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As a partnership between the Smathers Libraries and the School of Architecture since 2004, the Architecture Archives has become a leading repository for historical records pertaining to the architects and architecture of Florida. Initial activities have focused on a handful of important collections, including the archives of Alfred Browning Parker, Kenneth Treister, Rufus Nims, Darrell Fleeger, and the Carrère and Hastings firm. The collections support scholarly research, historic preservation, and the education of future students.
Among the collections available to researchers are the archives of Rufus Nims, F. Blair Reeves, Jefferson M. Hamilton, Edward T. Potter, Rudolph Weaver and John Howey's Sarasota School of Architecture Collection.
Access to these collections is provided by the alphabetically arranged complete list of Architecture Archives collections. In addition, you can search the finding aids in the department or browse certain collections that have been grouped under subject headings.
A handful of important collections, including the archives of Alfred Browning Parker, Kenneth Treister, Darrell Fleeger, and the Carrère and Hastings firm, currently are being preserved, arranged and described by staff. As such, final descriptions for these collections are not available online at this time.
Florida Architecture and Design Survey Pilot Project
No survey of important architectural archival collections has ever been completed in Florida and is long overdue. Preservationists, researchers, scholars, students, and the general public interested in the architectural histories of their communities have a difficult time locating these historical collections and often are sent on frustrating and unproductive searches for architectural records. This Survey project, which is being conducted in 2011, is the important first step in creating a collective source for this information. The survey will collect information on extant archival records related to Florida architects and architecture that are located in cultural heritage institutions and will aid in the future publication of the Guide to the Architecture and Design Collections of Florida. The collected information also will be maintained on this Architecture Archives page. Check back for more information and updates, or contact Cynthia Peterson, Architecture Archives Curator, 352-273-2782.
Saving St. Augustine's Architectural Treasures
We're excited to announce that Flagler College and UF are collaborating on a grant-funded project to conserve and digitize two important architectural collections held here in the Architecture Archives. Conservation and digitization of the Flagler College Hotel Ponce de Leon Architectural Collection and the Memorial Presbyterian Church Architectural Collection will be supported in part by a Federal Save America's Treasures grant administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Saving St. Augustine's Architectural Treasures project will conserve and digitize these irreplaceable, earliest architectural drawings of John Carrère and Thomas Hastings. Created in St. Augustine, Florida, for Henry Flagler, the collections include drawings for both the Hotel Ponce de Leon (1885-1887), now Ponce de Leon Hall at Flagler College (National Register, 1975), and the Memorial Presbyterian Church (1889-1890) (National Register, 1983). During this two-year project, over 260 drawings will be conserved and reproduced digitally by the UF Smathers Libraries. Once the drawings have been digitized, they will be made available online in the UF Digital Collections (UFDC). To learn more and to follow the progress of the project please visit: http://flaglerdrawings.wordpress.com/.
Alfred Browning Parker Architecture Archives Endowment
We are pleased to announce the creation of the Alfred Browning Parker Architecture Archives Endowment, a new initiative intended to support and strengthen the Architecture Archives in the Libraries. The endowment is named in honor of Professor Emeritus Alfred Browning Parker, the distinguished Florida architect and UF alumnus. Additional information is available on the Parker Endowment home page.
For further information on the diverse Architecture Archives collections, please contact: Cynthia L. Peterson, Architecture Archives Curator in the Department of Special and Area Studies Collections, or Martha Kohen, professor in the School of Architecture.


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DeleteMe Mobile App Helps Keep Data Brokers at Bay
Jan 15, 2013 7:00 AM PT
Data brokers are watching your every move online. They track the sites you visit, articles you read, purchases you make, and even the names of your children. To cut through the red tape of monitoring and removing stored information, online privacy company Abine is offering a mobile version of its DeleteMe monitoring service, which is available for devices running iOS.
DeleteMe Mobile is an app version of Abine's DeleteMe service, which monitors the same data. The mobile version is just a mobile interface, the two services use different dashboards catered to mobile or desktop access. Users can download the app and get one free removal, but further monitoring costs US$24.99 for a three-month subscription.
It may seem like a high price to pay, but Abine claims there are over 200 data brokers that collect sensitive consumer information. These 200 companies -- which include Spokeo and Intellius, among countless others -- collect bits of online activity to piece together profiles. Profiles include such information as estimated net worth, religious and political affiliations, children's names, websites visited, articles read, photos posted, and any other tidbit that can be gathered.
Laser Ad Targeting
Such data are often used for ad targeting, which means that consumers will see ads for products they are likely to buy. If a consumer visits websites for several car manufacturers as well as news and review sites in the category, targeted ads for cars may appear during browsing.
While online users often find ad targeting objectionable, it is arguably a benefit as ads are more appropriate. The downside to data brokers, and the use of their consumer profiles, is that it is used for background checks run by employers, insurers, and even individuals who are willing to fork over a few dollars to access sensitive information.
Getting access to information, and the ability to make modifications to such data, is far more labor-intensive than getting a copy of a credit report. Some data brokers have an online form to allow access information, others involve hand-written letters and faxes to gain access or make changes.
"Some will display a certain amount of information for free, and then charge for a full report," Sarah Downey, analyst at Abine, told the E-Commerce Times. In some cases, "It's totally legal for them not to offer you any way to remove data."
Doing the Work
There is still some legwork involved in monitoring data, even with an app such as DeleteMe Mobile. The team at Abine, however, takes care of the heavy lifting, such as writing and faxing letters.
"In some cases we've automated the process, especially the online ones. In many cases it's real people sending letters on behalf of the customer," said Downey. "On our end, we take the hard work out of it."
The process is still somewhat manual, which justifies the quarterly cost of $24.99. It's still up to subscribers to use their subscriptions and clean up their data profiles.
Home Run?
"It's hard enough to believe that one company can clean up your profile, and it's even harder to believe that their more simple app can do the same thing from your wireless phone or tablet, but if they can do this it will be a home run," industry analyst Jeff Kagan told the E-Commerce Times.
Keeping a watchful eye on data being collected is become more important as companies are becoming more savvy in their use of invasive data.
"We remember talking about and watching the invasion of our privacy over the last few decades. It has reached critical mass now, and it will only get worse tomorrow," said Kagan. "If this works, and gives customers the tools to fight back, this could be a very successful app.
Abine is happy to give consumers the power, without paying for the app. Information on its website on how to contact companies to get data profiles edited or removed. The instructions may just be the best sales tool, once consumers read through all the steps they must take to get access, then make any changes.
"It's important to take action now if they value their online privacy," said Downey. "You really can reduce the size of your online footprint."

subset: commoncrawl


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Portugal Bridges 90 to 100 meters
The highest bridge in Portugal at the time of its completion in 1987, the Coa bridge (97 meters high) crosses the Coa River just 5 miles (8 kms) west of the border with Spain near Vilar Formoso. The bridge is unique for having rectangular shaped polygonal piers with square shaped mushroom caps that support simple drop-in spans. A parallel viaduct was completed around 2008.
The highest bridge located within the Lisbon city region, the Loureiro Viaduct (92 meters high) carries 6 lanes of traffic plus two shoulders across 5 prestressed concrete spans of 328 feet (100 mtrs) along with nearly a dozen approach spans. The piers are well shaped with the mass being reduced by a split in the pier two thirds of the way up. Located near Loureiro, the bridge was completed in 2003.
Located just a mile or south of Peso da Régua on the IP3 / A24, the Ponte Varosa (90 meters high) is a prestressed concreted beam bridge with two main spans of 328 feet (100 mtrs). Just another mile further south is Varosa's near twin, the Ponte Balsemão (90 meters high). Since the Balsemão is upstream from the Varosa dam, the deck is only about 75 meters above a full reservoir. The two main spans are also 328 feet (100 mtrs).
A simple 6-span prestressed beam bridge, the Ponte Ribeira de Alge (90 meters high) is the second of two towering bridges on Portugal's IC8 highway. Located just west of Aldeia da Cruz and completed in 1993, the maximum span is 207 feet (63 mtrs). Portugal's highest bridge ever, the Ponte Pedrógão Grande over the Rio Zêzere is located just 10 miles (16 kms) to the east and stands 492 feet (150 mtrs) high.
Completed in 2008 near Vila Pouca De Aguiar (90 meters high), this huge viaduct of the same name carries the IP3 / A24 across a wide valley on five main spans of approximately 427 feet (130 mtrs).
The Ponte Miguel Torga or Ponte Régua over the Rio Douro (85 meters high) is a nearly perfect prestressed concrete beam bridge with large piers that are grandiose and boastful with a curvy outer layer that tapers out at the top and bottom and appears removed from the concrete box girder it is supporting. With so many bridges vying for attention at the Peso da Régua waterfront, it was understandable that even the new IP3 / A24 crossing would have to be special. As the bridge crosses south over the Douro River, the spans become progressively larger with the last river span measuring 591 feet (180 mtrs) between piers.
High bridge fans should also take note of the equally high viaducts called the Corgo, Varosa and Balsemao just a mile north and south of the Régua bridge on the IP3 / A24.
A 5-span prestressed twin viaduct, the Ponte Rio Corgo (80 meters high) is on the new IP3 / A24 motorway in Portugal. The viaduct has a curving radius of 1,640 feet (500 mtrs) and 3 main spans of 476 feet (145 mtrs).


