Category: Note

On this day in 1776, writer Thomas Paine published his pamphlet “Common Sense,” setting forth his arguments in favor of American independence. Although little used today, pamphlets were an important medium for the spread of ideas in the 16th through 19th centuries. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 86 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from veteran-owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite …

On this day, in 1835, the U.S. National Debt reached zero for the first and only time. Please note that the accompanying photo is dated. Distressingly, I must report that about 13 trillion dollars have been added, since then. Here is the current running National Debt tally.  Yes, it now begins with “$23”. — January 8th, 1931 was the birthday of the late Algis Budrys (he died on June 9th, 2008). He was the Lithuanian-American science fiction author who wrote the classic survivalist novel Some Will Not Die. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 86 …

January 7th, 1963 was the birthday of Senator Rand Paul. — This is also the birthday of Cresson Kearny (born 1914, died December 18, 2003) — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 86 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from veteran-owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any one, two, or three day course …

Today is the birthday of famed bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs, (1924-2012.) — And this is also the birthday of British comic actor Rowan Atkinson (born 1955).

Today is the birthday of actor Robert Duvall (born 1931.) His roles in Open Range and Apocalypse Now are unforgettable. — January 5th is the birthday of the late John Pugsley (born 1934, died April 8, 2011), libertarian and economics author. Pugsley was well known in preparedness circles as the author of The Alpha Strategy. (The book is out of print, but a PDF is available for free download.) — It is also the birthday of General Courtney Hodges (born 1887 – January 16, 1966). Kicked out of West Point for low math scores, he enlisted as a private but …

January 4th is the birthday of George Hyde. His surname at birth was “Heide”, but it was later anglicized. He was born in 1888, in Arpfingen, Germany. He was the chief gun designer for the Inland Division of General Motors (GM) in Dayton, Ohio during World War II. Hyde was best-known as the co-designer of the M3 “Grease gun” SMG and the Liberator pistol, but he also designed the Bendix-Hyde Carbine and the M2 Hyde submachinegun. He immigrated to the United States in 1927.

On this day, in 1521, Martin Luther – the father of the reformation and founder of Protestantism – was officially excommunicated by Pope Leo X from the Roman Catholic Church. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 86 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from veteran-owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any one, …

January 2nd, 1776 is the anniversary of the initial display of the first revolutionary flag (the Grand Union Flag).  

A notable birthday: John Cantius Garand was born  January 1, 1888 in St. Rémi, Quebec. John Garand designed one of America’s best known battle rifles, the M1 Garand. General Patton praised Garand’s design, writing to Chief of Ordnance Lt. Gen. Levin H. Campbell, Jr., (January 26, 1945): “The M1 rifle is the most deadly rifle in the world.” Garand died on February 16, 1974. — Archive USB Update For those who have asked, here is an update on our upcoming release of the SurvivalBlog 2005-2019 archive waterproof USB sticks. To summarize: The archive now includes all SurvivalBlog posts and comments …

December 31st is the birthday of both Alexander Solzhenitsyn (pictured). — And December 31st, 1851 was the birthday of Frederick Selous. (He died on January 4th, 1917.) – This is also the birthday of Dr. Cynthia Koelker, SurvivalBlog’s Medical Editor.

December 30, 1865 was the birthday of Rudyard Kipling. His writings are now favorites among British, Australian, and American officers and NCOs deployed to Afghanistan. — Today we present another review by our Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio. But first, some breaking news (with commentary): Armed church members shoot active shooter inside packed Texas church during a livestreamed communion. JWR’s Comment:  Chalk up one for the Good Guys. Without their prompt response, this probably would have been another bloodbath.

Today is the birthday of inventor Charles Goodyear (1800–1860.) This is also the birthday of actor Jude Law (born 1972.) You will remember him from Enemy at The Gates and Sky Captain. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 85 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used …

December 28, 1793 is the day that Thomas Paine was arrested in France for treason. The charges against him were never fully detailed, but he was tried in absentia on December 26 and convicted. Best known as the author of Common Sense, he moved to Paris to be part of the French revolution. Initially welcomed, the tide soon turned against him, because he was opposed to the death penalty and the French revolutionaries were sending hundreds to the guillotine. — Today, instead of another regular entry for Round 85 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest, we are presenting two short …

On this day in 1979, in an attempt to stabilize the turbulent political situation in Afghanistan, the Soviet Union sent 75,000 troops to enforce the installation of Babrak Karmal as the new leader of the nation. The new government and the imposing Soviet presence, however, had little success in putting down anti-government rebels. Thus began nearly 10 years of an agonizing, destructive, and ultimately fruitless Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan. Death by a thousand cuts. — Cabela’s (one of our affiliate advertisers) has started their annual clearance sale, with some items reduced 50%. That sale ends on January 8, 2020. …

On December 26th, 1777, after crossing the Delaware River, Washington led his men against Hessian soldiers garrisoned at Trenton. After a brief battle, nearly the entire Hessian force was captured, with negligible losses to the Americans, significantly boosting their flagging morale.