Category: Note

On December 7, 1972, American astronaut Eugene Andrew Cernan commanded the last crewed flight to the Moon, effectively ending the Apollo program. — On this day in 1941, Japanese bombers launched a surprise aerial attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, precipitating the entry of the United States into World War II. — On the very same day, Adolf Hitler issued his Night and Fog Decree, a secret order for the arrest and execution of “persons endangering German security.” — An important Reminder:  TODAY, December 7th, 2023 is the deadline for comments …

Today is the birthday of pilot Dominic Salvatore “Don” Gentile.  (December 6, 1920 – January 28, 1951).  He was a World War II RAF and USAAF pilot who achieved fame as he came close to surpassing Eddie Rickenbacker‘s World War I record of 26 downed aircraft. He later served in the post-war U.S. Air Force. His birthday was coincidentally on the same day as fellow fighter pilot George Frederick Beurling, who was born one year earlier: December 6, 1920. — Sad news!  By way of Steve Quayle’s site, I just heard of the passing of my dear friend, Bob Griswold.  …

December 5, 1890, Director Fritz Lang—whose films, dealing with fate and man’s inevitable working out of his destiny, are considered masterpieces of visual composition—was born in Vienna. He is best known for the 1927 film Metropolis. — On December 5, 1952, a lethal smog began blanketing London, causing thousands of deaths; the incident prompted passage of the Clean Air Act. — 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 …

On December 4, 1679, English philosopher and political theorist Thomas Hobbes, who was perhaps best known for his political philosophy, died at age 91. — December 4th is the birthday of Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, (born 1912) an AVG “Flying Tiger” volunteer pilot for the Chinese Nationalist government, WWII Marine Corps aviator, and Medal of Honor recipient. (He died January 11, 1988.) A proto-Redoubter, Pappy Boyington was born in Couer d’Alene, Idaho and was raised in Spokane, Washington. — A Reminder: Jonathan Rawles — my #1 Son who operates SurvivalRealty.com — has mentioned that they have recently revamped their Agent Directory, …

December 2, 1857 English writer Joseph Conrad, whose notable works included the novel Lord Jim (1900) and the novella Heart of Darkness (1902), was born. On December 3,1775, the first official US flag (the Grand Union Flag) was raised aboard naval vessel USS Alfred. On December 3, 1944, the Greek Civil War broke out in a newly-liberated Greece, between communists and royalists. On December 3,1967, Christiaan Barnard of South Africa performed the first human heart transplant, at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. Today is also the birthday of actor Brendan Fraser (born, 1968.) He often plays “fish out of …

On December 2, 2001, following revelations of massive accounting fraud, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection; the energy-trading company was once the seventh largest corporation in the United States. — On December 2nd, 1823, what became known as the Monroe Doctrine was declared by President James Monroe to Congress outlining a foreign policy initiative that forbade European interference in the American hemisphere but also asserted U.S. neutrality in regard to future European conflicts. — 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 …

On December 1st, 1913, the world’s first moving assembly line debuted, used in manufacturing Model Ts at a Ford factory in Highland Park, Michigan; the innovation was the idea of owner Henry Ford, and it revolutionized the auto industry. — Today is the birthday of gun designer Charles Cashman Kelsey, Jr., of DEVEL firearms fame. He was born December 1,1935.  He was murdered in Texas under mysterious circumstances in April, 2003. — This is also the birthday of novelist Rex Stout (1886–1975). Rex Stout was the brother of Ruth Stout, the gardener who wrote about no-till, year-round mulching, organic gardening …

On November 30th, 1996, a block of gray sandstone known as the Stone of Scone was returned to Scotland, 700 years after it had been taken to England as war booty by King Edward I. — Satirical novelist Jonathan Swift was born on November 30th, 1667. — And on November 30, 1782, Britain and the United States signed the preliminary articles of the Treaty of Paris as part of the Peace of Paris, a collection of treaties concluding the American Revolution. — A very practical new property listing over at SurvivalRealty: Off Grid, 20 Acres, Two Homes, Year Around Access, …

Today is the birthday of writer Clive Staples (“C.S.”) Lewis, who was born in 1898 and died 22 November 1963.  The news of his passing was surely overshadowed by the media attention to JFK’s death, the same day. — We are now seeking entries for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $850,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 110 ends on January 31st, 2024, so get busy …

On November 28, 1757, English engraver, artist, poet, and visionary William Blake, whose notable works included the poetry collections Songs of Innocence (1789) and Songs of Experience (1794), was born. And on November 28th, 1520, Magellan reached the Pacific Ocean after navigating the dangerous straits on the southern tip of South America that now bear his name. He became the first European explorer to reach the Pacific from the Atlantic. — Jonathan Rawles — my #1 Son who operates SurvivalRealty.com — mentioned that they have recently revamped their Agent Directory, making it easier to find a local survival property specialist …

Through the will drawn up by Alfred Bernhard Nobel—the Swedish chemist, engineer, and industrialist who invented dynamite and other, more powerful explosives—the Nobel Prizes were established on this day in 1895. — On November 27, 1942, the French navy scuttled 73 ships at Toulon in order to avoid German seizure during World War II. — A piece of property at SurvivalRealty.com (that is pictured above) in Manitoba, Canada caught my eye: Riverfront Off-Grid Timber Frame Home on 95 Acres in Canada.  Click on the map and zoom out a bit.  From a retreat security standpoint, there are very few places …

Casablanca premiered this day in 1942 and became one of Hollywood‘s most-revered films. Set in occupied Morocco during World War II, it was directed by Michael Curtiz. Casablanca starred Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid. November 26th is the birthday of gun inventor Eugene Reising (born 1884, died February 21, 1967). This is also the birthday Barton Biggs (born 1932, died July 14, 2012). Biggs was a money manager known for his pro-preparedness stance. — Just a few days left!  We are still seeking entries for Round 109 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $850,000 worth of …

On November 25, 1950 the Storm Of The Century — also known as the Appalachian Storm — reached blizzard conditions and dumped nearly 60 inches of snow in the Appalachian area. It brought unseasonal temperatures to the region and caused widespread damage to property. About 150 people were thought to have been killed as a result of it. — On this day in 1970, Japanese novelist Mishima Yukio and four members of his Shield Society, a private army formed to preserve Japan‘s martial spirit, seized a military headquarters in Tokyo, and he later committed seppuku. — November 25th was the …

On November 22, 1718, the pirate who went by the name Blackbeard was killed off the coast of North Carolina. — Today is also remembered as the birthday of the late Eugene M. Stoner. (Born 1922, died April 24, 1997.) He was the designer of the AR-7, AR-10, AR-15, AR-180, the Stoner 63, and several other firearms. (The AR-10 was the basis of the AR-15 which in turn spawned the very widely used M16 and all of its variants including the M4 Carbine.) It has been estimated that as 17 million rifles from the AR-15 family are owned by civilians …

Happy Thanksgiving!  From the SurvivalBlog family to yours, we wish you a happy Thanksgiving. Despite the crises in this world and the mounting pressures, we give thanks to our LORD, that He will never forsake us.  Please prayerfully give thanks to God for his tremendous providence both in the lives of our families and as a nation. – JWR — Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789 By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation. Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, …