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Code: Select all
exception! Please copy and paste the text from this page into a mail message to Zwaxy, telling him what you were doing when this happened. And what drugs/medication you were on:
value: (145, "Table './mamereplay/allscores' is marked as crashed and should be repaired")
File "/home/dooglus/replay.marpirc.net/main.py", line 400, in main
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File "/home/dooglus/replay.marpirc.net/database.py", line 246, in select_allscores
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raise errorclass, errorvalue


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delegate to
delegate (something) to (one)
To assign something, such as a task, to someone else. Oh, I delegated that boring paperwork to the interns immediately. If you're overwhelmed, why don't you delegate some of this stuff to the rest of your team?
delegate someone to something
to appoint someone to something; to appoint someone to be something. I will delegate Jane to be our representative. Donna was delegated to attend the conference.
delegate something to someone
to assign a task to someone; to appoint someone to do a specific task. I will have to delegate this job to Sam, who knows how to do these things. The job was delegated to Sally.


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Pinch the Lobster - Medium PaddlePak
Look out, Pinch is here to play. Take him out for a summer splash… and make it snappy!
Fill up his bright red belly with all the stuff you need for a trip to the pool or an adventure at the seaside. There's plenty of room in his splash-proof main compartment for your clothes, hat, towel and sunglasses. He's also light to carry, and easy on your little shoulders with wide cushioned straps. Keep your little treasures or ice cream money safe in his secret tail pocket.
PaddlePak is a water resistant backpack that's perfect for fun-filled days out and trips to the pool or beach. Made from lightweight and durable material, it's designed to stop wet stuff getting in, or leaking out!
Recommended for ages 2+
1Roll top closure
Makes a water tight seal
2Breakaway safety buckle
Allows a quick release if needed
3Water-resistant fabric
To keep your belongings safe and dry
4Adjustable shoulder straps
For a comfy fit
5External tail pocket
With chunky zip
6Trunki Grip™
For sunglasses or goggles
7Padded mesh back
For a comfy, breathable fit
8Reflective strips
For increased visibility
9Hanging loop
Perfect for school and locker rooms
10Elasticated mesh pocket*
For keeping small items close to hand
11Extra internal dry pocket*
To keep your little treasure safe and dry*Shark, Whale and Dolphin only
|Recommended Age
|37 x 29 x 17 cm
|7.5 litres
|2+ years
|47 x 40 x 28 cm
|10 litres
|5+ years
Orders are sent via Next Day Delivery via DPD - (Unfortunately next day service is not available for Ireland or Highlands, this also excludes Custom Trunki which takes up to 10 days)
If your order is placed before 1pm it will be eligible for same day dispatch, otherwise it will be sent the following day.
Orders under £10 will be sent via Royal Mail and can take upto 3 days.
If you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason, you can return it to the below address within 14 days of your delivery in perfect condition complete with original packaging. We will be happy to refund the original price of the item or send you an exchange. This does not affect your statutory rights. We regret that postage, packing and insurance are direct costs and cannot be refunded.
We strongly advise that a proof of postage receipt should be obtained when returning your order. You are responsible for the item until we receive it at our warehouse.
Should goods be damaged or faulty please contact us on 01179 542 780 or via our contact form.
Please include your order details and send returns to: Trunki Returns The Mothership Shaftesbury Chapel Union Rd Bristol BS2 0LP


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Cold hands aren't soft hands: Alan Ashby went on at length on the radiocast last night about the poor fielding by the Jays (especially by Aaron Hill), and how the cold temperatures might be contributing to their inability to field the ball cleanly. We're not sure if that explains Scott Downs' Riverdance routine fielding Johnny Damon's sacrifice bunt eighth, which would lead to the Yankees scoring the winning run. But we're hopeful that someone shovels some coal in the furnace at the Rogers Centre and gets those hands warm, toasty and reliable in time for this weekend's series against the Red Sox.
David Eckstein is grittily and scrapily trying to make us love him: Little X, who Blair notes will have his work cut out for him in winning over the Blue Jays faithful, got the engine of the Love Train started with a 2-for-4 night with a run scored and one driven in. Which is good and all, but we'll still be among those at the former SkyDome hooting and cheering for John McDonald when he's introduced as part of the starting lineup tonight.
Frank Thomas
Powder Blues! Tonight!: Shaun Marcum cinches up the retro gear and squares off against aging knuckler Tim Wakefield. Wakefield's always pitched well against the Jays (15-10 lifetime, 3.86 ERA and 3-2 in 2007 with a 3.86). Last April, he pitched a gem in April under the dome, although to be fair, Jason Phillips was hitting seventh that day, which says something about the state of the team's lineup at that point.
Bring on the Massholes!: We're totally ready to rumble this weekend. Which is why it's good that we read the Drunk Jays Fans' Guide to Home Openers, specifically the bit about avoiding physical confrontation. We wouldn't want to descend to the level of your typical Red Sox fan, although we're secretly hoping that there are a few of them that get rowdy and obnoxious, if only because we'd like to catch it on video and share it with y'all.


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Golden Wedding
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Cement - Length comparator: Length comparator
This apparatus is used for a number of length measurements concerning mainly cement and mortar specimens with different lengths. For this reason the reference rods are not included and have to be ordered separately, consulting for an easy and quick choice, the specification table. Two column steel frame with...continue


