iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

My friend made us go when he was in town and I do not understand the hype except for a photo op. All the sauce makes the fries messy and soggy quickly.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I started watching Hacks because my parents said I reminded them of Ava and I should maybe be offended that they saw a foul-mouthed struggling writer bisexual disaster and though "That's our daughter!" but it's also a pretty clean hit.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Burr is an 11 year old dude so definitely intrigued though he does come with a tabby who imprinted on him when I was fostering so I hope Banksy is OK with a 4-year-old chunky doofus who loves to cuddle.

A tabby in a board game box next to a black cat.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Banksy looks a lot like my Burr who is also a cool dude.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Great story. I am a big Green Lantern fan and I found I really just wanted the show that it becomes in episode 7 with Hal and John having a space adventure together. All the components of the series are great but they don't fit together in satisfying way.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I predict that the Lanterns finale begins in 2006 showing Hal taking down Simestro and how that affected him so deeply he hasn’t backed up his memory since.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The Expanse wasn’t even on the list which shows they were not getting enough sci-fi fans involved.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

One of the coolest things I've ever gotten to do professionally was visit the set of Zach Cregger's Resident Evil. Here's what I learned and what it smelled like. www.polygon.com/resident-evi...

polygon.com

How Zach Cregger Pulled Off Resident Evil’s Most Disgusting Scenes

Making the horror movie involved 50 gallons of fake blood and a lot of cleanup

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I haven't read that one but I have read Those Across the River and The Suicide Motor Club which I enjoyed and I've heard Between Two Fires is great.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Came here to recommend that series too!

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Yeah. Also both versions of The Office but no Big Mouth? Really shows the type of people making these calls.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The only animated show is Bojack so clearly no one making this list watches cartoons. No anime at all, no Rick & Morty, Justice League, Venture Bros., Archer or Avatar but they have House of Cards and Downton Abbey. Super lame.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I’m not saying Popeye’s specifically has the best bread but that biscuits are amazing and impossible to find in Europe and I want to be eating one right now.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A Popeye’s just opened at the train station in Rome but they don’t serve biscuits and I would like to complain to whatever execs decided not to share America’s best bread with the world.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

No food is worth waiting an hour in line for. You’re probably doing it because you saw it on Instagram or a best of list and you can definitely find food that’s as good if not better at a place that isn’t overwhelmed from all the attention.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

There is a place for truffles but they’ve become a status symbol and upsell used on way too much food.

000

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Everyone who got to be evil was clearly having a blast.

010

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I got to speak to Poorna Jagannathan and Garret Dillahunt about the wild episode 5 and what the Macons were thinking. www.polygon.com/lanterns-epi...

polygon.com

The Cast of HBO's 'Lanterns' Breaks Down That Shocking Villain Twist

“The core of me is still an outsider.”

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Next time! How was Norway? Haven’t been yet.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I brought my childhood cat with me to college and I’d take her home with me during break and I got extra searched every time because I think the TSA agents liked watching me hold her while the carrier got checked.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

One of the amazing things about Amsterdam is you can get this experience everywhere. Yes, I can still go to the grocery store and use self checkout or even order groceries delivered but I can also get samples and recommendations at the cheesemonger, baker and butcher nearby.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

As soon as I saw Joe Morton in the trailer I realized the Enterprise was going to have a really rough time. Awesome poster:

011

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

This is why Slow Horses and The Pitt are the best shows on television.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

There’s even a ton of similarities between his characters in Lanterns and Rebel Ridge. Yet for some reason none of my friends took my advice when I told them they needed to watch the action movie about civil asset forfeiture. www.polygon.com/rebel-ridge-...

polygon.com

Netflix's 10/10 Action Thriller Is the Perfect Introduction to the DC Universe's Newest Star

Before playing a space cops, he was beating up corrupt police officers

011

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

The dorm where all the poli sci majors at Northwestern lived hosted a Total Recall party the night of the California recall vote that made Arnold Schwarzenegger governor and the results came in as he was asphyxiating on Mars.

010

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I’ve done some for Wyrd Science and Polygon but they’re very time consuming so I can’t do as many as I would like.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I love the dueling Campari and Aperol bars at that mall.

000

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Kevin and Sterling have reached a similar understanding.

Kevin sits at his desk looking down at Sterling, the tabby cat in his lap, who has positioned himself so he needs to be held or he’ll fall.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Great scene, but my favorite part of that episode is when Scully is just in the background teaching Tea Leoni how to run in heels.

0300

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

The tribute they did this season to the Trunks attacking Frieza moment was so good.

010

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

You should go directly from this to watching My Adventures with Superman, which mashes up DBZ and Superman.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Sterling’s belly always cheers me up.

Sterling, a fat gray tabby, lies on his back with his belly exposed.

010

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I loved it and had the great pleasure of interviewing the director and guest stars about making it share.google/Il9hbjxxH0FD...

share.google

The Best Star Trek Episode of 2026 Takes the Sci-Fi Series to Chaotic New Heights

“Chaos is truly what puppets do best”

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I just got my Essen Spiel credentials so if you're going to be there hit me up!

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I get that living in New York is expensive but playing Magic: The Gathering as an affordable way to have fun is one of the funniest things I have ever read. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/19/n...

nytimes.com

‘I’ve Hit My Limit’: Some New Yorkers Opt for Fun at Home to Save Money

When wages are low and activities are pricey, the frugal find new ways of socializing.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

There need to be more LARPs, the perfect place for theater kids to role play.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Looks like that's already out but thanks for the suggestion!

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

That's already on my radar. I'd love to check it out at Essen if there's an opportunity!

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

I'm putting together a guide to the most anticipated board games for the rest of 2026 but it is infuriatingly hard to actually find release dates. If you're a board game maker or an enthusiast let me know what you're excited about.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Kevin: Was the plot of The Fantastic Four: First Steps that Galactus wants to eat their baby? Me: No, he wanted their baby to be his heir and was going to eat every other baby on Earth if that didn't happen.

010

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

I live in Amsterdam and a bike based city is a legitimate miracle the rest of the world should learn from.

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

The showrunners are so nice and passionate and have some incredible ideas for future seasons. I really hope we get to see them!

010

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

I wrote an article about cyberpunk books you can read before watching Neuromancer on Apple TV. The lead explains how Neuromancer defined the genre and you should go read it before January and then check out some other books on the list. So of course the comments are "Where's Neuromancer?"

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Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

We missed out on a Xena isekai?!

000

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I worked for a shopper marketing trade publication for six years while doing freelance games and entertainment writing until I got my first full-time gig doing the work I wanted to do. Now I freelance for them because it's stable, well-paying work that has gotten me through layoff/job search cycles.

010

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I really appreciated the "Skip intro and be cursed" message Evil used. I never skipped that intro!

000

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The most absurd part of this absurd story is what he’s apparently spending that money on.

020

Sam Nelson @samanthanelson.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I can teach cooking and cocktail mixing and maybe how to make a D&D character

000