Reflecting on the pool
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2026 11:32 am
Uncle Sam? ... Yes, hello, this is Bob. Bob Newhart. I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time.
... No, I know, I heard about the Hormuz thing. I'm actually calling about a different stretch of water.
... Remember the reflecting pool? The one between the Monument and the- ... Right, that one.
... Well, here's the thing. I've been, I've checked and it's, uh... it's green.
... I remember you saying it was blue. I'm saying it is green. Yes I know they're different... my eyes are fine, Sam.
... Fourteen million. Mm.
... No, I'm sure it was very beautiful briefly. I'm just- how long was it blue, roughly?
... Days? A few days? I see. And who did the work? A friend? A good friend?
... Did this friend have any background in- pools, or- Mm-hmm. Nanobubbles?
... Tell me about the nanobubbles. No, I understand they're very small. I'm asking whether they-
... The Iranian Navy?
... I'm sorry, you're comparing the algae to- ...
... Ah. They both sank. I see. That's a- that's certainly a frame.
Now. The vandalism.
... Well yes, those algae came from somewhere. Into an outdoor pool. In Washington DC. In June.
... And scratched the paint.
... They scratched the brand new paint and seeded the pool with- the neighbors did this.
... It's being investigated.
... The algae is being investigated by law enforcement. All right.
How much of it's gone?
... Seventy-five percent.
... So a quarter of the- ... Soon. It'll be remedied by Independence Day?
Uncle Sam, I have to ask - and you can tell me this is none of my business - but the contractor. Your friend. Was there a competitive process, or did he just- ...
... He was very motivated. Right. And the markup was- ...
... Well no, if it's sabotage then obviously you can't hold the- ...
... No, I can see that. I can see why you wouldn't.
I hope it's blue by the Fourth. I genuinely do.
... I know you do.
... You take care now.
... No, I know, I heard about the Hormuz thing. I'm actually calling about a different stretch of water.
... Remember the reflecting pool? The one between the Monument and the- ... Right, that one.
... Well, here's the thing. I've been, I've checked and it's, uh... it's green.
... I remember you saying it was blue. I'm saying it is green. Yes I know they're different... my eyes are fine, Sam.
... Fourteen million. Mm.
... No, I'm sure it was very beautiful briefly. I'm just- how long was it blue, roughly?
... Days? A few days? I see. And who did the work? A friend? A good friend?
... Did this friend have any background in- pools, or- Mm-hmm. Nanobubbles?
... Tell me about the nanobubbles. No, I understand they're very small. I'm asking whether they-
... The Iranian Navy?
... I'm sorry, you're comparing the algae to- ...
... Ah. They both sank. I see. That's a- that's certainly a frame.
Now. The vandalism.
... Well yes, those algae came from somewhere. Into an outdoor pool. In Washington DC. In June.
... And scratched the paint.
... They scratched the brand new paint and seeded the pool with- the neighbors did this.
... It's being investigated.
... The algae is being investigated by law enforcement. All right.
How much of it's gone?
... Seventy-five percent.
... So a quarter of the- ... Soon. It'll be remedied by Independence Day?
Uncle Sam, I have to ask - and you can tell me this is none of my business - but the contractor. Your friend. Was there a competitive process, or did he just- ...
... He was very motivated. Right. And the markup was- ...
... Well no, if it's sabotage then obviously you can't hold the- ...
... No, I can see that. I can see why you wouldn't.
I hope it's blue by the Fourth. I genuinely do.
... I know you do.
... You take care now.