Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

The soccer coach trapped in a Thai cave with 12 boys for 2 weeks apologized to their parents in a handwritten note released Saturday.  He promised to take care of the boys during the rescue mission as best he can.  In a joint letter, the boys struck a brave tone-- wrote that they are healthy and want to go home right away when they get out of the cave.  

Teams of Thai and international divers have been able to supply food, medical supplies, and oxygen to the team since they were discovered, but with oxygen levels dropping in the cave and rain falling again, time for rescue is running short.

The situation is increasingly perilous.  

Heavy industrial pumps are pumping water out of the cave around the clock.  Thai authorities have drilled more than 100 holes in the mountain.  Rescue workers are racing the clock amid high risks to find a way to free the team.  With heavy rain in the forecast, the prospect is increasing that workers may be forced to launch the rescue effort sooner than planned.  The boys are weak, it’s a five hour dive out of the cave, and the boys do not know how to swim (a former Thai SEAL died Friday delivering air tanks to the team). 

Rescue workers have not been able to increase ventilation.  The team is in a cavern that is about a half mile down through mostly solid rock and the maps of the cave are not accurate enough to get a good fix on exactly where to drill.

Rescuers continue to scour heavy jungle looking for openings and holes at the top of the mountain for access to the cave from above or to find a back entrance to the cave.  The rescue team in the mountains is also trying to block holes and divert streams that channel water into the cave.  The driver of a rescue vehicle carrying volunteers was seriously injured on the mountain search today when the vehicle skidded off a dirt track, harming others as well.

Jubilation has turned to trepidation and a mounting sense of urgency.  Each day rescuers talk of differing strategies.

Teams of Thai and international rescue workers remain determined to free the team.  The will to succeed is strong.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Hard to fathom how the “13 lives” initially maneuvered their way through the small caverns so deep into the cave.  

The rescue mission is not accomplished until the entire youth soccer team and their coach and all the rescuers are out of the cave. 

The first four boys were brought out in two groups with each boy escorted by two divers-- (the hope is to free the additional nine in the same way perhaps with three groups of three ---

**A second group of four boys was brought out Monday in two groups with each boy escorted by two divers; the operation on Monday went more smoothly than on Sunday and took two hours less as the divers were more adept and the procedure became more refined-- five remain trapped on a ledge 2.5 miles inside the cave system.

Heavy monsoon rain is falling increasing the sense of urgency.

**Monday - a break from monsoon downpours.

***Tuesday morning - heavy monsoon downpour is slowing next phase of rescue mission.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Meanwhile, the U.S. government has no plan how children we took as hostages as part of Trump’s Zero Tolerance Policy will be reunited with their parents.  In addition to lacking competence, Trump and his administration show a total lack of human empathy in their policies.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Three Thai navy divers and an Australian doctor sheltered in the cave with the team after they were found and remained throughout the rescue operations of the soccer team and coach.  

The Wild Boars are all safely evacuated from the cave and in a hospital isolation ward that was set up for them.

***The rescue team that sheltered with them is now also out of the cave. 

Heroism may not be a big enough word for these rescue workers.  

The rescue mission has been about saving lives-- supporting the mission and one another-- not reality TV.  

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Monsoon rains are pouring.  

All of the soccer team and the doctor and divers who sheltered with them were safely (but barely) out of the cave.  Thai SEALS were in the cave to retrieve equipment --

the main pumps malfunctioned and the cave chambers rapidly began filling with flood water -- the Thai SEALS fled for their lives.

The cave is closed temporarily.

A former Thai Navy SEAL died preparing the cave for the rescue mission.

Thank you, Thailand, for demonstrating love and showing us how to get a job done.

Jacqueline Brandt (Duclos)

Bu one must not forget the one who perished in his attempt to save them

He’s the hero ! 

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Congratulations to France on World Cup win.

FIFA invited Thailand's Wild Boars to attend the final in Moscow.  Medical reasons prevented the team from traveling to Moscow or for the team recovering in their hospital unit from watching the live broadcast at 10 PM local time in Thailand.  They'll have to wait and watch a recording of France defeating Croatia.  Their doctors want them resting and not looking at screens.

