Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — February 24, 2021

On February 24, 1970 an avalanche took the lives of 29 Swiss Army officers in Reckingen, Switzerland. — To those who have been sending anxious e-mails about the status of their orders for SurvivalBlog Archive USB Sticks, here is an update: The second batch of orders starting mailing Monday, following a brief delay while our fulfillment team was awaiting a new supply of padded mailers.  All orders placed one or before February 20th should be mailed within the next 14 days.  Please note that we had advertised: “Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.” Thanks for your patience. – …




Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 23, 2021

February 23 is that day that six Marines from E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima. Today is the anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836). February 23rd is also the birthday of Captain Isaac Davis (February 23, 1745 – April 19, 1775), a militia officer and gunsmith who commanded a Minute Company in Acton, Massachusetts during the Battle of Concord. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 93 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. …




Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 22, 2021

On this day in 1732, George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, the second son from the second marriage of a colonial plantation owner. An initially loyal British subject, Washington eventually led the Continental Army in the American Revolution and became known as the father of the United States. — On this day in 1943,  Sophie Scholl was executed by beheading for organizing the White Rose group–a student resistance to the Hitler regime.  She had been convicted of high treason, after having been found distributing anti-war leaflets at the University of Munich (LMU) with her brother, Hans. She was …




Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 21, 2021

February 21st is the birthday of Group Captain Douglas Bader (born 1910, died 5 September 1982). He was a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter ace during the Second World War. He lost his legs in a pre-war flying accident, but that didn’t stop him from re-entering the RAF when war broke out. He was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable, and 11 enemy aircraft damaged. Bader was eventually shot down and became a POW in Germany. Since the Luftwaffe ran its own POW camps, he became a celebrity with his captors. Bader’s autobiography …




Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 20, 2021

This is the birthday of novelist and screenwriter Richard Matheson (1926–2013). He wrote many sci-fi television scripts. His novella I Am Legend later was adapted into three different movies over the course of five decades, and his story Bid Time Return became the charming movie Somewhere In Time. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 93 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 …




Preparedness Notes for Friday — February 19, 2021

Today is the birthday of Lee Marvin (1924–1987), who you may remember from The Professionals and The Big Red One. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 93 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 …




Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 18, 2021

Today is the birthday of astronaut Theodore Cordy “Ted” Freeman (February 18, 1930 – October 31, 1964.) Ted Freeman and his wife Faith were friends of my mother and father.  Both my father and Ted Freeman were stationed at Bryan Air Force base in the early 1950s, and they rented houses three blocks apart, in College Station, Texas. The families often played the card game Bridge together. Faith and my mother were also in a play production together. Oddly, the Freemans named their daughter Faith, and they referred to her as “Faith, Junior.” (They couldn’t call her “Little Faith”, for …




Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — February 17, 2021

I just heard that Rush Limbaugh passed away. He was a heroic American patriot. Prayers please for his family. And also pray that someone truly worthy takes his place behind The Golden Microphone at the EIB Network. — On this day in 1838, hundreds of Voortrekkers traveling along the Blaukraans River in the Natal region were massacred by Zulus. This tragedy became known as the Weneen Massacre. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 93 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest …




Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 16, 2021

February 16th is the anniversary of U.S. Lieutenant Stephen Decatur’s “Most daring act of the age” as British Admiral Horatio Nelson called it. The Muslim pirates from the Barbary states – Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, and Tripolitania, had been leading raids against U.S. flagged ships, stealing the cargo and ransoming the crew back to the U.S. at an exorbitant price. After two years of minor raids, President Thomas Jefferson ordered U.S. Navy vessels to the Mediterranean Sea to engage them. The U.S. frigate Philadelphia ran aground near Tripoli and was captured. On February 16th, 1804, Lt. Decatur led an expeditionary force …




Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 15, 2021

Today, I’d like to wish Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large) a Happy Birthday! — This is the birthday of gun developer Richard “Dick” Casull was born on February 15, 1931. Casull passed away peacefully at home on May 6, 2018 after a long battle with cancer. Dick Casull is most famous for his design of the .454 Casull revolver, along with many other handgun and rifle designs. He held 17 firearm patents. — As our feature article today, the following is a review written by our Redoubtable Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio.




Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 14, 2021

February 14, 1942 was the birthday of Prepper/Economist Dr. Gary North. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 93 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 winner’s choice of three-day …




Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 13, 2021

Today is the birthday of the late General Chuck Yeager (born, 1923), the first man to break the sound barrier. He passed away on December 7, 2020, at age 97. — February 13th is also the birthday of Robert Charles R.C. Sproul (born 1939, died December 14, 2017), a well-respected American Calvinist theologian. — On the phone the other night I  had someone mention “…all those tragic deaths, from COVID.” That got me thinking: The real tragedy is the loss of personal liberty imposed by bureaucrats over a pandemic with a 99.6% survival rate.  Yes, we mourn for those who …




Preparedness Notes for Friday — February 12, 2021

February 12th is the birthday of theologian and journalist Cotton Mather (1663–1728). — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 93 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 winner’s choice of …




Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 11, 2021

February 11th is the birthday of the late Burt Blumert (born February 11, 1929 in New York City, died March 30, 2009). He once owned Camino Coin Company. Dr. Ron Paul also once owned the same company. Burt is seen at left, in the photo above. — The two variants of the 15th Anniversary edition of the waterproof 2005-2020 SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick are selling quickly.  (One of them is a limited edition in a keepsake tin box, with a keychain. There will be just of those 500 made, and more than 450 of those have already sold! Be advised: …




Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — February 10, 2021

February 10th is the birthday of Zvi Zvika Greengold (born 1952), a Centurion tank commander who was one of Israel’s most notable heroes of the Yom Kippur War. He was awarded the country’s highest military honor, the Medal of Valor. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 93 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. …