Frank’s World

I Hope I Don’t Explode

by Frank Roche on September 24, 2012

in Frank's World

Titles you don’t want to read right before your colonoscopy today: How to keep colonoscopy patients from exploding, and other winners from the 2012 Ig Nobel Awards.

Here’s the writeup:

MEDICINE PRIZE: Emmanuel Ben-Soussan and Michel Antonietti [FRANCE] for advising doctors who perform colonoscopies how to minimize the chance that their patients will explode.

REFERENCE: “Colonic Gas Explosion During Therapeutic Colonoscopy with Electrocautery,” Spiros D Ladas, George Karamanolis, Emmanuel Ben-Soussan, World Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 13, no. 40, October 2007, pp. 5295–8.

REFERENCE: “Argon Plasma Coagulation in the Treatment of Hemorrhagic Radiation Proctitis is Efficient But Requires a Perfect Colonic Cleansing to Be Safe,” E. Ben-Soussan, M. Antonietti, G. Savoye, S. Herve, P. Ducrotté, and E. Lerebours, European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, vol. 16, no. 12, December 2004, pp 1315-8.

Check out the whole set of Ig Nobel articles. Really great stuff.

I’ll try not to pop.

Ring of Fire

by Frank Roche on September 20, 2012

in Frank's World

I’ve had days that have felt like this. I need a firesuit.

Standing on the Edge of the Most Incredible Volcano

(via Geoff Mackley and Io9)

Olive Oyl

by Frank Roche on September 19, 2012

in Frank's World

“Your car’s ready,” said Frank at Paoli Auto. “You can pick it up after five.”

“Great, I said. We had the Jeep over there for the state inspection. It’s an older car and usually something needs fixed.

“Everything checked out great for the state inspection,” said Frank. “Tires were good, brakes were good, all the lights and signals work.”

“Cool. How much do I owe you?” I asked.

“Hey, one thing. You wrote that you wanted an oil change. We didn’t do that. Didn’t need it. You only drove the car a couple thousand miles and that oil lasts ten thousand. Let’s change it next time — and we can do the plugs and air filter then,” said Frank.

I was thankful as I always am with those guys at Paoli Auto. They’re exactly what you’d want in a local mechanic. They speak plainly. They fix your car. They’re honest.

You have to be a really great business person not to take the easy money up front. I mean, they could have changed my oil and I wouldn’t have blinked. I asked for it. But they told me I didn’t need it. Saved me money. And they know I’ll be back.

When you run an ethical and long-term business, you know your customers will be back. That, and — like every ad and sitcom — have a guy named Frank.

Is This Real?

by Frank Roche on September 18, 2012

in Frank's World

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”

Dumbledore beamed at him, and his voice sounded loud and strong in Harry’s ears even though the bright mist was descending again, obscuring his figure.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Something Wicked This Way Comes

by Frank Roche on September 17, 2012

in Frank's World

My favorite Ray Bradbury book.