Tidbits of Spokane County by John Ortiz

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Community Living Section See Page 5

Issue #596

January 9, 2009

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Laugh a bit with A tough old cowboy once told his grandson that if he wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a pinch of gunpowder on his oatmeal every morning. The grandson took the old man’s advice and lived to the ripe old age of 103. When he died, he left 14 children, 30 grand-children, 45 great-grandchildren, 28 great-great grandchildren...and a 15-foot hole where the crematorium used to be.

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Few American icons are more recognizable than the cowboy. People from the Caribbean to the Middle East to Down Under recognize the rough-ridin’, cattleherdin’, land-lovin’ cowboy. It’s a powerful image that has long served as a symbol of the United States. • Tom Mix, Hollywood’s first superstar cowboy, was born this month back in 1880. He grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania and became an expert horseman who had dreams of being a star in the circus. His parents frowned on such a “frivolous” career choice, and Mix instead enlisted in the Army during the Spanish-American War where he became an expert marksman. • After the War, Mix worked on a ranch in the Oklahoma Territory. His riding and roping skills caught the attention of a producer from a fledgling moviemaker, who invited Tom to come to Los Angeles to participate in a silent film about life on a ranch in the southwest. The picture turned out to be a surprise hit, and suddenly, America had an insatiable demand for “cowboy movies.” Tom Mix became a star; he appeared in 160 silent Western films, and then had his own radio series. • When barbed wire began appearing around cattle trails and grazing pastures in 1870, cowboys dubbed the spiky fencing material the “Devil’s Rope.” In general, fences were rare on the Plains and in the West due to a shortage of available wood. Wire fencing was manufactured, however – not harvested – so many ranchers installed it to both mark their property and to keep their cattle from wandering. The thorny barriers forced some cowboys’ herds to make wide detours in order to find water and open grazing land. • The Singing Cowboy is not a Hollywood creation; cow punchers had been warbling to their herds long before Gene Autry ever picked up a guitar. Cattle (and horses) are creatures of habit, and any deviation from routine tends to make them skittish. Herds were used to hearing the cowboys call out commands and banter among one another during the day, and during the relatively silent nights, any outside noise (like a coyote’s turn the page for more Tidbits!

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Page 2 Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA www.spokanetidbits.com Best and Worst of WORST CRASH: Michael McDowell’s qualifying shut summer up crash at Texas on April 4 looked fatal. Attempting to NASCAR ‘08 straighten out his Toyota, McDowell overcorrected BEST RACE: On Sept. 28, and shot into the wall almost head-on. He walked once and for all. Jimmie Johnson outdueled away with minor injuries, demonstrating the safety of END OF YEAR SALE! UP TO 40% OFF

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THIS IS A HAMMER By Samantha Mazzotta

Winter Boosts Carbon Monoxide Dangers

Carl Edwards at Kansas Speedway in a single race that summed up the whole season. It was the cool, efficient Johnson over the brilliant, impetuous Edwards. On the final lap, Edwards laid it all on the line, swooping past Johnson in the third turn only to drift into the wall after his Ford cleared the champion’s Chevrolet. Edwards managed to hang on to second. “I knew I was going to hit the wall,” said Edwards. “I didn’t know I was going to hit it that hard.”

WORST RACE: The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) was barely a race at all. The tires provided by Goodyear popped like balloons. The longest green-flag sequence of the 160-lap race lasted a grand total of 18 laps. Indy did maintain its status as a predictor of championships, though. Johnson won. BEST STORY: Hands down, it was the rise and fall of Kyle Busch, who won eight of the 26 regular-season races only to collapse in the Chase. Busch’s average finish in the first three Chase races was 35.0, meaning that his Chase was over shortly after it began. Still, Busch won a total of 21 races in NASCAR’s three major series, an incredible feat undermined only by the fact that no one else ever really tried to race that extensively in three, not two, series. WORST STORY: Billed at season’s beginning as the greatest rookie class in NASCAR history, the competition for Raybestos Rookie of the Year quickly dissolved into a long day’s journey into night. By the end, only two rookies were left. Regan Smith won the award, in part because Sam Hornish Jr. failed to make the starting field for the final race. Smith became the first lame-duck rookie in recent memory. He doesn’t have a Cup ride for 2009 yet. BEST TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports collected another title, but only one driver besides Johnson won a race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won mainly on strategy at Michigan in June. On the other hand, Roush Fenway Racing won 11 races, three more than Hendrick and one more than Joe Gibbs Racing, and captured positions two (Edwards) and three (Greg Biffle) in driver points behind Johnson. All in all, give Jack Roush the edge.

