• Practice for the "Feats of strength"

• Eat, drink and socialize around the Festivus Pole
  (food and an array of drinks will be provided, but additional
  food and drink is appreciated if you feel so inclined to bring it)

• Watch "The Strike" episode upstairs in the Pop Culture room

• you will be able to play if you arrive after 7:45
  (unless you get there really late)

• gray (SMOKE), or
• red (FIRE)

• You will be randomly paired with a partner as names are drawn from a hat.
• Your partner will have the opposite color as you.
• You cannot play with a significant other (no whining!)

Rules: No holds barred!

• Spinning is allowed (although not necessarily the best strategy)
• If it goes in your goal–whether or not you hit it in–it's a point for the other team.
• The first ball will be dropped in the center by someone not playing the game.
• Subsequent balls will be dropped in a side pocket by the team that was scored upon
  *OR* in the center by a person not playing the game.
• No whining and complaining! If you lose, be a good sport and take your medecine
  (there will be plenty in the kitchen :-)

Miscellaneous

• If there are uneven players, if someone is unavailable, or if there is an odd number
  of guests, they will be substituted by either Jonathan or Chris. This is to keep things
  moving and to give everyone a chance to play.
• There may be some gaps in the first round You may luck out and get a bye.

Tournament format

• The first round of 32 teams will be played to a score of 4, win by at least 1.
• The second round of 16 teams will be played to a score of 5, win by at least 1.
• There will be an intermission for "The Airing of Grievances."
• The third round of 8 teams (QUARTERFINALS) will play to a score of 7, win by at least 1.
• The Final four (SEMIFINALS) of 4 teams will play to a score of 10, win by at least 1.
• The fifth and final round (CHAMPIONSHIP) of 2 teams will play to a score of 10,
  with the first team to reach 10 winning.

• If you put your name on gray paper when you came in, you are SMOKE.
• If you put your name on red paper, you are FIRE.

Rules

• Each team will get 8 chances to complete the sentence: "The problem with ______ is:"
• There will be up to 5 answers worth 5 points each and possibly one bonus answer worth 10 points.
• An answer is correct when the judges say it is--and they have final word! This isn't rocket science.
• If your team said something and is not heard by the judges, tell them. We're all adults, and there's no reason to lie about it, so you'll get the credit.
• Anyone caught lying will be shot by a firing squad. :-b

What it gets you if your team wins

• Advantage over your partner...there can be only one Festivus champion. Each Feats of Strength team is comprised of 1 SMOKE and 1 FIRE. If your team wins the Airing of Grievances, your prize will be slightly better than your partner's!

• The Festivus 2002 and reigning champion is Rob Hixon.
• Last year's "Feats of Strength" winners were Rob Slone and John Faris.
• "Feats of Strength" Runners up were Mark Reed and Amy Boehman.