The Complete Spin... A YEAR IN REVIEW

—by Lightnin' Lyle Jensen—

A little over a year ago the founders of the Flying Disc Museum concluded their discussions of what a museum blog might look, feel and sound like to our readers which resulted in the September 18, 2021, launch of the FDM's The Complete Spin… blog. Now that our blog has celebrated its first anniversary, it seems more than apposite to take a reflective look at all that filled the digital (paper is traditional, but…) pages in its inaugural year. So, here's our first-ever, God help us…not the last, The Complete Spin… A YEAR IN REVIEW.

After spending much of my professional life encouraging corporate creative types to favorably fill the vacuous void of radio, TV, and print advertising, I'd be the first to admit the net results of ideation collectives rarely exceed the conceiver’s initial vision—meet, yes; exceed, not so much. So, how does one evaluate the efficacy, or better yet, assess the success, of a blog bewitchingly birthed from a poly-preservationist, not-for-profit, public platform—designed for and made available to an all-too-often untapped legion of passionate plastic provocateurs? Acronymic interweb jargon notwithstanding, suffice it to say—or if your linguistic leanings prefer, suffice to say—either way, IDK. So after all that superfluous polysyllabic, mumbo jumbo, you're thinking I'm throwing my hands up or the towel in. Right?

16.72 Seconds ThaliaMuse with her Space Saucer Not really, but try typing the words "goals of a blog" into your search engine of choice, and if you're using the same "BIG G, little o" one I am, you'll receive over three-quarters of a billion results in three-quarters of a second…or less. Of course, YMMV, but for the love of polypropylene, let’s table the table of S.M.A.R.T. goal metrics for just 16.72 seconds and take a coupla deep, cleansing breaths. Feel better? I know I do and I also know that going eyes-wide-open into the creation of The Complete Spin… gave the FDM founding fathers the freedom (in our part of the flying disc universe, anyway) to bring about an open-to-all-comers blog—a place to deftly dive as deeply as any of the nine muses magically move and motivate. Suffice to say, there were some folks from the faithful Frisbee family who have had something significant to say at length (1000+ words)—in a Facebook post or ten [guilty as charged, officer Thalia]—who were in need and deserving of a well-anchored, albeit unfettered, all-things-Frisbee forum… pretty much. So why not give it a shot; how hard could it be anyway? After all, if some 600 million blogmeisters worldwide can make a go of it, why not us—a handful of disciples dedicated to the history and preservation of all things flying disc.

Dashboards by Google and Studebaker Okay. Back to S.M.A.R.T. goal metrics for just a sec. Some marketing mavens love to preach the pitfalls vs. the profundity of leaning too heavily on analytics and not paying attention to the setting of Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-focused, and Time-bound goals. Be relieved to know that a mind numbing in-depth analysis of all things Google Analytics ain't goin' to happen here, today. First and foremost, the formulation of that analysis is way beyond my liberal arts pay grade. However, if you're interested in hearing about the dashboard I restored for a '55 Studebaker President Speedster in Sonora Beige, color code 7888, call me. So, for now, let's take a look at the semi-S.M.A.R.T. goals we set for the first year of The Complete Spin… and see how we fared:

GOAL 1: Release a new blog posting a minimum of once every 4 weeks or 13x/year.

Mr. Rich Going in we thought once a month would be acceptable, once every four weeks admirable, once every three weeks would be amazing, and twice a month—highly improbable. Drum roll, 4 RB WPP2s
Mr. Rich…we averaged one new blog posting every three weeks! That's 17 postings, so by
our estimation going into the year, I give our inaugural rollout performance four root beer, style 2, Wham-O Pluto Platters!
 

GOAL 2: Provide a sustainable mix of practical, noteworthy and appealing content areas, ideas and treatments.

The key words here are sustainable and content. One of our biggest concerns pre-launch centered on quality and our ability to sustainably deliver valued content month after month in an authentically compelling and viable manner. I will admit that editorial proximity clouds my objectivity to some degree, but I think the variety found in our first year was nothing short of Phenomenal—emboldened and underlined with a full-tilt fancy capital "P." Quite honestly, where else in the greater flying disc universe can one find a blog with such organically-driven and -delivered diversity of expression? Everything you ever wanted to know and more about: reflections and insights on collecting and its origins; Midnight Flyers; Pie Tins and the Frisbie Pie Co; CHING® and the Full Color process; the far out history of throwing far; Wham-O® Trademark Bands; INNOVA XDs; the Minnesota Frisbee Association; Strange Tales of Plastic Teleportation; Playing in the Wham-O $50,000 Tournament; the making of Rude Boys Ultimate; the future of disc golf catching devices; and an In Memoriam conversation with the late, great Stancil E. D. Johnson.

