Nick "Houdini" Polini

[C-Fan]

[isirc10]

double post because ken wanted to have that top post... i don't know how he pulled it off, but then again, I'm not surprised.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Ivan, that post choked me up. Sorry you've been down about your injury lately. I know what you mean. I really miss kicking with you too. It really sucks not having my shred partner/jam partner around right now. I've honestly never kept track of weeks so well before in my life. Not even for my own time off of footbag, but I know Wednesday will tally 1 week since your surgery. What a relief to hear that you can move your toes again. That's progress! Thanks for the Atomic tip dude. Can't wait for week 2 so you can start physical therapy. I'll pulling for you, bud. I even have notifications set for all your weekly marks along your recovery period

I have nothing to post aside from the fact that I miss kicking with Ivan and I'm going to be so happy the day he can get back into it. About 5 to 7 more weeks isn't that bad. You can do it, dude.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

All around the mulberry bush
The monkey chased the weasel
Picked a box up at work
la la la la
Pop! Goes my rib- cage!

Yeah. I had to take today off because I popped a rib at work and I got a point against me for leaving early because of it too :/ I can't stand this place. No footbag today.. totally bedded with ice and Aleve all day, but I plan on coming back tomorrow if it's not too painful.

Really want to film my Weird 2 link tomorrow and hopefully put a dent into some Atomsmashers.

That's all. Bed now.. ow. ow ow.

[Muffinman]

double post because ken wanted to have that top post... i don't know how he pulled it off, but then again, I'm not surprised.

Some people add-hunt. Ken top-post hunts

[C-Fan]

Yeah, I think that started because Nick posted on page 60 of his blog that its OK to take top post

Cassy: All good, top-page-takers are a-okay in my book. Even some of the greats, like Martin Luther King Jr. or Bill Nye the Science Guy took the top page at one point or another.."

And then I did some top posts with pictures of Bill Nye and MLK in Ivan's blog, but then I started just posting pictures that I found funny.

For the record, I both top post hunt AND add hunt. So there.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjMd1vK54GE[/youtube]

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

I'm not even mad because the sound track to that is my favorite Frank Black solo song. I Bleed to that song (Ken might get that reference). I remember seeing that and wanting to hit Spinning Mobius then trying and failing terribadly.

Anyway, work today was a breeze I don't want to say why in public, but if you are that interested, feel free to ask me privately. My popped rib feels much better now, so I had my first session in 3 days. It session very good. HUHYEAH. Good session. I atomic wow. Nice one. Really improvements.

Highlights:

Revup> Legbeater bs
Clipper Near Blink> Atomsmasher bs
Toe ss Reverse Swirl> Blur> Atomsmasher bs
Pdx Mirage> Atomsmasher> Atomsmasher bs
Stepping Mirage> Atomsmasher bs
Smear> Atomsmasher *rpt first try
Pdx Illusion> Atomsmasher BSOS
Gyro Butterfly> Pdx Illusion> Smear bs
And finally, I ducked my flip Atomic set with ease. Never done it before with such little effort. Yay.

That's all I have time for. Pretty boss day though. Spank the system.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Had a session tonight to break the ice after a few days of healing my ribs. Went well. It was short, but I got a good bit accomplished.

Highlights:

Inspired by Kemmer: Blurry Whirl> Blizzard BSOS and I'm fairly certain that the Blurry Whirls were finally clean. I had a realization about Pdx Whirls today that was more of a "hey, my knee finally isn't retarded and stays pointed down when trying the motion" than a "realization". My flip knee used to pull upward and I'd either hit them thin or completely 'the'. Now that my knee stays put, I feel my game may have just had some doors unlocked.
Run with Reverse Swirl, Barfly, and Twirl all BSOS
Run with Pdx Whirl and Barfly BSOS
A very nicely controlled Barfly> Reverse Swirl *rpt drill first try. That one certainly brought a smile to my face.

Tomorrow, Nadiah has the day off and we're going mushroom hunting and birding. Not for hallucinogenics, but purely for the fun and thrill of identifying fungi. Pretty excited. I'll try to take some pictures and post them later on since my new phone is very picture friendly, unlike my old one.

