On May 26, 2006, high on the north slope of Mount Everest, Daniel Mazur, Olympia, Washington climbing guide was faced with a life or death decision. He was climbing the summit of Everest when he and his party encountered a most unusual sight. "Mazur, his two clients and a Sherpa guide were just two hours from the 29,035-foot peak… when they came across 50-year-old Lincoln Hall, who was left a day earlier when his own guides believed he was dead. 'I was shocked to see a guy without gloves, hat, oxygen bottles or sleeping bag at sunrise at 28,200 feet height, just sitting up there,' said Mazur… Mazur said Hall's first words to him were: 'I imagine you are surprised to see me here.'" ("Man Gives up Everest Climb for Rescue," New York Times, June 8, 2006)

The eyes of the world are once again riveted to the escalating fighting and chaos erupting in the Middle East. As expected, the tiny nation of Israel once more finds itself fighting a war on both physical and political fronts.

Can North Americans afford to fill their gas tanks at $4 or $5 per gallon? If not, what will they do for transportation when oil prices rise? With very few exceptions (such as Canada), the governments of most oil-producing nations now hate the United States!

The winter tide festivities continue on, with people moving almost mindlessly through them—looking neither left nor right, only onward to the end, full of parties, food, drink, and maxed-out credit cards.

In just a few more days it will be the New Year, and the glut of holiday celebrations will cease and we all can get back to normal—at least until Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mardi Gras, etc.

Thanks to the news media, the world can now add chickens to the things we must worry about killing us. To date, 100 million domestic birds have been killed and it is reported 60 of the 100 people infected with the human form, since 1997, have died.