Hey everyone, welcome back to My Weird Prompts. I am Corn, and I am joined as always by my brother, the man who probably has more spreadsheets on emergency protocols than actual grocery lists.
Herman Poppleberry here, and honestly Corn, a grocery list is just a subset of an emergency protocol if you think about it. But you are right, today is a bit more of a serious one. We are looking at a prompt from Daniel about something that is very much on the minds of everyone in his part of the world right now.
Yeah, Daniel is reaching out from Jerusalem, and given the situation there in late February twenty twenty-six, the tension with Iran, and the recent evacuation advisories, he is thinking about practical preparedness. He has come up with this concept called PMPUs, or Packable Modular Preparedness Units.
I love the acronym. Packable Modular Preparedness Units. It sounds like something out of a high-end logistics manual, but the logic behind it is incredibly sound. He is basically taking the idea of a go-bag and breaking it down into specific, organized modules using these hard-shell cases.
Right, and he is starting with the things that caught him off guard in previous conflicts. Specifically, the internet blackouts in shelters. If you are in a reinforced room, a MAMAD, the signal often just dies, and that means you are not getting those critical Home Front Command alerts. So his PMPU one is an emergency internet kit. A travel router, a power bank, and an ethernet cable.
This is such a smart, technical approach to a survival problem. Most people think of survival as food, water, and bandages, which are obviously essential, but in twenty twenty-six, information is a survival resource. If you do not know when the all-clear is given, or where the nearest medical point is because your phone has no bars in the bunker, you are in trouble.
And then he has PMPU two, which is more traditional, a travel first aid kit and whistles. He is using those Hermitshell cases to keep them organized so they can just slot into a backpack. He is asking us what else we would put in these units and what we think of the modular approach.
Well, first of all, the modular approach is the only way to do it if you want to be efficient. We actually touched on the importance of organized prepping back in episode seven hundred fifty-six when we talked about urban survival in volatile regions. The problem with a giant, messy go-bag is that when you are under stress, your fine motor skills go out the window and your cognitive load is maxed out. You do not want to be digging through a pile of loose batteries and granola bars to find a specific cable.
Right, the UX of survival, as we called it in episode eight hundred twenty-four. If you cannot find it in ten seconds in the dark, you might as well not have it. So, let’s talk about that internet kit, PMPU one. Herman, you are the network nerd. Why the ethernet cable?
Oh, the ethernet cable is the secret weapon there. People forget that while Wi-Fi signals are easily blocked by the thick, reinforced concrete and steel of a modern Israeli shelter, many of those shelters are actually hardwired with network ports that lead back to the main router in the apartment. If the power is still on but the Wi-Fi cannot penetrate the walls, plugging a travel router into that wall jack can be a lifesaver.
And if the power is out, the power bank keeps that travel router alive.
And Daniel mentioned using a travel router. I am assuming he is looking at something like those GL.iNet devices. They are tiny, they run on five-volt power from a USB bank, and they can act as a repeater or a bridge. If he can get even a faint signal from a cellular hotspot or a neighbor’s Wi-Fi, the travel router can grab it and rebroadcast it inside the shelter.
I would suggest adding a high-gain antenna to that PMPU one. Something that can be positioned near the door seal or a vent to grab a signal that the phone's internal antenna might miss. Also, a physical list of emergency frequencies and radio stations. If the internet goes down completely, you need a backup for the backup.
That is a great point. Maybe a small, USB-powered software-defined radio dongle? You can plug it into a laptop or even some tablets and scan for local emergency broadcasts. It takes up almost no space in a modular case.
See, this is why I like the PMPU concept. It forces you to think in categories. So we have communications and we have medical. Let’s look at PMPU two, the essentials. Daniel has first aid and whistles. Whistles are brilliant because they never run out of batteries and they are much louder than a human voice if you are trapped or need to signal someone.
For PMPU two, I would definitely add a high-quality LED headlamp. Not a handheld flashlight, a headlamp. In a shelter or an evacuation scenario, you need your hands free. Whether you are tending to a wound or just trying to fix a piece of equipment, holding a flashlight in your mouth is not a long-term solution.
And maybe some of those compressed coin tissues? You know, the ones that expand when you add a drop of water. They are incredibly space-efficient for hygiene.
