August 15, 2008
Issue #576
Published By: John Ortiz & Assoc., LLC www.spokanetidbits.com ads@spokanetidbits.com For Advertising Call 509-270-6514
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The Games of the XXIX Olympiad are officially underway in Beijing, China. Join Tidbits as we dig “higher, faster, longer” for Summer Olympics facts of the past and present.
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• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) votes on a host city about seven years prior to the actual event. (So that means, for example, that Beijing was chosen as the host city for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games way back in 2001.) Due to this early deadline, cities that 509-467-5128 hope to be considered as a host begin work at 11008 N. Newport Hwy., Spokane, WA least 10 years in advance. • What are the benefits for a city that hosts the Olympic Games? Plenty of international recognition, advertising dollars from sponsorship deals, and lots of increased tourism. The IOC rates each prospective city on 11 criteria, including infrastructure, security, accommodations, and transportation. • For winning cities, the citizens are often the Fresh bulk spices, seasonings, rubs & BBQ sauces for your cooking pleasure. We also carry Jerky and Sausage making supplies. hardest hit. Increased taxes are almost guaranAsk about our Saturday sausage making classes. teed, since new facilities often have to be built or rebuilt to accommodate various events. The Stop in and visit us or go to www.spokanespice.com winning city has to deal with lots of construction before the Games, and a flood of foreign tourists during them, and the long and dreary cleanup afterward. • No women allowed? Yes, the ancient Olympics in Greece were for men only. In fact, women were not even allowed inside the stadium as spectators, since men competed in the nude. There were no team events back then, either; only individual contests. And no medals ALL LOCATIONS OPEN 24 HOURS were awarded; winners were crowned atop the Self Serve & head with a laurel wreath. Karcher Touch Free In-Bay Automatic turn the page for more! 5625 N. Market St.
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THOSE SUMMER GAMES (continued): • The modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896; and then in Paris in 1900. Four years later, they came to St. Louis, Missouri. These were the first Games to be held outside of Europe, so competitors from far-flung locations such as Asia and Australia had to travel thousands of miles by ship to reach U.S. shores, and then head deep in to the interior of the country to reach St. Louis. Many countries simply couldn’t afford the journey. Predictably, the 1904 Games were dominated by American competitors. • Despite being dogged by controversy, the 1904 Games had its share of standout athletes. These include gymnast George Eyser of the USA, who took the gold on the parallel bars and vault, won the silver on the pommel horse, and nabbed a bronze on the horizontal bar. Such victories would be impressive on their own, but consider one important fact: Eyser wore a prosthetic leg, since he’d lost his in a train accident when he was younger. • The first Olympic superstar was undoubtedly Jim Thorpe. The Native American had already lettered in 11 different sports at college by the time he arrived in Stockholm for the 1912 Games. He took one gold in the pentathlon, and then another in the two-day decathlon. Sweden’s King Gustav V personally presented Thorpe with a silver chalice in the shape of a Viking ship and said, “Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world.” Jim casually replied, “Thanks, King.” • Mark Spitz competed in seven swimming events at the 1972 Olympics. He won seven gold medals, and set seven world records. He arrived barefoot and carrying his sneakers during one medal presentation. As the crowd cheered him, he waved with the hand that was holding his shoes. Soviet officials wasted no time in accusing Spitz of commercialism, and demanded that his medals be revoked. (The sneakers were old, Spitz wasn’t being paid, and the medals stayed.) • For eight months leading up to the 1992 Games, Reebok ran a series of “Dan and Dave” commercials, featuring Dan O’Brien and Dave Johnson. The two American decathletes were considered evenly matched. Which one would bring home the gold from Barcelona? As it turned out, Dave had trouble with the pole vault at the Trials and failed to qualify for the Olympics. Dan finished third at the Games, and Reebok quietly folded its $30 million ad campaign. turn the page for more!