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Murray moved by family revelations
Comic Al Murray has denied that having an illustrious ancestor makes him a "toff" and told how he discovered his great-great-aunt spent her life in an asylum simply for having a learning disability.
The Pub Landlord star, 46, found out about Laura while taking part in a new two-part ITV documentary, Secrets From The Asylum.
Murray already knew that his great-great-great-grandfather was the 19th century novelist William Makepeace Thackeray, the author of Vanity Fair.
Al Murray's great-great-great-grandfather was the 19th century novelist William Makepeace Thackeray
The comedian, famous for his working class, politically incorrect Pub Landlord alter-ego, told Radio Times magazine that it irritated him that he was branded posh because of the connection.
The star, who was educated at a boarding school, said: "When I was younger the Thackeray thing used to be a 'So what?' question. In general that's still my attitude.
"It's so long ago. And when people come to me and go, 'Er, look who your great-great-great-grandfather is - that means you're a toff,' you think 'Sod off!'
"I don't really feel any connection with him at all. Tell me about your great-great-great-grandparents and then I'll judge you arbitrarily over nothing."
Murray added: "It's a strange and interesting thing to have in your life. But I don't get up in the morning thinking 'I'm the great man's three times great-grandson,' because I think that would make me a bit of a d**k."
Secrets From The Asylum tells how Thackeray's wife Isabella had a breakdown at the age of 23 and the author sought several treatments to try and save the mother-of-two from a lifetime in the asylums.
But it was another discovery, made while filming the programme, that left him blinking back tears.
Murray found out that his great-great-aunt Laura was consigned by her family to an asylum "for imbeciles and idiots" for her whole life, just for having a learning disability.
Laura was a victim of the eugenics movement, which gained support in the 20th century, in which people who were deemed "mentally deficient" were sent to asylums.
"That was the thing that really moved me - how nasty that whole movement was. And that someone in my family got caught up in it," he told Radio Times magazine.
"When you get the call you go, 'They're not going to get me. They're not going to make me cry.' But Laura's story and that whole movement that developed to do with the 'feeble-minded' and 'not contributing' - it's hardcore."
He said: "She looks like the women in my family - like one of my aunties and a little like one of my daughters. That made it seem real, rather than fusty Victorians. And it wasn't long ago - she died during the Second World War."
He added: "What the late Victorians fell on was this idea of genealogy and how we've got to remove these people from society by not letting them breed. It was a classic moral panic. You could put the word 'Jews' instead of 'feeble-minded' or the word 'Romanians' today - it's the same rhetoric."
Murray said of learning that at least two members of his family were deemed, by the standards of the time, to have mental health issues: "It does make you think. Am I carrying a gene? You have to entertain that idea. But then you also have to say: so what? There's depression in everybody's family. It's part of who we are. You've got to treat it humanely."
The comic, who is currently researching a new history of the Second World War, said: "It's weird, I do take the stand-up very seriously, but I have run into this thing of, 'You play the Pub Landlord, he's a bloody idiot. How could you possibly be clever?' It always amuses me that people get stuck there."
:: Secrets From The Asylum is broadcast on August 20 at 9pm on ITV.
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Personal trainers have a variety of backgrounds, from those with a single certification to those with multiple certifications and university degrees. Fitness facility operators have to decide which level of personal trainer best fits their needs and their members' needs.
A personal trainer with a degree is not necessarily more skilled than a personal trainer who has only a certification, says Robert Goldman, founder and president emeritus of the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), Chandler, AZ.
"There are some trainers without even a university degree that are very, very good," Goldman says. "But I think the more credentialed, the more education someone has, the more positive impact they can have on that club."
Personal trainers who lack the education specific to their profession not only hurt the industry but hurt their potential clientele as well, says Brian Oddi, a team member with NASM and an instructor in the department of sports and health sciences at American Public University (APU), Charles Town, WV. APU offers a bachelor of science degree in sports and health sciences with a concentration in exercise science, as well as a master's of science degree in sports and health sciences. Both Equinox and Sport & Health clubs have participated in APU career services programs, says Jay Richardson, manager of strategic partnerships, sports and fitness, for APU, which offers all of its courses over the Internet.
"To have the education on top of the certification within the field covering all aspects is vital," Oddi says. "I've seen trainers come to the gym with no foundation."
However, personal trainers with degrees may be overqualified for clubs that do not have the budget for degreed and certified trainers, says Amy Hyams, vice president of educational services at certifying educational body World Instructor Training Schools (W.I.T.S.), Virginia Beach, VA.
The Value of Certification
"Somebody that gets an advanced degree and an advanced certification can expect a certain salary level, and if the gyms aren't willing to pay that, then they're not going to get that level of professional," Hyams says. "Another piece of it is, what is the consumer demanding? We all know that consumers don't necessarily know what to look for when they're hiring a personal trainer or going to a gym. They're not demanding a certain level of credential because they're not aware."
Club operators that Hyams has spoken with tell her that a university degree is not more important than a certification.
"A kinesiology degree will give you a great understanding of the human body, not necessarily how to train, motivate and work with an individual," she says.
Once fitness facility operators decide whether or not to require a degree, they must make another decision: Which certifications should they require?
Often, certifying agencies offer their own educational courses. W.I.T.S. has a curriculum taught at several hundred colleges and universities across the country.
Jay Del Vecchio, founder of W.I.T.S., says a good education program for personal trainers consists of interactive faculty, a creative curriculum design and practical hands-on laboratories.
"It's one thing just to show somebody an exercise and make them memorize it and regurgitate it," Del Vecchio says. "But then can you adapt it and make it fun and interactive for different clients and present it as such? That's a skill. That's the salesman end of it."
W.I.T.S. also partners with several club companies, including 24 Hour Fitness, Bally Total Fitness, LA Fitness, Gold's Gym International and Town Sports International. This year, the company extended its courses from six weeks to nine weeks. Next year, it will increase its internships from 30 hours to 50 hours, Del Vecchio says.
Club operators also can turn to certifying agencies that have been accredited to ensure the certification is properly preparing the trainer and in turn, protecting their members.
The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), which is the accreditation body of the Institute of Credentialing Excellence, lists 13 fitness certification organizations that have an NCCA-accredited personal trainer certification. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) also accredits certifications.
W.I.T.S. is accredited by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training, which accredits training programs that meet standards set by ANSI.
The goal of certification is to protect the public from harm, says Todd Galati, director of credentialing for the American Council on Exercise (ACE), San Diego, one of the 13 organizations that have an NCCA-accredited personal trainer certification.
"Part of the NCCA accreditation is making sure that that certification process follows a number of key steps to ensure that the certification is robust," Galati says. "It's shown that this person is prepared to develop and implement safe and effective fitness programs for the general population across a broad spectrum."
ACE not only has a certification for personal trainers but one for group fitness instructors, advanced health and fitness specialists, and lifestyle and weight management coaches. ACE's certification criteria do not change for someone who already has a college degree, Galati adds.
"We don't raise the bar for what you need to know," he says. "And we also don't lower the bar for people that come in who do not have the degree. The bar is set where the professional should be competently practicing."
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Colorado Springs, CO, offers NCCA-accredited certifications for both personal trainers and strength and conditioning specialists. Like ACE, the focus of certification for the NSCA is the safety of the client.
"We're going to tell you what our certifications are," says Greg Nockleby, the marketing and public relations manager for the NSCA. "But we're also going to tell you that no matter what, be certified, have the right amount of education and have the right amount of qualifications in order to write a program for your client. Ultimately, the safety of your client comes first. Only a certified individual can properly assess and prescribe that particular program according to their [client's] needs."
Sidebar: Organizations that Offer Personal Trainer Certifications
Organizations that Offer Personal Trainer Certifications
The following is a list of the 13 fitness certification organizations that have a National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredited personal trainer certification. Some organizations may have other NCCAaccredited certification programs.
- Academy of Applied Personal Training Education
- American College of Sports Medicine
- American Council on Exercise
- The Cooper Institute
- International Fitness Professionals Association
- National Academy of Sports Medicine
- National Council for Certified Personal Trainers
- National Council on Strength and Fitness
- National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association
- National Exercise Trainers Association
- National Federation of Professional Trainers
- National Strength and Conditioning Association
- Training and Wellness Certification Commission
Source: Institute for Credentialing Excellence, www.creditialingeexcellence.org


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Turn your bathroom into living space and make it part of your lifestyle!
By playing with various materials like mineral cast, ceramic, glass, wood, unusual colours for lacquered surfaces and the right lighting mood, you can create your own trend and your own personal design.
So if you're in search of ideas for your individual bathroom – take a look at burgbad's bathroom furniture and get inspired!


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by Joseph Mitchell
Foreword by Charles McGrath
(MacAdam Cage hardcover edition, April 2005)
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A wise bookseller once taught me that right after reading something really, especially good, it's a good idea to read something completely different, as a sort of palate cleanser. After The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet and The Passage, I felt the need to read something that was definitively not a big fat novel of an unfamiliar world. Luckily, my hand trailing over the unread riches of my bookshelves landed on Old Mr. Flood. As a small collection of three short semi-nonfictional pieces about a downtown New Yorker, it was exactly what I had been wanting.
For some inexcusable reason I had never read Joseph Mitchell before, though he's one of those authors you feel you know all about without reading him (the same way I thought, mistakenly, that I knew what Michaelangelo's David looked like before I saw the real thing). Apparently he is the sort of writer other writers go back and reread when they need to remind themselves how this whole business of stringing words together ought to work. This volume came into my possession at a launch party at a bar for MacAdam Cage's reissued edition (I was the offsite bookseller), where I heard Eli Wallach read Mitchell's words in a precisely appropriate grizzled, humorous old man sort of way.
The cover is a photograph of an old man at the remnants of the Fulton Fish Market, where the pieces about Mr. Flood are set; it's natural to interpret this as a representation of the title character, but in fact the photo is of Mitchell himself. As Charles McGrath points out in his illuminating introduction, Mr. Flood is not only a composite character of men Mitchell had talked with at the fish market, but also "an alter ego, who has countless things in common with his creator", including a fondness for drink, a graveyard sense of humor, and a love of seafood. (Despite his derision of "goormys", aka gourmets, I kept thinking Flood/Mitchell's sense of what's good to eat has a lot in common with contemporary foodie wisdom: he's not interested in vitamins or processed bread, just food as fresh and natural as he can get it.)
Mr. Flood, a retired demolition man who has taken up residence in a hotel near the fish market in the early 1940s, is very old. The subject of imminent death is one often discussed or irritably avoided. But he's also irrepressibly full of life, somehow immortal -- much like the fish market and the New York harbor life itself, which was on its way out even as Mitchell wrote about it. The stories should be depressing, but I found myself laughing out loud quite a bit, and tugging on the ALP's sleeve to read him the good parts. The writing is quite astonishingly good, even as it effaces itself in service of the textures and details and talk and tools and mannerisms of its subjects. I've since been seeking out more of Mitchell's pieces, which are thankfully now readily available, and observing the world with his eyes and thinking in his language -- which is a sure sign that a writer has really gotten to you.
I'm going to take the liberty to quote in full my favorite passage, which I read out loud to the ALP -- I'm hopeful that Mitchell's publishers and estate won't take it amiss. It's got a bit of all the good stuff that the book delivers: humor, dialect, the texture of details, and good food writing. One warning: I gave up eating any meat for Lent, but this bit made me crave oysters something fierce. As soon as Easter comes, I'm going in search of a place that serves oysters just like this. As a cure for a lingering cold or a spell of bad weather or the uneasiness of mortality, it seems you could do worse.
Mr. Flood snorted again. "Oh, shut up," he said. "Damn your doctor! I tell you what you do. You get right out of here and go over to Libby's oyster house and tell the man you want to eat some of his best oysters. Don't sit down. Stand up at the at that fine marble bar they got over there, where you can watch the man knife them open. And tell him you intend to drink the oyster liquor; he'll knife them on the cup shell, so the liquor won't spill. And be sure you get the big ones. Get them so big you'll have to rear back to swallow, the size that most restaurants use for fries and stews; God forgive them, they don't know any better. Ask for Robbins Islands, Mattitucks, Cape Cods, or Saddle Rocks. And don't put any of that red sauce on them, that cocktail sauce, that mess, that gurry. Ask the man for half a lemon, poke it a time or two to free the juice, and squeeze it over the oysters. And the first one he knifes, pick it up and smell it, the way you'd smell a rose, or a shot of brandy. That briny, seaweedy fragrance will clear your head; it'll make your blood run faster. And don't just eat six; take your time and eat a dozen, eat two dozen, eat three dozen, eat four dozen. And then leave the man a generous tip and go buy yourself a fifty-cent cigar and put your hat on the side of your head and take a walk down to Bowling Green. Look at the sky! Isn't it blue? And look at the girls a tap-tap-tapping past on their pretty little feet! Aren't they just the finest girls you ever saw, the bounciest, the rumpiest, the laughingest? Aren't you ashamed of yourself for even thinking about spending good money on a damned doctor? And along about here, you better be careful. You're apt to feel so bucked-up you'll slap strangers on the back, or kick a window in, or fight a cop, or jump on the tailboard of a truck and steal a ride."


