I went ahead and took a look at the Flores UWR concoction during his you make the call article, and decided that I wanted to use some creatures that even Sir-Mix-A-Lot would love to protect my Jaces. Having creatures that don’t die to the Jund suite of removal seemed like a great idea, and it allowed me to control my matches through maintaining board parity, instead of relying heavily on the right mix of sub standard countermagic. I took Mike’s advice here though, and then lowered the number of wrath effects main in order to be able to get more out of my shroudy dudes.

Here is the deck list. Kudos to ManaNation for creating mtgurl.com…

http://mtgurl.com/QbZr

I have played a bunch of games with this, and in using the sideboard effectively, have been able to fend off all comers. The idea behind the deck is to create situations where it is impossible for your opponent to generate profitable attacks, and then proceed to Jace them out. The shroud and firewalkers make this easy against Jund, as your counters can be saved for blightning and pulses; the only two spells that matter game one. Game two allows you to adjust your removal and counters to be even more effective. Luminarch Ascension beside Jace allows you to create some very difficult scenarios for your opponent to deal with; do I bolt Jace, or the player? The creatures aren’t getting through anyway, so these choices become more relevant.

My experiences with Chapin’s list opened my eyes to the wonder that is the Perimeter Captain. Whenever I drew the miser’s copy of it after boarding, I felt my blood pressure drop. This guy was so good against early aggro by himself, that I almost maindecked him. In light of the Jund popularity though, the firewalker got the nod. Bringing in the Captains against mono red and other non pulse/terminate decks is amazing. the life gain is a huge boon, and contributes greatly to the creation of the non-profitable combat situations that we are looking for with this deck.

I hope that you enjoy this list as much as I have. Unlike the Master’s build, this one is very forgiving. There is something to be said about being able to +2 Jace, The Mind Sculptor on the first turn that you play it, because the board is otherwise locked out… by turn 4.

Love to see some comments. Feel free to post.

Big Thanks to the Yo! MTG Taps Crew for their continued support and hard work. If you dont listen to their podcast on MTGCAST.COM or iTunes, then you are missing out.

-MrScottyMac

10. Walk and Type – this is for you metropolitan commuters that walk with your face in your device in subways, across streets, or in other largely populated areas. It enables the camera application while you are in the messaging app. It allows you to text and walk while seeing whatever is in front of you. Simple, but effective.

9. iTranslate – this is a simple text translator app which allows you to put in a phrase in one of many different languages, and then select the outgoing one. The free version translates in text only, but can be copied for pasting into email or messages. Paid versions will speak the result in the selected languages.

8. TrafficNet – ever had to shoot across the city and wondered where the construction and/or accidents are? Wonder no more. This app lists them all by your location reading and provides details about lanes and directions. Dont be late!!

7. Trapster - Since before now, you didn’t have the last app I mentioned, when was the last time you WERE late, and were speeding through a town trying to get to your next meeting, and wondering where the cops actually hide in that area? Wonder no more I say. Trapster uses social networking and the web of online users to report on regular and found police hotspots. It also give you plenty of warning to slow down as you approach these areas.

6.iDisk – Free download that accesses your online storage from your MobileMe account. This will allow you to actually send links to the stored content to required individuals, eliminating the need for your cellular backhaul to transmit the actual attachments to and from your storage. Convenient!!

5. Shortener - This simple and free app allows you to paste in any web link, and then using one of 3 different services, shorten the link to a more messaging friendly version (eg. tinyurl) perfect for texters and tweeters

4. Battery Doctor – There are plenty of battery meter apps out there of varying costs, from free to almost 5.00. I suggest this one over all of them, as it will also provide the option to do a conditioning charge on the device once per month. Definite benefit for these non removable batteries.

3. Cardstar - Do you have a George Costanza wallet? you know who you are. this app allows you to take all of the cards that have barcodes on them, and then input the number on the card into the app, which then saves it, and generates the identical barcode for scanning at the store when the time comes. This DOES work. My Shoppers Drug Mart lady nearly flipped her lid when I showed her that my Optimum card scanned from my phone.

2. BC Reader – Many Business Card scanners are out there. This one is the best. Hands down. Great value for the money. I did a huge stack of cards in 1/4 the time it would have taken me to input manually.

1. Dragon Dictation – Hands down number one. This app allows you to tell your phone exactly what to type, and it will. once finished you can then paste into a SMS, or export directly to an email. No training required. Get this before it is no longer FREE!!!

Special Note – Looking for a Nav app? best value for the money right now is GPS Drive. 1.00 app with 25.00 annual. Best value going.

