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Sam Hill

@samahill.bsky.social
471 followers 330 following 523 posts

Portland-based journalist. Writing about national parks for SFGATE, gaming for Polygon, and everything else everywhere else. Talk to me about hiking, weird corners of the internet and the Boston Celtics.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Sam Hill
joe a wilkins @joeonhere.bsky.social · 8h
In case you still think AI is useless:
futurism.com
People Who Drink Their Own Pee Are Obsessed With AI, Using It to Reassure Themselves That It's a Miraculous Cure-All
Urine therapy fans share tactics to bypass AI safeguards in order to reinforce their belief in the medicinal qualities of pee.
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Rachel Deering @racheldeering.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Tanager of the Day: Beryl-spangled Tanager 📷 Andres Vasquez Noboa
Photo of bird perched on a branch, description from ebird: ‘Small tanager found in Andean subtropical zone from Venezuela to Bolivia. Unmistakable: entire body boldly spotted with bright blue-green, sharply contrasting with black mask and back. No other tanager has such a spangled appearance. Sexes alike. A fairly common member of mixed flocks from around 1,500–2,500 m, within forest and also at edges or in second growth.’
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A new anthology from @bicyclecomics.bsky.social collects resignation letters penned by fed employees in 2025. I chatted with the book's editor and a former Crater Lake National Park superintendent about sharing quitting stories and the chaos of Trump's second term. www.sfgate.com/national-par...
sfgate.com
'Chronic stress': Federal workers who quit under Trump tell all
A new anthology captures federal resignation letters from 2025.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A new anthology from @bicyclecomics.bsky.social collects resignation letters penned by fed employees in 2025. I chatted with the book's editor and a former Crater Lake National Park superintendent about sharing quitting stories and the chaos of Trump's second term. www.sfgate.com/national-par...
sfgate.com
'Chronic stress': Federal workers who quit under Trump tell all
A new anthology captures federal resignation letters from 2025.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
more proof that we’re living in the worst timeline
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Aftermath @aftermath.site · 22/09/2026
72-year old Ohio man put a GPS tracker on Pokemon delivery driver's vehicle aftermath.site/pokemon-scalpe...
pokemon cards
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Aysha U. Farah @ayshaufarah.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
emails
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
everyone check out this really cool thing @sfgate.com is doing! I'm not in SF but hit me up if you want to hangout in a park and talk about journalism in Portland ✌️
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Oregon 🕎🎲 @oregonthedm.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Age of man is over the other lotr goblin says the age of man is what? Over they are both speaking to walkie talkies
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
thinking about becoming one of those guys that comments "SLOW NEWS DAY??? 🤣😂" on every news story I can find
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Reposted by Sam Hill
Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Did you know that one of the first major UFO sightings in the U.S. was over Mount Rainier National Park? A single report launched a countrywide fascination with "flying saucers." My latest for @sfgate.com: www.sfgate.com/national-par...
sfgate.com
America's flying saucer craze began with a UFO sighting near Mount Rainier
A 1947 sighting over Mount Rainier launched America's UFO craze.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
belated announcement but I'm writing news over at @polygon.com now 😎 lots of stories about unexpected steaming hits, video game deals and, most importantly, the upcoming ACOTAR board game all the stories here: www.polygon.com/author/sam-h... www.polygon.com/acotar-board...
polygon.com
One of Romantasy’s Biggest Series Is Coming for Your Board Game Shelf
One of romantasy’s biggest series is becoming a strategy board game built around alliances, rivalries, and the seven Courts of Prythian.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Did you know that one of the first major UFO sightings in the U.S. was over Mount Rainier National Park? A single report launched a countrywide fascination with "flying saucers." My latest for @sfgate.com: www.sfgate.com/national-par...
sfgate.com
America's flying saucer craze began with a UFO sighting near Mount Rainier
A 1947 sighting over Mount Rainier launched America's UFO craze.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
And I just got off the phone with a UFO expert.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
A famous wolf and her pack left Yellowstone, leaving them vulnerable to hunting. A man who calls himself “America’s outlaw dog trainer” is offering a $10,000 reward for information on anyone who hunts the pack. The latest from @thatsmohrlikeit.bsky.social: www.sfgate.com/national-par...
sfgate.com
'Outlaw dog trainer' puts bounty out on Yellowstone wolf hunters
A famous wolf and her pack left Yellowstone, leaving them vulnerable to hunting.
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SFGATE @sfgate.com · 31/07/2026
An ex-national park ranger is fighting back against censorship.
bit.ly
Why a former national park employee is posting up in visitor centers
An ex-national park ranger is fighting back against censorship.
