After two weeks bearing no changes, Wizards of the Coast has finally made the decision to ban more cards from the Pioneer format ofMagic: The Gathering. The three cards banned from Pioneer as of yesterday are Once Upon A Time, Field of the Dead, and Smugglers Copter.

Wizards of the Coast had exactly this to say on the subject:

Over the last several days, a series of Pioneer PTQ tournaments were held as a part ofMagic Onlines Pioneer week. The results of these tournaments, and data from league play, show how the environment has evolved under further competitive pressure.

While the results look promising and changes so far have been moving the format in a good direction, our data shows three outstanding issues that are preventing the metagame from arriving at a better balance. These are:

As a result, were choosing to banSmugglers Copter,Field of the Dead, andOnce Upon a Timein Pioneer. We believe that these changes will result in greater diversity among aggressive decks, a clearer role in the metagame for reactive and controlling decks, and a push toward better color balance among competitive decks.

While its a surprise that some other standout cards such as Oko, Thief of Crowns (a common complaint!), Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, or Nissa, Who Shakes The World havent been called out, its still great that Wizards has taken the initiative to remove some troublesome cards in a nondiverse meta from the format.

What do you think should also be banned from the Pioneer format? IsMagic: The Gathering a healthier game without some of the newer overpowered cards released recently? Let us know in the comments!

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Wizards of the Coast Bans More in Pioneer - "Magic: The Gathering - Bleeding Cool News

Even though she appears to be warming up to deckhand Brian de Saint Pern, Courtney Skippon from Below Deck shares she wasnt really into anyone on the boat.

The Below Deck season 7 crew has been touted as the hottest crew to date. Although a few of the men on the deck team appeared to be interested in Skippon shes been very cool with her response to their flirtatious comments. However, when de Saint Perns leg infection worsened, Skippon showed him some affection. She even kissed him while he had to lay in bed before the rest of the crew went out on the town.

But in the Below Deck After Show, Skippon made it clear she wasnt into anyone on the boat romantically. That likely includes de Saint Pern, who is now dating one of the former charter guests.

During an interview with stew Simone Mashile, Skippon was asked what she thought of Tanner Sterback. Mashile and Sterback finally hooked up on the show and producers wanted Skippons thoughts. I mean, Ive said this, I didnt think much of anyone on board, she said laughing.

But the producer wanted to know if she had made any snap judgments either. No, I mean Im not ignorant enough to make assumptions about people based on the way that they look, she replied. Mashile jumped in and added, Man I thought Tanner was fine as hell.

Skippon has had to put a few of the deckhands in their place for making sexist or obnoxious remarks. She also recently responded to chef Kevin Dobsons remark about how her tastes for the finer things in life are funded by her parents. Its crazy that b/c I expressed a taste for quality, everyone assumes its paid for by someone. While I consider myself v. lucky, & have parents who instilled in me the importance of quality: I dont come from some pony-riding, Warbucks family we just have different priorities, she tweeted.

Some viewers wondered why Skippon hasnt warmed up to de Saint Pern. One person tweeted that she was icy and not warm and fun. She responded, So sorry for deviating from the social script of how women should behave!We are expected to be warm, fun, friendly & nurturing. I am, but I dont have to be to be lovable. We can also be smart, assertive, decisive & demanding of respect. If that makes me bitchy & icy, sign me up.

After de Saint Pern appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, he was asked about his relationship with Skippon. @courtneyskippon can actually be an awesome, caring person when she wants to be and I was lucky enough to have seen that side of her. Shes not as bad as you guys think, he tweeted. Skippon responded, Ive never seen someone who knows me undersell my personality so much in my life.

The two then lobbed comments back and forth. One person asked if de Saint Pern was sweet. He can be when he wants to be. I was lucky enough to see that side, she wrote. You forgot #sarcasim, he responded.

