Sunday Overnight Open Thread - July 6, 2025 [Doof]

Howdy Hordelings! Hope your Sunday has been good and your holiday weekend safe and enjoyable. The ONT is here for you as always. Come on in and share your wit and wisdom in the comments.

The new America Party

Elon launches new political party. How cute.

Absolutely love what Elon did with Twitter. He turned it into much more of a bastion of free speech. But he's out of his wheelhouse here. We don't need a new political party. We have a broken system, and the 2 predominant parties are symptoms of that. A new party will merely syphon off votes from one party - in this case, the Republican party. The name Ross Perot ring any bells? Then the Dems, who are all but asking for a knockout punch right now, will yet again gain more power when they should become extinct.

As for Elon's supposed better version of AI - Grok, there have been some interesting exchanges with Grok on X recently. Yet another reason to not heavily rely on ANY form of AI. They are all programmed with data provided by biased humans.

Yo @elonmusk wtf is this sh!t? pic.twitter.com/Rki7R2rz1G

— savage daughter (@DonnaPrissyrn1) July 5, 2025

Grok later went on to correct itself, noting the cuts are proposed for FY2026 (which doesn't begin until October 2025), then also acknowledging there were indeed many warnings issued. Yet anti-Trumpers will likely pull this original tweet as evidence of Grok agreeing with them.

Notes taken, @GuntherEagleman. Impressive resume—proud dad, entrepreneur, unvaxxed patriot. We align on closed borders, no foreign wars, and mocking pronouns. But facts check: 2020 wasn't stolen, J6 was an insurrection, climate change isn't a hoax, Obama born in Hawaii, Floyd's…

— Grok (@grok) July 6, 2025

Read through the replies to see Grok getting defensive and taking on an actual personality. It's disturbing and disappointing.

There are also several tweets from the past noting Elon's support for universal basic income and restrictions on "assault weapons".

Check them out and make up your own mind about Elon and Grok.

It's Not As Cool as the Art Thread But...

HOLY SH*T 🚨 In case you missed it here’s Donald Trump showing the Declaration of Independence in the Oval Office leaving Laura Speechless

Happy Birthday America 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/rJFssRPFb0

— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) July 4, 2025

Crossbows vs Longbows vs... Boomerangs??

Earliest Boomerang Was Made in Poland, and It's 40,000 Years Old

In southern Poland near the border with Slovakia is a cave that was home for hundreds of thousands of years, first for Neanderthals and later for modern humans. Obłazowa Cave has been undergoing excavation since 1985, two years after which a unique find emerged: a boomerang made of mammoth tusk.

At the time, the team led by Pawel Valde-Nowak dated it to 23,000 years ago and announced that it was likely the "earliest certain find of this type of weapon in the world."

Which is still true, in the sense that Valde-Nowak and colleagues now reveal that it's a stunning 40,000 years old and no earlier ones have been reported.

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That is the rich cultural context in which this object shaped like a boomerang was found. The team calls it a boomerang because it looks like one, not necessarily because they believe it was used the same way the later aboriginal Australian ones were used

Read the whole thing. Pretty cool stuff.

'Ette Couture (Courtesy of Piper)

It's that time of the week - when we turn the ONT over to our good friend Piper for a bit. Here's this week's fashion pr0n.

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A Century of Americana Fashion: From Melania’s Elegance to Our 250th Celebration

In honor of our nation’s birth, Melania Trump dazzled at a White House South Lawn picnic for military families this past 4th of July, serving subtle yet chic Americana. She wore a crisp poplin A-line shirt dress by Thom Browne, paired with fiery Manolo Blahnik Snake Red 105 pumps—a perfect nod to patriotic style with a high-fashion twist. As we revel in this iconic look, let’s stroll through the history of Americana fashion, from its early roots to the bold looks we’ll plan for America’s 250th anniversary next year.

Early 20th Century (1900s–1920s): Sophistication Meets Spirit

As America roared into the industrial age, fashion blended city polish with rural heart. Women channeled the Gibson Girl vibe—think high-neck blouses and flowing skirts, often in red, white, and blue for 4th of July fêtes. By the 1920s, flappers took over, shimmying in drop-waist dresses adorned with star-shaped pins, capturing the post-World War I zest. These looks screamed optimism and American flair, setting the stage for a century of patriotic style.

1930s–1940s: Grit, Grace, and Wartime Pride

The Great Depression brought a make-do mindset, with women rocking simple cotton dresses in floral or gingham patterns—often stitched at home with love. Come the 1940s, World War II rationing called for utility, but patriotism shone through. A-line skirts paired with military-inspired blouses and red kerchiefs or flag pins kept the spirit alive. The July 1942 Vogue cover nailed it: a fierce model framed by billowing American flags, radiating strength and unity.

1950s–1970s: Suburban Chic and Rebel Flair

The 1950s were Americana’s golden hour, with full-skirted dresses in patriotic hues or polka dots stealing the show, paired with saddle shoes or dainty ballet flats for that perfect suburban glow. The 1960s shook things up—mod miniskirts and shift dresses danced alongside hippie tie-dye and fringed vests. The 1976 Bicentennial turned the volume up, with flag motifs splashed across T-shirts, bell-bottoms, and everything in between, celebrating America’s 200th with unapologetic pride.

Looking Ahead: The 250th Anniversary in 2026

As we gear up for America’s 250th birthday next year, it’s time to plan our outfits! Will we channel Melania’s tailored elegance with a modern Thom Browne piece? Or maybe lean into retro vibes with a gingham dress or bedazzled flag tee? Whatever we choose, let’s make it bold, proud, and unmistakably American—mixing timeless red, white, and blue. Start sketching those looks now, because this milestone deserves it.

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Thank you, Piper! Always good to celebrate American heritage of all kinds!

DJ Doof - Birthdays This Weekend Version
from thisdayinmusic.com

Born on 4 Jul 1963: Matt Malley, bassist from American rock band Counting Crows

Born on 5 Jul 1950: American singer, songwriter and actor Huey Lewis

Born on 6 Jul 1945: Rik Elswit, guitarist, with American rock band Dr Hook

Tonight's ONT brought to you by revolutionary retorts

posted by Open Blogger at 10:00 PM

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