Have fun!!

Pro Tour–San Diego Standard Public Event Top 8 Decklists

Out of all of the Deck Lists that I was able to find this weekend, it wasnt really the lists from the main event that made me interested. Sure, some of them did, but I found that the major archetype, JUND is still very dominant. I then went looking for the side event deck lists, and what I found here was VERY interesting. There seems to be more adoption of WWK in these lists, and as such, seem like they were post worthy, especially since they seem to be mostly at the wayside right now. Congrats to @thezvi on his top placing here. Having played Finest Hour Bant last year for Provincials, this is a deck that I can certainly appreciate. Please see the below takes on old favourites like Grixis control, Jund, UW Control, among others.

Zvi Mowshowitz

1st Place, Standard Public Event at Pro Tour-San Diego

Main Deck60 cards 4  Celestial Colonnade 6  Forest 2  Island 4  Misty Rainforest 1  Plains 1  Sejiri Steppe 3  Stirring Wildwood 2  Sunpetal Grove 4  Verdant Catacombs 27 lands4  Baneslayer Angel 4  Birds of Paradise 4  Knight of the Reliquary 4  Lotus Cobra 4  Noble Hierarch 3  Rafiq of the Many 2  Rampaging Baloths 4  Rhox War Monk 1  Thornling 30 creatures 3  Finest Hour 3 other spellsSideboard 2  Admonition Angel 3  Bant Charm 1  Day of Judgment 2  Jace, the Mind Sculptor 4  Mind Control 3  Negate 15 sideboard cards

Jake Hill

Geoff Fletcher

3rd Place, Standard Public Event at Pro Tour-San Diego

Main Deck63 cards 2  Arid Mesa 1  Celestial Colonnade 5  Forest 2  Island 4  Misty Rainforest 1  Oran-Rief, the Vastwood 3  Plains 2  Sejiri Steppe 1  Stirring Wildwood 3  Verdant Catacombs 24 lands4  Baneslayer Angel 4  Birds of Paradise 4  Dauntless Escort 4  Knight of the Reliquary 4  Lotus Cobra 4  Master of the Wild Hunt 4  Noble Hierarch 3  Rampaging Baloths 4  Rhox War Monk 35 creatures 2  Jace, the Mind Sculptor 2  Vapor Snare 4 other spellsSideboard 3  Celestial Purge 1  Jace, the Mind Sculptor 3  Luminarch Ascension 1  Mind Control 4  Negate 3  World Queller 15 sideboard cards

Andy Edwards

4th Place, Standard Public Event at Pro Tour-San Diego

Main Deck60 cards 4  Dragonskull Summit 3  Forest 3  Mountain 1  Oran-Rief, the Vastwood 3  Raging Ravine 4  Savage Lands 3  Swamp 4  Verdant Catacombs 25 lands2  Abyssal Persecutor 4  Bloodbraid Elf 2  Broodmate Dragon 2  Great Sable Stag 4  Putrid Leech 4  Sprouting Thrinax 18 creatures 2  Bituminous Blast 4  Blightning 4  Lightning Bolt 3  Maelstrom Pulse 4  Terminate 17 other spellsSideboard 3  Anathemancer 2  Basilisk Collar 3  Deathmark 1  Great Sable Stag 3  Jund Charm 1  Maelstrom Pulse 1  Master of the Hunt 1  Mind Rot 15 sideboard cards

Kyle James

5th Place, Standard Public Event at Pro Tour-San Diego

Main Deck60 cards 1  Celestial Colonnade 3  Forest 1  Island 1  Marsh Flats 4  Misty Rainforest 1  Plains 3  Seaside Citadel 1  Sejiri Steppe 3  Stirring Wildwood 4  Sunpetal Grove 2  Terramorphic Expanse 24 lands4  Baneslayer Angel 1  Birds of Paradise 4  Emeria Angel 4  Knight of the Reliquary 4  Noble Hierarch 4  Rhox War Monk 2  Steward of Valeron 3  Stoneforge Mystic 26 creatures 1  Basilisk Collar 1  Behemoth Sledge 2  Brave the Elements 4  Path to Exile 1  Sigil of Distinction 1  Unknown Card 10 other spellsSideboard 1  Borderland Ranger 3  Celestial Purge 2  Flashfreeze 3  Great Sable Stag 4  Kor Firewalker 2  Mind Control 15 sideboard cards

