>>>>> "D" == Dave Thomas <Dave / PragmaticProgrammer.com> writes: D> _a - localized block variable, D> _a = 1 D> 10.times {|_a| puts _a} D> puts _a # => 1 This is easy pigeon% ruby -e '_a = 12; 3.times {|_a| puts _a}; puts _a' 0 1 2 12 pigeon% :-) Guy Decoux