"Pia's Revolution: They will return."

"Pia's Revolution: They will return."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. MD

Pia's Revolution makes me look forward to Aether Revolt and it is because of this specific scenario: With the 3 mana cost red enchantment in play , you cast an Emerging Elder Deepfiend , sacrificing a Metalwork Colossus that you were able to cast for free because of it's "Selective Affinity". You will then ask your opponent if you would let the Metalwork Colossus back into your hand since it landed on your graveyard. So two things will happen , your opponent could say Yes and the Metalwork Colossus comes back to your hand where you can cast it again for free or they could say no and Pia's Revolution will deal 3 damage to him or her. Opponents with tons of life would rather say No rather than face another 10/10 monster on the battlefield. However their ordeal is not yet over because you can still sacrifice 2 artifacts, like a Prophetic Prism to get the Colossus back. Now , for each of those sacrificed artifacts you need to ask if they will also come back to your hand or it's 3 damage for each. No opponent would allow 9 points of damage(including the 3 earlier) unless they have many more life points to spare.

Now assuming that you 2 Foundry Inspectors in play you could cast your Prophetic Prism for free and draw cards in the process. You could say that I would add this to my existing Metalwork Colossus deck the moment I get it. With this in play any board wipe or artifact destruction would mean you could have the chance to get the destroyed artifact or deal more damage.

A more evil combo would be to sacrifice a Scrap Trawler and it would also get you an artifact in the graveyard and return it to your hand. This seems like a great piece for some sort of engine but I can't put my finger on it.

"Heart of Kiran: Planeswalker Powered things begin."

"Heart of Kiran: Planeswalker Powered things begin."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. MD

At first glance the Heart of Kiran looks like an early attacker. It costs just 2 colorless mana like the Smuggler's Copter and it seems like a desirable addition in Aggro decks since it is a 4/4 Flying ,Vigilance creature when it is crewed but on closer inspection it is really much slower in Standard because of it's 3 Crew cost and there are no 1 drop 3 powered creatures at the moment. It is at least viable on turn 3. Where you could attack with it with a Veteran Motorist , Depala or Foundry Inspector Crewing it or if you have Saheeli Rai in play. Simply remove a planeswalker Loyalty counter from Saheeli and you don't even need to tap a creature to crew it.

It seems that Wizards of the cost R&D would be developing new ways in utilizing planeswalker loyalty counters(PLC) and it won't be long before we start spells cast in this manner or other abilities requiring the PLC as an alternate cost which is exciting since it is another avenue of development for our much beloved game. Planeswalkers actually powering creatures and spells. Exciting times.

Sorry about that I tend to go on tangents when I am excited about something. Back to the Heart of Kiran , being a Legendary artifact-Vehicle it will be limited to 2 or 3 copies in a deck since it would really suck to have two on your opening hand as opposed to having 2 Smuggler's copters in it's place. Having to draw it much later on because of it's scarcity in a deck is good because it would shine better in the mid to late game anyway. Probably after you have a Chandra , Fire of Kaladesh in play to power her father's legacy to aid you for a win.

"Consulate Crackdown:Stop Gap "

"Consulate Crackdown:Stop Gap "

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. MD

With all the artifacts running wild in standard like Smuggler's Copter , Aetherwork's Marvel and Metalwork Colossus , Consulate Crackdown seems like a great solution to all of your metal woes. However will this card be able to help you in time? Consider the fact that Aetherwork's Marvel has the consistent activations occurring on turn 4 , the Smugglers copter aggressively attacking and reducing your life before it comes online or the Metalwork Colossus coming out before you cast it. 5 mana seems like a big cost for an enchantment board sweeper that could possibly be reversed by a Naturalize. 

And of course after a board sweep there is a big possibility that artifact decks can recover or not be affected at all that much. The enchantment only targets artifacts. While it means that the Metalwork Colossus won't come out as fast because of all the non-creature artifacts that might be gone , if a player casts an Elder Deep fiend in response to the Consulate Crackdown you'd still have to contend with an angry Eldrazi Octopus. With Smuggler's copter decks all of these creatures crewing it on the early turns are still on the battlefield and could then attack you. With Atherwork's Marvel you just have to hope that it hasn't Cast an Ulamog first. 

Of course Consulate Crackdown may not be as fast or as effective in Standard but it will be really welcome in EDH. I mean all of those rocks and other menacing artifacts take out in one turn. I have a friend who has an Arcum EDH Deck that might be dreading this particular card already.

"Midweek Magic #7:Eldrazi Dishing Out Pain.Me:Taking it."

"Midweek Magic #7:Eldrazi Dishing Out Pain.Me:Taking it."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. MD

It was a battle of pet decks between Janry Dimaano and me. I soon found out how much of an asshole Eldrazi processors can be when they play around your hopes and dreams.

For the rest of Midweek Magic I will always be talking about my two favorite decks at the moment , my Standard Metalwork Colossus and my Modern Mardu Super friends deck. Both have been underdoing some serious tweaking and I am thankful that I could do this on a weekly basis.Like all experiments the results differ with each variable and in magic there are so many variables.

I am also happy that I can play against decks that I had concepts on but never actually got around to build on. Janry's Eldrazi deck was one such deck , employing a Progenitus Relic to exile things from the graveyard and using counters like Remand and Delay to well take care of things before the Eldrazi land on the battlefield.

I had a Master of Feasts Delayed and Exiled on one turn and on the next one it was my Chandra , Torch of Defiance getting the exile treatment.  And despite having some Suspend Counters there I was hoping that these cards would somehow still manage to enter the battlefield and then Janry wont be able to deal with them but I was so wrong.

