I'll take a Jack and...

Written by Rick aka DH

So no this is not about Jack Daniels or any other type of alcohol. This is about Jack Spirko from The Survival Podcast (TSP). While getting ready for my job this morning for some reason I got a quote stuck in my head. I originally heard it in the movie Pulp Fiction. I used to just think it was interesting from the movie, but it was originally from the Bible. I am not a religious person, do not claim to be, and do not aim to offend others by this post. Here is the quote.

Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you."

I really thought about this and for some reason (maybe lack of sleep, maybe new found purpose) and probably because I have been listening to TSP from episode one again for about 12 hrs a day while in my cube and is just in the background. Here is what I got out of it today.

“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.” This is you surrounded by government, government policies, big corporations, and the millions of grasshoppers out there living on the handouts, welfare, credit cards etc. These are the people dragging down the country today and leaches and parasites of the country who feed on those that pay taxes and actually work for a living. This is you trying to live a better life, help others, and doing the right thing.

“Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness.” This is Jack, through the podcast, the forum, and the TSP community. Educating and leading others out of the dark of their ignorance of what all was going on. He, the community, and the forum do this without expecting anything in return. The Valley of darkness if what this country has become and the tough times that are approaching. More on what Jack and TSP has done for me and my family later.

“For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children.” Jack and the TSP community are all looking out for each other like family and constantly on the lookout for those lost in the darkness leading them to the light. I was lost, in debt, unprepared, unaware of my surroundings, unaware of what my government was doing. I was a grasshopper, I was a sheep.

“And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers.” When one of us is done wrong by government, a right violated, yet another tax, a restriction placed, we all rally around the camp fire, gather strength, and we defend our rights. This may come in the form of a call campaign, e-mail, or just letting us all know either from the podcast, the forum, our blogs, or news media. We (the community) have now gained enough mass that it is no longer one or two voices, it is a crown of 50,000 or more as far as I can tell, and growing daily as more lost children are found.

“And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you." I mean no disrespect here to the religious people, but I took this as “You will know we are The People when we stand up and oppose you”. Others may see this as God, or whichever higher power you believe, is using you, Jack, etc. as an instrument of their will.

What has Jack and the TSP (referring to the TSP community and forum) done for me….

Without Jack and the TSP I would still be living as a grasshopper. I would still believe in debt, credit cards, and the belief that the government would save us no matter what.

Without Jack and the TSP I would have not started a blog, reaching out to other people and helping enlighten them. If I enlighten 3 people and each of them spread to three people. Now multiply this by 100, or 1000. How many more will wake up.

Without Jack and the TSP I would not be on my way to starting my own business and stop being one of the sheep in the cube farm working just to pay for the stuff I have. I would not have thought that I am more than a 9-5 button pusher in a cubicle.

Without Jack and the TSP I would have not found a community and family where I feel I belong. No judging, no assumptions, no guilt. Only support and help. You post something to the community and people you have never met, may never meet other than in cyberspace reach out offering to help, advice, information, understanding, and compassion.

Without Jack and the TSP I would be so far less educated than I was before. I have gained more REAL education here than any time spent at a university. Real life education and knowledge and it didn’t cost me a thing. Theoretical Physics or English Lit has no applications in much of my life today. But how to plant a garden, how to make my own food, how to power my own house I can use EVERY day.

Without Jack and the TSP I wouldn’t have my expanded my garden, build my aquaponics greenhouse, discovered permaculture, realized I could have back yard chickens in city limits, medicinal herbs, essential oils, and the list could go on.

Without Jack and the TSP I wouldn’t be heavily involved in my own prepper community, found my prepper store, ISD, or teach free classes to others on things I have learned. These classes have gotten me more friends, community involvement, sense of belonging, and pride in educating others on what I have learned.

Without Jack and the TSP I wouldn’t have built stronger bonds with my family as we all work to common goals of being more prepared. Relying on these bonds and preparations such that if something happens, we can rely on each other and our preparations to get us through just about anything.

