CREATURES IN THE GREEN LAGOON

President Donald Trump had a dream.

Maureen Dowd of the New York Times published an op-ed about Creatures from the Green Lagoon.  A few quotes:

A historian once told me that the presidency would distill Donald Trump to his essence.  That essence, it turns out, is trillions of microscopic organisms that suck up all the oxygen and endanger life around them.

The algae is a perfect metaphor to reflect on our unreflective president and his impulsive and solipsistic style of governing.

This is the hallowed site where Marian Anderson serenaded a throng after getting banished from Constitution Hall for her race, and where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech to an even bigger crowd around the 2,028-foot pool.

Reports of Trump victories, with the knotty issues of Iran and the reflecting pool, are premature. Iran is gloating about Trump’s bad deal. Senate Republicans who normally don’t have the temerity to challenge Trump are deriding it. And the hydrogen peroxide that park workers used to kill the algae is peeling off the “American flag blue” paint that Trump just had directed be applied to the bottom of the pool.

A lot of Americans miss the days when we built grand things. So it’s appealing on its face that this crazy president can squash the bureaucracy and get it done. But as usual with Trump, you eventually have to accept that he’s incompetent and corrupt and tacky, and just an all-around mess.

But the above travail is a side show.  The more important question is whether the reflecting pool will look blue on July 4.  According to Trump himself, probably no.  So what will happen on our 250th birthday?  According to Google AI:

The National Mall will host the Salute to America 250 capstone celebrations, featuring military demonstrations, the Independence Day Parade, and the Great American State Fair. The evening will culminate in a record-setting fireworks display around the monuments, alongside a planned "Tribute to America" rally headlined by President Donald Trump. [1, 2, 3]

• As part of the Great American State Fair, there will be carnival rides and other activities from all 50 states.
• The Salute to American Program will have an afternoon and evening lineup featuring military flyovers, patriotic performances and a massive evening concert and political rally

You might have read about the confusion as to who is in charge and what exactly will happen on Saturday, July 4.  So I asked Google AI:

Freedom 250 and America 250 are two separate organizations planning events for the nation's 250th birthday, differing primarily in their origin and scope. America 250 is a bipartisan committee established by Congress in 2016 to coordinate historical and educational events nationwide. Freedom 250 is run by the administration via an executive order to organize the President's events. [1, 2, 3]

July 4th Events

• America 250: Focuses on community-level, grassroots events across the country, most notably hosting the nationwide America's Block Party on July 3rd and 4th. [1]
• Freedom 250: Concentrates its efforts on large, centralized spectacles in Washington, D.C., including the Salute to America fireworks celebration, alongside other major events like the White House UFC fight, an IndyCar race, and the Great American State Fair on the National Mall. [1, 2]

Organization and Funding

• America 250: Operates as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that utilizes federal funds directed by Congress as well as private donations.
• Freedom 250: Functions as an outside fundraising arm affiliated with the White House's Task Force 250, relying largely on donations. [1, 2]

I checked further, and found:

• America 250 will be holding America's Block Party:
• Los Angeles on July 3, 4 and 5, leading to a concert at the Los Angeles Veterans Memorial Coliseum on the 4th, with Chris Stapleton, Smashing Pumpkins and Queen Latifah.
• On the Times Square Skywalk  in New York City on July 4 and 5, featuring the Declaration of Independence.
• On July 4.
• Charleston, South Carolina at a waterfront celebration featuring music and fireworks.
• Fort Campbell, Kentucky for a Charlie Daniels tribute performance.
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Jelly Roll is only one of the acts.
• 
  As announced by the White House, their big deal on July 4 will be on the Mall for the most spectacular TRUMP Rally of them all, featuring music curated by the President himself, concluding with the largest fireworks show in history from 9:09PM-9:26PM EDT.

Here is Trump's playlist:

Signature Campaign Songs

• The Rolling Stones: "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
• Village People: "Y.M.C.A."
• Lee Greenwood: "God Bless The U.S.A." [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Classic Rock & Pop Favorites

• Elton John: "Rocket Man" and "Tiny Dancer"
• Guns N' Roses: "November Rain"
• Sinead O’Connor: "Nothing Compares 2 U"
• Metallica: "Enter Sandman"
• Kid Rock: "All Summer Long" [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Broadway & Vocal Legends

• Andrew Lloyd Webber: Selections from "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Jesus Christ Superstar"
• Frank Sinatra: "My Way"
• Elvis Presley: "Suspicious Minds"
• James Brown & Luciano Pavarotti: "It's A Man's World" [1, 2]

Of course, for people who are patriotic, like me, and want to luxuriate to much of the above, just watch your TV set.

• CNN will be there. 
• From Noon EDT on July 4, and all day for the Freedom 250 and America 250 celebrations.

• 
  6PM EDT at the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.
• Primetime with Victor Blackwell from the top of the Empire State Building.
• From 8PM-12:30AM from Times Square, with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, featuring a unique midnight ball drop at midnight.

• 
  Your PBS station will have two shows.
• A Capitol Fourth, featuring the 250th Weekend Celebration.  This will be the 46th year, playing from 8-9 PM EDT on July 3.  I was there in 1981 for the first concert on the Mall.  Trace Adkins will sing his new song, American Made.  Will end with the usual fireworks from George Washington's Mount Vernon.
• American Made in Viginia:  250 Years Together.  A two-hour broadcast from 8PM EDT on July 4.  Live from Colonial Williamsburg's Historic area with live performances, historic interpretations and visual spectacles of America's founding to the present day.

• 
  Fox News media will be offering wall-to-wall coverage of America 250 celebrations.
• NBC and Telemundo on July 3-4 will culminate with 60 hours of live programming of the Sail4th 250 maritime parade and Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks in New York Harbor.
• Like parades?  Watch C-SPAN, featuring the Great American State Fair.
• CBS has a July 4th special of the American 250 concert featuring Jon Batiste and Zac Brown Band.
• ABC and family (Hulu, ESPN and ABC News Live) will present a 24-hour-platform led by David Muir about our history.

The World Cup:

• Yesterday, Lionel Messi scored twice, as Argentina beat Austria, 2-0.
• Today:
• Cristiano Ronald scored twice as Portugal destroyed Uzbekistan, 5-0.  He is now the only player to score in six different World Cups.
• England and Ghana played to a 0-0 tie.
• Games today.

Portugal 5, Uzbekistan 0 (Group K)

• Cristiano Ronaldo netted two goals in the first half. [1]

England 0, Ghana 0 (Group L)

• The teams battled to a scoreless draw, despite late attacking pressure from England. [1, 2]

Panama vs. Croatia (Group L)

• Match underway at Toronto Stadium. [1, 2, 3]

Colombia vs. DR Congo (Group K)

• Scheduled for 4:00 PM HST (10:00 PM ET) at Guadalajara Stadium. [, 2, 3]

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