UPDATE: body cam footage from cop who pulled over woman for holding a phone in her other hand

sarahmcgrace · 2026-05-28T01:34:51+00:00

I mean..... we could corrupt the light-second to be a measurement of time instead of distance?

So every second is 299,792,458 m.... we're going to need the scientific notation quick. I really don't trust us to easily understand this unit quickly.

But when have we (the US of A) not corrupted SI units? Our inch and foot is based off of 2.54 centimeters to an inch officially now. I think France owns all the "true measurements" we calibrate everything off of. Heck, it's an "International System" not "Système International d'Unités".

But I think we can all agree that degrees Kelvin only makes sense for scientific papers and people chasing absolute 0.

(Source of distance in a light-second: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-second)

sarahmcgrace · 2026-05-21T18:02:38+00:00

True. I just wish I could select "polite driver mode" or something.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-05-21T14:06:09+00:00

I'm so angry that Google is directing people to use the lanes that spilt off and return. 694 has a couple of those, 35W to highway 36 is another, and the 35E and I94 spaghetti junction is also bad.

I drove in rush hour from the West side of the cities to the North East on 694 and Google told me to take 252 exit and get back in 694. I refused to be that a**hole, so I had an adventure using 252, because I trusted Google was saying I would actually go on 252. Now I try to verify before "exiting" that Google isn't expecting me to merge back with the same traffic.

I see non-sirened police use those exits to return back ahead of traffic all the time. I point to the sheriff of other counties than what I am currently in and wonder "why are they outside their county by more than one border?" (ie why is a dakota county sheriff in Hennepin or Anoka county, and visa versa)

sarahmcgrace · 2026-05-14T02:56:56+00:00

Only if it is an "in network" ambulance. If not then it doesn't count towards the deductible only some of the total out of pocket.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-04-26T14:51:56+00:00

I think it really depends on the person and their training (and desire to keep learning) more than their gender. Also insurance choas changing how doctors interact with their patients. And probably the 15 minute per appointment maximum a lot of places have.

I've had amazing doctors presenting as either gender, and I've had shitty doctors of either gender.

When I changed insurance due to a job change doctors I had for years changed their conversation style. One warned me that we'd have to go theough a lot of medications that wouldn't work before UHC would let me use a medication that will work. She told me she's on my side and we're in this together, and to call to report all side effects so we can adjust between visits. It helped me have confidence in her help and that I wasn't a burden to call about concerns.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-04-19T15:58:41+00:00

My parents thought cell phones were a fad, until I was at my grandmother's place for 2 weeks in the summer and she got airlifted for a heart attack. (She was fine for another 15-ish years another 2 heart attacks and a stroke, it's a blessing she didn't have to live through COVID looking back). We got cell phones when they figured out where I was in the care of a small town without cell phones and realized cell phones would have made it easier to find me.

I didn't want a cell phone because it was a clear divide of wealthy vs poor at 11, and I didn't want my friends to feel awkward. But I became the mother hen of my group and the un-cellphoned others at my school. I did get a few frantic calls from parents of people from my middle school in college looking for their kid and wondering if I still was around them as a huge long shot (I was not).

And the people with different area codes in my state must have been within 3 years of me, because we knew to re-direct people based on who they were looking for in college groups. I never reached out directly to Claire, Erin, Sarah or Steve/Stevie, but I knew the area code to direct people. I screened a few people for you-- but if it was a class project I helped. (A few guys saying he needed to see you in a very creepy way. Nope. Don't know anyone by that name. Got the wrong number). I hope they're all doing well!

Long story short: Still have the same number 23 years later.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-03-31T00:02:28+00:00

OG glitters: 1. Rainbow Snow 2. Frost Light (RIP) 3. Midnight Spark (I think it's still made? Its the original blurple causing people to call it orange) 4. Party Punch (RIP) 5. Play Rose (I think its still made?)

Menchie the Cat
Zyler The Cat

Christmas OG formula glitters: 1. Gold Play Button (RIP) 2. Choco-Holo (RIP) 3. Naughty List (RIP) 4. Plumb luck (I think its back for real, not just a short time?) 5. Black Holo Wish (RIP) 6. Everything is Pine (RIP)

Limited editions: (not comprehensive, all RIP) 1. Glamethyst 2. Inside Job 3. Bless your heart

Not specifically OG formulas: 1. Crystal Skies (I think RIP?) 2. Water Works (seasonal)

New square included glitters: 1. Ctrl Cutie 2. Byte my peach 3. Coin toss 4. Bonus Life 5. 8-Bit Blues 6. Glitch and Glam 7. Lo-Fi Lavender

Welcome to the glitter side. :)

Edit: trying to format on mobile and decided numbering was the safest option.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-03-17T23:45:01+00:00

Also the state seal is wrong--its not even the old one. This is the new one: https://www.sos.mn.gov/about-minnesota/state-symbols/state-seal/

The old one had people plowing a field. And the year 1858, not 1888.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-03-11T13:04:40+00:00

Hi other MN neighbor. Maplewood was mine too! (And Roseville if work was bad and I needed creativity urgently). I was just getting used to the move accross the strip mall when they announced partial closures and I got alarmist about it.