NASCAR’s new car and the value of soft walls.

BEST SPOKESMAN: Jeff Burton could teach politicians some lessons on how to be tactful, quotable, humorous and responsible. WORST SCENE: Excitable Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick had to be separated in the Lowe’s Motor Speedway garage on Oct. 9. Photos, suppressed at the time, surfaced two days later showing Edwards halting Harvick’s advance by grasping his neck. Attempts to keep the matter quiet wound up making it five times as loud. BEST GESTURE: Kyle Busch gave his purse money from a Nationwide Series race to help the great Sam Ard, whose career was shortened by injury and who now suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. WORST GRIP ON REALITY: At Indianapolis, NASCAR’s Robin Pemberton and Goodyear’s Greg Stucker were in almost complete denial. With thousands of fans demanding refunds, Pemberton said real fans didn’t mind, and didn’t get around to apologizing until a few days later. Stucker said it was “nobody’s fault.” The teams knew what had happened. Kyle Busch called it “stupid,” and his crew chief, Steve Addington, termed the Allstate 400 “a sorry excuse for a race.” Monte Dutton has covered motorsports for The Gaston (N.C.) Gazette since 1993. He was named writer of the year by the National Motorsports Press Association in 2008. His blog NASCAR This Week (http:// nascar.rbma.com) features all of his reporting on racing, roots music and life on the road. You can e-mail Monte at nascar_thisweek@yahoo.com. (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

WORST TEAM(S): The co-winners, Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, merged at year’s end. It was a move born out of desperation. Neither team won a race or put a driver in the Chase. Honorable mention goes to Gillett Evernham Motorsports, which won two races but, uh, lost (Ray) Evernham, who basically cashed out. BEST COMEBACK: After consecutive disasters at Talladega and Charlotte, Edwards trailed Johnson by 168 points at the Chase’s midpoint. In the remaining five races, Edwards won three times and had an average finish of 2.0. He fell short by 69 points, but fought the good fight.

overcome by CO? The best defense is a carbon monoxide detector with a battery backup, placed near sleeping or living areas of your home. This inexpensive item will detect dangerous CO levels before they can affect a home’s residents. Like a smoke detector, it should be tested monthly and the battery replaced at least once a year. The second best defense is properly installed and vented appliances that are maintained regularly. Third, read the instructions before using any combustion-based appliance, like a heater or generator. Never use charcoal grills indoors. Never run generators indoors. Don’t run the car in a closed garage. Finally, if the CO detector goes off or you or others begin experiencing the symptoms of initial CO poisoning -- dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, irregular breathing -- get everyone, including pets, out of the house immediately and contact emergency services.

Q: I wanted to write in hopes that you will remind readers how dangerous portable generators are when not used properly. Already this winter, three people in New England have died due to carbon monoxide poisoning because they were running unventilated generators after last month’s ice storm. Please remind people to be safe! -- Jack in Concord, N.H. HOME TIP: CO poisoning can occur very quickly. If your home’s CO detector sounds the alarm or A: Many thanks for the heads-up, Jack! Porta- you experience symptoms, don’t take chances -ble generators are just one item that produces get everyone out of the house immediately and carbon monoxide. Other appliances that can be call 911. a problem are home furnaces and fireplaces -basically, any device that uses combustion to Send questions or home-repair tips to homeproduce heat, because that item also produces guru2000@hotmail.com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box exhaust. Even worse, carbon monoxide (CO) is colorless 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. and odorless, and CO poisoning can happen (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc. very quickly. So how does one prevent being

PHOTO CUTLINE: The rise and fall of Kyle Busch (here celebrating his victory in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July) earns, in Monte’s book, Best NASCAR story of 2008. (Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