He then cast Blight Herder sending my exiled cards into my Graveyard and dashing my hopes of getting them back. And he got a 4/5 monster with 3 colorless 1/1 Eldrazi Scions. Oh and I also forgot to mention that he could hard cast a Kozilek , The Great Distortion? which basically meant that we would have a guessing/permission game that goes something like this.

I am casting Sarkhan , Dragon speaker do you have someting costing 5 mana in your hand? Or I am going to kill you with a Sign in Blood do you have a 2 mana cost spell there somewhere? And sadly the answer to both these questions was Yes. The Eldrazi can be such a pain.

"Jang Soobin: Just feeling MV reaction - Exactly just that"

"Jang Soobin: Just feeling MV reaction - Exactly just that"

by:

The Vole

So out of my curiosity I decided to let this MV run and I was treated to the soothing voice of female solo artist Jang Soobin accompanied by some very good trap beats that was good with her voice. 

Her voice seemed to pale in comparison to Hoody or Ahn Jiyoung of Bbolgan4 but it still held my attention for a good 4 minutes because while it was not ground breaking it was still pleasant to hear and we all need more pleasant things in this world.

I am not really sure if they had a small budget for the MV but it was effective in a way. It featured a slim girl with a dyed brown hair and all she literally during the whole video was to touch her hair in various ways.Sometimes combing but most of the time just running her hand through and over her hair as Jang Soobin sang in the background.I wanted to think what kind of person would touch their hair for 4 minutes straight and I can to the answer. Someone who really enjoys touching their hair.

I can imagine the director for this MV shouting. "Now touch your hair from under your neck...Good. Now over the top , Now from the left, ok on the right this time.Ok cut.Someone hand her a comb. Ok Comb away. Comb. Comb. Cut. Someone give her something to tie her hair with.Good Good. Now tie. Not to tight. Tie." 

It must have been so hard.

And with the neat bun the girl made so the song ends. I might try this one sometime. If I ever grow hair that long.

"OH MY GIRL - Public Safety App MV reaction:Effective App , Creepy smiles."

"OH MY GIRL - Public Safety App MV reaction:Effective App , Creepy smiles."

by:

The Vole

Oh my girl has been a very busy girl group for 2016. As if 3 consecutive comebacks with the ensuing promotion tours , A summer concert and various overseas appearances in China , Japan and Taiwan  was not enough they have also busied themselves by recording sound tracks for different Kdramas.

Aside from these accomplishments the girls have been using their popularity as a voice for good taking up causes that promote positive things like taking part in encouraging more people to drink just water as opposed to sugary drinks , an anti-cyber bullying song/campaign , collecting hair for cancer patients and now this latest MV for a safety app that asks people to report hazards that they see on the street so that the government could respond and fix the situation.

The MV features all active 7 members as they reports things like fallen barbed wires , Open manholes , giant potholes and crooked street signs.In the scene where YooA touches the barbed wire to show how sharp it was all I was thinking was: They better be giving her an anti-tetanus shot after this take. Well this was shot a couple of weeks earlier and since YooA was able to shoot that Nene Chicken commercial one can assume that she is safe from lock jaw for a long time.

Sing along as they sing App , app , app which sounds like F , F , F.I have never wanted to report a fallen barbed wire , Open manhole , giant potholes or crooked street signs before in my life but if we had that app here I doubt if the government would respond as fast. I don't know if the response time is fast in SK too but I imagine that it might be much faster. Anyway the girls have got me convinced. So if ever I move to Korea any time soon I would download the app and report something. 

Oh and if you want to see some of the weirdest forced smiles. They start at 2:18 of the MV. The first pair looks like they have been cut by fallen barbed wire way too much and have not had an anti tetanus shot. The pair of boys at 2:22 look way too happy.Probably because they have seen YooA and OMG. I'd smile like that too. 

Well keep up the excellent work girls and may next year bring you that ever elusive first win. Oh my girl rising in 2017!

"Laboum-Winter Story MV reaction: Winter Queens."

"Laboum-Winter Story MV reaction: Winter Queens."

by:

The Vole

Laboum has always been the most visually appealing girl group for me.All 6 are appealing(Even Soyeon). Yes even though I am a Miracle through and through I must admit that not everyone is pretty in my favorite group. Laboum just has some of the best visuals period. I was wondering when they would come back and they became another reason to look happy this christmas when they came out with remake of an UN's The Story of a star from 9 years ago. Winter story starts off like it is going to be something the Lovelyz would sing but gave way to that Laboum beat and sound that I have missed.All charms from these girls.

I probably have a couple of reasons for watching this MV and they are the following:

1) Solbin - She looks like a princess through and through and it is no secret why she is the most popular in the group.

2) Hae-in singing Lalala...Shooting star , my shining star , my shining star....Lalala...yup.That sultry somewhat cute nasal voice of Hae-in is an acquired taste but it really does a number on me so that hook alone made me stay.

3) Yulhee rapping Oh my God , Oh my Love. I just missed her doing her cute raps. And this one just has me happily listening along.

4) Everyone just looks so damn good(including Soyeon). I mention Soyeon because she looked a lot different but her braided hair in the video made her look a lot softer.

5) Dolls. I first liked them in the What about you MV and this is probably the closest that they have been to looking like dolls again which is a look that suits them well. The white dresses just make them stand out more. 

So to close things off I must say that the investment in removing arm pit hair is paying off.Oh and this MV must have caused a lot because of all the pink leaves being scattered around and dropped in front of the cameras. Kidding aside Laboum is a welcome addition to the sounds of this holiday season and here is to more of these girls in 2017.

"Dipsy"

"Dipsy"

by:

VFDeleonJr.MD

Me: Umiinom po ba kayo ng alak?

Patient: Paminsan minsan na lang po. Kasi ngayon kapag nakadalawang bote ng beer po ako eh nagiging Dipsy po ako.

