Sunday Overnight Open Thread - April 12, 2026 [Doof]

Howdy Hordelings! Welcome to the Sunday night ONT. How has the springtime weather been treating you? Enjoying baseball and golf? Suffering from allergies? Planting flowers yet? It's an open thread, as always. What's on YOUR mind tonight?

By the way - in case you missed the announcement on the Gun Thread, this year's NoVa MoMe will take place on Saturday, June 20th, 2026 from 11am to 3pm. Same signup method as the past several years -- Send an email to WeaselBell Productions to get the registration details. Info is also on the left sidebar of the main page. There is NOTHING like a MoMe! Veteran MoMe attendees - please attest to this!

Back to Back Green Jackets for Rory

Rory McIlroy wins Masters, first to repeat since Tiger Woods

Photo from Masters.com

Rory McIlroy had to wait more than a decade to win the Masters and complete the career Grand Slam.

He only had to wait a year to take home a second green jacket.

After squandering a six-stroke lead in Saturday's third round, McIlroy briefly lost the lead again Sunday before taking control on the second nine at Augusta National to become the first back-to-back Masters champion since Tiger Woods in 2001-02 and the fourth overall (Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo).

Quite an accomplishment. Though I was disappointed that the presentation of the coveted green jacket came from the chairman of Augusta National instead of a previous champion. Or even better - one of the other 3 who were repeat champions. When I win back to back Masters, I will demand my 2nd jacket be presented by Jack, Nick, Tiger, or Rory!

Pittsburgh Pirates announcers had some fun on Masters Sunday

You don't hate the media enough. Sports media is not exempt.

Throwback to a simpler (better?) time

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Moving from golf to hockey. Are we close to the end for Ovi?

Alex Ovechkin leaves door open on return to Capitals next season amid NHL retirement rumors

Alex Ovechkin was the man of the hour as the Washington Capitals defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 3-0 in the final home game of the 2025-26 NHL season. As the Caps stayed alive in the playoff race, the Russian star kept every option on the table with a comment on his future.

***

If Capitals fans hoped to see more signs that Ovi may return next season, there was another after the final horn went off. As Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and the Penguins waited on the ice to shake hands with Ovechkin after the game, the Russian star waved them off.

During his postgame press conference, Ovechkin made that clear with a concise statement. “[I waved them off] because I haven’t decided yet. Thanks to them for waiting out there,” Ovechkin, who also thanked Crosby after a potential final game, told reporters after the 3-0 win.

If Ovechkin ends up retiring after the 2025-26 NHL season, several players on the Penguins may regret they couldn’t share one last moment with Ovechkin on an NHL rink. However, Ovechkin revealed—to no one’s surprise—that he met privately with Crosby and Malkin after the game.

The Caps are still in the hunt for a playoff berth. They need to win their last game on Tuesday and get help from Carolina and Montreal, the final 2 opponents for the Flyers.

Current mood for Caps fans like me

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Fire up yer stills!

US appeals court declares 158-year-old home distilling ban unconstitutional

A U.S. appeals court on Friday declared unconstitutional a nearly 158-year-old federal ban on home distilling, calling it an unnecessary and improper means for ​Congress to exercise its power to tax.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of ‌Appeals in New Orleans ruled in favor of the nonprofit Hobby Distillers Association and four of its 1,300 members.

They argued that people should be free to distill spirits at home, whether as ​a hobby or for personal consumption including, in one instance, to create ​an apple-pie-vodka recipe.

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Andrew ⁠Grossman, who argued the nonprofit's appeal, called the decision "an important victory for individual liberty" that lets the plaintiffs "pursue their passion to distill fine beverages in their homes."

"I look forward ⁠to ​sampling their output," he said.

I imagine some of you may have experience distilling your own hooch. Anyone care to fess up?

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I enjoy onion rings. Do you? Well, someone likes them WAY too much!

Steak 'n Shake employee shot, killed during argument over onion rings

A Steak n" Shake employee was shot and killed during an argument over onion rings.

A Steak ’n Shake employee was shot and killed in north St. Louis County late Wednesday night following a confrontation at the drive-thru, according to police.

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Community leaders say the shooting reflects broader concerns about rising violence in the region.

“We should no longer be surprised,” James Clark of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis told KMOV. “The rate of violence that is happening in the St. Louis metropolitan area should be alarming to all of us.”

Clark told KMOV outreach efforts such as violence de-escalation programs are making progress, but added that cultural attitudes toward violence are shifting.

“Crime and violence is becoming a more and more accepted and expected culture,” he told KMOV. “How do we begin to look at what we’re currently doing that is getting results? How do we begin to come up with new adaptations to what we’re doing?”

He told KMOV part of the solution could include businesses incorporating de-escalation techniques into customer service training.

De-escalation techniques?? AYFKM??? Maybe get back to actual punishment for crime and stop letting criminals back out on the streets!!