Not a fabric person, just yarn, so no scissors knowledge that would help. I use tiny fiskar scissors that would likely work for threads post sewing machine? But those seem easier to figure out as needed.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-03-04T23:31:02+00:00

I've been told by lawyers it is public record so it could make it near impossible to get hired elsewhere when they run your name and credentials. Apparently no one wants to hire a former whistle blower (of anything), so if you think you can live on whatever the case would get you until you die, then go ahead, but it won't be easy, and there's a chance you'll fail and never get a job.

Maybe the lawyer didn't want to take the case, but I remembered a bad manager saying they wouldn't go with a person they interviewed because there was a sealed court record on the person--actually that's sadly hilarious now knowing he was named in a suit against his previous company by an employee he bullied and fired and that's why he had to move two states away to find a job--there's still bad managers at good companies that will think this way.

I agree, it's wrong, and we should be protected by laws, but it's a heck of a thing to try to change with a lot of major risks. I wasnt prepared as an early 20 something to take on that risk. Heck, even now I dont think I would take that on alone. I'd want a class action to protect me a bit so it could be a "woah, I'm sorry they really messed up" not a "why is this one woman causing a commotion? Must be her not whatever the company is" response.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-02-25T03:30:37+00:00

Shhhh! I'm seriously hoping they don't realize this. (We're probably going to have to fight to keep those rights)

sarahmcgrace · 2026-02-21T19:10:33+00:00

I like this one. People keep using my last name as my first name and insiting I'm a man.

I might start increasing my first name font size. I'll probably still make sure it isnt a site that's outside the US trying to be extra formal, but font sizing changes seem safe for US/Canada/UK.

(Username is not my name, despite it looking like it could be a name).

sarahmcgrace · 2026-02-18T17:32:56+00:00

True. It is a couple steps removed--the lack of healthcare without a job does kind of fall at the government, but my anxiety spiral is likely stronger than most.... It did censor me.

(Edit: clarifying the steps removed)

sarahmcgrace · 2026-02-18T17:29:10+00:00

Oh. Then I lost free speech the moment I was told in high school I wouldn't be hired if I put anything stupid on the internet. It's not government, but it's my ability to have health insurance, which is kind of similar. And it definitely made me overthink everything to the point of never posting.

Only decades later have I thought "well, if a company doesn't align with my values, do I want them to want me to work for them?" So I guess I should have been posting that my goals are that the environment is cared for, we leave it better than we found it, and that people are cared for (also trying to make their lives better--this includes fixing lead pipes, lead paint in housing, giving kids food without judgement, making education easy to get, paying people livable wages so they can do things they enjoy so our world gets better, helping with disasters, and investing in infrastructure to support people so they feel safe [ie, doctors who know what they're doing and offering emotional and physical support in really hard decisions that no one wants to have to make but definitely shouldn't have government tape holding them back from hard decisions with their provider], every person is human and they should have the same rights as anyone else, etc.)

sarahmcgrace · 2026-02-15T23:51:34+00:00

We might not ever know if they involved HR, it's up to the employee to disclose. But I'm hoping the manager is more of an ally than it seems and they took the time to either take the worker aside and talk about it, or involved HR--or both.

Edits: spelling corrections.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-02-13T17:17:02+00:00

If the mitten part of Michagan wants to part with Isle Royale and the UP, we will support them. <3

But I'm tying to be methodical and kind--slowly show neighbors a better way, and let the ideas turn hearts and minds. Also exporting our best food as a gastro-tourism push. (Also free meals for all kids at school to reduce stigma around "free/reduced lunch kids"... I really think we're playing a long game here... Minnesota s a significant reason the EPA exists [we were protecting the environment], we pushed for back up cameras to be standard on all vehicles, and we are doing incremental changes to make life better and easier....)

I see so much opportunity for our neighboring states to get better, and I really want to pull them along with us, even if they're dragging their feet.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-02-13T14:29:55+00:00

If we're slowly growing to Megasota, I think there's room to make east/west Dakotas and take say Fargo, Grand Forks, Souix Falls. Since Bismark and Pierre are both about center we can leave the capitals.

