What you may not know, however. Is that this is the second shot for the end of the world. In 1992 he predicted the end of the world in 1994. I don’t know if this is a new formula, or maybe he forgot to carry the one the last time and didn’t realize it until surprise! he woke up in 1995. I have to wonder what he will do if he wakes up Sunday too. Will he come up with another date? Or perhaps move onto something a little less insane, like a weather machine, or talking to squirrels.

Now in the event that there is an end of the world but slower moving, you can insure you will always be prepared with a new product called the Tactical Sammich. I was drawn to this for two reasons. One, I have an odd fascination with pre-packaged meals. And two, I like the word sammich.

These sammiches, come packaged in its own vaccum packed bag. With a shelf life of over 2 years, and comes in two flavors: pepperoni, and honey BBQ.  My thought is if the world is ending and you have nothing left around you, perhaps its no the time to think about low-fat. If I’ve got a set number of meals left I’m going for biggest punch. And perhaps some bourbon.

But however you see it, coming soon you’ll either all be gone as the world ends, or hunkered down in your bunker eating tactical sammiches while you cradle your AR-15.

Or, you know, going back to work on Monday. In which case you’ll be cradling your coffee cup with one bloodshot eye open.

However, that wasn’t just a catchy title, but also the title of a book that went to the top of Amazon’s bestseller list almost a month before it even hit the shelves! One has to ask themselves what could have caused a book to be a bestseller before it’s even read. It turns out that sometimes what you think is the worst thing for you, turns out to be the best.

‘Go the Fuck to Sleep: A Storybook for exhausted parents’ was written by Adam Mansbach, a comedic author who said his daughter took hours to fall asleep and came up with this story one sleep night. It’s the perfect gift for any new parent and I’m told this book completely fits the way the things you would think after a sleepless night trying to get a kid to sleep. The excerpt I found was the following, it made me put in my order already.

The cats nestle close to their kittens now.
The lambs have laid down with the sheep.
You’re cozy and warm in your bed, my dear
Please go the fuck to sleep.

The book was originally scheduled to be released in October, but with all the buzz it has been pushed to next month. In the last month a pdf file of the book was being circulated on the internet which quickly went viral. The book has a great hook, is short, and being a file its easy to forward to others. This has led to a wildfire of publicity of the book which placed it on the bestseller list. I would imagine the publisher isn’t sure how to handle this. On the one hand they as an industry view piracy as bad. But on the other hand, you can’t buy this publicity for any amount of money, and certainly not from an independent publisher.

I’m not sure my opinion on this. I always have been a fan that information is for the world, and most of the time in my opinion if you have a quality product then piracy would actually help you. I haven’t yet found one of the pdf copies, but if I did, I think I would still be buying the book. In fact I have 4 on pre-order from Amazon. If nothing else this serves is proof that sometimes what you think is your worst enemy, can sometimes be your greatest ally.

And that’s just good advice for life in general.

Your life is a story. Where you came from, where you are, where you’re going, all just parts of a grand story. We walk through the world each day not realizing the amazing experience that is life. People think it sets you apart, but really its what binds us together.

It’s also a great way to learn about someone. When someone tells you their story you learn not only where they came from but how they think and why they are who they are. You’ll hear more than you will ever want to know, as long as you’re smart enough to keep your mouth shut.

So the next time you are talking to someone, even if it’s someone you have known for a long time, ask them, “What’s your story?”

The answer may surprise you.

My mom has been there for me my entire life and has taught me a lot of the things I know, not to mention putting up with things that Kim and me both got into.  She put up with me turning my hands dark blue for days with a chemistry set, blowing up the toaster, when Kim and I were horseplaying and got a big hole in the wall…actually I think that one happened a few times.  She helped me when I was sick all my life and took care of me, even when I was stuck at home and couldn’t do much while I recovered from surgery and when I had the ocular funk she would come down all the time to check on me and bring me things because I wasn’t able to go outside.  That’s just a short amount of the things that she helped me with, if I were to go through the entire list I’d be writing for weeks.

I’ll never be able to repay her for all the things that she’s done for me, the most I can do is hope to one day have as much of an impact on my future children as she has had on me.

So for all of you make sure to hug your mom today, they do more for you than you’d ever imagine.

And Mom….thanks, I don’t know where I would be without you.

Daytime at Nighttime, originally uploaded by frankpierson.

I was reading an article written by british comic Ricky Gervais yesterday about why he became an atheist. I liked the way it was written, not only because I agree with him, but because I am interested as to why people come to believe what they do. I later saw that Conan O’Brian had posted a link to it in his Twitter account (see I mentioned Twitter…that’s right I’m modern) and caught quite a bit of flak for it. But I have to wonder how many people actually took the time to read the entire article and think about it before writing back.

