iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

This is potentially dystopian and all, but I suppose I can live with limited tracking when it makes "reading" sound like a shady activity.

Produce Preferences: Maintains steady book purchasing habit

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Where even to begin with the latest perfection from @peculiarityshop.bsky.social ? Everything from the tanzanite rings (which may be daily wear) to the “fun” trio of raw stone, dahlia, and labradorite rings to the tiny pendants to the random cactus toy… Perfection is not enough.

All my ring and pendant pretties, displayed in a dignified fashion with a plush cactus, plastic skull, and googly eyes ring.

Raw stone ring, labradorite rose ring, dahlia ring, Herkimer diamond pendant, intaglio rose pendant

Tanzanite rings being perfect on my fingers

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Wanting to help you spend your money!

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

No cheating. Share the last photo of the sky from your camera roll.

View from my building roof, showing Puget Sound and Seattle at sunset.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

And finally, earrings for two very different moods. And a labradorite necklace by @saraeileen.bsky.social (essentially a perfect match for a bracelet I already have). So much pretty…

Labradorite necklace made by Sara Eileen, funky sun/moon earrings by @hillarymonahan.bsky.social, and some dahlia dangles

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

And then… pendants. I may have gone a little overboard with pendants in recent months. In my defense, I wear necklaces almost every day. Also, they’re awesome.

From left to right, sodalite, moldavite (glass created by a meteor impact!), turquoise, labradorite, and lapis.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Not sure where to start with the incredible shiny treasures that arrived from @peculiarityshop.bsky.social today. So maybe we start with two of the world’s best bracelets?

An amethyst bangle and a lapis cuff, since I don’t want to pick a color lane and stay there.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Crap. Different stones but this mirrors my “sisters” necklace (see below, it’s all of our birthstones) and I must have it. Me please!

Birthstone necklace with blue topaz (?, whatever December birthstone they picked), diamond, and sapphire.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Wanting to ask about this beauty… (qu’est-ce que c’est and like price and whatnot)

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Asking about this little lady: If not insane, would like.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Can I just call 2nd tray, left column, 7th from the top? And ask what it is afterwards? 😁 (Note: I have my eye on an 8 too, so let's go nuts)

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Okay... Random requests: 1) Pendant/locket that could hold a lock of hair (thinking Victorian-style memento mori); preferably subtle/pretty, not creepy. 2) Raw opal ring (7-8.5) that looks like aerogel (see below). 3) Pretty pendant in blue/multicolored stones.

Aerogel, which is somehow a solid that is lighter than air and whatnot. A ring that reminds of this would be cool.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

So... Apparently USPS tried to deliver and couldn't (?), so they're holding it somewhere. I can try contacting them if you can get me more delivery info. Otherwise, it might just sit there. Hate it when this happens!

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Lost my best friend of 13 1/2 years two weeks ago. I expect I’ll always miss her. ❤️ for you and all the good dog people!

Molly, a fluffy beige dog, enjoys a park bench.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Could this be the ring that actually gets me to commit to buying a carved-stone rose ring?

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

This. Please tell me this is not my size, because I cannot be held responsible for my actions if this is my size.

Blue enamel ring with sunflowers that I might have to commit crimes for.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Not the best day. I’m going to miss my little bitch (said with all the love and honesty I have).

Molly (ca. 2011-August 10, 2026), a small fluffy dog, takes over my bed

Molly (small fluffy dog) sitting at the table, judging me

Me and Molly (small fluffy dog) at the beach in 2021

Molly (small fluffy dog) hangs out on a picnic table in 2014

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

All yours. I get the Muppets. Just as a general category because, like The Onion-branded merchandise (which I own) says, I appreciate the Muppets on a deeper level.

I appreciate the Muppets on a much deeper than you t-shirt from The Onion

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Also, I cannot get over these particular earrings. They are ridiculous. So, please add “creating beauty” to your “worth” list.

Whatever photo of me in the mirror wearing the absolutely spectacular earring Hillary made. I mean, glass clouds and raindrops??? So cool (the earrings, not me, a person who is rarely cool and definitely is not now as I fan-girl over earrings).

