iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

www.linkedin.com/pulse/nova-s... There has been extensive coverage of the need for taxation reform at the national and regional levels lately, so I decided to chime in on the latter in this article. Comments and shares are welcome.

linkedin.com

Nova Scotia Needs a Pro-Work Tax Shift

Nova Scotians feel squeezed every day. Food, housing, and energy bills grab headlines, but the province’s income tax schedule also takes a large bite from ordinary earnings.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

youtu.be/-AU8-Vg6f2M?... Great vid on the downsides of carrying too much debt and dealing with rising borrowing costs. Long story short, the risk of the whole system crashing down because one weak link breaks + servicing huge debt piles taking funds away from public services and critical projects.

youtu.be

If Every Country is having a Debt Crisis... Who's Lending the Money

YouTube video by The Invisible Hand

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Published a new op-ed in today's Herald.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Every gamer has a few titles they personally see themselves replaying once in a while. Personally, one such title is @ravensoftware.com’s Singularity. Between its intriguing backdrop, taut pacing, and visceral combat, this hidden 2010 gem stands the test of time (heh) and then some.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

New op-ed from yours truly got published in the Chronicle Herald.

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Reposted by Mitch Sabbagh

The Chronicle Herald @thechronicleherald.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Opinion: Nova Scotia needs larger private tax base to fund services www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/...

saltwire.com

Opinion: Nova Scotia needs larger private tax base to fund services

Letter to the editor of The Chronicle Herald

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Happy to unveil my new op-ed for the Chronicle Herald. Tackled the current state of Nova Scotia’s economic and business landscape, and how to make it more attractive to those wishing to invest their time, capital, and labor in it.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Published a new letter on balancing infrastructural growth and preservation.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Replaying this gem by @obsidian.net from the 360 days. Remains one of my favorite RPGs from that era, one boasting a peerlessly malleable plot that invites multiple playthroughs.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

www.youtube.com/live/PmFD9Ll... I had the chance to address my local council earlier today on the topic of affordable housing.

youtube.com

August 13, 2026 Community Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee

YouTube video by Halifax Regional Municipality

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Rolled credits on Halo Campaign Evolved. All in all, it's an 8/10 for me. Despite some technical hiccups and slightly undercooked additions to Combat Evolved's mechanics, the remake of Bungie's claim to fame's a solid entry point into the Halo franchise and an all-around solid first-person shooter.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Currently blasting my way through Campaign Evolved. Honestly feels great to dive back into Halo (last time I played a series entry was back in '21). Third installment was *the* reason I got into the Xbox 360 in the first place, so the franchise holds a special place in my heart.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Happy to share with you all my latest novelette. www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1u2d3... May or may not have been inspired by recent developments surrounding the building and powering of certain structures. Feel free to give my story a read and share your feedback in your spare time!

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Been a while since I last bought retro titles for my 360 library. Figured I’d check out some titles (most of which I missed out on back then).

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Frankly, this World Cup final is the soccer equivalent of that prequel flick nobody asked for that’s released after the epic conclusion to a blockbuster trilogy.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Thoughts today are with everyone impacted by the layoffs at Xbox and (my former home) Bethesda. These are trying times, and none of it is your fault. May y’all land on your feet shortly.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

All the recent chatter around Toy Story gave me an excuse to rewatch the very first installment. It holds up remarkably well, particularly in the writing department. Every line lands without feeling like filler, and the chemistry between Woody and Buzz carries much of the movie.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

youtu.be/FMex4f8cwEY?... Rest in peace, Bobby Prince. May your legacy live on in perpetuity.

youtu.be

Doom OST - E1M5 - Suspense

YouTube video by Jim DarkMagic

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Well done, England! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Slew the big bad and beat Hexen. All in all, a worthy follow-up to Heretic that builds upon its prequel with more puzzle-solving and exploration. Shoutout to Raven Software for their work on the original release and to @nightdivestudios.bsky.social and id Software for their remaster efforts.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

A Halifax-based studio uploaded the Steam page for their upcoming survival horror title. Feel free to give it a look-see! :) t.co/AUGVoAvmpj

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

With showcase season now a wrap, I figured I’d share my favorite announcements/updates of the week.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Contributed an op-ed to the @thechronicleherald.bsky.social this morning. www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/...

