Trick of the light
@trickofthelight.bsky.social
Former epidemiologist, writer, gamer, knitter and obsessed with my dog. Lots of TTRPGs. I like to make people sad over fictional characters for fun. 41, lesbian/kinky, disastrous, she/her.
Pinned
I am pondering the possibility of a gratitude list that truly reflects where I often am. It will be filled with things like "I showered and I didn't throw up" which is my primary accomplishment today.
I do not want another civil war. I do not want any war.
But I will say I'm starting to wonder exactly how far is far enough that the "Omg, no, states can't stand up to the Fed, it'll start a civil war" will realize that there's no other moral option left but to risk it.
But I will say I'm starting to wonder exactly how far is far enough that the "Omg, no, states can't stand up to the Fed, it'll start a civil war" will realize that there's no other moral option left but to risk it.
January 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
I do not want another civil war. I do not want any war.
But I will say I'm starting to wonder exactly how far is far enough that the "Omg, no, states can't stand up to the Fed, it'll start a civil war" will realize that there's no other moral option left but to risk it.
But I will say I'm starting to wonder exactly how far is far enough that the "Omg, no, states can't stand up to the Fed, it'll start a civil war" will realize that there's no other moral option left but to risk it.
Like most of the time this attitude has killed people, there still would have been plenty of profit without the death. This is just how they sleep at night, I guess.
January 11, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Like most of the time this attitude has killed people, there still would have been plenty of profit without the death. This is just how they sleep at night, I guess.
Yep. I can see an argument for it as "The ethical duty to do what you say you are going to do", but there's also neglect of any kind of prioritization. And a conflation of "Do what you said you would" with "Do it as hard as possible no matter the cost."
January 11, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Yep. I can see an argument for it as "The ethical duty to do what you say you are going to do", but there's also neglect of any kind of prioritization. And a conflation of "Do what you said you would" with "Do it as hard as possible no matter the cost."
I would hazard a guess it had something to do with placing the ethical duty to make money for investors above the ethical duty to not kill your customers.
January 11, 2026 at 1:59 PM
I would hazard a guess it had something to do with placing the ethical duty to make money for investors above the ethical duty to not kill your customers.
Reposted by Trick of the light
Every woman has heard it. Your daughter, your sister, your mother, your wife. We have ALL heard it.
I haven’t (and most likely won’t) watch the recently released video but I swear I can hear that “fucking bitch” in my head clear as day. The snarling hate and disgust. Every woman has heard it.
January 9, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Every woman has heard it. Your daughter, your sister, your mother, your wife. We have ALL heard it.
Is it ... maybe a K with an bad print?
January 9, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Is it ... maybe a K with an bad print?
I really, really love the ones with all the tube speckles inside, haven't managed to snag one of those yet.
January 9, 2026 at 6:40 PM
I really, really love the ones with all the tube speckles inside, haven't managed to snag one of those yet.
One of my *favorite* auction shows is a guy who is running two or three times a week. You bid on an uncut agate and then he cuts it on the spot. Makes most of his money on charging for the polish after, I think?
Lake Superiors are his specialty, though he also caries Malawis, Swazi, Botswana, etc.
Lake Superiors are his specialty, though he also caries Malawis, Swazi, Botswana, etc.
January 9, 2026 at 6:39 PM
One of my *favorite* auction shows is a guy who is running two or three times a week. You bid on an uncut agate and then he cuts it on the spot. Makes most of his money on charging for the polish after, I think?
Lake Superiors are his specialty, though he also caries Malawis, Swazi, Botswana, etc.
Lake Superiors are his specialty, though he also caries Malawis, Swazi, Botswana, etc.
Here's mine:
January 9, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Here's mine:
There's a guy in Alaska on the auction site I use, and he just has slabs of the stuff and uses an awl to split them and sell garnets from it on the spot.
January 9, 2026 at 6:33 PM
There's a guy in Alaska on the auction site I use, and he just has slabs of the stuff and uses an awl to split them and sell garnets from it on the spot.
I have a specimen piece that's two garnets partly fused and still in their matrix that I'm pretty fond of.
January 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM
I have a specimen piece that's two garnets partly fused and still in their matrix that I'm pretty fond of.
Ha! Yeah, what's funny is ... I like jewelry, and I like stones where they've been cut and face polished.
But other than basic polish, the majority of my NOT jewelry rock collection is specimen pieces.
But other than basic polish, the majority of my NOT jewelry rock collection is specimen pieces.
January 9, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Ha! Yeah, what's funny is ... I like jewelry, and I like stones where they've been cut and face polished.
But other than basic polish, the majority of my NOT jewelry rock collection is specimen pieces.
But other than basic polish, the majority of my NOT jewelry rock collection is specimen pieces.
Given that I would probably opt for "no stone" vs lab grown, though. If they look the same it doesn't matter so much for me, but I honestly like the imperfections/uniqueness of a natural stone.
January 9, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Given that I would probably opt for "no stone" vs lab grown, though. If they look the same it doesn't matter so much for me, but I honestly like the imperfections/uniqueness of a natural stone.
I had forgotten about that part, maybe because of the fact that most of what I buy is already made jewelry, and either secondhand or from vendors I trust to use ethical sources.
But I would definitely agree that lab made is definitely preferable to "Mined with horrific human rights violations."