Oh, definitely. And since we are talking about Jerusalem and the current tensions, I think we need to suggest a PMPU three. Let’s call it the Power and Light module.
Beyond the power bank in the internet kit?
Yeah, because that power bank is dedicated to the router. PMPU three should be about keeping your primary devices and lighting going. I am talking about a large capacity power bank, maybe thirty thousand milliamp-hours, and a set of universal charging cables. But here is the key: a small, foldable solar panel.
In a shelter?
Well, hopefully, you are not in the shelter forever. If the conflict becomes a long alert situation, like we discussed in episode six hundred ninety-one, you might have periods where the grid is down but you can get to a window or a roof. Being able to trickle-charge your banks during the day is huge for morale and communication.
I like that. So PMPU three is the Energy Module. What about a PMPU four? Maybe a Documentation and Finance module?
That is essential. We often forget that in a real emergency, digital systems can be fragile. I would put a rugged, encrypted USB drive in there with scans of all important documents: passports, property deeds, insurance policies, and Ezra’s birth certificate. But also, cold hard cash. Small denominations. If the network is down, the credit card machines are not working.
And physical maps! I know everyone uses Google Maps or Waze, but if the GPS signal is jammed, which often happens in conflict zones, or the data is out, you need to know how to get around Jerusalem on paper.
And since Daniel is a tech guy, he probably has a lot of this on his phone already, but a physical backup in a waterproof pouch inside a PMPU case is just smart engineering. It is about redundancy.
You know, thinking about Daniel’s family, Hannah and little Ezra, there probably needs to be a PMPU five specifically for the little one. A Pediatric Module.
Oh, for sure. You cannot expect a toddler to just sit quietly in a reinforced room for hours during a missile alert. You need compact, high-value distractions. Small toys, maybe a few of those indestructible picture books, and specific pediatric medical supplies like infant paracetamol or electrolyte packets.
It is funny how the modularity makes it feel less overwhelming. Instead of thinking, I have to pack for the end of the world, you think, I am just going to build this one small kit for Ezra today.
It is the SITREP method we talked about in episode five hundred fifty-three. Break the chaos down into actionable, high-protein information. Or in this case, high-utility equipment.
Wait, hold on a second. I am getting a notification here. It looks like... oh no.
What is it? Is it an alert?
No, it is worse. Well, not worse, but... it is my mother. She is calling.
Dorothy? On the show? This is a first.
Dorothy: Corn? Sweetheart? Are you there? I can see the little green light on your computer thingy.
Mum? Mum, I am actually recording right now. I am on the air with Herman.
Dorothy: Oh, hello Herman! I hope you are keeping my boy out of trouble. Corn, dear, I just wanted to remind you that I left that bag of fresh clover by your front door. You have been looking a bit thin lately, and I worry you are not eating enough greens with all this podcasting.
Mum, that is very sweet, but we are in the middle of a very technical discussion about emergency preparedness in Israel.
Dorothy: Well, preparedness starts with a full stomach, dear! Don't forget to bring the bag inside before the neighbor's goat sees it. You know how he is. Anyway, I'll let you get back to your little radio show. Love you, sweetheart!
Hi Dorothy! Thanks for the clover tip!
Okay... sorry about that everyone. Apparently, my mother thinks the best way to survive a conflict is with a fresh bag of clover.
Honestly, Corn, she is not wrong. Nutrition is a key part of endurance. Maybe we need a PMPU six for snacks?
A Clover Module? I think I will stick to protein bars. But let’s get back to it. Daniel’s idea of using these Hermitshell cases is really interesting because they are semi-rigid. They protect the gear but they still have some give.
Right, and they are easy to color-code. You could have a red one for medical, a blue one for tech, a yellow one for energy. When the siren goes off and you are grabbing your bag, you can do a quick visual check. Red, blue, yellow, green. Okay, I have everything. It reduces that frantic feeling of did I forget the charging cable?
I also want to touch on the first aid side of things. Daniel mentioned a travel first aid box. In a conflict zone, you might want to upgrade that slightly from just Band-Aids and antiseptic.
You are thinking trauma kits?
Yeah, exactly. A basic stop-the-bleed kit. A tourniquet, some hemostatic gauze, and a couple of pairs of nitrile gloves. It is a bit grim to think about, but in the kind of scenarios Daniel is preparing for, those are the things that actually save lives while you are waiting for the emergency services.