See the original post here:
'Below Deck': Courtney Skippon Shares She 'Didn't Think Much of Anyone on Board' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Since leaving Below Deckfollowing Season 6, third stew Caroline Bedol definitely hasn't had it easy. In October 2018,Radar Onlinereported that she'd had a run-in with the law, claiming a warrant had been issued for her arrest after the reality star allegedly "skipped out on a mandatory court appearance for a case involving her pitbull." The gossip site claimed that Bedol's pitbull had attacked an Australian shepherd dog in the street after the stewardess allowed her canine to run off without a leash.

By March 2019, further hardships had befallen Bedol, who told Radar Onlinethat she had become homeless since leaving the show. "I'm not looking for a homeless shelter to stay in, but I am homeless in the sense that I am in between homes," she said. "You get motels or hotels when you can, you sleep in your car if it's warm."That June,the third stew found herself in another spot of trouble. According to court documents obtained byPage Six, the Bravo star had been arrested for "larceny in the sixth degree in Danbury, Connecticut." Thismisdemeanor charge of larcenyrelates to stolen property worth under $500, which led to Bedol requiring no bond upon her release. As of this writing, the shoplifting case remains ongoing.

Basically, it's impossible to deny that Bedol's life has been filled with challenges since exitingBelow Deck.

Read this article:
Dark secrets of the Below Deck cast - Nicki Swift

Yes, I am one of those people.

About 30 minutes after Labor Day has officially ended, I feel a strange compulsion to binge on my mothers iced sugar cookies shaped like snowmen while listening to Nat King Cole croon about chestnuts. I usually resist breaking out my collection of international Santa figurines including Las Vegas Santa indulging his gambling addiction on the slots until after Halloween. But once Ive polished off my kids trick-or-treat candy, I go into full-out Christmas-prep beast mode.

I realize that my premature Yuletide activities irritate some folks, and I place the blame partly on the retail economy, which starts celebrating HallowThanksMas around the time when we East Texans are suffering from acute Eskimo envy in the sweltering month of September. And I must admit that its a little disconcerting to go to Walmart for a new giant unicorn pool float and walk past a tempting display of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. Thankfully, I can usually limit myself to five or six family-size packs.

Another reason for my pre-season holly-jolly spaz attack is the sheer magnitude of our Christmas swag. I spend most of the year expecting our ceiling to collapse under the mass of nativity sets, Christmas villages, and countless other seasonal dust magnets stockpiled in our attic. In fact, Im resigned to the probability that Ill eventually be taken out by a Rubbermaid tub full of decorative nutcrackers. Seriously, though, I figure if I dont start dragging out the dcor soon enough, Ill still be stringing up lights when its time to overdose on Velveeta dip and chicken wings during the Super Bowl.

As an example of our fanatical festooning, we dont allow Santa to squeeze out of our gas-log fireplace until weve erected not one, but two Christmas trees in our living room. One serves as our fashionable tree, adorned with ornaments accumulated from several trips my wife and I took overseas before we had our three daughters and started hemorrhaging wads of cash on dance lessons, cell phones, and salted-caramel iced mochas.

The other tree features mostly homemade ornaments, many of which include photos of our daughters at various ages. This tree is a favorite of my wife and me, and when the girls arent vociferously expressing their unmitigated disgust at the pictures of themselves with toddler bangs or missing baby teeth, they secretly compete to see who can maneuver their own photo ornaments to the highest and most visible branches.

Eventually the tree develops a distinct top-heavy list, threatening to topple over and impale our full-figured Siamese cat, who spends most of the holiday lounging at the trees base and wistfully gazing upwards, wondering what it might be like to muster the energy to climb it or even paw at a low-hanging baby Jesus made of Styrofoam and pipe cleaners.

The pinnacle of our home decorating frenzy involves the death defying installation of exterior lighting. Each year, I entertain the neighbors and risk permanent paralysis by hanging several strings of C-9 bulbs from the unnecessarily steep eves of our house. This process inevitably requires that I actually climb onto our roof for a public performance of uncoordinated acrophobia.

