Last week DocSersh asked me to write a post regarding handwriting and penmanship. As someone who does a lot of writing by hand, I know that being able to read your own handwriting is important. More importantly, I know that writing by hand is still a useful skill.
You may be asking yourself, “Why does my handwriting matter? Is it really that important?” Truth is your own handwriting is still important, even in the age of texting and word processors. While people these days will stick with sending emails and text messages to other people, there will always be a place for thank-you notes, personal memos, private journals, and the like. Such examples tend to hold a more personal and emotional connection between you and whoever may be receiving said work.
Of these examples thank-you notes see the most application. A gentleman knows when and how to send a more personalized note of thanks. Typically, such notes are sent to friends, family, and your superiors based on the work environment. One needs to keep in mind the length and content of the note. A good thank-you note does not deal with any other content besides thanking the receiver for their work, service, generosity, etc. If you intend to mention or talk about other subjects, consider writing a full letter.
Sending a thank-you note or a letter works twofold: first, it a show of courtesy to the person receiving your note, and second, it shows the person you cared enough to sit down and write a message.
While sending thank-you notes displays courtesy, it will not matter if your actual penmanship is terrible. Your penmanship, your actual handwriting, can deter even the most honest of intentions. A person cannot accept your thanks or correspondence if they cannot read your handwriting. Being able to write in a legible fashion is critical in sending letters and notes. For the time being, here are a few quick tips on improving your handwriting:
-Make sure you are using a good writing tool. If pencil, make sure it is sharp so your words do not look dull. If pen, make sure there is plenty of ink.
-When using a pen, have one that has a grip. This will make writing easier on your fingers.
-Do not grip your pen/pencil with force. Holding your pen or pencil will put stress on your fingers and your handwriting will suffer as a result.
From here you can browse the Internet for tips, how-to videos, and full books on improving your penmanship.
Of all the skills for a gentleman to know, one of the most important ones is knowing how to shoot a gun. Now the question of whether or not to be allowed to own a firearm is a hot topic for us here in the U.S., and I am not supporting either side. That in and of itself is a political debate, and a gentleman does not openly and freely debate politics or religion with those he doesn't know. However, whether you are for or against the ownership of firearms doesn't mean you should not know how to use one. In the right hands a firearm is a tool of skill much like a bow is for archery, and like archery when used properly and responsibly a firearm is a good form of manly entertainment that can produce close bonds with the other men you shoot with.
Why Should the Modern Gentleman Know How to Shoot
There are many reason for the modern gentleman to know how to shoot, and they range from basic survival to social networking. In the days of the fire-lock, guns were the primary source of food. In the 16 and 1700's you didn't go to the local grocery store to get meat. If you wanted that you had grab your good 'ol muzzle loader and spend the day in the wood. Today its a lot easier to get meat. but some men still prefer to go out in the early fall and hunt the meat they will be eating for the next few months. I have fond memories of my dad taking his yearly trips to Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin, and coming back with loads of ground venison and deer steaks. Hunting is not only a task of substance. Its a sport and a bonding experience. Many great gentlemen, like Teddy Roosevelt, hunted as a way to bond with others as well as with themselves.
Marksmanship is more than just hunting though. It is also a sport and recreational activity. If you watch cable TV, there is no doubt you have probably seen shows like Top Shot. This show is a competition for those who have mastered the art of shooting, but you don't have to be a master to compete. In many areas there are local gun clubs that do them. Also some city community centers offer shooting competitions for people of all ages and skill levels. This is a great way to meet new people.
Another great way to meet new people through shooting is just going to your local gun range. Its a great way to network. Want to get to get a good connection with a new business partner? Instead of the golf coarse invite him to the gun range. You can get to know him while you just blow through a few rounds, or prove to him your worth by making a competition of who can shoot better. Not to mention most people at gun ranges are very friendly. I always take time when I'm at the range to help someone if its obvious that they are new to shooting or having trouble.