RIDE ‘EM, COWBOY! (continued): howl) made them restless. As a result, the cowpoke on night watch would sing or recite hymns and verses to keep the animals reassured by a human voice. • America’s favorite cowboy actor, Roy Rogers, was really a Cincinnati-born man named Leonard Slye. His first film role of note was in support of Gene Autry. Once that the studio realized that Slye had matinee idol potential, they gave him a new name that they felt would look better on a marquee: Roy Rogers. • Why did cowboys of the Old West always wear leather vests? The obvious answer is that they protected the body against the inevitable bumps and bruises associated with the cowboy life. But equally as important to most cowboys was the fact that vests had interior pockets where they could keep their matches, tobacco, and cigarette papers dry. • Although today they’re worn more as a fashion statement, the footwear now known as cowboy boots developed out of practicality. The smooth soles allowed the cowboy to easily slide his feet into the stirrups. The high leather shaft of the boot protected his legs from the friction of rubbing against the stirrup leathers. The stacked heel prevented the foot from sliding forward through the stirrup (which could be life-threatening if the cowboy became unseated from the saddle). The loose fit and lack of laces allowed rider to slide out of his boots and not be dragged if he was thrown backwards from the saddle. • Some other staples of classic cowboy wardrobe were a bandana and a pair of chaps. The bandana was draped around the neck so that it could be quickly pulled up around the nose and mouth as a makeshift mask during dust storms (or in other unpleasantly odorous conditions). The heavy leather chaps protected turn the page for more Tidbits!

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ing this. If someone is in a bad situation, and buying their stuff will help keep things from getting worse, that’s a blessing. In some cases you’re assisting them in turning their lives around! - Dave

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RIDE ‘EM, COWBOY! (continued): their legs from prickly scrub brush and cactus, as well as the occasional snakebite. • The Boss of the Plains isn’t a “who,” but a “what.” It’s the nickname that was given to the Stetson hat that many cowboys relied upon. John B. Stetson grew up in New Jersey and learned hat-making from his father. Ill health forced him to travel West in search of a drier climate. In 1862, Stetson designed the famous hat that eventually bore his name. • Stetson’s first customers were gold miners who camped outdoors as they traversed the Rocky Mountains looking for riches. As legend has it, a rough-looking horseman approached Stetson one day and offered him a $5 gold piece for his hat. Soon, other cowboys were placing orders for “Stetsons.” The hats kept the sun and rain off their faces and necks, and were sturdy enough to be used to haul water or fan the flames of a campfire. • The chuck wagon has been around since about 1866. “Cookie” (as the chef was often called) worked longer hours and got less sleep than the rest of the cowboys. He had to rise at 3 a.m. to fire up the stove and prepare and cook the food… starting with scratch biscuits. When the outfit hit the trail, the chuck wagon hurried to arrive at the destination ahead of time so that the food was ready when the cowboys arrived at camp. • Arbuckle’s was the Starbucks of the Old West. Until the mid-19th century, coffee beans were sold “green,” and consumers roasted them in a skillet before grinding and boiling. In 1865, the Arbuckle brothers of Pittsburgh patented a process of roasting and coating coffee beans, then packing them in air-tight packages. Their coffee beans proved popular among chuck wagon cooks of the era, and “I need my morning Arbuckle’s!” became something of a cowboy catchphrase. • Beef was in ready supply on the cattle trail, so fried steaks, pot roast, beef stew, and short ribs were common entrees on the menu. Beans and sourdough biscuits were served on the side. Pie, with apple or some other fruit, was a typical dessert. Cowboys loved their meals so much that they observed certain rules of etiquette while physically near the chuck wagon. Kicking up dust was taboo, for instance, since it might get in the food. • The practice of branding calves developed during the mid-1880s, when cattle freely grazed on grassy plains in Texas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. Cowboys had to drive herds across long distances, and hungry cattle would often mingle with other ranchers’ cows when searching for food. The ownership brands on the bovines made it possible for cowpokes to identify the animals under their care from those owned by others. The End

