I may have missed something, but I don’t see how changing the bottom of the pool was supposed to solve its problems.
It wasn't - it was meant to make the pool appear "American flag" blue in time for July 4. Trump was not content for it to be blue when reflecting a blue sky and gray in other lights.
In addition to having a history of bribing congresscritters, the man to whom the pool clean-up contract was given to (Trump's neighbour, and a no-bid contract) chose to call his company 'Greenwater Services'.
I wonder if driving a motorcade across the drained and newly painted pool did any damage? Those are pretty heavy cars.
The Reflecting Pool perfectly reflects the trump time in office - invent a crisis, ignore the experts, hand contracts to friends, blow the budget, declare victory, blame everyone else when it falls apart, and then demand applause while standing in the algae.
The Reflecting Pool perfectly reflects the trump time in office - invent a crisis, ignore the experts, hand contracts to friends, blow the budget, declare victory, blame everyone else when it falls apart, and then demand applause while standing in the algae.
Trump's presidency in a nutshell!
Someone got arrested for putting his hand in the pool - the claim is that he was pulling on the lining that is coming off, but he says he was just touching it. Trump is now saying the pool was vandalized.
Another question - why did the police arrest the Olympian guy on the bike? It must have been obvious he was just getting a piece out or putting his hands in the water. Surely no big deal?
35% H2O2 is laboratory grade concentrations, and wouldn't be used to kill algae. Even if it was used, a few bottles of that added to all that water would result in a solution a long way below 35%. The reason paint and other coatings might come off that quickly is usually because it was not applied properly in the first place (which can include not preparing the surface properly, not letting the coating set properly, or simply using the wrong stuff).
The peroxide story is a red herring, so to speak. Inadequate preparation is almost certainly the problem. It had to be dry and mechanically cleaned for the paint to have had any hope of adhesion. I can't imagine a pond of that size ever being suitable for painting. It's another case of the mad emperor just saying, "Do it!" and in return for millions of dollars it was done. Who was it said, "Never mind the quality, feel the width"?
Another question - why did the police arrest the Olympian guy on the bike? It must have been obvious he was just getting a piece out or putting his hands in the water. Surely no big deal?
An unbelievable number of cops and military types are deployed in DC right now. On top of the DC cops and the Park police, there are thousands of National Guard troops and a bunch of cops from other states (red ones, of course) that have been deputized by the US Marshals. This is what happens in a police state.
Could we somehow talk the Orange One into deploying ALL his ICE people into the same place--preferably into a very small park, behind barriers to keep the innocent out--and then, well, just leave them there for the foreseeable?
Could we somehow talk the Orange One into deploying ALL his ICE people into the same place--preferably into a very small park, behind barriers to keep the innocent out--and then, well, just leave them there for the foreseeable?
Seems a waste of a park. Maybe tell him his golf courses are in imminent danger?
Yes! The Donald J Trump Beautiful Garden, with a bigly golden statue of himself as the centrepiece, spouting clean water from its mouth. That would make a change from the shite he usually spouts...
The peroxide story is a red herring, so to speak. Inadequate preparation is almost certainly the problem. It had to be dry and mechanically cleaned for the paint to have had any hope of adhesion. I can't imagine a pond of that size ever being suitable for painting. It's another case of the mad emperor just saying, "Do it!" and in return for millions of dollars it was done. Who was it said, "Never mind the quality, feel the width"?
This. Also note that concrete is porous, so "dry" for the inside of a leaky pond is an interesting statement.
Why not turn the space into a beautiful garden with fountains?
Because that would be pedestrian and commonplace rather than the interesting and meditative space that it is. Have you been there? If not, look at the street view on Google Maps. If you stand in front of the Lincoln Memorial facing the pool, you see the Washington Monument in the distance and its reflection in the pool.
There are lots of public gardens in DC. The reflecting pool is unique.
Is he trying to improve things? Or just improve the bank balance for his family and mates?
Both, I think. I do believe that, in his own mind, he is doing things that will make America great again. Which probably dovetails with his belief that he has the right to enrich himself off the public coffers.
Is he trying to improve things? Or just improve the bank balance for his family and mates?
Both, I think. I do believe that, in his own mind, he is doing things that will make America great again. Which probably dovetails with his belief that he has the right to enrich himself off the public coffers.