Speaking of pictures, my boss calls me to the office today. I see him standing outside of it. He's kind of rubbing his chin and beard and I could tell he was trying hard to keep a straight face. He asks me "You wanna see something funny?"

I reply, "Oh boy, what did I do now?…" Then he starts talking about the parking spaces out front and how they need to have everyone parked properly… the he points to the picture I've posted below (sorry for the tilt), which is hung directly above our time clock, where everyone punches in……



Yep, that's UNDENIABLY my car. Misfits crimson skull sticker on half of the rear window with bird stickers on my bumper… No way I could get out of this one. I was slightly embarrassed, but I thought it was humorous, so whatever. Embarrassment is a great reality check, in my opinion. I feel that it's one of the most interesting emotions humans can experience. Lots of people dread embarrassment, but I kind of enjoy being embarrassed. It lets you not be afraid of too much, then you end up having more fun than everyone else. Anyway, he pointed to the bottom part about the driving school and I DIED. He had to quiet me down because the offices nearby were probably disturbed by the loudness. Anyway, we both laughed about it and now everyone I work with calls me "That Guy".

Back to footbag… I'm having some minor knee pains right now. I think it's because I jumped into the session today without warming up properly. Walking around all day at work couldn't have helped that either. I've been icing it tonight and it's starting to feel better. Either way, probably won't kick this weekend, since I'm going to be busy anyway.

OK, done done done. Bed bed bed.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Lets start this thing of on a bad note to get it over with. I don't think I'll be going to USO this year, unfortunately. It sucks. I was trying to find a new job before then, but things didn't work out. Hoping to be there next year though. I'll plan for it earlier. I used my vacation days up to go to Mark's NOLA Jam, which I really don't regret. Should have flown though, so I didn't have to take all 4 days off though.Whatever.

Sessions tonight. Went well. Drilled a bit, and also I FINALLY hit and filmed my submission for Marco's weird link competition. I feel like it holds some water, even against the BAP dudes. Landes might wreck me though. Out of 5, I'll rate the following:

Difficulty: 4
Weirdness: 4.5
Uniqueness: 5
Cleanliness: 4.5

I've watched it in slow motion several times and it just looks awesome. Can't wait til the video is released.

Highlights:

Pdx Whirl> Stepping Whirl bs ..Yay! I think I unlocked a bit more of my Whirl mystery tonight. Watched a video of Kim and that helped me a lot. Practiced it later on in the session too...
Mobius> Stepping Mirage bs
Pdx Torque> Stepping Mirage bs
Twirl> Gyro Illusion bs
Had some really great-feeling runs
Ended on Blender> Stepping Mirage> Atomsmasher bs


The final touch to this post… A while ago, you may remember that I went to visit Hogan and Matt Kemmer came along as a surprise.. I released Absolutely Fucking Massivechussetts Part I a while ago…

Kevin has been busy lately, but he finally got it all cut up and processed and it turned out AMAZINGLY. I'll post the video below. Pretty stoked on this one, because it's easily the best footage of myself to date. By the way this was darken during the first 2 days, so this should have been part I but things didn't work out in favor of that Hope you enjoy this one.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YVHX3MTOIY[/youtube]

I'm really happy with how I played in this footage (however,it's been about 2 months since this was filmed, and I know I've improved a lot since then… Kev and Matt killed it too. Miss you guys.

[Muffinman]

RAH!
That video was amazing. The best part was that I was just as entertained by each player for different reasons. You guys all have amazing style and trick repertoires. What an amazing and inspiring circle that must have been! I look up to you all so much! Wow. I smiled so much during this video!! Haven't even read the words you wrote yet. Props on that beast! Also, Matt's spinning combos make me want to spin all day. And your zooming makes me want to get good at zooming and then do that all day. (And learn how to staalll!) I want to play hack so bad right now, but it's 3 in the morning

Thanks to Kevin for making the video!
Is that Squarepusher? Or Aphex Twin? I feel like I've used that track in a hack video before


EDIT: Just read your previous post. That's hilarious

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Sorry for another video so soon, but I wanted to compare my string consistency from that previous video to where I am now. I was pleasantly surprised with my improvements in the following video.