Taking the advice of my dad a veritable Rembrandt of domestic holiday displays I stay as low as possible while Im scuttling around up there and trying to avoid hurling on the housetop. And Im usually able to pick all of the shingle grit out of my ears and teeth by the new year.

Once all of the decorating is done and Im in my easy chair nursing a pulled groin and a mug of hot cocoa with extra mini marshmallows, I look around at the twinkling lights, the radiant poinsettias, and the stockings hung by the chimney-insert with care, and I realize that its worth all of the trouble.

And if I start packing all of this away shortly, I can re-decorate the house in time for Valentines Day.

Contact Jase Graves at susanjase@sbcglobal.net.

Continued here:
Graves column: Deck the halls and hit the deck - Glenwood Springs Post Independent

Melania Trump paid special attention to detail when decorating the White House for Christmas.

Christmas spirit, in the form oftwinkly lights and bright red bows, has arrived at the White House.

The walls, windows and grand rooms have been adorned with holiday traditions, thanks to first lady Melania Trump,who paid special attention to the Spirit of America-themed detail.

Heres an inside look at how some of the most eloquent details emulate American tradition.

The official White House Christmas tree is from Pitman, Pennsylvania, and stretches more than 18 feet in height. The Douglas fir tree is decoratedsymbolically with floral emblems, each representingone of the 50 states and territories. The tree portraysthe beauty and diversity of America.

The official White House Christmas tree decorated in the Blue Room on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

HOTEL SPREADS CHRISTMAS CHEER WITH DECKED-OUT BUDDY THE ELF-THEMED SUITE

The White Houses gingerbread house is an exact replica of the South Portico of the White House. Some other national landmarks are featured next to the house, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Space Needle, Mount Rushmore, the Alamo, Gateway arch, Liberty Belland Statue of Liberty. The columns of the gingerbread White House are made of pasta noodles and the display used a total of 200 pounds of gingerbread.

The gingerbread house is seen in the State Dining Room of the White House. Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

Each year, Melania Trump has carried out her tradition of hanging Christmas wreaths on the faade of the White House. There are a total of 106 wreaths hung throughout. Some other traditions that have returned include the Gold Star Family Tree, with more than 400 stars arranged, the Christmas card display and the White House crche.

The Red Room of the White House. Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

TIFFANY MARKETS THE $112,000 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

The East Room is decked with dcor inspired by the American flag. Decorations include gilded eagle tree toppers, mirrored stars, and red andblue ribbons. Decorative elements in the East Colonnade highlight American innovation and architecture.

The East Room of the White House, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

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Two hundred twenty-fivevolunteers,representing all 50 states, were selected to participate in decorating this year. Volunteers helped hang, dress and place the following:

And, everything elsementioned above.

The Grand Foyer of the White House, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

The White House will host open houses, receptions and tours throughout the month of December for all to enjoy this years decorations.

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What it takes to deck the halls for Christmas at the White House - Fox Business

This holiday season you can visit the nation's oldest residential street right in Philly. This Saturday, Dec 7 from 3pm to 7pm, you will have the opportunity to go inside the houses onElfreth's Alley for "Deck the Alley."

Elfreth's Alley is a National historic landmark. Every single house on that street was built in the 1700s and early 1800s. This Saturday they will all be decorated for the holidays. According to Philly Voice, on the cobblestone street, there will be colonial carolers and traditional loom weaving. Don't forget to bring the kids as well because Santa will be there as well. This is your chance to get pictured taken with Santa onnation's oldest residential street. Iconic!

According to Philly Voice, ticketsfor this event are $25 for adults and $10 for children.You can also get agroup discount and a $60 family bundle are available, as well. The best part about it is you will automatically get free admission into the pop-up exhibit"Making Christmas."

