I recently completed a free Rape Aggression Defense class taught by the Oro Valley Police Department. I am already careful to survey my surroundings and I try to avoid sketchy situations but I was interested to learn some defensive hands-on techniques.

There were 20 of us in attendance ranging in age from 15 to 65. I gained some powerful skills that I hope I never have to use. I really admired how some of the shy ladies came out swinging during our practice scenarios on the second day of class. It would be great to teach this to all women – especially during the high school or college years.

Thank you to the Oro Valley Police officers that taught our class and especially to the male officers that suited up to take our beatings!

Captured in Tucson, AZ, 09-01-2015

Apparently, I don’t get out much, I only learned about this brilliant online game, Freerice yesterday. When you play you not only work on your vocabulary skills you also help to donate food to the hungry through the World Food Programme.

The advertisers on the page buy 10 grains of rice every time you get a right answer.

You don’t have to sign up, you can just start playing, but if you do sign up you can track your scores through time. I think everyone should give it a try – not only is it for a good cause but it’s fun!

Fair warning, it is addicting! I popped over to just check it out. An hour (or so) later it was awfully hard to turn it off…

If you try it – and trust me, you should – let me know what level you reach. I’m trying to get past Level 46!

Since I’m playing volleyball this summer for the first time in an awfully long time I felt I needed a refresher. Now that I’ve seen this video I understand the game perfectly. It’s like I was born in the Palace of Volleyball. My opponents need to prepare themselves!

Dr Pepper is more than a fizzy drink, check out this recipe for Dr Pepper Candied Sweet Potatoes which I picked up years ago during a visit to the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas. Enjoy!

Nobody really likes Mr. W – and I count myself among that group. But after watching the video I realized, there is a place for Mr. W, a way to harness his energy.

Of course, it wasn’t until the very end that I realized it was a commercial for the wind division of a power company. I’m not the only one who found it to be an ingenuous, inventive, and entertaining bit of advertising. When it was released in 2007 it won a Cannes Gold Lion award and the following year a Creativity Award. This article features an interview with the design team who created the web film for Epuron.

Whenever I get a chance I like to mention to folks back east that since I grew up out here I’ve never mowed grass, raked leaves, or shoveled snow. They just love hearing that. Think of all the hours of free time I had! Plenty of time for hauling water, playing with rattlesnakes, and catching scorpions…

According to his owner, Sparky loves to feel the wind in his face. It looks like patient Sparky is ready to get moving!