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PAWS CORNER By Sam Mazzotta
Did Guinea Pig Suffer Heart Attack or Stroke? DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I had a 3-year-old guinea pig named “Rocky,” and a few months ago he died. The way it happened was, first he was staring at our fish tank. Then all of a sudden he flipped over onto his back and started to shake. After he stopped shaking, he was breathing but he couldn’t get up. Unfortunately at that time, we couldn’t do much because it was a school day. When my father came home to check on him, he had died. What do you think happened to him? -- Abigail O. DEAR ABIGAIL: I’m sorry to hear about your pet. While I can’t be sure what went wrong with Rocky, I suspect that he either had a heart attack or a stroke. Guinea pig expert Peter Gurney, author of numerous books, including “Piggy Potions” (Kingdom Books), and a Web site, “The A to Z of Guinea Pigs” [http://web.onetel. net.uk/~petergurney/atozmainpage.htm] describes heart attack symptoms as the guinea pig being too weak to stand, often lying flat on its side, giving “great heaving breaths” and having a weak and slow heartbeat. A guinea pig that has suffered a stroke will usually be paralyzed down one side of its body, with its head tilted at an acute angle to its body, and its eyes may have rapid jerky movements. The reason an owner should differentiate between the two is that, particularly in the case of a heart attack, the sooner the guinea pig gets emergency treatment the better chance it has of surviving. It sounds like you were observant of your pet’s behavior prior to his becoming ill. Guinea pigs can show few overt signs of deteriorating health. Owners must watch for symptoms like a loss of appetite (one of the biggest signs), weight loss of just a couple ounces, subtle changes in behavior or changes in the animal’s coat and eyes. Any of these should warrant a call to the vet and a visit within 24 hours. Acute symptoms like Rocky’s are emergencies, and the guinea pig should be taken in immediately. Send your tips, questions and comments to Paws Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or e-mail them to pawscorner@hotmail.com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
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(Help from dad?)
THOSE SUMMER GAMES (continued): Dear Dave,
• 1992 was the first year that “professional” athletes were allowed to compete in the Olympics. That was also the year that the Dream Team played for the U.S. in men’s basketball. Led by NBA legends Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan, the team easily won the gold, defeating competing teams by an average of 44 points. • Atlanta hosted the 1996 Games. There, one complaint that was heard from several coaches (but none of the athletes) was that the food in the Olympic Village was simply too good – athletes were eating too much and gaining weight! Olympians had a choice of over 150 different items at each meal, including 22 types of bread and 15 kinds of cheese. McDonald’s also had five kiosks in the Village, marking the first time a branded restaurant catered the Olympic Games. • Much was made of Adolf Hitler refusing to shake American gold medalist Jesse Owens’ hand at the 1936 Olympics. But, as Owens later observed, President Franklin D. Roosevelt didn’t shake his hand, either. Nor did FDR even send a congratulatory note or telegram. In Germany, Owens could ride the same trains and stay in the same hotels as white athletes. But when he returned to the U.S., Owens had to use the freight elevator in order to attend a reception in his honor at New York’s WaldorfAstoria hotel. • Badminton made its debut as an Olympic sport at the 1992 Games. The projectile employed in the sport is commonly called a “birdie” but is more properly termed a “shuttlecock.” Professional-grade shuttlecocks are made with 16 goose feathers attached to a cork base. The recent bird flu epidemic in China has led to, of all things, a feather shortage. Naturally, this has driven the price of shuttlecocks up by almost 50 percent. • It is a tradition that, in the Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremonies, the team from Greece always marches first. The rest of the countries follow in alphabetical order, except for the host nation, which always brings up the rear. Beginning in 1998, the U.S. team now parades in specially made uniforms by major sportswear designers, rather than the traditional suit and tie. • Nine new events will be introduced at the Beijing Olympics. They include two BMX cycling contests, a women’s steeplechase, and even marathon swimming disciplines. Changes to the format of the table tennis and fencing contests are also expected. The End The Way Mother Nature Cleans®
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on target with making the money contingent on you guys getting some financial counseling. If you were my child, I’d definitely expect that much AND for you guys to start saving money for the future. That’s only fair. You two obviously aren’t spoiled little brats running around spending money like there’s no tomorrow. But having a family and raising kids on $25,000 a year would be hard on anyone – even without the credit card and medical bills. I’d also suggest that your husband map out a plan for improving his earning potential. It would be great if the two of you could sit down together and do this. Give him some support and boost his confidence. Let him know he’s smart, talented and can be anything he wants to be. Help him decide what he wants to be doing three of four years from now and the steps he can take to make it happen. He’s a hard-working man, Cheryl. But today’s culture doesn’t always reward just hard work. We’re in a knowledge-based economy right now, one where you need to put the brain in gear on a regular basis to really get things done. Always remember: You make more money when you PLAN to make more money! - Dave