Read the rest here:
Deck the Alley is Happening this Saturday in Philly - 94.5 PST

A Level: Deck the Hall Ball (12.5.19)

For the A Level: Deck the Hall Ball contest, enter for the chance to win December 5, 2019 by listening to the Station between 8:00am PT and 5:00am PT for the codeword to be announced on or about :05 after the start of each hour and using to complete the online entry form for the A Level: Deck the Hall Ball contest page, locatedHERE,by 6:00pm PT on December 5, 2019.On or about December 6, 2019, five (5)winners will be randomly selected and, upon verification,receive the qualifying prize of a pair of GA ticketstoDeck the Hall Ball 2019 and a pair of meet and greets for The 1975 on December 10, 2019,at WaMuTheatre, located at800 Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134, and one (1) vinyl copy and one (1) digital download code of The 1975'sA Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships. Digital download code is valid through December 31, 2019 and only in the United States. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Qualifying prize is valued at $154, courtesy of the Station and Interscope Records. From all of the qualifying prize winners, one (1) winner will be randomly selected to receive the grand prize of a signed vinyl cover ofA Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships and a signed fan pack forNotes On A Conditional Form. Grand prize is valued at $25,courtesy of the Station and Interscope Records.Otherwise, KNDD's general contest rules apply and are available by clickingHERE.

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Win Deck the Hall Ball Tickets and The 1975 Meet & Greets! - Talk Radio 1210 WPHT

ON the barren surface of Mars, astronauts will battle deadly radiation, fierce storms and screws missing from their flat pack beds.

That's if Ikea has anything to say about it, anyway. The Swedish furniture giant has unveiled an easy-to-assemble space pad for future colonies on the Red Planet.

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Slotted together at a Mars research lab in a US desert, the prototype pod has been designed to maximise space in cramped conditions.

It boasts Ikea shelving units, stackable chairs and tables that double up as stools for flexibility and tidiness.

Ikea designer Christina Levenborn envisioned the space habitat after a spell at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah.

Built in 2001, the domed cylinder houses teams of six for weeks at a time to study how humans might live on the Red Planet.

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"We tried to work with products for small space living situation that could be arranged in a flexible and multifunctional way," Christina said.

"For the habitat, we brought products on wheels for mobile living, stools for seating and table surfaces and stackable chairs for saving space."

The MDRS is designed to recreate the physical and psychological challenges facing astronauts who eventually live on other planets.

It includes a greenhouse, solar observatory, engineering pod, science building, robotics observatory - and a two-storey living space nicknamed The Hab.

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Just eight metres in diameter, the Hab has now been kitted out with Christina's Ikea redesign.

It's unlikely space agencies like Nasa will be giving Christina a ring any time soon, but the faux-home gives space fans a glimpse into a Martian future.

It is hoped that the redesign project will show how Ikea products can be improved to suit "micro-homes" that are increasingly popular in crowded cities.

Christina said: "We hope to learn more about living in extremely small spaces and how our products can be used.

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Mars facts

Here's what you need to know about the red planet...

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"There is also the question of the scarcity of materials, repurposing and sustainable living.

"Preparing for this kind of scarcity on Mars puts a focus on all the good things we have on Earth that we take for granted.

"We tried to work with products for small-space living situations that could be arranged in a flexible and multifunctional way.

"In a small space where many people have to share workspaces, it is important to be able to adjust to everyone's needs."

XMAS ROCKING Nasa braces for 2,000ft 'Boxing Day' asteroid to skim past Earth at 27,000mph

WALK THIS WAY Scientists teach piece of plastic to walk in groundbreaking project

CHEERS TO THAT Alcohol tolerance might have saved our ancestors from EXTINCTION

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Honey I'm E-Home We take a look at what could be in store in eco homes of the future

JAW-DROPPING Centuries of inbreeding IS to blame for European royals' famed jaw deformities

WENT DELHI UP Nasa spots India's doomed moon lander on lunar surface months after crash

In other news, eagle-eyed space fans claimed to have spotted the letters"ET" imprinted on Marsin August.

A crackpot conspiracy theorist said he'd dug up evidence of asarcophagus on the Red Planetin Nasa photos published that same month.