text:
In certain parts of the world, there are few natural threats quite as frightening as a tornado. A single storm can still level an entire town, scattering homes, businesses, and schools across the plains. But what if your house could protect itself from a tornado by retreating underground?
That's a concept being considered by the architecture firm 10 Design. Looking at the possibility of kinetic architecture to combat the threat of violent storms, 10 Design imagines houses that sit above the ground and then retract like a turtle when a tornado is on the way. External stimulation activates a number of hydraulic levers, triggering the rising and sinking of the home. The watertight, translucent roof would be sandwiched between two layers of Kevlar, allowing light to filter into the home while protecting it from wind and rain.
The 10 Design team imagines a future where entire neighborhoods of these houses sit in tornado-prone areas, where each house's sensory data informs the rest of the neighborhood, offering the entire network early warnings of approaching storms.
Tornado Proof House by 10 Design [dezeen]


text:
Mobility Scooters
Mobility Scooters Direct offers one of the largest selection of mobility scooters for sale. Shipping is free, there is no sales tax, and you get up to 5 free accessories on select models. READ MORE
Items 1-10 of 163
TRIAXE Cruze
MODEL: T3055 / Enhance Mobility
- Max. Speed: Up to 6 MPH
- Travel Range: Up to 18 Miles
- Weight Capacity: 350 lbs
- Folds / Disassembles: Folds
- Heaviest Piece: 58 lbs
- FREE Shipping & Tax-Free!
i-Ride Mobility Scooter
MODEL: s25 / Pride Mobility
- Max. Speed: Up to 3.7 MPH
- Travel Range: Up to 6.7 to 8.2 Miles
- Weight Capacity: 250 lbs
- Disk Brakes
- Weighs 42 lbs without Battery
- FREE Shipping & Tax-Free!
Pride Go-Go LX Mobility Scooter 4-Wheel
MODEL: SC54LX / Pride Mobility
- Max. Speed: Up to 4.4 MPH
- Travel Range: Up to 12.6 miles
- Battery: 12 Volt 12AH SLA
- Transport/Storage: Disassembles
- Heaviest Piece: 37 lbs
- FREE Shipping
Remo Automatic Folding Scooter by E-Wheels
MODEL: EW-REMO / Ewheels
- Max. Speed: Up to 5 MPH
- Travel Range: 13 miles
- Battery: 24 Volt 11AH Lithium
- Transport/Storage: Folds Up
- Weight of Product: 65 lbs
- FREE Shipping
Solax Transformer Automatic Folding Scooter
MODEL: Transformer / Solax
- Max. Speed: Up to 3.7 MPH
- Travel Range: 13.5 miles
- Battery: 24V 10AH Lithium
- Transport/Storage: Folds Up
- Weight of Product: 53 lbs
- FREE Shipping
Pride ZT10 4-Wheel Mobility Scooter
MODEL: S710ZT / Pride Mobility
- Max. Speed: Up to 7 MPH
- Travel Range: Up to 24 miles
- Battery: 12 Volt 40AH SLA
- Full Suspension & Light Kit
- USB Charging Port
- FREE Shipping
Pride Jazzy Zero 8 Turn Mobility Scooter
MODEL: JAZZYZTS1001 / Pride Mobility
- Max. Speed: Up to 4 MPH
- Travel Range: Up to 13.4 miles
- Battery: 12 Volt 22AH SLA
- Transport/Storage: Disassembles
- Heaviest Piece: 48 lbs
- FREE Shipping & Tax-Free
Pride Revo 2.0 Mobility Scooter 4-Wheel
MODEL: S67 / Pride Mobility
- Max. Speed: Up to 5 MPH
- Travel Range: Up to 13 miles
- Weight Capacity: 400lbs
- USB Charger & Light Kit
- Heaviest Piece: 57 lbs
- FREE Shipping & Tax-Free!
E-Wheels EW-M34 Mobility Scooter
MODEL: EW-M34 / E-Wheels
- Max. Speed: Up to 4.5 MPH
- Travel Range: Up to 10 Miles
- Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
- Transport/Storage: Disassembles
- Heaviest Piece: 28 lbs
- FREE Shipping & Tax-Free!
Pride Mobility Raptor Heavy Duty Scooter
MODEL: R3-1700 / Pride Mobility
- Max. Speed: Up to 14 MPH
- Travel Range: Up to 31 miles
- Weight Capacity: 400lbs
- Full Suspension & Light Kit
- Cargo Storage
- FREE Shipping & Tax-Free!
In this Ultimate Guide to Mobility Scooters, You Will Learn:
Tip: Click the link below to learn more about the topic of your choice. Or simply scroll down to read our entire guide to mobility scooters.
A Brief Look at the History of Mobility Scooters
The Different Types of Mobility Scooters
Choosing a Mobility Scooter Store
The Most Popular Scooters by Sales Volume
5 Common Reasons Customers Buy Handicap Scooters
Selecting the Right Mobility Scooter for You - The Specifications
Scooter Warranty Options for Each Manufacturer
Troubleshooting a Mobility Scooter - Do you Need a New One?
Maintaining Your Scooter Post Purchase
Learning How to Disassemble a Mobility Scooter
How Scooters and Insurance Works
Applying for Mobility Scooter Financing
Advantages & Disadvantages of Buying Online vs Locally
Delivery Options Available to You
Saving Money by Getting Coupons for Your Purchase
What Makes MobilityScootersDirect.com Different?
A Brief Look at the History of Mobility Scooters
Mobility scooters have assisted millions of people to regain their independence. The first mobility scooter was created in 1968 by a plumber named Allan R Thieme in Bridgeport, Michigan. Despite the lack of modern battery technology, Mr. Thieme was able to have his scooter reach top speeds of 3 miles per hour. The name he gave to his creation was Amigo, a manufacturer that is still in business to this very day. Sales were initially slow as the market wasn't quite sure if the device was needed and when it was needed. Lack of product knowledge hindered widespread adoption as physicians continued to write prescriptions for wheelchairs.
Mr. Thieme would be impressed at what would become the industry he started. Life expectancy has continued to increase since the invention of mobility scooters which has caused a boom in this medical product category. Several manufacturers have since been formed to create what they feel is the best product to assist those with disabilities.
Just in the last 5 years (from 2015 to 2020), the assistive technologies market has grown from $41.1 billion to $58.3 billion. With the baby boomer population aging, it is also well-accepted that baby boomers are facing more disabilities with their longer life expectancy as confirmed by the PRB. This means that unlike when Mr. Thieme first created the mobility scooter, the product knowledge is now there and consumers now demand the best features with the best prices.
What is a Mobility Scooter?
If you're just getting familiar with handicap scooters for the first time, we'll explain what they are. Mobility scooters utilize either 3-wheels or 4-wheels along with a seat, frame, motor, battery, and a tiller to allow a user to effortlessly travel. It's like a one-person cart, that uses electromagnetic braking (also known as automatic brakes) so the user never actually needs to manually engage a brake lever. When the user is not using the throttle lever, the unit automatically brakes.
There are different categories of scooters just like there are different categories of cars. In the next section, we'll review the different types of disability scooters. These products feature unique designs that don't resemble a traditional wheelchair. They offer modern features such as suspension, lighting, some have the ability to fold, and some have larger control panels.
The controls are placed in the center of the device, rather than off to the side with a joystick mechanism. Instead, you control your forward and reverse movements with a tiller similar to a bicycle steering wheel with only much smaller handlebars. Just like how on a bicycle, there are two levers above the main handlebars but they are used to go forward and back. This is how you tell the scooter what your intentions are, whether you wish to travel forward or in reverse. Finding the right mobility scooter for sale that matches your lifestyle doesn't have to be a challenge.
The Different Types of Mobility Scooters
There are several different types of mobility scooters and the right one for you isn't necessarily right for another. It boils down to individualistic needs. Below we will highlight the different types along with their ideal use case.
Folding Mobility Scooters - These types of scooters are ideal for traveling and as the name implies, they literally fold. There are two different types of folding scooters. One type is automatic. The other type is manual. The automatic ones are premium versions and the price reflects that. You fold them by hitting a button on your FOB. The manual one is less costly as it is cheaper to manufacture. Those that want the advantages of a folding scooter without the cost typically gravitate towards the manual folding option.
Advantages - Easy to travel with. Lightweight.
Disadvantages - Costly.
Travel Mobility Scooters - These types of scooters are the most popular and cost-effective disability scooters you can get your hands on. Many are under $1,000.00 and made by reputable manufacturers. While not as travel friendly as folding mobility scooters, these scooters typically disassemble into various pieces. It is important to always understand the weight of the heaviest piece after disassembly if you will be loading the travel scooter into your car after disassembly. Most scooters in this category disassemble without the use of tools. View our section on how to disassemble a scooter to view the process.
Advantages - A cheaper alternative to folding scooters.
Disadvantages - Doesn't fold. Must be disassembled.
Full-Size Mobility Scooters - Full-size mobility scooters attempt to combine comfort and value and do a great job at it. They aren't lightweight so have better specs like travel ranges, top speed, larger seats, and better suspension. However, they do fall short when compared to heavy-duty mobility scooters. They are more travel friendly and while they cannot fit inside most trunks like folding or travel mobility scooters, they can typically fit on vehicle lift on compatible vehicles.
Advantages - Comfort and value meet.
Disadvantages - Not small enough to travel with easily (unless you have a vehicle lift) and not large enough to be considered a heavy duty unit.
Heavy-Duty Mobility Scooters - These types of scooters are fantastic when you do not intend on traveling much because of their sheer size. However with their sheer size comes a rugged frame, strong motors, huge batteries, and all sorts of benefits. Fast top speeds, long travel ranges, comfortable rides, and the most comfortable seats can be found when compared to the other categories. Because everything is top-notch, the pricing typically reflects this as well.
Advantages - Off-road capability. Superior top speed. Superior travel range.
Disadvantages - Cost. Large size.
Recreational Mobility Scooters - A relatively newer segment in the scooter scene is recreational scooters. These scooters are typically made by one manufacturer by the name of E-Wheels. There are several scooters that are not really for medical purposes but rather for recreational purposes. They enjoy a faster top speed, offer less stability, and more fun experience.
Advantages - Faster top speeds. An adult toy.
Disadvantages - Not to be used in lieu of a medical scooter.
As you can see, there are several different types of mobility scooters that each have their advantages and disadvantages.
3 Things to Look Out for When Choosing a Mobility Scooter Store
With hundreds of online mobility scooter stores online, you may want help choosing which one is the best. While each store has strengths and weaknesses, there are certain things that you'll want to consider.
- Reviews - This shows how the company treats its customers and when things go wrong, will the company do what is in your best interest? After over 4 years in business, we average 4.7 stars on Google at the time of writing this page with over 61 honest and unbiased reviews.
- Pricing - You'll want the lowest pricing possible. Compare pricing on different websites. You'll notice at Mobility Scooters Direct, our pricing is always on the lowest side it can be because nearly all of our products are listed at what is known as MAP or minimum advertised price. This is minimum pricing that certified dealers are allowed to advertise the product for. The MAP price is a policy that is enforced by the manufacturers that we as certified dealers must abide by.
- Expertise - Utilize the experience of the sales staff to help locate the perfect scooter for you. Rather than just read the specs, you can take advantage of a free consultation at most online dealers. If you read the reviews, you might see a salesperson stick out more than others which might indicate they do a great job at listening and providing good feedback.
Our Google reviews as of 5/6/2020:
Newest Releases - 2020 Models
If you're into having the latest and greatest technology then you might want to consider some of the newest models that were just released this year. When you get a newer model, you know that you're getting a product that has the most up-to-date features for comfort, safety, and reliability. We find that many of the latest models being released have the extra bells that come stock. This includes LED lighting, USB phone charging ports, and more. Below are some of our featured 2020 models that were recently released. To get more information
Golden Buzzaround "Carry On" - A travel model that was created by Golden Technologies that actually folds flat. This is an industry first and they have even applied for a patent to protect their innovation.
Afikim S4 - Model Revamp - A heavy-duty model, while the Afikim S4 model is not new, everything has been changed but the motor and drive components. They have completely revamped this model so it has earned a spot on our list of 2020 models.
Afikim C4 - Model Revamp - A full-size model, similar to its bigger brother the Afikim S4, everything has been changed but the motor and drive component. The new design is modern and very appealing.
E-Wheels M50 - A travel model, E-Wheels released its M50 which was designed to create a ruckus in the travel mobility segment. Its standard long travel range and low price offer extreme value.
The Most Popular Scooters by Sales Volume
Many times we are asked what are the most popular scooters in their respective categories. The logic behind this question makes perfect sense. If hundreds of customers voted with their dollar, they must've completed research and came to a good enough conclusion to warrant the purchase. Because there are over 100 different scooters available, we'll break down the top seller in each category.
Folding Mobility Scooters - Solax Transformer
Why We Like It: This automatic folding scooter is made by a reputable manufacturer and we have never heard a customer have any issues with this scooter. This is a fantastic option for any customer who wants a reliable scooter which is one of the best options to travel with in the market since it weighs in at 57lbs.
Travel Mobility Scooters - E-Wheels EW-M34
Why We Like It: This travel scooter is a rather newer unit that is quickly selling and becoming a top seller in its category. At under $800.00, you are getting a similar scooter that other manufacturers charge around $1,000.00 for. The travel range is also 10 miles with some of its competitors topping out at 7-8 miles. (The Go-Go Ultra X max travel range is 7.2 miles)
Full-Size Mobility Scooters - Pride Victory LX Sport 4-Wheel
Why We Like It: The CTS suspension makes for a comfortable ride and comfort doesn't stop there. This full-size scooter comes equipped with a captains seat that reclines, a feature not found on many other full-size scooters. The travel range is also just shy of 19.7 miles for a user under 200lbs.
Heavy-Duty Mobility Scooters - Afikim Afiscooter S
Why We Like It: New to 2020, an industry-leading factory warranty includes 2 years of both parts and labor. You can also add an additional year for an added cost. Most heavy-duty scooter manufacturers are not this generous with factory warranties. The motor is a 1400 watt motor which is the largest motor out of all mobility scooters.
Recreational Mobility Scooters - eWheels EW-46
Why We Like It: An extremely comfortable captains seat mixed with an aggressive design makes this scooter a crowd favorite. Modern features like LED lighting, turn signals, brake lights, and more! It also has an incredible 35 mile travel range. Scooters with these features typically exceed $3,000.00 and this unit is sold for $2,399.00.
5 Common Reasons Customers Buy Handicap Scooters
There are several reasons why one would want to purchase a handicap scooter. From lung issues to amputees, the reasons medically can be nearly any reason why one would have difficulty traveling a significant distance without assistance. For those who do not intend on traveling great distances, many are content with walkers or rollators.
However, if you are traveling somewhere with your family and do not want to make them wait for you if you walk slower or need to take frequent breaks to catch your breath, a mobility scooter can be a fantastic addition to help you stay with your family and witness everyone having fun. Even if your family goes on trails often, there are several scooters that are equipped for off-road use. Surely, travel range and tires would be the most important factor if you intend on using the scooter for that purpose but it is possible.
Here are some of the most common reasons our customers buy handicap scooter:
Safety - If your legs feel uneasy after walking a great distance, you are potentially risking a fall. A fall can yield to broken bones and surgery which is not advantageous and if it can be prevented, most people would try to prevent a fall from occurring.
