iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Theme for Darko at Raptors' Media Day:

Pic from The Office of Meredith shouting "Talk about vacation days", but the text is changed to "Talk about load management."

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Folks, these old Ninja Turtles toys are dangerous. I somehow got a Splinter on my finger.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Anxiety sweater working overtime with the storm outside.

A brown/silver labradoodle wearing an orange sweater to calm her anxiety on the couch during a storm.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Dame Sarr's shot chart at Duke last season was wild.

Shot chart for Dame Sarr at Duke from the 2025-2026 season, which shows a focus on shots and the rim, followed by corner 3s. Almost no mid-range shots taken.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Living her best cottage life.

A brown/silver labradoodle sitting sideways on a patio chair. Hanging out and smiling on a cottage deck with a lake behind.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Canada kicking off an elimination game in the world cup and some chicken skewers on the grill. Damn fine day.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Very excited for Brad Stevens' media availability on Monday.

Screenshot of Kelly from The Office in a staff meeting. Caption reads "Yeah, I have a lot of questions. Number one: How dare you?"

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Izaiyah Nelson's NBA Draft combine athletic testing sure looks like a star. Literally.

Visualization of Izaiyah Nelson's NBA Draft Combine athletic testing, where it looks like the shape of a star.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Here it is! A handmade leather tote with pockets and a plaid lining.

Brown leather totebag with a white/black/grey flannel lining.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

My dog when I get out the Denta-Stix:

Screenshot from Shoresy when character says "Sticks are unbelievable."

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

I just learned that Zuby Ejiofor's played for a team called BeastUp in Dallas during high school. And I'd like to bring to everyone's attention the amazing Raptors' branding that they wore a few times. And yes, it was a purple jersey.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

My dog has been acting weird since last night, so off to the vet she went. She has her first fever. Look how patient she was waiting for her blood work.

A beautiful labradoodle named Scout waiting patiently for the vet to bring results. She sadly has a fever.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

When a 6'8" forward that can't shoot becomes available:

Bobby Webster of the Toronto Raptors with a big smile.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

I'm putting together a team of specialist. It's time to plan a heist!

Schedule for the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour in Canada, where it will travel to Vancouver (April 10-11), Calgary (April 12), Winnipeg (April 13), Montreal (May 22), Halifax (May 23), Ottawa (May 24), and Toronto (May 25-26).

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Lot of good stuff (obviously) in here, but a snipper of one of my favourites:

ovies
The Streaming Guide
MLB
The Ringer 107
Events
Simmons Pod
Rewatchables
Big Picture
The Watch
Higher Learning
House of R
The Town
Plain English

By Michael PinaJan. 30, 7:26 am CST • 10 min
NBA
The Raptors Are Funky, Confusing, and Lurking at the Trade Deadline
Toronto’s weird success has it circling big ideas—and bigger names

Getty Images/Ringer illustration
I’m never surprised by the outcome of a Toronto Raptors game. Give up 138 points in a gut-punch loss to the Washington Wizards? Naturally. Throw a blanket on the Thunder in Oklahoma City to take down the defending champs? Right on. Nearly 50 games into the season, and less than a week out from the trade deadline, I can’t tell if being completely unfazed by these results is a good or bad thing—whether it speaks to some strange kind of resilience or a structural inconsistency.

Either way, the Raptors are massive (albeit confusing) overachievers, currently in fourth place, and only one victory away from tying last year’s 30-win total. This is an endearing, flawed, unpredictable team that has had its opening-night starting five for just 12 games all season. Somewhat remarkably, they’ve exceeded expectations, boasting the league’s fifth-best defense, ranking first in fast-break points, and trailing only OKC in turnover differential. At the same time, their offense is about average, only two teams have enjoyed a luckier schedule health-wise, and their outside shooting is a big problem; they rank near the bottom of the league in both 3-point percentage and rate.

Nothing they do offensively is a harbinger of postseason success, and none of it should be dismissed. Yet Toronto is one of this season’s biggest success stories, with a sensibly rabid style of play, an abundance of talent, a smart coach, and a bunch of intriguing options before next week’s trade deadline.

For those who believe the Eastern Conference is up for grabs—a.k.a. anyone who has been following the Eastern Conference this season—it’s time t…

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

I'm pretty proud of the new plow names in Winnipeg. Our city united with a purpose.

A lost of names for Winnipeg's new plow names.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

I love Sacramento Kings fans so much.

Screenshot of the Sacramento Kings' Reddit header, which reads "Welcome back to Basketball Hell!"

