Monday, January 31, 2011

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Just a typical weekend

Let's see ... guys and ladies at a gathering at Ken and Steph's on Saturday while Peach and her friend Lea went to School Bar, where they met up with Lauren and Marc Zeiger-Guerra. And then there was nothing.

Folks, we are THIS close to getting a Slideshow preview uploaded properly. Stay tuned!

Friday, January 28, 2011

WEEK IN REVIEW: First Trivia at Kro's Nest

We'll have a video up of this later, perhaps, but yesterday the team of Joe, Gareth, Mike Shyu, et al. won the first-ever edition of The Kro's Nest trivia, hosted by Jim and Tao. The team of Kevin, Baby Girl, Leigh, Nina, Therese and Alex won a couple rounds but was unable to maintain its strong start.

A reminder that trivia will happen every Thursday from now. See you there!

PICTURES OF THE WEEK:






GOOGLE GROUPS POST OF THE WEEK:

Tao, 1/26: Three Items: Pickup, Trivia and Slideshow Preview:

Hey everyone,

1. A quick reminder that pickup TONIGHT will be the last one until after Chinese New Year, i.e. we'll be off till Wednesday, February 9. Come out to play!

2. I don't want to sound like a shill, but TRIVIA hosted by Jim and I is tomorrow starting at 8 pm at The Kro's Nest (35 Xiao Yun Lu). I only say this here because the Beijing Ultimate Committee is in the process of getting sponsorship from Kro for China Nationals and Beijing Ultimate, so it'd be great if we could get a big turnout and "represent" (pretend I just said that in a super-gangsta way). Teams up to six ... if you show up before 8, I'm sure you can organize yourself into teams.

3. I will be sending out a slideshow PREVIEW this week. Tentative slideshow viewing PARTY date: Saturday, February 19, i.e. the first non-work-adjusted weekend after Spring Festival.

MORE CAPS,

Tao

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Weekly Newsletter (week of Jan 24) / 北京飞盘每周新闻

Newsletters are written by Alicia

**Pick-Up**

Pick-Up per usual on Wednesday night at BCIS, 7 - 9pm! This is the last pick-up in the Year of the Tiger!

There is NO pick-up on Saturday 29 January. For those of you who have paid RMB150 for 6 sessions in January or RMB120 for 4 sessions, we'll make up for that session (either Wednesday or Saturday) in February.
Pick-up will resume on Wednesday Feb 9 at BCIS, 7-9pm.

For details, visit www.beijingultimate.com.
1月26日是虎年最后一次的飞盘活动, 春节其间没有pick-up, 2月9日在乐城国际学校再开始.

**Events and Happenings**

This week:
The long-waited-for Trivia Night will be starting on Thursday 27 Jan, 8pm onwards! Join Jim and Tao at Kro's Nest on 35 Xiao Yun Lu near San Yuan Qiao. Special drink deal: five bottles of imports for 100 kuai! Teams of up to six, free to play, prizes every round. For more, see http://www.thebeijinger.com/events/2011/Jan/Double-Trouble-PUB-QUIZ-and-BUCKET-NIGHT-at-The-Kros-Nest. China Daily and Global Times reviews of their previous quiz night: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/metro/2011-01/04/content_11790169.htm and http://www.globaltimes.cn/www/english/metro-beijing/lifestyle/health&food/2010-10/584685.html
Next week: Chinese New Year! There will probably be something going on ... stay tuned for celebration details!

**Farewell and Welcome**

Welcome Kristopher Pickett!

**Tournaments**

1) Phnom Penh: March 5 - 6

2) Shenzhen: March 19 - 20

3) First annual India Hat Tournament will be hosted by AV Ultimate Feb. 4th-6th. The event will take place in the cozy community of Auroville and the closest airport to fly in to is Chennai, so look to Tiger Airways, Malaysia Airlines, or Indian Air for the lowest international fares. Air Asia also flies to Tiruchirappalli. As well, MakeMyTrip.com or Yatra.com can be used to find the best flight within India. Consult the website (http://www.auroville.org/society/ultimate.htm) for more information and please submit the registration form (on the left side of the website) on or before January 16th so all those interested can be accommodated. And any questions can be directed to AVultimate@scott.ms

4) The Boracay Open is set for this April 1st to April 3rd! There will be an Open tourney on the 1st, and a Mixed tournament the 2nd and 3rd. More details to follow; for now just save the date!