Earlier I mentioned that I’m also an atheist, albeit I see myself as a scientist and a reasonable person willing to change my viewpoints were I to get proof to the contrary. When others have learned this I have had everything happen from being looked at with pity like I’m a lost puppy, to anger like I’m the devil, to disdain like I’m beneath them, and once in a while an interesting look and someone will whisper, “so am I.” I also can’t count the number of conversations I have had from people trying to convert me, and, as surprising as it sounds, I don’t mind them. I think that if you believe in something that strongly, then you have a responsibility to try to change my mind.

I love debate and welcome anyone who wants to have an intelligent argument about anything from religion, to the weather, to politics, to the weather affecting politics, and even on what terrible thing I would rather do if I had to. Talking about religion is fun, and high intensity, because no matter who you are talking to they strongly believe in it. The problem is, as people are attached to it, they can get hostile when you question them even though I’m not directly saying that they’re wrong (ok…in a way maybe I am but I’m willing to accept I could also be wrong.) I’ve talked with some that it has strengthened their belief; I’ve talked with some that it was weakened their belief; But no matter the end result, they are more confident and more aware in their own knowledge of the subject, and I think that is far more valuable than faith any day. This being said, I can’t count the number of conversations I’ve had that ended in the other person shouting, “Well you’re just going to hell!”

This suggests to me they are someone who has never truly examined their beliefs. These are the people who irritate me more than anything. A life unexamined is a life unlived. If you feel the way you feel about anything for no other reason than that is the way you were raised, or that is what was around you, then in short I hate you. I dislike sheep, if you are to truly feel the way you do you must think for yourself about why. I think this is what makes the converted such strong believers, the truth, as you see it, is all the more powerful if you make the discovery yourself than if it is told to you.

One of the best conversations I ever had was with my sister Wendy, we were at dinner and had a long conversation about it, with no hostility, and it made me respect her even more than I already do. She makes good arguments, they are well thought out and researched, and I can directly ask something without being shut out. At the end of our conversation that day I could tell she wasn’t done and I mentioned that I supposed we were going to have more of these talks, to which she replied yes. The only thing I could say was “good. That’s how it’s supposed to work.” I look forward to our next talk and what it brings. However, I don’t think we’ll be able to move each other off of our talking points.

But hey…I’ve been wrong before.

And because I like to hear from those who read my blog I’d like to know this: What things in life have you strengthened your belief of, or changed your position on, after a good talk with someone?

Also, if you’d like to read the article by Ricky Gervais, and I suggest that you do, follow the link below.

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/19/a-holiday-message-from-ricky-gervais-why-im-an-atheist/

Those who knew Kim would know this would make perfect sense to her; she was the embodiment of a split person. She was the hermit who loved to be around others, the one who hated most people but loved nothing more than to take care of them, capable of pushing at someone’s biggest weakness and yet would cry if you cut her deep, and one of the most responsible people I knew who could also have bouts of amazing irresponsibility. The biggest pain my ass and one of the first people I would turn to if I needed help. She truly was my sister and my friend.

She died on vacation the day she got engaged. I tell myself that she had been getting sicker recently before and this way at least she’s not hurting and sick anymore, but I can’t help but rage about it being so short and there was so much life ahead of her.

But self-pity gets you nowhere. I’ve told myself that to sit and dwell on it will leave me sitting at home drinking and doing nothing. So I am going to remember Kim the best way I know how, by living.  I took the lesson from her that life is short and you don’t know what can happen tomorrow so you should live for today. Don’t wait for the right time to do something, because if you do you’ll end up with your last thoughts being I should have. I would ask the rest of you to do the same. Many will remember this day with sadness, but use it to be the drive to live your life.

The other thing I would ask is to be aware of Deep Vein Thrombosis. Kim was struck down by this terrible disease that strikes 2 million people a year kills almost 200,000 of them; yet very few people know anything about it. Learn about it, learn how to prevent it, and then educate your family and friends so that hopefully none of you will have to go through this terrible ordeal.

Here are some links for information on Deep Vein Thrombosis. Please share it with everyone you know.

The Coalition to Prevent DVT

http://www.preventdvt.org/

Mayo Clinic information site for Pulmonary Embolism

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pulmonary-embolism/DS00429

And always, hug your loved ones, because you never know when will be the last time you’ll see them.