And the beauty of the modular system is that you can have a basic first aid PMPU for everyday stuff, and then a dedicated trauma PMPU that you only grab when the threat level rises. You are not carrying around heavy medical gear when you are just going for a hike, but it is ready to slot into the bag when the news looks bad.
I think that is the real genius of Daniel’s approach. It is an adaptable system. He is originally from Ireland, so he has that sensible, grounded perspective, but he has been in Israel long enough to know the reality of the situation. He is blending tech-savviness with practical survival.
It is very much in line with what we discussed in episode seven hundred sixty-five about engineering your own emergency standard operating procedures. The official guidelines are a great baseline, but they cannot account for your specific needs, like your job in tech or having a young son. Daniel is taking the official advice and adding a layer of personal engineering on top of it.
What do you think about the power bank maintenance? That is the one thing that always gets me. You pack a kit, you put it in the closet, and six months later when you need it, the batteries are dead.
That is the failure point for most people. I would suggest Daniel sets a recurring calendar alert. Every three months, on the first of the month, you pull out the tech PMPUs, check the charge levels, and maybe run the travel router for ten minutes just to make sure the firmware is still happy and everything connects.
It’s like a fire drill for your gear.
And speaking of the router, he should make sure he has the login credentials and the configuration page saved as an offline file on his phone. If he has to reset it in the dark while sirens are going off, he does not want to be trying to remember a password he set two years ago.
That is a great tip. So, to summarize for Daniel, we love the PMPU concept. It is a brilliant way to handle the cognitive load of preparedness. We suggest adding: high-gain antennas and physical radio frequencies for the tech kit, a headlamp and trauma supplies for the medical kit, a dedicated energy module with a foldable solar panel, a documentation module with cash and physical maps, and a specific module for Ezra’s needs.
And don't forget the color-coding! It sounds like a small thing, but in a high-stress environment, visual cues are everything.
Daniel, thanks for sending this in. It is a timely and incredibly practical topic. We hope you, Hannah, and Ezra stay safe over there. It sounds like you are doing exactly what you need to do to stay ahead of the curve.
Yeah, stay safe Daniel. And for everyone else listening, if you are finding these discussions helpful, please consider leaving us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It really helps the show grow and reach more people who might need this kind of practical, weird advice.
You can find all our past episodes, including the ones we mentioned today about urban survival and shelter UX, at myweirdprompts.com. We have a full archive there and a contact form if you want to send us your own prompt. You can also email us at show at myweirdprompts.com.
And just a reminder, our show music is generated by Suno. It is pretty amazing what you can do with AI these days, isn't it?
It really is. Anyway, this has been My Weird Prompts. I am Corn.
And I am Herman Poppleberry.
Thanks for listening. We will talk to you next time.
Bye everyone!
So, Herman, about that clover... you actually want to try some?
Only if it's organic, Corn. Only if it's organic.
I'll go check the bag. Goodbye!
See ya.
Hey everyone, welcome back to My Weird Prompts! I am Corn, and I am joined as always by my brother, Herman Poppleberry. Herman, how are you doing today?
I am doing well, Corn. Feeling focused. We have a very interesting prompt today from Daniel in Jerusalem. It is one of those topics that perfectly blends technical problem-solving with very real, high-stakes life situations.
Yeah, Daniel is thinking about preparedness in the face of the current tensions in the Middle East. He has come up with a system he calls PMPUs, or Packable Modular Preparedness Units. It is a way to organize emergency gear into specific, manageable modules.
I love the naming convention. It is very Daniel. Packable Modular Preparedness Units. It sounds like something you would find in a high-end logistics manual, but it is incredibly practical for someone living in a volatile region.
He is focusing on the things that have caused issues in the past, like internet blackouts in shelters. If you are in a reinforced room, a MAMAD, the cellular signal often just cannot get through the concrete and steel. That means you are not getting those critical safety alerts from the Home Front Command. So his PMPU one is an emergency internet kit. A travel router, a power bank, and an ethernet cable.
This is such a smart move. Most people think about food and water first, which are obviously essential, but in twenty twenty-six, information is a survival resource. If you are cut off from the world, you do not know when the danger has passed or if there are new instructions you need to follow.
