iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I am absolutely delighted. What a wonderful way to gently encourage in person event participation. #MTGArena

Screenshot of Magic: The Gathering Arena Client on PC showing I just acquired the "Paper Player I" achievement and earned the "Went Outside" title.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Does "beard" count as "hair" because I might need to do a rebrand...

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

If you have a Switch and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription... or have another way of playing GBA games... I highly recommend you play Metroid: Zero Mission. It's a faithful built-from-the-ground-up and expanded GBA remake of the NES original. Just give it a try.

Box Art for the GameBoy Advance Game Metroid Zero Mission

Screenshot from the GBA Game Metroid Zero Mission. Samus in futuristic orange armor with a red helmet is standing on a frozen crearture and aiming her arm canon at a suspicious block or something.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

This whole thing is alarming to me... like... I feel like Metroid, as a franchise and a handful of really excellent games, should be way bigger of a deal to Nintendo fans and retro gamers. This is the game* that inspired a highly popular genre! *(The original Castlevania was not a Metroidvania.)

The box cover for the original Metroid Video Game for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

A screenshot of NES Metroid showing Samus jumping in a dark room with moody walls and strange creatures about.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Had a Nintendo fan in my life mention they hadn't played any Metroid games and so didn't play Dread. My kid was saying that the latest Nintendo Direct didn't have anything too exciting and I was like "What about new Metroid?" and he was like, "Meh, not many people like Metroid".

Screenshot from a cut scene in Metroid Dread for Nintendo Switch. A 3D image with a monster in the foreground and Samus (a figure in a futuristic armor) in the distance charging an energy ball at the end of her arm.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

And, like, it's right in the name... Red Black IS Rakdos. Why not see if some passion, spectacle, pyrotechnics, and mayhem are what you team needs to break the slump?

The Red Black Hybrid Mana Symbol. A Gray and Red Circle with a black skull and fireball.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

And you can find lot's a fan costume inspiration on Magic cards.

Elegant lady dressed spectacularly and about to do a spectacle.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

And, I mean, some of you won't have to change much... and that saw blade in the logo already has the right vibes.

A man whose face is painted red and black with a zipper running up the middle and exaggerated painted teeth. (credit https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/nowhere-else-to-go-but-up-redblacks-superfan-stays-positive-amid-historic-losing-streak-1.7509314 )

Creepy image of a blindfolded man being held up and another guy probably going to drill his head with a big drill.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I'm not saying Big Joe isn't great... but, like, Rakdos is... well...

Big Joe, the Mascot of the Ottawa Redblacks. He is a chiseled jawed lumberjack wearing a toque and a red and black flannel while wielding an Axe.

The art from the Magic: The Gathering Card "Rakdos, Lord of Riots" featuring a big winged and horned demon guy towering over smaller demon guys and wearing spikes while wielding a big scythe-axe hubrid. There's also a lot of "fire" and "bone" vibes... even if there aren't actually any clearly depicted.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Yo, @ottawaredblacks.com fans. I understand y'all are on a historic losing streak and, honestly, I respect that. I'm not a sports fan but you gotta respect commitment to a bit. That said... as a @magic.wizards.com fan I have an alternate bit y'all could pivot to. The Cult of Rakdos. #MTGxCFL

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Here's some of my "Zeta" inspired proxy Karolina Dean, Runaway #Commander deck. Lots of iteration on the base layout, art, and color treatments. Let me know if you want to see any specific proxies in detail. Obviously this is entirely for personal use/entertainment. #EDH #MagicTheGathering

Photograph of many custom MTG proxies. They are clearly printed in BW and colored in with pencil crayons.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Got myself some Magic Glasses. (AKA: Reading glasses so I can read the cards in my hand without squinting.) Did not get bifocals (yet) and have a different problem for middle distances so I might have to change glasses to read the cards on your side of the table...

Close up face selfie of a bearded man in glasses.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

My "Power-Up" deck is just the "Ramp Ramp Ouroboroid" deck except sometimes I can win without drawing Ouroboroid. #MTGxMarvel #MTGMSH #MagicTheGathering

Screenshot of a very imbalanced board state in Magic: The Gathering Arena where I have 7 creatures and three lands (one earthbent) and 20 life and my opponent has 1 land and 14 life.

