Monday Overnight Open Thread - July 21, 2025 [Doof]

Howdy Hordelings! The time for the Monday ONT is now. Regulars - you know what to do. Lurkers - don't be scared to jump on into the world of commenting. Shall we step on in?

Quotes of the day

"We wanted to send a powerful message and I think that’s what we did. I think it’s just getting what we deserve, I think sometimes people don’t understand what it is we’re asking for. We’re going to get what we deserve, and we’re standing on business. We’re asking for what we deserve, you’ll see. We just want a piece of our pie." Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams

"The WNBA loses $50 million every year and has NEVER generated a profit. You deserve $0.00." End Wokeness on X

Family Guy sums up the WNBA 💀 pic.twitter.com/d60el8s3fy

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 20, 2025

The Latest Buzz

Scientists Create World’s First Cyborg Bee with Ultra-Light Brain Controller

Scientists at the Beijing Institute of Technology used a 74-milligram insect brain controller to create the world’s first cyborg bee.

Worker bees can carry nectar sacks weighing about 80 per cent of their body mass for 5 km (3 miles) without resting, so they have no problem carrying a 74-milligram brain controller developed by Chinese researchers. The ultra-light device can be strapped to the bee’s back and connected to its brain via three tiny needles, allowing humans to control the movements of the insect. The controller uses low-intensity electric impulses to input the insect’s movements, making it turn left, turn right, advance, or turn back, depending on the situation. According to Professor Zhao Jieliang, in the tests performed by his team so far, the bees obeyed their commands 9 times out of 10.

***

“In future research, precision and repeatability of insect behaviour control will be enhanced by optimising stimulation signals and control techniques,” Chinese researchers wrote. “Concurrently expanding functional modules of the control backpack will improve environmental perception capabilities of insect-based robots, advancing their deployment in complex operational settings such as reconnaissance and detection missions.”

Read the whole thing. Kinda cool, but also kinda creepy.

Related earworm

Fun Stuff

Mascots vs Cheerleaders

Every mascot needs an innocent cheerleader in their nutritional diet😂 pic.twitter.com/yvyRLTr0ZS

— Love Music (@khnh80044) July 15, 2025

[EDIT: Apparently the Corvette video here is fake, and Ace posted a correction. So here's a different video]

In Alaska it doesn’t get dark enough for fireworks so they do this instead pic.twitter.com/PFqJ1WnJzw

— greg (@greg16676935420) July 5, 2025

90s TV - ahead of its time

In Living Color’s 1990 ‘EnvironMENTAL Man’ perfectly predicted the future.

How did we go from laughing at this nonsense to celebrating it?!? pic.twitter.com/QpGJojbIIN

— Clyp Keeper (@DGrayTexas45) July 15, 2025

Good question!

Does any company make "dumb" refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, etc.?

I'm tired of these smart products breaking down every three years.

My grandparents had the same fridge for 50 years. It can be done.

— Vibrant Dad (@vibrantdad) July 16, 2025

Good advice even if you're only 29

Walking Slightly Faster Can Help Seniors Stay Active Longer

Walking just slightly faster helps older people stay active for longer, and stave off frailty.

Taking just 14 steps per minute more than their usual pace led to “meaningful” improvements in physical well-being for seniors who were frail or at risk of becoming frail, according to new findings.

The research team explained that frailty is a medically defined condition in older people that increases vulnerability to everyday stresses, leading to a higher risk of falls, hospitalization, and loss of independence.

Warning signs of frailty include 1) unintentional weight loss, 2) moving slowly, 3) feeling weak, 4) persistent tiredness and 5) low levels of physical activity.

Because most of these signs have a direct link to how active someone is, scientists say walking is a particularly effective way for older people to improve their overall health and quality of life, and maintain their independence longer.

But the question had remained until now: how fast do they need to walk to see real benefits.

Check out the whole thing to find out!

DJ Doof - This Date in Music History Version
from thisdayinmusic.com

On this date in 2023: American singer Tony Bennett died at his home in New York City just two weeks short of his 97th birthday, following seven years of Alzheimer's disease.

On this date in 1987: Los Angeles hard rockers Guns N’ Roses unleashed their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, via Geffen Records. Aided by three hit singles – “Welcome To The Jungle,” “Paradise City” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” – the album quickly rose to the top of the Billboard 200. It would eventually amass US sales of over 18 million, making it the best-selling debut LP of all time in America.

Born on this date in 1955: Howie Epstein, bass, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

What other songs do you find noteworthy from these artists?

Tonight's ONT brought to you by dejection

Comments, questions, suggestions, or emotional outbursts? Take a number!

posted by Open Blogger at 10:00 PM

| Access Comments