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Fourth of July Eve
Author: BobR
Date: 07/03/2019 12:48:10
Tomorrow is America's 243rd birthday. Every year since then, there's been some sort of fireworks display in Washington, DC to celebrate our declaration of independence from England. The display (with music) has been televised every year since 1947. This year - as we all know - things will be a bit... different.
We'll still have the fireworks, of course, and the Capitol Concert. Despite memes going around indicating it would contain the worst of the hard-RW performers, this year's lineup is about what you'd expect, including Vanessa Williams, Vanessa Carlton, the O'Jays, and Carole King. The fireworks, however, are going to be the biggest display that the fireworks vendors have ever put on - and a large part of it will be donated by them:
They claim it's non-political, and perhaps for them it's an advertising loss-leader to get hired for other fireworks shows. Nonetheless, this will definitely feed pResident tRump's insatiable ego and allow him to boast that HE put on the biggest fireworks show ever. Never mind that this is what the Park Service does every year, and will continue to do long after he's gone.
He won't get his military parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, but there will be a couple tanks (not Pershing tanks) and a couple Bradley Fighting Vehicles on display... somewhere. There will also be a military flyover. Worst of all, tRumpy will be inserting himself into what has always been a non-partisan, non-political event by givinga campaign speech an address at the Lincoln Memorial. It's a disgusting perversion of the celebration of our nation's birth to make this about any one person (and any event that involves the orange shitgibbon is always about him).
Because of all this, DCA will be cancelling flights during the address and during the fireworks display. That is going to suck for travelers, and the reverberations from that will be felt for days.
I just hope that all of our dear readers enjoy their 4th of July holiday, spend some time reflecting on the REAL reason for it, and hope that things get back to normal as soon as possible.
We'll still have the fireworks, of course, and the Capitol Concert. Despite memes going around indicating it would contain the worst of the hard-RW performers, this year's lineup is about what you'd expect, including Vanessa Williams, Vanessa Carlton, the O'Jays, and Carole King. The fireworks, however, are going to be the biggest display that the fireworks vendors have ever put on - and a large part of it will be donated by them:
Ohio-based Phantom Fireworks and New York-based Fireworks by Grucci are joining forces to turn the night sky over Washington into a fireworks extravaganza like never seen before.
Phantom and Grucci’s pyrotechnic donations are valued at $750,000 cost, but would rack up a retail bill of well over $1 million, CEO Bruce Zoldan told WTOP.
But don’t worry: it won’t cost taxpayers a dime, Phantom said.
[...]
According to Zoldan, they made the donation offer in late February/early March. There was some back and forth negotiation about the venue and if they were even allowed to donate fireworks to the National Park Service and Department of the Interior.
“We finally finalized everything in recent weeks,†he said.
The donation itself stems from a friendship between Zoldan and Phil Grucci — both of whom sit on the board of directors for the American Pyrotechnics Association.
[...]
He also said the Phantom-Grucci show has 10 times the budget, all donated, compared to the annual Capitol Fourth fireworks event.
“Again, we’re doing this because we want it to be the largest show in the history of Washington, D.C.,†Zoldan told WTOP. “Much larger than the bicentennial show.â€
They claim it's non-political, and perhaps for them it's an advertising loss-leader to get hired for other fireworks shows. Nonetheless, this will definitely feed pResident tRump's insatiable ego and allow him to boast that HE put on the biggest fireworks show ever. Never mind that this is what the Park Service does every year, and will continue to do long after he's gone.
He won't get his military parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, but there will be a couple tanks (not Pershing tanks) and a couple Bradley Fighting Vehicles on display... somewhere. There will also be a military flyover. Worst of all, tRumpy will be inserting himself into what has always been a non-partisan, non-political event by giving
Because of all this, DCA will be cancelling flights during the address and during the fireworks display. That is going to suck for travelers, and the reverberations from that will be felt for days.
I just hope that all of our dear readers enjoy their 4th of July holiday, spend some time reflecting on the REAL reason for it, and hope that things get back to normal as soon as possible.
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
trojanrabbit on 07/03/2019 13:09:24
trojanrabbit on 07/03/2019 13:09:24
Heard that while the RNC has received a buttload of VIP tickets, of course the DNC has received nothing.