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Maggie Harrison Dupré @mharrisondupre.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
NEW: A PR firm used at least 15 fake personas — equipped with fake emails, fake websites, and in some cases, fake AI-generated faces — to send me dozens of pitch emails about its (very real) clients. Those clients told me they had no idea this was happening. futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com
We Are Alarmed by This PR Firm Using a Small Army of Fake AI-Powered Publicists to Barrage Journalists With Pitches for Its Clients
A PR firm called Movchan Agency operated a roster of fake PR representatives, some with AI faces, to pitch journalists on stories. Why?
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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 29/07/2026
I 100% have not changed a single goddamn thing about how I write here in the age of "AI." I write how I write. If the "AI" writes anything like how I write, it's because it stole from me. I'm gonna use any punctuation I like, and if it looks "AI"ish to you, you can go fuck yourself.
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Maggie Harrison Dupré @mharrisondupre.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
NEW: A large trove of Claude-generated documents have been exposed to the web and indexed by Google. We reviewed what appear to be real medical records, the full names and phone numbers of school-aged children, and company documents marked for internal use only. futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com
A Whole Bunch of People's Claude Chats Are Publicly Accessible Online, and There's Some Wildly Private Stuff in There
A trove of documents generated by Anthropic's Claude were indexed by Google. They included medical records and student information.
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julio 🤙 @juliocan2.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Sometimes I get the Portland Pickles rally song stuck in my head. Pickles, pickles, pickles. Pickles, pickles, pickles. Piiickles, pickles, pickles. Piiickles, pickles, pickles.
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Reposted by Sam Hill
jon christian @jonchristian.net · 24/07/2026
this is the worst combination of words i've ever seen in my life
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
I got to write about our lord and savior Jimothy for @sfgate.com: www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/a...
sfgate.com
Seattle to honor its newest hero, a misshapen raccoon named Jimothy
'You don't have to be perfect to be loved.'
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Reposted by Sam Hill
SFGATE @sfgate.com · 22/07/2026
Bear incidents are up 25% in the national park since last year.
bit.ly
In crowded Yosemite, bears are eating birthday cake and getting hit by cars
Bear incidents are up 25% in the national park since last year.
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Carl Prothman | Photography @carlprothman.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Mount Rainier under a sky full of stars I was hoping for a clear night, but a few clouds drifted through and made everything feel even more immense. Stars above, Rainier below… the whole night felt vast and peaceful in a way that’s hard to put into words. #MountRainier #PNWPhotography
Mount Rainier rises beneath a wide night sky filled with countless stars. Snowfields and glaciers remain visible across the mountain’s upper slopes, while the lower ridges fade into darkness. Thin clouds drift across the right side of the sky, adding softness and texture among the sharper points of starlight. Several faint satellite trails create narrow lines across the stars. The scene feels vast, quiet, and peaceful.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
if you aren't listening to this on repeat, what are you doing? www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZF3...
youtube.com
Year of the Horse
YouTube video by Aly & AJ - Topic
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Reposted by Sam Hill
Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
My new story at @seattletimes.com is about a rare cougar encounter in northern Washington. Read this runner's account of being stalked and narrowly escaping a chaotic day on the trail: www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoor...
seattletimes.com
How a runner faced a dangerous encounter on a WA trail
The encounter offers a rare look at what can happen when a cougar doesn't behave as expected — and what wildlife experts say people should know if they ever find themselves face to face with one.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Oops! This wasn't supposed to hit MY feed. If you like the vibe of this, go check out @dreamwavelabs.bsky.social.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
We're building Perihelion—a physics-based space combat roguelite where gravity shapes every fight. If you love mastering challenging mechanics, experimenting with new builds, and surviving impossible moments, we think you'll want to keep an eye on this one. #indiedev #gamedev
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
looking at jimothy art and listening to mazzy star — do not disturb
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jon christian @jonchristian.net · 20/07/2026
the glory of capitalism futurism.com/health-medic...
futurism.com
Whole Foods Offering Steep Discount on Taylor Farms Shredded Iceberg Lettuce
Whole Foods is offering a discount only for the boldest and miserliest: 50 percent off Taylor Farms shredded iceberg lettuce.
