The Keeper wrote:
It's all attitude and taking care of yourself, like this 84-year-old ex-Marine demonstrates by kicking butt (actually, he kicked something else)!

Police: Teen makes mistake of trying to rob former U.S. Marine
Bay City News Service
03/27/2008 10:39:20 AM PDT
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8716808?source=most_viewed

SANTA ROSA - A boy in his mid-teens learned Wednesday afternoon that it is not a good idea to try to rob a former U.S. Marine at knifepoint, even if the former Marine is 84 years old, police said today.

Santa Rosa police Sgt. Steve Bair said that's what happened around 2 p.m. in the 1600 block of Fourth Street. The elderly man was walking with a grocery bag in each arm when the boy approached him with a large knife, Bair said.

The boy said, "Old man, give me your wallet or I'll cut you," Bair said. The man told the boy he was a former Marine who fought in three wars and had been threatened with knives and bayonets, Bair said.

The man then put his bags on the ground and told the boy that if he stepped closer he would be sorry. When the boy stepped closer, the man kicked him in the groin, knocking him to the sidewalk, Bair said. The ex-Marine picked up his grocery bags and walked home, leaving the boy doubled over, Bair said.

The man reported the attempted robbery to police 45 minutes later.

Bair said the teen is described only as 15 or 16 years old. Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Department.

Copyright © 2008 by Bay City News, Inc.

But Keeper even a young Marine is "NO" match for this

with out a gun----- "A BIG GUN"

There are no grizzly bears in Utah, according to the government, only black bears.

The Keeper wrote:
There are no grizzly bears in Utah, according to the government, only black bears.



Like they said there were no wolves in Yellowstone prior to the "official reintroduction?"

So... what other signs need to be posted?

Warning: Ticks sighted in this area. Ticks carry diseases that will make you real sick and may cause you to die.

Warning: Unsanitary conditions ahead. Under-refrigerated chicken may kill you. Please use the alcohol-gel hung on every tree to wash your hands frequently.

Warning: Steep cliffs in the area. Gravity is dangerous to your well-being.

Warning: Rough terrain. People with weak hearts should not be in this area.

Where does it all end? It seems to me that the only ones who are trying to dehumanize this poor unfortunate child are the parents who are trying to turn a tragedy into a personal gain.

mykidsgramma wrote:
I don't think I was meaning to imply the gov't. should be held responsible, it was a very tragic accident. Could it have been prevented, guess we will never know. It just seemed like some people were looking at it rather heartlessly, having no compassion for what the family is STILL going through. My son is a good friend of the family's, in fact, had just spent a day with them the week end before. He says the boy was very likeable, very sweet and kind to everyone. He was very much loved by his family and friends. He was real, a child with hopes, wishes and plans, just like most of us. I didn't want him de-humanized.

This just goes to show that things aren't always what they 'seem'.

Because you know this family personally...you took the remarks very deeply to heart. And you simply assumed that we had no compassion at all for the family.

I have worlds of compassion for them, and I know that the others do to. What happened to this boy was horrendous. It staggers the imagination to think of the horror and agony he endured before he died.

And last year when the article about the attack was posted...a lot of us were among the first to extend our sympathies to the family.

But I've just got to say...suing the State of Utah isn't going to resurrect the boy, and it isn't going to make them feel any better about it.

All they will really accomplish if they win this lawsuit, is to penalize their fellow citizens in Utah, one way or the other.

Since you know this family, ask them something. Are they seeking monetary award? Or to push the State into legislating different procedures in the State parks and campgrounds?

The state followed the procedures that were currently in place. They are in the process of changing some of their policies...but even if they put up warning signs, you must understand that there will always be those who disregard, or even scoff at warning signs.

I see it all the time here in Washington State on the coastal areas. Most of the beaches have signs posted along the beach warning of extremely dangerous undertow situations, and warn people to stay well out of the water.

Yet I always see surfers, fishermen, and tourist families with small children, not knowing what the heck they were doing, wading knee deep, and even waist deep in the surf.

I've even seen the little kids get knocked over by the occasional rogue wave, and the parents really had to hustle to chase and grab the kids before they were sucked back into the surf by the ever-present undertow.

Every year there are accidental drownings, and sometimes the bodies are never retrieved, but lost to the sea forever.

In our National Parks, there are warnings posted everywhere...'DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE!'

Do you think that stops campers from feeding deer, raccoons, and even bears? No. Take a look on You-Tube. Google people feeding bears.

Watch the fools who get out of their cars and approach bears and toss marshmallows and bread to them.

As a result of their fool-hardiness, many bears are not afraid of human beings, and consider them to be a ready source of food...either by being fed by the people...or going after the people themselves.

Watch the fools who have approached Moose in the wild. And Elk. And Mule Deer.

mom wrote:
I grew up camping and though it is horrible what happened to the child, when you go into the woods you must always assume there are wild animals around. You are always taking your life in your hands to camp in their territory. You should prepare for the eventuality of animals whether there are signs are not.

I seem to remember that this family was camping outside the normal campground where there was a posting. You can't really go from tree to tree in the woods putting up signs in case someone decides to camp there.

This is correct, Mom...at least according to the original article last year. They were not inside the camp ground area, but they pitched their multi-roomed tent on a flat area in a small clearing.