Brian Harrington

6th Place, Standard Public Event at Pro Tour-San Diego

Main Deck60 cards 1  Creeping Tar Pit 4  Crumbling Necropolis 4  Dragonskull Summit 4  Drowned Catacomb 2  Halimar Depths 2  Island 2  Mountain 4  Scalding Tarn 3  Swamp 26 lands4  Calcite Snapper 2  Sphinx of Jwar Isle 6 creatures 1  Burst Lightning 3  Cruel Ultimatum 2  Double Negative 3  Essence Scatter 2  Jace, the Mind Sculptor 4  Lightning Bolt 2  Negate 3  Ponder 3  Terminate 3  Treasure Hunt 2  Unknown Cards 28 other spellsSideboard 2  Duress 4  Flashfreeze 3  Malakir Bloodwitch 2  Swerve 4  Vampire Nighthawk 15 sideboard cards

Joe Gabbard

7th Place, Standard Public Event at Pro Tour-San Diego

Main Deck60 cards 18  Forest 2  Khalni Garden 4  Oran-Rief, the Vastwood 24 lands4  Birds of Paradise 4  Elvish Visionary 3  Leatherback Baloth 4  Lotus Cobra 2  Omnath, Locus of Mana 3  Wolfbriar Elemental 20 creatures 3  Bestial Menace 3  Explore 4  Garruk Wildspeaker 4  Gigantiform 2  Overrun 16 other spellsSideboard 4  Fog 4  River Boa 4  Slingbow Trap 3  Vines of Vastwood 15 sideboard cards

Leviticus McNeese

8th Place, Standard Public Event at Pro Tour-San Diego

Main Deck60 cards 4  Arid Mesa 14  Mountain 4  Scalding Tarn 2  Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle 24 lands 0 creatures 1  Banefire 4  Burst Lightning 2  Comet Storm 4  Earthquake 3  Font of Mythos 4  Howling Mine 4  Lightning Bolt 4  Pyroclasm 3  Pyromancer Ascension 3  Runeflare Trap 4  Searing Blaze 36 other spellsSideboard 4  Demolish 4  Dragon’s Claw 2  Goblin Ruinblaster 2  Lavaball Trap 3  Volcanic Fallout 15 sideboard cards

More and more I found myself losing my wife to the world of Apps… she was playing games, browsing for neat, life managing items, and most importantly, the Coach Purse app… yeah.. I know. I found myself inheriting her 2nd gen iPod, and finally got an iTunes account. I think this was the beginning of the end for me as a RIM user. The wedge between me and my beloved Crackberry was actually threefold. Firstly, everyone I know is on BlackBerry. For those of you that are on BlackBerry, BlackBerry Messenger is the glue that holds you together. Free instant messaging across the platform regardless of carrier is a wonderful thing indeed. there is nothing faster or more convenient. Once my wife left the land of RIM, my main source of messenger alerts left. I found myself having to text her anyway, so I started to get away from Messenger in general. I started Texting my friends as well simply out of habit, as I had now successfully pulled myself away from BBM. The second thing that secured my inevitable transition to Apple, was my iTunes experience. I found myself browsing the Apps section of the iTunes store, and started to really be amazed by just how many different apps there are that enable business simplicity everyday. I will list some of the ones that swooned me soon enough. Lastly, I was concerned about the quality of the touch screen, and the accuracy that it could provide. After all, how could a touch screen be better than a BlackBerry keyboard?? I used the Storm, and it was ok, but still not the same. How could an iPhone be any better?

I was wrong.

Very wrong.

The iPhone keyboard is responsive, accurate, and convertible from portrait view to landscape view, accomodating even the largest of thumbs. The auto text feature is great, and although not as easily customized as on a BlackBerry, it still learns from your usage, and picks up your everyday slang and jargon. I have yet to experience a touch screen device with this much precision. Period. I found myself picking up my wife’s iPhone when she was not around, and hammering out random commentaries in the notes application. As a week had passed, I had gone from a sentence in 30 seconds to two whole paragraphs, and I was sold. It took me two days to finally secure a device.

And I haven’t looked back. The hookup to my Exchange Account was seamless, and the mail comes just as fast as on my BB.. which is still faster than my PC. Calendar is great, and the free online storage with direct sharing capacity is amazing. For those of you that dont believe, I hear you. It’s scary at first. “NO!!! You can’t have it!!! Not my BlackBerry!!!” Trust me. It’s like pulling a Band-Aid off. Short term shock, then nothing. I assure you that after a month, you’ll be wondering why it took you so long. I know I am.

I will be focusing mainly on two areas, as previously stated: Cellular and Magic. I will graciously tag my entries as one type or the other so as to ensure that things stay tidy. Thanks for visiting, and please come back soon!

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