Page 3

Dear Dave, Do you see an ethical dilemma involved in buying things like repossessed cars, houses that have been through foreclosure, or even pawn shop items? While these kinds of purchases can be smart and thrifty, I worry sometimes that I’m taking advantage of those who are stuck in a bad financial cycle. Ryan Dear Ryan, You’ve raised an important question. You sound like a fair and caring person, and I appreciate that. However, I don’t think there’s any kind of ethical issue involved when you buy items where you have nothing to do with their sale, and no control over it. If your intention in any transaction is to harm or take advantage of someone, then what you’re doing is wrong. For example, you shouldn’t loan someone money at 40 percent in hopes that you can take their stuff because they can’t pay! I never make a deal that’s not a winwin situation. I buy lots of things at the pawn shop. If someone pawns something, and later I can get a bargain, you bet I’ll buy it. As far as a house is concerned, is it worse for the other person to sell the house to you, or to go through foreclosure? With the latter, they’ve already been foreclosed on, so you’re buying it from the bank. You’re not taking advantage of them by do-

Dear Dave, I’m considering opening an online money market account. They’re offering a higher interest rate because they don’t have as much overhead as a traditional bank. Is this legitimate? Is there any more risk in this than at my local bank? Sean Dear Sean, The fact that it’s an online bank instead of a brick and mortar institution doesn’t really increase the risk. In the end, it’s the integrity of the people involved that matters. You’re probably going to be alright, as long as they have a physical presence somewhere, or they’re insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Don’t take just their word for everything, though. Do your homework. Get on the Internet and gather some information first. This is your money we’re talking about, so be diligent and check them out! Make sure their security measures are complete and up to date, and that you’re personally comfortable with the differences between online and in-person banking. There are some Internet-only banks out there that I wouldn’t give a dime of my money. That’s because they’re not strong banks, though, not because they’re “net only.” - Dave * For more great advice from Dave, please visit www.davesays.org. What are “nibs” as they relate to chocolate making? A: Chocolate chunks D: A chocolate maker B: Damaged chocolate who tests chocolate C: Fragmented raw beans quality by nibbling it. To ﬁnd the answer go to www.bodybychocolates.com

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Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA

All Retirements Are Not Created Equal Not all of us are retired. Many seniors are just now wrapping up long careers or are going back to work for economic reasons. Some of us are looking for a different way to spend our retirement years. “What’s Next In Your Life? How to Find Meaning Beyond the Money” is about how to retire in a new way -- without the stress that often comes with such a drastic change of life. We face new daily routines, plans that don’t pan out, the loss of identity if it was tied with our profession, and disappointments in the choices we thought we’d be happy with. Then there’s the simple fact of money: If we don’t have enough to retire, we have to keep working. Many of us want to keep working, though, apart from financial reasons. The authors quote a study that revealed that 71 percent of us plan to

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keep working after we retire, and of those, a whopping 66 percent want to have a new profession. The question this book helps answer is: How do we know what to do next? Whether you’re retired or just thinking about it, take a look at this book. Written by Joan Strewler-Carter and Stephen T. Carter, “What’s Next” (Rockhill Books) comes with a manual and a Web site. The manual guides you step by step through forming a new life plan by looking at the nonfinancial aspects of retirement. The Web site [www.whatsnextinyourlife.com] has a host of additional tools, resources and ideas. Don’t miss “Road Trip” and “Time Calculator” under the planning tools. The results can be very revealing. 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) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

