Category: Note

On June 1st, 1936 the “Lux Radio Theater” moved from New York City to Hollywood. — June 1st, 1947: The Office of Price Administration (OPA), which had issued U.S. wartime rationing coupons, was disbanded. Rationing continued in England until 1954. — Today’s feature article is a guest post by our friend and long-time SurvivaBlog article contributor Hub Moolman, of South Africa. — We are now seeking entries for Round 119 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 119 ends on July 31st, so get busy …

On May 31, 1669, Samuel Pepys recorded the last entry in his famous diary. He cited poor eyesight as the reason for ending his entries. — May 31, 1930, was the birthday of actor/director/producer Clint Eastwood. At age 95, he has developed some strong opinions. — On 31 May 1970, an earthquake off the coast of Peru caused a substantial section of the north slope of Mt. Huascaran to collapse. The avalanche moved downhill at a speed estimated at 175 to 210 mph. with a mass of roughly 80 million cubic meters of ice, mud, and rock. The avalanche traveled …

May 30th was America’s original Memorial Day. By proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, the first major Memorial Day observance was held on May 30th, 1868 to honor those who died “in defense of their country” Known to some as “Decoration Day,” mourners honored the Civil War dead by decorating their graves with flowers. On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery. — And on …

On May 29th, 1765, Patrick Henry gave his historic speech against the Stamp Act. He answered a cry of “Treason!” with, “If this be treason, make the most of it!” — May 29, 1953: Edmund Hillary (of New Zealand) and Tenzing Norgay (of Nepal) became the first men to reach the summit of Mount Everest as part of a British Expedition — Blatten, flattened: 90% of Swiss village covered by landslide after glacier collapse, says official. (Video.) JWR’s Comment:  Please pray for the residents of the village, and their relatives. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present the first entry …

On May 28, 1937, the famed Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco was opened to vehicular traffic. JWR’s Comments: Originally, the toll was 50 cents each way, or $1 for a round trip, with a 5-cent surcharge for any car with more than three passengers. The bridge toll is now $10 for automobiles, or $9.75 with a FastTrak transponder, for automated billing. Assuming 260 working days in a calendar year, that would equate to a bridge toll expense of $2,535  per year, for a Golden Gate Bridge commuter with a transponder!  By the way, additional incremental toll increases have already …

On May 27, 1813, American forces captured Fort George, Canada. — Today is the birthday of American author and abolitionist lecturer Julia Ward Howe, who was best known for writing Battle Hymn of the Republic. She was born in 1819 and died in 1910. — May 27, 1905: The Japanese fleet destroyed the Russian East Sea fleet in the Battle of Tsushima. This was the only decisive clash between modern steel battleships in history. — I just heard some sad news: ‘Duck Dynasty’ founding father Phil Robertson dies at 79. May he rest in peace. Our condolences to his family. …

On May 26, 1538, Geneva expelled John Calvin and his followers from the city. Calvin then lived in exile in Strasbourg for the next three years. — Today is the 35th wedding anniversary of Don and Patrice Lewis. Patrice is Editrix of the excellent Rural Revolution blog. — Today’s feature piece is a review penned by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — We are in need of entries for Round 118 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 118 ends on May 31st, so …

On May 25th, 1720, the ship “Le Grand St. Antoine” reached Marseille, France, bringing Europe’s last major plague outbreak. The Plague of Marseille killed around 100,000 people. — May 25, 1787: The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia with George Washington presiding. The task of the peaceful overthrow of the new American government as it had been defined by the Articles of Confederation eventually led to the United States Constitution that is so abused today. — May 25th, 2012: A SpaceX Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to dock at the International Space Station. — Today’s feature article is an essay …

On May 24, 1844, Samuel Morse tapped out: “What hath God wrought” in the world’s first telegraph message. — And speaking of Samuels, on May 24, 1764, Samuel Adams wrote instructions for a Boston Town Meeting opposing the Sugar Act, laying the groundwork for colonial resistance to taxation without representation. — Today’s feature article is a guest post that is not part of our writing contest judging. We are in need of entries for Round 118 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 118 ends …

On May 23rd, 1934 the outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were killed by deputized former Texas Rangers Frank Hamer (pictured above) and Maney Gault, as well as assorted local police, near Gibbsland, Louisiana. The event was dramatized in the 2019 Kevin Costner movie The Highwaymen.  JWR’s Comments:  It is good that Frank Hamer stocked up, when he did. The National Firearms Act (NFA) was signed into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt in June of 1934.  That law unconstitutionally required registration and $200 transfer taxes on sales of machineguns, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and suppressors. — May 23 is the …

Some Great News! It appears that the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) has been added to the pending Continuing Resolution budget bill, by the House!  The chances of bill passage are now quite high, and Donald Trump has indicated that he will sign the bill, if it reaches his desk. The Senate still has to give approval, but once the law is signed, the implications of the HPA are quite far-reaching.  Here are some things to ponder: Under the HPA, suppressors will be removed from the National Firearms Act (NFA), so there will no longer be any $200 transfer taxes. And, …

  An important and time-sensitive legislative update:  Please contact your congresscritters TODAY and encourage them to pass both the HPA (removing suppressors from the NFA) and the SHORT Act (legalizing short-barreled rifles and shotguns), as part of the pending Federal budget reconcilliation. Thanks! –  JWR — On May 21, 1799, Napoleon and his forces abandoned their siege of Acre, after two months. This was a turning point in the French invasion of Egypt and Syria.  The city of Acre is now known as Akko, Israel. — May 21, 1819: The first bicycles (“swift walkers”) in the US were introduced in …

On May 20, 1736: Royal Approval was given by King George II to construct the original Westminster Bridge across the River Thames, in London. The 1747 painting above (titled “Westminster Bridge, with the Lord Mayor’s Procession on the Thames“) was by the Venetian artist Giovanni Antonio Canal (aka Canaletto.) — May 20, 1774: The British parliament passed the second of the Intolerable Acts: the Massachusetts Government Act. This gave the British-appointed governor wide-ranging powers. — May 20th, 1942  was the birthday of Carlos Hathcock (died February 23, 1999). He was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant sniper with a …

Tom Christianson sent this important update: Smithsonian posted this report: Sun Launches Its Strongest Solar Flare of the Year So Far, Causing Radio Blackouts Around the World. (The May 18, 2025 photo above is courtesy of NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. NASA / SDO.) — On May 19th, 1515, George, Duke of Saxony sold Friesland for 100,000 gold guilders to Charles of Habsburg, Duke of Burgundy. He was later named Emperor Charles V. — On May 19, 1796, the first game law was approved in the United States. The law created penalties for hunting or destroying game within Indian Territory. It …

May 18, 1291: After 100 years of Crusader control, the last Crusader stronghold of Acre (now known as Akko, Israel) was reconquered and destroyed by the Mamluks under Sultan al-Ashraf Khalil. — May 18th, 1825 was the birthday of Daniel Baird Wesson, of Smith and Wesson fame. — On May 18th, 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington erupted, causing a massive avalanche and killing 57 people. Ash from the volcanic eruption fell as far away as Minnesota. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 118 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round …