Without Jack and the TSP I wouldn’t have applied, and gotten my LTCH (License to Carry a Handgun), and OC (open carry) regularly. Not to intimidate, not to make a spectacle or cause trouble, but to reach other people. To spark a conversation, and help educate others. Many in our area don’t know the rights, laws, or regulations. This led me to start a free class for “Intro to Firearms” to educate others. While it may not get them to carry or even become a gun owner, they are now educated, and more than likely will help oppose future attempts at firearm restrictions, or at the minimum, will not join the fight to further regulate.

Without Jack and the TSP I would still be a grasshopper, a sheep, an ignorant blip droning through the days, oblivious to what is around me.

This could go on, but this is just since January 2012. I wish I would have found it sooner, but making up for lost time and listening to back episodes. Of all the podcasts I am aware of TSP is the highest count number at 1000+.

So Thanks Jack and the TSP community. If you are already involved in TSP thanks, if you haven’t been yet, helpfully this will encourage you to do so.

www.thesurvivalpodcast.com

grasshopper = someone who is unaware, hasn't awakened yet. based on the fable the ant and the grasshopper.

Sheep = those that follow without question or understanding

TSP = The Survival Podcast

ISD = Indiana Self Defense (my local prepper store)

OC = Open Cary of firearms

CC = Concealed Carry of firearms

DH = Dear Husband

Ass Clowns = government in general who do dumb things

299 Days & Glen Tate II

So I managed to connect with the author of 299 Days, Glen Tate. He is giving Indiana Self Defense free bookmarks to hand out at the store. I am very grateful to him for this and we will be handing them out with every purchase. This is something you cannot buy or get anywhere that I am currently aware of. Thanks Glen and Prepper Press. Hopefully they will arrive for our next class at the store.

I have finished both books and am eagerly awaiting book 3 and 4 supposed to be out mid November. I am totally hooked. The whole family is, even the 10 year old loves the books.

These books made me think of things in a new light. I thought we were better prepared than most but showed me things I had not yet realized. It also made me start paying attention to the economics and financial situation around me. I went to the grocery store tonight (we only go once a month or longer and usually buy at restaurants supply in bulk) and realized how much food prices have gone up and continue to go up. I find myself saying literally out loud "I am not paying that much". Times are changing and I feel it is going to get worse.

I also think the book is good to have people read who are not all into the prepper world. I think it may open their eyes just ever so much. I think they are enlightening so much so I am putting the book and a reference into the free classes I give at ISD for "intro to prepping" and "getting your spouse or family on board". If you have read or checked the books out please do so.

HS432

All, if you want a free education in permaculture type in the above into iTunes university. 36 hour university course lecture on permaculture. I have watched it once and will watch it again because there is a ton if info and I didn't get some of the concepts until later in the course. Short as posted from phone. Sorry no links.

Power out...

So, big storm the other night and wind took out power. No worries. We cooked out on the grill. Home made pasta, with garlic, shrimp, butter sauce made on the grill. All the other neighbors forked out cash to go out to eat. Grasshoppers.... The ants had two tanks of gas, ate by oil lamp, and had a nice meal.

Shrimp...it's what's for dinner

Did you know you can store shrimp long term? Neither did we. So we got a deal 30 lbs of peeled, deveined shrimp 1/2 off. Great right? Well it was frozen and what if the freezer goes out? 30 lbs of stank fish smell. We used our google power and discovered you steam shrimp, dice them up, and dehydrate at 145 until dry. Boom, we got long term shrimp storage. Pop it in zip lock bag and into the freezer to push storage longer.

New classes/dates at ISD

Here are some new dates added to ISD FREE classes/discussions


Indy 1500
Come see Indiana Self defense at the Indy 1500. There will be special deals for the month of October.
October 19th, 20th and 21st. Indiana State Fairgrounds. www.indy1500.com

Intro to firearms

Have a spouse or family member afraid of firearms? Are you a new gun owner? Are you wanting to be a new gun owner? This class is for you. Intro to firearms is a back to basics about firearms, rights and laws. This class is designed for people who have never owned a firearm or their only experience is from the media or TV.
Indiana Self Defense.