Virginia and I were having this discussion and I had mentioned going to medical school, which triggered that one.  If I had buckled down beforehand I would have got everything done and would probably be entering med school this fall…but as they say, life is what happens when your busy making other plans.

So I was thinking back farther than that to when I first started college.  My first plan was to go into psychology, eventually winding up with a PhD or PsyD in forensic psychology. I’d wanted to work for the FBI…a little cliché I know but still its where I felt I’d have been able to do something memorable. 

So I had all these lofty aspirations for myself.  Then had a series of downward spiral semesters, and ended up transferring back to Marshall and getting into an emt class and then paramedic school.  A pretty far cry from either medical school or forensic psychology.

But the more I thought about it I had to ask myself, were my failures really failures?  If I hadn’t left Marshall then I wouldn’t have met my brothers in my fraternity who helped bring me out of my shell and deal with people, I wouldn’t have moved to Huntington, or gotten into ems, or met the friends I have from the emergency services who served to further bring me out of my shell and turned me into what I am today…though the jury is still out on what that is haha.

In my 27 years I’ve been party to many different experiences and life lessons; how many of these would I still have had if I hadn’t failed in the past.  I may have been doing my dream job so to speak, but what about the rest of my life.  I don’t think I would have been as nearly an interesting person or had as many good stories to tell.

Do you think that your life would be any better than it is now if you hadn’t failed earlier in life?

1. Way to go Iowa!

and 2. What the fuck rest of America.

This is a good system because a number of teens and kids nowadays already think they can text 911 if they need help now they really will be able to. The downside is right now only T-mobile customers in the geographic area of that center will be able to use it.  And unfortunately there’s another step in this, because, unlike when you call, the 911 center can not get your general location so they send you a text asking for your city or zip code. But once this is all done the dispatcher can also send texts back to you for a conversation.

I think is a good idea but it needs some work with it, hopefully with time they’ll get location information and the like built into it somehow.  In the meantime its better than nothing…but seriously…Iowa first?

And on to the other thing that caught my eye today.

Can anyone tell me what the hell is going on with this gravestone?  It’s from Walla Walla, Washington which, on a side note, no matter what this could have been I probably would have written about it because I like saying Walla Walla, Washington.

I also like saying Lake Titicaca…but thats a different blog for a different day.

I looked on findagrave.com and it has dates of death but since they weren’t originally on there that means he had to have designed this one.  There’s additional pictures here there are more etchings on the top and the back side as well.

Anyone have any ideas?

By the way you can see the other pictures here

There are few times that I’ve found something that describes my current mood.  This morning I was just getting back to the house and I look across to the other mountain and I saw something that I had to record. 

This photo fit what had been going on in my head to a T today.  I had been thinking about the future, plans with school, what to do about some other things, and the like.  It seemed like what was in front of me was clear, but the farther I looked the harder it got to see.  I’ve got the thought that what was beyond me had great splendor and was truly something to behold, if only I could get through the damned fog. 

One day soon I hope things to clear up and personal fog will lift, and when it does, I hope things will be as clear and pretty as this scene was about 30 minutes later that day.

How are things for all of you?  Have you found a photo somewhere, even if you didn’t take it, that fits your situation or mood?  If so post it here and include a link to the photo.

And thanks for reading, like I have said before your comments are my driving force…Hey what can I say I’m an applause whore.

Thus, the Franktionary is born!

Well…it will be….so thus the idea of the Frantionary is born!….and the thing itself will be once I decide how I’m going to do it.

In the meantime feel free to add anything that comes to mind to the bottom here and I’ll try to remember them for later.

Been a rough couple weeks so this is late coming…Kim’s Birthday was this past weekend,and the ever-present drama at work has made it a long week.  But bouncing back as I always do…I’m here again with my new thoughts!

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything on here.  In fact, I may have only put one or two things down since I moved to WordPress…so much for the turning over a new leaf thing.  I would say I will do better and promise my readers that they will have more material, but most of you know me and know that I can’t stick to that.  So itll just suffice to say keep coming back, once in a while there will be something new.  I can’t say if it’ll be any good or not but at least it will be authentic.

I’ve been quite introspective these last few weeks, thinking about my past, my present, my potential future, and any variations thereof.  I have reached an impasse with some things, for one I’m uncertain about respiratory therapy school.  This is complicated by the fact that I got so caught up in everything else that I forgot to check on the paperwork for entry into the program, and may have to wait another year.  I will still work to get in the program this fall but it begs the thought that I’m still not sure about respiratory therapy.  I’ve no doubt it would be a job I would be good at (at least until I go deaf,) the money isn’t bad for what you do, and neither are the hours.  However I’m not sure if it would be a job I would find rewarding.

