Category: Note

On September 9, 1492, the fleet of Christopher Columbus (Cristoforo Colombo / Cristóbal De Colón) set sail west. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 102 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 can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value), Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried …

On September 8, 1565, the first permanent settlement in what would become the United States of America was formed — St. Augustine, Florida. — Also, in 1943, on this day, Italy surrendered to the Allies in World War II. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 102 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 …

Today is the birthday of novelist Taylor Caldwell (born 1900 – August 30, 1985). Today is also the birthday of Dr. Ludwig Vorgrimler (born 1912 in Freiburg, Germany; died 1983). Vorgrimler was the designer of the Spanish CETME rifle, from which sprang a plethora of roller-lock descendants from HK, including the G3, HK21, and MP5. His bolt design was also copied by the Swiss for their excellent PE57 and SIG 510 rifles. (Although the Swiss felt obliged to mount a “beer keg” charging handle on the right side of the receiver, for the sake of familiarity to Schmidt-Rubin shooters.) And …

September 6th, 1757 was the birthday of Marquis de Lafayette (often known simply as Lafayette), a French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He came to America at age 19 and served meritoriously in the American Revolution at his own expense. He was also instrumental in convincing the French king and his ministers to support George Washington and his embattled Continental Army with loans, troops, and the powerful presence of the French fleet. The alliance with France was crucial for the American victory in our War of Independence. Lafayette was a close friend of George …

On September 5, 1774, fed up with the meddling of the crown and being mostly independent-minded, our nation’s founding fathers met together in the First Continental Congress, in Philadelphia, laying the foundation of what would become the world’s greatest nation. — There are several new listings over at our SurvivalRealty.com spinoff site. These include: Majestic Meadows — 185 acres between Troy, Montana and Moyie Springs, Idaho, surrounded by National Forest. Being sold by owner, not through a brokerage. Price reduced to $1.99M – originally listed at $2.5M. McDevitt Creek Retreat – 39.5 Acre Self-Sufficient Refuge Self-sufficiency! Earth-sheltered/Green Roof Home Privacy …

September 4, 1862 is the fateful day that General Lee invaded the North with 50,000 troops.   SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 102 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 can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value), Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees …

English general and statesman Oliver Cromwell died on September 3, 1658. On September 3, 1752, Great Britain and its colonies, including the future United States of America officially adopted the Gregorian calendar, and it immediately became September the 14th. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 102 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 …

September 2, 1969 is the day that the first automatic teller machine (ATM) made its first public debut, dispensing cash to customers at Chemical Bank in Rockville Center, New York. While being as indispensable to most people as cell phones and e-mail, they have introduced a whole new set of issues. Consumers are faced with scams, skimmers, and robbers, and even fake ATMs have been discovered. — In place of my usual Friday Economics & Investing column,  I’m posting a guest article about the interplay of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy and the gold markets. — Because Front Sight …

September is Kilted to Kick Cancer Month. September is also National Preparedness Month. And speaking of preparedness, the Paratus Holiday celebration is always the third Friday in September. (That will be September 16th, this year.) — Some Sad News: I belatedly heard about the passing of my old friend, Kurt Wilson, the owner of Survival Enterprises. I was just informed that he died of a heart attack, in December of 2021. His widow and son are carrying on with his family business. The archived podcasts of Kurt’s “The Armchair Survivalist” are still available. Kurt was a great guy, and he …

The Harrier jump-jet fighter-bomber had its first flight on August 31, 1966. It was designed to fly from combat areas and aircraft carriers and to support ground forces. It was originally built by Hawker Siddeley Aviation, and also later produced by McDonnell Douglas, in the United States. — Today’s feature article was written by SurvivalBlog’s Senior Editor, JWR. — We are still seeking articles for Round 102 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $750,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 102 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail …

August 30th is the birthday of the late Joachim Rønneberg, a hero of the Norwegian resistance during World War II. He was born in 1919. His exploits earned him the War Cross With Sword, Norway’s highest military honor. In April 2013, Rønneberg was presented with a Union Jack during a ceremony at the Special Operations Executive (SOE) monument in London to mark 70 years since the successful Gunnerside heavy water plant sabotage mission. Rønneberg died in 2018, just one year short of his 100th birthday. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 102 of the SurvivalBlog …

August 29th is a mournful day, as we remember the anniversary of the death of “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” – Isaiah 40:3. John, the Baptist, who heralded the first coming of our Lord and stood true to his belief in the face of death, was beheaded on this day in 29AD. — In 1862, the Second Battle of Bull Run in Virginia began. The same day marked the founding of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. — …

August 28, 1833 is the anniversary of the abolishment of slavery throughout the British Empire. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 102 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 can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize …

Today is the birthday of Emory Upton (August 27, 1839 – March 15, 1881). He was a United States Army General and military strategist, prominent for his role in leading infantry to attack entrenched positions successfully at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House during the American Civil War, but he also excelled at artillery and cavalry assignments. His work, The Military Policy of the United States, which analyzed American military policies and practices and presented the first systematic examination of the nation’s military history, had a tremendous effect on the orgnaization and modernization of the U.S. Army when it was …

August 26, 1946 was the official release date of George Orwell’s pointedly satirical novel “Animal Farm.” — August 26, 526, is the official anniversary of the invention of toilet paper by the Chinese. We celebrate this, though not because of its convenience. In fact, it has many shortcomings, some of which are described in the articles and letters of SurvivalBlog. Our celebration of it is primarily because we now have an official metric of just how hardcore of a prepper you are as well as a metric for just how economically unstable your country is. — Today’s feature article is …