Good, when the big lightning bolt comes that vaporizes the VIP section we can have a REAL Independence Day celebration.
Good, when the big lightning bolt comes that vaporizes the VIP section we can have a REAL Independence Day celebration.
Comment by trojanrabbit on 07/03/2019 13:12:33
trojanrabbit on 07/03/2019 13:12:33
When Cleo came out for breakfast this mo......oh wait, she didn’t. Little Miss Mopey was in her castle, with no collar on her. Took 15 minutes to find the collar under the sofa. I’m going to pick up another one on the way home from work tonight because I just have this feeling about holidays and weekends.
Comment by 
BobR on 07/03/2019 13:15:09
BobR on 07/03/2019 13:15:09
Comment by 
Scoopster on 07/03/2019 13:17:09
Scoopster on 07/03/2019 13:17:09
Mornin' all! 
I'm finally approaching the end of the main storyline in the new FFXIV expansion, and it's friggin glorious.
How glorious? My favorite Final Fantasy game is VI. VII is great too. This story BEATS BOTH.
Oh yeah btw, the main villain is this guy. The analogy is plainly obvious heh.
I'm finally approaching the end of the main storyline in the new FFXIV expansion, and it's friggin glorious.
How glorious? My favorite Final Fantasy game is VI. VII is great too. This story BEATS BOTH.
Oh yeah btw, the main villain is this guy. The analogy is plainly obvious heh.
Comment by 
wickedpam on 07/03/2019 13:36:09
wickedpam on 07/03/2019 13:36:09
Morning 
Part of me really wants to seen this scene reenacted tomorrow -
Part of me really wants to seen this scene reenacted tomorrow -
Comment by Mondobubba on 07/03/2019 13:39:06
Mondobubba on 07/03/2019 13:39:06
Morning all. Today's schedule: Purchasing a new mattress and bed. Returning the too short cable to Guitar Center and getting a longer one. Some practice with the guitar and annoying the neighbors with the bone-crushing might of the Big Muff Pi distortion pedal that bought yesterday. 
There might be a matinee movie as well.
There might be a matinee movie as well.
Comment by Mondobubba on 07/03/2019 13:40:27
If there was ever a person who deserved to be milkshaked it would President Dumpster fire
Mondobubba on 07/03/2019 13:40:27
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning
Part of me really wants to seen this scene reenacted tomorrow -
If there was ever a person who deserved to be milkshaked it would President Dumpster fire
Comment by Scoopster on 07/03/2019 13:43:09
Scoopster on 07/03/2019 13:43:09
Can we attach a giant bucket of milkshake to the Baby Blimp & float it right over his head?
Comment by Mondobubba on 07/03/2019 13:51:51
That would be delightful!
Mondobubba on 07/03/2019 13:51:51
Quote by Scoopster:
Can we attach a giant bucket of milkshake to the Baby Blimp & float it right over his head?
That would be delightful!
Comment by 
Raine on 07/03/2019 13:52:40
Good Morning!
Raine on 07/03/2019 13:52:40
Good Morning!
Comment by Raine on 07/03/2019 13:53:17
That sounds fun!
Raine on 07/03/2019 13:53:17
Quote by Mondobubba:
Morning all. Today's schedule: Purchasing a new mattress and bed. Returning the too short cable to Guitar Center and getting a longer one. Some practice with the guitar and annoying the neighbors with the bone-crushing might of the Big Muff Pi distortion pedal that bought yesterday.
There might be a matinee movie as well.
That sounds fun!
Comment by Raine on 07/03/2019 13:53:59
Raine on 07/03/2019 13:53:59
Tonite we are headed out to see The Rolling Stones!
(bucket list!)
(bucket list!)
Comment by Scoopster on 07/03/2019 14:04:30
Yours or theirs?
Scoopster on 07/03/2019 14:04:30
Quote by Raine:
Tonite we are headed out to see The Rolling Stones!
(bucket list!)
Yours or theirs?
Comment by Raine on 07/03/2019 15:15:05
HA!
Raine on 07/03/2019 15:15:05
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:
Tonite we are headed out to see The Rolling Stones!
