Category: Note

On February 13, 2016, Antonin Scalia—who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, becoming well known for his strong legal conservatism—died under mysterious circumstances in Shafter, Texas. On February 13, 1689, following the Glorious Revolution, William and Mary were proclaimed king and queen of England this day in 1689, after which they ruled jointly as King William III and Queen Mary II until her death in 1694. February 13th is also the birthday of Robert Charles R.C. Sproul (born 1939, died December 14, 2017), a well-respected American Calvinist theologian Today is also the birthday …

On February 12, 1924 George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” premiered. The piece is among Gershwin’s best-known compositions and one of the most popular pieces of the symphonic jazz genre. — February 12, 1851, gold was discovered in east-central New South Wales, sparking Australia’s first gold rush. — On February 12, 1554, at age 16 Lady Jane Grey, titular queen of England, was executed in London by order of Mary I. — And on February 12,, 2001, the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft touchdown in the “saddle” region of 433 Eros becoming the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid. — Today’s feature …

On February 11, 1945, the Yalta Conference between the Allied leaders of World War II came to a close. — February 11th is the birthday of the late Burt Blumert (born February 11, 1929 in New York City, died March 30, 2009). He once owned Camino Coin Company. Coincidentally, Dr. Ron Paul also once owned the same company. — I just heard that comedic singer and radio host Mojo Nixon passed away at age 66. I remember him best for his song “I Hate Banks”, which was a KFAT favorite.  His birth name was Neill Kirby McMillan, Jr. — SurvivalBlog …

On February 10, 1962, U.S. airman Francis Gary Powers, who was the captured pilot of the U-2 plane that had been downed by the Soviet Union in 1960 and who was later convicted of espionage, was exchanged for jailed Soviet informant Rudolf Abel. — Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” hit number one on this day in 1940 and stayed there for 12 weeks. — On February 10, 1916, an oil well gusher fired 1,000 feet into the air near Tampico, Mexico making it the largest in history. — I got an e-mail from a reader who had just purchased her …

On February 9th, 1555, my 17th great-grandfather, Rowland Taylor (born 6 October, 1510) was burned alive at the stake. This was during the reign of Mary I, who was also known as Mary Tudor or “Bloody Mary”. His death was part of the Marian Persecutions. In his case, he was executed for professing that Bible scripture is inerrant. He died singing hymns. His martyrdom is described in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. – JWR — February 9th is the birthday of Major George Charles Nonte Jr. (Born 1926, died June 30, 1978.) — On February 9th, 1909 the first US federal …

February 8th, 1950, the Stasi, East Germany’s notorious secret police, was established. The Staatssicherheit, (“Stasi” for short) was considered one of the most repressive intelligence agencies in the world. It was not fully dissolved until 1990. In the investigations that followed the ministry’s dissolution, the German public learned that a huge number of East Germans willingly cooperated with the Stasi and other agencies, informing on their neighbors. — February 8th, 1828 was the birthday of Jules Verne, the French writer who authored “From the Earth to the Moon“. He is considered the father of science fiction. — On February 8th, …

On February 7th, 1992 The Maastricht Treaty was signed by 12 countries from the European Community (EC) to create the European Union (EU). — On February 7th, 1812, one of the largest earthquakes in U.S. history occurred along the New Madrid Fault. — February 7th, 1867, was the birthday of Laura Ingalls Wilder (died February 10, 1957). SurvivalBlog highly recommends the Laura Ingalls Wilder books as well as her biography. — Some sad news: Country music legend Toby Keith dead at 62, after battle with cancer. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 111 of the …

February 6th, 1895 was the birthday of baseball player Babe Ruth. His home-run hitting helped make him one of the most-celebrated athletes in American sports. — President Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6th, 1911. — 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. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2,000. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used …

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 …