Category: Note

On November  6, 1917, during the Bolshevik Revolution, bombardment of the Winter Palace in Petrograd began, during the Russian October Revolution. (“Red October.”) — November 6, 1941 was the birthday of country singer/guitarist Guy Clark, in Monahans, Texas.  (He died in 2016.) — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 115 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 …

On November 5, 1905 Roald Amundsen reached Eagle City, Alaska, and announced by telegraph his was the first expedition, in 400 years of attempts, to complete a Northwest Passage. — On November 5, 1605, King James of England learned about the Gunpowder Plot. Hence, we now have Guy Fawkes Day. “Remember, remember the Fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.” — Natchez Shooters Supplies (one of our affiliate advertisers) is running an an unusual 3-day promo from 11/4 to 11/6 with many discounted items and $5 Flat Rate Shipping …

On November 4, 1929, Richard E. Byrd (pictured), Laurence McKinley Gould, and their polar expedition team began a 2½ month, 1,500-mile dog-sled journey into the Queen Maud Mountains. This was the first exploration of the interior of Antarctica. — November 4th is the birthday of Medal of Honor recipient John Basilone. He was born in 1916 in Buffalo, New York.  The town still has an annual parade, in his honor, and a John Basilone mural was recently painted. — Because the owner of Seed for Security is retiring and shutting down the business at the end of this month, we …

November 3, 1917: The price of 1st Class US mail stamps was increased to 3 cents per ounce. This was dubbed a “Wartime Emergency Rate.”  It had been 2 cents since 1885.  It reverted to 2 cents in 1919, and did not rise to 3 cents again until 1932.  As of October, 2024, the one-ounce rate is now 73 cents. Recently, postal rate increases have been taking place at less than one-year intervals, and the latest increase was a 5-cent jump. — On November 3, 1783, George Washington ordered the Continental Army disbanded. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present …

On November 2, 1698, Scottish settlers made landfall in Panama, establishing the ill-fated ‘Darien Venture’ colony. — 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. — On November 2, 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour submitted a declaration of intent to establish a Jewish homeland known as the Balfour Declaration. While Arab hostilities and the outbreak of World War II delayed the desired outcome, the Nation of Israel was eventually re-established in 1948. — And on this day …

November 1st is the birthday of economist Martin A. Armstrong. (Born, 1949.) 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 history. Armstrong was finally put on trial in a proceeding that was branded as a sham. He was convicted on securities fraud charges based on some marginal testimony and given a five-year sentence. Notably, Armstrong continued to write his economics newsletter while in prison, producing most of the …

Our family does not celebrate the pagan Halloween. (We are with Drew Carey, on that one. We don’t “…party with this guy.”) October 31st is also Reformation Day, recognizing the significance of Martin Luther posting his 95 Theses, and that is what we celebrate, here at the Rawles Ranch. — On October 31, 1888, Scottish inventor and veterinarian surgeon John Boyd Dunlop patented the pneumatic bicycle tire. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 115 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest …

On October 30, 1938, a radio broadcast of H.G. Wells “The War of the Worlds“, narrated by Orson Welles, caused a mass panic. — October 30, 1893: US Senate approved repealing Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890. — October 30th, 1735 was the birthday of President John Adams. (Some sources cite his birthdate as October 19, 1735.) — Some sad news: Teri Garr has passed away. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 115 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  …

Today is the birthday of World War II cartoonist Bill Mauldin (born 1921, died January 22, 2003). — October 29th is also the birthday of fighter pilot Vermont Garrison, an American who fought in three wars– WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He was born in 1915 and died on February 14th, 1994, in Mountain Home, Idaho. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 115 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 …

On October 28, 1640, English King Charles I signed a peace treaty with the Scottish Covenanters, ending the Second Bishops’ War. — October 28, 1831: Michael Faraday demonstrated his dynamo invention, an electrical generator. — The last day!  We’ve been running a 2-week-long sale at Elk Creek Company.  Until midnight PST tonight, October 28th, 2024, all of our pre-1899 shotguns have their prices deeply discounted. Most of these shotguns can fire modern 12 gauge 2-1/2″ or 2-3/4″ shotgun shells. Order soon! — Today’s feature article is a review by SurvivalBlog staffer Tom Christianson.

On October 27, 1787, the Federalist Papers started appearing in New York newspapers under the pseudonym “Publius”. They were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. — October 27, 1858 was the birthday of President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. (He died January 6, 1919.) — Just One Day Left! We are running a 2-week-long sale at Elk Creek Company.  Until October 28th, 2024, all of our pre-1899 shotguns have their prices deeply discounted. Most of these can fire modern 12 gauge 2-1/2″ or 2-3/4″ shotgun shells. No FFL paperwork is required. In most states, we can mail them right …

40 years ago today, the action thriller The Terminator was released in the United States. The movie was hugely successful. It made actor Arnold Schwarzenegger a star and established director James Cameron as a bankable filmmaker. On October 26, 1881, a feud between the Earp brothers (Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan) and an outlaw gang led by Ike Clanton escalated into a celebrated gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. And today is the birthday of Henry Deringer (October 26, 1786 – February 28, 1868). He was an American gunsmith, best known for inventing and giving his name to …

October 25, 1415: Battle of Agincourt: Henry V‘s forces defeated the larger French army, proving that massed English longbows could defeat armored knights. This is the birthday of explorer and pilot Admiral Richard Byrd (1888–1957). His autobiography titled Alone is a must-read. On October 25, 1983, the U.S. military, under President Ronald Reagan, invaded the tiny island country of Grenada. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 115 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 …

October 24, 1836: The earliest American patent for a phosphorus friction match by Alonzo Dwight Phillips of Springfield, Massachusetts. Originally, these matches were made quite large — essentially a small torch. In England phosphorus matches were called “Congreves” after Sir William Congreve. But they went by the name loco foco in the United States. The Loco Focos became the name of a radical Democrat faction in the U.S. Congress. They earned that name because they brought some of the newly-invented loco foco matches with them to one of their meetings after hearing that their adversaries had plotted to disrupt the …

On October 23, 1819, the first ship sailed through the Erie Canal from Rome, New York to Utica, New York. — October 23, 1944 General Enver Hoxha became “interim” Prime Minister of Albania. He dictatorially retained leadership for 41 years, until his death in 1985. — Today, we also remember the 220 Marines, 18 U.S. Navy Sailors, and three U.S. Army Soldiers who died on this day in 1983 when terrorists attacked the Beruit Barracks. — Seed for Security, LLC has announced its Retirement Sale. Electronic orders will be accepted until November 30, 2024. Mail-in orders will accepted until November …