Independence - Most people greatly enjoy their independence. When you have an option to always ask for help or have the ability to do things on your own, most would prefer to do it on their own. A mobility scooter can allow you to shop without the need of an aide, allow you to go outside and get fresh air on your own, and so much more.
Traveling - Many people have worked their entire lives to be able to travel and may feel reluctant to travel once personal ailments prevent them from doing so. A handicap scooter can assist you with traveling, especially if you consider a model that folds and is very travel friendly.
Economical - Rather than paying for public transportation like busses, if you are close to a local store, you have the option to drive there on your scooter. It is not uncommon to see mobility scooters on sidewalks in South Florida with users headed to the store.
Peace of Mind - Knowing you have the ability to safely travel locally around to run errands or to visit friends can lift a huge burden off your shoulders. Having this peace of mind can be hugely beneficial and ease concerns about your mobility.
Selecting the Right Mobility Scooter for You - The Specifications
It is our goal to ensure that every customer loves the product they purchase whether from us or another dealer. That is why we do our best to list all product specifications and features on our website. This is also done by providing user manuals and product brochures on nearly every single product that we carry. Most mobility scooter dealers will only provide product brochures and manuals post-sale.
Our company believes in educating our customers before making a purchase to ensure that they don't end up receiving a product that they're unhappy with. This is done by extensive fact-finding to see what the true use case of the scooter will be. Some of the most important things to consider when buying a battery-powered scooter are the specifications that we have listed below.
Weight Capacity - The total weight that the unit can handle according to the manufacturer.
- Seat Width & Depth - The seat's dimensions are important based on the user's measurements.
- Overall Length, Width & Height - The dimensions of the unit are important if you plan to store it away during travel or when you're not using it.
- Weight of Heaviest Piece - If the unit disassembles, then make sure to check if the heaviest piece is going to be manageable for the person who uses it.
- Grade Climbable - How the scooter can climb hills. Very important for those living in mountainous or hilly terrains.
- Ground Clearance - How far the scooter comes off the ground.
- Top Speed - The maximum speed the unit will reach.
- Travel Range - The total distance that the unit can travel on a full battery.
- Turning Radius - The turning radius is important to check especially if you need to travel through tight spaces or turns in narrow hallways.
- Features - LED lights, suspension, flat-free tires, etc; are just a few features some mobility scooters will come standard with.
If you're not able to find these specifications on our website or if you just have questions then call us or chat with us to speak with a sales representative. Our sales staff will take the time to guide you through your shopping experience without being pushy.
Scooter Warranty Options for Each Manufacturer
When considering which mobility scooter manufacturer to go with, you might be interested to know the difference between each warranty. Each manufacturer may have slightly different warranties for each product, so we encourage you to visit the individual product you are interested in as the warranty is listed on each product page.
Troubleshooting a Mobility Scooter - Do you Need a New One?
If you are searching for mobility scooters because your scooter is not functioning, it might be repairable. Whenever possible, our goal is to offer helpful resources to help you save money. There are some very common reasons why mobility scooters will stop working, some of which are relatively inexpensive to fix.
First, if your mobility scooter will not function properly and gives you a certain amount of beeps, you must count how many beeps its making. That beep sequence is a manufacturer-programmed code that indicates a certain fault with the unit. That code can be deciphered by a mobility scooter technician. You can also try to view this resource if your scooter is one of the most popular, Pride Go Go scooter. Rather than purchasing a scooter, you might be able to repair it for a fraction of the cost. If you have another scooter, Google the make and model followed by the beep sequence to see if you can find any resources. There are hundreds of makes and models so it would be extremely difficult to summarize all beep codes from all manufacturers.
If the scooter will not turn on, you can generally expect it to be a battery issue. If your scooter will not hold a charge, that can be another indicator that it is a battery issue. You may need a new scooter if you've already replaced the battery and it continues to have issues.
Maintenance Checklist - Maintaining Your Scooter Post Purchase
Maintaining your scooter post-purchase will ensure that you give it the highest likelihood of lasting a long time. This mobility scooter maintenance checklist will ensure you do not forget any important maintenance tasks.
- Become familiar with the user manual. Each manufacturer may have slightly different maintenance tips.
- Be sure to remove the battery from the mobility scooter when not in use. This will prevent parasitic drawdown and lengthen the life of the battery.
- Keep your scooter indoors or in a garage where it is not exposed to severe heat or cool weather.
- Ensure your tires have the proper PSI per manufacturer recommendations.
- Try to avoid areas with loose sand and try to avoid getting caught in the rain as maintaining a mobility scooter with sand stuck in crevices or water can be difficult.
How to Disassemble Your Mobility Scooter
Most mobility scooters that can disassemble have a very similar process. In the video below, our CEO Andrew Fatalo does a review of the Pride Go Go Elite and shows you how to disassemble your mobility scooter.
Keep in mind these are generic instructions and you can find how to disassemble any mobility scooter by downloading the user manual that we have on every product listed on our website. The general written steps to disassemble the scooter are below.
- Remove the basket if applicable.
- Remove the seat by lifting it from the body of the scooter. Typically, there is a steel pin that holds the seat in place.
- Remove the battery pack. Most battery packs you will just lift. Caution: Some require a decent amount of force to remove.
- Turn the knob on the tiller counterclockwise to loosen it. It will then fall down.
- Search for a lever to disassemble the front and rear of the scooter. At this point the rear and front will separate.
Can You Buy a Disability Scooter with Insurance?
Yes. You can buy a disability scooter with insurance however the process can be viewed upon as difficult when compared with buying a scooter without insurance. We've written an entire post dedicated to purchasing a mobility scooter with insurance which can be found here.
To summarize, you'll need to check the benefits with your insurance company as each policy and insurance company has different benefits. You'll also need to have a doctor's prescription.
Lastly, it is important to note that you typically cannot pick or choose any model you like, the insurance company will typically want to save money and get you the lowest cost disability scooter.
How to Easily Finance Your Scooter Purchase
With the advancements of technology, you can now easily finance your scooter purchase on several different online mobility scooter dealer websites such as Mobility Scooters Direct. If you do not have the cash or credit available, you can utilize Bread Financing or Paypal Credit.
Simply choose the product you are interested in along with any accessories that you would like to purchase. After adding the product to the shopping cart, underpayment options you will have the option to select "Bread Checkout" or "Paypal Credit". You will be able to see the monthly estimated payment if you were to get approved with Bread.
As a rough idea, a Pride Go-Go LX with a purchase price of $1,209.00 financed through Bread can be as low as $55.78 per month.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Buying Online vs Locally
There are some main key advantages and disadvantages of buying online vs locally. In this section, we will review the benefits and drawbacks of each in an unbiased way.
First, if you are in an area where there are not many options you may not have a choice but to research and buy online. Of course, you can head to your nearest city but we've heard sometimes that is not an option as it is a 3hr+ trip. However, if you have a store near you, here are some of the reasons people prefer going to a local store vs online store.
Local Disability Scooter Store Advantages:
- The first advantage is seeing the products. If you are able to sit on and test the product out, you should be able to ascertain if it fits your needs. However, this advantage comes at a steep price.
- The second advantage is convenience. If something goes wrong, you do not need to worry about shipping it back. You can simply drive it back to where you bought it if you are within that store's return policy.
Local Disability Scooter Store Disadvantages:
- The first disadvantage is the price. Because of retail rent being far higher than the cost of hosting an online website, the store must overcharge to pay for the higher overhead associated with doing brick and mortar business. On top of rent there are internet costs, payroll taxes, salary, insurance, and more. All of these expenses are tied to the cost of the scooter. We've heard local stores charging as much as $2,000.00 more than our prices on heavy-duty models.
- The second disadvantage is product selection. Most local mobility scooter stores or pharmacies that carry scooters may only have one or two models.
- Some stores may not offer to finance.
Online Mobility Scooter Store Advantages:
- The major advantage of dealing with an online mobility scooter dealer would be product selection. Being able to view the specs, product brochure, user manual, and videos on over 600 mobility products simply aren't possible at a local mobility scooter store. It is cost-prohibitive.
- The second major advantage is pricing. Because Mobility Scooters Direct offers nearly every single product at MAP (Minimum Advertised Price), you cannot find lower pricing anywhere. If you do, that dealer is violating the MAP policy set forth by the manufacturer and can lose their account.
- The third major advantage is free accessories. When shopping at Mobility Scooters Direct, our customers receive two free accessories with every order. Some other online retailers also have specials similar to this and others do not.
- Some online dealers like Mobility Scooters Direct offer financing from well-known companies like Paypal and Bread.
Online Mobility Scooter Store Disadvantages:
- One major disadvantage that is clear is demoing the product. Unlike the local store, you cannot drive it first before you buy it. Therefore, you must rely on reviews, your research, and understanding the specifications prior to purchasing. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the mobility scooter dealers' return policy.
- Another disadvantage is if you feel like the scooter is not right for you, most online retailers will subject you to pay a restocking fee. Because many retailers offer free shipping it is very costly when you return a unit because the unit cannot be sold as new any longer and shipping must be paid for. If you purchased the unit locally and are within the return window, you can simply bring the scooter back but it is important to note that you may still be subject to a restocking fee.
If you're in South Florida, you may be able to have the best of both worlds. Our local showroom has the same pricing as our website and there are over 14 scooters in stock at the time of writing this ultimate guide to mobility scooters. Our showrooms is one of the biggest showrooms in town located off of Powerline Road, visit our contact us page to find directions.
If you're searching the web looking where to buy mobility scooters, you're in the right place. We carry over 600 mobility products offering a wide selection that a local store could never provide. We also lack overhead expenses that come with commercial office lease agreements and liability insurance for in-store use of medical products which can be very expensive. With all of the savings that we are able to pass on to our customers, we are confidently able to say we offer the lowest prices online for new handicap products that come straight from the manufacturers' warehouse. Our network of local service contractors allows us to also provide in-home service for customers that have service contracts through the manufacturer.
Delivery Options Available to You
With most online handicap scooter dealers, you will have a few different options for delivery. Each one has pros and cons.
Curbside Delivery - This type of delivery service is free of charge at Mobility Scooters Direct. The delivery company will place the service at the threshold just before the entrance to your house. They will not bring it inside. This is the fastest delivery option.
Inside Delivery - This is an added charge and the amount is dependent upon the type of mobility scooter ordered. For instance, a travel scooter is much easier to bring indoors when compared to a heavy-duty unit. This delivery option allows the delivery company to enter into your home just inside the door and place the scooter there.
White-Glove Delivery - This is another optional upgrade that will delay the delivery significantly as the delivery company must coordinate with the local technician that will do the white glove delivery service. Expect up to a 3-4 week delay when ordering with white glove delivery.
Saving Money by Getting Coupons for Your Purchase
Many online retailers typically offer seasonal coupons or brand-specific coupons. Prior to ordering online, you can always call to see if there is a coupon available. The worst thing that can happen is that there isn't one available. The best thing that can happen is that you can save anywhere from $25 to over $300 depending on the unit that you are interested in purchasing.
It never hurts to call if you have questions and our job at Mobility Scooters Direct is to always put our customers first. This is why we continue to have fantastic ratings as we continue to grow. Saving our customers money that is on a fixed budget is extremely important to us. Our goal is to help the most amount of people maintain or regain their independence.
What Makes MobilityScootersDirect.com Different?
Mobility products are an important part of life for many people which is why the owner (- Andrew Fatalo) started this company. Without these products, people with limited mobility wouldn't be able to go shopping, visit friends, or move around their homes. If you're on the market for a new handicap scooter, we can help you find the right model at the right price and provide you with customer support that is unmatched for years to come. Andrew Fatalo truly cares about individuals with mobility limitations and aims to provide the best shopping experience possible through his company. He gives back to the community by giving away a free scooter annually which you can learn more about by visiting our Facebook page. Check out the video below showing one of our give-aways from a prior year.
If you are looking for some of the best handicap scooters for sale on the market at wholesale prices, free shipping, zero sales tax, and the best customer service then look no further than MobilityScootersDirect.com!
Contact us today to learn more about any current promotions and see how much you can save. Want to learn more about a certain product? Call us and we'll guide you so that you end up with the right product. We also have a FAQ and Forum section on our site that can be a great place to start learning more about our products.
Our company is also known to be the site that offers the lowest prices online with our lowest price guarantee. Because your new scooter will play such an important role in your life, you should be able to get one that suits your needs without emptying your wallet. It is our goal that this Ultimate Guide to Mobility Scooters was helpful.
Navigate Our Product With Ease
If you watch the short tutorial video below, you'll learn how to navigate our product category menu options and how to use our product filters to narrow down your selection. We have product filters several specifications including weight capacity, speed, brand, and much more. When you use the product filters to narrow down your results, you'll be on your way to finding a product that suits your needs.
This page's content was written by:
Andrew Fatalo is the CEO of Statewide Mobility & Mobility Scooters Direct. He has been gaining mobility product experience since 2005 by repairing Mobility Scooters & Power Wheelchairs early in his career. He has since then been running one of the nation's largest online dealers for mobility products. Andrew gives back to the handicap community by hosting mobility scooter and electric wheelchair give-aways which you can learn more about by following our Facebook page.