My husband works very hard, and he makes $25,000 a year. We’ve got $21,000 in credit card debt, plus ongoing medical bills for our special needs child. Right now, we’re living in an old trailer. My father told us he’s willing to help us pay down some of the debt and get us moved into a house if we’ll attend financial counseling. Do you have any better ideas? Cheryl Dear Cheryl, If the money is going to be loan – in other words, if you’re going to have to make payments to your dad – I wouldn’t do it. The borrower is always slave to the lender, even when it’s your parents. If you want family events to feel really strange, have debt to your parents. It twists you up inside, and since it’s YOUR dad we’re talking about, the whole situation will be especially tough on your husband. Now, if this is going to be a gift with no * For more financial advice plus special expectation of re-payment, that’s a little offers to our readers, please visit www. bit different. But I think your dad is right davesays.org or call 1-888-22-PEACE.
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Tidbits® of Spokane Washington
Calling All Octogenarians If you are age 79 or older and have a sibling at least that age, the National Institute on Aging is looking for you. The Long Life Family Study is about to begin, and it’s looking for as many families as possible to try to learn why certain people live so long. If you become part of the study, you’ll have a two-hour interview either at your home or at a clinic, and a blood sample will be taken. You’ll be given a physical assessment (nothing too hard), and you’ll be paid $25 for participating. Afterward, you’ll get the results of your blood sample. The institute will even send the results to your doctor, if you wish. All of the information will be kept confidential. It seems they’ve thought of everything to make us comfortable about participating. While researchers hope to find volunteers within a three-hour drive of Pittsburgh, Boston or New York,
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many people have relatives scattered all over, so they’re set up to interview other siblings across the country, either in person or by phone or mail. Your children and grandchildren (or even a friend) are welcome to be present at the interview too, in case they can fill in additional information. The results of the study will help researchers for years to come, so if you qualify (or know someone who does) it’s important to participate. Even if we’re not yet 79, we know people who are, and some of them also have siblings that age. We need to pass this information along to them. If you would like to take part in the study or have questions, you can call one of the three toll-free numbers: 800-304-4317, 888-333-6327 or 800-872-3653. Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
Better Health Care for Women Veterans Back in 2005, the Journal of General Internal Medicine published a study that concluded that ambulatory health care for both male and female veterans at VA medical centers was equal in quality. The study looked at things like eye exams and flu and pneumonia shots. The Department of Veterans Affairs, of course, patted itself on the back, ignoring the not-so-small fact that all of those things are gender-neutral. Everybody gets a flu shot. Everybody gets an eye exam. Overall, however, the VA’s reputation for women veterans health care hasn’t been good. In April 2008, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, filed Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act. The legislation asked for studies on barriers to health care, the health consequences of serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the effects on the mental, physical and reproductive health of female veterans, as well as developing a program to treat female veterans for post-traumatic stress disorder, and more. Just recently, Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake said at the VA National Summit on Women Veterans’ Issues that, “We are reinventing ourselves by expanding our women-centric focus to initiate new programs that meet the needs of women veterans.” What he didn’t say was that just weeks earlier, a health-care quality review surfaced that plainly said that women veterans aren’t getting care up to the same standards as men. On June 26, the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act legislation finally came out of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee after being blended into an overall omnibus bill that includes other veterans issues. It has a lot of supporters. Peake also didn’t say that the summit on women veterans is only held every four years. That alone speaks volumes. Write to Freddy Groves in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