Last week doctors decided the boys were strong enough to process the news and asked families to tell their team member about former Thai Navy SEAL Saman Kunan who lost his life during an operation to install oxygen tanks along the cave route. 

Saturday --their first day without masks-- the team paid tribute to Saman Kunan.  Wiping away tears, they wrote messages of thanks and condolences on a drawing of Lieutenant Commander Saman Kunan and solemnly observed one minute of silence in his memory.

Sunday, four to five thousand local Thai volunteers worked to clean up the area around the cave which was battered by relays of rescuers, volunteers, and news crews.  This was a Thai expression of joy about the team's rescue and general support for the huge rescue operation.

The Thai people want this to become a time to help and support one another -- to be a beautiful time for all people across the country.

The layers of human goodness in this rescue story reminds me how much better we could be.

Doctors tentatively suggest Thursday as the day for the team’s release from the hospital to go home to continue their recovery in a low stress environment.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Day 543 of the Trump presidency--

The whole world was watching--

Trump-- a coward.

...a tragic day for American diplomacy--

Our president did not defend us.  

“He is our national security crisis”

...gave no response when asked if he’s “a traitor.”

“Warning lights are blinking red”

THE MOST “disgraceful performance

                by an American President” IN HISTORY.

“Trump violated his oath of office.”

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

New York Daily News

@NYDailyNews

.@realdonaldtrump derides reports with which he disagrees as “fake news,” then buys the Russian narrative hook, line, sinker, pole, and boat. nydn.us/2NmOcF0  

Question: Why does Trump embrace Putin?  

Marvin Irving Blusteln

Tons of debt and fear tie 45 to Putin.  Putin is the personification of ruthlessness.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

The story of Trump’s America continues to grow darker-- The White House doesn’t rule out Russia questioning (and intimidating) Americans including former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul.

Trump’s behavior escalates serious concern about his loyalty.  The president’s obeisance and defense of Putin is hair on fire alarming.

Donald Trump continues to violate his oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution.  

Where is the courage in the GOP House and Senate to stand up to Trump?

“Take a look at what’s happening” in and to our country...

It’s up to us as citizens to defend our country--

to raise our voices and  V O T E !  

An Ohio Trump voter who served as a GOP county chair resigned Monday after watching the Trump/Putin Summit.   He said, “something snapped.”

Jacqueline Brandt (Duclos)

Thank you Janis and Steve for your congrats. It was a fabulous evening even though

We didn’t really play very well. I live near the Champs Elysées however and my street now 

Resembles Bagdad !  The french were over the top and I was thrilled to be a part of it.

As far as trump goes, there’s not much left to say. I’m an  atheist so I can’t even say a prayer.

Nancy Doyle (Sudlow)

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

message from a Trump supporter:

"You cannot prove my facts are wrong."

(sounds like pre-Copernican thinking: the earth is the center of the universe and nobody can prove me wrong-- Copernicus did in 1543.

We are living in dark (Trumpian) times.

Kaiser confirms were it not for Trump/GOP sabotage, ACA rates would be flat or dropping next year.

It is up to us to defend our country.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

It is heartbreaking that there are politicians who want to dismantle healthcare and force millions of Americans off the healthcare they receive through the Affordable Care Act.  

Health is not a consumer good.  Access to health services cannot be a privilege.  Some in Congress want to take away healthcare coverage to make a partisan point.  

Please tell me how we find a way to resolution.  

Marvin Irving Blusteln

Janis,

I feel your frustration too.  Sadly, as long as we have one party that holds opinion above facts I see little hope on the horizon.  

Nancy Doyle (Sudlow)

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Republicans argue that healthcare is not a Constitutional right.  

Life is not a Constitutional right-- life is a natural right.  

Natural law supersedes Constitutional law.

The Constitution only limits the taking of life.

Health also is a natural right and not protecting it is an impediment to life.

The Constitution provides due process as a guiding principle to protect our rights, including life (and health).  

Our policies reflect political preference.  Why are Republicans refusing to provide for the general welfare and making healthcare a political issue?

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Interesting how Republicans think they have a corner on the Constitution, take pride in their literal interpretation of the document.  Who says conservative judges do not subordinate their Constitutional duty to their personal worldview?

