Transitioning
Unnecessary Advice
with Nicole
After a mini-break last edition due to relocation and re-examination of my own self-priorities… Or something along those lines. Your favorite, friendly neighborhood Nicole is back at it again with the best advice you never wish you asked for. Haha!
It’s the beginning of fall, a time of transition, a time of reflection, and really… a time to stuff all things pumpkin down one’s throat. In essence, pumpkins and the leaves falling call for change in the best ways, and this edition’s questions are the perfect entry into the best time of the year.
What is the best way to get a job on mH? – Zoe Evans
Well, m’dear, the best way to get a job on mH is to really put your best foot forward. Make sure you beef up your application with the highlights of your career and offerings that you have that go towards the job. And if all else fails, bribe the hiring manager, that’s sure to work.
How do you earn more house points and guarantee a win in the House Cup? – EllaLuna Malfoy
Be a Ravenclaw, obviously. They seem to always win the gambit. But in all honesty, I think hard-work, perseverance, and a bit of pixie dust shall do the trick. Turn in your homework on time, get involved in things, and encourage your housemates to do the same. That truly is the recipe for success. Otherwise, I suppose, you can try to bribe the Head Girls into padding your house’s vase with more stones, but I’m sure they can’t be THAT easily bribed, right?
Where should one begin to get involved on the new site? I’m finding it hard to stick-in. – Anonymous
Sticking isn’t a problem if you have enough glue. So obviously, get more glue! If that doesn’t work, you can always start at the top and work your way down. And if all else fails, well, you can start by finding a place that holds something of interest to you, including the clubs in Hogsmeade, the library, and even areas in your common room. Your housemates should be able to help guide you to find your way, and if they aren’t able to, reach out to your Head Girls… they are both equally capable of connecting you with the right group of people. Additionally, something that’s new to our little home, get involved on Discord. It’s a fun place to have a chat with your fellow students and a neat place to try some new things out, like listening to music with your fellow wizards on the Wizarding Wireless Network. The bottom of the story is… mH has many things to offer, you just have to find your niche.
Now, this wasn’t as funny an edition as you’re used to because, well, I’m getting older (literally next Tuesday is my birthday, and I’ll accept belated well-wishes, yes)… and that means I’m getting wiser… but overall, I want you to know that mH has a place for each of you. And if you ever need a helping hand… my inbox is always open. Tune in next time for a deliciously Death-eatery treat.
Muggles Explain Magic:
We’re Living in a Simulation!
by Rose Jean
Usually, this column provides scientific muggle insights about magical phenomena. This special edition will use another kind of theory from muggle minds – a conspiracy theory! The simulation theory, on a very basic level, states that we are living in a simulated reality like in a computer. The catch is that we don’t know that our reality is fake, so we keep believing that everything is real. So how does magic fit in?
Moving Pictures
Ever wondered how every portrait seems to move around of its own free will? To our “reality”, they are enchanted. But according to the simulation theory, they are just part of the computer program. They could be gifs that move in a loop, a very long video, or characters that are run by artificial intelligence.
Who Are We?
Just like those characters, we also play a role in the simulation. We act as avatars moving around the computer-generated environment. That picture you choose is also called an avatar… Coincidence? I think not! All our interests and hobbies are coded into our profile, and every interaction we make is logged. Muggles think of magic as something impossible in their world, but with computer-generated imagery (CGI) and a simulation programmed to give us these characteristics/abilities, it would seem incredibly real in our eyes.
Moving the Castle
If we accept that we are living the magic of myHogwarts as part of a simulation, we can better appreciate the effort that went into moving the castle. Building the new mH meant working with a shell and coding it little by little to shape it into the castle we know and love. Every corner of the castle was copied and pasted into this shell, including all the other places we use everyday. Aside from transferring data, coding was used to change the appearance of the new mH. Every image, every splash of colour, every line was created with lines of code. And when the time came for our avatars to move in, one-by-one we were given our abilities and reclaimed our identities.
The simulation theory also states that there may be many avatars (or “Sims”) in one simulated reality, but there are very few who created it. To the ones who created our new myHogwarts home, a big round of applause and much gratitude for your efforts! It is truly through these bits of advanced technology that we can experience our magical reality.
Electrifying Tips
by Mellsuili
​
Even though I’m not a professional dueller, I do know a few tips. A well-known one is hitting someone with an electrifying spell and then drowning them in water. But why does this work? We all know that water is a great conductor* for electricity. And since it’s such a good conductor, it means the electricity can flow faster. That means we have a better chance of weakening the opponent!
But how does one master this strategy? First off, we must know which spells summon water and which spells summon electricity.
Second on our list is: how do we perform this tip? You can start off with both ways, splashing your opponent with water or electrifying them. It’s your choice. And then the second choice is a bit obvious. If you chose to use some voltage on your competitor, you’d drown them in water. And vice versa if you splash them with water.
Yes, this tactic can work quite well, but there’s a few warnings I have to share. First off, never use Impello Aqua for this strategy. This spell causes a wave of water to appear, and that means you and your opponent will be drowned in water. You both will be burnt to toast. :P Also your opponent can cast Aqua Eximo, and if it works perfectly, your cast would be a waste of a turn. But then again, that’s not likely to happen.
Second of all is, this strategy isn’t going to work all of the time. First off, this strategy needs two turns. And between those two turns, your opponent could hinder your ability to cast. And the dice won’t be your best friend all the time. You may get a 5, maybe a 3, and if you’re unlucky you can get a flat 1.
Now you know about this tactic, or maybe even learned something new. There are numerous water spells and electrocution spells found in the Custom Spells Encyclopedia, which you may want to take a look at; :)
Have any duelling tips you want to share with the world? PM me, Mellsuili!
​
* A conductor is an object that easily lets electricity through. Like metals and water. The opposite of a conductor is an insulator, and it’s pretty obvious what an insulator does. It repels electricity, and electricity has trouble traveling through it. Types of insulators include wood, plastic, and the air.