As for the look and feel or the "treatment" of the blog postings, remember some 700+ words back when I said, "net results of ideation collectives rarely exceed the conceiver’s initial vision"? Well, my friends, the collaborative efforts of the individual bloggers DesPat alone and the FDM team shattered that paradigmatic thinking. Outstanding! A 4 ATPPs matchless four American Trends Pluto Platter performance rating with a
bonus Des. Pat. Pro in the package for style points.

GOAL 3: Feature a diverse base of writer-bloggers with an array of interests and insights.

T. T. Logan We've pretty much covered the "array of interests and insights" in the Goal 2 review which fits fist in glove with the diversity of the FDM bloggers—a bona fide powerhouse of plastic penners personified—authors, historians, and multiple world champions; dreamers, schemers and ultimate players; movers, shakers, and world record breakers; insiders, legends, and collectors galore; disc golfers aplenty, and so, so much more! 'Nuff said! Or as Mr. T. T. Logan exclaims, "Excellent." With heartfelt appreciation, I thank our collaborative cadre of first year FDM bloggers: Dan "Stork" Roddick; Steve Lee; Billie Ashton; Kevin Fuller; Davis Johnson; Steve Mooney; Scott Zimmerman; Phil Kennedy; Marvin P. Paul; Mike Holgate; Joe Feidt; and Jim 4 Masters
Palmeri. You have set the bar remarkably high, my friends. Bravo! This masterful group deserves nothing less than a four Master Tournament Model rating. Serial Number 00001, no less!

In addition to the three aforementioned goals, there were two overriding standards that have been fundamental to the success of The Complete Spin… blog:

1. Preserve the character, expression and distinctive voice of each blogger.
2. Uphold and support the foundational principles of the Flying Disc Museum.

First-year By the Numbers

Postings: 17 Longest Post: 3322 words Total Length: 32,633 words Average Length: 1920 words Total Views All Posts: 12,566 Average Views per Post: 739 Most Viewed Post: 1233 Total Pictures: 333 Average Pics per Post: 20 Most Pictures in a Post: 48

12566

alpha Omega It and variety—these two words are the alpha and omega of the FDM's first-year blogs. It holds a distinctive place as one of the top ten words most used in the English language, so what better way to so all inclusively kick off our FDM blog's first post than with it as its first word. And variety—the oft-cited proverb proclaims variety is the spice of life, but in a blog variety is practically elevated to lifeblood status. As we set out to build a blog, we knew it had to be inviting, entertaining and compelling in its content and variety. Never in my wildest dreams (now take a moment to let that sink in, 1… 2…) could I have imagined a more beautiful bevy of bloggers who'd line up shoulder-to-shoulder with such alarming alacrity to share their insights into the plastic paradise we all so enjoy and so deeply wish to preserve. All of us at the museum can't thank each of you enough for your selfless contributions to The Complete Spin… blog. I, personally, am deeply touched by your willingness to step up and share your voice and your stories with the greater flying disc community. Thank you one and all, and here's to an even better year two!

I hope you enjoyed the read and gained some new insights into the wonderful world of all things flying disc, and maybe, just maybe, you got inspired to share your unique voice with the greater Frisbee community, too. Kevin and I can't wait to hear from ya, so hit us up or simply go to the FDM site and scroll down to FDM BLOG and send us your ideas for a blog posting. Two things you can count on as an FDM blogger: you'll be in good hands and even better company!

