Thanks for Your Time

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.
There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Brown died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Brown stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Brown's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture. Jack stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said.
"What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,' "Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Brown family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Brown died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Brown" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:
"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Brown."
"The thing he valued most was... my time"
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

ONE UNIVERSE, ONE PEOPLE/CSETI (Center for the Study of Extraterrestrial Intelligence) http://www.cseti.org

Name: Alien Tags:clouds grey mountains alien

MOTA.RU Top wallpapers

Online Degrees & Certificates in Intelligence at American Military University

http://www.amu.apus.edu

Insider Report: US Government Will Confiscate Gold When It Touches $2000

http://www.shtfplan.com/precious-metals/insider-report-us-government-will-confiscate-gold-when-it-touches-2000_02182011

Phyllis Schafly - "A Warning About Things To Come"

http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2011/feb11/11-02-25.html
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soule: permission granted to link to this article

CNSNews.com - EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Government Loaned Mexican Government More Than $1 Billion to Drill Oil in Gulf of Mexico Last Year; Has $1 Billion More Planned For This Year

http://www.conservativenews.org/news/article/72342
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soule: It's way past the point of some continuing to characterize our government as dumb and dumber because they don't see them doing anything wrong. In so doing, the government gets off the hook. We won't even debate what happened to those individual's brain matter. Our government continues its obvious, blatant disregard for this nation's sovereignty while warmly embracing others that do not have our best interests at heart. This article is a good example. This leads to one conclusion. I believe the government is deliberately and slowly dismantling us, leading to a path of destruction (ours). As salvo after salvo hits our broadside, from the utter lack of alarm from the feds and doing something to protect our southern most border, to the illegal immigration problem that is drowning states in near defaults, to the current administration ratcheting up our debt to unsustainable proportions, to the over-regulating, and the ever increasing authoritarian bent of our public schools, the incessant, continued attacks on our freedoms, in general, one question needs to be asked...how much more can this Ship of State withstand? Yet, the beat goes on. I just hope we still have time to do a reversal before everything falls apart. I am thankful my Dad isn't around to see what is happening to his country, nor my Mom. He went to war to keep her safe and free while Mom took time off from raising a family to build liberty ships. And the valiant men and women of our u.s. military keep sacrificing still. I am praying that many of us have now awakened to the light of all that has transpired. And, like the patriots of old, faced with what must have seen to them an insurmountable task, be able to muster the strength to tackle the problems at hand. Make no mistake, this is going to be a tremendous undertaking. But if we do not want to see this country fail, then we must rise to the task. I have my country, my parents, my children and grandchildren to fight for. What do you have? Let us all seek the Grace of G-d for wisdom, the strength and courage to overcome that which we cannot see, that lies ahead.

This is Not a Democracy

I'd really like to think that the demonstrations in Wisconsin are for the good of something...anything, at this point. But all I'm seeing is one side vs. the other, again. Interesting how the facts of a matter can lie hidden for a long time and then the light of day shines upon them. To whit-more and more people are finding out that a portion of their state taxes go to enrich the unions, the union members, and ultimately, one particular party. I'm not against unions. In fact I believe they have a respectable and worthwhile place in the American agenda. But like so many other things, when something becomes so politicized to the point that it is self-defeating and works against the very principles for which it was founded, well, that is very sad, to say the least. Enter the President of the United States who openly provided support to the public employee unions in Wisconsin to the detriment of the Governor who I believe is trying to work out a very equitable solution for all. And has been pointed out, a governor of a state is required by law, to balance his state budget, unlike a spend-happy President who thinks our money is play money. We have heard of the President's background as a community organizer and the questionable characters he has been associated with. They say you are known by the company you keep. Right now I believe that many of the union demonstrators do not fully realize all the facts of this matter but are being swept up in the limelight and bedazzled by their own community organizers in which the facts are being spewed. Maybe some of them are seeing the light. But if this state does not get a handle on its economy and allows a bunch of rabble rousers to intimidate and sway a Governor to back down from doing his job, then we have indeed, lost this republic. It's not a democracy. It's a constitutional republic. For those who are unfamiliar with the word please look it up. There's a big difference.