Screenshot ofthe next turn from the last screenshot of Magic: The Gathering Arena where I have powered up Quicksilver and my opponent has lost.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

we don't usually see each other's headers. here's mine.

A classic grayscale image from an old "War of the World" print that I found on Wiki-Commons or something. It shows a alien "Tripod" ( a tin can with tentacles ) attacking a very detailed steamer ship. A red face-mask has been crudely added to the tripop's "face".

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

I checked my local fancy burger place in Canada (The Works) and they have a "Cali Smash" smashburger with Avocado and Bacon so it does seem like at least some Canadians get it.

Photo of a double patty smash burger plated with fries. Text: CALI SMASH
Potato Bun, double WORKS smash patties, double melted cheddar cheese, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and house-made Beechhouse sauce. 890-1730 Cals

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

This is a cat check point: relinquish your most recent cat picture on your phone

A bearded man in a red sweatshirt trapped on a couch by a pair of cats. The framing is awkward with a cat face in the foreground suggesting the photo was taken by the human subject while trying not to disturb the feline subjects.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

One Four Color Commander Deck? No Green Cards in the Previews? No Basic Lands in initial Reveal? Key art showing White Lilliana, Red Ajani, Blue Chandra, Colorless???? Vraska and Black Garruk... Nissa notably absent.? So, updated prediction, no green cards added to Reality Fracture "standard".

Key art (from the Vegas panel I believe) showing Jace in the center and normal and echoverse alternate versions of five major characters

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Current Plan: Arena Black Sleeves (says Arena) Brigid Avatar (Kithkin is all about community, purchase shows investment? Thopter (unlocked by playing on mobile so likely available to all... also shows mobile players that they belong) Arena Base Set Basic Lands (available to all, not used often)

A Thopter companion in the MTGARENA UI
It is a complex fantasy filigree flying bug thing.

Screenshot of basic plains, swamp, forest, island and mountain in the "Base Arena Set" printing as seen in the MTG Arena Collection view.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Resolved Crescent Island Temple, three shrines enter triggering Kyoshi Island Plaza, three more lands… make a large but irrelevant number of Red Monk Token creatures with Prowess… realize Mythweaver Poq is at 21… move to combat… opponent concedes. [5/5] Replay: mtga.untapped.gg/replay/ghjrL...

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Didn't know I had already won so cast Great Divide Guide and Enduring Vitality… might have helped with fixing but can't say for sure… probably not. My only untapped non-summoning sick creature is my 18/18 Mythweaver Poq… and Enduring Vitality means I could have accidentally tapped it here! [4/5]

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Resolve Kyoshi Island Plaza, declining the triggers for the two shrines created and thus throwing six lands into play for Mythweaver Poq to see… creating six copies of these lands… land count 18 [3/5]

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Turn Six (11 if we count both player and opponent turns separately)… Mythweaver Poq, Sanctum Weaver, Parallel Lives, and Six Lands in play (doubled Multiversal Passage with Mythweaver Poq previous turn)… Resolve Go-Shintai of Life's Origin, creating two shrines [2/5]

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Les Trains Sont En Service Les Trains Sont En Service Les Trains Sont En Service Les Trains Sont En Service Les Trains Sont En Service

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

The lighting on this but is weird.

A bearded man in a toque lit in pale blue.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

#MagicTheGathering #MTGArena #MTGBrawl Glad I put Laboratory Maniac in my Shrines deck... we both were on the edge of losing to timeout.

Screenshot of Magic The Gathering Arena showing a complex board state with dozens of tokens. The player is on 5 color shrines while the opponent is at 698 life. The player has won due to failing to draw a card.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

#ReadLog Just finished the second Magic The Gathering novel, Whispering Woods. Pretty well written but, Lords of Atlantis, there's a lot of magic card names shoehorned into there. Going to skip ahead a little and read the latest one next...

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Got my hair and beard trimmed. It's been about 8 months.

a selfie of a man with a recently trimmed beard and hair in a turquoise batman shirt against a subway green field

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Well the hint shows up... but I can't hug anyone anymore!

Screenshot of Mythmatch showing Maxed out relationship with 8 NPCs

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

I play this a bunch. It's great removal bait.

The Magic The Gathering card "Dragon Sniper".