And why not? Trump would not be the first businessman to enrich himself at the taxpayer’s expense.
Is he trying to improve things? Or just improve the bank balance for his family and mates?
Both, I think. I do believe that, in his own mind, he is doing things that will make America great again. Which probably dovetails with his belief that he has the right to enrich himself off the public coffers.
And why not? Trump would not be the first businessman to enrich himself at the taxpayer’s expense.
Are you kidding? You clearly have no idea of the scope of Trump's corruption and grift.
Is he trying to improve things? Or just improve the bank balance for his family and mates?
Both, I think. I do believe that, in his own mind, he is doing things that will make America great again. Which probably dovetails with his belief that he has the right to enrich himself off the public coffers.
And why not? Trump would not be the first businessman to enrich himself at the taxpayer’s expense.
Are you kidding? You clearly have no idea of the scope of Trump's corruption and grift.
I wouldn’t dare to limit Trump’s evil to profiting from the taxpayers.
Apparently, the algae has cleared. The ducks are now safe. Wonder what will happen when the pool is drained and repaired again. They say the repair job will be under warranty.
Apparently, the algae has cleared. The ducks are now safe. Wonder what will happen when the pool is drained and repaired again. They say the repair job will be under warranty.
Wouldn't the only sensible repair be to return the pool to the state before anyone tried to put an inappropriate paint on the bottom?
A good illustration of the well-known saying, "if it's not broken, don't fix it".
Apparently, the algae has cleared. The ducks are now safe. Wonder what will happen when the pool is drained and repaired again. They say the repair job will be under warranty.
Wouldn't the only sensible repair be to return the pool to the state before anyone tried to put an inappropriate paint on the bottom?
A good illustration of the well-known saying, "if it's not broken, don't fix it".
Assumes facts not in evidence. The pool has perennially had problems, mainly leaks and algae blooms. The first Obama administration spent two years and more $35 million renovating it, and it still has leaky pipes between the pool and the water filtration system. Which Trump's pool guy didn't fix.
What I'd seen a few days ago said that the 2010 renovations had involved installing piles under the pool to support the new concrete base, as the pool was originally dug into clay which over almost a century had shifted as clay is wont to do. Basically the original foundation was inadequate. That renovation also installed a filtration system to bring in water from the Tidal Pool rather than top up the pool with mains water.
All the reporting I've seen on the recent work has suggested it was basically cosmetic, I've not read anywhere suggesting it was intended to address any specific problems (and, algae would certainly be a potential problem after switching to water from the Tidal Basin which would be more nutrient rich and any the filters are never going to remove 100% of algae from the river).
To me the most interesting thing about the reflecting pool mess is the way it's caught on with the public as the current emblem of the failures of Trump's presidency. I would have nominated the bone-dumb war with Iran for that (though the competition is stiff). But maybe the combination of it being literally out in the open on the National Mall, being relatively small (millions are easier to understand than billions), and being relatable (his pool guy fucked up!) is what's driven this home for people.
Trump has now put fencing up surrounding the pool just to make sure no bicyclist will ever have the chance to slit the pool lining again.
He just keeps digging a deeper hole for himself.
One thing about the ground on which the pool sets. It is artificial backfill It is sediment that was dredged from the Potomac River. Backfill settles unevenly; I am reminded of the verse of the old hymn: all else is built on shifting sand.
To me the most interesting thing about the reflecting pool mess is the way it's caught on with the public as the current emblem of the failures of Trump's presidency. I would have nominated the bone-dumb war with Iran for that (though the competition is stiff). But maybe the combination of it being literally out in the open on the National Mall, being relatively small (millions are easier to understand than billions), and being relatable (his pool guy fucked up!) is what's driven this home for people.
Whatever persuades hitherto loyalists that he’s basically too incompetent to be trusted to do or say anything …
So he’s said that Andy Burnham, possibly the next Prime Minister of the UK, is “just the mayor of a town”. I’m sure the people of Manchester, the third largest Metropolitan city in the UK must be thrilled.
So he’s said that Andy Burnham, possibly the next Prime Minister of the UK, is “just the mayor of a town”. I’m sure the people of Manchester, the third largest Metropolitan city in the UK must be thrilled.
Like almost everyone else I expect they will roll their eyes and get on with their lives.
Does Trump have nobody at his side advising him of how he comes across.
