Looking for a Modern Deck for the Summer

There is a Modern GP coming up locally this summer, and I’d like to go even though I have never played Modern. I have played with a pauper Affinity deck on MTGO, so I thought I’d look at the Modern versions. One goal is not to break the bank, and I understand that this is one of the cheaper decks.

Affinity
Main Deck:
3 Arcbound Ravager
4 Master of Etherium
4 Memnite
4 Ornithopter
4 Signal Pest
4 Steel Overseer
4 Vault Skirge

4 Cranial Plating
4 Mox Opal
4 Springleaf Drum
4 Thoughtcast
1 Welding Jar

4 Blinkmoth Nexus
4 Darksteel Citadel
2 Glimmervoid
4 Inkmoth Nexus
2 Island

Sideboard:
2 Dismember
3 Etched Champion
2 Mindbreak Trap
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Spell Pierce
1 Torpor Orb
1 Welding Jar
2 Whipflare

Computer Parts

Throwback Post…
Originally posted in December 2008 on my previous now defunct blog

Photo by D a r i n k a* a Flickr.com user

Here’s a story that I heard from someone at work that she swears is true.

There was a man who lived in an apartment building who needed to go out of town for his work. He had a pet dog, and his elderly neighbor would watch it while he was away.

One day when the neighbor went to check the dog, she was horrified to find that it had died.

She was not sure what to do, so she called her friend down the street. The friend said that she wasn’t sure what to do either, but if she took the body to the vets office, they would know how to dispose of it.

She hung up the phone, and looked around for a way to carry the dog. An old suitcase that she found in the closet seemed to be the answer. She put the dog in, and struggled to carry it to the bus stop (she didn’t have a car.) As she approached the bus stop, a young man saw her struggling and asked what she had in the suitcase. She quickly replied, “computer parts.”

When the bus came, the young man offered to lift the suitcase onto the bus for her as they both got on. At the next stop, the young man ran down the aisle, grabbed the suitcase and bolted off the bus and down the street.

She chuckled to herself, and never saw him again.

We are made of star stuff

Throwback Post…
Originally posted in December 2008 on my previous now defunct blog

Photo by Image Editor, a Flickr.com user

I’m reading the book Death From the Skies by Phil Plait. This is a book written by an astronomer outlining all of the ways that the Earth can be destroyed by astronomical events. To me, this book is a fun vehicle to learn about astronomy. Phil Plait writes with the boyish enthusiasm of a b movie sci-fi geek. You can almost hear him beaming and making SPLOOOSCH! explosion sounds!

That being said, a bit of perspective that I obtained from the book is that all of the elements that occur in nature were formed in explosions of ancient dying stars. As Carl Sagan said “we are made of star stuff.”

Our solar system was formed from a disk of space debris that converged to form the sun, planets, asteroids etc. The part that blows my mind is that every atom and molecule that I consist of was part of that disk. I was formed out of the same stuff that formed the Earth. So were you. So was this computer. So was the Empire State building. So was that big Jesus statue on a hill over-looking Rio de Janeiro. Everything!

We are all made out of the same stuff. I bet that if everyone were taught this, and understood it, we would not be so focused on our differences.

The Way the Crow Flies

Throwback Post…
Originally posted on September 25, 2008 on my previous now defunct blog

The Way the Crow Flies: A Novel by Ann-Marie MacDonald

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a was very sad and at times disturbing story of Madeleine, a young girl that is sexually abused by a teacher in the early 1960′s. Her father is an officer in the Canadian Air Force, and is involved in some cold war espionage that he can not divulge to his family. Her mother is a French Canadian with old fashioned depression era sensibilities. Her brother suffers from the burden of many young men, trying to win the approval of his father. They befriend a German family, that they later find out are Holocaust survivors. When one of Madeleine’s friends is found dead in a field, all of the different plotlines begin to intertwine in often unexpected ways.

First off, this novel is extremely well written. As the story unfolded, it gained momentum at a steady and tense pace. The several seemingly divergent plot lines were engaging and well developed and came together effectively.

Thematically compelling elements were grief, trauma and loss of innocence. The process of grappling with mortality and loss are very deeply and graphically explored from several different perspectives. Also, the experience and psychological impact of abuse and atrocities are portrayed with great detail and subtlety. The backdrop of post WWII cold war fear and paranoia added another layer of tension and intrigue to this dark yet beautiful tragedy.

Another element that bears consideration is the question of the needs of the many taking priority over the needs of the few or the one. (nod to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)

I highly recommend this book, but be forewarned that it’s impact will linger.