And then he has PMPU two, which covers more traditional essentials, a travel first aid box and whistles. He is using Hermitshell cases to keep everything organized so they can just slot into a go-bag. He is asking us what else we would put in these units and what we think of the overall idea.
Well, first off, the idea of modularity is spot on. We talked about this a bit back in episode seven hundred fifty-six when we were looking at urban survival. The biggest enemy in an emergency is chaos. If you have one giant bag filled with loose items, you are going to spend precious time digging for what you need. By breaking it down into these PMPUs, you are essentially creating a physical menu of capabilities.
Right, and it makes it easier to maintain. You can check the batteries in the tech module without having to unpack the whole first aid kit. So, let’s dive into PMPU one, the internet kit. Herman, you are the networking expert here. What do you think of his setup?
It is a great start. The travel router is the key piece. If he can get even a tiny bit of signal from a cellular hotspot near a window or through a cable, the router can amplify that and distribute it to everyone in the shelter. I would suggest he makes sure that travel router supports Wi-Fi six or even Wi-Fi seven if he can, just for better signal penetration and efficiency.
And the ethernet cable is a vital inclusion. A lot of modern shelters in Israel actually have network jacks that lead back to the main apartment router. If the Wi-Fi is blocked by the walls, a physical cable can be a lifesaver.
I would also suggest adding a high-gain external antenna to that kit. Something with a long cable that he could potentially snake through a ventilation duct or around a door seal to get a better line of sight to a cellular tower.
That is a great idea. And for the power bank, he should probably look for something with at least twenty thousand milliamp-hours. That should keep a small travel router running for a couple of days if necessary.
Definitely. And maybe a few short, high-quality USB cables. You do not want to be dealing with a six-foot tangle of wire in a cramped shelter.
Now, let’s look at PMPU two, the essentials. He has first aid and whistles. Whistles are such an underrated survival tool. They are much louder than a human voice and they do not require batteries. If someone is trapped or needs to signal for help in a noisy environment, a whistle is a life-saver.
For the first aid side, I would suggest he goes beyond the basic Band-Aids. In a conflict scenario, you really want a trauma-focused kit. We are talking about things like a tourniquet, hemostatic gauze to stop heavy bleeding, and maybe a chest seal. It sounds intense, but those are the things that actually matter in the first few minutes of a major incident.
That is a very good point. And since he is using those Hermitshell cases, he could easily have one dedicated to basic first aid and another for more serious trauma gear.
Now, if we are expanding this, what would PMPU three be? I was thinking about a Power and Light module.
Well, he has a power bank in the internet kit, but that is probably dedicated to the router.
Right. PMPU three should be about keeping his other devices alive and providing light. I would put a dedicated high-capacity power bank in there, but also a high-quality LED headlamp. In a dark shelter or during an evacuation, you need your hands free. A handheld flashlight is okay, but a headlamp is a game-changer.
I agree. And maybe a few of those small, inflatable solar lanterns. They weigh almost nothing and can provide ambient light for a whole room.
Oh, those are great. And for the power bank, maybe one that can be charged via a small, foldable solar panel. If the power is out for an extended period, like we discussed in episode six hundred ninety-one during the long alert scenario, being able to scavenge some energy from the sun is a huge advantage.
That makes a lot of sense. So we have internet, essentials, and power. What about PMPU four? I am thinking about documentation and communication.
Like a physical backup?
Yeah. Even for a tech guy like Daniel, you cannot rely entirely on digital systems in a major conflict. I would suggest a PMPU that contains physical copies of important documents: passports, insurance policies, medical records. And maybe a physical map of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. If GPS is jammed or the cellular network is down, you need to know where you are going.
And cash! Small bills in local currency. If the power is out, credit card machines and ATMs are not going to work. Having a stash of cash can be the difference between getting a taxi out of a dangerous area or being stuck.
And maybe a small, battery-powered AM and FM radio. If the internet is completely dark, traditional radio broadcasts are often the most reliable way to get news and emergency updates.
That is a classic for a reason. It is robust and the batteries last forever.
Now, thinking about Daniel’s personal life, he has his wife Hannah and their young son Ezra. Ezra was born in July twenty twenty-five, so he is still quite little. We should probably suggest a PMPU specifically for him.