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THE KITCHEN DIVA

Page 5

FOOD BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS

By Angela Shelf Medearis

As devout Christians, my husband, Michael, and I know that our views on life and politics are different from those of many people we meet. We’ve learned how to socialize with people from varied backgrounds and beliefs, whether we’re at a luncheon at the White House or having dinner with a group of students in Germany. Michael often makes small talk about history and culture. I love to talk about food. To me, food is the universal common denominator, because everyone has to eat. I love talking with strangers about the foods they loved as a child, or recipes they like to prepare, because those stories are often some of their happiest memories and a window into their culture. My special Roasted Vegetable Croustade recipe is a crowd-pleaser. It’s a great appetizer or side dish for folks who aren’t vegetarians, a lovely main course for those who are, and a delicious way to form a bond with new friends and old. ROASTED VEGETABLE CROUSTADE To Roast the Vegetables: - 1 cup olive oil, divided - 4 green onions, root ends removed - 1 large carrot, cut into 1/2-inch pieces - 3 red potatoes, scrubbed and quartered - 2 celery roots, peeled, trimmed and cut into - 1 teaspoon salt - 2 yellow squash, sliced into 1/2 inch1/2-inch pieces - 1 teaspoon black pepper thick slices - 1 large head of garlic, separated into cloves, - 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning - 10 Brussels sprouts, halved smashed and peeled - 1/4 teaspoon sugar Preheat the oven to 400 F. Pour 1/2 cup of the olive oil on a large sheet pan, or jelly-roll pan, 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 by 1 inch, coating the pan with the oil. Place pan in oven to heat for 5 minutes, watching carefully to make sure it doesn’t overheat or smoke. In a large bowl, mix together the remaining 1/2 cup of oil, the potatoes, squash, Brussels sprouts, green onions, carrot, celery roots, garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and sugar until the vegetables are coated. Carefully place vegetables on the heated pan and roast for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once after 10 minutes. Allow vegetables to cool before mixing with the tofu cream filling. To Make the Tofu Cream Filling: - 1/2 cup light mayonnaise - 1 container (4 ounces) light whipped - 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning cream cheese - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 4 ounces soft, silken tofu, drained - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper - 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese In a large bowl, mix together the whipped cream cheese, tofu, Parmesan, mayonnaise, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper until smooth. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to blend the seasonings. Mix the cooled, roasted vegetables with the tofu cream filling until well-blended. PHOTO CREDIT: Phil Curry To Make the Croustade: - 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed Thaw pastry sheet at room temperature for 40 minutes. The oven should already be heated to 400 F if the vegetables were - 1 egg roasted in it, or preheat oven as needed. Unfold puff pastry on lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry into 16-by-12-inch rect- 1 tablespoon water angle. Using butter- or olive-oil-flavored cooking spray, lightly spray a shallow, round casserole dish or a round baking dish. Place sheets of parchment paper or pieces of foil inside bowl with strips overlapping the edges to make the croustade easier to remove. Lightly spray the parchment or foil. Place pastry in casserole dish or baking dish with pastry edges overlapping the sides. Mound vegetable cream-cheese mixture in center of the pastry. Leaving an opening in the center, fold the pastry edges around the filling, crimping edges under to form a bowl. In a small bowl, mix together egg and water to make an egg wash. Brush pastry with egg mixture. Bake the croustade 20 to 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. To serve, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Using a spatula, gently loosen croustade from the baking dish or pan using the sheets of parchment or foil to help move it on to a serving dish. Serve warm or at room temperature. *** Angela Shelf Medearis is an award-winning children’s author, culinary historian and the author of ﬁve cookbooks. Her latest cookbook, “The New AfricanAmerican Kitchen,” is in bookstores now. She’s known as The Kitchen Diva and is the executive producer and host of “The Kitchen Diva!” television cooking show. Visit her Web site at www.divapro.com. (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

Organize Your Paperwork Your goal this month: Get organized. By that I mean your benefit claims paperwork. Be sure the Department of Veterans Affairs has the correct contact info for you, including the spelling of your name and address. If you have a claim in, keep track of what’s going on. If you send copies of requested documents in support of a claim, write it down in a notebook or folder. Make a note of whom you sent it to and when. Jot down a note to remind yourself of a date to make a follow-up inquiry. If you place a call, get the person’s name and make a note of the date and time of the call, as well as what was said. If you get paperwork in the mail, keep it in one folder so everything is handy. If the VA asks for certain information by a particular date, be sure to send it. Make a note of this number in your information:

Veterans Affairs Ofﬁce of the Inspector General Hotline 1-800-488-8244 Monday - Friday 8:30 to 4:00 EST If you have a specific problem with the VA -- lost paperwork, benefits cut off or reduced for no good reason -- call the hotline. The VAOIG is independent of the VA, and as such can’t actually tell it what to do. But the VAOIG can get answers about what’s going on and why, and it will get back to you. A few organizing steps taken now could make it a lot easier to push your claim through -- especially in light of the VA shredder problem: Forty-one VA regional benefits offices had been shredding veterans’ benefits claim paperwork, including backup documentation. If you can show what you sent and when, it can only help. 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) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

“ESSENTIAL TWITTER TOOLS” 3 More Essential Twitter Tools

Last week we looked at 4 essential Twitter tools, here are 3 more for your TweetBox.

