Category: Note

The artist Winslow Homer was born on March 24, 1836 in Boston, Massachusetts. The illustration above is a detail from Homer’s 1865 painting: “The Veteran in a New Field.” It hangs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. — On February 24, 1905, the Simplon railroad tunnel through the Alps in Switzerland achieved breakthrough after 7-1/2 years of construction. — February 24, 1971:  Algeria nationalized 51 percent of French oil concessions. — Today’s feature is a guest post that is not part of the writing contest. (On Mondays, we normally post a review penned by our Field Gear Editor, Tom Christianson.) — …

On February 23, 1921 the first US transcontinental air mail flight arrived in New York City from San Francisco. — On February 23, 1945, six Marines from E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima. — Today is the anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836). — February 23rd is also the birthday of Captain Isaac Davis (February 23, 1745 – April 19, 1775), a militia officer and gunsmith who commanded a Minute Company in Acton, Massachusetts during the Battle …

On February 22, 303, the first official Roman edict for persecution of Christians was issued by Emperor Diocletian at Nicomedia. This ordered all Christian churches to be closed and scriptures burned. — On February 22, 1797, the Last Invasion of Britain began. It was launched by the French during the Revolutionary Wars. This invasion began near Fishguard, Wales. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 117 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 February 21, 1857, the U.S. Congress outlawed foreign currency as legal tender in the US. Pictured is a Spanish 8 Reales silver coin. — February 21, 1937, the League of Nations banned foreign national “volunteers” in the Spanish Civil War. — Because of my two recent cataract surgeries, I won’t be posting much today.  Thanks for your patience. — We are in need of entries for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing …

February 20, 1792: The US postal service was created, charging postage rates of 6-to-12 cents, depending on distance. The first US Postage stamps were not issued until 1847. — Today is the birthday of novelist and screenwriter Richard Matheson (1926–2013). He wrote many sci-fi television scripts. His novella I Am Legend later was adapted into three different movies in the next five decades, and his story Bid Time Return became the charming movie Somewhere In Time. — Because of my recent cataract surgery, I won’t be posting much for the next couple of days.  Thanks for your patience. — We …

On February 19, 1807, US Vice President Aaron Burr was arrested in Alabama for treason. He was later acquitted. — February 19,1884: The “Enigma Outbreak” of more than 60 tornadoes in Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana reportedly killed over a thousand people. The origin of these nearly simultaneous storms remains enigmatic. — Today’s feature piece is by Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — We are in need of entries for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 …

Today is the birthday of astronaut Theodore Cordy “Ted” Freeman (February 18, 1930 – October 31, 1964.)  He is pictured above with Buzz Aldrin. Ted Freeman and his wife Faith were friends of my mother and father.  Both my father (Donald Robert Rawles) and Ted Freeman were stationed at Bryan Air Force Base in the early 1950s, and they rented houses three blocks apart, in College Station, Texas. Both Ted and my father were born in the same year. The two families often played the card game Bridge together, and Faith and my mother were in a play production together. …

On February 17, 1621, Myles Standish was elected as the first commander of the Plymouth Colony. — February 17, 1776, the first volume of Edward Gibbon‘s seminal work “The Decline and Fall of Roman Empire” was published. — USB STICKS UPDATE:  We have nearly completed mailing out all of the SurvivalBlog 205-2025 Waterproof Archive USB sticks. We are taking no more orders this year.  The only stick orders still waiting are a few that were designated in our ordering system as being paid by check. All of those in CONUS paid by PayPal or by credit card have been mailed …

On February 16, 1659, the first known cheque was written, for £400. It is now on display at Westminster Abbey. — February 16,1838: The Weenen Massacre. Hundreds of Voortrekkers were killed by Zulu warriors along the Blaukraans River, Natal. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 117 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 worth more than $2000. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This …

On February 15, 1867, Johann Strauss’ Blue Danube waltz premiered in Vienna. — Today’s feature article is a guest piece from our friend Brandon Smith. It is not part of the writing contest judging. — We are seeking entries for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 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. …

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was fought on February 14, 1797: The British fleet commanded by Admiral Sir John Jervis defeated the larger Spanish fleet under Admiral Don José de Córdoba y Ramos near Cape St. Vincent, Portugal. Captain Horatio Nelson distinguished himself in this naval battle. — February 14, 1803: Writing the majority opinion in the landmark Marbury V. Madison decision, Chief Justice John Marshall declared that any act of U.S. Congress that conflicts with the Constitution is null and void. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing …

February 13, 1692: The Glencoe Massacre. About 38 MacDonalds were killed early in the morning by rival Campbell clan members, allegedly for not promptly pledging allegiance to the new king, William of Orange. — On February 13, 1861, the first military action to result in the award of a Medal of Honor, as Bernard J.D. Irwin volunteered to lead the rescue of 60 soldiers from Chiricahua Indians at Apache Pass, Arizona. — And on February 13, 1945, Allied planes began bombing the German city of Dresden, resulting in a devastating firestorm that destroyed the city and killed more than 22,000 …

On February 12, 1818, Chile gained independence from Spain. — February 12, 1870: An official proclamation set April 15 1870 as the last day of grace for US silver coins to circulate in Canada. — Ready Made Resources (our longest-running advertiser) has announced a special overstock sale on military contract canned freeze-dried foods. These include some premium meats and are available in individual #10 cans, or in six-can case lots. Stock up! — I’m scheduled for cataract surgery on my right eye, today. Even though this surgery is now considered a “routine” outpatient procedure, I’m still feeling a bit anxious.  …

On February 11, 1851, gold was discovered in east-central New South Wales, sparking Australia’s first gold rush.  Pictured is Bernard Otto Holtermann with the world’s largest monolithic gold specimen, in North Sydney.  It reportedly weighed 630 pounds. — On February 11, 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini seized power in Iran. Just a few days after Khomeini’s triumphant return from French exile, the Iranian army stepped aside, making way for the creation of an Islamic theocracy. — Because I have the first of two eye surgeries scheduled for tomorrow, I have put a pause on the automated ordering system for Elk Creek Company. I’m …

On February 10, 1906, the British battleship HMS Dreadnought was launched after only 100 days. It rendered all other capital ships obsolete with its revolutionary design. — February 10, 1918: In Finland, General Carl Gustaf Emil Von Mannerheim gathered an army known as the ‘White Guard’ to mount a counter-revolution against the Bolshevik ‘Red Guard’. — February 10,  1951:  “John and Marsha” by Stan Freberg, a parody of daytime soap operas which had only two voices repeating each other’s names, peaked at #21 in the USA. — Today’s feature article is a review written by our own Tom Christianson.