I wonder why it's so perennially problematic. Is it because of the high ground water, or what?
DC is famously swamp land so I'd guess heat and humidity don't help.
I think this is somewhat of a myth that has been perpetuated because of associated evocative language ('Going to Washington to drain the swamp' etc), though some of it was on reclaimed land and it can get very hot and humid.
The reflecting pool leaks constantly and is refilled from the Potomac which isn't going to be sterile - and with some of the Obama era filtration removed this end state was somewhat predictable.
I wonder why it's so perennially problematic. Is it because of the high ground water, or what?
DC is famously swamp land so I'd guess heat and humidity don't help.
I think this is somewhat of a myth that has been perpetuated because of associated evocative language ('Going to Washington to drain the swamp' etc), though some of it was on reclaimed land and it can get very hot and humid.
I'd heard it long before Trump - a possibly apocryphal tale that DC is where it is because the land was otherwise pretty useless and part of that was the water level.
So he’s said that Andy Burnham, possibly the next Prime Minister of the UK, is “just the mayor of a town”. I’m sure the people of Manchester, the third largest Metropolitan city in the UK must be thrilled.
Like almost everyone else I expect they will roll their eyes and get on with their lives.
Especially given that, based on the context, he pretty clearly didn't know which place in the UK Burnham had been mayor of.
Does Trump have nobody at his side advising him of how he comes across.
Probably not. He doesn't tolerate people who tell him things he doesn't want to hear. He can't bear criticism or correction or even the slightest hint that he isn't the best at everything. And he doesn't care how he comes across. If someone doesn't like it, that's their problem, not his.
Yes. I’ve wondered about that. There is quite a lot written about toxic leadership and the psychology behind toxic leaders. I’m intrigued by the analysis of personality psychologist John D Mayer who has come up with the category “Dangerous Leader Disorder” and sees three primary characteristics of dangerous leaders.
Trump seems to fit 2 and 3 very well, but he seems to be anything but indifferent to criticism, (as opposed to indifference to the suffering of others). He seems to be an over-reactor, a compulsive corrector of criticism, as exemplified by his thousands of tweets. That seems to me to be a unique Trumpism.
Whatever, I’m pretty clear he is a dangerous leader.
Whatever, I’m pretty clear he is a dangerous leader.
Do I detect an air of indifference?
He is a narcissist. He really does not care of what others think of him.
In other news. Trump kicked off his long touted America's State Fair. It is to be a 16 day event. Some states decided not to have official pavilions--I think you can guess which ones. First day did not go so well. The food pavilion lost its power, and all its ice cream melted. Trump gave an opening speech and people made for the exits. https://www.newsweek.com/crowds-walk-out-donald-trump-speech-video-12118781
Oh, and, they put up a link fence complete around the reflecting pool, Don't want Antifa to ruin the day.
There are narcissists who care intensely what others think of them (yes, I was surprised too). Search on “vulnerable narcissists”. Trump appears to combine both types.
Comments
It wasn't - it was meant to make the pool appear "American flag" blue in time for July 4. Trump was not content for it to be blue when reflecting a blue sky and gray in other lights.
The Reflecting Pool perfectly reflects the trump time in office - invent a crisis, ignore the experts, hand contracts to friends, blow the budget, declare victory, blame everyone else when it falls apart, and then demand applause while standing in the algae.
Trump's presidency in a nutshell!
Someone got arrested for putting his hand in the pool - the claim is that he was pulling on the lining that is coming off, but he says he was just touching it. Trump is now saying the pool was vandalized.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/former-olympic-canoeist-arrested-touching-235931453.html?guccounter=1
An unbelievable number of cops and military types are deployed in DC right now. On top of the DC cops and the Park police, there are thousands of National Guard troops and a bunch of cops from other states (red ones, of course) that have been deputized by the US Marshals. This is what happens in a police state.
Seems a waste of a park. Maybe tell him his golf courses are in imminent danger?
This. Also note that concrete is porous, so "dry" for the inside of a leaky pond is an interesting statement.
As always, Trump is a liar.
Trying to improve something and, in the process, making it worse.
Because that would be pedestrian and commonplace rather than the interesting and meditative space that it is. Have you been there? If not, look at the street view on Google Maps. If you stand in front of the Lincoln Memorial facing the pool, you see the Washington Monument in the distance and its reflection in the pool.