1. TweetBeep: Find out when you’re TweetVille talk by being notified when your name, service, product or niche is being discussed in TwitterLand. 2. Png.fm: Okay okay, this isn’t a direct Twitter tool. Yet, it does setup all your social networking sites (Facebook, Squidoo, Twitter) to be updated from a single source. 3. TwitterLocal: Connect w/ other Twitters that our in your local area. My Twitter handle is BodyByChocolate. Stop by and say “HI!” : ) Next issue, 50 Ways To Leave A Tweeter!

SEO & Beyond Advice Column

Guy Siverson (SEOGuy) provides interactive Super-Blogs & Internet Marketing advice for everyone. Email: Guy@SEO-And-Beyond.com or call 993.7215 with web related questions you would like me to answer. http://SEO-And-Beyond.com

Winter fun – SKI RESORTS Lookout Pass Ski Area

Schweitzer Mountain Resort

Mt Spokane

Silver Mountain Resort

I-90 Exit 0, Mullan, ID 83846 Phone: (208) 744-1301 East on Interstate 90 towards Idaho. 73 miles from the Idaho/Washington border Snow depth (Base) – 72” / Snow conditions: Packed powder 29500 N Mt Spokane Park Dr, Mead, WA 99021 Phone: (509) 238-2220 30 miles northwest of downtown on Highway 206 Snow depth (Base)– 60” / Snow conditions: Packed powder

10000 Schweitzer Mtn Rd, Sandpoint, ID 83864 Phone: (208) 263-9555 2-hours Northeast of Downtown Spokane Snow depth (Base)– 54” / Snow conditions: Powder 610 Bunker Avenue, Kellogg, ID 83837 Phone: (208) 783-1111 68 miles east of Spokane. Easy I-90 Access Snow depth (Mid-Mtn.) – 68” / Snow conditions: Powder / packed powder

49 Degrees North Mountain Resort

3311 Flowery Trail Rd, Chewelah, WA 99109 Phone: (509) 935-6649 50 miles North of Spokane off Hwy 395 in Chewelah Snow depth (Base)– 82” / Snow conditions: Powder

www.spokanetidbits.com

Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA

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Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA

FITNESS & HEALTH

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH by By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Fibrocystic Breasts Don’t Up Cancer Risk DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Both my left and right breasts have many lumps. They scared me, so I saw an OB/ GYN doctor. She spent a long time examining my breasts and told me I had fibrocystic breast disease and that it was nothing to worry about. I had a mammogram, and no cancer was seen. I still worry. Does this turn into cancer? -- V.B. ANSWER: Fibrocystic breast disease shouldn’t be called a disease. It has been renamed “fibrocystic changes.” “Disease” is not a word that can be used when 60 percent of premenopausal women have the condition. “Fibro” refers to strands of scar tissue. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs. With fibrocystic breast changes, both breasts are usually involved, something that rarely happens in cancer. The cysts are soft and feel like they’re made of rubber. They can be painful, especially in the days before a menstrual period. Cancers are solitary, hard masses that cannot be pushed around, like a cyst can. Fibrocystic breast changes are not cancer and don’t become cancer. If they do become painful, take Tylenol or one of the anti-inflammatory medicines like Aleve or Advil. Some women find that eliminating caffeine eliminates the pain of fibrocystic breasts. Others have gotten relief by adopting a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. You can put this issue to rest. Breast cancer is on every woman’s mind. The booklet on it describes it, its detection and treatment in detail. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 1101W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

