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JWR’s Introductory Note: The following is an update and expansion to an early post that I made in SurvivalBlog back in December, 2005. It is part of a series of SurvivalBlog 20th Anniversary update re-posts, in recognition of the fact that the majority of readers did not join us until recent years. — I often have SurvivalBlog readers and consulting clients ask me about the “ideal” terrain for a rural survival retreat house. I must report that there is no single “best” answer because there are significant trade-offs related to terrain. Castles were situated on hilltops for centuries, for obvious…

On November 23rd, 1644, John Milton published his “Areopagitica” pamphlet that decryed censorship. — November 23, 1869: The Clipper Ship Cutty Sark was launched in Dumbarton, Scotland, as one of the last clippers ever built. It is the only one still surviving. — On November 23rd, 1980, a 7.2-magnitude quake struck southern Italy killing more than 3,000 people. — Today’s feature piece is by JWR. — We still need some entries for Round 121 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $970,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 121 ends on November…

A recent study uncovers a significant correlation between the amount of greenery in U.S. neighborhoods and the incidence of fatal police shootings, suggesting that greener environments may contribute to public safety. Researchers analyzed over 5,000 police shooting cases across 3,108 counties, finding that each one-unit increase in the green space index correlates with a 15% decrease in police shootings, even after accounting for crime rates and socioeconomic factors. The research highlights a more pronounced effect in urban areas and high-poverty neighborhoods, where the presence of green space appears to foster community cohesion and reduce stress levels among both residents and…