Monday, November 29, 2010

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Three days of disc in Manila



The biggest tournament in Asia (excluding Japan), Manila Spirits, concluded yesterday, with Big Brother winning the 9-pool (9th place) after two grueling days of disc -- not counting that third day, Friday, when the men and women won tournaments with their respective teams, China United Ultimate Party and Hong Kong Junk. Ken Su of Ken Su fame led his mixed team, Ninja Cowboy Bear, to the quarterfinals of the A bracket.

Big Brother lost its first two games, to Shiock and Sexual Chocolate, before rebounding with a two-point win over Extreme. In a strange "cross-over," which was an illogical reseeding of teams based on pool-play point-differential, Big Brother played Sexual Chocolate again in the crossover, losing 11-9.

On Sunday, Big Brother rolled SProaches, a team of several Sunken Pleasure players, and beat Korea handily to reach the finals of the B bracket -- where it played Extreme, again. (To give you an idea of how messed up things were, Sexual Chocolate played Shiock -- beating them on universe point -- in the A-pool quarterfinals.) Big Brother won 15-12.

HHH won female MVP of the B bracket, while Nicki Fung was honored as a B-pool Mythical Seven selection.



Tao and Zach Fanders got medals for executing a greatest. Zach also got one for his costume, which we'll show you in the days to come.




Baby Girl was given the Big Brother team disc by Jim (on behalf of Joe) for his outstanding play all weekend.


Friday, November 26, 2010

WEEK IN REVIEW: Preparing for Manila with a Thanksgiving dinner

Ken and Steph held a very lovely potluck dinner on Thursday night just before a group of folks boarded planes to Manila. Hopefully pictures from the evening turn up eventually.

And Ken Dry's iPhone ... whoever has it, please speak up. Now. Lost iPhone's aren't funny.

Some people, like Jim and Nina, have already been in the Philippines for a week, and they have pictures to prove it. But they don't have pictures like Kevin, who loves showing off... we'll reward him anyway with this week's...

PICTURE OF THE WEEK:


GOOGLE GROUPS POST OF THE WEEK: Some serious Beijing Ultimate Committee news here:

Alicia, 11/25:

Hey Beijing Frisbee-ers!
嗨,北京飞盘盘友们

We love people, so for the month of December we'll be launching a monthly special called *Bring a Friend**, a great chance for you to introduce someone new to the game of Ultimate and get a little discount on the side -- 10 kuai off pickup for you AND your friend. Stipulations below.
我们希望飞盘能有更多的人气在寒冷的北京,所以我们准备在12月份开展一个“找朋友玩飞盘”的活动,这是一个很好的机会我们可以让更多人了解飞盘,参与到这项活动中。而且,如果你带了一个新人来玩飞盘,我们会给你还有你的朋友10元的优惠。详情如下。

A reminder about our December pick-up schedule (six total sessions):
12月飞盘活动提醒:

Wednesdays: Dec 1, 8, 15 from 7 - 9pm
Saturdays: Dec 4, 11, 18 from 2 - 4pm

周三:1,8,15日,晚上7-9点
周六:4,11,18日,下午2-4点

All sessions will be held at BCIS. Venue details and directions will be sent out a few days before pick-up. As always, stay up to date with info at www.beijingultimate.com or ask to be included on our Google Groups listserv (site itself is blocked by Great Firewall).
我们现在所有的飞盘活动都在BCIS,详细地址和地图都会在活动前的两三天发出,你可以在任何时候登陆我们的网站,www.beijingultimate.com 或者让我们知道你希望加入到我们的Google Group.

**Friend = someone who has never been to pick-up with us in Beijing. Discount applies for as many times as you bring someone new out, BUT never more than once per session (so more power to you if you bring two friends each session, but we can only give you 10 kuai off each time; both your friends, however, can enjoy the 10-kuai discount).*
**朋友=就是说带来一个从来没有参加过我们北京飞盘活动的人,你就可以得到10块的折扣。希望每次的pickup你都可以带一个你的朋友,不过呢,你要是带了很多新朋友在同一天,你也只能有10块的折扣,但每个朋友能享受优惠。*

**

Hope to see you and your friends out at frisbee!
希望在飞盘活动看到你和你们的朋友!

Monday, November 22, 2010

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: That's it, folks. Time to put away the horse jokes and turn out the lights

At this very moment, Jeff is on a plane headed to the States.

The world is tilting a bit by the weight of its tears.

Friday, November 19, 2010

WEEK IN REVIEW: It's Jeff Orcutt week

If you don't know, Jeff is leaving us after the weekend, which means we're doing everything we can to make him miss us so much that he'll be back in six months. To wit:

Friday night: BCD, Fubar, Maggie's... for Jeff.
Saturday morning: brunch at Wally and Maria's... for Jeff.
Saturday night: Sultan's for dinner, then the bars... for Jeff.
Sunday morning: brunch at Chef Too... for Jeff.
Sunday night: dinner at Ken and Steph's, with Joe and Baby Girl cooking... for Jeff.