So, I went to visit Bonslaver tonight and we had a pretty great session. I gave him a bunch of tips on a lot of stuff. The best part is that he said he learned a lot from all of my tips. So that makes me feel good about my teaching skills. Nathan hit some stupidly surprising stuff tonight. I won't spoil any of it because he will hopefully blog it soon, but man, he killed it. Good tiltless string length, great form, new tricks with ease. Saw him hit Blink bs and a single tear rolled down my cheek

Highlights:

Madd dope strangs… (all in the following video, except for one that wasn't filmed… probably the best one unfortunately)
New PR with Far Rev Swirl x3 (in the video), previous was x2.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kegB30jIoM[/youtube]

Watch in 1080p, because I finally got my iMovie to upload in it

Critiques welcomed.

[Sporatical_Distractions]

Thanks to Kevin for making the video!
Is that Squarepusher? Or Aphex Twin? I feel like I've used that track in a hack video before

It's Aphex Twin - Windowlicker

Squarepusher is usually more jazz influenced

[Max Power]

Yo, What up Nickle Broke Back Creek Mountain? That video is super awesome and I think you should post it videos just in case not everyone reads your blogus everyday. Plus I think it deserves it's own thread for lots oh love. Plus you da man!

[krustykrakk]

Drew's weird. Let's throw rocks at him.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

I appreciate it, Drew. Means a lot man. I'm guessing you were talking about the trio video with Kemmer, Hogan, and me.

Had a drill sesh tonight. Went very well. Drilled Atomic sets, by working on consecutive Atomsmashers. I definitely got 6 or 7? Oh well. I don't care until I get my goal of 10. I'm not far now, because I realized one final thing that made my Atomics suck. I was dead tired by the time I realized it, so I will try some next session. I did film again tonight. Had a few good runs, new Fearless link bs, and a newer 6 ADD and that same 6 ADD on flipside, which was brand new.. all in the video.

Highlights VIDEO!!!:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30CGVe7FtmY[/youtube]

Really happy with that flip 6. Didn't think it was going to happen. And it wasn't a stretch since I can do Ducking Pdx Torque fairly well.

Pretty stoked on some of those links in the strings too. Oh damn, and that 5> 5 link bs… That was frickin' dope. lolz, like I said, pretty happy with everything in the video

Definitely thinking about my concepts for next month. I'm really happy with how my game is shaping up and how my monthly concepts have been really sharp.

One more pretty cool thing that happened today.. Erik Chan said that I was one of his favorite players… I was shocked by that. Didn't think I was good enough to be a favorite player… pretty awesome, but strange because Erik has been one of my favorites. I have studied his game in slow motion, and I have learned a lot from him… Just unreal.

Before I finish the month, I really want Blender x10 and Atomsmasher x10.

However, this is how I think it will go down:

Double Downs
Inspinning
Swirling
Torque

...with constant focus on Pdx Whirls. Need to own those.

One last last last thing… in the video above, the string I start with Pdx Whirl> Ripwalk… That Pdx Whirl IS flipside! And I slow mo'ed it.. it's clean! I just have to keep my knee low and stationary and they're pretty good. They'll get better.

I'm out.

[Max Power]

Yes I was talkin bout the vid with all los dudes. Can I make a thread for it? Just wondering if you're keeping it secret or you think it doesn't belong there? I guess your solo vids are here cause they are just kinda highlights of sessions not really shred videos.

[h0ag3yb3atZ]

both of those vids def deserve a thread...of course im way too lazy to make it though :p

loved the footage. mobius>gyro twirl is banned in 47 states. such a phatty combo....dug all the ducking torques and shit too, styley.

One thing i liked about your game when you were here (and something I'm trying to guy on more) is the way you throw down a tough trick and hit 4's>shufflely styley polini run....i guess the jacknife run in this vid is a good example of that. either way i deeeg it.

[Muffinman]

Fart, that was good!
The mobius > gyro twirl combos were so good. Also the alpine mobius -- I think that's my only dream trick I've never hit

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Thanks guys!

Drew: Thanks for the compliments man. Really nice of you. Yeah, if you want to make a video thread for it, go right ahead. If to, I can do it.