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Okay. So when Black and Decker first contacted me about reviewing their new steam mop, I have to admit I was a little excited, because my Mom has a fancy steam mop that I've been coveting for some time. And yes, I realize that fully puts me into the grown up category but I don't mind one bit! B&D sent us over one, and we are so in love with it. We have a mix of large tile and carpet throughout our home, and Henry is all over the place, so we needed something I could use everyday to sanitize the tiled floor, but without scary chemicals. I'm self-admittedly a bit of a neat freak, but I also really love spending time doing fun things (cleaning the floor does not fall into that category!), so we've been looking for a mop that is quick and easy to use, and gets the job done.
Enter the Black and Decker Steam Mop.
This thing is awesome. I love that it's a chemical-free way to clean and I can feel comfortable having Henry crawl around on the floor without thinking about all the germs (or hazardous chemicals) he's picking up along the way. I also really like the dial that turns to the specific type of floor you have in your home. We may eventually put in hardwood flooring in some of our front rooms, so I like that this mop kind of grows with you too.
From their website:
- The power of steam deep cleans floors killing 99.9% of germs, mites, and bacteria without using chemicals
- Smart SelectTM dial automatically releases the right amount of steam according to the floor type
- Safe on all sealed hard floors - even delicate enough for hardwoods
- Swivel steering for easy maneuverability around furniture and in tight spaces
- 15 second heat-up - ready fast, no pumping required
So, here's how to enter the giveaway:
For your initial entry:
Be sure you're a follower of this blog, and leave a comment with your name and email address, and tell me how you'd use the steam mop. What will you clean up? For us, I love to keep our floors squeaky clean so Henry can go where he pleases!
For up to three additional entries:
- Like Black & Decker on Facebook
- Follow Black & Decker on Twitter
- Tweet about the giveaway with a link to the blog post
This giveaway will close one week from today on Monday, September 5th.
Good luck!