Now, Jeff, don't be an asshole and leave.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK:

Until people start sending me the pictures they take, you're going to get cat pictures. Sorry, but cat pictures are the shit.




GOOGLE GROUPS POST OF THE WEEK:
Before the man goes silent (on this blog, at least) forever... Jeff Orcutt, 11/16: parting is such sweet sadness (not sure that's how the original quote goes, but whatever):

Hey y'all,

This is my last week in Beijing. You know what that means. In addition to much rejoicing from the ultimate frisbee community over my departure there will be a going away party. Please block off a space on your calendar from 8:00pm Friday evening until 4:00am on Saturday morning.

Plans have not been finalized, since I am tired of planning stuff (read: ideas welcome), but there is a kind of fitting symmetry to ending at our favorite BCD restaurant next to DZM. Please stay tuned to the list serve for confirmation on the details.

I have also heard rumors about visiting a certain bar that sells hotdogs out front as I have never been there in the five years I have lived in Beijing.

I hope to see you all there and since many people don't check the list serve please spread the word.

I will miss you all so come celebrate with me!

Jeff

P.s. I have two months membership at the Powerhouse Gym at DZM's Kenzo/Ginza mall for sale (what a location). Please contact me if you are interested.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

RETROSPECTIVE: Singapore, the city

So often, Ultimate tournaments in Asia gives us a chance to see a city we only know through guidebooks. Here are some pictures from the day after Singapore Open 2010:





More pictures from the city here.

Monday, November 15, 2010

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Sadness and joy

"The sooner you leave, the sooner you come back."
--Jim, to Jeff, on Sunday night

Buddhism teaches us to meditate on impermanence. But what is there to meditate about? What is the goal of it, or is that so missing the point that I should stop now and rewrite this introduction?



Those who live in transient communities know too well about impermanence. There are two times we really feel it: those non-essential moments when one of us lets slip a phrase about graduate school, or "missing the States," or something even more nebulous like "future plans," and memories of our ambition pinches us like a syringe; and those other times when one of us, against the odds, actually chooses to leave, usually to pursue endeavors that strike us as inconsequential, unworldly, foreign. And suddenly everything about our reality is cast in stark relief: what is actually inconsequential? And what is actually foreign?

Perhaps I should say something about the transience of existence, but I swore off Buddhism a little earlier in this post.

You may know by now that Jeff Orcutt, after seven-odd years in this country, is leaving us to participate, in all things, a political campaign. One in Chicago. One in which he does not know which side he'll be assigned to. Yes, I said assigned to. The asininity of this decision is so beyond most people's modesties that I hesitate to say more, except I fear I've already been drawn in as by a black hole -- that void in the center of all established politicians and those who willingly gravitate to it. (See, Jeff, I've given you an out: I said willingly; God forbid you're doing this by your free will.)

Those who choose to enter the political machine will eventually find themselves surrounded by power and the means by which to attain it, and such power will inevitably lead to the pursuit of more power. I'm not talking abstractly. I mean connections, influence, invitations to parties, seats closer to courtside or the third-base line, and, to an extent, money. This is the great failure of government, and if you were to actually believe in it -- HOPE for it -- you're no better than those "corrupt" politicians who play the game for personal gain, as if it weren't a game, as if moral law weren't an invention and somewhat of a crock, as if the opinions of the righteous actually mattered.

I'm reminded of a commercial I saw a few years back, a recruitment ad for the army (or air force or some branch of the military). A young man with a buzz cut stands in the backyard drinking beers with his old buddies, from high school or something. And the condescension in the military guy's posture, and tone, and eyes, is so flagrant that you're left wondering how a nation of supposed nonconformists like America could allow such unabashed propaganda, and wonder how the creator of the ad could have missed the irony here: a man broken down by the system returns to reality -- a backyard, summertime barbeque with friends -- and thinks less of his friends because, what, they've never held a gun? Or is he spiteful that they've never lost grasp on reality? (It's actually much simpler: he simply belongs to a different circle, and he's been brainwashed to believe that circle is somehow superior.)

Or does he distrust those who have never considered death? We'll all stride up to that edge and live on the fringe between worlds, and you claim military training prepares you better for the plunge but I say, Fuck that, I want my full mental acuity while in the liberating illusion of flight.

Jeff did not have much to say when it was his turn to propose a toast, and that's completely okay. "You've been like my family these years," he said. We understand. In the end, we understand why he's leaving. The exigencies of the heart command unassailable power, stronger than any that exist in the world of politicians and men.

Early Thanksgiving / Jeff's goodbye dinner:

Thanks to Ken Dry and Baby Girl for deep-frying the turkey.




Sunday, November 14, 2010

Hong Kong Pan-Asian Tournament recap on China Ultimate blog

Sorry about the delay ... short recap here, still expecting video...

Friday, November 12, 2010

WEEK IN REVIEW: Onwards to Manila

While we bask one last time in Big Brother's win in Wuhan, word has leaked out about the party theme at Manila Spirits. We're not going to reveal anything just yet, but let's just say the ideas are flowing, and they're pretty fantastic.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK:

Picture by Zhang Qing

EMAIL EXCHANGE OF THE WEEK:

Really, the winner is Liz. But we'll get to that in a bit.

