Open Thread for May 2, 2016; We Shall Overcome

So we're looking at 2 this Monday

2 is the smallest even integer, and defines the even integers (they are those divisible by 2) Finite multiples of 2 must end in 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0 If the last digit of a whole number is evenly divisible by 2, the entire number is evenly divisible by 2 2 is the first and smallest prime number 2 is the only even prime number 2 is the third Fibonacci number (1, 1, 2) Ordinary fractions with 2 for a denominator will not result in an infinite decimal expansion 2 is the base of the binary number system 2 is unique in that 2+2 = 2x2 = 2 squared Powers of two play a significant role in computer programming and computer science 2 is central to the definition of Mersenne Primes (primes that are one less than a power of two) The square root of 2 is the length of the diagonal of a unit square

2 is Helium 2 is the atomic mass of deuterium Group 2 of the periodic table is the alkaline earths, elements of which usually have a valence of 2

TITLE 2 of the U.S. Code is THE CONGRESS 

2 appears twice in R2D2.

2 BCE was the  Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Silvanus.  Emperor Augustus was proclaimed Pater Patriae The Aqua Alsietina Roman aqueduct was constructed.  

2 CE was the Year of the Consulship of Vinicius and Varus (which Varus is a tad unclear, however) Publius Alfenus Varus, whoever that may have been, was the consul above, not Varus the Butcher. Tiberius was allowed to return to Rome, and Gaius Caesar signed a treaty with the Parthians who agreed to recognize Roman Claims to Armenia. In China, Wang Mang, known for having but one wife, Lady Wang, embarked on a course of further personal aggrandisement. The first Chinese census was completed, showing almost 60 million Chinese

On this day in: 1611 -- The King James Bible was published for the first time in London. 1670 -- King Charles II of England granted a charter to the Hudson's Bay Company to open up the fur trade in North America. 1808 -- The people of Madrid rose up in rebellion against French occupation as later memorialized in Francisco de Goya's painting "The Second of May 1808". 1885 -- Good Housekeeping magazine went on sale for the first time. 1885 -- Cree and Assiniboine warriors won the Battle of Cut Knife over Canadian forces  1885 -- King Léopold II of Belgium established The Congo Free State. Just like that. Ayup.  1933 -- Adolf Hitler banned trade unions. 1945 -- The Soviet Union announced the capture of Berlin. 1945 -- General Heinrich von Vietinghoff surrendered all Wehrmacht forces in Italy. 1945 -- The US 82nd Airborne Division liberated Wöbbelin concentration camp. 1952 -- The world's first jet airliner, the De Havilland Comet 1 made its first flight.  1955 -- Tennessee Williams won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". 1972 -- A fire at the Sunshine Mine in Idaho, killed 91 workers. 1986 -- The City of Chernobyl was evacuated. 1989 -- Hungary began dismantling its Austrian border fence, allowing East Germans to defect 1998 -- The European Central Bank was founded. 1999 -- Mireya Moscoso became the first woman President of Panama. The US showed tacit approval by not overthrowing or subverting her government. 2011 -- Osama bin Laden, was killed by US forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Born this day in: 1660 -- Alessandro Scarlatti, a composer 1729 -- Catherine the Great, a Russian Empress who made John Paul Jones a rear admiral of the Russian Navy. 1881 -- Alexander Kerensky, a Russian lawyer and politician 1885 -- Hedda Hopper, an actress and gossip columnist 1892 -- Manfred von Richthofen, Snoopy's foe 1895 -- Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers' lyricist 1903 -- Benjamin Spock, a pediatrician and author 1915 -- Doris Fisher, a singer & songwriter (d. 2003) 1921 -- Satyajit Ray, a director, producer, and screenwriter 1924 -- Theodore Bikel, a folkie, singer, songwriter, guitarist, activist, and actor 1929 -- Link Wray, a singer, songwriter, and guitarist 1936 -- Engelbert Humperdinck, a singer & pianist 1944 -- Bob Henrit, a drummer (Argent, The Roulettes, The Kinks, and Unit 4 + 2) 1945 -- Judge Dread, a singer & songwriter 1946 -- Lesley Gore, a singer & songwriter 1948 -- Larry Gatlin, a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor (The Imperials) 1951 -- John Glascock, a singer & bass player (Jethro Tull, Carmen, The Gods, and Chicken Shack) 1972 -- Pandora Boxx, a drag queen performer and singer 1972 -- Ahti Heinla, a programmer and businessman who co-developed Skype

Died this day in: 1519 -- Leonardo da Vinci. 1945 -- Martin Bormann, a German politician 1960 -- Caryl Chessman, a criminal, author, and cause celebre 1972 -- J. Edgar Hoover, Boss Feeb, scoundrel, & fascist control freak who invented Cointelpro and spied on anybody to the left of Mussolini. 2011 -- Osama bin Laden, a Saudi Arabian businessman & terrorist 2014 -- Jessica Cleaves, a singer (The Friends of Distinction and Earth, Wind & Fire)  2015 -- Guy Carawan, another folkie, a singer & musicologist

Holidays, Holy Days, Festivals, Feast Days and such: It is National Education Day in Indonesia and Teachers' Day in Iran.  Alternatively, it is he last day of the Festival of Ridván among the Bahá'í .

So, for music we gots -- Alessandro Scarlatti Doris Fisher Theodore Bikel Link Wray Engelbert Humperdinck Bob Henrit Judge Dread Lesley Gore Larry Gatlin John Glascock Jessica Cleaves Guy Carawan

Alessandro Scarlatti

Doris Fisher Cowrote things like "You Always Hurt the One You Love", "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" and --

Theodore Bikel

Link Wray Before there was metal, there was Liink Wray.

Engelbert Humperdinck

Bob Henrit

Judge Dread

Lesley Gore

Larry Gatlin

John Glascock

Jessica Cleaves

Guy Carawan Carawan, a folkie, taught "We Shall Overcome" to the SNCC in 1960, the rest is history --

SO, about TWO

Crossposted from caucus99%