5) 12th Annual Bali Nusantara Cup is planned for next April 22/23, 2011. They say they have sweet grass fields and you know the beaches are awesome… Check the website (www.ultimateindonesia.com) for details and email elodieselves@hotmail.com with any comments or requests.

6) Jeju Dirty Dozens 2011 will be held on the island April 23/24.

For more about happenings around China, check http://chinaultimate.wordpress.com.

**Beijing Ultimate Blog Update** (updates from Tao)

This newsletter was selected the "Google Groups Post of the Week" in http://beijingultimate.blogspot.com. And last week, a boozy trivia party apparently ended with someone getting blown to bits by a grenade: http://beijingultimate.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekend-roundup-boozy-trivia-party-at.html

Monday, January 24, 2011

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Ascott Bar Games Triathlon results

The results are in from the first ever Ascott Bar Games Triathlon. Teams were divided into two pools, and each team faced a true round robin with its pool. A matchup was "won" if a team won two of three events: foosball, beer pong or pool.

Pool A Foos Pong Pool Overall
Ellen, Chris, Micah



1 3-0 2-1 1-0 3-0
Tim, Kirby, Tammy



2 2-1 0-2 0-2 1-2
BG, Leigh, Gareth,



3 Sandy, Josh L 1-2 3-0 1-1 2-1
Mike, Zach, Josh, J



4 Claire 0-3 1-1 1-0 0-3
Pool B Foos Pong Pool Overall
Marc M, Andy, Jud



1 Janelle 1-2 2-1 2-0 2-1
Kevin, Alicia, Joe,



2 Rob 3-0 1-1 1-1 2-1
Jim, Nina, Marc,



3 Alex 1-1 1-1 0-2 1-2
Toju, Tim, Tom



4 0-2 1-2 1-1 1-2

A few observations: Chris Boehner and Ellen were not beatable at foosball. The closest game was 10-5.

Baby Girl didn't lose at beer pong. It makes sense considering all the Thursday night beer pong tournaments he's gone to at Pyro's.

All the teams in Pool B were 1-1 going into the final matchup. Unfortunately, the two Frisbee teams eliminated each other.

Gareth's team eked into the semis in its final pool-play game, when it beat Kirby's team (both were 1-1).

Things then got out of hand as we played slap cup. Gareth, Sandy and Rob did not feel well the next night (Sandy was especially bad trying to get out of the cab). Lots of embassy folks made fools of themselves but, hey, it's a party and we're all friends!

Pictures:







Championship shot...


Sunday, January 23, 2011

Goings and cummings (no pun intended)



A few weeks ago, at a post-pickup dinner, we discussed, on the record, the life and legacy of Marc Hiller, who came to us from Indonesia and, after too short a stay, is leaving us for the false comforts of the U.S. On Friday some of us had a few drinks with him at Great Leap Brewery, and Saturday we bid our final adieus. We wish him all the best.

Meanwhile, upon the ashes of death rises new life in the form of Lauren Hostetter Reed, who we made a farewell video for 13 months ago thinking she would be gone forever. Alas, forever has a different meaning in this oasis called Beijing, and so it is that two weeks she made her triumphant return. We welcome you back.

Friday, January 21, 2011

WEEK IN REVIEW: New people and a new newsletter

The first-ever Ascott Bar Games Triathlon is this weekend at the apartment of Ellen and Marc Miller (an embassy guy). Should be a great time.

Until then, let's look back at the week that was:

PICTURE OF THE WEEK:

BCIS pickup, Wednesdays 7-9 pm, Saturdays 2-4 pm

Welcome new people (Kris Pickett (top picture, far left, with friend John; and Barbara Chen O'Connell)!



GOOGLE GROUPS POST OF THE WEEK:

Alicia, Beijing Ultimate: Weekly Newsletter (week of Jan 17), 1/18 (NOTE: this weekly newsletter might occupy its own post from now on; look for it on Tuesdays):

*Pick-Up*
Pick-Up per usual on Wednesday night at BCIS, 7 - 9pm!

There is NO pick-up on Saturday 22 January. For those of you who have paid RMB150 for 6 sessions in January, we'll give you one session (either Wednesday or Saturday) in February.

For details, visit www.beijingultimate.com.
**
*Events and Happenings*

This week: Nothing

Next week: Something!
Jim and Tao will be hosting American Pub Quiz starting Thursday 27 Jan, 8pm onwards at Kro's Nest on Xiao Yun Lu near San Yuan Qiao. Special drink deal: five bottles of imports for 100 kuai!
For more, see http://beijingultimate.blogspot.com.