Class starts at 4PM roughly 1-2 hr depending on how lively our discussion is.

8017 E Washington St
Indianapolis IN 46219

Bring a chair, there are a few at the store.
October 27th

Prepper Thanksgiving

Bring a dish using only your preps. Must be a stored, gathered, hunted item and how it was prepared. There are only so many ways you can fix rice and beans. Can you make biltong? Bring some. Can you dehydrate and make a stew/soup. Bring it. Don’t have a clue what to do or how to use you preps, come learn. Participation is requested but not required, even if it is making a pitcher of koolaid or hot chocolate.

November 1st at

Indiana Self Defense.

6 PM…ish.

8017 E Washington St
Indianapolis IN 46219

Bring a chair, there are a few at the store.

Prepping 001 Intro to prepping

New to prepping? Think prepping is one of “those” tin foil hat people? Come see the light. 20+ topics covered, along with tips, techniques, handouts, notes, web resources and great discussion and dialog. Meet some other like minded people and network. Spouse or significant other not on board? Maybe this will help. It is free and sell it as cheap entertainment for an afternoon.

Free class/discussion at

Indiana Self Defense.

Class starts at 4PM roughly 1-2 hr depending on how lively our discussion is.

8017 E Washington St
Indianapolis IN 46219

Bring a chair, there are a few at the store.

November 17th

Kids and Prepping
Are your kids ready to bug out? What do you pack for them? What do you tell them? What if something happens while you are at work? What is your plan? How to talk to them and not scare them? Do you kids know what to do in case of a fire? Do your kids know what to do if something happens to you? This is not a put fear in you type discussion. This is a cover you basis so you are prepared if something happens. Preparation is the best defense in an emergency situation.
Free class/discussion at

Indiana Self Defense.

Class starts at 6PM roughly 1-2 hr depending on how lively our discussion is.

8017 E Washington St
Indianapolis IN 46219

Bring a chair, there are a few at the store.

December 6th


Essential Oils AND Medicinal Herbs
If you missed out on the October date for Essential Oils, Mother Wolf Herbals aka BBK76858 will be offering the same presentation (with a few extras) and combining with medicinal herbs. Learn about essential oils and growing, harvesting, and using your own medicinal herbs. 2 for 1 deal and bonus it is a FREE class and discussion. Made possible by the generosity of Indiana Self Defense. Free hand outs, notes, resources, and as always active discussion.
Class starts at 4PM roughly 2-3 hr depending on how lively our discussion is.

8017 E Washington St
Indianapolis IN 46219

Bring a chair, there are a few at the store.
December 8th

Other upcoming classes/discussions
· Prepping with Kids
· Medical/First aid
· Gardening basics From apartment gardening to aquaponics
· Growing medicinal herbs
· Water purification and storage (repeat)
· Fire (repeat)
· BOB (Bug Out Bags) II follow up to the first class, bring your updates, new or revised bag.


Stay tuned for updates.

Free class on prepping

Saturday September 29th

Intro to prepping class/discussion. Being a prepper isn't a bad thing. Come out and learn what prepping REALLY is. Not those people you see on TV. We will cover many general topics and general overview. Curious about how to get started? Just want to come see what it is all about? Being a prepper isn't a bad thing. Cover terms, and 20 other topics from BOB (what is a BOB?), to financial independence (how does that fit into prepping?). Already familiar with prepping? Send friends and family as an intro. This is FREE. Bring your own chair. Safe for all levels of questions and experience.

Starts at 4PM.
Located at
Indiana
Self
Defense

8017 E. Washington St. Indianapolis 46219 E Washington st, 317-534-0571
Behind the Arby’s.