Apple-picking weather

 

Lows in the fifties and highs in the seventies makes for fine apple-picking weather.

Ideally, I like to have the apples cool when they come off of the tree. Packing a bunch of hot apples into a bag hastens their ripening...ethylene production and all that.

Pepper spray

I got an email from Belladonna asking if I had any pepper-spray I could let her use.

Well, I might. But I don't know if the pepper spray I chose would best meet her needs.

I reached out to an expert who I believe is at least twenty-times smarter about this kind of thing and asked for his advice. He humbly shook his head and wrote 

"I'm not an expert on pepper spray, but Greg Ellifritz is.  Here's his overview:

https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/pepper-spray-how-to-choose-it-and-how-to-use-it

Also, see his other articles dealing with its use:

https://www.google.com/search?as_q=&as_epq=pepper+spray&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&lr=&cr=&as_qdr=all&as_sitesearch=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.activeresponsetraining.net%2F&as_occt=any&as_filetype=&tbs=#ip=1"

 

If you are adverse to reading, a few quick take-aways:

• You need to be able to read the threat environment and start accessing your pepper-spray BEFORE you need it.
  
• You need to be able to access your pepper-spray in one or two seconds. JUST LIKE CONCEALED CARRY. The pepper-spray you have with you is better than the pepper-spray that is sitting in the drawer at home.
• Give serious thought to how you are going to carry it and to the threat environment you will be in. For most people, a 1/2 oz spray with a flip-top safety is likely to be a pretty good compromise. If multiple assailants are a possibility then either carry multiple copies of the spray or the 1/2 oz one and a larger size in a pocket or purse for back-up.
• The weakest link is the person who carries the pepper-spray. Practice, practice and then practice some more. Practice digging it out. Practice spraying a cardboard target. Learn what the maximum effective range really is.
  
• Use short 1/2 second bursts.
• Move backwards while spraying so-as to not be overcome by the aerosol and to put distance between you and the (hopefully) blinded attacker.
• Continue to put up a screen of mist and move backwards until your attacker(s) is/are incapacitated, and them make a break for safety. High-heels are not recommended.
  

This is a reasonable choice for most people who think a parking ramp is a likely venue for being attacked. Remember, 10 feet is about three paces. You need to have it in your hand, thumb on the go-button and have mist-in-the-air while they are between three-paces and before they get within grabbing distance of you.