Hmmm. I can’t think of how to improve these biweekly updates. The formatting, page architecture, and topic organization is really smooth, as it is. Thank you so much for all that you do!

I think it’s safe to say that the CDC’s announcement about mask guidance caught many of us by surprise. And I think it goes without saying that I’m looking forward to perusing The Prepared’s thoughtful analysis–backed by science and data–on its impact. (No, I ain’t no Nostradamus, but methinks that such analysis might be coming from y’all. Love the great work that you do!)

I had to laugh at the “soy boys” term–I guess they’re similar to them “children of seitan.” 😉 Excellent analysis and writing, as always. Enjoy reading your posts, Josh! 

Thank you, John, for this well-written piece. The timely blog articles and the informative roundups have taught me a lot about how interconnected various systems are, and where there are Single Point of Failures in various systems in our society. Learning about these (from The Prepared site) have helped me make better decisions over the past few years, about preparation and everyday activities.

This post (and the insightful Comments) had me thinking for quite some time about where YKK zippers might be found in my everyday (non-prep) attire. So I raided my jacket/coat closet to gather data points. Here is a summary of interesting observations found in my closet (YMMV): As expected, many (but not all) of decent technical jackets were outfitted with YKK, although some companies did not use YKK across all product lines. Surprisingly, some “value engineered” and “fashion-focused” apparel manufacturers use YKK. Invariably, all of the off-brands and “made-to-order” companies did not use YKK. Detailed observations: Nearly all of my outerwear from Columbia Sportswear have YKK–these include vests, puffy jackets, rain jackets, and heavy winter jackets. The only exceptions were the economical 100% polyester vest and a really old wool coat (circa 2008). I was not expecting any of my Uniqlo jackets and coats to include YKK, as they are mostly known as value-engineered, contemporary clothing retailer. But all of them include YKK! One minor complaint, however, is that some of their outerwear have smaller zipper teeth sizes. Likewise, my roster of Adidas track jackets, hoodies, and other fashion-centric jackets were all outfitted with YKK. I guess that means I can rock the looks of both Run-DMC and OutKast now. 😉 The technical cycling jackets by Showers Pass were a puzzle. Their $120-ish windbreaker jacket was outfitted with YKK, but their more expensive jackets were completely unpredictable, as they both had YKK on *some* of their zippers. One high-end jacket had YKK zippers on hand pockets, but not anywhere else. Another high-end jacket only had YKK on the main zipper, but not elsewhere. The brown M&Ms were not evenly distributed here. And as much as I appreciate my conference presenter/volunteer hoodies (which I received as gifts) and customized hoodies/track jackets from Neighborhoodies, they were not YKK-equipped. I haven’t collected data points on backpacks, travel luggage, hip packs, jeans, or man purses yet. Maybe I might embark on those inventories at a future date!

Excellent and informative article! Thank you!

Very informative article. Thank you for the Carryology link, Taylor!

This is the most informative, accessible, easy-to-understand, and insightful article on the subject. Thank you for the diligent and thorough research and using understandable analogies and explanations. </fanboy mode off> (And now I’m enlightened as to why the Japan Rail system runs on two separate frequencies in parts of Tohoku region of the country–as a railfan, I’ve been curious.)

This is amazing and enlightening read. The Brown M&M Van Halen story is one of my favorites ever for Quality Management. And I had no idea about the history of YKK. Domo arigato!

As always, thank you for the excellent roundup of various events–grateful for the opportunity to stay informed!

Thank you for the thoughtful analysis and roundup. And knowing that some of The Prepared’s staff lives in affected areas, I hope you are all doing OK.

Agreed! Thank you, Dr. Ari and Josh–very grateful for actionable and informative post!

Thank you so much for the update. John. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, The Prepared blog is one of the very few sources which I turn to for timely information–especially for COVID-19 and global health content. The diversity and breadth of long-form blog topics are definitely appreciated (who would’ve thought that pinto beans brownies were a thing?), and the mature tone of the authors are worth returning for.

Thank you for sharing the happy moment picture, Stephanie! And many more thanks for impeccable roundup reporting! Wishing you safe holidays.

Thank you for this timeless resource. A Bug Out Backpack has been on my list of investments to make, and with the seasonal (“Black Friday”) offers, I invested in a new Osprey Farpoint Trek at a discounted price!

This is very timely read, and has definitely improved my mental state. Thank you so much–I needed this. I admit that I have indulged in some panic-induced purchasing over the past few months.

I haven’t given it any thoughts about leaving, although I’m ensuring that I know where the escape routes are, should things get worse. I’m worried about what will happen during November, though. This means it’s time to start planning ahead and anticipate supply shortages, civil unrest, and other calamities.

I live in Portland, OR–about 1.5 miles away from the “hot zone.” Contrary to some of the media accounts, most of the city is not overrun by the so-called “hordes of anarchists and criminals.” I have yet to attend any demonstration (due to COVID-19 concerns), and as long as I stay away from the concentrated hot zone areas in downtown, I don’t notice much in my daily activities (which mostly involve working from home and walking 7-9 miles daily for exercise). The only time I walked through downtown during daytime, I did notice more boarded-up businesses and graffiti (from both sides of the political spectrum).