*Farewell and Welcome*

We will sadly be saying bye to Marc Hiller who is leaving to go back to the US after a year in Beijing. He was a crucial member of Team Pillage, winners of the 2010 Summer League and helped Big Brother win the beach tournament at Dalian in July.

But the cycle of life continues: welcome to new players!
- Lauren "Barbie" Reed is back with us after spending the past year in Indiana / Washington DC.
- Barbara Chen O'Connell joins us from Boston.
- Micah Jarnot, from Minnesota, joins us after spending some time in Shantou.

*Tournaments*

1) Phnom Penh: March 5 - 6

2) Shenzhen: March 19 - 20

3) First annual India Hat Tournament will be hosted by AV Ultimate Feb. 4th-6th. The event will take place in the cozy community of Auroville and the closest airport to fly in to is Chennai, so look to Tiger Airways, Malaysia Airlines, or Indian Air for the lowest international fares. Air Asia also flies to Tiruchirappalli. As well, MakeMyTrip.com or Yatra.com can be used to find the best flight within India. Consult the website (http://www.auroville.org/society/ultimate.htm) for more information and please submit the registration form (on the left side of the website) on or before January 16th so all those interested can be accommodated. And any questions can be directed to AVultim...@scott.ms

4) The Boracay Open is set for this April 1st to April 3rd! There will be an Open tourney on the 1st, and a Mixed tournament the 2nd and 3rd. More details to follow; for now just save the date!

5) 12th Annual Bali Nusantara Cup is planned for next April 22/23, 2011. They say they have sweet grass fields and you know the beaches are awesome… Check the website (www.ultimateindonesia.com) for details and email elodiesel...@hotmail.com with any comments or requests.

For more about happenings around China, check
http://chinaultimate.wordpress.com.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

RETROSPECTIVE: Jeff Orcutt in his finest form


After-pickup dinner, May 22, 2008

Monday, January 17, 2011

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Boozy trivia party, at last

To celebrate his team's string of trivia victories at the place formerly known as Souk Lounge, Kirby held a trivia party on Saturday night that might be the last party he holds for Frisbee people for a while. Within 10 minutes of walking into his apartment, Joe asked Leigh to "throw a Jello up" so he could catch it in his mouth, and here's what ended up happening:



As Joe swiped at the Jello -- failing miserably of course -- his foot knocked over a cup of vodka-lemonade. Within the first 10 minutes. Kirby looked incredulous.



Later we played slap-cup, a game brought to us by Alex [EDIT: Peach, apparently! Not Alex] soon to become staple of our little community.

As these things happen, everything devolved into a mess and a group of people ran downstairs to swim naked in the swimming pool -- accessible only by squeezing between a pair of doors chained together. This involved a rather funny scene with Kirby's roommate, who could not manage to squeeze through. "It's not going to happen," he said, almost weeping. "Go on without me." This just before a grenade landed at his heel and blew him into pieces as we watched from the other side, mercifully stunned and oblivious to the sadness about to detonate us into a hundred little pieces, as entrails and blood simmered there a mere three feet from our eyes.

The evening and day were notable, too. Steph Kwan organized a dinner at Baoyuan Jiaozi near Women's Street. Here was our group:




And earlier in the day, in an extended pickup, we were re-acquainted with one Micah Jarnot, who will bless us with his presence for the next year. This is he (sitting next to Barbara, Alex's friend, fresh from Boston, who will be here long-term too):



He comes to us from, of all places, Shantou. We are so much more interesting.

Friday, January 14, 2011

WEEK IN REVIEW: Pickup is back on

That's right, we're back at BCIS on Wednesdays, 7-9 pm, and Saturdays, 2-4 pm, until the weather gets warm. Play on, kids.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK:

Seen after Wednesday pickup. Details: Abattoir on wheels.

GOOGLE GROUPS POST OF THE WEEK:

Candice Lee and her bowling league, 1/11: B.A.L.L.A. LEAGUE STARTING THIS THURSDAY, JANUARY 13 AT 9M:

Hello Ballas,

bowling league starts this Thursday, January 13 at Gongti at 9pm. Please try to be there BY 9. Even try to shoot for 8:50, so that you make it there by 9. Even better, 8:30.

I need all teams and team names by tomorrow.

So far I have :
alleygators
Avada Kadavra
Adam Morely's team
Bowling for Concubines
Ninja Strike
Igloos
Obviously Not Golfers
Body Killers
Next

Let me know asap if you want your team on the roster!

