SECTION ONE: A PAIN IN THE GRAVITAS My yielding peaches: It takes but a little effort on one’s own part to elevate any sport or pastime into something more weighty and intellectual — the costumes or uniforms one may wear, the equipment one utilises, the toiletry products one liberally applies and, most important of all:…
Prelude: Let’s just say the response from The Grand Experiment was an eye opener. For the heck of it, because it’s actually true, let’s also say that the more "inspired" responses were from people who wholeheartedly did not agree with the scope of the article. Furthermore, we can say that the resulting dialogues were respectful…
Ah, Invasion! This marks my favorite time of year. This time last year I looked forward to Mercadian Masques and what cool new cards to add to my green deck. , , … all made it into the deck I eventually won States with. Now, with States right around the corner again, what sweet fruit…
If this is your first prerelease tournament, then this is the article for you. Sealed deck play can be tricky if you’re a casual player or not used to the environment – reading this article (and the ancillary reading) will ensure that you don’t embarrass yourself. Now let’s get one thing straight. I am not…
The tenor of "Final Judgement" has been moderately official and serious lately, so it’s time to lighten up a bit. There aren’t really any official multiplayer rules, and I’m not suggesting that this column should replace them. It’s just that a number of columnists here, notably , David Phifer and , are huge multiplayer fans,…
I knew that you’d read this article! That’s because I am tapped into the mystic art of Grubwology – the science of determining personalities and futures according to what sort of player you are.* For those of you who don’t follow me regularly (but why would you click on anything with "Part II" in the…
As many writers seem to be pointing out right now, it’s difficult to find things to write about that really mean something. You can write about MBC, but it’s becoming a very well-known topic – and one that many people are sick of. You can write about Type II, but it’s going to be changing…
I don’t even know whom I’m writing this for…so we’ll start here for the points… "Net decks are like the gun replacing the sword in ancient Japan. The Samurai thought the gun was dishonorable, dangerous, and impersonal – and they were right. Unfortunately, guns were also darned effective, and anyone who tried fighting a .44…
I think I will give my readers a theory break this week! I’m sensitive to the fact that my previous three articles have all been rather technical, with humorous asides few and far between. Really, I didn’t intend for all three to stack like that. There were three reasons why this happened. (Actually there were…
EDISON, BIRTHPLACE OF ELECTRICITY I was reading report from this tournament here on Star City, and he said that he challenged anyone to get nine hours of sleep before a tournament, and then to see what the results are. I got close to nine hours of sleep – and after comparing our results, I think…
"Did you cheat?" she asked me. She was broke, out of the game, and only wanted to know how I had won. We were friends, so I could afford to be honest. "Of course," I replied. I had cleaned the entire table of $20,000 at poker that very afternoon, emptying the pockets of five suckers…
I thought it was a good idea. Then I thought again. Then I thought it was a great idea. -Pray tell, what’s this earth-shattering idea ya got there? Well… It is a Grand Experiment of sorts. The ramifications of said experiment have the potential to be felt the world over – from Renton to Antwerp…
November 1st. What does that date mean to many Magic players? First off, it is the final day for Urza, Mishra, and the rest of the artifact cycle. Secondly, it is three days away from many State Championships. (Kentucky and Minnesota, to name at least two.) With Worlds over and the tourney scene shifting to…
Astrology is defined as "a pseudoscience, claiming to foretell the future by the supposed influence of the stars, planets, etc. on human affairs." When one is born, he’s categorized into one of twelve zodiac signs that always remain the same – and because of his birthdate, certain things are bound to be true about his…
Our esteemed editor told me that the Shakespeare reference was too easy. Apparently it was. I had a boatload of email waiting for me when I got home on publishing day last week. The first person to identify correctly (Henry V, Exeter to King of France; the direct quote is, "This is his claim, his…
