The Survival Weekly Dispatch - Volume 12, Issue 26
Hey folks, thanks for checking out the newsletter this week. For those who may have missed the announcement, my latest book – Countdown to Preparedness (2nd edition) – is now available! It’s currently the #1 New Release in Amazon’s Survival & Emergency Preparedness category, which is pretty cool. For those not familiar with the book, it’s designed sort of like a class or course where there are 52 weekly lessons, complete with homework. The idea is that after completing all of the lessons, you and your family will be ready to tackle most common sorts of emergencies.
Here’s what one early reader had to say about the book.
* * *
A good friend of mine sent me a link to this video.
While humorous, it brings up the topic of loot drops. For those unfamiliar with the term, it refers to a video game concept where when the player completes a certain task or terminates certain enemies, he or she is rewarded with something, such as a new weapon or a healing potion.
The same sort of concept can apply in the real world. For example, you can invest in all of the latest and greatest gear and weaponry, but doing so doesn’t make you invulnerable. If you lack the proper training, you could just end up being someone else’s loot drop.
I look at it like this. Some folks are hobbyists and collectors. They like to buy cool stuff and maybe play around with it in the backyard. Others are a lot more serious and will seek out classes and training, as well as practice and hone skills as they have time to do so.
There’s nothing wrong with either approach, as long as you manage your expectations and be realistic about your level of competence. If you want to be proficient, you have to put in the hard work.
* * *
Here are links to a few of my most recent submissions to GAT Daily.
Educate Yourself – Essential Reading for Preppers
Their First Knife – What to Give Them and When
An OTF With Class – The CRKT Twist Tighe Compact Auto
* * *
This weekend is the 4th of July holiday here in the US. Please use abundant caution when engaging in any sort of fireworks displays. Do everything you can to ensure you arrive back to work on Monday with the same number of fingers and toes you had before the weekend.
* * *
AI-written books in the survival and preparedness genre are getting to be a real problem. The people behind the scenes have zero qualms about using chicanery and deception to grab a few bucks. Here’s an example of what I mean. I stumbled on a prepping book advertised on Facebook. It looked interesting, so I checked out the Amazon listing. The author has four Editorial Reviews posted, which look great. The problem is, they’re all fake. None of the publications listed here exist.
"Finally, a survival manual that doesn't waste time with fantasy or fluff. Bug-In & Bug-Out delivers actionable, no-BS tactics for the kind of chaos no one wants to face—but everyone should prepare for. Mark Reddinger writes like someone who's been there. Because maybe, he has."
— Alex McGrath, Editor-in-Chief, Tactical Preparedness Review
"You won't find vague advice or recycled lists in here. This manual feels like having a calm, tactical friend in the middle of a blackout. Direct, useful, and actually usable."
— Lisa Frazier, Senior Contributor, Urban Defense Weekly
"If you're looking for a pretty book to sit on your shelf, look elsewhere. This is boots-on-the-ground survival knowledge for real-world scenarios, presented with grit and clarity. Every page earns its space."
— Reed Dawson, Survival Specialist, Off Grid Intel
"Bug-In & Bug-Out belongs in the 'open now, not later' category. It doesn't just tell you what to do—it tells you how, when, and why. A must-read for anyone serious about staying prepared without becoming paranoid."
— Carrie Donnelly, Staff Writer, Survivalist's Journal
Digging a little deeper, I saw that the back cover of the book indicates the author is a Special Forces veteran. Yet his bio on the About the Author page says he’s “…not some former special ops guy….”
Listen, I have zero issues with books in my niche that have been written by actual human beings and contain factual information, ideally presented in a coherent and maybe even entertaining way. Heck, I’ve gone out of my way to promote a ton of them over the years.
But I have a lot of issues with AI written bullshit. The only way to combat it is to drag them into the light where people can see what’s really happening.
* * *
Our hike over the weekend took place at Bigfoot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. It was a hot one, around 99F with the heat index. And while there is a beach there, we didn’t visit it. Instead, we did nearly three miles winding through the back end of the park. Not a lot of distance, but with the heat we were both pretty tired by the end.
Survival Tip – Emergencies Don’t Make Appointments
A few days ago, there was an active shooter situation in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. There are plenty of news stories floating around detailing what’s known at this point. When it happened, authorities advised residents to shelter in place at home until told otherwise. It wasn’t stated in news reports at the time, but presumably any residents who weren’t already at home weren’t allowed back into the area until the all clear was given.
A few things with this situation that should serve as reminders.
1) Emergencies don’t make appointments. Always maintain a minimal level of supplies at home, so if you’re forced to shelter in place, you aren’t wanting for basic necessities.
2) Know where you can go if you can’t go home. A situation like this might be resolved in the next ten minutes. But if it takes a bit longer, say overnight and into tomorrow, know where you can hunker down and wait it out, such as the home of a family member or close friend.
3) When something like this happens, some folks have the desire to go hunting for the bad guys. Don’t do that. Remember that the authorities won’t be able to tell the difference between you and the shooter(s). All you’ll accomplish is putting yourself in greater danger along with potentially tying up valuable resources who will have to deal with your dumb ass.
Backwoods Survival Guide Magazine
For those new to my little corner of the Internet, I am the Editor in Chief for Backwoods Survival Guide magazine. Here is the cover for the current issue available in stores right now.
You can find Backwoods Survival Guide just about anywhere magazines are sold, including:
Walmart
Publix
Walgreens
Rite Aid
CVS
Tractor Supply
Fleet Farm
Barnes & Noble
Subscriptions are available here.
Questions, Comments, Complaints, Concerns?
I am always just an email away - jim@survivalweekly.com.
Love your books.