THINKs Giving

THINK about all those nominations your are gonna GIVE...

-->Submit a Sludgey Nomination Today /or/ Tomorrow, but not after December 3rd 11th.

THANKS in advance!

Stick-y Situation

The Rochester, NY-based M.o.P. announced its National Toy Hall of Fame in an early November Press Release(PDF):

...one very unconventional “plaything” - the Stick! - has now taken its honored place in the hall. Found in all sizes in nature, sticks inspire spontaneous, unstructured play and can be used in unendingly imaginative ways—to draw in the sand on a beach, or to use as a magic wand, slingshot, light saber, fishing rod, or walking stick; not to mention playing stickball, toasting marshmallows, or playing “fetch” with your dog.

Sticks are the original construction toys: children make toy buildings out of sticks and design toy boats with leaves for sails. Many an adult has picked up a driftwood souvenir from the beach, and artists and crafters use sticks in wreaths, chairs, and sculptures. The stick now keeps proud company with another untraditional “toy”—the Cardboard Box—inducted into the hall in 2005. After all, the best toy is often a plaything that’s free, easy to get, and a source of endless creativity.

I sure do wish Frisbees grew on trees!

A Safe Winter Run

Dispensing January advice in November... Roll out this brown carpet over ice & snow for a slip-free walking surface.

Ice/Snow Carpets

Details: Natural-fiber "runner" is safer to use than salt, and it doesn't take forever to work, especially in very low teperatures! Runner is treated with latex rubber to securely grip ice, snow, and any other wet walking surface. Roll it down over icy steps too. Reusable; just roll it up. You get two, each 10' long, 18" wide.

Price: $19.99

Open Up

Feel like you haven't been opening your hand as quickly as you used to? Get a grip with...Xtensor Hand Strength Device

:Description:
Winner of the 2007 Medical Design Excellence Award, this clever little device exercises the muscles that you use to...get this...open your hand - evening out muscle development and improving dexterity & performance.

Features:
>Working the muscles most other strengthening devices ignore, this works the Extensor arm muscles .
> Avoid the jerky motions of most hand exercises - smooth motion protects you from additional injury.
> Effective against a wide range of hand injuries, including carpal tunnel, reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, tennis elbow, tendinitis, & more.

Price: $38.95

Winter Pickup 08

Saturday morning pickup began last Saturday & joyously continues with your attendance.

Where: At (1)Polo Fields

(2) FDR outfields, or

(3) Washington Monument grounds

When: 10:00 am

Prepare to de-layer.

Where in the World?

Continuing "Where in the World" paying homage to the worldly mobility of Sludge.

Today's Feature: Joe.

Q: Where in the World is Joe?

A: Joe is in San Fran.

Today's Feature: MicHael.

Q: Where in the World is MicHael?

A: MicHael is also in San Fran.

Second DEByoUTube

Like Liz's first vid, speakers to be turned WAY UP for this song 'Yell Fire' (4:52):



But the Revolution has just begun...

Hotel California

You can check out any time you like,
but you can never leave... -The Eagles (playing in DC on 11/20)

As many of you know, Rob plans to depart DC for the Left Coast - a return to his golden state. He will be pursuing a life-long dream partnership with R. Simmons as they will be Sweatin' to the Oldies.

Linked In

REI continues to link itself to the frisbee community with another disc-y product:
Mini Frisbee Golf Set

> Includes 3-ft (37 inch) tall goal, 6 discs, set-up instructions & game rules.

> Miniature goal can be moved easily to challenge their skills as they grow.
> Recommended for ages five and up

Price: $25

Frisbreead

Make some dough during this economic downturn: The Armenian bread, dubbed the Frisbee bread, is a recipe for special occasions. [source: Recipe]

:Ingredients:
1 package dry active yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2¼ cups lukewarm water (110°F to 115°F)
6 cups all-purpose flour
¼ pound unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons white sesame seeds

:How To Cook:
1. Sprinkle the yeast and 1 teaspoon of the sugar into ¼ cup of the lukewarm water in a small, shallow bowl. Let it stand 2 or 3 minutes, then stir to dissolve the yeast completely.