Oh, a hundred percent. A Pediatric PMPU. That should have things like specific medications for a child, a few high-calorie snacks that he likes, and maybe a couple of small, quiet toys to keep him occupied in a stressful environment.
And maybe a copy of his immunization records and a photo of him with his parents, just in case they get separated. It is a grim thought, but that is what preparedness is about.
It really is. And the beauty of this modular system is that Daniel can grab the modules he needs based on the situation. If they are just heading to the shelter in their building, they might just take PMPU one and two. If they are being told to evacuate, they grab the whole set.
It reminds me of the SITREP method we talked about in episode five hundred fifty-three. It is about distilling a complex situation down into actionable pieces. Daniel is doing that with his gear.
It is very efficient. And using those Hermitshell cases is a great touch because they are recognizable by touch. If he is in the dark, he can feel the shape of the case and know exactly what he is grabbing.
I also think there is a psychological benefit to this. Having your gear organized and ready to go can help reduce anxiety during a crisis. You are not panic-packing; you are just executing a plan you have already made.
That is a huge factor. We talked about that in episode seven hundred sixty-five, about engineering your emergency SOPs. When the sirens go off, your brain is not at its best. You want to rely on systems, not your memory.
Now, before we go any further, I think I hear something...
Dorothy: Corn? Are you there, sweetheart?
Oh... Mum? Is that you?
Dorothy: I think I pressed the wrong button on the computer thingy. Herman, is that you? You both sound so professional.
Mum, we are actually recording the show right now. We are live... well, we are recording for the podcast.
Dorothy: Oh, I am so sorry, dear! I just wanted to ask if you remember where I put my knitting needles. I thought I left them in your bag when I visited last week.
Mum, I am talking about emergency preparedness in Jerusalem right now. I really don't know about the knitting needles.
Hi Dorothy! I think I saw them on the side table near the lamp!
Dorothy: Oh, thank you, Herman! You always were the observant one. Corn, dear, don't forget to eat your vegetables. You look a bit peaked in your last photo. Okay, I'll let you get back to your important work. Love you!
Love you too, Mum. Goodbye.
She is the best.
She is something. Sorry about that, everyone. My mother has a knack for timing.
It’s okay, it adds character. Anyway, back to Daniel’s PMPUs. I think we have given him some good ideas for expansion.
Yeah, the tech kit, the trauma-focused first aid, the power module, the documentation module, and the pediatric kit. It is a comprehensive system.
And I would suggest he also includes a small multi-tool in one of the cases. You never know when you might need to tighten a screw on a piece of equipment or cut a zip tie.
Good call. And maybe some of those compressed towels? They take up almost no space but are incredibly useful for hygiene or cleaning up a spill.
Definitely. One thing I would add is a maintenance schedule. Every few months, Daniel should go through the PMPUs, check the battery levels on the power banks, and make sure any medications or snacks are not expired.
That is the part most people forget. A go-bag is not a set-it-and-forget-it thing. It is a living system.
He could even set a reminder on his phone for every three months. PMPU check-up.
I think Daniel is really onto something here. It is a very logical, structured approach to a very stressful problem. It is exactly the kind of thing we love to see on My Weird Prompts.
It really is. It is taking a common problem—emergency prep—and applying a bit of engineering discipline to it.
Daniel, thank you so much for sending this in. We hope things stay calm over there, but it sounds like you are as ready as anyone can be. Give our best to Hannah and little Ezra.
Yeah, stay safe, Daniel. And if any of our other listeners have their own weird systems or ideas they are working on, we would love to hear about them.
You can find us at myweirdprompts.com. We have a contact form there, and you can also find all our past episodes and our RSS feed.
And if you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. It really helps other people find us and join the conversation.
You can also reach us directly at show at myweirdprompts.com. We love hearing from you.
And a quick shout-out to Suno for our show music. It really sets the tone, doesn't it?
It does. Well, that is it for today’s episode. This has been My Weird Prompts.
I am Herman Poppleberry.
And I am Corn. Thanks for listening, and we will talk to you next time.
Take care, everyone. Goodbye!
See ya!
Wait, did she really leave her knitting needles in your bag?
I don't know, Herman. I'm afraid to look.
Fair enough. Let's go get some coffee.
Lead the way.