The last reason someone should know how to shoot is for self defense. Just cause you don't believe in owning a fire arm doesn't mean you will never have to use one to protect yourself. Though zombie apocalypse and end of the world scenario are unlikely, a "Without Rule Of Law" event is always a huge possibility. Take Hurricane Katrine for instance, it didn't take much to push the population to just forget how to live civilize. You may not own or want to own a firearm but doesn't mean that you will never have to pick one up and defend your self or family.
Know Your Gun Types
Give the way media in the U.S is talking about firearms there are many misconceived notions as to whats what. One of the most important things to know when you learn how to shoot is knowing what you are shooting. Therefore, since some people get all their information of firearms from the news I want to take a quick minute to describe the different types of firearms.
Glock 22 .40 cal Handgun
First up is the pistol. These guns are meant to be handled in any condition and at close to medium ranges. There are two types of hand gun: This pistol which is magazine fed and generally semi-automatic.The photo to the right of the Glock 22 is an example of a Handgun. The other type of pistol is a revolver. These are normally cylinder fed and can be both semi-auto or single action. A good example of this is what Dirty Harry or Cowboys carried. These guns were originally given as a firearm for Military Officers and were also used as weapons for a gentleman to duel and is now the symbol of personal/home defense.
Mossberg 500 12 ga. Shotgun with extra barrel
Next up is the Shotgun. One of the most iconic weapon is this descendant of the blunderbuss. The blunderbuss was a gun made for bird hunting. You would cram what ever you could find, rocks, glass, ect. and fire it out in a spread hoping to hit something. Today's modern shot gun is the same way. Shotgun shells can be bought in a range of different loads, to shoot anything from ducks and deer to skeet and door hinges. The shot gun has a reputation for being one of the most versatile guns. Many shotgun manufacture actually make different barrels for different types of shooting and allow for the shotgun to be modified to the occasion. This gun was originally used in the trench warfare of WWI as a gun to be fired at extreme close range where it is most accurate and devastating. Even now it is the weapon of choice for many navy's to handle the close quarter combat that might take place on board a ship. This gun is normally made in pump action and semi-automatic and fed by a built in magazine that must be reloaded by hand when empty.
Springfield 1903
After Shotguns comes the Rifle. The rifle comes in many forms such as Muzzle loaders like those used in the Revolutionary and American Civil Wars, Bolt Actions like those used in WWI, and Tactical like the semi-automatic AR-15 used by police. Rifles are generally a weapon that if meant to be fired from the shoulder. Where it differs from the shot gun is the type of shot that is fired. Where shotguns normally fire several projectiles at once in what is called a spread, the riffle only fires a single projectile and it is meant to hit targets at range. I could probably write a whole article about rifles and probably will, however for this article all you need to really know is rifes are shoulder fired, single shot, long distance weapons.
Buschmaster AR-15
Black Powder Rifle
Getting into the Hobbie
Now that you have a little knowledge about why you should know how to shoot and what guns are what its time to get in to the sport. First go take a firearms safety class. Most gun ranges offer these and some gun shows offer them too. Once you have taken one, but before you go a buy a gun, go shooting. You may have a friend that owns one and if you don't, almost all gun ranges will let you rent a gun to shoot. Go to the range and shoot a couple of different guns to learn what feels good for you. As you learn, make contacts with those around you who like to target shoot or go hunting, maybe even join a local hunt club. Unless your going to a range never go shooting alone, and always practices safe shooting. As with any other skill repetition is the key to mastery so get out there and train.
Two of the most important things of the modern world are computers and the internet. No matter who you are or what you do you likely interact with these two elements at some point in your day. It could be downloading a news app on your cell phone, emailing Johnson with the accounting report on your work PC, or surfing Gentlemint on your home laptop. Even more important than these important tools are the digital gears and cogs that make them run: Programing Languages.
What is a Programing Language?
