Sunday Overnight Open Thread - December 21, 2025 [Doof]

The Winter Solstice is upon us

Howdy Hordelings! Today is the day with the shortest amount of daylight. Tomorrow starts a cycle of increasing daylight each day. It'll be June 21 before you know it!

Today also begins Christmas week. How are your plans coming along? Working this week, or burning leave? What else is on your mind? Step on in, pretend to check out the content, then share your words of wisom in the gray boxes.

The 21st Day of the 12th Month

Warmest wishes to my friends who celebrate!

Click for greatness

Wanna be like Bill Gates?
Step 1 - buy a 119-meter hydrogen hybrid megayacht for $650 million or thereabouts
Step 2 - spend $435K on one tank of fuel

Canadian hockey player Patrick Dovigi spent $435,000 on one tank of fuel to move Bill Gates’ former superyacht

Canadian billionaire and former National Hockey League (NHL) goaltender, Patrick Dovigi, has officially put Bill Gates’ once-hyped superyacht through its paces.

The 119-meter hydrogen hybrid megayacht, named Breakthrough, recently sailed from Europe to Miami after a massive refuelling stop in Gibraltar.

It was the longest trip that the Canadian hockey player had taken on the yacht, and the fuel he needed to take the trip came with an eye-watering price tag.

That single fuel bill reportedly came in at a staggering $435,000.

Video segment at the link. Go ahead and check it out - you'll totally feel like Bill Gates and the guy who bought his big ass boat are everyday folks like you and me.

You go four hour! Why you go four hour?

Engineer Sues Former Employer After Being Fired for Taking Extremely Long Bathroom Breaks

The man, surnamed Li, had been working as an engineer for a company in Jiangsu Province for over a decade when he was let go because of his frequent and long bathroom visits during work hours. The case was recently reported by the Shanghai Federation of Trade Unions after the engineer took his former employer to court over his termination.

In its defense, the unnamed company submitted surveillance footage showing Li taking14 extremely long bathroom breaks, the longest of which lasted four hours, in a 30-day period between April and May 2024. Its lawyers also presented evidence that management had contacted Li via chat app when noticing his disappearance, but received no replies, mentioning that his position required him to always be available during work hours.

Check out the story at the link to see how everything came out.

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In case you are unfamiliar with the "four hour" bit I was paraphrasing above

John Pinette was a very funny guy. Check out some more of his stuff when you have time.

Retro Corner

Recently on a morning thread, my buddy Sponge made reference to this commercial

It inspired me to dive into some more classic commercials from a bygone era.

One that jumped to mind was this one that I recall was shown during A Charlie Brown Christmas when I was a kid.

Do you remember the Whistle Pop?

Peter Paul candy also reminded us that sometimes you feel like a nut

Peter Paul was acquired by Hershey in 1988. If you're interested, here is a detailed history of the company

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On the subject of vintage TV and videos, particularly at Christmastime.

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Plenty more videos like this out there, but here is a 42 minute video of 1980s vintage commercials

What other vintage commercials do you still vividly remember?

'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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When Fashion Meets My Over-the-Top Christmas Tree

Usually we’re swooning over the latest runway triumphs, the perfect pumps or a statement coat on Melania that left us all breathless. But this week, with the holidays twinkling brighter than a diamond tiara, my fashion obsession has spilled over into something unexpected: Christmas trees. Christmas trees, you ask? Why yes, because down here in the South, we simply don’t do subtle when it comes to our evergreens. We go big, lush, gloriously layered, and unapologetically extra. Plus, couture can make anything better, even a pine tree. So when I spotted what Burberry, Ladurée, and the like have done to hotel lobby trees this season, I knew these sensory masterpieces demanded a spotlight. Let’s step into the magic…

Burberry at Claridge's

One of the most talked-about collaborations this year is Burberry's partnership with London's Claridge's hotel. Chief Creative Officer Daniel Lee designed a 16-foot traditional tree in the lobby, adorned with around 600 hand tied bows crafted from surplus Burberry fabrics, a nod to Victorian symbols of unity. Hanging bells and chess-piece ornaments inspired by Burberry's Equestrian Knight Design add a playful, heritage twist, tying into the label's signature checks and motifs. The overall vibe? Effortless British elegance meets cozy maximalism.

Ladurée at The St. Regis

For a dose of decadent Parisian indulgence, French patisserie Ladurée teamed up with The St. Regis hotels in New York and Washington, D.C. The 12-foot trees shimmer with sumptuous velvet bows, oversized macarons, dried florals, and colorful baubles, topped by a grand peacock-blue bow. It’s a feast for the senses, aligning with fashion's ongoing love for food-inspired motifs (think Moschino's playful collections). This collab’s vibe is glittery, gold-toned whimsy.

David Laport at Riggs

Dutch couture darling David Laport dazzles at Riggs Washington D.C. with "Golden Origins"—an 18-foot celestial masterpiece of hand-sculpted gold pleats nodding to the hotel's banking heritage. It’s vibe is bold, architectural, and sensorially explosive.

Urs Fischer at The Connaught

Spheres filled with AI-generated human faces glow via LED lights on this outdoor marvel. Symbolizing global togetherness, a take that blends tech with fashion's boundary-pushing narratives (think Balenciaga's digital innovations). This vibe is ethereal avant-garde.

John Derian x The Green Vase at The Dewberry

In Charleston at my beloved Dewberry, John Derian joins forces with Livia Cetti of The Green Vase for a celebration of pure American style and artistry. The central tree stands tall in a miniature mossy forest of smaller evergreens and faux bois, while paper garlands bloom with delicate dewberry flowers, paperwhites, and amaryllis, handcrafted petals so lifelike you can almost feel their velvety softness and catch a faint, fresh floral whisper. The vibe is layered, collected elegance with a whimsical decoupage charm. Utterly divine.

My own tree? It’s a full-on spectacle: floor-to-ceiling Fraser fir dripping in layers of ribbon, chinoiserie ornaments, velvet bows, polished metals and just enough sparkle for an aesthetic of nostalgic elegance. Tell me about your tree and if you went with a fancy vibe, traditional aesthetic, or something completely different!

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Thanks, Piper!

DJ Doof - Guess The Theme

Thursday's theme was a bit challenging. Tonight's is super easy. Difficulty level 1 out of 5

You're not on that list, are you??

Tonight's ONT brought to you by conspiracy theories from a long time ago in a galaxy far far away

Tonight's ONT was produced in advance by Doof Enterprises, LLC. Year-end donations are still being accepted. While not legally tax deductible, you could certainly give it a try!

Your feedback may or may not be very important to Doof Enterprises. Follow Mr. Doof on X @doof2112 or do the email thing – doof2112 at proton dot me. All I want for Christmas are some Rush deep cuts!

posted by Open Blogger at 10:00 PM

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