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www.spokanetidbits.com Hovering Parents The article was about me. I read it and saw my future: “More Parents Hover, Study Shows.” The lead paragraph pinned me down even more: “College administrators grumble about the rise of helicopter parents -- moms and dads who keep hovering over the lives of their children even after they leave for college. But helicopter parents aren’t just hovering. They’re swooping down in attack mode.” I’ve known this about myself since the day I brought my oldest child home from the hospital. I hovered over her cradle to watch her breathe. I hovered over her high chair. I micro-managed her play dates, her naptimes, her sleep time, her free time way past the time I should have. I tend to make decisions and take responsibility for things that my children -- who long ago crawled out of the cradle -- should now make for themselves. But aren’t we supposed to do a lot of that as parents? Yes. We should guide them, train them, correct them, love them, but not to the point where they can’t breathe (because we are breathing for them) and want to run away from us. As a mom who was home for many years with my kids, I often had a hard time keeping this in balance. I recently went back to work and asked my oldest what it is she likes best about Mom working. “I’m able to spread my wings a little,” she said. Shocked, because I didn’t think she’d noticed I was a hovering parent, I asked her what it was like before I went to work. She mimicked a person being suffocated. My youngest had a very similar response. I got it. The hard part about being a working parent, I’m finding, is letting go of my hovering tendencies. Thank goodness for cell phones, which give me the illusion that I’m still in control. Which leads me to another paragraph in the article I mentioned earlier. It explained that 40 years ago, going away to college was a “breaking away experience.” But cell phones have made this almost impossible for kids to make that necessary separation, the article said. So what if we have a generation of kids whose parents hover and don’t deal with their separation anxiety? Well, let me paint you a picture: Elderly parents will schedule doctor’s appointments for their graying, pot-bellied adult children; they will ask them about their regularity at the breakfast table, because it’s quite possible that the adult child will still be in the home at 50 years old. And when their adult child’s boss reprimands them or gives a negative evaluation on their performance at work, you can bet Mom or Dad will call and smooth things over. I’ve seen my future, and it’s not pretty. It’s time for less hovering and more guiding. Write to Taprina Milburn in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Recipe of the Week COMFORT FOODS -- Made Fast and Healthy! By Healthy Exchanges Greek Tomato Salad
Are you picking tomatoes and cucumbers by the bucket? Do you love the taste of feta cheese? Then you have the makings for this great quick and easy salad. 1/2 cup Kraft fat-free mayonnaise 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium ketchup 3/4 cup finely chopped cucumber 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion 3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese 1/4 cup sliced ripe olives 1 teaspoon dried basil 3 cups coarsely chopped fresh tomatoes In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise and ketchup. Stir in cucumber, onion, feta cheese, olives and basil. Add tomatoes. Mix well to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Makes 4 (1 cup) servings. ¥ Each serving equals: 91 calories, 3gm fat, 3gm protein, 13gm carbs, 389mg sodium, 68mg calcium, 3gm fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetables, 1/2 Carb; Carb Choices: 1. Visit Healthy Exchanges at www. healthyexchanges.com, or call toll-free at 1-800-766-8961 for more information about the only national food newsletter for diabetics, heart/cholesterol concerns and healthy weight loss. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
• What’s on Sale in August: Back-toschool supplies, furniture (particularly small, modular furniture appropriate for dorm rooms) and clothing. Look for deals on electronic equipment such as computers and small appliances. • Getting ready to go back to school? Remember: Kids’ backpacks should weigh no more than 20 percent of the child’s body weight, and the child should use BOTH shoulder straps for the best fit and least stress on the back. • Trying to eat more vegetables? Here’s a great tip from the United States Department of Agriculture: When planning meals for the week, try planning around a vegetable main dish (stir-fry, casserole, etc.) and designing the rest of the plate after. Too often, we plan meals according to protein, then starch and vegetable last. • Recipe substitutions: If you need 1 teaspoon of baking powder, use 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar. • Here’s a request. W.T. writes via e-mail: “I am an elderly, divorced man, and I frequently find a use for small jars (e.g. salsa jars). I wonder if any of your respondents have ever sent in a tip regarding what to use to remove the smell from the jar lids.” Any suggestions, please write in. Don’t worry, Mr. T. Our readers are on the case. • “Here’s a tip for hamster owners out there. If your dwarf hamster makes much noise when running its wheel, just lube the wheel a bit with olive oil. Just a drop or two will make the wheel turn smoothly and silently, and won’t pose any harm to the little ones in case they lick it!” -- C.H in Utah Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 or e-mail JoAnn at heresatip@yahoo. com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Tidbits® of Spokane Washington
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.
