iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

I've been on the road for 2 weeks & 4,000 miles. I'm home now. I saw lots of family/friends around the US & had a geeky side quest for Lake Geneva's Dragon Days. I came home with Wisconsin exclusive #DnD stuff, beer, & cheese. Bonus souvenir, an awful head cold. #RoadTrip #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

You know you aren't in Utah when hotel room service screws up on drink cup sizes and their response is to give you an extra beer. 😜 #Humor #RoadTrip #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I'm not sure who I've become. The only tech I'm taking on this road trip are my phone, a power bank, my earbuds, & a book light. Them plus their cables & plugs pack smaller than any of the 3 books I'm taking. If I need, I've got Libby for audio & e-books. #Travel #DailyLife #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Distracted myself tonight by starting assembly of the Heavy Weapons Squad and #3DPrinting some book accessories all while listening to video game lore. #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of a book held open by a thumb with a red book page holder and a black n white bookmark spelling out the word ReSiSTaNCe with blocks from the periodic table of the elements.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Got the final word on a good friend; someone I consider a mentor. Her memory will always be for a blessing. That is three good friends gone in the last 4 weeks. Stick a fork in me. I think I'm done. #Loss #DailyLife #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Thanks! They're from DaChemika on MakerWorld.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Thanks! I can see that on Radio Head. Radio Head lives in my office/hobby room. There's no way I could keep them where I could just wake up in the middle of the night and see them.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I've found myself being in the habit of patting Radio Head the ServoSkull on the noggin every night before I go to bed and wishing them a "Goodnight Buddy." Totally random, unplanned behavior. We really do anthropomorphize anything. LOL! #Warhammer40K #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Correction: It is two gun carriages, one battery. My tired ass wrote the wrong thing and this obnoxious platform doesn't allow for edits.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I'm getting caught up on my #CombatPatrol sprues. Got a couple Imperial Guard Field Ordnance Batteries built. Next up are the heavy weapon squads. #MiniaturePainting #Warhammer40K #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of two Imperial Guard gun carriages, one with a rocket launcher and the other a cannon.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I have the feeling that the free minis of the month will find themselves experiments. Since I struggle with decision paralysis on my color schemes, it's an ideal option to force me to pick up my brush and just go.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

My Costco membership is paying for itself. There was a big enough price gap between them and my neighborhood gas stations that it saved me $10 to drive the few extra blocks to fuel up there. They have got to be taking a loss on fuel at this rate. #DailyLife #GasPrices #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Lookee what arrived today out of crowdfunding/pre-order darkness! It's a nerdy take on the artist color cube. I look forward to playing around. Thank you past me for the gift! #DeckOfManyColors #MiniaturePainting #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of two deck boxes (one silver and black, the other gold and black) and one deck of art cards splayed out for view.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

In between the other projects, travel prep, and dealing with the loss of several good friends (fuck cancer, btw); I did manage to print more base toppers and assemble one Guardsman gun battery. #3DPrinting #Warhammer40K #MiniaturePainting #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of two 100mm bases and three 50mm bases with industrial base toppers on them. One of the 100mm bases has an assembled gun battery on it.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Since I will be on the road and living out of hotels for a couple weeks, these plus books of Sudokus will help me limit screen time. I will be moving cities too much to make taking mini painting with me a non-starter. #SoloGames #DailyLife #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of the Back Stories game, a logic puzzles book, and a deck of Star Wars themed playing cards.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I printed the line art in black filament and used white card stock to back it for contrast. Seemed a good way to use up old craft supplies. #Dune #3DPrinting #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of Dune inspired line art printed in black filament with white backing set up as a triptych against a grey wall.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I had it already and decided to see if it would work. Sliding it in sideways makes for a perfect fit. I was not going to invite Alexa into my house, much less my office/hobby room.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Getting more stuff off my desk. Printed a little key ring holder and shelf. #3DPrinting #DailyLife #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of a grey and red shelf with a wallet and phone wrist strap on it. It has a black frame that includes 3 hooks with rings of keys on them.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I would like to introduce you all to RadioHead. He sounds louder & deeper in person. I didn't use the smart speaker that the original plans called for. The UE Wonderboom 4 speaker (already owned) fits great. Thanks for tolerating my project spam. #3DPrinting #Warhammer40K #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Good luck with that. Weird ass story is weird.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

My next door neighbors keep their house hermetically sealed, running their AC/heat 24/7/365. The sound of the compressor is at the right tone to trigger my tinnitus. Thus, I have to keep my office window closed even when it's nice out & I want fresh air. #Grumpy #DailyLife #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

This is the first time I've ever wired my own LEDs. I'm pretty proud of how my Data Skull is turning out. He has now taken the crown for the most complicated thing I've ever made; between #3DPrinting, wiring electronics, painting, and assembly. #Warhammer40K #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Collaged photos of a test activation of newly wired LEDs, the partially assembled/painted skull with wires sticking out of it, fully assembled/painted skull unpowered, and fully assembled/painted skull powered up.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Ordered a KTAG & IPASS. They cover the toll systems of 23 states & will save me toll $$. I picked them as neither state charges for the tag & will ship to Utah. My upper windshield may end up covered in toll passes. States need to set up one system, damnit. LOL! #RoadTrip #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Little Plastic People has the STL files for £5. Not sure on the conversion to USD or EUR right now. I got it quite a few months ago and conversion was about $6.50.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

