Monthly Archives: November 2017

Episode-2122- Listener Calls for 11-30-17

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Modern Survival| 5 Comments
Episode-2122- Listener Calls for 11-30-17 [ 1:28:30 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

jackspirkoToday on The Survival Podcast I take your calls on real estate, technology, side hustles, fuel storage, bictoin, guns, aquaponic, cars and more.

Remember to be on a show like this one just pick up your phone and call 866-65-THINK.

The best way to improve your chances of being on the air is ask your question or make your point up front, then provide details.

Also please do your best to call from a quiet area with a good connection and speak up so you can be well heard.

While I can’t put all calls on the air but I do my best to get as many of them on as I can.

Join Me Today As I Respond to Your Calls and Discuss…

  • What to do when selling off a rental, get another or pay debt off
  • A can opener suggestion and hype about Alexa from Amazon
  • Finding an opportunity in flowers that are being thrown away
  • Thoughts on Harbor Freight Jerry Cans
  • What do I mean by bitcoin being “infinitely fractional”
  • Getting started with aquaponics – choosing materials
  • Putting together a gun cleaning kit for a Christmas gift
  • Saving money by buying a used rental vehicle

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the Day

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

Join the MSB Today

Join the MSB Today

Want Every Episode of TSP Ever Produced?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 40 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

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Winchester 51 Piece Gunsmith Screwdriver Set – Item of the Day

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Modern Survival| 9 Comments

smithkit

Every day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend.

Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day the Winchester 51 Piece Gunsmith Screwdriver Set.  Look strait out of the gate this is not really “the kit” for the big time gun enthusiast that tinkers often with many projects.  It won’t do everything  you will even need in drivers for guns, but it will do most, like 95%.

No what this kit is for is your range bag.  I can’t tell you how many times I have been at a range and a fellow shooter had some maintenance issue and no tools to fix the situation.  With this kit and a basic cleaning kit, a shell extractor and some lube if you can’t fix it at the range, you likely need a gun smith or to use your warranty if it is yet to expire.

driverkitbackThis is more than just a gun smith kit though.  Come on, 12 bucks for a good quality kit that has 48 different driver bits in it.  You know what I am going to say right.  Put one in the glove box of your vehicles.  Perhaps one in your Go Bag or BOB as well.

Does it have every torx bit, no but it has 7 and the one you are looking at pissed off because you expected it to be a Phillips bit likely will be one of those.  This is also a great gift to a young person who has finally be trusted to maintain his/her own firearms and frankly a good gift for anyone you need to get something for, not something spectacular just something.  You know what I mean.

Pick up one or a few of these and the first time you need it, you will feel like it just paid for itself.  Again this isn’t top quality on the level of say Forester or Grace USA (which I keep in my smithing box) but for 12 dollars it is extremely versatile and I have never had one fail me yet.  So give the Winchester 51 Piece Gunsmith Screwdriver Set a look and determine if it might be the right product for your range bag or other needs.

Remember you can always find the TSP Amazon Item of the day by just going to TspAz.com and by shopping at TspAz.com anytime you shop on Amazon you help support TSP and the work we do here no matter what you buy.

P.S. – I am bringing this one around because man talk about a great Christmas gift.  Gun owner or not this dang kit is perfect for anyone.  I again have one in my range bag, but also in my truck, my 4Runner, my BOB and my boat.

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Episode-2121- Time to Start Planning for the 2018 Spring Garden

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Modern Survival| 9 Comments
Episode-2121- Time to Start Planning for the 2018 Spring Garden [ 1:42:31 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It is Easy to Forget that Each Season is Really Only About 13 Weeks Long!

Each year usually in January or February I do a show on spring garden planting and it hit me that I should really do so earlier.  Why? Because every year I transition from winter to spring with a entire list of shit that was supposed to be done, that ain’t done.

I fall behind on new bed preparation, seed starting, plant layout planting and other projects.  I mean just think about seed starting, this should begin for many crops a full 8-10 weeks before they are to be set out.  Cole crops like Broccoli and Kale can be planted well before the last frost as well.

Other in the ground starters like peas for instance can generally handle down to about 28-30 degree over night lows, so we need to be ready to plant them very early and success them into summer crops like tomatoes and peppers.

And this is the time to START planning, at least get down on an organized list what you want to do.  Because yes, it is the holidays, there will be shopping, travel, etc. but the mind is alert right now.  Soon you will have what I call “Christmas Coma” where you sort of cost though the end of December and most of January.  It is a slow time for many of us, but also tends to become a time of inaction.  Hunting season ends, too damn cold for many things, no baby livestock to worry over yet, etc.

To break it what you need is momentum!  Otherwise next thing is it is March and you are over paying for Bonnie’s plants at Walmart because it is too late to start seeds for the year etc.

