Photocopy the front and back of all credit cards, then keep the original at home and carry a copy of the copy when you travel. Keep it in a ziplock bag in whatever you carry your toothbrush, etc. it.

Cell phones, iPods, Walkmen, and similar items can be deadly. They distract you and prevent you from hearing someone approaching from behind. I know of several cases of rape (and one rape-murder) that were committed because the victim was paying attention to something other than her surroundings. Don't use them on the street, please!

And on that subject, if you must run, kick off high heels. You'll ruin your hose, but what the hey!

And Liz -- placing the outside edge of your "trainers" (sneakers) above the kneecap and THEN scraping downwards along the shin, following by a little bouncy jig* on the instep, will not make your assailant happy. Especially since he'll need a brand new kneecap, at the very least.


*Or a hornpipe. Hum a little tune while you do it.