Kev: I love the description of the link haha I'd like to get really good at that link. It felt so dope. And I actually had no idea I was throwing a hard trick, then 4's afterward until you just mentioned it. I did it again tonight without realizing it, which was dope. It'll be the highlighted combo. I'd love for you to guy that style all you want.

Erik: Thanks a lot man! You can get Alp Mob. Spinning Osis> Mobius is a great start. I think you have to get good at Spinning Ducking Osis, Ducking Torque, and probably Gyro Diving Mirage (which I can't do well yet). Once you have all those, bing bang boom. Alpine Mobius. I believe in you. Also, I hit your Spinning Osis> Mobius link tonight. I never just do that, because my mind tells me it's not big enough, since Spinning Osis is very bail'y for me… but after seeing your footage, it looks so sick, so I'm gonna start pulling those more often.

Long day. Got home from work and my dad asked me to help bring a bunch of wood to the backyard. During the process, my dad takes a big log and starts to throw it into the wheelbarrow, but before it hits the wheelbarrow, it hit my log that I was holding, which acted like a mallet and rammed into my ring finger pretty ferociously. I couldn't move it for a while and for about an hour, it just started convulsing, like massive quick vibrations that I couldn't control. It was pretty cool, but I was kind of freaking out about it too. I can now move it and it just hurts a lot. So glad It's not broken. I've never broken anything. *knocks on wood*

Around 10 pm, I decided that I needed to drill. Lots of good stuff came out of it.

Highlights:

Blurry Torque> Spinning Butterfly bs!!! First time I have ever spun out of Blurry Torque. So very pleased with this. I also had decent runs off of each one.
Blender> Stepping Clipper 5x bs (I think this is harder than Stepping Mirage and therefore will be better to practice with this trick after the Blender instead of Stepping Mirage. Thoughts?)
Blender> Stepping Clipper> Stepping Mirage bs
Whale Tail was so on tonight. Both sides were really easy with good execution.
Double Spinning Clipper is seriously getting really close to being dialed. Might use it as one of my concepts next month.

Had some other highlights, but I was kind of everywhere tonight. Just experimented with some old concepts to see where they stood. I think everything got a lot better by just working on other stuff.

Oh, I did something a bit different tonight for warm-up… Clipper> op Clipper muted style. Shot for 30. These are surprisingly hard for me. I want to push this to 100 because I feel like it will help my Pdx tricks a bunch. Anyone have any feedback on this hypothesis?

Warm-up also consisted of Alt Inside delay x30, ss Clipper x30 bs, and Alt Boychuk toe scoops x30 (I always start runs with these, but I drop every now and then, and that just shouldn't happen.

Well, sleep time.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Had a real late night session. Like 12 am - 3 am.. Just drilled Pixies (after Gateman gave me some tips on them), my form (standing upright (Gatesman again), and DDD's. Also messed a bit with Double Spins and some other odds and ends.. Glad I did. Good stuff came out of this.

Highlights:

DDD BSOS! First time saucing it! Yeah! Hit Reverse Swirl out of the flipside DDD. I figured out some great footwork on this trick finally. Also drilled several bs to hand catch
Marius> Spinning Butterfly bs! First spins out of Marius on bs! Marius is really starting to fall into place…
Really proud of this drill: Gyro DLO> Paradon *rpt second try
Double Spinning Clippers bs with the right form and execution. If you're having trouble learning these, just think like the first spin is a regular spin, just set a bit higher, but with the same spin speed as a spinning clipper, then you spot the bag and you power through the second spin. Oh man, now I realize how good this trick finally feels. I think I can step out of them soon. Just gotta do them in daylight and get them a little more controlled on flipside.
Invention?: Double Spinning Flapper! Only one side, but I think with a bit of work I can hit my flip. Would be cool if this was an invention. Kinda doubting it though. Also fairly certain I will hit Spinning Mobius sooner than later… hopefully both sides. I feel it coming.
Barfly> Blur bs
First Bubbabeaters with a plant bs. Kemmer told me to start learning them this way instead of muted, like I used to to.


I think that's it. Some other stuff that was kinda big, but only hit on one side, so not worth mentioning.

Good night!