Conquering life's lows has been the true test of climbing couple's mettle

My good friends, Phil & Sue Ershler, finally have their book hitting the shelves on April 2, 2007. Together on Top of the World, if it mirrors the stories of their lives, will be a great read. I first met Phil in 1986 when I was 12 years old. My father and I were climbing...

Farrakhan Bowing from World Stage

Farrakhan is a highly controversial figure, but I find myself agreeing with his comment on the current state of religious affairs. Also, his urge for youth to stay away from the military echoes this website. "Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan stressed religious unity...

Too Hot To handle?

"Heat - When is it too hot to keep working? Excessive heat is both a health and safety hazard. Working in hot conditions can result in a number of adverse health effects - ranging from discomfort to serious illness and even death. Unfortunately, in Victoria there are NO...

Day of Reckoning for DDT Foes?

"Last week’s announcement that the World Health Organization lifted its nearly 30-year ban on the insecticide DDT is perhaps the most promising development in global public health since… well, 1943 when DDT was first used to combat insect-borne diseases like typhus and...

Suppliers of cannabis chocolates escape jail

"Three people who supplied thousands of cannabis-filled chocolate bars to multiple sclerosis sufferers have walked free from court. Mark Gibson, 42, his wife Lezley, 42, who has MS, and Marcus Davies, 36, were each given a nine-month suspended sentence. All three defendants...

Rain of Dead Birds

"THOUSANDS of birds have fallen from the skies over Esperance and no one knows why. Is it an illness, toxins or a natural phenomenon? A string of autopsies in Perth have shed no light on the mystery. All the residents of flood-devastated Esperance know is that their "dawn...

Blood test can show heart risk in patients

"A simple blood test can now accurately predict a heart patient’s risk of serious illness or death, researchers have found.”After adjusting for all other risk factors, it’s clear this marker is picking up something we are otherwise unable to detect with standard...

North Korean trafficking victims speak

"Ms. L (age 35) was on her way home from work in North Korea in July 2001, when a man approached her. He whispered to her, "Are you satisfied with your life here? If you go to China, you can make much more money." This caught Ms. L's attention. Ms. L's life in North Korea was...

Stomach virus likely caused Olive Garden illnesses

"A contagious stomach virus is likely to blame for sickening about 370 people who ate at an Olive Garden restaurant in Indianapolis last week, a county health official said on Monday.Stool tests of three Olive Garden employees and one customer were positive for a norovirus, a...

World's Largest Cruise Ship Docked With 2nd Virus Outbreak

"he world's largest cruise ship was held in port Monday for intensive cleaning after a second outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in two voyages sickened 108 people."