iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Dylan (he/him)

Danai Christopoulou | VILE LADY VILLAINS out NOW @danaiwrites.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

You’re going to be okay. Someone will hate your book. You’re going to be okay. Someone will not get what you’re trying to do with your art and judge you. You’re going to be okay. You’re going to keep creating, in 2026, because you need it and because the world needs you to. Okay?

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

I'll admit I was nervous about checking election results, but I'm so glad I did.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

"...The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever monster screams the loudest."

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

So about Andor S2 hitting hard and being spot on... "I believe we are in crisis. The distance between what is said and what is known to be true has become an abyss. Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous..."

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Late to the game, but Andor season 2 hits hard. The first season was good and had more than a few "oof" moments. But season 2? Damn. Also, everyone who watches this knows the Empire are the bad guys, right? Because the parallels...

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

In my field, AI use is becoming common. "It's the future" and "if you're not using it, you're falling behind." Then I'll fall behind. Even the ethical questions aside (and there are plenty), there's no way I can justify what it does to the environment. Full stop.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

I think you should! That's excellent!

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

I just go called "the hardest softie you'll ever meet", and I take that as a huge compliment.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Also claiming to have made great progress in the investigation and catching the suspect in 33 hours *because he turned himself in* is one of the biggest taking credit for someone else's work moves I've seen recently.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

I'm sure now that the shooter was identified as a young cis white man, and not a leftist, we'll see calls to keep guns out of the hands of white men, right? Right?

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Reposted by Dylan (he/him)

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

"Even in a contest against men twice his age, Mamdani has begun to sound like the adult in the room on issues of public safety, offering detailed, thoughtful policy proposals." 🙏 @errollouis.bsky.social

nymag.com

Mamdani’s New Ideas on Crime Show Make His Opponents Look Old

What he understands and they don’t.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Just had a bad dream where I was going on this really awesome boat dive with two dives, but only one of my tanks had air. I might be a little scuba obsessed.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

You know what I wish? That more people had the safety, security, and energy to pursue their passions. I love watching people get really excited and creative about something. I think we'd have even more amazing things (media, games, inventions, etc.) if more folks had that freedom.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

Remember that finding joy can be an act of rebellion.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

I could not agree more. The right therapist for me might not be the right one for you, and vice versa.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

I've seen a lot of posts lately talking about how therapy is bunk and pointless. As someone who firmly supports therapy, I strongly disagree. But, there's a huge caveat. You have to *want* to work on it and be willing to face some ugly things. And have no doubts, it will be work.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Ha! I appreciate the pun. Sadly, the horsemanship is still on the forbidden list for a while. It should be fine, but there's still a huge risk in the near future if anything does go wrong.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Yep - just one step at a time.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Yesterday I was cleared to start bending over and twisting (lightly and slowly). I used to do daily stretching, but had to stop because of the surgery. I just did some stretching. And two months of no back movement makes you really tight. I don't know the last time I was this inflexible.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

It's time to get back in the ocean. Today will be the first time since surgery. It has been too long. And I'm so excited! Yes, at 730 in the morning. If there were any doubts that I'm a water creature.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

You know it's been a busy day when the first chance you've had to play your BGA games is around 6 pm...

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

So we saw the new Superman tonight, and I have to say, I haven't enjoyed and felt that much from a Superman movie since the Christopher Reeve days.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

As of last night, I officially got back in the water the first time since surgery, and have even taught my first class! Getting back where I belong.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

You know - I wish hypocrisy mattered. And it's telling that most people reading this will know exactly who I'm talking about with just that much context.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

And for some good news... Guess who just got their medical sign off to get back underwater?

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Still masking. Still going to mask.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

I totally placed a special order for 50 custom lollipops (from Lollies by Leah), because I'm an adult dang it.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

A big thing for me was getting emotionally okay with asking for the help. And I don't think anyone should be ashamed about asking for help, especially if you get laid off through no fault of your own.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

I'm more than willing to help if I can. The biggest thing that I would say is to start the process as soon as possible. It takes a while to get approved, but you do get back pay to when you started the application process.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Just last year, I had to struggle to get unemployment. I severely doubt anyone who complains about immigrants or lazy folks stealing benefits realizes just how hard it is to get them.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

I seem to remember it's supposed to be "might for right," not "might makes right." It's also not "might wrings its hands and doesn't do anything because it's afraid of rocking the boat."

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

I am a little surprised that anyone who's not part of the upper crust and has a modicum of awareness supports these people. And frankly, I don't want to deal with any of them that do.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

I'm not at all surprised that the bill passed and so many in power don't care one bit about those they're supposed to represent or what happens to them. I'm not surprised that so many voted to line their pockets a little deeper and support those at the top while punching down as much as they can.

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Reposted by Dylan (he/him)

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE. This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined. It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

This has been the longest I've been out of the water since I've been scuba certified. Come on body! Heal faster! I need to submerge myself for an extended period of time... Something, something, selkie says what?

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

On a personal note, this weekend has included the following achievements that I'm proud of: * Played my first physical board game since surgery * Put on socks (harder than you think post spinal surgery) * Took care of the dogs solo for the better part of a day Slowly getting there...

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Quick check in just shy of a week post-surgery. Doing well and on a good, if long, road to recovery. But I'm already ahead of expectations. As @jaymgates.bsky.social said the other day: "Before I met you, I was the fastest healer I ever knew." Not a bad superpower to have.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

I aspire to be the person my dog thinks I am.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Standing here in the morning, at the head of a boat, heading out to dive, I'm reminded just how much of a water creature I am.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

I worked an extra short week this week (three days), but having a pre-9 am meeting each day has made it feel extra long to my extreme night owl self.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

I gotta say, Doom the Dark Ages is just fun. It's straight up enjoyment and chaos. You really feel badass, and the combat is tight. It's not the type of game I'll remember for years and be moved by, but that's not why I go to the Doom games. It's just a lot of FUN. Very much enjoying it.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

You know, maybe rolling out a whole redesign and new implementation might not have been the *best* idea the week before a massive event. I mean, it's certainly **an** idea.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

On the upside - new game arrival! I'm very excited about the work I did on this one!

The Black Clover anime-based board game, still in shrink wrap.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

It's important to fight, but if you're always fighting, you won't be in it for the long haul. And people need to be in it for the long haul. You can't fight EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME. Hell, that's part of the strategy - to make people exhausted from fighting so they give up. Not giving up is key.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

I don't say this as an excuse or to look for support. Rather as a reminder to others who might be feeling the same way and having difficulty. You don't need to be in every fight. When you can, please, definitely fight. There's a lot of fighting that needs to be done. But take care of yourself too.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

It takes effort to remind myself of things I tell others. You don't always need to fight. It's important to take breaks so you can keep fighting. And that primary rule of rescue: don't make two victims. It's hard to remember that.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

I know I haven't been as vocal here, and there are still travesties happening in this country that I am very angry and want to speak out about. But right now personal stuff (i.e., mainly the back surgery) are taking so much energy, I just don't have the spoons for it.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Microsoft announced a 3% cut in staff today. My team lost one, and it caught at least two levels above me completely by surprise. I was not let go, but it would be disingenuous to say I wasn't affected. We've been told all the cuts have been made, but holy hell that spikes the anxiety.

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Dylan (he/him) @dbirtolo.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Upcoming surgery might be really getting in my head. Just woke up from a dream where I was to be sacrificed, and everyone in it, including good friends, were trying to talk me into not fighting and being okay with giving up. That was unpleasant.

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