Wednesday Overnight Open Thread - August 6, 2025 [TRex]

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

Welcome to the Wednesday night ONT. Pull up a chair and sit a spell. Be nice to your fellow commenters and AoS contributors.

In case you missed it, Perfessor Squirrel let us know on Sunday that he is stepping down from hosting the prestigious, internationally acclaimed, stately, and illustrious Sunday Morning Book Thread. In case there was any doubt, the comments showed what a good steward he has been.

The last Book Thread by Oregon Muse was December 26, 2021. Weasel-san filled in for the first edition of 2022 before All Hail Eris filled in.

On February 20, 2022, Perfessor Squirrel stepped across the virtual threshold from being a regular commenter to being a regular contributor. He stepped onto the Ace of Spades stage and introduced himself:

The Sunday Morning Book Thread is what first convinced me to become a regular commenter here at AoSHQ. I started out on the Book Thread and then joined in commenting on other threads. OregonMuse started posting pictures of other Moron libraries, so I sent him a picture of my own, just on the off chance that it would be featured someday. I was absolutely blown away when I saw it on the Sunday Morning Book Thread.

Perfessor stepped into big shoes. He honored Book Thread traditions and added his own touches. He put a lot into the prep and writing and themes each week. He didn't just write the Book Thread but he lived it.

I bought a dozen books this week. They're all over a thousand pages each so I was only able to get through half of them (mostly because I was finishing up the dozen I bought the week before). But here's insight and commentary that ties them all together and unconsciously proves that I remember what I read and am able to relate it to things I read years ago. By the way, what are you reading?

Maybe not a direct quote, but directionally faithful...

He treated commenters with respect, even when their reading preferences were wildly different than his personal preferences. He maintained and cultivated a community of Morons. He wore a purple pimp hat. The Horde is better for his wisdom and labors.

This is not a funeral. He remains among the living, so I have the privilege to say, "On behalf of the Horde, thank you Perfessor." We look forward to continuing to cross paths in the comments. You are always welcome to make guest appearances as an alumni contributor (at least for the Hobby Thread and Wednesday ONT). Best wishes in your world beyond Ace of Spades. These pants are for you.

PS. I still have no idea how MisHum managed eight years doing ONTs five nights a week. Ironman. Still among the living as well. Maybe what doesn't kill you makes you stronger?

Wholesome content:

TRex knows what you're thinking. "Old school Batman is great, but I'm more sympathetic to the Michael Keaton type of Batman. Wouldn't it be cool to have a modern Batmobile? You know, the one that looks like a more modern high tech batmobile?"

The ONT has you covered. A street legal replica is going up for sale at an auction on September 21. No reserve!

Click on the pic for more photos and auction info.

Apparently disappearing is a thing in Japan: Disappearing to Start a New Life - The Phenomenon of Jōhatsu

Every year, nearly 100,000 Japanese people voluntarily disappear to get rid of their past and start anew. Men, women, entire families try to start a new life under another identity, as stowaways. This phenomenon, which we call "evaporation," or jouhatsu.

A story goes like this: a man named Norihiro is fired and loses his job as an engineer but, covered with shame, prefers not to tell his family. Every morning, he puts on his shirt and tie, kisses his wife goodbye and heads to his office. With no place to go, he spends the day in his car, sometimes staying late to appear as if he is drinking with his co-workers.

The days pass, he no longer receives any salary. He can no longer continue to lie to those close to him, and rather than face this terrible situation, he resolves to disappear without a trace. Norihiro is a jouhatsu, one of the many evaporated people who choose to let go of their past out of a feeling of shame or dishonor.

Most individuals disappear without any real preparation. Many are men who leave their wives and children behind without warning, claiming that everything is going well before disappearing without a trace. Others prepare more and call on "moving" companies that offer logistical assistance to the jouhatsu, going so far as to temporarily house them in secret locations.

Every year, hundreds of people use their services, paying substantial sums of money, sometimes to flee with their entire family. If the number of disappearances is increasing, it is also because the right to disappear is respected. Japanese legislation considers that individuals are officially "absent" after seven years of disappearance: their marriage is dissolved, their inheritance opened.

Anyone familiar with this?

I respect this manifestation of petty.

Dealership Repos Customer's Car, She Responds by Taking Dealership's Name

After a Kia dealership repossessed a customer's car, she found a legal loophole that let her take the dealer's name, according to Court News Ohio. The Ohio woman had her Kia K5 repoed while she was at work despite being approved for the loan. When Tiah McCreary learned that the name "Taylor Kia of Lima" wasn't registered in Ohio, she registered it in her name and is now in a legal battle with the dealership's owners and the company that serviced her loan.

I would not call this a "legal loophole" though. There is no loophole. Even if she doesn't prevail, the process is the punishment. You go girl.

The End is Near!!

The universe may start dying in just 10 billion years, alarming new model predicts

A new paper has predicted that the universe's expected lifespan is drastically shorter than once thought -and that the cosmos will start to die in just 10 billion years.

This is only one possible theory, however, and nobody really knows when the universe will end.

Oh. Nevermind.

The Pittsburgh Police Scanner:

The Pittsburgh police scanner keeps giving. Thank you people of Pittsburgh!

Joe Cocker for the big ONT finish:

Pants are definitely not required for the ONT. Written correspondence can be sent to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Are you lurking ?? Protect Big Balls at all costs. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

posted by Open Blogger at 10:00 PM

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