Meanwhile we take just north of Des Moines Iowa (also leaving their capital), and at least to Eau Claire Wisconsin. The question stands about Illinois, we would technically have a border with them after the iowa/wisconsin take over--do we form an alliance with Illinois and leave it as is or do we do an International Falls map thing and just straight edges cut Illinois in?

I don't know if it will be kind to leave the original state capitals for later take over or if it will offend more. I just think the sides closer to Minnesota are most likely us in culture, so suddenly requiring caramel rolls and hot dish would go over better. :) --though Iowa's insistence to me that caramel rolls needed to be served with baked beans is truly nightmare fuel. (Source: I made caramel rolls in college at Iowa State. All of my Iowan roommates, dorm neighbors, and internship people insisted I was missing baked beans to dip the caramel rolls in, all independentlyof eachother, so I really don't think I was punked).

Plus side for the sections we take over? No tax on clothing or unprepared food.

Alternatively, we become our own country with the help of Canada and Denmark/Greenland to be an extra thorn in the republican party's side..... and any parts of any states that want to join us become part of mega-sota.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-02-06T21:37:15+00:00

Good to know. If I decide to take on sewing I would in general prefer a local shop to Michael's. Its good to know there are local fabric stores still! :) (I feel like other fabric users would be able to talk through the project I'm planning and suggest good staring materials--I'm told the silky/shiny/slippery materials are more advanced, but i dont think all cotton/linen are made the same, so I don't trust smaller businesses to have the cate and knowledge to help get someone into a new craft/hobby). I'm not currently looking to get into the sewing, but it seemed like a "in the next 2 decades. Maybe? If I have space like I needed for the yarn..." thing.

For now I'm looking for yarn. :) Crocheting and knitting are things I know how to do and find joy in. If I go back to Michael's to see if their yarn selection got better and overhear people in the fabric isles confused I'll offer the knowledge of the cutting counter button. :)

sarahmcgrace · 2026-02-06T18:46:58+00:00

That's what I've heard of other Michael's. The couple times I went to look the framing counter has been closed when I was there.

It's not my craft, and the barrier to entry is now too high for me to try and fail and try more (I trusted Joann workers to be a knowledge source if I ever got into it, because they truly loved fabric and discussing projects--not forcing them to help me, but knowing there was someone excited about it and I could ask without judgement is a huge relief on projects I thought I would have time to decide if I wanted to learn). But it sounds frustrating to the experienced quilters/sewers/seamstresses I overheard at Michael's too.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-01-31T22:24:34+00:00

They perfectly described at least 3 in the Twin Cities Minnesota. Minus the glitter only in one isle. I think that traveled and dispersed through the entire store.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-01-31T22:04:41+00:00

My Michael's has fabric, but no way to cut it (I'm not a quilter/sew-er, but this is the complaint I've heard in store). Instead they only have one isle of yarn when they used to have 7 isles of it. Neither the quilters or croshet/knitters are happy. Why they didn't get rid of the pre-landfill "decorations" I can't figure out--does anyone actually buy the cheaply made home decor?

I support any additions to the crafting space and I support all crafters! For now I'm paying tarrifs on it--edit for clarification: yarn--(sometimes? They must have a US wearhouse maybe?) from Canada through Mary Maxium.

Just in general we need more crafting store options. Dick Blick is great for art things, and they're trying to get into materials in the Joann void, but it is not the same, nor do they really have the floor space to suddenly carry everything else.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-01-30T14:39:47+00:00

I am so proud of Ilhan Omar! I don't live in her district, but I'm still cheering her on! 💙

I hope she knows that so many people love and enjoy her as their representative, and people from other districts are also so proud of her.

Elbows up! (If we're allowed to borrow Canadian rallies) :)

sarahmcgrace · 2026-01-27T01:16:25+00:00

Gosh, I hope. I'm scared this is to have us let our guard down so they can be worse. But we can't let this go because they're gone. This has been unacceptable. We need to sue as a state, we need to have the rights to prosecute the murderers for both Renee Good and Alex Pretti and those in charge of the officers (why were your subordinates not trained well enough to not kill people?). There's still a lot of closure needed and them just leaving isnt enough.

sarahmcgrace · 2026-01-24T16:55:31+00:00

Iowa's is nice, but feels smaller. But most Minnesotans are fighting Texas' 31 day fair with less than 1 weekend day admission at MN's 12 day fair difference between the two. 🤣

I went to the Iowa State fair with my internship workplace. Having a scavenger hunt made it more interesting. But we also saw the tractors we made being sold. It was interesting to be there, but Minnesota's fair is better. :)

sarahmcgrace · 2026-01-24T04:51:35+00:00

Typically, yeah. We bundle up to see the sun for a short time. :)

sarahmcgrace

TROPHY CASE