#cranquistador

(click picture to watch the video)

This right here? This is one of the nicest compliments and encouragements anyone has ever given me. Thank you so much! 

Cranquistador-Hipster check!

Who was "into" Cranquis back before he was really popular? You know, wayyyy back in December of 2011? Back before 11,000 other people had found this blog? Was it YOU?

If so, you probably remember this audio interview that I did with the nimble-fingered hepcats Tymkrs and Whisker over at zombietech.tv. And we couldn't leave well enough alone, so... we're doing another interview next week.

Once again, Tymkrs is accepting questions from my readers to be asked and answered "live" during the interview taping. If you have a question (zombie-related or not, medical or otherwise, anonymous is fine too) that you'd like to submit, drop her a line in her ask box here before Midnight CST on Monday July 2. Please include the tag "#cranquis" for easy identification. By submitting your question, you give permission for it to (possibly) be selected by Tymkrs and included in the interview!

So for those of you keeping score at home, Chief Cranquistador(k) ohheytherehi is one of only two readers to find a treasure hunt prize. Here is her personal account of finding the treasure, if you're interested in vicariously experiencing the thrill of finding a prize for yourself.

The treasure itself is a CD with 6 audio tracks of Your Friendly Neighborhood Cranquis, primarily of me reading/retelling the Intern Year Survival Guide, plus A Stupid Poem. And ohheytherehi has been large-hearted enough to post all the tracks on Tumblr for all of you to enjoy...

Even though the rest of you are all slackers who couldn't work up the energy to travel to New York and find the prize yourselves. 

  Anyways... here are the links to those audio posts. Enjoy! :)

Intro

Intern Year Survival Guide pt.1

Intern Year Survival Guide pt.2

Intern Year Survival Guide pt.3

A Stupid Poem

Pictures from the 2012 April Fools Pranquis!

Notice those cards being held up in the last two pictures? Those Pranquistadors should be posting close-up pictures of their cards soon; they contain vital information for upcoming Cranquis Fun Times. (Allow me to recommend that you start tracking the "pranquistador" tag now. You'll be glad you did.)

Attention, Cranquistadors currently assembling on the Rocky Steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum:

Happy April Fool's Day. You've just been Pranquis'd.

(So, um, yeah... the doubters were right. There was no conference, and I am not in Philly today. Nor have I ever been to Philly, actually.)

But to all the Pranquistadors who took the chance and showed up: YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST EVER. And not only are you currently being rewarded with free ice cream, but you are also receiving very important code-keys/clues, which will become quite useful for a certain continent-spanning game that I am currently preparing.

And a huge THANK-YOU to one of my longest-reading Cranquistadors ever, Philly resident mysoulcanbreathe (aka "Kate"), for helping me pull this off by being the Head Pranquistador-on-location to meet everyone at The Spot and take them out for ice cream on my dollar. (Kate, if you survive the experience without being tarred-and-feathered by the people who showed up, I hope you'll send me the pictures of the event soon.) :)

And to my minions who so innocently helped me hype the "event" on the Facebook Fan Page: Um, yeah -- sorry for the blatant manipulation? :)

So here's the Big Deal, y'all, by the numbers, as of right now (Plans subject to change):

In 6 days, Cranquis is going to be attending a weekend-long medical conference somewhere in the continental United States.

All this week, Cranquis will be posting clues as to where this conference will be.

By Friday, you will know exactly what US city Cranquis will be in.

By Saturday, you will know the exact geographic location/public place where Cranquis will be showing up. (The Spot)

On Saturday at 2pm, Cranquis will have a break in his meetings, long enough to show up at The Spot for about 30 minutes.

When Cranquis arrives, he will surreptitiously scan the area for Cranquistadors, who will be carrying/wearing items which obviously mark them as such (signs, scrubs, white-coats, etc. -- see the recent Reader Poll III for ideas).

IF CRANQUIS FEELS THAT THE SITUATION IS SAFE (i.e., no obvious cameras, and no obvious paparazzi), he will then mingle with the Cranquistadors for a little while WITHOUT REVEALING THAT HE IS THERE. (If Cranquis feels it's too risky, he will initiate Plan B instead, which will involve greeting the Cranquistadors from a distance with a megaphone or smoke signals or something.)

Then, the Cranquistadors will find The Surprise hidden at The Spot for them. There will be ice cream involved.

When the Cranquistadors find The Surprise, they are then welcome to take pictures of themselves with The Surprise. NOTE: Pictures of The Surprise will prove useful for further upcoming events that Cranquis is planning.

Your first clue: xxxx0 

So, I've had an idea percolating in the ol' Cranq-Brain for a little while, and I need some input from my Cranquistadors:

If you had the opportunity to meet Dr. Cranquis in person somewhere in the continental US, how far would you be willing to travel to do so?