Tuesday Overnight Open Thread - February 17, 2026 [Doof]

Photo credit - Shannon Hill on X

Howdy Hordelings! Welcome to the Tuesday ONT. What awaits you on this mid-winter night? Glad you asked! Step on in and see for yourself...

5 years ago today, we lost a one-of-a kind legend.

Rush Limbaugh will ALWAYS be the voice of conservatism. I first heard him in 1991 at the recommendation of a good friend. I was immediately hooked, and I listened to his radio program or read his website nearly every day for more than 25 years. I imagine many of you have a similar history with the man behind the golden EIB microphone. On the anniversary of his passing, let's enjoy just a few examples of his greatness.

Rush explains liberalism (August 2013)

Rush explains the Trump phenomenon (Oct 2018 )

Take in the first 20 seconds of this video especially. Two legends of conservativism - both sorely missed.

Let's also revisit this spectacularly titled opinion article from Erick Erickson which was published the day after Rush passed away.

Talent Returned To God

My mother insisted that my dad and I take a college road trip together when I was in 11th grade. I got to drive. My dad got to control the radio. We opted for backroads and scenery instead of speed and the interstate. Driving through rural Alabama on the way to my eventual alma mater, Mercer University, in Macon, Georgia, my dad went in search of radio legend Paul Harvey.

Instead, he stumbled upon a voice claiming to have talent on loan from God. My dad and I may not have had a super close relationship at the time, but together we found Rush Limbaugh and could connect with each other through listening to Rush.

Years later, I helped start the website RedState and randomly sent a note through the comment line at Rush's website. I not only got back a reply, but it was from Rush himself. I could not believe he knew who I was. Thus began a correspondence, which led to a friendship, which led to a mentorship.

The first time I ever remember my dad telling me he was proud of me was the day Rush Limbaugh referred to me on air as his friend. My dad nearly ran off the road and immediately called me with fatherly pride. After years of running RedState and being on television, my parents finally decided I would be okay in my career choices after Rush designated me one of his guest hosts.

Definitely check out the whole thing.

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Turns out, not EVERYTHING is bigger In Texas

The World’s Smallest Skyscraper Is the Result of a Massive Scam

At just 40 feet tall, the Newby-McMahon Building in Wichita Falls isn’t very impressive, even when compared to regular-sized buildings, let alone skyscrapers. And yet it was supposed to be one of the most imposing skyscrapers of its time when it was designed in the early 1900s.

The nickname ‘World’s Littlest Skyscraper’ is a dubious title to have, but the Newby-McMahon Building is indeed dwarfed by every skyscraper in the world. It isn’t remotely worthy of being called a skyscraper, as it’s dwarfed by several normal buildings in Wichita Falls, but the story of how it came to be is truly fascinating.

The origins of the Newby-McMahon Building can be traced back to the early 1900s, when the North Texas city of Wichita Falls became the center of a regional oil boom. The discovery of black gold in nearby Burkburnett turned hundreds of locals into millionaires, as mineral rights were negotiated virtually everywhere, from street corners to temporary tents.

Philadelphia oil man J.D.D. McMahon was the first to notice the city’s dire need for office space and quickly proposed a solution – building an imposing skyscraper right next to the original Newby Building, built by Augustus Newby in 1906. His blueprints caught the eye of several investors, and he was able to raise about $200,000 (about $6.8 million in today’s money).

McMahon promised a multistory office building that would be built just across the street from the St. James Hotel, but what he failed to mention was that it wouldn’t go up very much. Exctatic investors didn’t notice that the building’s scale was measured in inches rather than feet, and, by the time they realized they had been scammed, it was too late.

Check out the whole thing. Video segment at the link.

Not related, yet somehow related

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Yes, Presidents' Day was yesterday - but this cool bit of trivia hit my feed this morning. From Kevin O'Neill on X

RIP to my favorite Presidents Day fun fact.

John Tyler, our 10th president, had a grandson alive until last May.

John had a son while in his 60s.
That son had a kid while in his 70s.
And that kid, Harrison Tyler, passed away last year at age 96.

So… New fun fact:
John was born during Washington administration. So 3 generations of Tylers span EVERY PRESIDENCY IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

That's a pretty random but interesting tidbit!

But wait - there's more! Check out this very Horde-worthy comment to the post

Correction: Steven Tyler was John Tyler's father. 'Dream On' was almost our national anthem. And 'Love in an Elevator' was written by Otis Redding, two years after he founded the Otis Elevator Company.

Look it up.

DJ Doof - Songs For The 17th of the Month

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