonly used for activities like wake-boarding and water skiing. It’s also used to tow dinghies and tenders, although Nylon Rope can work too.

Polypropylene rope floats and is almost as strong as Nylon, making it perfectly acceptable for these types of activities. Keep in mind though, this rope is far less resistant to the sun’s UV rays and will not last as long as Nylon rope.

There’s a reason that sailors know so many different types of knots. It is because there are many ways to incorporate rope into their work. As you can see, rope serves many important functions onboard your vessel, so don’t skimp! Always select the best rope for boating and marine use that you can. Ootherwise it can rot, degrade, and break.

*Not part of an article on marine rope, but many of the reasons yellow Polypropylene rope works well for skiing makes it great for other tasks. I use it myself for lashing projects, and the 1/2 thick 600 foot roll pictured at the top is very useful for homestead building projects.

7 Apr 2018

How Federal Gun Background Checks Work

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the fundamental right of Americans to keep and bear arms.

Purchasing a gun in the US, however, is subject to a federal background check, that is, if you buy a gun through a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL). Retailers at Walmart and other smaller- brink-and-mortar shops selling guns fall under this category.

Should you find yourself charged with any violation of the Gun Control Act, you will need to have a gun criminal defense lawyer by your side to help you mount an effective defense in court.

If you decide to purchase a gun at a federally-licensed retailer;

Here is what you will have to go through:

Fill out a 4473 form – All prospective gun buyers at FFLs are required to fill out the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ 4473 form, also known as a Firearms Transaction Record. It asks for your basic information, including your full name, address, sex, birth date, and ethnicity. The form also asks questions about your immigration status, mental health, and any criminal background, all of which could lead to a denial of purchase.

Providing false information on the form is a felony which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison as well as a $250,000 fine.

NICS check—Once you’re done filling out the federal form, the retailer or person selling you the gun will run the information you provided in it through the FBI-maintained National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

The NICS check will take about 30 seconds. You can proceed with the purchase if the background check doesn’t find anything on your record that will indicate you are prohibited from buying a firearm. However, if the background check registers a hit, the NICS will mark the form as “canceled” or “denied,” and the dealer cannot legally sell the gun to the prospective buyer.

When a NICS background check returns a “delayed” response, the transaction will be on hold for at least three business days. In that period, the seller will have to wait for NICS to designate the transaction as “denied.” However, if the three-day period elapses without a cancellation or a denial, the transaction can proceed under federal law.

Who is prohibited from owning a firearm?

Under federal law, a person is not allowed to legally own a gun if he or she is any of the following:

A drug user or addict
Dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces
A convicted felon sentenced to a prison term of more than a year
A fugitive from justice
An illegal immigrant
Convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence
Mentally-ill as declared by a court or have been committed to a mental institution
An ex-US citizen who renounced his/her citizenship
Subject to a court restraining order issued on behalf of an ‘intimate partner,’ a partner’s child, or children

Private Sale Exemption

Also referred to as the gun show loophole, the private sale exemption refers to the absence of the background check requirement for private-party sellers of firearms. That means people buying guns online, from a gun show, and from other dealers that are not federally-licensed can just get the firearm of their choice without being checked whether or not they are eligible to own a gun under federal law. It is this loophole that has allowed convicted felons, drug addicts, illegal immigrants, domestic abusers, and other ineligible people to purchase guns legally.

However, some states have stepped in and have plugged this loophole by requiring unlicensed sellers to perform background checks on gun buyers.

Still, even with this background check system in place, offenses that involve firearms continue to take place, with some offenders unjustly facing weapons charges for one reason or another.

3 Mar 2018

A Patriot’s History of the United States

For the past three decades, many history professors have allowed their biases to distort the way America’s past is taught. These intellectuals have searched for instances of racism, sexism, and bigotry in our history while downplaying the greatness of America’s patriots and the achievements of “dead white men.”

As a result, more emphasis is placed on Harriet Tubman than on George Washington; more about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II than about D-Day or Iwo Jima; more on the dangers we faced from Joseph McCarthy than those we faced from Josef Stalin.

A Patriot’s History of the United States corrects those doctrinaire biases. In this groundbreaking book, America’s discovery, founding, and development are reexamined with an appreciation for the elements of public virtue, personal liberty, and private property that make this nation uniquely successful. This book offers a long-overdue acknowledgment of America’s true and proud history.

A Patriot’s History of the United States is a pretty interesting book, I enjoyed looking at history from a conservative eye. It made some things stand out in a way school never did. I have long thought that we have stopped examining the reasons our country went from colony to superpower overnight. I don’t think we need to be ashamed of our Country, but rather, acknowledge the world we came from, learn from it, and keep celebrating the best parts of our culture.

8 Feb 2018

The Tiger’s Way

I have a friend that runs a local “mutual aid group” that uses The Tiger’s Way as a field manual, if you pick this book up, you will soon know why. The author, John Poole, has been both a commissioned infantry officer, as well as a noncom (USMC). He has also spent several years as a trainer and researcher.

I have to give him some credit simply because of his opening line on his amazon author bio “Through an inverted military career, H. John Poole has discovered a few things that more promotable people miss”. This guy is not afraid to say things that go against institutionalized dogma. His statement made laugh and think about the different types of majors you find in the military.

This book gives a path toward a better trained US soldier, he describes strengths and weaknesses of the eastern soldier and explains how we can adapt their ways of doing things to make our guys better.

Besides giving a warrior some very interesting food for thought the back of the book contains a section of battle drills and training options that are worth the price of the book.

John Poole has done his homework, and is a great author of books to better prepare our American soldiers and Marines. Stay tuned, If you liked The Tiger’s Way I also have another interesting read from Poole coming soon its called Phantom Soldier.

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