But I would definitely agree that lab made is definitely preferable to "Mined with horrific human rights violations."
January 9, 2026 at 6:25 PM
I had forgotten about that part, maybe because of the fact that most of what I buy is already made jewelry, and either secondhand or from vendors I trust to use ethical sources.
But I would definitely agree that lab made is definitely preferable to "Mined with horrific human rights violations."
But I would definitely agree that lab made is definitely preferable to "Mined with horrific human rights violations."
I'm a sucker for labradorite.
January 9, 2026 at 6:02 PM
I'm a sucker for labradorite.
"Begin to get civil."
Yeah, you first, motherfucker.
Yeah, you first, motherfucker.
January 9, 2026 at 5:51 PM
"Begin to get civil."
Yeah, you first, motherfucker.
Yeah, you first, motherfucker.
... I may have become too fascinated with auction politics, possibly because it's very low stakes and doesn't really hurt anyone compared to actual politics right now.
January 9, 2026 at 5:43 PM
... I may have become too fascinated with auction politics, possibly because it's very low stakes and doesn't really hurt anyone compared to actual politics right now.
If I'm paying what I'd pay for a good facsimile anyway (not counterfeit, but just a similar piece without a brand name), it genuinely does not matter to me if it's actually, say, Tiffany or just looks like something Tiffany would make because I'm gonna wear it, not sell it.
January 9, 2026 at 5:39 PM
If I'm paying what I'd pay for a good facsimile anyway (not counterfeit, but just a similar piece without a brand name), it genuinely does not matter to me if it's actually, say, Tiffany or just looks like something Tiffany would make because I'm gonna wear it, not sell it.
I get the sense when I'm in an auction that about 90% of the people there are resellers. So I'm the weirdo where they're like "Do you want me to put it under the microscope so you can see the maker's mark?"
And I'm like "NOPE!"
Because unlike a reseller, I'm not pricing the item for sale.
And I'm like "NOPE!"
Because unlike a reseller, I'm not pricing the item for sale.
January 9, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I get the sense when I'm in an auction that about 90% of the people there are resellers. So I'm the weirdo where they're like "Do you want me to put it under the microscope so you can see the maker's mark?"
And I'm like "NOPE!"
Because unlike a reseller, I'm not pricing the item for sale.
And I'm like "NOPE!"
Because unlike a reseller, I'm not pricing the item for sale.
I like vintage jewelry auctions, and I'll be sold something that I probably would pay like ... $80 for elsewhere for $60. If I were a reseller, that might not be a good enough deal.
But I'm not, I get stuff for me, so I don't need as big a margin.
But I'm not, I get stuff for me, so I don't need as big a margin.
January 9, 2026 at 5:35 PM
I like vintage jewelry auctions, and I'll be sold something that I probably would pay like ... $80 for elsewhere for $60. If I were a reseller, that might not be a good enough deal.
But I'm not, I get stuff for me, so I don't need as big a margin.
But I'm not, I get stuff for me, so I don't need as big a margin.
It's just that if you are a vendor yourself, or using the items to make pieces to sell, you can't make a reasonable profit off of paying a *little* less for an item than you could retail. You need a *good* deal.
January 9, 2026 at 5:34 PM
It's just that if you are a vendor yourself, or using the items to make pieces to sell, you can't make a reasonable profit off of paying a *little* less for an item than you could retail. You need a *good* deal.
If you have someone clearly really knowledgeable bidding on a tray, it might drive others to bid because they will assume there's something there worth it.
Though, to be fair, I think you would still get a deal on anything on that tray. They're not generally OVERPRICING.
Though, to be fair, I think you would still get a deal on anything on that tray. They're not generally OVERPRICING.
January 9, 2026 at 5:34 PM
If you have someone clearly really knowledgeable bidding on a tray, it might drive others to bid because they will assume there's something there worth it.
Though, to be fair, I think you would still get a deal on anything on that tray. They're not generally OVERPRICING.
Though, to be fair, I think you would still get a deal on anything on that tray. They're not generally OVERPRICING.
For people like Hillary!
And also for good reviews from people like Hillary. 😆
And also for good reviews from people like Hillary. 😆
January 9, 2026 at 5:32 PM
For people like Hillary!
And also for good reviews from people like Hillary. 😆
And also for good reviews from people like Hillary. 😆
Ha, yes.
Mom: The things you knit are so lovely, you should try selling some!
Me: People won't even want to pay enough to cover supplies, I could never make a profit.
Also Me: *Drops $200 on yarn to make a gift for a friend*
Mom: The things you knit are so lovely, you should try selling some!
Me: People won't even want to pay enough to cover supplies, I could never make a profit.
Also Me: *Drops $200 on yarn to make a gift for a friend*
January 9, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Ha, yes.
Mom: The things you knit are so lovely, you should try selling some!
Me: People won't even want to pay enough to cover supplies, I could never make a profit.
Also Me: *Drops $200 on yarn to make a gift for a friend*
Mom: The things you knit are so lovely, you should try selling some!
Me: People won't even want to pay enough to cover supplies, I could never make a profit.
Also Me: *Drops $200 on yarn to make a gift for a friend*
If I could get nice yarns for VERY cheap, that calculus might change.
January 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM
If I could get nice yarns for VERY cheap, that calculus might change.