Soooo, is your car up to it?

Have you had it checked lately? Some items to check:

• Cold weather puts a strain on car batteries. The one you have may work perfectly well in balmy temps, but what about times when the mercury dips below freezing?

• Are there any cracks in your hoses or your belts that could cause a breakdown at an inopportune time? As if there ever were a good time to break down?

• What about the tires? Are they showing excessive wear or uneven wear? You’ll want to replace them if the former is true and if the latter, you may need a realignment.

• And, of course, there is the antifreeze and other fluids. The oil should be changed every 3,000 miles in severe weather. Top off other fluids if necessary.

• When venturing out, make sure your cell phone is charged up and with you. And that your AAA or motor club membership is current. If you do get stuck, you want to make sure you can get help.

The periodic trek to a trusted service station or a self check if you can do it yourself can save you from a lot of grief and inconvenience. Which you don’t need when it is freezing and the wind is whipping.

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Popular Disney fairy tales had their roots in stories handed down by the brothers Grimm. Many of the Grimm versions contained dark and gruesome aspects. These were sanitized by Disney and put into a standard format:  a sad beginning, a mean, older female villain, and then a handsome prince saves the day and the tale ends happily ever after.

The recurring theme of the virtuous princess awaiting rescue by the prince is part of the socialization that works against girls’ and women’s ability to take charge of their well-being and fight back against predators. I’m not suggesting that parents prevent their daughters from being exposed to Disney–not only would that be nearly impossible, but the stories can provide a teachable moment.

The truth is that there are a myriad of cultural influences that girls are exposed to that work against their autonomy and self worth. But a parent can do much to inoculate his or her daughter against the harm by being a positive role model and pointing out alternatives.

Because self defense for women strategies for women start in the mind.

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The lesson? Be aware of your surroundings when you approach or get into your car. For more information read my article for tips to stay safe when traveling by car.

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Rape is a very serious crime. Actually, it is serious enough to be legally classified right up there with murder and robbery as the most serious of crimes. Even if a minimum of force is used to carry out the rape, the possible consequences to the woman (pregnancy, AIDS, herpes, other venereal disease, and post-traumatic physical and psychological effects) are extreme, severe, and very long lasting.

There are many different kinds of rapists, ranging from the easily discouraged to the sociopath who has decided that he won’t stop until you are dead, or he is.

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