Me: Ah Dipsy...(Minsan po ba nagiging Lala at Lulu din kayo?)

"Finding the Maidens"

"Finding the Maidens"

by:

VFDeleonJr.MD

It was the 3rd time this week that he had been called in for this particular type of case. He didn't even need to look at the body of the young girl who seemed to be sleeping on the sidewalk. He knew that there would be a big gaping hole in the middle of her chest but there would be no blood or gore. Just a simple circular area where her heart should have been will be gone.

All over Seoul young women from the ages of 13 to 22 have been dropping like flies. Normally a passersby would find these girls appearing as if in a deep sleep. It bothered him that there seemed to be no violence involved in their deaths. Some of them even had satisfied looks. The kits did not show any sexual contact prior to their deaths but it was unsettling how they smiled with that void in the middle of their torsos. The coroner has nothing to report either. Nothing out of the ordinary except for the missing organs that didn't even look harvested by any blade that they tested. A dozen or so deaths in the last couple of days.

Detective Kim rubbed his tired eyes and sighed. Somebody must have seen these killings.It reminded him of a story a monk told him once. Maidens die and Dragons rise. A lot of maidens but no dragons though and he shrugged his shoulders at this silly notion. Korea had its share of serial killers but these cases were done through very sophisticated means. A laser that cuts through perhaps? but even that would leave certain burn marks.

"Detective. We were able to contact the girls parents. Who ever did this never bothered with her phone or her wallet or the expensive jewelry she had on her." This was his partner  , Woon. Detective Kim would have wanted to say that he was getting too old for this but he already knew that. He would prepare what to say to 12 pairs of parents. It never got easier as he felt like he personally failed the girls. There has to be a connection that he was not seeing at this time. 

"Double check the scene and call me later. I have to do some more research on this."

And by research he meant he wanted to just go away and think of what he was missing. He would go through the earlier files later but for now he had to talk to his old friend V who had experience with weird things like this.

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Editor's Note: I do not own any of the pictures that appear on this blog.

"Solhun's Invitation"

"Solhun's Invitation"

by:

VFDeleonJr.

"Someone feels all alone here in the Dragonvault.A little company would be good she said."

V lazily read the text and looked at the time stamp. It was sent 5 minutes ago. The big digital clock he kept on his night stand declared that it was already 2am. What in the world is Solhun doing in that bar at this ungodly hour.Normally he would rather sleep but this was Solhun and despite being so indirect at times she efficiently draws enough attention to herself.

He remembered her being asked by a host once if she thought of herself as beautiful in which she promptly replied in that indirect Solhun way. "I think the fans think I am beautiful and that is enough for me."

Funny how she could call and redirect attention just like that. He decided to call.

"Anyeoung!!! V where are you?" Solhun seemed to be shouting over the loud in house music of the dragon Vault.

"I'm home!!! I just woke up!!!" V found it absurd that he was shouting to be heard when as a matter of fact he knew that the woman on the other line could perfectly hear him.

"Sorry about that. Just another human habit that I can't shake off." he said to her. He heard the laughter on the other side of the line. 

"You and your seemingly human habits. Someone loves that about you.So are you joining us here?"

"We? I thought you said you were alone?"

"Well , I think what I said was that someone felt alone. A few of our members are here since we go on break tomorrow and tonight they can forget about diets. Me , I sometimes feel like a certain someone is ignoring me."

"I have no idea who you are talking about. I could probably go given the proper motivation."

"Really? When someone indirectly asks you to be around her and you need to have some other motivation?"

"Well..." V began chuckling.

"Someone swears to sit on you if you don't come here quickly."

"Is it that spoiled Earth Dragon threatening me again?"

"It's enough that you think that way. I don't think she is spoiled. She is just demanding the company."

"Let me get grab something to wear. I just cant show up in a pair of boxers there can I?"

"The Earth Dragon thinks that's fine."

"That I go in just my underwear?"

"Well , I think she might mean being decently dressed but you might end up in just those same underwear anyway. So she was thinking why bother?"

"That Earth Dragon feels so scandalous at times. She better be careful her human fans might not see her with a male and she might lose them."

"I am sure she doesn't care about that. She just wants you here."

"Far be it from me to disappoint."

"She approves.Now get going."

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Editor's Note: I do not own the picture that appears on this blog.

"Yuua:Pretend"

"Yuua:Pretend"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. MD

It was another dawn. Sometimes he would pretend that things could be normal between him and her. He would pretend that she would still be there when he woke up , smiling at him and then urging him to buy something sinfully good for breakfast. She was always tired , always hungry , always longing for him. She told him once that if she had met him just a little sooner then she would not have signed that 7 year contract. That she would have been happy going back to school and probably seeing more of him. He loved the sentiment but he knew that she also loved what she was doing and even if he asked she would not break any contracts for him. For today he would pretend a little further.

He would pretend that he wasn't really missing her all that much. Not her smile ,not her eyes , not the quirky way her dimples would show up when she frowned. He would sit here and pretend that there was no longing welling up inside him to just run to where she was and just sit there to be around her. 

He would pretend that she was singing that song to him. Come Closer.Come Closer. He would let it echo until all he hears are those words. He would pretend that the world would fade and only those words would remain. 

He wondered when now of all days that he would feel this way. They have been seeing each other for months but this is the first time that he has felt such a gripping fear. He would pretend that it did not bother him at all. That he was content in just seeing her this way. This little secret that they kept from the world. That it did not bother him that the world would claim her as their beautiful idol but in here , with him she was the most human that she could be.

He wished that he did not need to pretend. He wished that she was here. And so she was.

"You waited for me long?" Yuua said she she entered the door with tonight's dinner.

"Nah. I was too busy playing pretend."

