By BLAIR ANTHONY ROBERTSON, Sacramento Bee

In the past 15 or 20 years, there have been countless technical advances in clothing for athletes and active folks.

Clothes got smarter and so did we.

New high-tech, petroleum-based synthetic garments wicked, warmed and breathed, and they made those who skied, hiked, hunted, ran and bicycled all the more comfortable.

If you're superstitious, tossing some salt over your left shoulder is supposed to bring you luck.

But if you're serious about cooking and want to elevate your performance in the kitchen, you'll want to do some much more serious chucking and hurling.

Milla Austin is not your typical rattlesnake victim. She wasn't drunk at the time of the attack and -- this is key -- she's not a knucklehead.

Don Cox was on his way to his morning workout last week when a life lesson got in the way.