Sunday Overnight Open Thread - July 27, 2025 [Doof]

Howdy Hordelings! The time has arrived for the Sunday ONT! Thanks for stopping by. What's on your mind today? Care to dazzle us with wit and wisdom? Entertain us with humor? Something else you need to get off your chest? The comment section is here for you - perhaps even for you long-time lurkers who are itching to become regulars. Come on in!

Can you hear me now?

Engineer Revives the Pay Phone for Vermont Community to Make Free Calls in Their Cellular Dead Zone

Humanity is enjoying a bit of a devolution back to analog, and a perfect example of this comes from Vermont, where refurbished pay phones are connecting a community with poor cell signal.

When was the last time you used a pay phone? For many working Americans the answer may be never. But for one rural Vermonter, he saw them as a potential public service project.

“I realized, wow, there’s no cell service for 10 miles in either direction,” Patrick Schlott, an airplane engineer told AP’s Amanda Swinhart. “The community could really benefit from something like this.”

Taking an entrepreneurial idea and turning it into a charitable one, Schlott bought an old pay phone, which sell for between $100 and $500, and installed it outside the North Turnbridge General Store using a device that converts an internet connection to an analog telecom line the phones can use.

He then removed the coin-operation mechanism, and suddenly, a free phone service was available for all, though it did take some convincing on the part of the general store owners.

“Everyone’s pretty surprised, and they’re like, ‘Is that a real pay phone? Does that really work?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, but it doesn’t cost any money now,’” said store owner Mike Gross. “We’ve had people use it that broke down. It’s a great thing because service is so spotty in Vermont.”

Read the whole thing. Video at the link in the quote. Pretty kewl.

Not related, yet somehow related

Wholesome Content

Hide and Seek Champions!

Kids hiding places 😂 pic.twitter.com/4D4nKSk43w

— Wholesome Side of 𝕏 (@itsme_urstruly) July 27, 2025

Ladies First - Then the Fellas

So heartwarming and wholesome ❤️pic.twitter.com/kBKiZUeO2C https://t.co/Kk8gBrgUao

— Wholesome Side of 𝕏 (@itsme_urstruly) July 27, 2025

'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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My brother sent my sister and me a meme this week that hit hard for us '80s kids—yes, we're in mourning. If you are of the dramatic persuasion, perhaps a way to channel our grief would be participating in Victorian era mourning rituals.

The death of Prince Albert in 1861 profoundly shaped mourning culture, as Queen Victoria herself wore black for the remaining 40 years of her life, setting a precedent for prolonged and visible mourning. The strict progression of mourning stages—deep mourning, second mourning, and half mourning—provided a socially sanctioned timeline for grief, guiding mourners back to normalcy through a carefully calibrated reintroduction of color and ornamentation.
The first stage of mourning, known as deep mourning or full mourning, typically lasted one year and one day for widows. During this phase, women wore dresses made of black bombazine, crepe, or other matte fabrics that absorbed light, symbolizing the depth of their sorrow. Crepe was particularly favored for its dull texture, which avoided any sheen that might suggest levity. Long, heavy veils—often made of crepe or tulle—covered the face or head. Widows were expected to avoid social engagements, and their clothing reinforced this withdrawal, visually signaling their emotional state.
The strictness of deep mourning attire was not just about personal grief but also about social conformity. Failure to observe these customs could invite criticism, as mourning was seen as a duty to the deceased and a marker of respectability. For the wealthy, custom-made mourning dresses showcased their status, while the less affluent might dye existing garments black or purchase affordable ready-made options from “mourning warehouses” like those operated by London’s Peter Robinson. In the Deep South, these dresses were still a must, even in sweltering heat with no AC. You can see them displayed in historic homes open for tours, along with mourning jewelry made from the hair of the deceased.

After the initial year, widows entered second mourning, which lasted approximately nine months. This phase allowed for slight relaxations in attire, reflecting a gradual easing of grief. While black remained the primary color, veils were folded over the head or not worn at all. Fabrics with a slight sheen, such as silk or satin, might replace the heavy crepe of deep mourning, signaling a shift toward lighter materials. This phase allowed women to begin re-entering social spaces, albeit cautiously, as their clothing balanced grief with a return to public life.

The final stage, half mourning, lasted six months and marked the reintroduction of color into a mourner’s wardrobe. This phase allowed muted, subdued hues such as gray, lavender, mauve, and occasionally dark purple or white with black accents. These colors symbolized a gradual return to normalcy, with lavender and mauve—popularized by Queen Victoria herself—carrying particular significance as gentle, mournful tones.

(This one is a little outside the Victorian era)

The transition to color was not just aesthetic but deeply symbolic. It represented the mourner’s readiness to rejoin society fully, signaling that the period of intense grief had passed. For widows, half mourning often marked the point at which they could resume social activities, such as attending dinners or modest gatherings, though remarriage was still considered inappropriate until mourning was fully complete (typically two and a half years total). Today, while formal mourning attire is less common, the influence of Victorian mourning persists in the choice of black for funerals

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Thank you, Piper - informative AND depressing!

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

Born on this date in 1974: Pete Yorn, American singer-songwriter, guitarist and drummer who first gained recognition after his debut 2001 record, Musicforthemorningafter.

On this date in 1996: The Spice Girls scored their first No.1 UK single with 'Wannabe'.

On this date in 2001: Leon Wilkeson bass player with Lynyrd Skynyrd was found dead in a hotel room in Florida aged 49.

Tonight's ONT brought to you by clever clothing

posted by Open Blogger at 10:00 PM

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