Magic101 : Rules and Tips for Sideboarding Your Deck

Even among the Magic the Gathering elite, few players truly understand the appropriate use and actual rules of sideboarding. Luckily, the concept and the rules behind it are quite simple. Here is a brief explanation of all of the above.

What is a sideboard?

A sideboard is a collection of fifteen cards that won't normally be in your deck. You can substitute cards in your regular deck for these sideboard cards in order to accomplish any one of various purposes.

Why use a sideboard?

A sideboard does for your deck what auto insurance does for your car: it protects you when the worst happens. By swapping out cards from your deck to reach into your sideboard, you can help prevent deadly enemy plays, counteract certain tactics and otherwise increase your likelihood of success.

What are the rules for sideboarding?

Your sideboard must be exactly fifteen cards, although you don't have to use any specified number of these cards when you do a card swap. You can only swap your cards between matches, and you can't use your sideboard during your first match in a three-game structure. You must swap a sideboard card with a card from your deck; it cannot be added directly. When preparing to face a new opponent after sideboarding, your deck must be reset to its original cards and structure for the first game. All other standard deck rules also apply.

What cards should be in your sideboard?

The exact cards that belong in your sideboard will vary depending on the aims of your deck and the common problems you face. The most advisable course is to create a sideboard over time as you recognize potential flaws or weaknesses in your own tactics. You can also create sideboards based around shutting down specific sorts of techniques, such as those commonly found in sligh, enchantment or artifact decks.

Designing an Outdoor Space for a Pet

Whether you have a deck, a patio or a grass-filled yard there are a lot of considerations when you get a pet. The area should be aesthetically pleasing, but also include several safety features. This can also determine how often you use pet insurance.

Get a stylish fence. How high the fence is really depends on the size of your animal. This could be a classic white picket fence to compliment a cottage-style space. You could also go with a freestanding wood gate that you use to section off corners of the yard.

Let your guests know about your pet. Invest in a "Beware of Dog" sign. This could even be part of a doormat. For a more stylish version, get an engraved plaque instead of a basic paper sign. Make sure that the font is large enough to get attention.

Pick up a dog house that matches your home. This allows you to get a cohesive feeling in your backyard. Choose the same wood finish as your deck. You can also get the same features on your dog house with a wood porch or faux chimney. You won't have to paint or stain resin versions the way you do wood homes.

If your dog lives indoors, you can still give it a spot on the deck. Look for a dog bed with a durable outdoor fabric. There is even outdoor pet furniture made from aluminum. Add an umbrella for extra shade and protection from the elements.

Give the animal easy access to the outside by just installing a dog door. Look for products with security panels for when you are gone; especially if you have a larger pet. A large dog door can be used by humans. Electronic versions will automatically unlock when you attach an electronic key to your pets collar.

Probably Best to Leave the Comic Books Out of the Kids Backpack

Adventure is an important part of life, and there are many ways to seek it out. Perhaps you might explore fantastic worlds in books, movies, television, music, and the like – worlds imagined and given loving life by others. Perhaps you might become an active participant in such worlds through the medium of videogames. Perhaps you might create such worlds yourself through creative mediums, from LEGO and Lincoln Logs to painting and art and writing and all those other outlets for imagination.

Still, the real world offers many wonders of its own and they are arguably more wonderful for being real. Some of the best adventures to have are those exploring this tangible world, the creatures and places of which are there for the observing if you only look. Camp out in your backyard and look for interesting bugs or listen for an owl, then lie back and look at the stars. Make sure to turn out the lights first. You could climb a mountain or trek through a volcano or go hang-gliding from a clifftop or ski through the Alpine snow or scuba-dive to the depths of the ocean and see the wonders therein. All these are as awesome as anything from dreams.

Whatever you do and wherever you go, make sure you're prepared. Adventure is only fun if you make it through to tell the tale afterward. Just as in videogames, it would be foolish to head out into the world without proper equipment and supplies. It's reckless in reality to venture into the wild without making sure your bag is packed. Even for those backyard camping trips, better check the kids backpack. The ingredients for S'Mores do not appear in Nature. Do prepare, though, and do have adventure. Life is too precious to squander in monotony. It overflows with thrilling possibility. Seize those chances. “Carpe diem,” indeed.

How to Develop a Successful iPhone Game

The iPhone brought about a revolution in game developer land. With the ease of access, developers found themselves being able to quickly land themselves in an international market among avid iPhone users that are always looking for the next “cool” game to enjoy. The good thing about the iPhone is that it's easy for young and old developers alike to get into.

The first thing you will need is access to a computer, or even better your own Mac. It is easier to develop programs for the Mac OS if you are working on one. There is no need to get the top of the line either, so for those interested in developing iPhone games, don’t throw away that old Mac book that is on its last leg -- wait until the game you develop on that old Mac book become widely famous first.

The next step should be to visit Apple’s site and download their free development kit. This kit will provide you with all of the tools you need to get started. Next is to get a good grasp on Objective C. Objective C is the main programming tool for any iPhone game or application development. Once you have developed a good understanding of objective C, you should be able to start writing your program. This will require much trial and error, but once you get going it can be a bit addictive. Finally you will need to sign up with the iPhone developer program. When you are a member you can actually test your program on the iPhone platform to ensure that it will work. Once the game is fully developed you can submit it to Apple and wait for an acceptance or rejection. If rejected you can always continue to work on the program and resubmit it.

Scars Of Mirrodin Pre-release

Hi guys!..

I have been really busy lately and I am very happy to spare some time to play in the pre-release party of Scars of Mirrodin.

Decklist will still follow.


Had a decent 3-1 standing so that's 3 additional booster packs so what more can you ask for? heheh yes, the Scars of Mirrodin t-shirt that is given to those who have a 4-0 standings and additional booster pack hehehe.. Anyway, had bad rares but had decent commons and uncommons as bombs that saved me even though I only used 1 rare in my deck.

Highlight: I am happy with a foil Seachrome Coast. ^_^

Cash Advance and the Proposed CFPA Bill

With numerous payment options and loan options readily offered by various lending institutions such as Advance America, Cash Advance and or Ezcorp, just to name a few, it may appear that a financially struggling individual has reliable alternative for his financial hardships. However, an entity called the Consumer Financial Agency also called as CFPA proposed a bill legislation which puts a thirty six interest rate cap on loan options and also restricts some of these beneficial loan alternatives. Because of such regulations, lending institutions' revenue are greatly affected, getting them to earn less than they can potentially earn and this is bad because their existence depends on the amount that they acquire from these interests. Furthermore, not only are they greatly affected but the potential applicant as well since these lending institutions will be forced to increase their percentage to cope up with this increasing business costs restrictions.

Though these cash advances have been modified for each state as of recent, and have implemented these rules, they do not cover everything. Because of this, lending institutions are still able to go around these regulations and are able to continue their operations. So far, these loopholes are yet to be closed but not anytime soon. Furthermore, applicants face the problem of being limited of only getting six instances of loan in a given year. This is a significant drawback because sixty percent of cash advance applications are given to applicants who utilize such options at least in an average of twelve times a year. In addition to this, CFPA also reveals their intent to regulate transactions which can cause more potential damage to the lending industry.