My current job has its ups and downs, the ups can be high up, and the downs can be very….very….low  but for the most part it isn’t a bad gig.  But the nature of the job is hard on a person, not to mention the constant stresses of the people involved with that job, both coworkers and bystanders.  But I digress.

For now I will continue the plan of rrt school, and hopefully I do get in and get along with that.  For until I find my proper course, at least I’ll be making my way somewhere instead of adrift at sea.

Wow that turned melancholy in a hurry…ok back to normal…

I got a new camera last week.  Before this one I’d always had little compact point and shoot models, that did ok for what I wanted to do with them.  Then Joe got one and it seemed interesting, then mike and Todd.  Well since Todd got one, who is called Goader btw…and for good reason (btw Todd when you read this…you’re an asshole!) I was playing around with it one day, and we were talking about different aspects of photography and the mathematics of it. So once I did that it interested me and I began looking at things in terms of a shot I could get, and from that point I was hooked.  It was both artistic and scientific…I finally came up with a way to reckon the two worlds and it intrigues me.

The other feature is now I can let the world see things through my eyes.  I’ve always had a strange way of looking at the world around me and it gives me great joy to see everyday things in new ways.  I have allowed others to see everything from a good picture of my dog that looks like he posed for, to a bird just taking flight with a worm, to the rain sitting on a flower after a storm, to the rainbow just this afternoon I stumbled across.

And though its entirely likely very few people even give a damn about any of the pictures, I know that somewhere out there is a person who appreciates it, and maybe it causes them to stop and look around their own environment.

And then I will have been successful.

So what so do you all think about the iPhone? So far I like it

The first is a study in Britain by neuroscientists at Keele University that found swearing essentially eases physical pain.  They had subjects hold their hands in icy water and either say whatever swear word they choose or something less strong.  It was found that by cursing they could hold their hands under longer and withstand more.  It triggered the flight or fight response(or as I call it…”Holy Shit! response) as well as an endorphine release. 

So for all of you who like to curse as much as I do, I’ve now given to you the reasoning if anyone says its inappropriate. You’re not being foul mouthed, you’re doing this for your health!

The other thing is a new use of a video game.  No I’m not talking about interactive sex dolls(I’m sure they already have those out there and if not I think I’ve stumbled across a new market….I almost put that I came across it but it was so punny as to be painful)

The american heart association, or as those of us in the medical field know them as, the group that changes CPR and ACLS to something confusing every 2 years has begun funding a program to come up with a system that allows people at home to get their cpr certification using the Nintendo Wii.  I’d assume this uses the accelerometer in the controllers. 

I’m not sure what I think about this yet.  I’ve always had the thought that certain things should be taught in a classroom atmosphere, especially with practical skills and most things medical.  Students will have questions and unless there is someone looking at them they may not as them, as well as the extra learning they get from other people having questions.  The AHA may also say that this program could be used for people who would be nervous to take it in a classroom with other students or who don’t like crowds.  But I think that for one if you get too nervous to take the class with a group how could you do it outside of that…and two it may be a good thing to take the class as a group because it would help you get some confidence completing it.

But in the end I guess it’s better to know CPR than not so whatever gets the knowledge out there.

What do you all think about it?

Anyway, this was something I’d read about the other day and never took the time to write about.  The former world’s oldest man died the other day in Japan.  Tomoji Tanabe was 113 years old and attributed his long life to clean living, never having taken a drink in his entire life, and drinking a glass of milk every day.  But I’m not here to write about a man who never seemed to have any vices and as such I think that although he did live 113 years I wonder how many of them he truly lived or how many he was simply existing.

Who I am writing about, however, is the new world’s oldest man, Henry Allingham.  He is also 113, is the last founding member of the RAF as well as the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland.  He’s the receiver of a number of military honors, and even now will go visit the graveyards of the allied soldeirs. After the war Henry, with no engineering training, joined the design team of Ford and retired in 1961.

The man has lived the live of 4 men and all of them astounding.  He’s seen and done amazing things that I can only dream of, and I hope one day that I can look back on my life and have that memory memories as well.

I’m sure you’ve all read through this and I applaud you for that I tend to ramble lately but you’re probably thinking Frank, what is it that has made this man so amazing?  Well here it is….

When asked what he attributes to his longevity, he responded that it was due to, “Cigarettes, whiskey, and wild wild women”

I have a new personal hero.

Keep Reading and commenting, your words are like a drug to me. Ha!

Smile. It pissed the Universe off.