(bucket list!)
Yours or theirs?
HA!
Comment by Raine on 07/03/2019 15:26:47
I almost missed this.
Jesus. they have infected everything!
Raine on 07/03/2019 15:26:47
Quote by BobR:
This document is fascinating, especially starting with section B on page 13.
I almost missed this.
Jesus. they have infected everything!
Comment by Raine on 07/03/2019 16:30:59
Raine on 07/03/2019 16:30:59
This is the same person who created 'Real PressSecretary' bot on twitter, and it scary and smart as eff.
I got fed up with being policed about whether or not it was acceptable to call the concentration camps on our border "concentration camps." so I built a twitterbot that compares the 6,227 employees at ICE & CPB making more than $100k a year with Adolf Eichmann.
— ðšðšžðšœðšœðšŽðš• ð™½ðšŽðš’ðšœðšœ (@russelneiss) July 3, 2019
Enjoy! https://t.co/8CBbOrzEIo
Comment by Raine on 07/03/2019 19:38:36
Raine on 07/03/2019 19:38:36
I know I've been mostly silent about this, in thinking about it is terrible, seeing it is a punch in the gut.
LIVE: Tanks moved near National Mall in Washington, D.C., amid scrutiny over costs for Pres. Trump's 4th of July event. https://t.co/8hlT80WvuJ
— ABC News (@ABC) July 3, 2019
Comment by Mondobubba on 07/03/2019 20:31:58
Mondobubba on 07/03/2019 20:31:58
Well, I'm pooped! 
All the errands are done finally. I got a sunshade for my car and only had to pay half price. I would have gotten one at the auto parts store, but Subaru's Eyesight anti-collision system precludes that. It needs a bigger than normal cut out for the cameras. The one (yes just one) on Amazon was 36 bucks. I went to the deal and they sold me a Subaru branded one of about the same price. The bed and mattress have been purchased at the IKEA store. I had a delightful lunch at the IKEA cafe. After many false starts and having to go in and out of the blazing Florida heat I found sheets at a Dillard's for half off. So, I got 4 sets of 1000 thread count sheets. Now the sky has opened and it pouring rain.
Operation Annoy the Neighbors is in full effect now. The Big Muff has been plugged in an tested out. I am going to have a lot of fun with that thing
All the errands are done finally. I got a sunshade for my car and only had to pay half price. I would have gotten one at the auto parts store, but Subaru's Eyesight anti-collision system precludes that. It needs a bigger than normal cut out for the cameras. The one (yes just one) on Amazon was 36 bucks. I went to the deal and they sold me a Subaru branded one of about the same price. The bed and mattress have been purchased at the IKEA store. I had a delightful lunch at the IKEA cafe. After many false starts and having to go in and out of the blazing Florida heat I found sheets at a Dillard's for half off. So, I got 4 sets of 1000 thread count sheets. Now the sky has opened and it pouring rain. Operation Annoy the Neighbors is in full effect now. The Big Muff has been plugged in an tested out. I am going to have a lot of fun with that thing
Comment by Raine on 07/03/2019 20:32:58
Raine on 07/03/2019 20:32:58
Not even trying to hide it anymore. of all the awful things he said, this might be the worst.
A statement by the President: pic.twitter.com/unjwWNeJU7
— Real Press Sec. (@RealPressSecBot) July 3, 2019
Comment by 
TriSec on 07/03/2019 21:01:26
TriSec on 07/03/2019 21:01:26
Randomly dropping in -
Why don't we have that military parade Trump wants?
Only have it on May 1.
Why don't we have that military parade Trump wants?
Only have it on May 1.
Comment by Mondobubba on 07/03/2019 21:05:23
:eye twitch: Have I mentioned lately how much I loathe that odious little human turd, Steven Miller?
Mondobubba on 07/03/2019 21:05:23
Quote by Raine:
Not even trying to hide it anymore. of all the awful things he said, this might be the worst.A statement by the President: pic.twitter.com/unjwWNeJU7
— Real Press Sec. (@RealPressSecBot) July 3, 2019
:eye twitch: Have I mentioned lately how much I loathe that odious little human turd, Steven Miller?