All of the Data Skull parts from #3DPrinting. I've started filling and sanding where needed. More rounds of that followed by painting. I still need to get the electronic parts for me to build the lighting. Dumb speaker only, no abominable intelligences here. #Warhammer40K #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of a hobby desk covered in 3D printed parts; skull, teeth, internal structure, speaker grills, camera eyes, etc.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

6. Follow up, I am not opposed to Universes Beyond. Hell, my DM and I wrote Jedi rules in 2E back in the TSR days. It may net us more people in the community and even a few fun books. I don't see it being the cash cow for Hasbro in DnD that it is in MtG, though.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

5. The other is looking for dice, miniatures, terrain, or art made by individual artisans. Universes Beyond will capture a few collectors, but won't see wider adoption within the core DnD player base. They've gone down this road before with Star Wars. It was a momentary flash in the pan.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

4. DnD is improv theater with mechanics attached. You can spend almost nothing to have a satisfying night of shared storytelling. There are collectors' instincts within both groups, but only one is trying to collect the products that Hasbro sells.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

3. MtG is gambling with a competitive game attached. You are buying packs of card without knowing which cards are in them, hoping to find the ones with the best rules attached. You have to spend more to win more and the goal is to win.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

2. My commentary is a result of my many decades as a gamer & the years I worked for WotC. The reason why Hasbro can capitalize on Magic: The Gathering in a way that they struggle to with Dungeons & Dragons is built into the raw mechanical & philosophical differences between the games/game styles.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

1. Great little video about why the #TTRPG community resists Hasbro's attempts to capitalize on #DnD, yet successfully does it themselves. Hint... it's about one of the above words... community. #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts youtu.be/6tE3cqhUAjg?...

youtu.be

how D&D accidentally broke capitalism

YouTube video by Answer in Progress

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Yup. Same filament. I just changed the print angle to make the top layer land on a corner instead of a flat surface then dropped the layer height for the layers with weird angles & added details. Keeping the base layer height for the layers where it isn't as visible helped keep print time down.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The difference a few printer setting changes can make... damn. Being newish to a hobby means there is so much to learn. #3DPrinting #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of two identical 3D printed parts side by side, one of which is visibly better and smoother looking.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Even more parts printed with rough fitting. Once everything is printed, I will have the 'fun' of sanding, priming, and painting. This will be a multi-week project. #3DPrinting #Warhammer40K #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Collaged photos of black and bone colored interior and speaker parts, as well as the data skull with the assembled speaker attached.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Some more parts printed and how they fit together to hold your phone inside the skull. #3DPrinting #Warhammer40K #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Collaged photos of a receiver and sled for your phone outside and inserted inside the Data Skull. The sled says 'Insert cogitation wafer here' on it.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

First parts printed, only several dozen more to go. He was my longest single print to date at 17 hours. #3DPrinting #Warhammer40K #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of the skull and teeth of a ServoSkull printed in bone colored filament on a desk.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I've been #3DPinting a lot of utility & organization stuff or for other people since I got the printer. I decided to print something other than a bookshelf tentacle just for funzies. He's a long ass print. It'll be a bit for the finished/painted product. #Warhammer40K #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of Little Plastic People's and Midwinter Mini's fully painted data skull phone or smart speaker dock.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Yup! He's in there! I'll post pictures once he's painted up. I played with these guys back in the FASA cardboard standee days and they're getting me back into the game

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I got together at a friend's game store with a couple guys from my high school gaming group and played #Battletech today. It was a fun blast from the past. I was the second to last man standing in a four way. The guys also sent me home with more mechs. #MiniaturePainting #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of a game table full of mechs and terrain.

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

2. #Akira 4K Remastered is in the theater and I wanna see it on the big screen. I've seen the various versions of it well over a dozen times on the small screen. It is legit one of my favorite movies, much less animes. Might cookout on Monday. #Battletech #DailyLife #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

1. Looks like I have a nice holiday weekend planned. Tomorrow I'm meeting up with one of my oldest friends to play #Battletech. Since we're brown bagging, I'm trying a new vegan Chinese place for take out. On Sunday, I'm taking myself out to the movies. #Akira #DailyLife #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Random thoughts: TCGs & blind boxes act on the same pleasure seeking part of the brain that gambling does. Neurospicy folks are especially susceptible. It's predatory & abusive. This whole corporate part of fandom pisses me off. Thanks for coming to my TED talk. #EatTheRich #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

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lilalexei @lilalexei.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Today was past me getting Kickstarter gifts for present me. This was backed almost 3 yrs ago. I still haven't gotten the book from a 4 yr old one. I'm sure it's a loss, as the creator has fucked off to the UK. Only two losses out of the dozens I've backed are ok odds. #Dune #ChaoticQueer #GeekCrafts

Photo of a Dune graphic novel and a bunch of Dune schwag.

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