AHA Media

The cold weather certainly couldn’t keep hardcore fans from playing Magic the Gathering (MTG) . A game that many gamers play with great gusto! Today at One Stop Cards & Games in Tinseltown Mall is hosting a MTG tournament where it encourages friendly camarderie and careful strategy to be the ultimate winner!!

For those unfamiliar with this game, we  have posted an excerpt of the definition of Magic the Gathering from wikipedia.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_the_gathering

Magic: The Gathering (colloquially “Magic“, “MTG“, or “Magic Cards“) is a collectible card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic is the first example of the modern collectible card game genre and still thrives today, with an estimated six million players in over seventy countries.^[3] Magic can be played by two or more players each using a deck of printed cards or a deck of virtual cards through the Internet-based Magic: The Gathering Online or third-party programs.

Each game represents a battle between powerful wizards, known as “planeswalkers“, who use the magical spells, items, and fantastic creatures depicted on individual Magic cards to defeat their opponents.

An organized tournament system and a community of professional Magic players has developed, as has a secondary market for Magic cards. Magic cards can be valuable due to not only their scarcity, but also their utility in game play and the aesthetic qualities of their artwork.

Gameplay

Main article: Magic: The Gathering rules

Magic: The Gathering cards of various types and colors.

In a game of Magic, two or more players are engaged in a battle as powerful wizards called “planeswalkers”. A player starts the game with twenty life points and—with a few exceptions—loses when he or she is reduced to zero or less. The most common method of reducing an opponent’s life is to attack with summoned creatures, although numerous other methods exist. Although reducing an opponent to zero life is the most common way of winning (or losing) the game, drawing from an empty deck will also cause a player to lose. In addition, some cards specify other ways to win or lose the game.

Players begin the game with seven cards in hand. The two basic card types in Magic are “spells” and “lands”. Lands provide mana, or magical energy, which is used as magical fuel when the player attempts to cast spells. More powerful spells cost more mana, and are usually more difficult to play. Some spells also require the payment of additional resources, such as cards in play or life points. Spells come in several varieties: “sorceries” and “instants” have a single, one-time effect before they go to the “graveyard” (discard pile); “enchantments” and “artifacts” provide a lasting magical effect; creature spells summon monsters that can attack and damage your opponent. Spells can be of more than one type. As of Lorwyn block a new card type, “planeswalkers”, have been introduced to the game. Planeswalkers represent powerful beings with their own magic abilities, one of which can be used each turn.

Some spells have effects that override normal game rules. The “Golden Rule of Magic” states that “Whenever a card’s text directly contradicts the rules, the card takes precedence.”^[13] This allows Wizards of the Coast great flexibility in creating cards, but can cause problems when attempting to reconcile a card with the rules. A detailed rulebook^[14] exists to clarify these conflicts.

====================================================================================

Photos from One stop Cards  & Games Shop:

In this photo Al’s finger gestures to the below  zero  temperatures we’ve been experiencing!

While waiting at a bus stop at Main and Hastings, we noticed the following image

Two AHA MEDIA members ventured into the area of  Kerrisdale to see an art show and left the DTES area’s  hustle and bustle.

The busy Christmas shopping season was certainly amplified with the abundance of stores hours opening later for shoppers and gift buying being highly encouraged on the streets of Kerrisdale.

There is such a stark contrast between the areas of  DTES and Kerrisdale. The biggest difference we saw were the prices of items and the lush atmosphere of the many high end stores.  To illustrate our point,  a slice at a local DTES vendor is $1-$1.25 a slice where a Flying Wedge Pizza’s slice  retail at $4.50+ !! 

Granted, one gets what one pays for in life but we were surprised at how much impoverished one could feel by simply walking around and seeing how some well-heeled society folks in Kerrisdale live in abundance. 

We as AHA MEDIA realize that simple things like the joy of  eating restaurant fare can be out of reach of the ordinary citizens of the DTES.

The  way the current welfare system rates are at, most DTES society members ( after paying for their rents ) live on less than $6.oo a day!  Given that tight of a budget leaves no room for a welfare recipient  to have a little bit of fun and be able to live a life.

How is one to budget for food, toiletries and medications? How about trying to make daily ends meet on the cost of a “rich slice of pizza”? ( After taxes added on a ” $4.50 + slice of pizza ” is sure to somewhat equate the less than $6.00 a day one on welfare has to live on)

 **************************************************

While waiting for the bus to bring us back downtown eastside, we took a photo of an old train wheel being used again for an artful purpose.

It’s good to know that one is alway rich ( in feeling ) when you have the kind and loyal people, supporting non profit societies, community centres and friends in the DTES.  Kerrisdale is a nice place to visit, but we’d rather just visit when we want to and be able to appreciate the differences between our area of the DTES to the more high end Kerrisdale.

Al’s van covered with snow admist heavy snowflakes falling and blanketing  everything.

Holly Tree covered with snow

Holly Branch covered with snow

Leo,  lives at the Balmoral Hotel, and spends his time at the Radio Station Cafe building minature swiss chalet lodges out of colored popsticks bought from the dollar store. What a unique handmade Christmas gift!

Little Christmas trees available for sale near Chill Winston’s in Gastown