2. Set the bowl aside in a warm, draft-free spot (such as an unlighted oven) for about 5 to 10minutes, or until the mixture almost doubles in volume.

3. Pour the flour into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Pour in the yeast mixture, remaining water, melted butter, remaining sugar and salt.

4. With a large spoon, beat the flour into the liquid ingredients, continuing to beat for as long as 10 minutes, or until a soft, spongy dough is formed. Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and set aside in the warm, draft free spot until the mixture doubles in volume.

5. Preheat the oven to 350°. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and divide it into 10 equal parts. Roll out each part as thinly as possible into circles, then place 2 or 3 circles on a cookie sheet.

6. Sprinkle lightly with cold water and a few sesame seeds and set the cookie sheet on the floor of the oven. Bake about 20 minutes, or until the bread is a pale golden brown.

7. Transfer the breads with a wide spatula to a wire cake rack and bake the remaining rounds similarly. The bread will keep several days at room temperature if wrapped securely in foil.

Yield: 10 large rounds

Where in the World?

Continuing "Where in the World" paying homage to the worldly mobility of Sludge.

Today's Feature: MJ.

Q: Where in the World is MJ?

A: MJ is in Jamaica...without a frisbee.

In Debted

Andrew put on his green eye-shade again to crunch the numbers on what Sludge crunched, munched & drunk @ OBX.

2008: $929.00 vs. 2007: $1,075.34
==>a 16% decrease in expenditures matching the deflation of the US dollar.

Please do the following: 1. check your expenditures & let him know if they $ound about right or not.

Flying Circle Day

A marketable blue plastic ring is used as a worldly symbol today & today only.

Today, Nov 14th, is World Diabetes Day. The WDD logo is the blue circle - the global symbol for diabetes which signifies the unity of the global diabetic ketoacidosis community in response to the diabetes pandemic. Across cultures, the circle symbolizes life and health & the colour blue reflects the sky that unites all nations.

The flying circle - a Frisbee aerobie in the shape of the blue diabetes circle is scheduled to be caught up in celebrations. If you're partial to brown, then you're better off with this aerobieness sundrie.

Call for Noms 08

As alluring as a good sham, I am proud to announce the Call for Nominations - SLUDGEYS 2008.

Your nominations/anecdotes/fabrications within calendar year two thousand and eight will gladly be accepted so the Awards Committee won't have to in the likely areas:

Biggest Best Brown Movement Award
Criteria: No criterion. Go with your gut.

Best/Most Offensive Play on Offense (Individual)
Criteria: Scoring is a big part of offense, but that’s not the only criterion for receipt of this award. In any particular game or period of a game, did someone exhibit mad throwing skills? Or incredible catching talent?? Or great cutting proficiencies? Overall common sense on offense?

Best/Most Offensive Play on Offense (Group)
Criteria: Which Sludge group play best put up the numbers en route to Sludge’s total score in a particularly impressive game?

Best/Most Defensive Play on Defense (Individual)
Criteria: “Our best defense is a good offense,” does not justify America’s military, so that pre-emptive crap doesn’t have a place here. The best play by an individual, which was most responsible for Sludge’s defensive success in a particular game.

Best/Most Defensive Play on Defense (Group)
Criteria: The best group play that was most responsible for keeping the opponent from scoring.

Most Entertaining Point/Moment (on the field or sidelines)
Criteria: A moment or point, in or near the game, that resulted in laughing, crying, blushing, delirium, and/or throwing up.

Spirit of the Game Award (on the field)
Criteria: By the book, “Ultimate has traditionally relied upon a spirit of sportsmanship.… In Ultimate, the honor system works…” blah, blah, blah.

Best Spirit of the Game Award (off the field)
Criteria: Karma; following the Golden Rule; by the Law, not getting arrested.