Yippy, the "Other" Alternative

http://yippy.com/wnd.asp?sms_ss=blogger&at_xt=4d653771ac67ae1b%2C0

CNBC's Fast Money: Saudi Arabia Uprising Could Mean $140-Plus Oil - CNBC

http://www.cnbc.com/id/41717408
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soule: Where are our refineries? We're 30 years behind. We're still beholden to other countries when we could have been self-sufficient, years ago. We've done this to ourselves.

I've joined 66459 citizens in Standing With Gov. Scott Walker http://standwithwalker.com via @afphq

http://standwithwalker.com/

China moves quickly to squelch dissent | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/02/21/109098/china-moves-quickly-to-squelch.html

Connecting the dots to anarchy

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=265253

VETERAN’S GROUP DEMANDS APOLOGY FROM SEC. OF STATE CLINTONBRClaims vet was manhandled for silent protest | BREAKING NEWS | Sky Valley Chronicle Washington State News

http://www.skyvalleychronicle.com/BREAKING-NEWS/VETERAN-S-GROUP-DEMANDS-APOLOGY-FROM-SEC-OF-STATE-CLINTON-BR-Claims-vet-was-manhandled-for-silent-protest-596038?sms_ss=blogger&at_xt=4d5f0985259d7ede%2C0
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soule: We are kicking kids out of school because they threw a spitball; suspending them because they brought a plastic gun to school or pointed their finger the wrong way. Now the PC Elite forcefully eject this silent protester out of the room in which Hillary Clinton was speaking, and all because he turned his back on her? Yet we have a President of the United States who is willingly fanning the flames of opposition in Wisconsin, and I didn't see his lips move to condemn the Wisconsin Democrats who hightailed it to Illinois so they wouldn't be counted present to vote on the pending legislation. In my humble opinion, not only should he (Obama) be thrown out on his ass but all the Democrats who left the state of Wisconsin and let's throw Hillary into the mix for good measure. In fact I have a question, knowing she to be the criminal she is, why the hell isn't she already serving time?
An apology is due this veteran and I hope it comes mighty soon.

Voices of moderation face irrational rants

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2011/02/18/20110218fri2-18.html
---
soule: please visit Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, American Islamic Forum for Democracy, (AIFD) @ www.aifdemocracy.org

A Message Came Through

A message came through
So poignant, so clear
One of pure Love
And not of fright Fear
I felt myself
Flailing through
Gray billowed mass
Trying not to go under
Holding on to compass
No lightning
No rain
No huge crack of thunder
It assessed me entirely
As I was sinking down under
The Spirit spoke:
In my current state
There was no wiped clean slate
I felt sad, felt remorse
For steering my ship
On such wayward course
After much deep reflection
I gained new direction
And am making those changes
The Spirit apprised
For myself
For my loved ones
Be still human pride!
Not amazing to me
To be close in contact
With Them anymore
It’s just matter of fact
The Spiritual Realm
Is making waves on your shore
So open yourself up
To a world Oh so Wide
And don’t be afraid
To breach the Divide
---www.freepicturesweb.com

US state scrutinizes Google search tactics

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.ed01c1f733f7929c0e0ee596f28a0c53.d1&show_article=1

Huge solar flare jams radio, satellite signals: NASA

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.d91e3775fd5b821f0b35dc7f0cbb52fc.21&show_article

A Grave Injustice

http://www.defendmichael.com/

Our New Jeffersonian Era

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/02/14/our_new_jeffersonian_era_108884.html

Bankruptcy - "Dr. Doom" Roubini: Forget the financial crisis, This crisis could topple world governments

http://www.thedailycrux.com/content/6935/Bankruptcy/eml

Who Is Omar Suleiman?

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/02/who-omar-suleiman

Exactly What Just Happened in Egypt?