There are lots of public gardens in DC. The reflecting pool is unique.
Both, I think. I do believe that, in his own mind, he is doing things that will make America great again. Which probably dovetails with his belief that he has the right to enrich himself off the public coffers.
And why not? Trump would not be the first businessman to enrich himself at the taxpayer’s expense.
Are you kidding? You clearly have no idea of the scope of Trump's corruption and grift.
Are his base buying this nonsense?
I imagine blue paint is now blocking any filtration system?
Algae is the issue. Algae is just a plant enjoying the sunshine. Hopefully this isn't one of the toxic varieties?
I don't think the US press ask trump very searching questions.
Hanlon's Razor:
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity"
If Mr Trump does get to control the Strait of Hormuz will it also turn green?
He is a Schrodinger's President - empty-headed and full of shit, both at the same time.
I wouldn’t dare to limit Trump’s evil to profiting from the taxpayers.
A good illustration of the well-known saying, "if it's not broken, don't fix it".
Assumes facts not in evidence. The pool has perennially had problems, mainly leaks and algae blooms. The first Obama administration spent two years and more $35 million renovating it, and it still has leaky pipes between the pool and the water filtration system. Which Trump's pool guy didn't fix.
DC is famously swamp land so I'd guess heat and humidity don't help.
All the reporting I've seen on the recent work has suggested it was basically cosmetic, I've not read anywhere suggesting it was intended to address any specific problems (and, algae would certainly be a potential problem after switching to water from the Tidal Basin which would be more nutrient rich and any the filters are never going to remove 100% of algae from the river).
He just keeps digging a deeper hole for himself.
One thing about the ground on which the pool sets. It is artificial backfill It is sediment that was dredged from the Potomac River. Backfill settles unevenly; I am reminded of the verse of the old hymn: all else is built on shifting sand.
Whatever persuades hitherto loyalists that he’s basically too incompetent to be trusted to do or say anything …
Mind you, Vance is waiting in the wings
Like almost everyone else I expect they will roll their eyes and get on with their lives.
Does Trump have nobody at his side advising him of how he comes across.
I think this is somewhat of a myth that has been perpetuated because of associated evocative language ('Going to Washington to drain the swamp' etc), though some of it was on reclaimed land and it can get very hot and humid.
The reflecting pool leaks constantly and is refilled from the Potomac which isn't going to be sterile - and with some of the Obama era filtration removed this end state was somewhat predictable.
I'd heard it long before Trump - a possibly apocryphal tale that DC is where it is because the land was otherwise pretty useless and part of that was the water level.
Especially given that, based on the context, he pretty clearly didn't know which place in the UK Burnham had been mayor of.
And in the quote I saw, he didn't say "just".
Probably not. He doesn't tolerate people who tell him things he doesn't want to hear. He can't bear criticism or correction or even the slightest hint that he isn't the best at everything. And he doesn't care how he comes across. If someone doesn't like it, that's their problem, not his.
Yes. I’ve wondered about that. There is quite a lot written about toxic leadership and the psychology behind toxic leaders. I’m intrigued by the analysis of personality psychologist John D Mayer who has come up with the category “Dangerous Leader Disorder” and sees three primary characteristics of dangerous leaders.
1. Indifference
2. Intolerance
3. Self-aggrandisement
Trump seems to fit 2 and 3 very well, but he seems to be anything but indifferent to criticism, (as opposed to indifference to the suffering of others). He seems to be an over-reactor, a compulsive corrector of criticism, as exemplified by his thousands of tweets. That seems to me to be a unique Trumpism.
Whatever, I’m pretty clear he is a dangerous leader.
Do I detect an air of indifference?
He is a narcissist. He really does not care of what others think of him.
In other news. Trump kicked off his long touted America's State Fair. It is to be a 16 day event. Some states decided not to have official pavilions--I think you can guess which ones. First day did not go so well. The food pavilion lost its power, and all its ice cream melted. Trump gave an opening speech and people made for the exits. https://www.newsweek.com/crowds-walk-out-donald-trump-speech-video-12118781
Oh, and, they put up a link fence complete around the reflecting pool, Don't want Antifa to ruin the day.
In Greek mythology Narcissus was brought down by a reflecting pool.
Yes, I know Greek Mythology has a different take on the story.