Category: Note

On December 21, 1620, William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims landed on what is now known as Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts. — Today, on the Winter Solstice, I reflected a bit on the trauma of the past two years. Our lives, livelihoods, and our liberties suffered some. I’m hopeful that 2022 will be a much better year.  Tomorrow, the days will start getting longer again. Already, we are making some spring gardening plans and looking forward to lambing and calving season. We will trust in the Lord, and his providence. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry …

On December 20th, 1606, the Virginia Company loaded three ships with settlers and set sail to establish Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. — I heard that Ready Made Resources (one of our most loyal advertisers ) is running a special on Photonis Echo Spec AN/PVS-14 Unfimed white phosphor night vision monocular/weapon sights. Get one at the sale price. — Don’t forget that Palmetto State Armory (PSA) will be ending their AR-15 Days of Christmas Sale soon. This is their biggest sale of the year, with some amazing prices on complete AR uppers, other AR build …

December 19th is the birthday of physicist Albert A. Michelson (born 1852, died May 9, 1931), who was the first American to be awarded a Nobel Prize in science, for measuring the speed of light. I’m related to him, by marriage.  One of my great-aunts married his brother. – JWR — On Dec 19, 1776, Thomas Paine published “American Crisis”. Here is an excerpt: “These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and …

December 18th is the birthday of Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788). He wrote more than 1,700 hymns. Today is also the birthday of Jørgen Haagen Schmith (born December 18, 1910, died October 15, 1944). He was better known under the codename Citron and was a famous Danish resistance fighter in occupied Denmark. His biographical sketch at Wikipedia describes his death, after he was tracked down by the Nazis: “German soldiers arrived at the house to arrest or kill Schmith. He fought for hours against an overwhelming force of enemy troops killing 11 and wounded scores of …

December 17th, 1905, was the birthday of Simo Häyhä, who was the world’s most successful sniper. Using an iron-sighted Mosin–Nagant in Finland’s Winter War, he had an astounding 505 confirmed sniper kills. He died April 1, 2002. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 98 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 …

December 15th is Bill of Rights Day. The Bill of Rights became law on this day in 1791, following ratification by the state of Virginia. We encourage our American readers to gather publicly and read the Bill of Rights aloud. — The 15th of December, 1923, was the birthday of Uziel “Uzi” Gal (born Gotthard Glas). According to Wikipedia, he was “…born in Weimar, Germany. When the Nazis came to power in 1933 he moved first to England and later, in 1936, to Kibbutz Yagur in the British Mandate of Palestine where he changed his name to Uziel Gal. In …

Today is the birthday of Air Force General James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle, who died September 27, 1993. December 14th is also the birthday of the late John Warren Wadleigh (born 1927, died September 24, 2013). Wadleigh was better known to many SurvivalBlog readers by his pen name – Oliver Lange. He was the author of the best-selling resistance warfare novel Vandenberg. — The last day!  By popular demand, I extended the month-long Patton’s Birthday Sale at Elk Creek Company. It will now end tonight. Get your order in by 1700 hrs, Pacific Time on Tuesday, December 14th.  With our unique …

December 13th is the birthday of Sergeant Alvin York. Infogalactic had this summary: “He was one of the most decorated soldiers of the United States Army in World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 35 machine guns, killing at least 28 German soldiers, and capturing 132 others. This action occurred during the United States-led portion of the broader Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France to breach the Hindenburg line and make the opposing German forces surrender.” — Today we present another review written by our Field Gear Editor, Pat …

On December 12, 2019, the British General Election was won by Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party in a landslide win with an 80-seat majority. The Scottish National Party also won 48 of 59 seats in Scotland. — Please pray for the folks that were in the path of destruction of the 22 tornados that just swept through Kentucky, taking more than 70 lives and causing untold millions in property damage.  Oh, by the way, can a SurvivalBlog reader in Kentucky recommend a reputable local charity that can get donations to truly deserving recipients? — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another …

By popular demand, I have extended the month-long Patton’s Birthday Sale at Elk Creek Company. It will now end on Tuesday. Get your order in by 1700 hrs, Pacific Time on Tuesday, December 14th.  With our unique ordering system, you can choose between paying in Federal Reserve Notes (i.e. check or postal money order), or with pre-1965 U.S. silver coinage.  I should mention that about half of our customers now pay in silver. It seems that a lot of folks wisely bought silver when it was less than $15 per Troy ounce, so this makes buying guns with Pre-1965 coins …

On this day in 1942, my great uncle Lt. Robert I. Kinsella was killed when his B-24 bomber (part of the 90th Bombardment Group, Heavy, 320th Bomber Squadron), flying from the Iron Range Airfield in Northern Queensland, Australia went down in the South Pacific. — And on December 10, 1520, Martin Luther publicly burned the papal edict demanding that he recant or face excommunication. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 98 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 …

December 9th, 1914 was the birthday of Maximo Guillermo “Max” Manus. He was one of the few Norwegians who had the testicular fortitude to put his life on the line, fighting the Nazi occupiers. (There surely would have been more active resistance fighters, but fearing widespread reprisal executions by the Germans, King H7 asked the civilian populace to stand down.) Max Manus passed away in 1996. I would have liked to have met him. His exploits are fairly accurately shown in the movie Max Manus: Man of War. — There are just two days left in the month-long Patton’s Birthday …

Today marks the birthday of Eli Whitney, (1765–1825) the inventor of the labor-saving cotton gin, several firearms, and dozens of other mechanical devices. He was the first to demonstrate the advantages of fully interchangeable parts, in firearms manufacture. — A reminder: Our biggest sale of the year at Elk Creek Company ends on Saturday (December 11, 2021.) Oh, and I just added this recently-arrived gem to our online store: Rare Spanish Contract Loewe Mauser M1893 Cavalry Carbine. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round …

Today is the 80th anniversary of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. This should be a reminder to us all: Never let your guard down, nor allow your elected representatives to let our collective guard down. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 98 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 …

Today is the birthday of “claymation” artist and filmmaker Nick Park (born, 1958.) He is best known for his Wallace & Gromit films. — On December 6th, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, ending the institution of slavery. “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” With these words, the single greatest change wrought by the Civil War was officially noted in the Constitution. — There are just five days left in …