This first Thursday is going to be playing for seeding. Getcho game on.

Happy bowling,

cdice

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

RETROSPECTIVE: What a pull looks like


From this past year's Beijing summer hat tourney; picture by Aurora Wang

Monday, January 10, 2011

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Hsing-hui vs. Brian in a death match next weekend

On Friday Maggie, Robb and I went to a Beijing Ducks game to watch Stephen Marbury lead Foshan to a huge loss. Seriously, they got blown out. (Ducks won -- sorry for any conclusion). But the highlight of the game was, definitely, Sun Mingming, the Ducks' seven-foot-eight-inch (or something) giant who came on in the fourth quarter and saw a 37-some point lead get reduced to about 15 (take these numbers with a grain of salt ... I was drunk and only remember that the Ducks had 99 points after three quarters but finished the game with about 105, yet still won handily).

Ellen's birthday was Saturday, which is why a group of us went to Jazz-ya. Jim, Nina and Ellen continued their night at renovated Bar Blue, while Kirby went to the Den to watch football until the early morning.

Sunday night / Monday at 2 a.m., Kirby and I watched the Chiefs lose to Baltimore from the Den. We will probably be there again tomorrow for the college football championship game.

The Ravens (HHH) now face the Steelers (Brian Marterer's team) in what promises to be a game to the death. Start taking your bets now. A tale of the tape:

Brian: Male
HHH: Female
Advantage: Brian

Brian: Head of steel
HHH: Heart of gold
Advantage: Brian

Brian: Older
HHH: Younger
Advantage: HHH

Brian: Likes to laugh
HHH: Takes pleasure in ripping hearts out of chests
Advantage: HHH

Brian: Savvy
HHH: Reckless
Advantage: Brian

Brian: Breath of glory
HHH: Glare of death
Advantage: HHH

Brian: Beef jerky
HHH: Rawhide
Advantage: Even

Brian
HHH
Advantage: Even

Friday, January 7, 2011

WEEK IN REVIEW: The final week without pickup

Pickup begins on Wednesday and will (probably) continue throughout the year. We'll be at BCIS until the weather gets warm. More details below, in the Post of the Week.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK:

My inbox:



Thank you to Carissa, Caicai and others who have sent me pictures for the 2010 Slideshow. It's coming along swell.

GOOGLE GROUPS POST OF THE WEEK:

Alicia, 1/5:

Beijing Ultimate,

The holidays are behind us, but that's no reason for despair. Ultimate Frisbee is returning, and that's reason to cheer!

We'll be back at BCIS* starting Wednesday, January 12. There are six pickup sessions this month, on these dates and times:

*Wednesday, January 12, 7-9 pm
Saturday, January 15, 2-4 pm
Wednesday, January 19, 7-9 pm
Saturday, January 22, 2-4 pm
Wednesday, January 26, 7-9 pm
Saturday, January 29, 2-4 pm*

Basically, that's every Wednesday from 7-9 pm and every Saturday from 2-4 pm.

We are offering a month-long (non-transferable to other months or to other people) pass for 150 rmb and a four-session pass (you pick the sessions) for 120 rmb. Otherwise, it's 35 rmb per session, 25 rmb for first-timers to Beijing Ultimate and 25 rmb for local Chinese students. Tao and/or Jim will be there to collect.

We hope to see all of you familiar faces out there, and always welcome new ones too. Check us out at www.beijingultimate.com for more news about Frisbee in Beijing.

Sincerely,
Beijing Ultimate Committee

*BCIS (北京乐成国际学校) Address: 77 Baiziwan Nan Er Road, Beijing 100022
By public transportation: Get off at Dawanglu Station of Line 1 subway, Exit B; hire a tricycle for 5 kuai (negotiable) to the school, or take a bus one / two stops south (you'll pass a sign that points to the school on the right hand side).


Runner-up post of the week, the exchange between buff-man Zach and buff-dude Joel Brand. Read here.

POSTSCRIPT: Unbelievable. Joel Brand's first tag is THIS POST. The guy's been around a year and played a couple tournaments already. What's the deal? Carissa Wong's first tag is this post as well.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Monday, January 3, 2011

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Sweet bejesus, it's 2011

Fuck that. Fuck it hard and sideways to the next year.

In other news, a bunch of us went to Ellen's on Sunday morning to watch some bowl games. Connecticut -- Baby Girl's alma mater -- did not do so well against Oklahoma. The Rose Bowl was a fun and well-played game though.