Yuua gave him a weird look."You really say the weirdest things."

"Yeah" He breathed a grateful sigh and helped her set up the food.

"V's Interview"

"V's Interview"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. MD

V straightened his tie nervously.The 5th time he has done so this hour. The coffee in front of him was growing cold as he checked his watch by pulling on the long sleeves of the tight dark blue suit he was wearing. He ran a hand over his now bald head and thought how people who knew him before would find him without his long hair.

The booth he had chosen in the diner was situated at the back. He was not in the mood to talk to anyone or was interested in having someone recognize him even without the long hair that they might recognize him by. This was a new start for him. An interview as a body guard for a new company. 

He straightened his tie and checked his watch. 7:55am. Just enough time to get out of this diner and walk towards the company doors. He was about to stand up when she jumped into the booth along with a tray of food.

"Oh Hi. I hope you don't mind me joining you.All the other booths were occupied." Her mischievous eyes looked at him, as her short cut bangs framed her doll like face.

Weirdly enough he found he was at a loss for words and gave a grunt that sounded like he had some sort of indigestion as an answer toward the attractive Korean who had decided to invade his privacy. He found that he could not stand even if he wanted to.

The girl was still staring at him and he was staring at her feeling a bit impolite. The girl offered her hand.

"I'm YuuA." she smiled.

"I'm..." he started to say.

"Applying for the newly opened body guard post for Oh my dolls." she finished for him.

"I was going to say V  which is my name but that answer is right too.What gave me away?"

"Muscular build? Good manners. Aura of authority. Air of dependability. You look like you could take out half this diner in a fist fight and not break a sweat."

"I wouldn't say I was that good."

"Well , we are about to find out.Consider this your interview."

V look confused for a second until YuuA started shouting.

"Help! Help! This man is harassing me." And the whole diner exploded with dozens of men running toward V in an attempt to save the distressed girl."

V bowed his head and shook it. This is going to be a tiring day , he thought as he punched the first man who got near him.

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The diner was filled with groaning men. Some calling for their mothers and some nursing broken bones in several places. V turned around to YuuA. "Did I pass?"

YuuA sipped the last of her Iced tea and answered. "I guess you will do." And she walked out of the Diner and with a single finger beckoned V to follow.

V fixed his tie for the 6th time and followed.

"Hoody feat. Jinbo - By your side MV reaction: On the afterlife side"

"Hoody feat. Jinbo - By your side MV reaction: On the afterlife side"

by:

The Vole

Hoody is probably what you would call the RnB princess of AOMG. The CEO Jay Park has lots of queens but there will always be one princess. Hoody reminds of Ashanti during that time in the early 2000's when rappers were lining up to have her in their songs to do vocals but then again the similarities just end there.Because Hoody is still in the here and now.

This song would make you want to dance and when I first heard it the first image that popped in my head was that of blonde pigtailed roller skating girls that were in skating rink dancing to the beat as the skated round and round. The song is catchy and upbeat and makes you want to put on a pair of roller blades for some reason.

The MV on the other side speaks of darker things. Right off the bath you hear the sound of flames as a Jeep remains burning in the middle of dusty road. All the while panning to Hoody still wearing long sleeve knitted sweater and a scarf. The dead must really be cold.And you wonder if Hoody made it alive somehow or she is just a ghost relieving this experience.

The video then shifts to Hoody with 3 other people , one of which acts as her boyfriend  , a person who I assume is Jinbo who wants to be her boyfriend judging by the way he keeps on stealing glances and that look that he wants to smash face with her so badly.(Effective acting). And a female friend who is oblivious to the fact that they will all die at the end of the video.

This has some drone shots of the group sort of driving to some Marsh Flats , sort of not muddy and solid in some parts(where they were running around) and some parts that would probably swallow you whole if you are not careful where you are running to. And my imaginations just goes to the part of Lord of the Rings where Gollum is leading Sam and Frodo to some of the same Marsh Flats and Ghosts stare at the from the water. Only these shots are in the daytime and the drone captures the light brown reeds in great perfection. 

Around 2 minutes into the MV the group now decides to camp out in the same marsh flats and I was thinking why camp out there near a swamp that probably has gigantic mosquitos? And with what I have been reading the mosquitoes in Korea are huge. Oh well. So the MV turns a little word when Hoody looks at her companions and blood comes running down their faces. Oblivious Female friend leads them all into some strange dancing.Strange because you don't see any music equipment , not even a phone for music so they are just dancing like bloody fools to nothing. All the time blood is on everyone's faces.Except for Hoody. She might have a thing against blood.I'm not sure.

So then finally we see that Mr. Jinbo and his constant looking at Hoody and his boyfriend is the reason why everyone is dead.He totally missed that truck that came at them at fullspeed from some turn in the middle of nowhere. And for some reason Hoody and said BF hold hands in the afterlife and Jinbo is still dead in the jeep. 

Hmmmmm. I wonder why that is? And oblivious female friend is gone.Not even a body.Hmmm.

My favorite part of the MV is when a too obviously dead Jinbo and Hoody BF start mouthing "Shake it. Shake it." Check it out. Lots of dead fun times.

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Editor's Notes: I do not own any of the pictures in this blog post.

"5 things to do when you are bored."

"5 things to do when you are bored."

by:

Alessandria Venice R. De leon

1) Imagine totally ridiculous scenarios and maybe write or draw them out. 

Sometimes I even imagine myself as the most popular girl in the school! In your own mind anything can happen! I even imagine my life anime -style! Your mind is a power thing , so why not use it? You never know , it might happen later on!

2) Write

This is my most favorite thing to do when I am bored! It's actually what I am doing right now! Writing is great because it not only makes you smarter , it also gives you a chance to get your creative juices flowing! Most of the time I'm bored so I write a lot.

