Wednesday Overnight Open Thread - May 28, 2025 [TRex]

Good evening Horde. The time has come for mid-week shenanigans of the overnight variety.

This is the Wednesday night ONT.

Not a new phenomenon, but saw this story or versions of the story shared across social media over the last week.

All you see beyond the green outfield fence is a grove of trees separating the DBU campus from Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Each evening at 7, about 30 minutes after weeknight games begin, the sound of "Taps" wafts over those trees. When that happens, all of the players, coaches, and umpires remove their caps and face the flags in center field until the song is over. The custom is spelled out in the ground rules given to visiting teams.

Dan Heefner, DBU's head coach since 2008, said the official pause was inspired by former player Paul Voelker, who decided to remove his cap one game in 2014 to honor fallen veterans during "Taps." "You start thinking about it," Heefner says, "and it dawns on you what's really happening there." Meet The Holiest Team in Town.

Speaking of baseball...and Dallas...and those no longer with us... Did you know that New York Yankee Mickey Mantle is buried in Dallas?

One of the greatest baseball players who's ever lived lies in rest inside Dallas' Sparkman/Hillcrest Memorial Park. "Mickey Charles Mantle," says the plaque on the marble wall in St. Matthew hall before going on to describe him as "A magnificent New York Yankee." The Mick, a study in contradictions: an Oklahoman by birth, a New Yorker by occupation, and a Texan at the end of the day.

On a summer day in 1958, Mantle, aged 26, and his family moved to a ranch house on Watson Circle in Dallas' Preston Hollow neighborhood. Mantle moved in part to escape the burden of fame that came from living in New York City. The house no longer stands. But from there, Mantle made a life in Dallas. Mickey Mantle Made a Name for Himself in New York, but He's Forever a Texan

Speaking of Dallas(ish), an era has ended. Southwest is now charging fees for checked baggage. Don't worry. The ONT charges no additional fees for your emotional baggage. Lord knows you're already paying a price to carry it around.

Science news - did you know that your fingers wrinkle in the exact same pattern every time after being soaked in water?

Finger wrinkling during and after water immersion, often called pruning, is an evolutionary mechanism that increases grip strength in water. Previous studies have determined that water-induced finger wrinkles result from vasoconstriction, or the tightening of blood vessels below the skin's surface. However, no previous studies have characterized the morphology of topographical finger wrinkles.

The results demonstrate a significant relationship between wrinkle orientation across both time points and thus reveal the consistency of wrinkle morphology over time. On the repeatability of wrinkling topography patterns in the fingers of water immersed human skin

Now you know. You should also know that you paid to support the study. "This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1653071."

The Most Satisfying Video In The World (or so the title says)

Kilauea:

But wait...there's more!

Earth's Core Holds a Vast Reservoir of Gold, And It's Leaking Toward The Surface

Earth's core is rich with gold, and it's leaking out through the mantle and into the crust, new research has found.

A new study of isotopes found in the volcanic rock that oozed out from deep under the lithosphere has revealed precious metals in Earth's crust, including gold, initially leaked out of the core before beginning the long, long journey up to the surface, borne on convecting magma.

Although we can access gold in Earth's crust, the amount there is an estimated minuscule fraction of the total quantity that our planet possesses. Like a dragon, Earth is hoarding most of its gold: research suggests more than 99 percent is in its metallic core - enough to cover all of Earth's land in gold 50 centimeters (20 inches) thick.

Passing a baseball sounds painful. I didn't realize passing a baseball was a team effort, but apparently it takes a record-breaking team.

Record-breaking team reunites in Idaho to pass baseball

There is more to the story.

A pair of serial Guinness World Record-breakers reunited in Idaho to capture the title for the most behind-the-back baseball catches in one minute.

I feel dumber for having clicked. You're welcome if you joined me.

ET digs Strauss?

European Space Agency will beam the famous "2001: A Space Odyssey" waltz out into the cosmos

The European Space Agency is planning to beam Johann Strauss' "Blue Danube" waltz out into the cosmos to celebrate a series of key anniversaries in the history of spaceflight.

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the European Space Agency and its "Estrack" satellite tracking network.

It also marks the 20th anniversary of its "Cebreros" space antenna and, coincidentally, the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II himself, composer of the Blue Danube.

This is Paxi, the ESA mascot. Do not confuse with Pixy.

The Pittsburgh police scanner keeps giving:

If Breadfan means something to you, enjoy for our big ONT finish. If not, scroll ahead and thank you for playing. Can't remember who made the Budgie reference recently but this one is for you.

Click here if you prefer your Breadfan in Metallica form.

Written correspondence can be sent to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Are you lurking ?? Come out and play. No, TRex can't do the Macarena with you. Short arms.

posted by Open Blogger at 10:00 PM

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