Weekend Open Thread

| June 27, 2025 | 55 Comments

Alligator Alcatraz? Will this also come with specialized perp walks? Either way, most commenters here would not feel sympathy for those who end up being accommodated here. Donald Trump’s winning reelection in 2024, followed by his actions as soon as he resumed office, should have given illegal aliens plenty of time to deport themselves. The illegal aliens took a gamble when they came here illegally and insisted on staying; they should have known and understood the risks. Enjoy your weekend!

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Hack Stone

Oh wise and all knowing Magic 8- Ball, will the outdated and overpriced Red Hat Software allow Hack Stone to be unburdened and secure the first comment in order to make This Ain’t Hell deplorable again, or will KoB’s hired goons once be successful in their nefarious schemes to impede Hack Stone from scoring the highly coveted and rarely awarded title, depriving the unwashed masses of the benevolent dictatorship of Hack Stone? Magic 8-Ball says…

ChipNASA

9 fucking seconds because this is a new laptop and I had no autofill….

Fucking First World Problems.

Good on you Hacker.

Hack Stone

You need to load some outdated and overpriced Red Hat Software on that beast, and before you know it, it will be running as smoothly as a1980’s vintage Jaguar trying to make it up River Road.

ChipNASA

With or without rust and an old bent mailbox door.
Maybe toss in a few of these….Oh wait, that was the other doofus.

coconuts
RGR 4-78

Clackety clack.

Tallywhagger

Don’t talk back!

Graybeard

::rustle rustle::

jeff LPH 3 63-66

I’m late again because I still didn’t purchase the Famous, greatest Magic 8-Ball like I keep saying but putting it off. I had one back in the 1950’s when I was a kid and should have saved it.

5JC

I was busy swimming in the greatest of Gulfs, the Gulf of ‘Merica on the Redneck Riviera. There is no other gulf like it. They made another Gulf but it wasn’t nearly as nice. Everyone agrees the Gulf of America is the best.

Sparks

Way to go Hack! ‘Bout time brother

MCPO USN

Cue the No Kings protest….

ChipNASA

First!

Hack Stone

Denied!

Commissioner Wretched

First!

Hack Stone

See comment above.

Odie

4th. My best showing in a while.

Commissioner Wretched

Well, poop. I cede the throne to Hack Stone for the week. Hack, congratulations on your taking the coveted, earned, never given FIRST! I hope you like the way I left the throne room. Herewith is the trivia which a few of you at least enjoy!

DID YOU KNOW…?
Did the star of one of the first movies mocking Adolf Hitler have to finance the movie himself because no studio would touch it?
By Commissioner Wretched
didyouknowcolumn@gmail.com
Copyright © 2025

Now that it’s officially summer, what are your plans? Do you intend to use that hard-earned vacation time for a trip to the beach, perhaps?

I never go to the beach. People keep trying to push me back into the water.

How about the mountains? Now there’s a great destination for fun.

At my age, though, climbing mountains is out. I have trouble with mole hills.

Whatever your plans are for the summer, I do hope they include trivia! How about a first summer dollop of trivia right now?

Did you know …

… a popular Scandinavian toast has a pretty gruesome history? You have no doubt heard, “Skål!” uttered by people raising their glasses in a toast to someone. The term comes from Scandinavia, and it came about because of a rather dreadful habit of the Vikings. When a Viking battle ended, the winners would drink the blood of their vanquished enemies – from human skulls. That’s where the word “skål” comes from. (I could have gone all day and not known that.)

Commissioner Wretched

… the first spacecraft sent to Venus had a rather strange mission? Venera 1, launched in 1961 by the Soviet Union, had equipment on board to scan the surface of Venus for water. Some scientists thought Venus was a very wet and tropical planet, and that was one of the things they wanted to learn with the mission. Venera 1 suffered a communications failure during flight and no data was ever returned. We now know, of course, that Venus is the hottest planet in the Solar System, with no liquid water at all and an average temperature of 490° Celsius. (Hot stuff.)

… a Muppet character is based on an actual myth? The “vampire” character of Count von Count, who has helped children learn numbers on Sesame Street for decades, is based on a method supposedly used to deter vampires. The idea is to toss seeds outside a door or place a fishing net against a window. Vampires are compelled to count the seeds or the holes in the net, delaying them until the Sun comes up. (No wonder he never bit Big Bird on the neck.)

… viruses can get viruses? Normally, we think of a virus as a tiny thing, much smaller than a cell. But some viruses are large – large enough, in fact, that other viruses infect them. (There’s a picture to keep you awake at night.)

… a Confederate general’s hat saved his life when he was shot in the head during the Civil War? General Henry Heth (1825-1888) was leading a division at the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg when he was hit in the head by a Union bullet. But because Heth was wearing a hat two sizes too large, he had newspaper folded into the sweatband to help keep the hat on his head. The newspaper deflected the bullet enough to knock Heth out but not kill him. The general was unconscious for about 30 hours, then made a full recovery. (I wanted to do a line here about “using your head” but it seemed silly.)