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

She's highly invested in this Raptors 905 game. Locked in.

A dog named Scout is watching the Raptors 905 on TV.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Awake at 3am, gave up on sleep shortly after 4am. But at least I've got a cup of tea, a good book, and some cute company.

A mug of tea in the foreground, and a labradoodle asleep in her bed on an ottoman.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

My son is having a rough night. So I'm having a rough night. Gave up on sleep around 3AM to read a book instead. But you know who hasn't given up on sleep?

A labradoodle named Scout sleeps contentedly curled up on her bed.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

My sister-in-law perfected Christmas this year Cheers to all this holiday season!

A man holding a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mug he got for Christmas.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

It's a snow day in Winnipeg. My office is closed (though I still have to work remotely) and my 4.5yo is at home with me. Everyone look at the fort he made!

A blanket fort in a living room, with a blizzard taking place in the window behind, and a Christmas tree in the corner of the room.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

She's even nervous about Christmas.

A labradoodle named Scout is sitting on the couch with a Christmas tree behind her. As always, she looks nervous.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

My wife taught me to knit shortly after we got marriied, and while I haven't done it in a very long time, breaking out my old knitted hood and face mask on the coldest days is always a delight.

A man wearing a knit hood and mask while walking in below -30 weather in Winnipeg.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Look at the joy on Steve's face when Nekias transitions to the Raptors. Pure elation.

Steve Jones excited to talk about the Raptors on The Dunker Spot on Nov. 25, 2025.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Looking at the forecast today may be my last biking day of the season. And if that's the case, we went out with a bang.

A bike pulling a chariot trailer crossing a pedestrian bridge at sunrise over the Red River in Winnipeg, Manitoba. November 24, 2025.

Crossing a pedestrian bridge at sunrise over the Red River in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I paused to take a picture of myself. Bike, sunrise, and river visible behind me. November 24, 2025.

A blue bike and red chariot trailer parked in front of the Manitoba Legislature, which has Christmas lights decorating the front pillars. November 24, 2025.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Someone is suspicious about Christmas.

A brown/grey labradoodle named Scout is sitting on a couch while wearing a festive Christmas bowtie. Behind her is a fully decorated Christmas tree. She looks suspicious about the whole thing.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Folks...not only was I treated to one of the best sunrises of my biking season, but the moon also cooperated to get in the shot. A truly magical ride to work this morning.

A bike on a pedestrian crossing bridge over the Red River in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Taken on the morning of November 14, 2025, there is a beautiful sunrise over the water and a crescent moon in the top corner.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

I think the Pelicans are cursed because they abandoned the original Demon Pierre the Pelican. If they just kept their murder mascot they'd probably have multiple championships by now, instead of this doomed corpse we see before us.

The original New Orleans Pelicans mascot, Pierre the Pelican, before they gave him "plastic surgery" to make him less scary for children (and everyone else).

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Woke up to a flat tire, but had another beautiful ride! My son asked us to stop and take a pic, so now you all get to see in.

A blue bike pulling a red chariot trailer, stopped on a pedestrian bridge over the Red River in Winnipeg. The sun is rising behind dark clouds, that are trimmed with pink and orange. The sky is reflected in the calm water, and the bridge is wet as it had recently rained.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Thin crust pizza should cost less, because you're getting less pizza.

Norman Rockwell's Freedom of Speech painting.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Been about 1.5yrs since I've done any leather work, but I made my dog Scout a collar this weekend. Because she's fancy.

A labradoodle named Scout wearing a homemade leather collar, while standing in front of wooden kitchen cabinets.

A homemade leather dog collar, with multi-coloured sticking with gun black metals accents.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Found a little something on my bike to work this morning.

Mini-bus burned on the road along the side of the Red River in Winnipeg, on Friday, September 12, 2025.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

A painter has been working in my office building for about 3-4 months. It's been a comedy of errors and delays. But last night he put a sign for a women's bathroom up on my hallway door, and then painted around it.

Hallway door that was labeled as a bathroom by a painter, who then painted around the sign.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

My dog was livid that I banned her from the bedroom while I changed the sheets. So she is proving a point now by claiming her spot.

A labradoodle named Scout resting under the pillows on a bed. Because she wants you to know she can.

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Matt Shantz @shantz.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Here's the clip of Collin Murray-Boyles' steal that I reference in my skeet from last night. The anticipation, timing, and reach was great. Felt a little bit like he was baiting the ballhandler to make the pass before jumping the lane.

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