Category: Note

On May 5, 1893, The Panic of 1893 caused a large crash on the New York Stock Exchange. May 5th is the birthday of Adrian Carton de Wiart, known as Britain’s “Unstoppable Soldier.” This eccentric Belgian-born soldier served in the Boer War, First World War, and Second World War; was shot in the face, head, stomach, ankle, leg, hip, and ear; survived two plane crashes; tunneled out of a prisoner-of-war camp; and bit off his own fingers when a doctor refused to amputate them. This is also the birthday of Pat Frank (1908-1964). This was the pen name of newspaper …

May 4th is now informally known as “Star Wars Day”, because of a silly play on words: “May The Fourth Be With You.” May 4th 1943 – A patent for helicopter controls was obtained by Igor Sikorsky. Sikorsky invented fixed-winged and multi-engined aircraft, transoceanic flying boats, and most famously, helicopters. On May 4, 1415, Christian reformers John Wycliffe and Jan Hus were condemned as heretics at the Council of Constance. The death of Hus inspired the later Hussite revolution in Bohemia. — Today we present a guest article on the silver markets by Hubert Moolman, selected by JWR. — We …

On May 3, 2016, a wildfire forced the evacuation of Fort McMurray, Alberta—the capital of Canada’s tar sand industry—and the surrounding area; ultimately, more than 80,000 people fled the blaze, which caused billions of dollars in losses. — May 3rd, 1952 was the birthday of Pastor Chuck Baldwin. He has done yeoman service in promoting the American Redoubt movement. — With gardening and home canning season approaching, I’d like to remind readers about Harvest Guard. They make reusable regular and wide-mouth canning lids. Every serious preparedness-minded family that does home canning should buy several sets of their lids! Take note …

On May 2, 1780, William Herschel discovered the first binary star, Xi Ursae Majoris. — On May 2nd, 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France at a cost of four cents per acre for 828,000 square miles (2,144,520 square km), which soon proved to be a tremendous bargain. — On May 2, 1945, the Soviet Union announced the fall of Berlin and the Allies announced the surrender of Nazi troops in Italy and parts of Austria. — On May 2nd, 2000, U.S. President Bill Clinton announced that high-accuarcy GPS would be made available to the public; the …

On May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building in New York City officially opened. For four decades it was the tallest building in the world, and it is considered a U.S. landmark. — On May 1, 2004, The European Union was enlarged to include the new member states of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia — Today we present a product review and field test by Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — We are in need of entries for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.  More than $875,000 worth of prizes …

On April 30, 1897, English physicist J.J. Thomson announced that he had discovered the electron, which helped revolutionize the knowledge of atomic structure; he later was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. April 30, 1777 was the birthday of Carl Friedrich Gauss, who is widely is considered the world’s greatest mathematician. Camerone Day is celebrated on April 30th every year — the Foreign Legion’s most important holiday. On the 30 of April 1863 the French Foreign Legion fought for over 10 hours with a vastly-larger Mexican Army contingent. This battle is still celebrated by the Foreign Legion as the Battle …

On April 29, 1770, British explorer James Cook made his first landing in Australia, at Botany Bay. — This is the birthday of actor Daniel Day-Lewis (born 1957), often remembered for his starring roles in Last of the Mohicians and in Lincoln. — Today’s feature article is a review written by  SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — Gone!  We are now out of stock of the waterproof 2005-2023 SurvivalBlog Archive USB sticks. There may be just 10 that we held in reserve for replacements that will be offered for sale in a few days, but otherwise there won’t be …

On April 28, 1945, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, “Il Duce,” who had become unpopular even among his fellow Fascists, was captured while trying to flee Italy. He was executed, and then his corpse was ignominiously dragged through the streets. Then it was put on public display before a jeering crowd in front of an Esso gas station in Milan’s Piazzale Loreto, hanging head-down. Alongside Mussolini were the bodies of his mistress Claretta Petacci, and several members of his Fascist cabinet — also executed. — April 28th is the birthday of Aimo Johannes Lahti. (Born in 1896.) This inventive Finn designed …

On April 27, 1865, the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history occurred when the overloaded steamship SS Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River, killing some 1,800 people, many of whom were former Union POWs returning home from the Civil War. — On this day in 1789, the crew of the British ship Bounty mutinied, setting Captain William Bligh and 18 sailors adrift in a launch in the South Pacific. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at …

On April 26, 1785, John James Audubon, an American ornithologist who became well known for his drawings and paintings of North American birds, was born in Les Cayes, Saint-Domingue, West Indies (now Haiti). — On April 26, 1986, one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents occurred at the Chernobyl plant in the Soviet Union. An explosion and fire in the No. 4 reactor sent radioactivity into the atmosphere; at least 31 Soviets died immediately. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: …

On April 125, 1959, in one of the largest civil engineering feats ever undertaken, the St. Lawrence Seaway officially opened, linking the Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes. — Today is the birthday of physicist, inventor, and entrepreneur Guglielmo Marconi (1874–1937). He was known for his pioneering work on long-distance radio transmission as well as for the development of Marconi’s Law and a radio telegraph system. He is often considered the inventor of radio. — Going, going… We are now down to just 15 of the waterproof 2005-2023 SurvivalBlog Archive USB sticks. I’ve reduced the price on those remaining sticks …

On April 24, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into Earth orbit. Unhindered by the impurities and distortions of Earth’s atmosphere, the 2.4 meter (7.9 feet) aperture telescope has delivered some of the most spectacular images of the far reaches of the Universe. April 24th is the birthday of Carolyn Cole (born 1961), a Pulitzer Prize-winning staff photographer for the Los Angeles Times. This is also the day that the Armenian Genocide began, in 1915. Ottoman (Turk) Muslims slaughtered 1.5 million of their Christian neighbors, intellectuals, and community leaders. The Ottoman government proceeded with multiple phases to round up …

On April 23, 1936, singer-songwriter Roy Orbison, known for his soaring voice and for his carefully crafted ballads of loneliness and heartache, was born in Vernon, Texas. — The oldest US public institution, Boston Latin School, was founded on April 23, 1635. — “Shane”, directed by George Stevens and based on the 1949 novel by Jack Schaefer, starring Alan Ladd and Jean Arthur premiered on April 23, 1949. — There are several interesting new retreat property listings over at SurvivalRealty.com. These include: Your Own Private Idaho – Clark Fork. 221 Off-Grid Acres in Western North Carolina. Engineered Lakefront Homestead – …

On April 22, 1889, the Oklahoma land rush began. Today is the birthday of actor Eddie Albert (born Edward Albert Heimberger April 22, 1906.) He died May 26, 2005, at age 99.) For his actions in the battle of Tarawa, he was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device. Today is the birthday of the late Charles Rankin Bond, Jr., who was born in Dallas on April 22, 1915. (Died, 2009.) He was one of the last of the AVG Flying Tiger pilots. — Going,  going… We are now down to just 30 of the waterproof 2005-2023 SurvivalBlog Archive USB …

On April 21, 1918, Manfred, Freiherr (Baron) von Richthofen, Germany’s top flying ace in World War I, was shot down and killed during a battle near Amiens, France. April 21st, 1828, Noah Webster published the first American dictionary. April 21st is Aggie Muster Day, for all Texas A&M graduates. Aggie Muster celebrations/meetings are held as far away as Japan, Germany, and Afghanistan. April 21st was selected as the day to celebrate Muster since that is the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto, where Santa Anna’s army was defeated by the Texian Army led by Sam Houston. — Today’s feature …