Start Counting....

3) Count the tiles on your bathroom floor.

This is what humans do , when they've been left unentertained for too long.They start counting bathroom tiles. No questions asked.

4) Read

Reading is great because it not only gives you a lot of information it also gives you inspiration and creativity for writing.

5) If you are really really desperate...Make 5 things to do when you're bored!

Just like what I am doing right now! And thus , that is why there are so many lists for 5 things or 10 things to do when you're bored!

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Editor's Note:

I watched her come up with this list in less than 5 minutes. I think she mentioned number 3 to me more than once before and please don't mind all the apostrophe's , if you have spent just a little time with Aven you would appreciate that that is how she really talks in real life.

"Boompile:To Trash or not to Trash"

"Boompile: To Trash or not to Trash"

 by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

I love cards that get a reaction out of people. I love it when people pick up a card see what it does and then give off a long whistle as to how this card is just going to ruin someone's day. 

Boompile is one of those cards. It is a 4 to cast artifact that could save you when you are down on your luck. Or it could not. It has a certain unpredictability to it that would probably make some players avoid it like the plague and this is exactly why I love this card.

Now here is what happen. You tap it the moment it comes in and you flip a coin. It has a 50/50 chance of working or like some fireworks during New Years eve end up as a big expensive dud in the middle of the road. 

So you see a goblin trying to light a fuse in the art right? Well , this could either blow up all non-land permanents. Or it might not. I love looking at other players face when I tap this and flip the coin. The sense of anticipation if they will be restarting over again or that sense of relief when the goblin it seems lights the wrong fuse. And nothing happens.

One game where this blows up in every one's face will be enough for it to garner serious attention. So your opponent's might as well be asking if they should trash this or not the next time they see it. Now let's light a fuse and see how it ends.

"Duelist's Heritage: Finishers Touch"

"Duelist's Heritage: Finishers Touch"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

How often have you seen this scenario in an EDH game?:

A player attacks an opponent and miscalculates and that same opponent lives another turn to exact a punishing blow that eliminates his previous attacker.

Probably more than once I would bet. EDH games can be very punishing to those who do not vanquish their enemies when they are supposed to. Normally the one opponent players are trying to eliminate are the strongest or deemed the biggest threat so it makes sense that a concerted effort is done to aid in this endeavor. 

Now if there was only a way that could help you deal more damage:

Not that card. Although that card helps but I want something more modern.

There you go. Now when a player attacks one of your mutual threats you could give one of his or her attacking creatures double strike. Don't forget to give a knowing wink and motion ever so subtle at the 3 mana enchantment that so happens to be on your side of the battlefield.

Oh and if it is your turn to eliminate that former ally the same enchantment could aid you as well.A political card as well as a possible finisher.Now give that wink and hopefully you are not the threat that everyone is going to attack.

"Magus of the Will: Inflicting Torment"

"Magus of the Will: Inflicting Torment"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. MD

Torment. Just one look at this guy and you know that what he represents is Torment. I meant his mask of course that looks like a Theros Zombie Mask but the odd thing is that this is merely a Human Wizard so it might not be from that plane.

For a creature that is 3/3 and cost 3 mana he can be an early fatty bringing in pain but where he truly shines is in the end games when you get to exploit a resource that is normally within your reach.Your Graveyard. (Unless you use Dredge, Delve or Flashback or Have a Sedraxis.)

How convenient that you could exile the Magus of the Will for 3 mana and until end of turn you may play cards from your graveyard. You need to pay their mana costs but heck this makes all of your spells available to you.

If you are a reanimator and no longer have a reanimation spell in hand but have a full graveyard after a board sweep then you could cast an Animate dead from your full graveyard to get back a nasty creature on your side of the board. Sheoldred seems to be a fan favorite or maybe a Bladewing the Risen , Returning Rorix Bladewing , Returning a Bladewings thrall in tow and oh...a prized Amalgam. (Assuming you are playing Grixis colors or a Whiteless Commander deck like Yidris.)

Since this is an ability that can be played at any time. Blue Black players it they need to could have access to a crucial Counter spell that would otherwise be beyond reach. 

Grixis players could play a discarded Nicol Bolas planeswalker card in the GY. Play a land if they have not done so. Have access to artifacts , card drawers , you name it.

And the only draw back is that if a card would be put in a graveyard this turn it is exiled instead. Such a small price if you are going for the kill on this turn right? 

"Divergent Transformations:Tokens to Kings"

"Divergent Transformations:Tokens to Kings"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. MD

I used to have a Proteus Staff deck that consistently churned out a Darksteel Colossus(Blightsteel wasn't around yet) in exchange for sacrificing a 0/1 Pest token. For the cost of 3 mana the conversion of a lowly token to a massive beater is worth it won't you say? 

Divergent Transformations from the new Commander 2016 gives you that same option and at Instant speed too. It is part of the Undaunted spell cycle and it thrives on the fact that you have to kill. It actually costs 1 colorless mana less for each opponent. Making this a possible 4 to cast spell if you have 3 opponents. 

So what happens is that you exile 2 target creatures , it's controller reveals the top of his or her library until they reveal a creature card and put it directly into the battlefield. 2 creatures that come from tokens to become kings. Control decks that feature big creatures would welcome this spell especially the Temur or Jeskai colored decks. In the Yidris decks where he deals damage and the next spell you cast imagine all sorts of card advantage that this could carry. 

"Orzhov Advokist: Sign the Deal."

"Orzhov Advokist: Sign the Deal."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

"The Orzhov care not for repentance , only repayment."

The Orzhov syndicate are quite a ruthless bunch even known to extract payment from members who are dead. So what makes you think that you will be exempt from paying? And yet there are times that you would take the deals they are offering one way or another.