View all my reviews.

Atmospheric Disturbances

Throwback Post…
Originally posted on August 28, 2008 on my previous now defunct blog

Just finished Rivka Galchens debut novel. I was intrigued by the New York Times review, so I decided to give it a go.

The story is about a psychiatrist who starts to suffer from delusions. He believes that his wife has been replaced by a replica (simulacrum) and he starts to become entwined in the delusional system of one of his patients, who believes that he is working for an underground group of meteorologists.

This book was entertaining, but only partially engaging. I found myself rushing through it at the end. The style of writing is somewhat loose and tangential, I’m assuming to emulate the psychotic thought process, since the story is told from the first person perspective of the delusional psychiatrist.

I did, however enjoy the density of the prose, which at times seemed poetic. I’m also impressed with the portrayal of psychiatry and science. The back cover indicates that Galchen has an MD and a MFA (no mention is made of training in psychiatry, but she seems well informed about the field)

Worth a read if you have the time.

Darkness Reborn

I’ve always been a fan of aggressive music, but have tended to shy away from the intense growling of Black Metal. I had the opportunity recently to attend a Dimmu Borgir concert. The opening acts were Dawn of Ashes (from California and recently re-conceived from an industrial band to a metal band,) , Blood Red Throne and Enslaved (both classic Norwegian Black Metal Bands, as is Dimmu Borgir.)

Seeing the music played live gave me a new appreciation for it. Below is a montage of some clips taken with my iPhone.

Dimmu Borgir Setlist (this was the Setlist for the Houston show, two nights prior to the Columbus show)

Edit this setlist | More Dimmu Borgir setlists

Reading Decision Points

I’m reading Decision Points by George W. Bush. Even through I’m a lifelong Democrat, and I was essentially complaining about him the whole 8 years that he was in the White House, for some reason, I’m really enjoying reading his book.

I realize that it may be a cobbled together document compiled by his advisors to establish a place to start the debate on his legacy. Still, there seems to be something authentic about it. He comes across as more human than he did when he was president. He claims to have made several bad calls, and he owns up to them. He is frank with how he was affected emotionally by world events. He seems to be genuinely positive in his intent.

I also enjoy the behind the scenes look at the White House. It’s good reading, even if I don’t agree with him. I think I can stay off my high horse for a while and read what the man has to say. Still, I’m only about a third of the way through the book. We’ll see if I’m still so agreeable as I plow through the rest of it.

Moved Blog Here…

First off, I just moved this blog back to a WordPress.com site. I experimented with self hosting, and learned how to do it. Now I realize that this is just a pastime, so I should just keep it simple.

Also, in case there is anyone out there concerned about the lack of continuity since I haven’t been posting, I’ll briefly update a few things.

As mentioned in the Happy with my Nook post, I was destined to get an iPad. Well, I did and in fact I’m typing this on it right now. The iPad is cool, but it does not work that well for me as an eBook reader. I now have the latest version of the Kindle, and I really love it! This is the eReader that I plan on sticking with for a while.

I’ve also read the following books since my last posted book review:

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd
The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni
Game Change by John Heilmann
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
The Hour that I First Believed by Wally Lamb

We’ll see if I have the time and energy to type up reviews of these books.

I’ve also completed the first draft of a short story that I am currently aging before I go back and revise it. It’s just a bit of fantasy drivel that I wrote to amuse myself and will probably remain unread by all but myself.

Update

Since my last post in June, I’ve read several books, purchased an iPad, then the new Kindle, and I’ve been working on my fiction writing. Will provide more details in coming posts.

Horns by Joe Hill: my Goodreads.com review

Horns by Joe Hill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

View all my reviews >>
Horns is the second novel by Joe Hill. It is a story about a man who is slowly turning into the Devil. This is happens after his girlfriend is murdered and the circumstances are such that he is the person that people assumed did it.

Hill does a great job with the pacing of the story. The main character first notices small nub of horns that tingle with pleasure when he manipulates people. His touch makes people divulge their inner secrets. Over the course of the novel, the transformation unfolds gradually. As this is happening, we see how he discovers his abilities, as well as his limitations. The story climaxes as he finds out who the real murderer is, and plots his revenge. In the process, he is healed by a consuming fire and communing with snakes.

Very good story telling, and a very compelling and interesting read. Joe Hill is a writer to keep an eye on. You should check out his first novel Heart Shaped Box as well.

He is also an avid Twitterer and can be followed at: Joe_Hill