Best World Peace Award
Criteria: Best moment of someone walking away when they really wanted to punch the opponent.

Most Improved/Worsened Award
Criteria: Did someone nicely recover from an injury? Basically, did someone smartly slow down the worsening process?

Best Fashion Award (on the field)
Criteria: Best fashion statement that displayed stunning presentation, style, attitude, and wonderful overall appearance to supplement the standard issue brown t-shirt. Otherwise known as the Chris ‘wolfie’ Wolfson Award in honor of C’w’W’s wolf winter hat.

Best Food Offering Award
Criteria: Best edible offering based on taste, creativity, and appearance at either a game, Sludgefest, OBX, or pickup. Otherwise known as the ‘Bruce’ Award in honor of his delicious oatmeal cookies.

Best Story About ‘the Bestest’ Play Award (Fiction)
Criteria: Awarded to the author of the best work of fiction about ultimate, injury, family or whatever.

Best Excuse for Missing a Game Award (Fiction or Non-fiction)
Criteria: Quality of research and writing are major considerations in the judging of this award, as are insight and originality.

#1 Fan Award
Criteria: Any one, any one, at all that attends Sludge game(s) without stealing playing time from us. Cheering is not necessarily required.

Best Sludge Addition Award
Criteria: Open to purchases, offspring, significant others &/or pickups added in the year 2008.

Best Captain Award
Criteria: Best bearded person with the initials CH who reminds us that following is a lot easier than leading.

Tournament: 11.09.08

Sunday’s continuation of the fall 2008 postseason began without a deliberate haste. After a full season of afternoon games, this early morning game (9:15am EST) took some adjusting to. Plus, there was a heavy burden that today was Rob’s last brown game(s) before heading westward. Even the usual Anacostia Park wind was too emotional to make an appearance.

Beyond savage, Bucci played in a Keen-Cleat-combo bcs her left cleat was no where to be found (like niCH). MJ, in one-of-the-same-kind cleats, played with sushi-tight wraps on both ankles to honor Rob.

The still-in-play crew put up a fight in the first half with an embattled zone D which was diced, sliced and criss-crossed like a carved pumpkin. Fortunately, brown’s repetitive scoring kept the game buoyant all the way to 7-8.

After halftime, Sludge switched their brawn to a more defensive person D, however the favorable matchups kept going the way of absinTHEM. Where their D didn’t allow much daylight, Sludge’s standard offense didn’t hold water except for the multiple Matthew-huck-to-Nigel-long connections.

Sludge played hard but not hardly well enough to keep playing the rest of the day. The time cap struck with Sludge down & out 10-14.

Excitatory Msg

When other teams do pre-game drills, I'm skeptically intimidated. If, if, if I see an opponent swinging into a "Scorpion" [pictured], then automatically award them a gold medal.

Stretching: The Truth (NYTimes 10.31.08)

The old presumption that holding a stretch for 20 to 30 seconds — known as static stretching — primes muscles for a workout is dead wrong. It actually weakens them.

Other studies have found that [static] stretching decreases muscle strength by as much as 30%. Also, stretching one leg’s muscles can reduce strength in the other leg as well, probably because the central nervous system rebels against the movements.

The right warm-up should do two things: loosen muscles and tendons to increase the range of motion of various joints, and literally warm up the body.

Chin Up, Goggles On, Don't Cry

The tears are not due to Sludge's 21st season finale...I swear! stop looking at me....please. Quit it!

Cut onions produce the chemical irritant known as syn-propanethial-S-oxide which stimulates the eyes' lachrymal glands so they release tears. But you can mask your tears either by wearing gOnionggles(R) or by perfecting your caramelized-onion technique:

The look you want is a glossy, honey-brown; the onions will be slightly sticky. You can get a deeper brown color if you have time to cook them longer.

How do you keep from crying when you cut into them? The National Onion Association says to chill onions at least 30 minutes before cutting, & use a sharp, straight-edge knife to avoid damaging the cells of the onion. Finally, cut the root end of the onion last, as it generally has the highest concentration of tear-producing compounds.