Take the case ofthe Orzhov Advokist who is really just a tough 1/4 creature that could serve as a wall for 3 mana in the case that an opponent does not take her offered deal.

So what is the deal? At the beginning of your upkeep each player is given a choice of putting 2 +1/+1 counters on a creature he or she controls. This is power that the Orzhov could grant but by signing this piece of parchment what do the Orzhov get? Why your friendship of course. And the continued existence of the player who controls the Orzhov Advokist.

If a player chooses to make a creature he or she controls stronger they in turn would turn a blind eye to the Orzhov Advokist's controller. Not touching them until the next turn , oh and if they also have a contracted Planeswalker , that planeswalker is safe too.

So what happens when a player does not take the deal? Well , they miss the chance to be stronger especially if this is in the earlier parts of the game where everyone is in a race to have a board presence. And even if all of your opponents choose the deal  , Orzhov players always have access to enough mass removal to negate those threats in the latter parts of the game. (Insert Parting Thoughts here.)

So let the Orzhov Advokist make the deal for you. You won't regret it. Make your opponents sign the deal.

"Evolutionary Escalation: A Counter Promise."

"Evolutionary Escalation: A Counter Promise."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. MD

One of the earliest problems that I faced when I started playing EDH was the fact that I chose a commander who always wanted to smash face and I built a deck around him/her/it that reflected this nature. I spent a lot of time making the attacks strong instead of talking to the people around the table and when I realized that I was always assessed as an early threat and also taken out early I tried to sweet talk my way into alliances but I noticed that I did not have any cards that could benefit my opponents and so in the end I always get taken out via the gangbang method. 3 players to one.

Of course I have developed my Simic and Dimir color themed decks so that I have a little bit of control and things to benefit those around me in multiplayer EDH but I am always on the look out for cards that could help Skullbriar and my favorite deck have something to offer.

So I was happy when I saw Evolutionary Escalation since it was in the Golgari colors. The 2 mana costing enchantment still is in theme to most of my creature based aggro decks since at the beginning of my upkeep I get to put three +1/+1 counters on a target creature I control.

Yet it offers a political tool especially to the other guys on the table who needs a bigger creature or who needs to off another player who is the bigger threat. Giving three +1/+1 counters to a target creature that your opponent controls can go a big way in my survival in the political side of EDH and maybe have a chance of winning in the end games. 

So finally one more piece to help me. And in an ever evolving EDH environment more cards are always welcome.

"Treacherous Terrain: Land Punishment"

"Treacherous Terrain: Land Punishment"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

EDH games could last a long time.If you play with one or two Control or Police type players on the table then, EDH games last for a loooooong , looooong , loooong , looooong , loooong time. You see the point the right?

The worse part about long EDH games is that control players have to have all their schemes in full effect the longer the games go and normally aggro decks would have a hard time dealing damage or even winning the longer you have a control player on the battlefield.

You have probably thought about this as your creatures are wiped out after wave after wave of mass removal from players who do not like the idea of dying by being trampled on by dirty beast paws. And in this sea of creature less despair you probably turned inward and then began to look at things that 

were there and all you saw were lands.Lands and lots of it. And with a sigh you scoop up your Red/Green or Jund aggro deck because it was pointless to go in if you could not exploit all those lands your opponents control somehow.

And then there was this card.

Treacherous Terrain is one very dangerous card in the later stages of your EDH game especially if your opponents are running low on life points if you have managed to dent them a bit in the early turns. The 8 mana maybe daunting to look at if you draw this on your opening hand but I must commend Wizards of the coast for giving it a basic land cycling. Meaning that if you get this early you could just use it to fix your mana base first and when you are ready to use it again you play cards like Eternal Witness to put it back to your hand or give it Flashback so you could cast it from the graveyard itself.

So now people would be very wary if you smile and start looking hungrily at all those lands they have in play. To add to that effect start counting the lands loudly. Now watch and let it sink in for a moment. Watch everyone who plays control hesitate to tap out to play an Overloaded Cyclonic Rift.Enjoy. I know I will.

"Jefferson Boral: When another Comedy Act is summoned to heaven."

"Jefferson Boral: When another Comedy Act is summoned to heaven."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. MD

In this life I have often found that the funny one's always get taken first. Heaven must have need for comedians more than any kind of person. They are probably rolling in laughter up there but I guess they probably need a new act once in awhile. And so that is what I want to think of when I lost one of my friends , Jefferson Boral. 

Last year our mothers died almost a week a part and so I found myself attending his mom's wake after coming from my own mother's wake. I found a kindred spirit in Jeff who was also going through the same loss as I was at the time and even though we promised to bond more over a cup of coffee because of our own schedules we were not able to.

When we saw each other a few weeks back in the Mercury Drugstore near Happy Site I even recommended youtuber Mike Falzone to Jeff because the guy made really funny Batman impersonations that I am sure he would like. And again we promised that we would one day sit down and talk and just reminisce and laugh about our own predicaments in life. Sadly that was the last time that I was able to talk to him. And I am again made aware that life is really fleeting. You might be talking to someone now and then tomorrow they are gone.

Jeff was too young to be taken but who am I to question what life has in store for all of us. I just hope that where Jeff is now he is reunited with his mom . Laughing at a shared joke. No longer lonely. No longer alone. Maybe he isn't the punchlines in his own jokes anymore and he could make fun of angels and such.I would.

My friend. I will miss the shared laughter we had. The smart , witty jokes that you posted and that almost book that you published. There are still many things that could have been brought to a better end but this is it. For now.

I hope you are coming up with new jokes up there. The man upstairs needs a lot of laughter after seeing everything that is going on around here.