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/01/whats-happening-egypt-explained

An Indian Elder Speaks

From: MadRazorRay..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7cylfQtkDg

Thousands demonstrate in Iran despite ban

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.0f2dd822954982bb57cab5b034071896.c41&show_article=1

Egyptian Uprising

Events in Tunisia and the murder of a young Egyption helped spark this uprising. I would like to keep in my heart the vitality, the freshness, and the incredible spirit of the millions of Egyptians, from all walks of life, who gathered together peacefully to air their grievances with a government they felt could no longer be tolerated. We could get into the very complex issues behind the scenes of who Mubarak was and how he was able to rise to power, stay there, and the different political parties who played a part, along with the countries and governments who encouraged, and contributed. There is always intrigue, questionable decisions and acts lurking just behind the scenes of any political leader whether it be in the West or abroad. The thing that most amazed me was the number of people who protested. Egyptians who took it upon themselves to band together as one unit to thwart the wishes of their President, who I believe undoubtedly felt that they couldn't pull it off. My hat goes off to them and my heart goes out to them. There is talk, now, that the Iranian freedom fighters have found new hope and encouragement. If they take to the streets again, to oust a tyrannical dictator and attempt to take back their country and regain their freedoms, I support them wholeheartedly. President Obama supported the fight for freedom in Egypt and should not change course if the same events again unfold in Iran.

Fiery Heart
by Dmitri Maslov
dreamstime.com

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Many ads have been appearing on t.v. lately, showing the adverse side affects of drugs many Americans have used. Then we see the follow on ads by lawyers offering their services to "loved ones" and other family members who have suffered the dire affects. There is something wrong here. What is the purpose of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? Isn't it to test, monitor, and approve a drug safe for the American public to use? Then why are we witnessing so many recalls? I would assume there are a litany of tests that a new drug would be subjected to before it is deemed safe to use. But with all the recalls, one has to wonder what is going on. There is something terribly wrong with this picture. Could it be there is some type of collusion going on between Big Pharma, the FDA and lawyers, at the expense of the American people? Someone needs to look into this.

To The People of Earth, I Bring You a Message...

From the 1111 Progress Group: http://www.1111progressgroup.com/
September 11, 2010.
Planetary Supreme, Urantia.
Subject: “I am the Ground You Walk On.”
Urantia: “I am the air you breathe. I am the water you drink. I am the food you eat. And I am the ground you walk on. I am Urantia, your mother earth.
“For untold ages I have been in a dream, taking in all that happened in this dream, but still, progressing, awakening, with a developing, reasoning mind, observing, evolving with you, and now giving vent to my deliberations.
“In all of Nebadon there are merely a few places as beautiful, as varied from place to place, and as diversified, as is our planet. For most worlds that are made ready for human habitation there is generally not such diversity until well after the races have grown up, matured, and managed to create new plant life, new fruits, new trees and a greater diversity of animals.
“Here on my planet there is a potential risk that much will be lost. Indeed much has already been lost. There is the potential of a war to make impossible all future wars and to make it necessary for your slaves, your serfs, and criminals to mine the needed elements for life in the many places that will no longer be suitable for habitation.
“I am making my call to you to round up as many as you can, to give them my message that you must make wars no more. I am making my call to you that you must do your utmost to keep the peace, and that you must do the very best you can to help each other in difficult times.
“This short message is from me to the many who are contactees of my Midwayer servants. I am the air you breathe. I am the water you drink. I am the food you eat. And I am the ground you walk on. I am Urantia. I thank you for listening to my thoughts. I embrace you with my love. I say farewell for now.”

Government Stupidity - The desperate situation every American needs to be aware of now