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

New dragon bracelet from @peculiarityshop.bsky.social goes awfully well with the antique mesh bracelet my mother fished out of a jewelry box a decade ago.

Silver dragon head bracelet and silver mesh bracelet matching all perfectly

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

TFW you may have gone a little overboard on earrings from @peculiarityshop.bsky.social and @hernibsen.bsky.social this month…

An embarrassment of earrings, all in blues and purples and all basically the best.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

What sort of devil answers the phone?

“We buy souls!” sign, Seattle, Aug. 2, 2026

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Do we know what this little guy is? Badger? Funky cat? Rat? Cryptid? In any case, he intrigues me.

Funky animal ring that might be a badger or a dinosaur or a cat or a rat or...

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Share someone who looks "stylish" wearing a "hat."

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

You know you’ve reached peak Jimothy when the coffee shop uses him to decorate their sugar cookies.

An image of Jimothy, the weird raccoon, printed on a cookie purchased at Sugar Bakery in Seattle

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

"Your honor, please see this BlueSky post explaining why I cannot be held accountable for my jewelry-related crimes..."

Federal government guidelines on "entrapment," highlighting the importance of showing "inducement" to commit the crime. You know, if any of us are prosecuted by the feds for busting out of jewelry jail.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

But… does it matter? The ring is awesome. And shall inspire hardcore nerding out henceforth if anyone is unfortunate enough to say “Hey, cool ring” in my presence. So thanks @peculiarityshop.bsky.social and thanks for reading my epic tale. (fin)

One last shot of the ring, which really is great.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Maybe? The genuine coins are worth between $70-$2000, depending on quality. So it’s not insane that a jeweler could have popped a little drachma into a ring. (18/21)

Definitely repeating my photo of the ring with an image of an Istrian coin. But it’s all appropriate here, so we’ll just go with it.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

That flip, per the theory, was interpreted as Apollo (the god of the Sun) facing up and facing down. If you’re being artsy, you could make that into 2 faces, one up, one down. (16/21)

Hopefully this is not the same image of an Istrian drachma that I posted before. But it might be. Sorry.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

So, about those eclipses. Turns out that there was an annular eclipse visible in/near Istros back in 434 BCE. Then another in 431 BCE. And 2 eclipses in 3 years = 1 VERY BIG DEAL. (14/21) See www.cultureandcosmos.org/pdfs/8/Vol_8...

Annular eclipses are like total eclipses except that the Moon is slightly further away than usual and thus doesn’t perfectly cover the Sun, even at totality. The diagram is from the article cited in the main post.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

So then, why two Apollos? Scholarly types have debunked a lot of boring theories about trade and rivers and whatnot. But the cool theory? Solar eclipses! (10/21)

The sun, appearing as a crescent, rises out of the ocean during a solar eclipse. This would be neat to see.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

The numismatists (sorry, love the word) have theorized the coins depict either 2 images of Apollo or else the Gemini twins. But probably not the twins, since they wear funky egg-cup caps. (9/21)

The Gemini twins, Castor and Pollux, as seen on an old coin, wearing semi-pointy hats that are, apparently, required in this iconography. I guess? I really don’t know art history.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

But what is up with the two heads? Why is one flipped over? These are apparently important questions in numismatic design circles. (8/21)

Another example of an Istrian drachma, showing the double heads.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Whether a crazy old antiquity or random replica, my ring completely matches the standard Istrian iconography. (7/21)

Photo of my ring along with a photo of a genuine Istrian drachma, illustrating an article available at https://coinweek.com/the-mystery-of-the-double-headed-coins-of-ancient-istros/

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Turns out, per the interwebs… Nope. Not Roman. Not Janus. So, what then? Per the ‘net’s numismatists, the coin hails from the Ancient Greek colony of Istros (in modern Romania) on the Black Sea, and was minted between 450 and 300 BCE. (5/21)

Numismatics is the study of, and the hobby of collecting, coins. It’s up there with philately when it comes to cool hobby names.

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Laurel Brown @docbrown.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

I mean, the ring had two weird little heads and might’ve been related to the Janus myth. Which is one of the cooler metaphorical ancient god things (it was in Buffy!). Also, I like shiny things. (3/21)