Enclose a check or money order 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 wife has been going through menopause for the past eight years. We have not been intimate through these years. When I bring up the subject of intimacy, she quickly states that she doesn’t want to talk about it. She won’t even hug me. My wife is only 53 years old. It seems like she will be going through menopause for the rest of her life. I have been patient, but I would like to have my wife back. If you could give me some advice, it would be greatly appreciated. -- J.T. ANSWER: Menopause can lessen sexual drive, but it shouldn’t completely eliminate it, and menopause doesn’t usually drag on for eight years. Sexual desire is a complex process that involves hormones, nerves, blood vessels, general health and the brain. The brain is, perhaps, the most important element. Your wife needs professional help. Her total lack of sexual desire at a young age and for so long could be a physical problem, so the family doctor is the place to start. If, as is more likely the case, it is a psychological problem, the doctor can start treatment for that, or can refer her to a specialist. You have been more than patient. *** DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Does regular running cancel the danger of smoking cigarettes? My boyfriend says it does. -- K.H. ANSWER: Your boyfriend is delusional. *** Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate 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. (c) 2009 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

Wireless Insecurity PT - I Who cares if my wireless network doesn’t need a password? Brand Coffee

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You can’t do everything at once, but you can do it all in one place. Digital printing and document services We provide a full range of document services, including: Full-color digital printing, binding, laminating and collating.

Mailbox services With our mailboxes you get a real street address, not a P.O. Box number, package acceptance from ® all carriers and call-in MailCheck .

Packing and shipping Our Certified Packing Experts are here for all your packing needs. We even offer freight services for large or odd-size items.

Banner Bank Center

509 N.Bank Sullivan Banner Center 509 N. Sullivan Spokane Valley WA 99037 Spokane Valley WA 99037 509-922-2233 509-922-2233

Crosspoint Plaza NOW OPEN Crosspoint Plaza 2 Ste 4 10414 W Hiway 10414 W Hiway 2 Ste 4 Spokane WA 99224 Spokane WA 99224 509-624-3339 509-624-3339

The UPS Store centers are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc., Inc., a subsidiary of UPS. Services and hours of operation may vary by location. Copyright ©2008 Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. 41022540408

It’s Time to Attract New Business Advertising Space is Available

www.spokanetidbits.com

Lots of people, especially teenagers. If I decided that I want to download music, movies, or warez, (pirated software), but was concerned about getting caught, I could simply login to my neighbors wireless router and download as much as I like. If I was daring, I might even initiate a Denial Of Service Attack.

Bubble Machine Car Wash

ALL LOCATIONS OPEN 24 HOURS Self Serve & Karcher Touch Free In-Bay Automatic 5625 N. Market St. 487-7746

1226 S. Pines Rd. 891-8395

2400 1st St. Cheney 235-5188

1821 W. Sunset (Self Serve Only) 455-5570

CB Tours Feb. 14 Sweetheart Special $99 99 per couple Wine Tasting & Dinner

March 22-27 Spring Training $1,29500 Double Occ $1,59500 Single Occ April 26-30 Reno $26900 Double Occ $31900 Single Occ Future Trips River Rafting, Mariners

Call For Information

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That’s all well and good, but who is that hurting? Certainly not me. Consider this: if you have file and print sharing enabled on your computer, (about 60% - 70% of our customers do), we can install a program called a key logger. This will record every keystroke that you type on your keyboard. I can then take the credit card information you entered into any website, and use it for my own purposes. That’s not to say that the credit card company would leave you high and dry, quite the opposite, but there’s other things you should be concerned about more than money, your e-mails, (your reputation), stock trades, etc.. Adding a password to your router is a straightforward process, give us a call and we can discuss your options.

WKA Innovations Incorporated http://www.wkacorp.com help@wkacorp.com (888)WKA-CORP (889)952-2677

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Next Installment: Wireless Insecurity - Pt II

Please support our valued advertisers & tell them “I saw your ad in TIDBITS®”

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Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA

Weekly “AMAZEMENT” Sponsored by:

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Weekly SUDOKU made possible by:

haircuts $11 Seniors $10

BRIDGE LESSONS

Learn to Play the Modern Way!

