Preparedness Notes for Friday — May 17, 2024

On May 17, 1897, the first successful submarine that could run submerged for any considerable distance and combined electric and gasoline engines (USS Holland, SS-1) was launched in the US by its designer John Philip Holland.

On this day in 1769, George Washington launched a legislative salvo at Great Britain’s fiscal and judicial attempts to maintain its control over the American colonies. He brought a package of non-importation resolutions, drafted by George Mason, before the Virginia House of Burgesses. This initiated a chain of events that led to Britain’s House of Lords demanding that men involved in the extra-legal Massachusetts convention of towns be tried in England. Britain’s plan backfired and created an American identity where before there had been none.

Sale Ends Tonight! All of my knife and bayonet inventory is on sale, at Elk Creek Company. This sale ends at midnight Pacific Time, tonight, Friday, May 17th, so order soon.

Today’s feature is a short guest piece selected by JWR  that was authored by metals analyst Hubert Moolman, of South Africa.

We are seeking entries for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 112 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.