"Midweek Magic #6: Planeswalker Goal/ Diabolic Tutor Buddies"

"Midweek Magic #6: Planeswalker Goal/ Diabolic Tutor Buddies"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. MD

If you are a player like me , the type who cannot go to weekly tournaments and has a very tight schedule. A schedule so tight that playtime needs to fit into a specific hour of the night or day. And like me, you might have acquired cards that you have just been dying to play but are unable to do so. Or worse yet you dream of finally being able to use a Planeswalker and push it to it's ultimate ability. I know that for some Magic players it had become a very common occurrence to just be able to cast planeswalkers and bring them to their ultimate power.

For me though. It makes me so happy that I have been fated to meet players who allow me to play and enjoy my decks to the fullest. It started with the Mardu deck that I player in GP Manila 2015. Admittedly the deck was half baked due to unforeseen circumstances at that time. It had 3 Sorin , Solemn Visitor's and a lone Elspeth, Sun's Champion and Sarkhan, The Dragonspeaker that I both got from packs. When I started playing with the deck again the planeswalkers just seemed to be drawn to it. Ugin, The Spirit dragon got in the act , I found my Karn, Liberated. Ajani Vengeant showed it's face along with Liliana of the Veil( a card that came from a Fatpack my wife both for me!) and my PR Liliana Heretical Healer.

To top it off I managed to pull a Chandra , Torch of Defiance that also fits the Mardu colors. With her in the mix I was able to play one of those things that I always wanted to play. I was able to pair her with Liliana and reenact the art on the Kaladesh version of Diabolic tutor. Granted my Mardu deck now feels like an EDH deck with random planeswalkers popping in and I have to adjust to whoever comes out first. I find that unpredictability exciting.I do not win a 100% of my games since I have really high level players against me. I do not mind in the least. Sometimes the effort that they show to beat the deck is enough. Most of the time just being able to cast a planeswalker that has been languishing in some protected box in my house is enough for me. This deck reminds me of the history that has stretched on for decades and I look forward to playing with it more.

I am thankful for being able to play every week and I keep on wondering who I will draw from my library next. Gideon Jura perhaps.Who knows right? I can't wait. 

"Ravos, Soultender:All in the abs."

"Ravos, Soultender:All in the abs."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

While it is no secret that chicks dig a guy with abs. They probably adore Ravos for the same reason and they keep coming back...even from the graveyard.

Now that I have that intro out of the way the 5 mana costing Orzhov colored Ravos may not look much in the way of stats at 2/2. 5 mana for 2 seems like an overpriced weenie but when you realize that Ravos, Soultender is basically a commander that makes all of your creatures stronger you won't really mind him posing like that on your side of the battlefield all day.

Oh and not to mention that at the beginning of your upkeep you net another card from your graveyard that can be considered as card advantage. Navigating through the fact that you could normally just draw one card. And you could even choose which to return. Who knows you might go with Karmic Guide which you can then cast to get a  White Titan and maybe get a land or any other permanent that costs 3 mana or less back too, a Liliana of the Veil perhaps? But hey don't take my word for it unless you actually are able to do it.

Ravos, Soultender also has flying so when you really need him to deal damage all you need to look out for are creatures with Flying or Reach. Don't spot any of those?That is an automatic -2 life for a player or a planeswalker. Ilista mo na as my friend once said.

Well, this is probably the 7th article I have written for today so I will end here. Thanks for your support and keep on reading.

"Yaheeni's Expertise: Sweep and Treat."

"Yaheeni's Expertise: Sweep and Treat."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

"You make supsup their life force and like use that life force to cast something for free." , Is what Kris Aquino would say if she was ever pressed into explaining what Yaheeni's expertise does to a magic player. If she ever played magic.

Hopefully not.

So the holidays are here and here also be the spoilers. Yaheeni's expertise is a 4 to cast sorcery that is both a board sweeper and a treat since it does allow you to cast a card from your hand for as long that it cost 3 mana or less. For Free! Talk about the hurts. You not only probably wipe the board of weenies or fatties but you get to cast creatures or spells that benefit you in the process. 

Having been the victim of a mono red deck that featured Boggart Ram gang's and Keldon Marauders in one of my midweek games.(Salamat Noel sa paalala na kailangan ko talaga ng early board sweep).I am looking forward to adding this to my current Metalwork Colossus deck probably replacing Incendiary Sabotage as the main board sweeper since it doesn't even require an artifact sacrifice.Making me switch to Dimir colors instead of  Izzet one's. 

In my current Metalwork Colossus deck I can see this casting Glint-Nest Cranes , Prophetic Prisms , Foundry Inspectors , Metalspinner’s Puzzle knots  and Cultivator’s Caravans which is more than half of the cards in the deck. Talk about adding value to an already strong deck. I am sure the Metalwork Colossus in play won't even feel the -3/-3 when you take out all of your opponent's blockers.

So I would take 3 please. In Standard where decks take a lot more time to develop I would have a chance to pull off tricks but not so in my playgroup who seem to be getting faster and faster with Zombies , Rats and Goblins.

I do hope Yaheeni's Expertise would serve me well.I also hope that this card is for real.It might be too early but I want it to be true.(And as of this posting. It is true. Yey!)

"Loco feat. Crush - Still: A Haunting , Lingering feeling"

"Loco feat. Crush - Still: A Haunting , Lingering feeling"

by:

The Vole

I wasn't really planning on writing any reaction to this MV since Loco could just be seen rapping in different areas of an empty auditorium reminscing memories about his performances. About fans who were there in the beginning and have disappeared. About feelings that lingered like that of a hot summer day.About a smile that he still wished he could see.

There was a cut in the MV of Loco starting out and winning a show and a lady who since I have no other idea looked like his mom. This is actually a sad , personal song that conveys feelings of loss. 