Commissioner Wretched

… one of the first movies mocking Hitler was financed by its star? The storyline of 1940’s The Great Dictator pokes thinly-veiled satire at the rise of Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) to becoming dictator of Germany. But the star of the film, comedian Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977), could not get a studio to finance the movie. Chaplin was told that studios feared losing money if they “took a stand” in the years before the United States entered World War II. Undaunted, Chaplin poured two million dollars of his own money into the production, and The Great Dictator – in which Chaplin plays both a Jewish barber and Adenoid Hynkel, the parody of Hitler – became his greatest hit. Chaplin also wrote, produced and directed the film. Additional trivia note: The Great Dictator is one of the few non-cowboy movies enjoyed by Hitler. He was said to have owned a print of the film and liked showing it at his private cinema at his home. (You knew that little mustache he wore would come in handy, didn’t you?)

… despite the huge amount of stuff in orbit around Earth, only one satellite has ever been destroyed by a meteor? It happened in 1993, when the European Space Agency’s Olympus-1 satellite was hit by a meteor during the Perseid meteor shower that year. (Otherwise known as a cosmic bull’s-eye.)

… caffeine acts as a natural pesticide? The powerful drug (yes, caffeine is a drug) paralyzes and kills certain insect pests that may try to feed on its parent plant. (Doesn’t do you and me a whole lot of good, either.)

Commissioner Wretched

… the creator of a popular children’s show had a background that helped him with it? Stephen Hillenburg (1961-2018), the creator of the popular cartoon series Spongebob Squarepants, had a background that helped with the show – he was at one time a teacher of marine biology at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California. (There’s something fishy about that.)

… you may know someone who is Rabelaisian? To be called Rabelaisian is to be noted as being “grossly or coarsely humorous.” You know, like a comedian who needs four-letter words to be funny. The term is based on the name of François Rabelais (1483-1553), a French humorist and satirist. (I’ve been called many things, but never that.)

… that little loop on the back of some men’s dress shirts has a purpose? That loop, located below the collar and between the shoulders, is there to give you a way to hang up the shirt when a hangar isn’t handy. (Makes a great way to grab the shirt and hang it over your shoulder, too.)

… anteaters prefer termites to ants? (Two out of every three anteaters say so.)

Now … you know!

RGR 4-78

Squarebob Spongepants.

KoB

Trying to play catch up, CW. Rough day yesterday and today’s not much better. Another fine job on the trivia and it is muchly appreciated. Damn shame that the haters have laid back and allowed the Stoned Hacker to swoop in and take over The Throne Room. Iffen they had to clean up the mess that he always leaves, maybe they would make a more concentrated effort to EARN the Coveted FIRST and quit complaining when those of us that stay in the fight, prevail.

Full disclosure…reading Book 3 of Admiral Lee’s Adventures is in on my bucket list…and the bucket has a hole in it. Get cracking!

Amateur Historian

Hi! It’s been awhile since I participated in the WOT. Been going to school, struggling with some finances, and my mom and I are entertaining a move to Ohio. In addition, there is an anti-social side to myself (which kind of feels like it comes and goes in waves) and it may be due to recently discovered autism (Aspergers spectrum. No, I didn’t know I had it when I enlisted in the Navy. Yes, it did make doing my duty harder than what others had to deal with.). Only thing I can do is try and be more involved with the TAH community and spend more time with guys here on Fridays. I know it’s not obligatory, but I want to do it. So, below will be a video that may catch me some flak, but I think it’s an interesting topic:

It concerns dispensationalism and why Christians are evenly split over Israel. My personal take is I don’t think we should defend Israel because of the dispensationalist idea that the Jews are God’s chosen people (we’re all God’s chosen people), but they should be defended because they don’t deserve to die and it’s the right thing to do. Besides, they are a steadfast ally in the Middle East against the jihadis, who want to annihilate Christians too.

(Sidebar: Hey, Fyrefighter! I still do want to take you up on your offer for a beer at least once before I potentially move, so do I email Ed or what do I need to do?)

Sparks

Amateur Historian, I’m glad you’re here, my friend. I’m somewhat non-social myself. Rather be alone than with a bunch of people. I hope whatever treatment you choose or are doing helps with being on the spectrum. God bless and take care.

Amateur Historian

Thank you, Sparks. May God bless you too.

Graybeard

Couple of my Venturers had Asperger’s.
They were good kids, when you understood them.
Hopefully you can find some folks that help those on “the spectrum” adapt and function. Favorite First D-i-L’s nephew is also on the spectrum, and they’ve worked diligently with him and he’s doing real well now. A great young man.

Amateur Historian

Glad to hear that. My case is rather high functioning, but I still do encounter challenges I need to navigate because of it from time to time.