http://www.thedailycrux.com/content/6888/Government_Stupidity/eml

University of Metaphysical Sciences

http://www.umsonline.org/

Learning to Believe in Something Higher Than Yourself

Huddled around the old wooden table, the elderly man, his wife and two sons, bowed their heads in prayer. There was a somber feeling in the small room as he gave the blessing. A little candle was stuck in wax in the middle of the table and sputtered every now and then. The hearth behind them was ripe with red coals. The heat was very comforting. Pieces of stale bread were laying on the table. An old bible was placed on a piece of paper, its frayed and worn edges clearly showing. The old man lovingly picked it up and held it for a moment, then slowly put it down. The old woman, with her worn dark shawl wrapped loosely across her shoulders, waited until his hands were folded in his lap. She carefully dipped the ladle into the soup pot and poured one ladle full into each soup bowl. No one said anything. With the wind howling like a pack of wolves outside, and the snow feeling like wasp stings against your face, the cold chill just beginning to leave their tired bodies, they were trying to remain in a positive mood but it was difficult to keep despair from encompassing them all. It had been another cold, long and arduous day scrounging for food, finding wood for the fire and just plain surviving. In this country everyone was used to hard work and being paid something for their labor. But now, just waking up in the morning and knowing that the old ways had passed away and knowing what lay ahead, was becoming unbearable. How things had changed. There would have been complete silence except for the slow slurping of hot soup being consumed by hungry mouths. They tried not to think about tomorrow. Conversation was becoming a thing of the past. A little over two years ago things had been so different. The old man had a job in town, his sons were also employed and the family had plenty to eat. But a new political revolution had swept the country and a new wave of political ferver was sweeping the land. The new opposition party was doing away with the old even though the old hadn't been all that bad. They claimed they would be bringing in a better future for everyone. It was going to be different, this time. Everyone would be affected and better off, it was said. Although there was a wariness in the air there were also hopeful feelings. Would these new ideas work? Or would this be just another political experiment tried on a group of peasants? One question that couldn't or wouldn't be answered was why they were messing around with something that was working and working pretty well. There were never any answers to this but always the people kept asking questions. As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, things seemed to stay the same. But then the changes came, slowly and stealth like. It was almost as if one were viewing what was happening, in a dream state. When a bureaucrat changed something and made it harder on the people, it was always for the good of all. So, the people were told to accept it. It was frowned on to worship openly or even privately. Some of the neighbors had even experienced the military people knocking on their doors at all times of the day and night. Never before had there been any paperwork or regulations, or standing in long lines. But now, to purchase even the most basic of necessities it was mandated that one sign a piece of paper, pay with whatever they could, along with a certain percent of interest which kept going up, and then and only then would they be allowed to take that commodity home. The peoples' livestock had been rounded up, their small gardens were under the watchful eye of the new government and you couldn't get away from someone in uniform seemingly eyeballing you as you came and went. You were allowed so much food and other items and the new government had swallowed up all the jobs that the people had been doing. So what were they to do? What was the point of all of this? Again, many questions but no answers. So, the community became tighter. People were no longer looking on each neighbor as being distant, a sole individual, but as a whole. Soon they had all banded together in unison, seeking comfort, comaraderie and support. The family had finished eating. The old man reached for the book and opened to a piece of paper with faded writing. He started to read.. "Only for God wait thou in stillness, my soul; for from Him cometh my hope...; (Proverbs 62); "The hope of the righteous is gladness but the expectation of the wicked shall perish...; (Proverbs 10); "Why art thou cast down O my soul? and why moanest thou within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him for the salvation of His countenance...; (Psalm 42). His face lightened as he looked up at his wife and two sons. Tenderly closing the book he stared out the window, a look of contentment on his face. It lasted a short while. Shortly thereafter, the sound of chairs scraping across the floor was heard. The old man, increasingly bent over, shuffled toward the hearth and stirred the coals as his two sons watched in silence. He kept stirring and stirring, seemingly lost in thought until his one son called to him.. "Father, it is getting late and we must get some sleep". But he continued to ignore him and turned away, not wanting to hear what was said. "I know, I know", he muttered. After a few more moments, he slowly leaned the poker against the bricks, not wanting to let go of it. He didn't want to start the long trip up the stairs as he was so very tired. And he didn't want to face another tomorrow because tomorrow would be the same as today and yesterday. But he straightened himself up and finally moved toward the stairs. His two sons walked toward him and helped him as he grasped the railing. The old woman, watching with tears in her eyes, removed the bowls and the big soup pot from the table. She said not a word because it would have made no difference. They were all trapped. They had been used. They had been lied to. They had been told so many wonderful stories about how better everything would be but when the changes actually came, they were changes of remorse and sorrow. Everyone in the community felt the same. They were caught in a drama that was slowly sucking the lifeblood from them all. The only thing they had left was their faith in a just God that He would provide them with the courage to get through their ordeal. And their faith had grown stronger. Somehow, as the old man made his way up the stairs, tomorrow didn't look as bad as it did, just a few moments ago. It was time to blow out the candle and turn in. The wind was still howling; the stinging snow was still blowing furiously against the tiny cabin but all inside were safe and somehow more resolute. They had made it through this day and would make it through the next. All because of what they had learned...that it was faith in the midst of things unknown, that would always sustain them and see them through.

