Drafting into Nyx (Brainz)

This week I will be discussing how I draft MTG and what to look for while drafting Theros block. Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to draft Theros block with Journey into Nyx yet because I have been busy. I have done some virtual drafts using a free website called Bestiaire. It is a great way to simulate a ton of drafting for free before you go spend money to do the real thing at your local shop.

First thing you should do before drafting is to familiarize yourself with the cards from the sets you will be drafting. This can be easily accomplished via the official Card Image Gallery for a particular set. Another way to familiarize yourself with the cards and how someone else would draft them is to check out the many different set reviews. My favorite set reviewer is Conley Woods. Even thought our strategies or opinions on certain cards may differ, he provides a great review of the cards and how they affect draft. My strategy for drafting in general is the BREAD philosophy. This philosophy/strategy is not perfect but it will provide you with some very helpful guidelines. It stands for Bombs, Removal, Evasion, Aggro, and Duds. That is the order you should usually pick cards from packs.

For the first pack, I generally try to pick really good cards, in my opinion, without stressing too much about color. I still keep color choices in my mind of course. Then for the second and third pack I usually try to stick to the color(s) that I have chosen in the first pack. If I see something very strong that I am able to splash reasonably then I will take that over something more on color. If I see something that is super strong, or a bomb, in an off color and  there is nothing really good in the colors I am drafting then I will "hate draft" that card so I do not see it across the table from me when it is time to play.

There are other, more advanced, strategies that you should at least be aware of and eventually incorporate. These strategies include forcing, which is trying to force your picks into a color. Signaling is also a more advanced strategy which means that if you are getting passed a bunch of black cards then no one is probably in black and it is a good idea to start drafting that color. On the other hand if you start drafting one color and suddenly stop seeing any of that color it is a good idea to switch to a color that is more readily available. Hate drafting is when you take a really good card or bomb that is not in your color to prevent other drafters from including it in their decks. These strategies are more advanced and may be a topic for another post.

I hope to draft this block soon with my friends and in a more competitive environment at my local gaming store. Drafting is mostly about solid commons and creating a synergistic deck that is consistent. I'll leave you with some cards that I would be happy drafting. 

Easing into exercise (Brawn)

Welcome back to Brainz & Brawn. Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend. I also hope, since we will be talking about wellness, that you didn't go overboard with eating junk this past weekend. This week we will kick off the first Brawn section of this blog. Talking with my family over this weekend, I have discovered that a few of them have started their own journey to seek the benefits of fitness and wellness. They have taken a big step in becoming well and fit, getting a gym membership.

As the title suggests, this post will be about easing into the exercise process. I'll start by outlining a few very basic things we all should do become more well and fit. The first easy thing we should do is park further away at the grocery store, or any store. This simple task of parking, and essentially walking, a greater distance to your destination will help you burn more calories. Another thing that we should do is to take the stairs more often. Taking the stairs is a great compound exercise that uses many different muscles. Using the stairs whenever possible is a great way to assist in achieving your fitness goals. If you work on the 25th floor of an office building, for instance, I am not suggesting that you climb all 25 flights of stairs. What I am suggesting is that you start by climbing a few levels then take the elevator either the rest of the way or most of the way for a break. Then, once you've taken a break say to the 22nd floor, you can climb the rest of the way on the stairs. This is a great way to start exercising without a gym membership. Another thing we should do, especially pet owners, is to walk our dogs. Not only is this a good way to build our cardiovascular endurance but it also helps us to both bond with our dogs and maintain our "pack leader" status. If you don't have a pet then walking for even 30 minutes or more will help to assist you in obtaining your fitness goals.

For those of us who want a little bit more, we can do simple calisthenics (exercises requiring no equipment) at home. These exercises can include push-ups, sit ups, burpees, and lunges (among others). There are many different variations of push-ups that you can do to train different areas of the chest and arms. I recommend starting with basic push-ups. This usually means that your feet and hands are shoulder width apart. Then, keeping your back straight, lower your body to the floor and just barely touch your chest to the floor. You should keep your elbows near your side. Sit ups are also a very basic and easy exercise. They can be done by yourself or with a partner holding your feet. I recommend putting something soft, but not too bulky, underneath your lower back for some support. To do a sit up you should have your feet shoulder width apart and start with your back and feet flat on the ground. Then, utilizing your core, lift your body up till your chest touches or comes near your knees. Some people cross their arms across their chest and touch their elbows to their knees at the top. This is fine as long as you are not extending your elbows to touch your knees. For burpees, or squat thrusts, I have inserted a video that explains how to do them visually. 

These exercises and tips that I have explained are all beneficial to your health and wellness if performed properly. Always remember to keep whatever muscle you are training engaged. What this means is that the muscle(s) should not rest during the duration of the exercise. One last thing to consider when thinking about exercising or encouraging someone else to exercise is that everyone learns at their own pace. Starting off fresh or getting back into exercising should be a slow process. I can tell you all about the benefits of fitness, wellness, and exercise but it is up to YOU to put these tips to good use. Exercising takes willpower and YOU have to be the one to stick with it. It is in your best interest to be fit and well.