So how do you get momentum?  The plan is your momentum.  The hardest part of any process is what?  Getting started!  If you have that plan, that rough outline it becomes a to do list, you follow that in those slow weeks and by the time things pick up your are hitting the ground running.  However if you wait until mid January to plan, you put it off one week, then two, then it is February, the some life event happens, its March, got it yet?

Today we won’t talk so much about what to do but getting that plan in place to create scheduled action items so that when spring comes and the birds sing, your growing season is off to a great start.  And even if gardening isn’t your thing, there is a big lesson in that.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

  • The lesson in taking a trip/vacation/etc.
  • Why planning is important for spring planting
    • It works
    • Gives you actionable items
    • It is a sanity check
    • Allows you to sort critical from necessary from nice to have
    • Prevents mixing spring and winter prep items
  • Some things I am planning for this year
    • Basic planting diagrams for all annual production
    • Massive wicking bed and aquatic expansion
    • Seed starting including a grow tent this year
    • Forage system for the quail aviary
    • New run of quail for production
    • Pastured chickens instead of new ducks this year
      • Brooder construction
      • Chicken tractor – build and complete dates, etc
      • Quantity – just for me or for others too?
      • Date to order
      • Date on pasture
      • Date of harvest
  • Key Dates to Determine
    • Last frost and last hard freeze dates (not the same at all)
    • Dates to get your seeds started by
    • Construction start and end dates (planned and “drop dead”)
    • Planting dates
    • Fertilizer and amendment dates
    • Spaying of trees and perennial dates
  • Keep a garden book
    • Weekly high and low avg temps, any frosts
    • Date of rain activity
    • In ground seed planting and first germination
    • Pest activity
    • Bud break on perennials
    • Flowering and first harvest of annuals
  • Final Thoughts

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the Day

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

Join the MSB Today

Join the MSB Today

Want Every Episode of TSP Ever Produced?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 40 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

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Bio-Groom Waterless Pet Shampoo – Item of the Day

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Modern Survival| 5 Comments

Every day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend.

Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day Bio-Groom Waterless Pet Shampoo and man do I love this stuff.  I have never been big on bathing dogs very often.  The canine is a species that seldom bathes in the wild yet remains fairly clean.  I always marveled at how amazing the pelt of a healthy fox or coyote was during my trapping days, who bathes them?

Yet domestic dogs do need bathing at times, mostly though good brushing with a simple hair brush and deshedding with something like the FURminator is all you need.  Still there are those times when the dog simply stinks.

Recently I do not know what Charlie got into but he stunk, not awful but not good either.  Specifically around his head and neck, he smelled like well, um, a combination of rotten nasty popcorn and Cheetos that sat in the garbage too long.   We know he didn’t actually get into the garbage, though it happens.  I don’t know what happened but I knew something had to be done.

There was also a cold snap coming on, now I don’t know if you have ever tried bathing a 100 pound Pit Bull Mix when the temps are sub 50 degrees with a garden hose.  Specifically one that doesn’t want to be bathed, but it isn’t fun!

Fortunately I had just started looking for a new waterless shampoo and had already ordered this, it was due in that day so Charlie and I were both spared the hose on a very cold day.  He spent a great deal of time outside until the UPS man came with his shampoo.

I started with a brief deshedding as he doesn’t need much.  I then sprayed him all over, sprayed my own hands and wiped it on around his head, ears, face and neck so I didn’t get it in his eyes.  He didn’t really like it but was agreeable with it, I then brushed him down and no more stink and a shinny happy dog.

Lucy and Max went next and both looked and smelled great after the procedure.  The great part?  Doing all three dogs took less than 15 minutes and no chasing anyone down and trying to subdue a 100 pit mix let alone a 150 pound German Shepherd under a hose spraying cold water on a cold day.

I now use Bio-Groom Waterless Pet Shampoo on our dogs about twice a month and they have grown to tolerate it.  Getting a biscuit as soon as they are done helps a lot, “I don’t like being sprayed but man I love those treats” thinking works with the canine brain.

Here is the procedure I recommend.  If your dog needs some deshedding or under coat removed do that first with something like the FURminator.  Then spray them all over, again I recommend using hands to apply near the face, neck, head etc.  Just spray on your hands and wipe it on them.  Then brush well. Done.

On brushing, while I love the FURminator for deshedding, most dog brushes are over priced junk.  I use a people brush for my dogs for general brushing and it cost a whopping $4.50.  Any brush of this style with open bristles will work just fine.

So if you want your bow wows shiny, clean and good smelling without the hassle, time and fight of a bath, give Bio-Groom Waterless Pet Shampoo a try today.  This is a product with almost 100 reviews, a 4.5 star rating and an A Grade on FakeSpot, so you know it is quality product.

Remember you can always find the TSP Amazon Item of the day by just going to TspAz.com and by shopping at TspAz.com anytime you shop online you help support TSP and the work we do here no matter what you buy.