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 1:40 PM, Andrew Moffat wrote:
Someone totally needs to be a lion and/or lion tamer

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 1:57 PM, Anthony Tao wrote:
You, lion. Me, lion tamer.

Now find me someone whose head fits inside your jaw.

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 1:58 PM, Zachary Fanders wrote:
Face paint sounds about as cool (or creatively bankrupt) of a theme as glasses. I have an idea: Everyone dresses up as a different animal trainer, and brings that animals' costume. Then we'll go find some women "that we can pay for their services" to dress up as the animals (trust me, it won't be hard). It would be awsome.

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 12:31 AM, The D.O.C. wrote:
what happened to our group's censor? zachary fanders needs to be banned from our forum.

reprehensible!

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 3:03 PM, Elizabeth Lin wrote:
Zach's? what about what tao said?

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 3:04 PM, The D.O.C. wrote:
what did tao say? i always ignore his emails. i thought everyone did.

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 1:06 AM, Anthony Tao wrote:
I wasn't even trying to be connotative, like if I had added an asterisk and written something along the lines of, "By head I mean penis."

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 3:12 PM, Elizabeth Lin wrote:
yeah, but what other kind of human's head fits in human jaws? the conclusion is clear enough without the asterisk.

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 3:13 PM, The D.O.C. wrote:
a baby's head.

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 3:14 PM, Kevin Reitz wrote:
yeah, it's obvious we were all thinking a baby's head.

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 1:16 AM, Anthony Tao wrote:
Well, it's clear Liz's head fits inside a gutter.

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 1:28 AM, Elizabeth Lin wrote:
re: doc. wtf?

And here, Liz snaps. SNAPS.

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 3:30 PM, Elizabeth Lin wrote:
and tao: pot calling the kettle black?

oh, and jeff? i guess shan will have no trouble with childbirth then, huh?

Monday, November 8, 2010

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Wuhan Open champions



In front of at least 1,000 people in the main sports stadium at the Wuhan Politics, Economics and Law University, Big Brother beat a team of South China all-stars 15-9 to take the trophy of the first ever Hubei Province Ultimate Frisbee Tournament.

Big Brother took half 7-1 behind several well-placed hucks before South China turned up its game, making for a thrilling (and even) second half. The crowd had a good time, at least.

We will have more to report in the coming days and weeks. Here were Big Brother's game scores:

Saturday
vs. Ningbo, W 13-2
vs. CUG Regulators (DNP, 13-3 W)
vs. Shenzhen, W 13-4

Sunday
vs. (8) CUG, W 13-3
vs. (4) Changsha, W 13-4
vs. (2) Shenzhen/South China All-Stars, W 15-9

Pictures:


Tourney director Bieke, marked by Alex


Sam Trachtman

Matt Sheehan with captain Gareth


Team from Xinjiang


Alicia won this ribbon from Changsha for being female MVP of that game.

Friday, November 5, 2010

WEEK IN REVIEW: Wuhan ain't nothin' ta fuck wit'

The first-ever tournament in Hubei Province is this weekend, and Big Brother has a good team going. The list:

Gareth
Tao
Alex Ornik
Matt Sheehan (Gareth's friend)
Rob Hogg
Sam
Nitai (Sam's friend)
Alicia
Ingrid
Sandy (maybe)

Gareth, Ingrid and Matt are running a clinic on Friday at the Geology University ... hopefully we'll have good things to report after the weekend.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK:
Okay, so somehow since I began this post I've arrived in Wuhan and have these pictures to report:






GOOGLE GROUPS POST OF THE WEEK:
Goddamn you Jeff for wanting to leave us! But we take solace in the fact that no one ever escapes... alive.

11/2:

Howdy all,

Some of you might know that I am, unfortunately, leaving to repatriate for at least a little while.

Since I am leaving the country KPMG is looking for a new editor. The job is not my role, as that will be taken by an internal transfer, but rather a more traditional editing role with a little bit of English training on the side.

Those interested please only* respond to me* and tell your friends.

You must meet Chinese requirements for getting a Z visa (two years of work experience, etc.).

Cheers,

Jeff

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

RETROSPECTIVE: Ultimate clinic

As we've moved our pickup sessions indoors (Wednesday at BCIS, 7 to 9 pm), we thought we'd look back at those summer days when we were still wearing t-shirts and shorts.




A persistent cold, like a smelly squatter, has settled into our Beijing homes. We anxiously wait for the central government to turn on central heating so that it no longer remains colder inside than out.

Monday, November 1, 2010

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Autobots, Deploy! play their final show ... and Halloween!

Josh of Ellen fame held a raucous Halloween party on Saturday, an event on the Beijing Ultimate calendar eclipsed in significance only by Kevin and Jeff of Autobots, Deploy! fame's final show. We took about 20 videos (ok, more like 18), the first 10 of which start here:


I'll post the rest in a retrospective a little later.