And, Nasa recently managed to record the incredible sound of a "Marsquake" -which you can listen to here.

Do you think humans will ever live on Mars? Let us know in the comments!

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at tech@the-sun.co.uk

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What life on Mars will REALLY look like Ikea decks out prototype space colony in Utah desert - The Sun

Forget breaking the internet.Ratan Tata, in amonth of being on Instagram, has won thegame and the hearts of his700K followers. Afterwowingusall by posting rare pictures offeringa sneak peek into his personal life,the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons and Chairman of the Tata Trusts has something else in storethistime for the entrepreneursofIndia's fast-growing startup ecosystem.

Turns out,Ratan Tatahasput together a startup pitch deck for entrepreneurs on his Instagramprofile.In a16-slide PowerPoint presentation, watermarked Office of Ratan Tata,thebusinessman has spelled out themost important aspects that should be covered in any pitch by a first-time entrepreneur.

Foodtech 2019

Foodtech remains a firm favourite with entrepreneurs, investors, and consumers. The bloodbath of 2016 may have led to the death of many foodtech startups, but the sector has bounced back.Foodtech continued to draw attention in 2019 as Tier II and III India started placing more orders, supply became the key focus, and Amazon announced its entry into the Indian market.

Kiran Dham is the CEO and Managing Director of Globus Infocom, an edtech company that is at the forefront of providing innovative technological solutions to schools in India.

Larry Page (L) and Sergey Brin (R); Source : theguradian

Google's iconic co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are exiting their active roles at parent company Alphabet. Larry and Sergey, who're often touted as the fathers of the modern internet, are relinquishing management control of the company to Google's current CEO Sundar Pichai.

Simarpreet Singh, Founder, Hartek Solar Pvt Ltd.

Forbes 30 Under 30 finalist Simarpreet Singh founded his startup to foster a culture of community-driven clean energy through its customised residential rooftop solar kits.

Startup Bharat Trends

Apart from increased consumption patterns and growth, 2020 for startups in Bharat will be about focussed growth and mentorships. But will there be an increase in the all-important investments as well?

Around the year, SMBStory covers the inspiring stories of SME entrepreneurs who have not only contributed to the Indian business ecosystem but have also seen growth by implementing a sustainable business model. These entrepreneurs have surely set an example for current and future generations by showing just how essential it is to build businesses that last.

Rajdeep Ghosh (right), Head, COE, Dr Reddy's Labs, is seen with Chandra Balani, Head Geographic Incubation, India and Saarc, at AWS.

On the sidelines of AWS re:Invent 2019, Rajdeep Ghosh, the head of Dr Reddys Labs digital centre of excellence, speaks about how digital transformation can help drive learning, growth, and scale.

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Ratan Tata puts startup pitch deck template on Instagram (and other top stories of the day) - YourStory

Friday, Dec. 13

Next Friday, the "Ultimate Holiday Tradition" comes to Erie in the form of Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas tour. With 35 years of Christmas magic under their collective belt, the Omaha, Nebraska-based neoclassical new age group is bringing their annual holiday tour to The Warner Theatre this season. For this special performance, Mannheim Steamroller billed as "the number one Christmas artist of all time" will be performing the album that started it all, 1984's Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, in its entirety.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas features a number of contemporary holiday classics, including their renditions of "Deck the Halls" and "We Three Kings." The album helped launch Mannheim Steamroller into mass popularity, landing them a number 50 spot on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart; it has since been certified platinum six times over by the Recording Industry Association of America and has sold over 3.5 million physical copies in the U S. alone. To further cement the album's legacy, a special 35th anniversary vinyl pressing of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas will also be available. For Mannheim Steamroller, the holiday is more than a tradition; it's a festive celebration that they would be more than happy to have the Erie community join them in. Aaron Mook

7:30 p.m. // Warner Theatre, 811 State St. // Tickets start at $44 // mannheimsteamroller.com

Excerpt from:
Deck the Halls with a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at The Warner Theatre - Erie Reader