Monday Overnight Open Thread - June 2, 2025 [Doof]

Howdy Hordelings, and welcome to the Monday ONT! Please step on in, get comfy, and dazzle us with your brilliance and wit in the comments. Lurkers - this means you, too!

Long Extension Cord?

Electric Ferry Boat

An electric ferryboat has gone from Spain to Africa and back in the same day, proving decarbonization of strait crossings is possible.

The Swedish-made vessel traveled from Sotogrande, Spain, to Ceuta, North Africa-a 24-nautical mile trip-in just over one hour, matching the speed of conventional fast ferries. After recharging, the vessel returned to the Spanish mainland the same day.

GNN previously reported on the Candela P-12 electric ferryboat entering service in Stockholm's public transport system ahead of its mass-production roll out last year. In 2023, it had passed all of its performance tests with flying colors, achieving 30 knots per-hour with a battery life of 50 knots.

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Beneath the surface of the Candela, two hydrofoils-or underwater wings-lift the C-8 above the water, drastically reducing drag and cutting energy consumption by 80% over conventional fast vessels. This breakthrough enables the long electric range needed to cross the Strait of Gibraltar-one of the world's busiest shipping lanes-for the first time.

What say you, boat-loving Hordelings? IS this actually a cool thing, or another electric fad?

American Neighborhood Stuff

Yeah

I know the boys will appreciate this one pic.twitter.com/4n0Erlnv3B

— Giga Based Dad (@GigaBasedDad) May 31, 2025

Hell Yeah

Just an average day in America 🤣 pic.twitter.com/X7C8rOST2G

— Declaration of Memes (@LibertyCappy) June 1, 2025

Fun!

Every kid thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong. pic.twitter.com/sOmZLzSDse

— Gabriele Corno (@Gabriele_Corno) June 1, 2025

Chill out, man!

Paraglider Nearly Freezes to Death After Being Sucked Up 28,000 Feet into Clouds

A seasoned paraglider miraculously survived a rare and dangerous phenomenon that saw him being sucked up by clouds to an altitude of 28,210 feet (8,600 meters). Photos and videos of Chinese paraglider Liu Ge trying to keep his cool (pun intended) as he experienced dangerously low levels of oxygen and temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius (-40 Fahrenheit) went viral on social media this week. In them, the experienced paraglider's clothes and face are covered with ice, and he struggles to breathe and keep from passing out because of the low oxygen. On May 24th, Liu Ge took off from about 3,000 meters in the Qilian Mountains, on the border between western Gansu and northeastern Qinghai, but as he was paragliding, a cumulonimbus cloud appeared behind him and he ended up being lifted higher and higher, above the clouds.

'Cloud suck' is a well-documented phenomenon where paragliders and hang gliders experience a significant lift caused by the thermals under cumulus clouds, especially towering cumulus and cumulonimbus. It is typically associated with an increase in thermal updraft velocity near cloud base. Pilots who have experienced the phenomenon have reported being unable to descend in strong cloud suck, even after bringing the canopies of their gliders into deep spiral, which would normally result in a rapid descent. Because he didn't plan on going up to extreme altitudes - Chinese regulations restrict flights to below 16,405 feet (5,000 meters) - Liu Ge didn't have an oxygen mask or thick clothing to help him endure the freezing temperatures and low oxygen concentration. Still, he remained in contact with friends on the ground via intercom and was eventually able to descend.

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Although many were talking about his flight being a record-breaking one for paragliding, Liu Ge pleaded with social media users to stop making a big deal out of it. He probably fears that his feat could have serious legal repercussions.

I saw Cloud Suck open for...

Sufficient to store the entire history of AOSHQ?

DJ Doof - This Date in Music History Version

In 2008, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bo Diddley died at the age of 79. Born Ellas Otha Bates, the artist was instrumental in bridging the gap between the blues and rock'n'roll in the 50s and influenced everyone from Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley to the Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

Born on this date in 1960: Tony Hadley, English pop singer-songwriter with Spandau Ballet

Born on this date in 1959: Michael Steele, American bassist, guitarist, songwriter, and singer who began her professional career as Micki Steele in the teen-girl band the Runaways. She later joined The Bangles.

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Tonight's ONT brought to you by swift recruiting

Mystery click not such a mystery

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posted by Open Blogger at 10:00 PM

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