Fyrfighter

Hey AH, glad to hear you’re hanging in. Yeah, hit up Ed, and since I know you’re listening Ed, go ahead and give him my email.
What part of Ohio you all thinking about? Got some family back that way, so I’m kinda familiar..

Amateur Historian

Defiance. I got some family there as well. One or two more in Philly.

Amateur Historian

Ok, sent my email. Used the admin email in the “Contact Us” tab. Sorry, it’s taken me awhile to get around to taking you up on your offer.

Fyrfighter

It’s all good man.. and funny enough, I’m originally from Philly area

Amateur Historian

Lol really? Only time I was there was when I was a kid. I don’t remember it, though. I mostly grew up in the Springs area.

Last edited 12 days ago by Amateur Historian
Amateur Historian

This video details how Gen Z are moving away from Leftism and embracing Christianity/Conservatism:

A Proud Infidel®™

Numma thirteen, Present and unaccountable as I award myself Honorary First yet again.

((((OVER))))

More liberal heads are exploding every day, and I have to watch my caloric intake from all of the popcorn and nachos!!! 😀😀😀😀

Anonymous

Plus… old, but a meme now:

1750683031027
Dennis - not chevy

Am I being grumpy or does anyone else get disgusted by retired GI’s using their rank to sell products? I was taught never to use my rank or position in the USAF to endorse a product. I’ve seen Generals and CMSgts endorsing products using their ranks, and sometimes a facsimile of their uniforms. I don’t care if they are retired. If a retired General or a retired E-9 gets a job selling stuff, I say let them do it in civilian clothes using their civilian title (e.g. Dr, Att’y, Mr, Mrs, Ms, Miss, etc).

Army-Air Force

I’m TSgt Army-Air Force Guy, (Ret.) and I’d like to spend a minute talking about how much $$$ you can earn working from home!!

HT3

Just this…

I-hate-while-liberals.don-draper
HT3

And that…

Woame-Guns-right
Sparks

So then, let them have the same rights.

ChipNASA

*ahem* and I quote….

Cant-trust-fk-everyone
CCO

Those with an interest in naval matters, recent US Navy specifically, should scroll to the bottom to check out some gold-tier rumors: https://wlehman.substack.com/p/dont-interrupt-them?utm_source=activity_item

Forest Bondurant

30th!

5JC

I’m glad white people are going to pay extra taxes. This is a solid plan.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/06/27/zohran-mamdani-plan-tax-white-neighbourhoods-new-york/

Graybeard

Present & unaccountable.
Gonna be on an extended Long Range Patrol next two WOTs with 7 of the grands & Mrs. GB.
Y’all behave, hug your loved ones, and my God bless and keep you all safe.

Tallywhagger

The hideously defiled USN vessel besmirched by name of Harvey Milk has been redeemed!

Hereafter that vessel will be known as the Oscar Peterson, yes, one of the greatest piano players of all time, a Canadian, Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. navy. Even if he didn’t have a Medal of Honor, which he does, it is a great honor to recognize “All the Things” he was.

5JC

Two different people I’m pretty sure.

One quite talented and one heroic.

5JC

Well now here is something you don’t see every day.

This Guy wins a Pulitzer for a well timed take down of a politician under charges (never proven) of pedophillia is in fact a pedo himself. Enjoy prison WAPO reporter. Be sure to give us a full review of the man juice bar.

https://nypost.com/2025/06/27/us-news/washington-post-journalist-busted-by-jeanine-pirro-for-allegedly-possessing-child-porn/

Odie

Just saw this too. Comeuppance is so sweet sometimes. I hope the politician gets a seat right behind the accused.

Herbert J Messkit

Was reminiscing the other day about the dust bowl at NTC in the 80s and 90s. For the life of me I can’t remember the chow cycle. Was it MMA, did we get 1 hot meal in a field kitchen?

Claw

Herbert, that was the cycle that I remember (MMA). I did five NTC rotations with 1/12 INF and 1st Brigade HHC (S-4) of the 4th ID between 84-91 and countless other smaller PCMS (Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site) rotations and that was always the sequence, evening chow being the hot meal.

Claw

Oh, and one more thing about the NTC rotations of the 80’s and 90’s concerning “logistics”.

We (and I’m sure the opposing force did it also) could always tell where the enemy was going to be lagered up just by having our Scouts keep track of the Porta-Potty guys movements.

Good Times!!!!. /s

Anonymous

Too many folk rode their profile for individual expression, stylin’ like LeBron, and now (havin’ f*cked it up for everyone) we’ll all be equally miserable. Thanks, dudes!!

Hack Stone

Meanwhile in Washington DC, another prominent member of the Mainstream Media has been arrested on child pornography charges.

https://www.foxnews.com/media/washington-post-reporter-arrested-child-pornography-charges-after-fbi-search-placed-leave