Viruses Cause Warts DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My grandchildren have warts on their hands. What causes them? What can be done for them? We are applying a wart remover, and it works after some time. Someone told me they are caused by a vitamin deficiency. What is your opinion? -- E.P. ANSWER: This isn’t my opinion; it’s a fact: Viruses cause warts, specifically the large family of HPV viruses -- human papillomaviruses. Wart removers do work for many people, and they’re available in drugstores without a prescription. Most of them contain salicylic acid. Don’t cringe when you see the word “acid.” These products don’t burn, and they do take time to work. Follow the directions carefully. Another popular remedy is duct tape, the kind of tape you find in hardware stores. Cover the wart or warts with the tape for six days. Then remove the tape and soak the warts in water, after which you rub them gently with an emery board or pumice stone, both of which also are found in drugstores. Repeat the cycle until the warts go away. That can take two months.
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There is another acceptable treatment for warts: Ignore them. They usually disappear on their own, but it can take some time for that happy event to occur. The family doctor or a dermatologist can remove warts by freezing them or drying them with an electric current. I am not talking about genital warts. That’s another topic. They, too, are caused by papillomaviruses, but their treatment is different. The genital wart story is told in full in the booklet on that topic and on herpes genital infections. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 1202W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 328536475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. *** DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My liver enzymes are elevated. My AST is 54, and my ALT is 53. How bad is this? Could it be cancer? -- S.H.
has enzymes that are found only in that organ, then a rise of the blood level of those enzymes indicates damage to the organ. AST -- aspartate aminotransferase -- and ALT -- alanine aminotransferase -- are found mainly in the liver. Your elevation is not great. When the rise is three times the normal value, then eyebrows rise. All you have to do is follow your doctor’s directions for repeat tests. The rise might be only a transient thing. This is not a sign of cancer. *** DEAR DR. DONOHUE: This past summer, after a colonoscopy, my wife went into atrial fibrillation. This past month, a friend had colon surgery for cancer. Shortly after, he too had atrial fibrillation. Is there some relationship here? -- A.I. ANSWER: Perhaps the stress of both procedures brought on the atrial fibrillation. Stress -- both physical and mental -- can do it. This is the only relationship I can see. *** ANSWER: All body cells have enzymes. Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to anThey’re proteins that keep cell chemistry swer individual letters, but he will incorpoperking along at the right speed. If an organ rate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.