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ARPA-ED: A Qualified Thumbs-Up
Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) has proposed an "Education-ARPA," modeled on the famed Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The Obama administration has included a similar proposal, carving the dollars out of i3. Projected funding seems to hover in the $30 to $70 million range. (The proposals are cost neutral, meaning they'd be paid for by off-setting cuts.)
The idea intrigues me, but I've been as confused as most others about what ARPA-ED would look like or actually do. To try to get a clearer picture of what Sen. Bennet and the Obama administration have in mind, I invited the Senator and some key authorities over on Wednesday morning to explain it all at more length. The conversation included a public event, featuring Bennet; Jim Shelton, chief of ED's Office of Innovation and Improvement; John Easton, Director of the Institute for Education Sciences; and Ken Gabriel, the Deputy Director of DARPA (you can watch it here).
I came away more comfortable with the proposal. It didn't hurt that Gabriel did a terrific job of clearly and bluntly discussing DARPA and its role. Created in 1958 in the aftermath of the Soviet launch of Sputnik, DARPA operates as a nimble operation able to pursue strategically critical R&D.
Gabriel argued that the key word in the agency's title is not "advanced" or "research," but "project." This gives the agency a tightly defined mission--to pursue and create applied, transformative capabilities. This tack obviously requires a willingness to invest in programs with uncertain prospects and which may take a number of years to deliver, if they ever do. One current project is seeking to design a plane than can fly Mach 20 (twenty times the speed of sound). Previous projects have eventually yielded success like unmanned aircraft, stealth technology, and the internet. This patient, applied approach is very different from how R&D typically unfolds in education, where research is far less likely to focus on developing applications and where there is a demand for big answers that can be used right now. DARPA's focus on specific breakthrough capabilities strikes me as analogous to what I've previously described in Education Unbound as creating new "one percent" solutions--where you develop the ability to get profoundly better at solving one small but significant problem. One percent solutions don't "fix" schools; but if you develop one, and then another, and then another, stubborn problems start to become more tractable.
Any reason to think this kind of approach can usefully translate to the world of schooling, higher education, and workforce training, where it's about complex human interactions and not stealth technology? I think so. First, it's not as if the Department of Defense doesn't deal with teams, mentoring, training, and such. More to the point, ARPA-ED would make more sense for some kinds of capabilities than others. It would need to be directed accordingly. I find it much easier to envision a promising program to help students master conversational Mandarin or the principles of calculus in six weeks than one which "turns around" schools or figures out "optimal" pay systems. I could imagine projects that help an ELL student make up three years of English acquisition in three months, an iPad app that can help identify and remediate problems in early reading, or an assessment that can capture cognitive development in more robust, compelling ways.
Gabriel alluded to an intriguing DARPA project that enjoyed enormous success at workforce training. The Institute for Defense Analysis has reported, "In a recent study, DARPA compared students who trained to be Navy Information System Technicians, and found that those who had been trained by a new digital tutor outperformed traditionally-trained students by two standard deviations. In other words, the average student trained by the new digital tutor outperforms around 98 percent of students trained using traditional instruction."
Gabriel was very clear about what enables DARPA to be successful despite its modest size (DARPA spends just $2.8 billion of the Department of Defense's sprawling, $60 billion annual research and development budget). An independent agency of about 220 employees, DARPA's director reports directly to the Secretary of Defense. It's a remarkably flat operation, with just a half-dozen office directors, a deputy director, and a director providing all the management. The agency has freedom from civil service and hiring restrictions, and purposefully recruits outsiders from the worlds of academe, research, science, and technology to generate fresh thinking and ideas. Employees typically stay three to five years, and the work mostly consists at any given moment of different staff pursuing about 100 projects, each costing perhaps $15 or $20 million. The actual work is not done by DARPA, but by research universities, private sector firms, and other contracted parties. Gabriel was excruciatingly clear that DARPA wouldn't work if it was run like a typical federal agency. He remarked that "people are the lifeblood of the agency" and that "ideas are fragile," and therefore that the agency must be free to seek technical expertise; to recruit "with a sense of urgency;" to be small, autonomous, and agile; to have staff serve and then leave; and to be buffered from personal and political agendas on Capitol Hill or in DoD.
For any ARPA-ED proposal to make sense, it has to incorporate the same capabilities as DARPA. And that's an immense challenge. One savvy DC veteran enumerated on Wednesday the things that could go wrong: Congressional micro-management and an insistence on "immediately useful" results; an inability to attract or hire real talent due to hiring rules; an inability to move quickly due to cumbersome agency procedures and procurement rules; the desire of established research outfits, advocacy groups, and regional interests for earmarks and set-asides; and ED's aversion to dealing with for-profits.
There are a bunch of interesting details I won't wade into right now. One is that DARPA can count on DoD to be a giant customer for its best work. An ARPA-ED would have to instead depend on districts, states, and colleges to buy its product. Shelton spoke to this, arguing that the logic of ARPA-ED does depend on the faith that demand will emerge for capabilities which clearly represent a profound improvement. Another issue is that DARPA seeds innovation by being clear that intellectual property is owned not by the government but by those doing the work; that ensures it seeds the marketplace and doesn't stifle it. It's also unclear how ARPA-ED would proceed with funding which would amount to just one or two percent of what DARPA enjoys.
Here's where I come out. I like the idea. I believe there's a vital role for this kind of project-driven federal R&D. This can, as Shelton notes, help equip U.S. firms to thrive in the multi-trillion dollar international education marketplace. But this is only worth doing if it's done right, and that will be enormously difficult. There will be huge temptations to leave the design vague, get the thing launched, and then hope for the best. I think that would be a catastrophic mistake. And, we don't have new money to spend. So, I'm in...if the proposal is cost-neutral and, more importantly, if the legislation carefully and explicitly incorporates and safeguards the features that have fueled DARPA's success.