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Happy 1st anniversary, Switch 2!

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Happy to announce that I got done writing my third story this year! www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wtuxn... Feel free to give it a read and let me know what you think.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

NGL I love it when a developer feels so confident about what they whipped up that they keep things nice and minimalistic with their box arts.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Been in a Raven Software mood lately, so I decided to take a stab at their earlier 3D offerings. Especially curious about Hexen II because that one seldom gets talked about by fans. I'm aware that its lack of hand-holding spooked many, though the RPG elements and Quake-like aesthetics appeal to me.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Happy 10th anniversary to DOOM 2016, arguably one of last decade’s best shooters and comeback stories. www.gamedeveloper.com/design/the-d... In honor of the occasion, I figured I’d share on here this design piece on the game which I penned shortly after launch day.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Happy to announce that the demo for @zugalu.bsky.social's Five More Minutes, which I did some QA work on, is now out. Feel free to give it a whirl and share it with your chums! store.steampowered.com/app/3367950/...

store.steampowered.com

Five More Minutes on Steam

Build your deck and strategize to defeat foes as you traverse videogame worlds. Choose between 3 unique starting genres, and combine them to create unstoppable combos! Five more minutes is a love lett...

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

As of today, it’s been exactly two years now since I first landed in Halifax to visit it prior to moving in. Still glad to call it home.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Rolled credits on Pragmata. Hands down one of the best action titles in recent memory, and one of the more important releases this generation (a new IP that channels 360-era vibes!). If you love your games lean ‘n mean, be sure to give this one a try. It’s another keeper courtesy of Capcom.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

I happen to be one of those aging Millennials who grew up playing linear action games that lasted 12-15 hours tops. Not surprised to see so many titles harken back to 7th-gen game design seeing as it's been 20 years since the 360 launched. Nostalgia kicks in around that point.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professional... Sterling report on housing regulations courtesy of the CMHC. This is what I had in mind while addressing the @hfxgov.bsky.social Council back in early March. Supply-side measures can help HRM and other cities on the continent build the infrastructure they need.

cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Research Insight: Land Use Regulations and Housing Affordability in Canada

This Research Insight shows how stricter land use regulations increase housing costs and slow supply growth. Discover reforms improving housing affordability in Canada.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Brgan playing Pragmata. Feels and plays like a highly polished 360-era title, what with its no-frills exploration/combat loop, experimental shooting mechanics, and tight level design. In other words, the kind of game I grew up playing as a young’un and wish there were more of in this day and age.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Shoutout to shooters with fun gimmicks. Gotta be one of my favorite genres. (Looking forward to playing Pragmata.)

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

www.saltwire.com/new-brunswic... Concerns: - Sticking to total market value assessments = penalizing property owners for renovating/building multi-unit housing. - Freezing property assessments for a year can distort market data + deprive municipalities of revenue w/o solving housing bottlenecks.

saltwire.com

Liberals set to roll out ‘significant’ changes to New Brunswick property tax system

The Holt Liberal government is expected to deliver this spring its long-awaited plan to overhaul the province’s property tax and assessment systems.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

www.youtube.com/watch?v=znWB... Always love learning about policies (other) countries come up with to bolster their economies and put more money in everyone's pockets. Emphasis on financial literacy and market participation is something that governments worldwide could learn from Sweden.

youtube.com

Why Sweden is So Good at Startups

YouTube video by TLDR News EU

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWBE... Came across this vid detailing Winnipeg's resistance to change. TLDR Good ol' fear of the unknown exaggerating the cons. It's a habit that I've noticed in HRM, NS, and Canada as a whole. Sooner the economic/regulatory landscape's modernized, the better.

youtube.com

Why is Winnipeg so resistant to change?

YouTube video by CBC News Manitoba

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Rolled credits on Captain Toad. Hands down one of the best puzzle-platformers I’ve ever played. Gameplay and presentation were on point, and its use of the Gamepad (while limited) made the experience feel less passive than your average platformer.

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Mitch Sabbagh @mitchformer.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Sharing this Twitter post here. The fear of the unknown has bedeviled humankind since time immemorial. Given how much more technologically powerful society has become, it ain’t hyperbolic to say that old instincts may undo us if we don’t quell tribalism or bring down the temp in the political room.

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