Preparedness Notes for Thursday — December 15, 2022

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. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 104 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. …




Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — December 14, 2022

December 14th is 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. — Today’s feature article is a guest piece written by SurvivalBlog reader Mrs. Alaska. Because it was first published in her blog, Alaska Bush Life, Off-Road, Off-Grid, it is not eligible for judging in the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. We are in need of articles to post for Round 104 of the writing contest.  More than $775,000 worth …




Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 13, 2022

After spending nine months on the run, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was captured on December 13, 2003. During his 24 years in office, Saddam’s secret police, charged with protecting his power, terrorized the public, ignoring the human rights of the nation’s citizens. While many of his people faced poverty, he lived in incredible luxury, building more than 20 lavish palaces throughout the country. It was fitting that, in the end, he was hiding in nothing more than a hole in the ground covered by plywood. — December 13th is also the birthday of Sergeant Alvin York. — SurvivalBlog Writing …




Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 12, 2022

On December 12, 2019, the British General Election was won by Boris Johnson‘s Conservative Party in a landslide win with 80-seat majority. Scottish National Party also won 48 of 59 seats in Scotland. — Today’s feature article was penned by SurvvalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — We are in need of entries for Round 104 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $775,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 104 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and …




Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 11, 2022

On December 11, 1994, Russian troops invaded Chechnya to suppress the rebel Chechen government led by Dzhokhar Dudayev. This began what is commonly called the First Chechen War. — I just got word of the passing of Colonel Joe Kittinger.  What an amazing man! He will be missed.  My condolences to his family. — We are seeking entries for Round 104 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $775,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 104 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there …




Preparedness Notes for Saturday — December 10, 2022

On December 10, 1520, Martin Luther publicly burned the papal edict that had demanded that he recant or face ex-communication. And 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. There were no survivors. — Today’s feature article was penned by SurvvalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — We are in great need of entrries for Round 104 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More …




Preparedness Notes for Friday — December 9, 2022

December 9th, 1914 was the birthday of Maximo Guillermo “Max” Manus. He put his life on the line, fighting the Nazi occupiers. Max Manus passed away in 1996. His exploits are fairly accurately shown in the movie Max Manus: Man of War. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 104 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 …




Preparedness Notes for Thursday — December 8, 2022

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. — We are in great need of entries for Round 104 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $750,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 104 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for …




Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — December 7, 2022

On a Sunday morning, in 1941, America was caught sleeping. Then, six decades later, there was that September morning, in 2001. Let’s pray that nothing like those days ever happens again. – JWR — The 2600 Upgrade PVS-14 night vision monocular/weapons sight sale at Ready Made Resources will end on Thursday, December 8, 2022.  With this sale, you will save $400 off normal retail and receive what is normally a $200 upgrade to a 2600 FOM unit. They are in stock and ready to ship, at $3,595. — Special Note: Today’s feature article is a review written by our Field …




Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 6, 2022

Today is the birthday of RAF and RCAF fighter ace George Frederick “Buzz” Beurling. He was born in Verdon, Quebec on December 6, 1921 and killed in Rome Italy, on May 20th, 1948. There are a few books about him and one worth mentioning is his autobiography Malta Spitfire which he wrote in 1943 during a Victory Bond tour in Canada. He left the RCAF in April,1944 with 31 aerial victories, most of them during the siege of Malta in the summer of 1942. — Today is the birthday of “claymation” artist and filmmaker Nick Park (born, 1958.) He is …




Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 5, 2022

On December 5th, 1964, the first Medal of Honor awarded to a serviceman for action in Vietnam was presented to Captain Roger Donlon of Saugerties, New York. Captain Donlon and his Special Forces team were manning Camp Nam Dong, a mountain outpost near the borders of Laos and North Vietnam. Just before two o’clock in the morning on July 6, 1964, hordes of Viet Cong attacked the camp. He was shot in the stomach, but Donlon stuffed a handkerchief into the wound, cinched up his belt, and kept fighting. He was wounded three more times, but he continued fighting–manning a …




Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 4, 2022

December 4th is the birthday of Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, (born 1912) an AVG “Flying Tiger” volunteer pilot for the Chinese Nationalist government, WWII Marine Corps aviator, and Medal of Honor recipient. (He died January 11, 1988.) A proto-Redoubter, Pappy Boyington was born in Couer d’Alene, Idaho and was raised in Spokane, Washington.  Couer d’Alene, Idaho’s airport is named in his honor. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 104 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% …




Preparedness Notes for Saturday — December 3, 2022

On December 3,1775, the first official US flag (the Grand Union Flag) was raised aboard the naval vessel USS Alfred. On December 3, 1944, the Greek Civil War broke out in a newly-liberated Greece, between communists and royalists. — We are pleased to welcome a new banner advertiser: SurvivalFrog. They sell a broad line of survival gear and storage food, at great prices. Presently, they are running some pre-Christmas specials. Take a look! — Today’s guest article first appeared in the Alt-Market.us blog. It is reposted with permission.




Preparedness Notes for Friday — December 2, 2022

On December 2nd, 1823, what became known as the Monroe Doctrine was declared by President James Monroe to Congress outlining a foreign policy initiative that forbade European interference in the American hemisphere but also asserted U.S. neutrality in regard to future European conflicts. — Today we present a guest article by Arkadiusz Sieroń, selected by JWR. It was first published by Sunshine Profits, and is reposted with permission. — We are now seeking entries for Round 104 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $750,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 104 …




Preparedness Notes for Thursday — December 1, 2022

This is the birthday of novelist Rex Stout (1886–1975). Rex Stout was the brother of Ruth Stout, the gardener who wrote about no till, year-round mulching, organic gardening in her book Gardening Without Work: For the Aging, the Busy, and the Indolent. — Today we present the first entry for Round 104 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Round 104 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. — But first, here is …