Where in the World?

Continuing "Where in the World" paying homage to the worldly mobility of Sludge.

Today's Feature: Jen & Brian.

Q: Where in the World are Jen & Brian?

A: Jen & Brian are in Atlanta.

Trendy

Sludge's 2-1 record from last Satuday was similar, but different to spring 2008. As #2 out of our pool, the sched dictates our first game is game(s) is on field #2:

When: SUNDAY, November 9th
Time:@ 9:15 EST
Where: @ Anacostia Park #2

With winning ways, then 11:15am, then 1pm, then 3pm.

Raindate: Saturday/Sunday Nov 15-16.

Malleable

November 4th was truly a historic nite for the us O' a, tho it wasn't a world record day like October 30th.

Another Record Under Babu's Belt (Times of India; 10.31.08):

Bangalore: Habitual world record-maker S Ramesh Babu...set another one on Thursday - he played the fastest double frisbee rally (64 rallies) in a minute. This is his 35th world record. He is also a metallurgical scientist.

At St Thomas indoor auditorium, Jalahalli, he had to catch two frisbees, one before the other lands and keep the flow going. The feat was tricky due to risk of mid-air collision. He stood 40 feet away from his partner, B N Reddy, who launched the frisbees at 34 km per hour (?20 mph - that seems kinda fast, don't it?)

Happy Election Day

Post-Season: 11.01.08

Game 1: There was nothing scary on this day after Halloween except for the declination in the field topography. Sludge slid into their comfort zone versus their young, albeit (or as expected) hungover, opponents. NICH’s D and a pinchy cup assisted to narrow the passing lanes as right & left wingers united to befuddle JhACmmerz. Sludge showed maturation against a stretched out offense.

jOe’s finger grasps, Amy’s scoring & Rob's only-a-mom-could love presence got brown’s O a-going. The slight wind also helped propel an 8-3 lead.

Sludge continued their adult swim into the afternoon, grounding the youngsters by error (heads up…incoming pink Life is Good disc…hee, hee, sorry!), land & see (ya later).

Win 15-5.
----------------

Game 2: Brown really took to the electionary-ish advice of ‘Score early, Score often.’ Up 5-0, Mike, Russ & Christy kept a left-leaning approach to Sludge’s offense as they moved the disc up & down the sidelines. Playing "sick" were Nigel & Matthew.

David had an ESPN moment of a knockDown, then a soaring hammer score to highlight the first half. With no margin of error, Sludge looked quite confident with solid exit polling numbers +5 at half against I dunKnoW.

In what could only be called a November “October surprise” MicHael completed a TRIfecta of catching 3 straight scores to start the second half. Charlie, MJ & Andrew’s slick play kept brown’s mOmentum as Jen peppered one point with a dramatic “in-play” somersault. Sludge’s confidence intervals continued consistent with another 15-5 win.
-----------------

Game 3: Never since the Patti-era has this been accomplished! Sludge led 1-0 versus DL!

HEADLINE 1: Sludge leads DLuvs by 1!
HEADLINE 2: Start chilling the CHIMAY!!
HEADLINE 3: Sludge goes Rogue for Minutes
HEADLINE 4: Sludge Invokes Next Last Point Wins Policy!!

After point #1, DL put Sludge’s into OFF-ense.

Mixed up in a clogging abyss, Sludge dropped 2-8 at half, then found something to cheer about in the “3rd quarter” with a dia de los (not quite) muertos mantra. Sludge’s opponent’s brokeaway (again) with an aggravating ability to catch swill and score easily like taking advantage of the fallback of Daylight Standard Time.

In a game where Sludge had nothing to lose, they .... wait for it ...
did not win. Loss 8-15.

Recap: 2 wins + 1 loss. advancement.

Thank you to the Sludge fan-base and special gratitude to the LA Times photographers.