On August 14, 1457, the first book printed in Europe with a colophon bearing the name of the printer was completed in Mainz, Germany. These eventually developed into what is now commonly called a copyright page. Today is also the birthday of British folk-rock singer Maddy Prior. (She was born August 14th, 1947.) — Our feature article today was written by a SurvivalBlog staff member, Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.
Today is the birthday of screenwriter, director, and producer, Alfred Hitchcock (1899–1980.) His many films spanned five decades. This is also the birthday of sharpshooter, entertainer, and folk heroine Annie Oakley (1860–1926.) — Today’s feature article is a guest piece by Brandon Smith, the editor of Alt-Market.us. It is reposted with permission. JWR highly recommends Brandon Smith’s writings. — We are in need of entries for Round 108 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $840,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer …
On August 12, 1908, Henry Ford’s company built the first Model T car. On August 12, 1867, US President Andrew Johnson defies Congress suspending Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 108 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 …
On August 11, 1857, N. H. Wolfe and Company, the oldest flour and grain company in New York City, failed. This failure shook investor confidence and began a slow selloff in the market which continued into late August. Several other failures followed, and this cascaded into what was later called the Panic of 1857. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 108 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, …
On August 10th, 1984, Red Dawn, the first PG-13 rated movie, starring Patrick Swayze was released. The movie (the 1984 original film, not the 2012 remake) is a favorite of both JWR and HJL. The movie embodies the independent, indomitable spirit that created this country. — A few new listings of interest, over at my #1 Son’s SurvivalRealty site: Remote airpark home near the Boise River, outside Mountain Home, Idaho. Log cabin on 19 acres near Heron, MT. Pond and private end of the road location. Two homes on 20 acres in northwest South Carolina. SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we …
August 9th, 1831 was the birthday of James Paris Lee (August 9, 1831 – February 24, 1904). He was a Scottish-Canadian and later American inventor and arms designer, best known for inventing the bolt action that led to the Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield series of rifles. — Federal Premium (one of our affiliate advertisers), is running some great discounts on their ammunition — rifle, pistol, and shotgun. Federal offers free shipping on orders over $149. These specials are running just for the month of August, so order soon! Also, note that Federal Premium has made available a free Ballistic app. With …
On August 4, 2000, the sunken wreckage of the Hunley, a Confederate submarine that was lost during the American Civil War, was raised from the ocean floor near Sullivans Island, South Carolina. It had been the first submarine to sink (1864) an enemy ship, the Union sloop Housatonic. — SurvivalRealty.com is running a special late summer promotion for any new property advertising customers. You can use coupon code “summer23” for 20% off your first two months of advertising. The promotion is available to both real estate agents and “for sale by owner” sellers. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present …
August 7th, 1933 was the birthday of Jerry Pournelle. He, along with Larry Niven authored the survivalist classic Lucifer’s Hammer. — Today’s feature article is a review and how-to piece written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.
On August 6th, 1945 at 8:16 a.m. (Japanese time), an American B-29 bomber – the Enola Gay – dropped the world’s first war-time atom bomb over the city of Hiroshima. Approximately 80,000 people were killed as a result of the blast, with another 35,000 injured. At least another 60,000 would be dead by the end of the year from the effects of the fallout. History is always written by the victors, so the reasoning and justification for this will be argued for years to come. But one thing is for sure: this action officially ushered in the nuclear age in …
August 5th is the sad anniversary of the Mann Gulch Fire in Montana that took the lives of 13 firefighters (including 12 smokejumpers and one former smokejumper), in 1949. The intense, fast-moving forest fire took place in what later became the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness. The events of that fire were chronicled in the book Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean and immortalized in the haunting lyrics of the ballad Cold Missouri Waters by James Keelaghan. — On 5 August, 1923, Hinderikus (“Henk”) Lucas Visser was born in Groningen, Holland. A veteran of the Dutch resistance during World …
On August 4, 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession, Britain took control of Gibraltar on this day in 1704 after Spain surrendered, and “the Rock” subsequently became a British colony and a symbol of British naval strength. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 108 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 …
On August 3rd 1914, Germany and France both declared war on each other, formally beginning of the First World War. — Today’s feature is a book review by SurvivalBlog’s founder and Senior Editor, JWR.
On August 2nd, 1876, Wild Bill Hickok—a frontiersman, marksman, gambler, and legend of the American West—was murdered in the city of Deadwood, in what is now South Dakota. — August 2nd was the birthday of Peter O’Toole (1932–2013). When his name is mentioned, Lawrence of Arabia immediately comes to mind. — I just learned that Harvest Guard — one of our advertisers and a sponsor of our writing contest — has reduced their prices as much as 30% on many of their most popular products. As always, shipping in the United States is free. For large, group bulk orders, please …
August 1st is remembered as the election day in 1946 that sparked the Battle of Athens, Tennessee, when returning World War II veterans took up arms to oust a corrupt local government that was rigging an election. On August 1, 1941 the first U.S. military Jeep rolled off the assembly line. On August 1, 1958 the US First-Class postage was increased to 4 cents. (It had been 3 cents for 26 years.) In case you missed the news, the most recent rate increase went into effect on July 9, 2023. The new rate sheet includes an increase in the cost …
July 31st is the birthday of free-market economist Milton Friedman. (Pictured, born 1912, died November 16, 2006.) On July 31st, 1958 the Anti-Chinese uprising began in Tibet. July 31st, 1921, was the birthday of Army Air Corps veteran David Thatcher, one of the Doolittle Raider. Thatcher was the tail gunner in the rear of the Mitchell B-25 medium bomber christened the Ruptured Duck, the seventh of 16 planes. Returning from the raid, the bomber crashed into the sea from low fuel and the crewmen survived, in no small part to Thatcher’s heroic efforts. The five airmen washed ashore and were …