A programing language is in its most basic terms is exactly that, it's a language that computers speak. However, there is more to it than that. Computers themselves are systems of hardware and software that work together to complete requested tasked. The hardware devices talk to each other through the fluctuation of electrical currents known as binary. As I type the keys on my keyboard the keys send a signal to the processor, which then sends signals to the monitor to display the text that I am typing, but how does the computer know that when I press the "K" key it should display the letter "K" in the text on the screen? Software.
Software is the key to making sure that all these systems work together. The software programed into your BIOS makes sure your processor doesn't over heat and catch fire, software of your word processor handles talking to your printer when you want a physical copy of your document. However, how does software do all this? Well, this is where the programing language comes in.
Programing languages are what take the complication of computing binary and processing algorithms, and put it into an easy to manipulate format (If you never tried to calculate with binary this video here shows how to compute an IP Address with binary). Programing languages control everything when it comes to software, from operation to aesthetics. How is this blogs background black? A programing language told it to be. How does your computer know to move your courser right when you move your mouse right? A programing language told it to.
Why should the Modern Gentleman know how to Code?
For starters it's at the core of our natural instinct to control our surroundings. Today almost everything in our environment involves computers, so knowing how to code gives you the ability to control those computers. Along with the core instincts to control our domain, to be a gentleman it is important to to always better our intellect.
Second, when you know how to code anything is possible. Just look at these examples of what is possible with coding. A father has reprogrammed the original Donkey Kong for his daughter, or this marriage proposal made to be the fiancees favorite video game.
Finally, knowing how to code is a high in demand skill, that few know. Not to mention that very few entry level programing jobs require you to be certified in the language, and you normally don't need to be certified to put one on a resume, as long as you can show your proficient with it. This means that learning different programing languages make you a more marketable job candidate
How to learn how to code?
There are many different ways to learn how to code. Your local library should have many books about coding. Most community colleges offer night courses to teach different programing languages also. However, the best way I believe to learn a new programing language is the new site called Code Academy. This site offers step by step hands on tutorials in several different languages. It offers an achievement system like XBOX360 or PS3 to promote you to complete your courses and learn more languages.
Once you have decided how you are going to learn your new skill, you need to decided which language you are going to learn. There many different languages, each one has a different difficulty to learn, and depending on the language you can do different things. I suggest starting with either Java, an simple language used to make things like Flash games, or HTML and CSS, two easy to learn languages used to make web pages.
Now that you have your tool, and your language picked, all you need to do is study and practice. Like all skills you must actually learn and use it to master it. Who knows maybe your next simple program will lead you to write a great new indie video game, or the next big search engine or social networking site. The possibilities are endless with this skill of the modern gentle man.
As long as civilized man has been around there has always been the urge
to smoke tobacco, and one of the most ancient ways to do so has been the
tobacco pipe, so it is no surprises that this is a skill that is imbedded in the genetics of the modern day man.
Today's man tends to stay away from any use of tobacco. Given the mountain of data to say tobacco is bad for your health, and the amounts of additives cigarettes companies but in their tobacco that cause these health issued, this is understandable. With the addictive nature of nicotine, a key component of tobacco, many who have never smoke tend to stay away. However like with many vices of man, with proper moderation comes benefit.
Like alcohol, whose properties when used in moderation help to reduce high blood pressure and heart disease, tobacco when used sparingly can also produce several health payoffs. For starters the nicotine, though the addictive component, is an effective stress relief, and some studies have also shown that tobacco when used sparingly can help to raise a low testosterone level.
I personally smoked cigarettes for 4 years and quite when I realized it was causing my childhood asthma to return, therefor, I do not condone the habit, and can speak for the health risk and addictive nature. With that said, I have not touched a cigarette or cigar in over 3 years, though I do like to indulge from time to time in a little bit of pipe smoking after a long days work. Just remember that moderation is the key and if you have an addictive personality, this might not be a skill you want to partake in. Tobacco does have dire health consequences if use in abundance.