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the beggars out of here getter @milesklee.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Calling on parents as well as librarians and other book-world people who have encountered the new trend of personalized AI slop children's books that insert your kid as the main character. Has your child gotten one of these as a gift? What did they think? DM or hit me at miles_klee@wired.com
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Before Rialto Beach was part of Olympic National Park, it was the home of a mystic called Alexander, the Man Who Knows. He was known as a celebrity spiritualist ... and a swindler, a serial husband, a tax cheat and a jail escapee. My latest for @sfgate.com: www.sfgate.com/national-par...
sfgate.com
Before it was Olympic National Park, this beach belonged to a mystic
The bizarre story behind how Rialto Beach got its name.
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Reposted by Sam Hill
Gabe Fernandez @thelatinochild.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
large strong men are stopping me on the street with tears in their eyes to tell me how much life has improved since downloading the app and becoming a friend of sfgate
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
My new story at @seattletimes.com is about a rare cougar encounter in northern Washington. Read this runner's account of being stalked and narrowly escaping a chaotic day on the trail: www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoor...
seattletimes.com
How a runner faced a dangerous encounter on a WA trail
The encounter offers a rare look at what can happen when a cougar doesn't behave as expected — and what wildlife experts say people should know if they ever find themselves face to face with one.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Before Rialto Beach was part of Olympic National Park, it was the home of a mystic called Alexander, the Man Who Knows. He was known as a celebrity spiritualist ... and a swindler, a serial husband, a tax cheat and a jail escapee. My latest for @sfgate.com: www.sfgate.com/national-par...
sfgate.com
Before it was Olympic National Park, this beach belonged to a mystic
The bizarre story behind how Rialto Beach got its name.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Absolutely insane story from @kashhill.bsky.social here. She spoke with an "AI biographer" who has used ChatGPT to create over 400 books to sell on Amazon. Amazon doesn't disclose that they are all AI-generated. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/t...
nytimes.com
Someone Used A.I. to Write an Unauthorized Biography of Me. I Don’t Recommend Reading It. (Gift Article)
Someone used A.I. to write my biography. Thousands more of those books are polluting Amazon. Who is behind all this drivel?
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
I’m going to watch The Odyssey on my phone on a plane and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Did you know Mount Rainier National Park had a golf course for three short months in 1931? Golf was on the rise, but the Great Depression was worsening, and the short-lived experiment is one of the weirdest tales from the national park. My latest for @sfgate.com: www.sfgate.com/national-par...
sfgate.com
The unlikeliest attraction in Mount Rainier National Park only lasted months
Mount Rainier National Park briefly had a golf course.
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Charles Golson @charlesgolson.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Javalina crossing in Sedona. Have a good night.
Two gray javalinas (that resemble wild pigs) crossing a street at dusk.  Beyond and above them are green trees and two redrock formations.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
I don’t think we’re mean enough to people with 3D printers.
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Ashley Harrell @ashleyharrell.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
A year after Dragon Bravo, Grand Canyon’s North Rim workers who lost homes, jobs and peace of mind have not recovered — or been compensated. www.sfgate.com/national-par...
sfgate.com
'Are we about to burn?': The national park fire nobody was ready for
'Everything above the ground and below the roof burned away'
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Ah, yes. Love some things.
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Giovanni Colantonio @marioprime.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
dungeon crawler carl’s jr
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Karen (always looking for a road trip) @camarowrx.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
I don't even know what to say anymore. #ParkChat www.sfgate.com/national-par...
sfgate.com
‘Makes no sense’: Interior Dept employees baffled by Trump admin reassignments
The overhaul shuffled employees into unfamiliar agencies and roles.
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
In May, DOI sent out reassignment notices to hundreds of employees. Their roles would be similar, but they'd be moving to a new agency. This was pitched as a way to increase efficiency across the board, but employees I spoke to say it has only sparked confusion. My latest for @sfgate.com:
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Forget betting on NBA trades. Now you can bet on wildfires. Online gambling platforms are quickly getting absolutely insane. Great story from @thatsmohrlikeit.bsky.social:
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Sam Hill @samahill.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
I've been following the Redmond Cycling Club and all the trouble it has been going through to setup its annual bike ride near Mt. Rainier. The brand new ride they designed is hitting snags already. Story from me (and a new byline) in @seattletimes.com:
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SFGATE @sfgate.com · 23/06/2026
Park officials provided few details but confirmed a 23-year-old man was involved.
bit.ly
Yosemite confirms incident on famed waterfall amid online reports of fatality
Park officials provided few details but confirmed a 23-year-old man was involved.
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59nationalparks @59nationalparks.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
This Wednesday at 9 PM ET @naturetechfam.bsky.social and I will be discussing “Changes at #ParkChat”. There’s a lot to talk about so we hope everyone can stop by and participate.
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BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
iran has closed the reflecting pool.
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