Thursday Overnight Open Thread - July 2, 2026 [Doof]

Howdy Hordelings! Thanks for stopping by the Thursday ONT. Lots of folks off tomorrow since the 4th falls on a Saturday. Probably a lot of holiday shenanigans already underway. Turnout may be low this evening. That's OK - those of you who ARE here are my favorites anyway!

Happy Birthday, USA!

Oh, you aren't celebrating our country's birthday until Saturday? You think I'm early?

Guess again!

On this day in 1776, the United States was actually born. Not July 4. July 2. That's the day the Continental Congress voted to break from Britain, and John Adams was so certain of it that he predicted July 2 would be the great American holiday forever. He nailed everything except the date.

The vote came down to the wire, and one man had to ride through the night to save it. Delaware's delegation was split, one for independence, one against, which meant the colony's vote canceled itself out. The tie-breaker, Caesar Rodney, was 80 miles away in Delaware. He got word that he was needed and rode all night through a summer thunderstorm, sick and in pain, boots and spurs still on, and made it into Philadelphia just in time to cast Delaware's vote for independence.

The other holdouts fell into place too. In Pennsylvania, the men most opposed, including John Dickinson, deliberately stayed away from the chamber so their colony could swing to yes. South Carolina came around for the sake of a united front. When the roll was called, twelve colonies voted for independence and not a single one voted against. New York simply abstained, waiting on permission from home.

And so, on July 2, 1776, it was done. The colonies had legally, officially declared themselves free.

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So why do we celebrate the 4th? Because that's the day Congress approved the final wording of the document explaining the decision, the Declaration of Independence. The vote to be free happened on the 2nd. The paperwork got finished on the 4th, and history remembered the paperwork.

Happy July 2nd!

July 2 is one of my favorite dates because of John Adams.

July 2, 1786, the delegates are exhausted, the debates have dragged on for weeks, and the weight of history presses down like the summer humidity.

On this very day, July 2, 1776, Adams and his allies push the Continental Congress to vote for independence from Great Britain. The resolution passes. The colonies are no longer subjects; they are free, or at least determined to become so.

Adams writes to his beloved Abigail that day: “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America… It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

He was off by two days. July 4 would get the glory when the Declaration was formally adopted, but he nailed the spirit.

July 2 / July 4 - whatever it takes. Let's just enjoy something our president has done to help us celebrate the 250th anniversary of our independence.

Northrop Grumman is in too

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Vigilante justice comes in many forms. When it involves shaming the perpetrators, bonus points should be awarded!

Mexican Batman Duct-Tapes Alleged Motorcycle Thieves to Lamp Posts

Tired of waiting for local police to do their duty and bring criminals to justice, a mysterious vigilante in the town of Lagos de Moreno, Mexico’s Jalisco state, has been duct-taping alleged motorcycle thieves to lamp posts and leaving them for authorities to find. At least five ‘victims’ have been found so far.

The mysterious ‘Batman’ started operating in Lagos de Moreno in mid-June. The first person was found duct-taped to a lamp post, with ‘thief’ written on his forehead, on June 13th. An allegedly stolen motorcycle was also found nearby, suggesting that the immobilized person was a thief. But this was only the beginning, as police have since discovered at least 4 other alleged thieves tied to lamp posts.

Video segment (en Espanol) at the link.

DJ Doof - Random Stuff Edition

Tonight's ONT brought to you by monumental snubs

The offices of Doof Enterprises, LLC will be closed for the next several days to celebrate the greatness of the USA. We suggest you do the same!

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posted by Open Blogger at 09:50 PM

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