Accredited Teachers Beginning to Advanced

S. 21 Pines Rd. Spokane Valley, WA

Classes available in January in your area: South & Valley ~ Brenda Simpson 926-6973 Central & North ~ Kris Motoyoshi 466-4249

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Have Your Business Sponsor the Weekly Magic Maze As Low As $25 A Week

Winter Safety Tips For Kids

Age 10

www.kiDDSdental.org

#1 - Don’t forget to wear your helmet when sledding, skiing, ice skating, ice hockey, or snowboarding. #2 - Dress in layers - Don’t forget hats, gloves and ward socks. #3 - Keep hydrated. Take breaks from playing in the snow for water, juice or hot chocolate.

*State of the Art Facility *Sedation & General Anesthesia Available *Slide And Play While Waiting *Video Games / Prize Machines *Watch Videos During Treatment *Parents Welcome In Treatment Area *Emergency Appointments Available *Caring, Experienced, & Patient NOW WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS (509) 926-1234 (509) 891-7070 Most Insurances Accepted-including: 12615 E. Mission, Suite 312 1327 N. Stanford Lane, Suite B *Washington DSHS Spokane Valley, WA Liberty Lake, WA *Idaho Smiles (Across From Valley Hospital)

Spokane Elite Gymnastics

Offers Classes for 12-months-old through adults, Boys and Girls Competitive teams, Parents Night Out, Open Gym for all ages, Birthday Parties, Indoor Inﬂatable & Spokane’s Largest Foam Pit.

13 Weeks of Gymnastics - December 8, 2008 - March 21, 2009 (closed December 21-January 4)

509-533-9646

www.spokanegymnastics.com

www.spokanetidbits.com

5615 E. Broadway Ave. Spokane

Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA

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Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA

www.spokanetidbits.com

Home SeRvIceS GuIDe

General Contractors Specializing In

TIDBiTS Readers!

Keep This Page Handy For Your Home: Repair & Improvement Needs

Property Improvements

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(509) 868-1550 (509) 990-0023

www.spokanehomeservice.com

Commercial/Residential Security/Fire

Full Service Electrical Contractor NICET #99646 Level IV

2205 N. Woodruff Rd, Ste 6,

Spokane Valley

(509) 892-9473

www.wireforyou.com

home improvemenT Tip

This space available

Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter. Keeping this clean of cooking grease will help keep a stove top fire from spreading.

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Granite Countertops as easy as ......1,2,3!

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Local Business ~Matters~ The BenefiTs of Doing Business LocaLLy from rural to urban areas, an ever-growing chorus of citizens laments losing a sense of community. Meanwhile, national chains continue displacing locally-owned businesses countrywide. This trend is considered symptomatic of our loss of community orientation, but could it also be a primary cause? and how is our economic well-being impacted? Before developing shopping habits, we typically choose to do business where we perceive the best value for our time and money. But perceptions only are as sound as the scope of information creating them, and we humans like shortcuts . Thus, it’s as easy to accept as truth the omnipresent corporate chain ads bombarding us daily as to miss information about the values independent businesses provide us, both personally and in community. The disappearance of local businesses leaves a social and economic void that is palpable and real -even when it goes unmeasured. a community’s quality of life changes in ways that macroeconomics is slow to measure or ignores completely. Local officials often fall for the seductions and political appeal of luring new national chains. They may even provide public funds or sales tax rebates for development. They’re baited with promises of jobs and tax revenue, but they often fail to consider the greater losses that occur when the local business base is undermined. a chain may crow of creating 300 new jobs for a new big box store, but numerous studies indicate they displace more than one job for each (mostly part-time and lowerwage) job created. and when communities like Barnstable, Massachusetts performed studies to assess the local impact of chains, they concluded such development actually costs more taxpayer dollars to support in safety and services than would return to the community. scrutiny consistently demonstrates that most income of new chains comes directly from established businesses. a 1995 landmark study of new WalMart stores by iowa state university professor Kenneth stone found that 84% of Wal-Mart’s sales simply shifted dollars away from existing local (including chains) merchants. stone’s 2001 study of the local effect of new home improvement center developments concluded, “is it fair to give taxpayers’ money to big corporations that will then use it to help put existing firms out of busness?” (source-www.amiba.net, 2008)

106 S. Willow Rd Spokane Valley

Meet Dan Hanson Owner / Operator & 24+ Years Experience. Behind US Bank near Appleway & Mullan

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Certified Automotive Repair Service

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