Frisbee ad libitum,
Lightnin' Lyle
FDM Blog Guy

YEAR IN REVIEW

Read Article	Gotta Collect 'em All! by Dan "Stork" Roddick It wasn't always so. — It's been such great fun!
XD is my Favorite Disc by Steve Lee Hi, my name is Steve Lee. — Grab an XD “Bullet” and try it for your short game, 30 meters and in!	Read Article
Read Article	Minnesota Frisbee Association: Celebrating 45 Years as a Promotional Force in Disc Sports by Billie Ashton It was the summer of 1975 and I remember Elton John was tearing up the American Top 40 in the peak of his career, as the "Rocketman." — As a long time MFA member, I owe a lot of my passion for the sport to the original founding fathers of the MFA and for that I'm truly grateful!
Midnight Flyers in All Their Glowry by Kevin Fuller Throwing discs at targets is as old as throwing flying discs. — Of course, that’s just one of many stories about Midnight Flyers being used to compete in and win disc golf tournaments over the years until bevel-edged discs eventually took over.	Read Article
Read Article	Midnight Flyers: Collect Ones, Collect All by Kevin Fuller So, the subject of collecting Midnight Flyers interests you, at least enough to have clicked on this article. — Together, we should be able to compile a truly complete list.
A Far-Out History of Throwing Far by Davis Johnson Throwing is in my DNA—my first distance discs of choice according to my mother were Gerber baby food lids. — End, one chapter; beginning of the next…	Read Article
Read Article	Rude at Heart by Steve Mooney Our run started at five in the morning as the noise of our rented Ford Econoline’s arrival knocks an opposing player off the back of the parked car he’d been sleeping on. — We remain rude at heart because of all three.
Playing in the Wham-O $50,000 Disc Golf Tournament by Scott Zimmerman Even though the DC metro area was hit with 18” of snow during the winter of early 1979, I was practicing several hours a day to prepare for the coming North American Series (NAS) and the World Frisbee Championships (WFC) in the Rose Bowl. — “Not bad,” he said.	Read Article
Read Article	Reflections on Collections by Phil Kennedy The FDM's primary founding objective is to cover all topics relating to flying discs. — And if you want to talk Antiques, I'm all ears!
Setting the Hook by Marvin Paul I remember as a kid having a key chain collection. — Be sure to register to join our community of Friends and Family so you can stop on by and we can talk plastic.	Read Article
Read Article	Have Disc Will Travel: Strange Tales of Plastic Teleportation by Davis Johnson How do you feel about plastic? — I will continue to monitor, and report back on anything else that seems a little beyond the pale at the Watershed or for that matter, other courses I play that carry their own mystery and intrigue.
Inception of the CHING® Full Color Process: A Short Story about Graphic Applications & Discovery in the '90s by Holgate "Was it really that easy?…did I just PRINT on a GOLF DISC with a transfer sheet used for mouse pads? — Meanwhile, for me, the creative journey continues…that YouTube thingy looks pretty cool…besides, I got an idea…	Read Article
Listen to the Conversation	In Memoriam: A Conversation with Stancil Johnson recorded by Joe Feidt & Lyle Jensen I am sure you all know that we recently lost flying disc legend and pioneer Dr. Stancil Johnson. — We soon realized that what the footage lacked in production value was more than made up for in its gentrified glimpse into the life and times of a puissant pillar of play upon which the greater flying disc community flourished.
Have Pie, Will Fly: The Frisbie Pie Company—Launchpad for a Pastime by Davis Johnson It all started with an epic thunderstorm, the kind that seems to occur with dramatic sea changes in my life. — But there’s at least another half of plump pie to relish in Part 2, with the solemn promise it will be a lot more fun and worthy of your consumption than the endlessly boring quest to calculate 3.14 to the whatever power!	Read Article
Read Article	Have Pie, Will Fly: Discussion and Illustration of Frisbie Pie Company Collectibles by Davis Johnson Welcome back for a second helping of pie! — This makes documenting the history of flying disc play and its origins in the likes of the Frisbie Pie Company, more essential now than ever.
The Perfect Putt! by Jim Palmeri Currently, there are a relatively large variety of chain pole hole targets approved for use by the PDGA. — This dissertation will be available relatively soon—hopefully, by August 2021 at the latest.	Read Article
Read Article	The Wham-O Trademark Band by Kevin Fuller With the Tokyo Olympics recently completed, let us turn our attention to another set of rings. — Whether you consider the TMB a strategic and impressive branding exercise that strengthened Wham-O's position as a provider of quality discs, or you consider them rings of fiery feces that burned, burned, burned thousands of great designs, hopefully you enjoyed this look into the TMB's evolution and variety.