Category: Note

On November 14, 1908,  Albert Einstein presented his quantum theory of light. — On November 14th, 1985, the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano erupted in Colombia, killing over 20,000 as nearby towns are buried in mud, ice and lava. Scientist studying the volcano believed an eruption was imminent and had recommended an evacuation of the area which was largely ignored, resulting in the high number of casualties. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 121 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This …

On November 13, 1789, in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, Benjamin Franklin wrote: “…in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes” — Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, was born in Scotland on November 13th, 1850. — And on November 13, 1861, a letter was written by Reverend Mark R. Watkinson petitioning the Treasury Department to “recognize Almighty God” on American coins. The department eventually decided on the motto “In God We Trust”. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 121 …

On November 12, 1900, the Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) in Paris closed after receiving 50 million visitors. Art Nouveau style dominated the World’s Fair. — Today is the birthday of USMC Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph “Dan” Daly (born 1873, died April 27, 1937). He was one of only nineteen men (including seven Marines) to twice receive the Medal of Honor. — November 12th, 1950 was the birthday of Corporal John Alan Coey (died 19 July 1975). He was the first American volunteer killed in Rhodesia. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 121 of the SurvivalBlog …

Today is of course Veteran’s Day. If you value your freedom, then thank a veteran. — Today is also the birthday of General George S. Patton, Jr..  He was born in 1885 and died December 21, 1945. — Today is the birthday of Hugh Everett (born 1930, died July 19, 1982), the American physicist who first proposed the many-worlds interpretation (MWI) of quantum physics, which he termed his “relative state” formulation. — November 11th also marks Rhodesia’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), in 1965. Remember Rhodesia. — Today’s feature piece is a brief update from JWR. — We still need …

50 years ago today, the Great Lakes freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald, sank with the loss of all on board. The ship is pictured in 1971. — On November 10, 1619, René Descartes had a dream that inspired him to write his “Meditations on First Philosophy”. — November 10, 1911: The Chinese Imperial army recaptured Nanking, during the 1911 Republican Revolution.  The Xinhai Revolution (or Hsinhai) Revolution, ended China’s last imperial Qing dynasty under the Manchus. They had been in power for 268 years. — November 10, 1933: The “Black Blizzard” snowstorm-duststorm began in South Dakota. “The size of the ominous black …

November 9, 1330: The Battle of Posada. Wallachian voievode Basarab I defeated the Hungarian army (led by Charles I of Hungary) in an ambush. The 1855 imagining of the Battle of Posada above was by József Molnár. It is titled Dezső sacrifices himself protecting Charles Robert. — After several weeks of civil unrest, the East German government announced on November 9, 1989 that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto the Wall, joined by West Germans from the other side in a celebratory atmosphere. — Today is the anniversary of …

On November 8, 1880, French actress Sarah Bernhardt made her US debut at New York’s Booth Theater. — November 8th was the birthday of the late actor/director/producer Norman Lloyd.  He was born November 8, 1914. His most recent film role was in 2015.  He passed away on May 21, 2021 at the remarkable age of age of 106. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 121 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, …

On November 7, 1811, the Battle of Tippecanoe: General William Henry Harrison defeated the Native Americans of the Tecumesh Confederation. — November 7, 1837: In Alton, Illinois, abolitionist printer Elijah P. Lovejoy was shot dead by a pro-slavery mob while attempting to protect his printing shop from being destroyed a third time. — November 7th is the anniversary of the death of actor Steve McQueen (born March 24, 1930, died November 7, 1980). The many well-publicized exploits in his tempestuous life and his enduring persona are well known. However, the end of his life is actually the most noteworthy part …

On November 6th 1528, shipwrecked Spanish conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca became the first known European to set foot in Texas. — On this day in 1977, the Toccoa Falls Dam in Georgia gave way and 39 people died in the resulting flood. — November 6, is the anniversary of the day that B-24 Liberator co-pilot Al Millspaugh was shot down over Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, in 1944. He ended up in a Luft Stalag, until 1945. I got to know Al at some John Birch Society chapter meetings back in the late 1970s. Hearing his stories was fascinating. He told …

November 5th, 1572: Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe observed a bright new object with the naked eye in the Cassiopeia constellation, which he believed to be a new star but is now known as a supernova, a massive explosion of a dying star. — November 5th, 1605: King James learned about the Gunpowder Plot. Hence we have Guy Fawkes Day. — On November 5th, 2009, Army Major Nidal Hassan killed 13 people at Fort Hood. He shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ as he opened fire.  But predictably, the mainstream media cited “no known motive” for the terror attack. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today …

November 4, 1841: The first emigrant wagon train arrived in California after a five-and-a-half-month, 1,730-mile journey over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, from Missouri. This was the Bartleson–Bidwell Party. John Bidwell’s mansion property (pictured above, before the destructive December, 2024 fire) is now a state park. — November 4th is the birthday of Medal of Honor recipient John Basilone. He was born in 1916 in Buffalo, New York. The 2025 Basilone Parade was held in Raritan, New Jersey, Sunday, September 21st. Locals should try to attend in 2026, to honor his 110th birthday. — I just heard that Jase Medical (one …

On November 3, 1917, the price of U.S. postage stamps was raised to 3 cents per ounce. — November 3, 1917: Flooding from a tropical storm killed 84 people in the Winooski River Valley, Vermont. Several flood control dams were eventually constructed, to prevent a similar disaster. — And November 3, 1987, Gordon Gould was issued US patent US4704583 for the laser, ending his 30-year battle to be credited as the inventor of the laser. — Today’s feature piece is by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

November 2, 1907: US banker J. P. Morgan locked more than 40 bankers in his library to force them to find ways to avert a New York banking crisis. (The Panic of 1907.) — November 2, 1948: Holland ended its rationing programs started during WWII for the distribution of textiles, meat, and cheese. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 121 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a …

November 1st, 996: The first noted use of the modern name for Austria, in the “Ostarrîchi Document”. — November 1, 1911: The first aerial bomb is dropped by an Italian pilot on Turkish troops in Libya during the Italo-Turkish War. This was the first recorded operational aerial bombardment. — November 1st is also the birthday of economist Martin A. Armstrong. For many years he was a prisoner of conscience, in part because he refused to turn over his proprietary trading algorithms to Federal prosecutors. After seven years in prison without a trial, the longest Federal incarceration for contempt in American …

Today, while most of America celebrates the pagan Halloween, our family celebrates Reformation Day. — On this day in 1517, Martin Luther sent his Ninety-five Theses to Albert of Brandenburg, Archbishop of Mainz, precipitating the Protestant Reformation. — And on October 31, 1952: The first thermonuclear (fusion) bomb was aboveground test-detonated at the Marshall Islands. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 121 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course …