If I have not seen the english subs this was oddly enough a song that you would find yourself swaying to because of its almost hypnotic beats. This also features a jangly guitar loop that stays as it's motive.

No over the top fast raps just a simple technique that holds you to listen to the very end. Crush might also be a factor in this and I do like how his voice lends a mellow tone to the entire song. And when the beats die down you are left with the guitar loops and that lingering feeling of earnest loss.

"Magic life:The Endgame handshake"

"Magic life:The Endgame handshake"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

A handshake is something that humans do to greet each other , agree on something or even to conclude a social encounter.

Magic games are just that ,social encounters that happen to all forms of players , of every age , race , economic standing or gender identity.Some players care about the impression that they make as they reach out a hand and give a firm handshake or in the case of some other players who may have varied reasons from setting an intimidating "You are my opponent stance" or who are just too damn shy to socially reach out to another person even if that touch is acceptable do not extend the same hand.

It is quite ok either way since what we want is to play anyway and enjoy that interaction more. 

The endgame handshake is something that I noticed that varies quite a lot since this can be offered to bridge peace when one particular match becomes heated due to differences of opinions on interpreting rules and judges have been called in to intervene. 

Players probably don't expect a handshake when they crushingly defeat someone. My friend who loves to "Overkill" opponents is the least in my group to receive endgame handshakes but receives the most "overkill" insults from our past playgroup which he shrugs off and seems to enjoy.

Personally I enjoy a handshake that is offered when I lose(and that is a lot) or when I win(by some miracle). In Magic most of your opponents are passionate people who would probably look over your deck and suggest cards or plays that would benefit you. You maybe opponents during the tournament but afterwards you often make fun of each other after the matches. Most of the people who shook my hand are people that I still talk to today. Maybe because they gave a good impression , maybe because they signalled that they were good sports when they lost or gracious when they so clearly owned my deck. 

Endgame handshakes are as important as your first greeting. Too light and it would seem that you are angry and being passive aggressive about it, too tight and it seems you are really , really angry and are being really overt about it. So give that goldilocks firm handshake. Something that is just right.

If you are reading this chances are we shook hands before. Keep it up. 

So how do you greet your opponents before games? Do you give an endgame handshake? Do you wash your hands first? I'm not telling.

"If I had Dr. Strange Powers.."

"If I had Dr. Strange Powers.."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

After watching the wonderful Dr. Strange adaptation. Laughing at the jokes , enjoying the visuals and wondering if Hannibal would eat Dr. Strange(and being disappointed in that) I got to wondering if I had the ability to do that time looping trick that Dr. Strange did to Dormammu(still can't pronounce this name without thinking of an old woman who gives out good motherly advise especially about cooking somehow).

If I could do that trick I would have probably used it on the doc who was assigned to give us the bad news or good news that we didn't the pass the Comprehensive Exams in Medical school. Yeah! I would go. "Dr. So and So I have come to bargain."

Dr. So and So would say , you still fail.

Then you are my prisoner.

Then you shall know pain.

Pain is like a long lost friend.

You still fail.

"Dr. So and So I have come to bargain....

You still fail...

Probably after doing this for a couple of hundred of times. I would just take the comprehensive exam and pass it to shut Dr. So and So from saying that I still fail.

I don't think that's how it would have ended but hey Dr. Stranges ability would be wasted on me I guess.

"Sleeping: Kalabit necessities"

"Sleeping: Kalabit necessities"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. MD

I currently lecture groups of Seafarers during their pre-departure orientation seminars to promote wellness and one of the main points that I stress is to maintain proper sleep to promote a healthy lifestyle.

A solid uninterrupted 8 hour sleeping habit seemed highly feasible but a lot in my class seem to complain that they won't be able to do that.

One man in my first class mentioned that , "kinakalabit kasi ako doc , kaya kailangang gumising." This elicited a really strong laugh from that class since they feel like they can all relate. From this you would have the impression that most of my class were keeping sex starved wives at home!

In my next class I mentioned that if "kinalabit kayo eh magpakipot naman kayo ng kaunti." Where one man in the back then countered that "Eh dok , walang magluluto ng sinangag." More laughter and later from the same man in yellow , "Walang magpaplantsa ng uniform pagpasok doc."  My only response to that was , "Mahirap nga yan. Sige wag na tayong matulog."

The class laughed but I drove the point across later that lack of sleep leads to other unhealthy habits like eating more and being unsatisfied that you end up eating more which is only one more reason to sleep.

Funny that as I mentioned sleep I only had 5 hours of it as of that time. Hooowell at least I can say that I am talking from experience when it comes to lack of sleep and actually dream of a day when I can sleep 8 hours straight. I can sleep when the bills are paid.

"Nang Bumangon ang Bumbero"

"Nang Bumangon ang Bumbero"

Ni:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

Bumulagta na ang bumbero sa kakapatay sa mga apoy

hinahabol ang hininiga nakahiga sa mga tupok na kahoy

Nakakapagod nang bumangon , sawa na sa mga argumento

Oo , Oo at Oo ang mga pangaaway mo ang apoy

Di pa naaapula ang isa ay may isa pang uusbong

naguumpisa at natatapos sa mga nakakarinding bulong

Tama saboy ng tubig patay ang isa.Ay may isa pa.

Di matatapos tapos na araw at ang bumbero nagiisa.

Singhot ang usok , puno ng mga galos , ubos ang lakas

tinukod ang mga siko at nagpumilit tumayo para sa bukas

Matutupok lang ang siyang mga tinayo , humiyaw na lang sa pagod.

Isang oras , isang araw , isang linggo. Matatapos din ito.

Nov 4 2016 , Sykes Shaw 500

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Editor's Note: I do not own the picture shown on this post.