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India's Period Problem
By Isha Singh Sawhney
Don't enter the kitchen. Don't touch the pickles. Don't bake cakes. Don't come in contact with men. Don't swim. Don't wash your hair. Don't go into a wine cellar. These are some of the strictures still in place for women during their monthly period in parts of India, where old wives' tales about women's impurity during menstruation persist.
In India, most of the taboos stem from a time before sanitary pads, when women were made to stay in a hut outside the village during their period, kept from daily duties and not allowed in the kitchen. Women in some areas are prohibited from going to the temple during their monthly period.
Aditi Gupta, 28, spent her teenage years too embarrassed to buy sanitary pads, even though her family could afford them, and used discarded rags instead, a practice that still continues in some areas.
"In our small town, the women of the house couldn't go out to buy the pads and neither could the men," said Ms. Gupta, whose father was a lawyer and whose mother was a professor of Hindi at a university in the state of Jharkhand, in eastern India. When ads for sanitary pads appeared on television, Ms. Gupta says her mother would bat away her questions by saying she would understand when she was older.
And school wasn't much help either, she adds.
"Like most young girls, I started menstruating age 12. But only learned about what periods really were aged 15 in Class 9. Even then our teacher skipped the chapter, telling us to read it on our own," said Ms. Gupta, who grew up in Garhwa, a semi-urban small town in Jharkhand.
Even today in India, where schools often lack proper toilet facilities for girls, the onset of puberty means many girls stop going to school.
When her period pain became severe, Ms. Gupta and her husband Tuhin Paul, who now live in Gujarat, in western India, went searching for material online to help and discovered that there was very little information available on the subject.
"I had been menstruating for 18 years, and despite my education I knew nothing about my body," said Ms. Gupta.
So they decided to set up their own website to help break the taboo and make the subject more accessible and understandable.
Menstrupedia.com provides information on puberty and sexuality for pre-teens and teenagers, and since it went live a year ago, has received an average of 25,000 visitors a month from 195 countries, with readers from as far afield as Canada and the Philippines.
The couple, who are both graduates of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, hope their blog posts, video journals and online comic strips help explain the science behind the monthly cycle and provide a forum where the usually off-limits subject can be discussed without fear or shame.
A London-based gynecologist, Mahadeo Bhide, who read about the website in The Times of India, recently came on board as a volunteer in an advisory capacity.
The team is now going to publish a Menstrupedia comic, "Tales of Change," narrated through an older sister to three young girls going through puberty. Menstrupedia will publish the comic online and then hopes to publish it as an e-book before sending it via nonprofits to schools for distribution.
The traffic to the website and these new ventures are encouraging, says Ms. Gupta, but she gets the most satisfaction when a single father, for instance, writes to her thanking her for making it easy to talk to his daughter about subjects that were previously unmentionable.
Isha Singh Sawhney is a freelance journalist based in New Delhi.
Like India Real Time on Twitter @WSJIndia.
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Now, clean and identify the splenic artery. It arises from the celiac trunk and follows a tortuous course along the superior border of the pancreas. Along its course, it gives numerous short pancreatic branches, which supply the body and tail of the pancreas. The splenic artery is accompanied by the splenic vein which runs along the posterior surface of the body and tail of the pancreas. In the lienorenal ligament the splenic artery passes the hilum of the spleen. Before entering the spleen, the splenic artery divides into three or four splenic branches, the left gastroepiploic artery, and the short gastric arteries.
The left gastroepiploic and short gastric arteries pass through the gastrolienal ligament to reach the greater curvature
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There is nothing better in the summer than fresh fruit. All the fun varieties…I really can't get enough. I get so excited walking into a Farmer's Market or produce department with rows & rows of fresh fruit. I have really broadened my horizons over the past couple of years with fruit…just ask my family, I didn't eat fruit. Period. And God forbid if fruit was in my food. By food I mean salad, main dishes, vegetables, etc. No, thank you. That has all changed now. I can't get enough!!
Some of my favorites:
- Cherries (Bing or Ranier)
- Plums (all kinds)
- Pluots (cross between an apricot & a plum…awesome!)
- Watermelon (seedless, please)
- Cantaloupe
- Peaches (all)
- Nectarines (all)
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries (Golden & Red)
- Bananas (kind of a staple)
- Figs
- Grapes
- Pears
- Pineapple
- Apricots
- Cara Cara Navel Oranges (I save these more for the winter)
I have come up with all kinds of different ways to incorporate fruit into my food now. Yes, it is now allowed to mingle with my other food. 😉 Some of my favorite ways to eat fruit:
- Berries on salads
- Cherries pitted & cut up on salads or in cottage cheese (this last combo is amazing!)
- Pears on salads/sandwiches w/goat cheese or feta
- Pineapple on salmon or spicy turkey burgers
- Any of the above with Greek yogurt then topped with flax seed
- On dry cereal (berries, bananas, plums & peaches)
- In a stir fry or rice bowl mix
- On top of peanut butter or almond butter toast or rice cakes
- On top of oatmeal
- In Chia Goodness cereal
- On Ice Cream (berries are the best!)
- Made into Ice Cream (Bananas)
I can come up with endless ideas. 🙂 The best thing about fruit? You don't have to research whether or not it is gluten-free. A naturally gluten-free food is the best, in my opinion. You are packing tons of nutrients when you eat fruit…fiber & vitamins that your body needs. Whole foods are so much better for our bodies than processed junk. Treat yourself right and grab some fruit today!
Filed under: Family, Gluten-Free | 6 Comments »


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While it was believed only the raccoons and trees were left to be cast Guardians Of The Galaxy, it seems James Gunn has gone to unexpectedly extra lengths to get his Slither and Super pal Michael Rooker back on set with him again. Specifically, all the way to Centauri IV, where Gunn has cast The Walking Dead star as Yondu Udonta, a primitive yet noble bow-hunter who's also a founding member of the original Guardians. Yondu's presence suggests the film will find a way to link the first incarnation of the superhero team with that more recent one inhabited by Chris Pratt's Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana's Gamora, and Dave Batista's Drax the Destroyer, thus satisfying diehard Marvel fans and generally bemusing everyone else. It also suggests that Rooker actually had a good reason to shave his hair into a mohawk recently, other than the fact that he's Michael Rooker and he can do whatever he wants.
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