Our founding fathers were not in agreement about the Constitution and made provision for it to be amended so it would be a living document, flexible enough to meet the challenges of the future.

The Constitution was written to replace the Articles of Confederation to establish a better balance between the federal government and the states.

Individual rights are addressed in the Bill of Rights, not in the Constitution as originally drafted.

It is the responsibility of the Supreme Court to preserve Constitutional order.  At present our legislative branch has conceded its authority to the executive branch, and our present executive has exceeded his authority because the legislature fails to exert a check on his power.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

I cannot help being amazed by Trump supporters who believe they are steeped in truth.  

I appreciate seeing DNI Dan Coats’ awkward surprise and candid response to news that Putin accepted an invitation to the Trump White House.

Let’s hope DNI Coats continues to stand firm to defend his oath of office and the United States of America.

Donald Henry Kuehn

I hate to use up valuable political real estate, but in keeping with the theme I have to say whatzhisname was wrong about another thing: you don’t get tired of winning!

I played in the Geranium Senior Invitational in Stockbridge, GA last week. Shot rounds of 73, 70, 67 (6 under par) and won by 3 strokes. It was my 2nd consecutive win in this event (I promise I won’t bore you with any future tournament wins). Details available on request. Next week, Little Rock for the Maumelle Classic.

DK

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Wow!  Congrats on winning the Geranium Senior Invitational, DK.  You really are a good golfer.

Seeing the green of the fairway and the swing of your iron is always a welcome sight.  This is a great time to talk g o l f -- the real estate is yours.  

I am enjoying all your winning and celebrating with you on the Forum... keep the wins coming...

Please share details. 

Good luck at the Maumelle Classic.  Enjoy. 

Hope you've seen "The Greatest Game Ever Played." 

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

People hear what they want to hear.

Today at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention in Kansas City, President Trump told veterans:

“Just remember what you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening.”

***The VFW issued an apology to the media (who were invited guests) after veterans ‘booed’ them echoing the president’s blasts.

FACT:

This morning U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions repeated “Lock her up” and laughed as the chant broke out during his remarks at a leadership summit for high school students in D.C.

The Trump Administration is in campaign mode 24/7. 

The U.S. Attorney General, our top law official, missed the opportunity to remind young Americans we're a Rule of Law country and chose to behave like we're a banana republic.  

FACT:

John Bolton, Trump’s national security adviser, said the next bilateral meeting with President Putin should take place (in 2019) after the Russia “witch hunt” is over.  

The Kremlin was lukewarm on meeting Trump in D.C.   Putin has invited Trump to Mosow.

The cult of personality around Trump rages within his administration even when discussing diplomatic matters.  Watching Trump supporters is like watching "Simon says".

Whatever happened to personal integrity and immutable principles?

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

A 26 year old male from Chinese region of Inner Mongolia suffered minor hand injuries when he set off a “firecracker-like” device outside the U.S. Embassy where people line up for visa applications about 1 PM local time in Beijing.  The investigation is continuing into what is being described as an “isolated public-security incident” dealt with in a “timely and appropriate manner.”  Chinese censors quickly scrubbed social media of photos and videos removing postings with the hashtag “US embassy explosion” leaving only the official police statements.

The U.S. and other foreign embassies in Beijing occasionally attract people seeking to air political grievances.  The U.S. Embassy in Beijing is one of the most secure in the world.  

July 27th (into pre-sunrise hours of July 28th), the Eastern Hemisphere will be the best place to see a blood moon lunar eclipse-- the longest total lunar eclipse so far this century.  Unlike the sun during a solar eclipse, it is safe to look at the moon during an eclipse.  This full moon is a “mini-moon” because it’s the farthest from Earth and appears small-- which is why the eclipse lasts longer, the mini-moon takes longer to pass through Earth’s shadow.  

Mars is here too-- it’s now the closest to Earth - and at its brightest - that it’s been in 15 years.  Mars won’t look nearly as large as the blood moon, but Mars’ brightness will persist for several weeks and be most visible in the next few days as a bright red star.  Mars is also safe to view with the naked eye.