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FROM START TO FITNESS
(c) 2008 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved
and arm muscles, and when attached to a solid, secure structure can allow you to work the By Andrea Renee Wyatt, M.S.S., C.S.C.S. muscles of your chest and back. Each band is Is Strength Training Really Necessary? compact and easy to store or carry, making it a great way to bring together your cardiovascular Q: My workout routine consists of walking and and strength exercises. occasionally riding my bicycle on a trail near my home. I work out three to four days a week, and routine could allow you to see things differently. Again, begin small and progress slowly, and I feel great. Over the years I have tried to do The benefits of strength training are extensive. you may find a new favorite. strength training as well, but I am not as excited Reasons to add a strength-training routine to Always consult a physician before beginning an about lifting weights as I am about the cardio your weekly workouts include reducing the exercises. Is it really necessary to do strength- signs of medical conditions such as diabetes, exercise program. If you have a fitness or traintraining exercises, or can I stick with my favor- osteoporosis, obesity, arthritis and depression, ing question, write to Andrea in care of King ites? strengthening your muscles and bones, main- Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 A: Each type of workout has specific objec- taining proper weight and body-fat percentages, (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc. tives, and all work together to keep the body maintaining your body’s ability to balance, and in the best shape possible. Leaving one area, even sleeping better. such as strength training, out of the plan can Adding strength training to your workout does keep you from truly reaching your body’s maxi- not mean you have to change what you are already doing. Start by adding a few exercises mum potential. You are not alone, as many people choose to intermittently while you walk. You might walk a complete only one type of exercise because they mile, then stop to do lunges or squats for a few enjoy it much more than another. Cardiovascu- minutes before proceeding with your workout. If lar exercise suits some people, while strength there are stairs nearby, completing a few sets of and flexibility training is the favorites of others. steps to help strengthen your legs would be a Finding a balance that you can live with is the great way to incorporate the two. key. You might not enjoy strength training, but Exercises that don’t require equipment can be a making it great way to start. Lunges, squats, push-ups and a part step-ups, to name just a few, are exercises you of your can complete before, during or even after your w o r k o u t cardiovascular workout. Start by adding just a few exercises and then progress. PrivateStudio Drop pounds and save money The use of exeron meals with cise tubes also can be a great way to complete many different strength-training Free Consultation exercises without the need for a large space. Exercise bands can be used under your feet while holding the handles to www.healthnutwa.com work the shoulder
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Milka Duno Won’t Back Down Q: Did you catch the Danica Patrick and Milka Duno argument on television? Duno threw what looked like two towels at Danica and told her to leave her pit area after being approached by Patrick. What’s your opinion? -- Mel P., e-mail from Pennsylvania A: Mel, we received numerous e-mails similar to yours. The incident you speak of happened recently at Mid Ohio during practice for the IRL race. Danica had a point to make and did so at perhaps the wrong time, going to Duno’s pit area immediately for a confrontation. In this particular instance, Patrick accused Duno of either not seeing her car in her mirrors or cutting her off when Danica tried to overtake her during practice. Duno did let her by the second time, and insists she saw Patrick and never tried to cut her off. Duno was quoted in several wire service stories as saying “She (Patrick) came to my team and our pit box in a very bad way with bad words. If you come in a nice way, perfect, we can talk. If you come in a bad way, you are going to find my bad side. I don’t
like drama, and I told her to go away, you are not welcome (and she wouldn’t leave).” On the “You Tube” video, it is clear that Patrick wanted an immediate answer and was the instigator. Patrick did use foul language in the heated exchange before the minutelong incident ended. Actually, this type of stuff happens all the time in racing, albeit not always with cameras or videos rolling. Danica is known for confronting any on-track situation immediately, regardless of whether it’s a man or woman behind the wheel. Honestly, I kind of liked seeing Milka throw Danica out of her pit stall. As for Milka throwing the towel towards Danica, I guess that’s a “no-no,” but in no way could it have caused an injury. This will play out in due time, and actually attracts more attention and fan interest to the IndyCar series. Patrick said she would lodge a complaint with Brian Barnhart, who runs the IRL, about the issue. Previously, Patrick had televised disagreements with Dan Wheldon and Ryan Briscoe, who won the Mid Ohio event. Although she receives little national attention compared to Patrick, Duno has diverse racing talents and educational background. The 2000 “Venezuelan Auto Racing Driver of the Year” is a naval engineer with four master’s degrees -- in organizational development,
www.spokanetidbits.com naval architecture, maritime business and marine biology. Duno’s path to racing began in 1998 when she was invited by a friend to participate in a Porsche driving clinic. She did well, and followed with a diverse road-racing career. In 2007, Milka scored a second-place finish in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona -- the highest finish ever by a female driver in the event’s 45-year history. Duno also is a glamour model who has appeared magazines like “Vogue,” and she also played Kellie “Gearbox” in the current Warner Bros. “Speed Racer” movie. Write to Greg Zyla in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send an e-mail to gzyla@ptd.net. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
PHOTO CUTLINE: Milka Duno became the first Latina to qualify for the Indy 500 this year and only the fifth woman to start the race, joining Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James, Sarah Fisher and Danica Patrick. (Citgo photo)
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