 

 

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Episode-2120- Andy Fancher on WWII Heroes and their Stories

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Modern Survival| 14 Comments
Episode-2120- Andy Fancher on WWII Heroes and their Stories [ 1:05:06 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Andy Fancher is a Dallas based photographer and videographer. At age sixteen, he started a historical documentary series designated “Andy Fancher Presents,” and began interviewing WWII veterans to spotlight.

Today, Andy is eighteen, and has interviewed fifty-seven WWII veterans and counting. Andy’s mission is a time-sensitive one, but he nonetheless enjoys capturing and preserving the stories of our greatest generation.

He joins us today to discuss how he got interested in WWII, why he began his project of interviewing WWII veterans and what he has learned by the experience.

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the Day

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

Join the MSB Today

Join the MSB Today

Want Every Episode of TSP Ever Produced?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 40 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

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Come Meet Jack Spirko at Liberty Forum 2018

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Modern Survival| 11 Comments

I will be appearing at Liberty Forum 2018 in Manchester, New Hampshire.  This will be the 11th Annual Liberty Forum will take place February 8-10, 2018, at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Manchester. Early bird tickets are available now!

I got you guys a discount too of 10% with discount code TSP10, so make sure to use that when you buy your tickets.

Other announced guests are Lou Perez who I am really looking forward to meeting and my friend and co cryptosavage Vin Armini.  I can tell you after Vin attended our fall workshop, he is like me, he hangs out and is very accessible.

I will be doing three talks this time around.  The opening key note which will focus on personal liberty though “proactive apathy”.  My hope is to fire up folks in this opening talk so they get the most out of event, more on that in a bit.

I will also be participating in a podcasting forum with other podcasters like Vin.  In that session we will be discussing how you put liberty into action thru podcasts and daily activities and show others how to do the same along with how to actually make a living doing it.

I have yet to decide on my final talk as to a subject, they have given me carte blanche to discuss anything.  As I know many of you will attend, I am open to suggestions, so just comment with them below.

So let me tell you why you should come to New Hampshire in of all months February for Liberty Forum.  Yes it will be cold but it will also be indoors, in a awesome hotel, so don’t let the weather scare you.

The reason is the people, just see all the speakers and education you get as a bonus.  I am heading back to New Hampshire to support a movement (The Free State Project) that I can’t even join, think about that.  Why?  The people, that is why.  I have been speaking in large venues for over 20 years and my absolute favorite place to do so is Liberty Forum in New Hampshire.

If you take the time and come this year you will be transformed by the experience and make connections with people that may last a lifetime.  I know quite a few ventures that started over a beer at Liberty Forum.

So what is the cost, there are two options for tickets they are…

  • General Admission for – $129.00
  • All Inclusive for – $289.00

I really recommend the all inclusive as it includes all sessions and meals.  If you want to attend my key note on Thursday night and do general admission plus Thursday evening dinner & entertainment as a $79.00 add on.  At that point you are up to 208 so I really think going all access for that plus Friday and Saturday meals makes a lot of sense.  It is during a lot of the meals you get a chance to meet and network with people you’d otherwise not connect with.

On that let me say PLEASE network, bring business cards, get cards or names, numbers and emails of those you meet and cultivate those relationships.  There are few places you can hang out with say 1,000 people that truly love liberty.  Make the most of it.

So again check your calendar and do what you can to come meet me and other awesome folks at Liberty Forum 2018.  Again you can get your tickets here, and make sure to use discount code tsp10 when you do so you get your 10% discount.

P.S. – Here is one of my talks from Liberty Forum in 2012, it will give you a bit of a feel for what the venue is like.

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Episode-2119- Listener Feedback for 11-27-17

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Modern Survival| 16 Comments
Episode-2119- Listener Feedback for 11-27-17 [ 2:00:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

jackspirkoToday on The Survival Podcast I take your questions college poverty, dogs, fuel storage, herbalism, politics, guns, cooking and more.

Remember to be on a show like this one just pick up your phone and call 866-65-THINK.

Make sure if you submit content for a feedback show that you put something like “comment for jack”, “question for jack” or “article for jack” in the subject line to assure proper identification for my screening process.

Please understand I receive several hundred emails a day and can’t get them all on the air.

I also do put out a lot of information on Facebook from emails that I can’t fit on the program though so keep em coming.

Join Me Today As I Respond to Your Calls and Discuss…

  • An Update about Liberty Forum and a Discount Code for TSP Listeners
  • College kids are now likely to also be food stamp recipients
  • Training your dogs not to eat your poultry
  • My thoughts on Chinese knock off Jerry Cans
  • Some updates on vehicle “property tax” in West Virginia
  • How to start learning about herbalism – the easy way
  • The “progression of firearms” for kids
  • Spice grinder cleaning and maintenance
  • Making a buying decision on a wok
  • Cast iron and glass induction cook surfaces

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the Day

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

Join the MSB Today

Join the MSB Today

Want Every Episode of TSP Ever Produced?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 40 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

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UTG Ranger Field Bag – Item of the Day

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Modern Survival| 5 Comments

utg bag

Every day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend.

Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day is the UTG Ranger Field Bag.  Long time followers of The Survival Podcast will know I have been recommending this bag for years.  And I will tell you this is the best value large bag I have found so far.

This is my go to as a luggage bag when I fly on airplanes.  It is so much more convenient than a roller as you make your way though what ever shuttle bus hell exists between you and your rental car.

It is huge as well, bigger than I think most people expect, in fact there are a few negative reviews about it being “too big”, sigh, really!  One even said, “the picture makes it look smaller”, um, it is a picture with no other object for scale, face palm moment I guess.

The dimensions of the bag are 35.00″ x 13.00″ x 12.00″ and it really carries a lot of gear.  I did manage to kill one, after many many airline trips where I used it to carry t-shirts.  I am talking tight packed, rolled shirts, over 150 pounds of them!  Even then it beat the shipping charges I would have paid to mail them ahead of time and send the unsold ones back home!

The failure is was at the one point this bag could use some improvement.  There are four rubber feet on the bottom.  When thrown (think airline employees) and heavily loaded sooner or later they tear off and eventually that wears the bag out.

Used as a vehicle kit bag, and set down vs. thrown (ie the way you handle gear when you actually own it), they are extremely long lasting.  I’ll be honest this is not a bag like John Willis at SOE Tactical Gear would build, however, old John doesn’t make a bag anything like this one.  In fact I can’t find anything quite like this bag when you factor in all the compartments and the comfort of carrying it along with the durability.

I use this bag for my vehicle based bug out kits and air travel mostly.  I have talked to the guy who fills my CO2 tank about this bag too.  For you home brewers the best place to get CO2 tanks filled is a airsoft store by the way.  The guy I use has a store and a huge play area for paint ball and airsoft both.  He said about half of all players tend to use this bag for their gear, due to capacity, longevity and comfort of carry.

So if you have need of a large capacity duffel give the UTG Ranger Field Bag a shot.  I think you will be quite happy with it.

Remember you can always find the TSP Item of the day by just going to TspAz.com and by shopping at TspAz.com anytime you shop online you help support TSP and the work we do here no matter what you buy.

P.S. – This video reviews three UTG Bags, the third one is the UTG Ranger Field Bag.  It does a good job of showing you all the features and how big it really is.  You can jump to about 6:40 if you just want that review.

By the way the second bag reviewed the UTG SWAT Responder Range Bag was an outstanding range bag, with huge capacity for such a small bag.  I still have one I bought before I even started TSP, I now use if for my blow back airsoft hand gun gear.  Sadly UTG stopped making it.  UTG if you are listening, two things.  1.  Bring Back the SWAT Responder Range Bag and 2.  Loose the feet on the Ranger Field bag, it would make a great product even better.

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Check Out the All New TspAz.com

Posted on November 24, 2017 by Modern Survival| 7 Comments

For about two years now I have been doing our Item of the Day Reviews which of course can be found at TspAz.com.  Well I took this Friday to tackle a long time goal and categorize all the TspAz Reviews by tags.

Now when you got to TspAz.com you can pull up say all the items for Cooking, or Power Tools or say EDC.  In fact all our reviews are now broken down into 49 different categories.

So check out the brand new TspAz.com today and remember as long as you do your online shopping at TspAz.com you support TSP and the work we do.

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Episode-2118- The Thanksgiving Special for 2017

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Modern Survival| 2 Comments
Episode-2118- The Thanksgiving Special for 2017 [ 22:21 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Note – You can get a full transcript of the original portion of this show here. Many families read this and the Christmas show as part of their holidays.

Today one day before the great American Holiday we stop and pause to think about what we have to be thankful for.

Last year I rerecorded the original portion of this show into much better audio quality, I do hope you enjoy it. If you would like to hear the first version of it as it was recorded in my car you can find the original that was published on Nov. 26, 2008 here.

The beauty of this show is I feel it is something you can share with friends and family. The real history of Thanksgiving is actually a lot more interesting and special then many of the myths.

Tune in today to hear…

  • How thankful I am for all that has happened so far in 2015
  • Why much of what we learn about Thanksgiving is wrong or at least inaccurate
  • How Thanksgiving was at one time considered a “damn yankee holiday”
  • How Thanksgiving became a way for our nation to heal and reunite
  • How the date of Thanksgiving has often been moved around and why
  • The truth about those big buckles the pilgrims wore and all that black clothing
  • What feasting meant 100 years ago to our prior generation that we have forgotten

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

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