'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 Little Different: Why This Fashion Girl Is All In on Colored Sinks, Tubs & Fixtures

Normally we’re talking runway trends, how to mix prints like a pro, or the perfect denim jacket for spring. But today we’re doing something a little different—and I’m owning it right up front.
Before I ever styled a look book, I staged houses for real estate as a job while in college. My sole purpose was to make strangers fall in love with a space in 60 seconds flat. I learned fast that color is the ultimate mood-setter, whether it’s a bold lip or statement wallpaper. It has been almost 5 years since we built this house and I am ready to make a few changes. The trend that has me obsessed? Colored sinks, tubs, toilets, and faucets. Designers are playing with soft pastels, candy-bright pops, and earthy tones that feel fresh, fun, and surprisingly sophisticated. I’m here for every single second of it.

After a long run of all-white everything, 2026 is embracing personality, warmth, and heritage. I love a clean spa moment, but just like my house, it starts feeling a bit… anonymous. Designers are calling it a “heritage revival” or “nostalgic comfort”—think dopamine décor with a grounded, biophilic twist. Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer (a soft, weightless off-white), is a super neutral backdrop for these colorful statements. If you prefer a warmer, more yellow undertone neutral, Greek Villa by Sherwin Williams is tried and true.

The colored-fixture comeback is the perfect way to add “look-at-me” energy without committing to a full overhaul. A single jade green vanity sink or a blush-pink clawfoot tub instantly makes the room feel curated and collected.

Current color stars for 2026 bathroom fixtures:
• Sage, jade, and forest green — calming yet modern (huge with black or brass hardware)
• Blush pink and peach — flirty and feminine without being twee
• Teal and turquoise — bold but still spa-like
• Warm terracotta or biscuit tones — tying into the bigger earthy-neutral wave

How do you actually use colored fixtures and avoid it feeling chaotic? Let the color be the hero, then build everything else around it.

1. Pick one statement color. Don’t do a rainbow explosion. And while matching all the fixtures is very cool, one colored sink or tub is fine, too. Everything else (tiles, walls, hardware) should play support. PS. Don’t be afraid to add a matching toilet , a toilet is a lot easier to change than tile, so what’s the big deal?

2. Balance with neutrals and texture. Pair your colored fixture with warm whites, greige, or natural wood. Matte black or brushed brass/gold hardware looks killer against pastels. Add texture—linen towels, woven baskets, stone countertops—to keep it grounded.

3. Echo the color subtly elsewhere. Pull the hue into a shower curtain, art, or even grout.

4. Scale matters. In small baths, a colored pedestal sink or wall-mount faucet keeps things airy. In larger spaces, go for a freestanding colored tub as the showstopper.

If you’ve been stuck in neutral-land or just craving a little more you in your home, this is your sign. Colored fixtures are the easiest way to inject personality without starting over.

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Thanks, Piper - glad to see color re-emerging after the overload of monochromatic stuff from the past 10-15 years!

Don't forget to check out Piper's X page.

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

Born on this date in 1958: Will Sergeant, English guitarist, best known for being a member of Echo & the Bunnymen

A favorite deep cut of mine from Echo - Over The Wall

From Echo's only album without Ian McCulloch - Gone, Gone, Gone

On this date in 2011: Foo Fighters released their seventh studio album Wasting Light. The album was preceded by the successful single 'Rope' which became only the second song ever to debut at No. 1 on Billboard's Rock Songs chart.

On this date in 2025: English record producer, songwriter and arranger Roy Thomas Baker, died at the age of 78. He is best known for producing five out of the first seven albums by Queen and the first four albums by The Cars.

Weekly commenter stats for week of 4-12-2026

AoSHQ Commenter Statistics:
Number of posts: 90
Number of comments: 23082
Number of unique hashes: 1623

Top 10 commenters:
1 [500 comments] 'man' [71.01 posts/day]
2 [408 comments] 'Stateless - He ain't heavy, he's my dog. Old, but full of life.'
3 [360 comments] ' Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _'
4 [356 comments] 'Anna Puma'
5 [338 comments] 'runner'
6 [322 comments] 'Sponge - F*ck Cancer'
7 [312 comments] 'Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere '
8 [293 comments] '...'
9 [285 comments] 'Skip'
10 [272 comments] 'Oldcat'

Top 10 sockpuppeteers:
1 [140 names] 'Mark VII Limited' [19.88 unique names/day]
2 [114 names] 'Quarter Twenty '
3 [108 names] 'Dave Ramsey, boomer meme incarnate'
4 [61 names] 'European Limpdicks are not reliable allies'
5 [55 names] 'Intercepted Reddit Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison'
6 [55 names] 'SSBN 656 (G)'
7 [48 names] 'Duncanthrax'
8 [48 names] 'mindful webworker - deliver the letter the sooner the better'
9 [36 names] 'Count de Monet'
10 [35 names] 'mikeski'

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posted by Open Blogger at 10:00 PM

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