Category: Note

On February 5, 1778, the Articles of Confederation were ratified by South Carolina — the second state to do so. The Third Punic War, the last of three between Rome and Carthage, came to an end this day in 146 BC, culminating in the final destruction of Carthage, the enslavement of its people, and Roman hegemony over the Mediterranean. Today is the birthday of Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim (5 February 1840 – 24 November 1916). He was an American-British inventor best known as the creator of the first truly automatic machine gun, the Maxim gun. Maxim also held patents on …

On February 4, 1932, the United States hosted its first Winter Olympic Games, in Lake Placid, New York.  . On February 4, 1974, newspaper heiress Patty Hearst was kidnapped by members of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). An observant San Francisco gun store salesman gathered intel and took photos of SLA supporters/arms suppliers. This led to the May 1974 Los Angeles shootout and Hearst’s subsequent arrest in September 1974. February 4th, 1824: J. W. Goodrich introduced the world to the first rubber galoshes. On this day in 1789, George Washington became the first and only president to be unanimously elected …

On February 3, 1811, American newspaper editor Horace Greeley, known as one of the most persuasive antislavery voices in the antebellum North, was born in Amherst, New Hampshire. This is the birthday of writer James Michener (1907–1997), known for his very well-researched epic novels, such as Centennial. This is also the birthday of painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell (1894–1978.) — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 111 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. …

On February 2, 1709, British sailor Alexander Selkirk was rescued by explorer and pirate William Dampier (pictured) after being marooned on a desert island for five years. His story inspired the book “Robinson Crusoe.” — On February 2, 1980, the FBI‘s undercover criminal investigation known as Abscam was revealed to the public; it resulted in the convictions of various elected officials on an assortment of bribery and corruption charges. — On February 2, 1653, New Amsterdam (later named New York City) was incorporated as a city. — Today we present a guest article by Montana-based economist and commentator Brandon Smith, …

On February 1, 1790, the first session of the Supreme Court of the United States was held, in New York City. On February 1st, we recognize the birthday of the late Dr. Gary North, in 1942. North was a prolific writer on Christian Reconstruction and economics topics. He passed away on February 24, 2022.  His more than 50 published books are a lasting legacy. He also assembled a free online library of books by other godly writers, through his Institute For Christian Economics (ICE). Those free books, totaling 38,000 pages, are all still available online, They are a great resource …

On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom formally left the European Union, more than three years after the country voted for “Brexit.” On January 31, 1606, Guy Fawkes was scheduled for execution for his part in the Gunpowder Plot against Parliament and King James. As he was being marched up the steps to his gallows, he fell and broke his neck and died, depriving his executioners of any satisfaction. In recent years, Guy Fawkes masks have become a symbol of resistance to big government, worldwide. Also on this day in 1872, American author Pearl Zane Grey was born. He was …

On January 30, 1835, Andrew Jackson became the first American president to experience an assassination attempt. Richard Lawrence, an unemployed house painter, approached Jackson as he left a congressional funeral held in the House chamber of the Capitol building and shot at him, but his gun misfired. A furious 67-year-old Jackson confronted his attacker, clubbing Lawrence several times with his walking cane. During the scuffle, Lawrence managed to pull out a second loaded pistol and pulled the trigger, but it also misfired. Jackson’s aides — including Davy Crockett — then wrestled Lawrence away from the president, leaving Jackson unharmed but …

On January 29, 1964, the British film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, a landmark Cold War farce directed by Stanley Kubrick, was released in theatres. On this day in 1845 Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” was published. Today is the birthday of actor Tom Selleck (born 1945), best known for playing the title role of Magnum, P.I. He is an avid shooter and quite pro-gun. Today is also the birthday of journalist and inventor Thomas Paine (1737–1809.) — Update: We’ve received an unexpectedly large number of orders for the waterproof 2005-2023 Archive …

On January 28, 1887, In a snowstorm at Fort Keogh, Montana, the world’s largest snowflakes are reported, being 15 inches (38 cm) wide and 8 inches (20 cm) thick January 28th, 1855 was the birthday of William Seward Burroughs, who invented the adding machine. January 28th is the anniversary of the rescue of General James L. Dozier from his Italian Red Brigades kidnappers. Tangentially, Colonel Jeff Cooper created a shooting drill in honor of those who freed him – The Dozier Drill. And on this day in 1986, the U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Florida, …

A news update and constitutional law analysis, related through a video commentary from Mark W. Smith of The Four Boxes Diner:  BORDER WARS: The Constitutional Issues you need to know about in Texas v. Biden Admin. Two days ago, it was 11 states, but now, 25 states have signaled support for Texas Governor Abbott’s position. And at least 10 of those States have now pledged to send National Guard or State Guard/Militia troops to Texas, to assist. Tucker Carlson interviewed Abbott, on Friday. — On January 27th, 1967, a launch pad fire during Apollo program tests at Cape Canaveral, Florida, …

On January 26th, 1905, the world’s largest diamond was found in South Africa. The Cullinan Diamond weighed 3,106.75 carats (621.35 g or 1.37 lb) and has an estimated value of 2 billion USD. — Today is the anniversary of the shooting death of LaVoy Finicum, during the Malheur Wildlife Refuge standoff. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be …

On January 25, 1971, Idi Amin Dada seized power in Uganda. His rule from 1971 to 1979 was characterized by human rights abuse, political repression, and corruption. On January 25, 1915: In New York, Alexander Graham Bell spoke to his assistant in San Francisco, inaugurating the first transcontinental telephone service. Today is the birthday of celebrated Scottish poet Robert “Bobby” Burns. He was born on January 25, 1759. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum …

On January 24, 1984, Apple Computer unveiled its original Macintosh personal computer. January 24th is the birthday of René Barjavel (born 1911, died November 24, 1985). This prescient French science fiction author wrote several books with survivalist themes, including Ravage, which was titled Ashes, Ashes in its English translation. Today is also the birthday of Tamara K., the editor of the long-running View From The Porch blog. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest …

Birthday of Larry Dean Olsen (January 23, 1939 — December 26, 2018.) He died December 26, 2018 at Miracle Hot Springs in Buhl, Idaho. He was born in Wendell, Idaho, on January 23, 1939, to parents Dean and Lola Olsen and grew up in Jerome, Idaho. Larry was widely recognized as the father of modern primitive survival education. He was the author of the international bestseller Outdoor Survival Skills, which was first printed in 1967 and widely considered the classic definitive book on the subject. On January 23, 1556, an earthquake in Shaanxi, China, killing an estimated 830,000 people. Counting …

January 22, 1879: In the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, a British garrison of 139 soldiers held off an estimated 4,000 Zulu warriors. Eleven Victoria Crosses and a number of other decorations were awarded to the defenders. The image above is a still from the well-known 1964 movie Zulu, that fairly accurately showed the Battle of Rorke’s Drift. On January 22, 1944, Allied forces began landing at Anzio, Italy. — The 2005-2023 SurvivalBlog Archive USB sticks are selling very quickly. Many folks are ordering 2, 3, or more. One reader ordered ten sticks. Last week, I posted a list of the …