History of Pipe Smoking
Pipe smoking has been around since 500 B.C. Native Americans have used long used pipes in religious ceremonies and to seal covenants between tribes, and in European culture the smoking of a pipe was a sign of a distinguished man who took time to enjoy the finer things in life. Pipe smoking is one of the few things that has no cultural border. It has been seen in all seven continents, and even spread to to isolated cultures like Japan, who have their of distinct style of pipe called the Kiseru.
Pipe smoking is also important character element in many literary aspects of European culture from Sherlock Holmes, and Huck Finn to just about every character in the books of J.R.R. Tolkien. Even some depictions of Santa Claus describe him as having a pipe clenched between his teeth. Not to mention many of histories greatest gentlemen have been pipe smokers, including Douglas MacArthur, Ernest Hemmingway, and Albert Einstein who said, "I believe that pipe smoking contributes to a somewhat calm and objective judgment in all human affairs."
Pipe Smoking 101
When it comes to selecting your perfect pipe its important to know what you want. Pipes are made of a variety of materials, in and an array of style. You can go to your local tobacco hut and buy a cheap pipe for as low as five dollars, however, doing so may give you a bad first experience. My first experiment with pipe smoking was when I was eighteen and involved a cheap 90 cent corn cob pipe. Needless to say I didn't attempt pipe smoking again for another five years. With that said you don't have to go out and spend eighty dollars on your first pipe. You can find a decent first pipe for between twenty-five and forty dollars.When picking materials, it is best to stick with a synthetic pipe to start. Wood and Clay pipes are amazing and give a distinct taste to the tobacco, but they generally need to be treated and can easily be burned, cracking the inside and allowing bacteria to grow which will cause your tobacco to sour when smoking.
As for shape and style that's all up to you. The design of the pipe has no affect on the tobacco, so you can decided whether you want to look like a 1960's NASA flight control man or a distinguished Civil War Officer.
The last thing to select when it comes to your pipe is your tobacco. Now I swear by Captain Black pipe tobacco but its all up to you. Many local tobacco shops sell pipe tobacco and if possible ask if the sales clerk will let you open a pack and smell it. Tobacco is like wine in that the better it smells to you, the better its going to taste.
Now now that you have your pipe and tobacco there is one last thing to do. Before you go grab your lighter and try to light up that pipe, sit
down and watch some videos on pipe smoking. There is a very specific way
to smoke a pipe, and unfortunately there is no good way to give written instructions on how to smoke. The only way to learn is by watching other. I suggest the following video. The vlogger has done a whole series on beginner pipe smoking with some manly humor.
I could write a small book on how to smoke a pipe, but you'll find out as I did that the best way to learn the skill is to watch other. Fortunately however, I have comprised of a small list of do's and dont's.
Do's
Use matches to light your pipe.
This keeps you from overheating your tobacco and burning your tounge
Clean your pipe out regularly
If the tobacco has been in there longer than a week it can get stale or sour to the taste
Puff or "Sip" you tobacco
Think of pipe smoking like wine tasting, your there to enjoy the flavor of the tobacco
Sit and relax
Pipe smoking is like having evening tea, your there to calm down, relax, and take time to think
Don'ts
Use a lighter
Lighters not only burn the tobacco but give pipe smoking a bad image. Your a gentleman not hippy
Pack new tobacco on old tobacco
Not only will you get the sour taste of old tobacco, but the taste of the already burned part of the old tobacco
Inhale the smoke
Inhaling is just bad for your health
Get discouraged
You will be relighting your pipe alot as you smoke it, this is normal. Pipe smoking like any skill must be practiced.
Conclusion
In closing, Pipe smoking is trait that is at the very core of manly society, from generals to scholars. Though it does pose a health risk when over used, with moderation it can give you some health benefits. So if your looking for a manly vice that has a long past and a more dignified look than the common "cowboy killers," pipe smoking may be up your ally.