Obama’s Blocking Of New Power Plants Triggers Nationwide Blackouts

http://www.prisonplanet.com/obamas-blocking-of-new-power-plants-triggers-nationwide-blackouts.html

For the Clueless, Couldn't Be Bothered, Inattentive, Mis-Guided, Just Plain Stupid and Of Course, The Apologetics

We're entering some catastrophic times, I'm afraid. I'm not a fan of any of the major news media. I do occasionally watch some of the commentators but I can pretty much paint a mental picture of where this country is, at the present time, and where it is headed. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. Add to that a President who is clueless (or is he, really?) and a Congress where infighting and pomp and circumstance are more important than tackling the job of curing this country of its economic woes. We've run out of time. We need to start slashing our trillions of dollars in debt, aka stopping spending, creating jobs, addressing our continued loss of manufacturing jobs overseas, our massive trade deficit and so forth and so on. Need I say more? All I've been reading and hearing about the good ole U.S. of A. (and you can pick up quite a bit of info sandwiched in between the lines) is not good. On another note, there is much we do not know about what sparked the unrest which is now turning into chaos, in Egypt. Yes, we hear the Egyptians are fed up with low wages, a lack of the basic necessities, no jobs, high inflation and they want Mubarak out. But it puzzles me why these demonstrations happened so fast. Has anyone else picked up on this? And Obama defiantly stating to Mubarak that he must step down and NOW MEANS NOW. Wonder what that is all about? I'm wondering..could there be something else going on that we are not aware of? One minute everything appears to be fine in Egypt and the next minute they are on the evening news. Has this unrest been simmering for a long time or did someone, some group, orchestrate this event? We now have a very big problem on our hands, not only for this country but for Israel because if Mubarak goes and Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood gain a foothold, well figure it out for yourself. Riots in Tunisia, Jordan, and Lebanon is now being controlled by Hizballah. Nothing to worry about, right? There is alot going on behind the scenes that we're not privvy to as it's all that state department, political, secret stuff. You know, toppling governments, un-doing leaders, and replacing them. The U.S. doesn't get off the hook on this one, either, as it has had its fair share. I've often wondered, why do we even have a State Department? Things have been smelling for awhile but the stench is growing stronger. I don't like what I am seeing nor feeling--the bad guys and the elitists growing more powerful, leaving the little guy who doesn't have a clue feeling helpless and and ill-prepared for what is comin down the pike. He knows somethin is a-comin, he jus can't see it. We hear about stocking up on food, (some are saying for at least a year), buying generators, flashlights, emergency radios, solar panels, cookless stoves, etc. And don't forget that "go bag" just in case. Hyperinflation, which is just around the corner. And it will be if the Fed continues to keep printing incredible amounts of money out of thin air. All the while the country keeps churnin along. But I believe this to be a mask over our eyes. There is a sayin, he who has ears, hear and he who has eyes, see. Well if you feel as I do, it's your sixth sense kickin in. So don't let the puny pundits and the pretty blondes who grace your t.v. screen and the money guru know-it-alls continue to pull your leg and other parts of your anatomy. You know, the Stock Market is down just a little bit, but don't worry it will soon be back up. Our economy is really improving, the jobless rate went down and there is more consumer confidence. Well, maybe a little. But I still have that nagging feeling and it won't let go. So somethin's comin and prepare, as best you can, okay? At least you won't be in the company of dumb and dumber. We'll leave that title for the President and Congress.

Uplifting

1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble; it is a "steering wheel" that directs us in the right path throughout life.
2] Do you know why a car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the rear view mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.
3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.
4] All things in life are temporary. If going well enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong don’t worry, they can't last long either.
5] Old friends are like Gold! New friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a base of Gold!
6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!
7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.
8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision."
9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.
10] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES; it takes away
today’s PEACE.

An Elderly Couple’s Defiant Stand Against Armed Robber « CBS Minnesota

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2011/02/02/an-elderly-couples-defiant-stand-against-armed-robber/