One green mana for a 1/1 human archer with vigilance, reach, and deathtouch.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Always my first thought when seeing this treatment.

The words Dunc-an Idaho in the style of the dine movie poster.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

It's not a mountain of goblins but...

A full art swamp from lorwyn eclisped magic the gathering set depicting a swampy village of thatched roof mud-huts.

A crop of the other image showing a tiny blurry goblin.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Another for the #ReadLog I read this one before, but back in 1994, when it was first published. It's odd what I remembered vividly and what I had completely misremembered. Garth just eating the "exotic" pomegranates like apples is a good summary of the level of research required of 90s authors.

A bearded man holding up a worn and stained copy of the Magic The Gathering novel "Arena". The cover features a man turning away in pain while another man casts a fireball. A number of skeletons stand menacingly in the background and a bold "special offer" starburst obscures the art.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Reading Magic The Gathering Arena while waiting for Magic The Gathering Arena to install on my TV (computer connected to TV).

The novel Magic The Gathering Arena held in front of the Game Magic The Gathering Arena installing.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Another Dungeon Crawler Carl book for the #ReadLog I don't have the next one yet.

A gray bearded man with messy brown hair holding up a copy of the third book in Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl series. His hand is covering the title. The art features a man and a cat riding a velociraptor running away from a subway train crowded between large red lettering.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Another selfie for the #ReadLog Quick read... still enjoying the series.

A man holding a copy of the novel Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman. The cover is pink and black and yellow with large letters and an illustration of a man and a large cat escaping an explosion.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

I forget what hashtag I was using for these. #ReadLog maybe? Anyways. I read this book in under two days after not having read a novel in months which counts as an endorsement. Warning: First book of a series and ends at a satisfying stopping point instead of an ending... but close enough, right?

The seemingly disembodied head of bearded man with a high forehead looking at a copy of the book Dungeon Crawler Carl, a novel by Matt Dinniman. The cover is strong contrasting yellow, black, and magenta and the large print forms the subtle shape of a monster with sharp teeth and a semi silhouette of a man in boxers holding a list stick of dynamite running ahead of a cat in a tiara.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

I seem to play Minecraft by adding a bunch of mods and then trying to make those mods work together for my personal use. (Shown here: three new professions added using the VillagerAPI mod in order to trade items added by the simplebuilding mod.)

Some Minecraft Villagers in custom "worksite" outfits.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Learning the answer to that question was the key to my overcoming one of the puzzles in Hugo's House of Horrors.

Screenshot of an old CGA colored Adventure game with the text: "The only thing you recognize is a useful looking rubber bung?"

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Some mornings I wake up to evidence my teen had photography homework.

A neutral colored blanket spread out over the seat and back of a gray couch and some cushions.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Hey #MagicTheGathering #MTGArena Players... Looks like free Bolas Basics today for New Year's I guess?

Screenshot of Magic: The Gathering Arena store showing five full art basic lands for 0. They all feature the "Bolas Horns" in their art.

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Wonder if there's any possibility this is in any way related to Hasbro?

A Magic: The Gathering card depicting the classic Eastman style four teenage mutant Ninja turtles perched, wielding weapons attop a building in front of a stylized cityscape.

Card Text
Doubling Season
{4}{G}
Enchantment

If an effect would create one or more tokens under your control, it creates twice that many of those tokens instead.

If an effect would put one or more counters on a permanent you control, it puts twice that many of those counters on that permanent instead.

Illustrated by Kevin Eastman

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Google+ Enthusiast @sinbadev.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

I wonder if all of the new five type creatures (Legendary Creature Human Spider Hero, Legendary Creature Scorpion Dragon Rogue, Legendary Creature Human Noble Cleric) will make Embiggen playable? We've gotten 100+ new ones this year and even more coming with Avatar. #MagicTheGathering

The Magic: The Gathering card "Embiggen"

Name: Embiggen
Cost: One Green
Type: Instant
Text: Until end of turn, target non-Brushwagg creature gets +1/+1 for each supertype, card type, and subtype it has.
Flavor: “Flea circus? No, flee circus!”
Illustration by Tyler Walpole depicting a massive green glowing flea growing even larger.

https://scryfall.com/card/unf/137/embiggen

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