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MIDWAY GAMES-LIU KANG- TOY ISLAND MORTAL KOMBAT TRILOGY FIGHTERS FIGURE WITH WEAPONS AND INSERT MISSLE Review

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• 1996 MIDWAY GAMES-LIU KANG- TOY ISLAND MORTAL KOMBAT TRILOGY FIGHTERS FIGURE WITH WEAPONS AND INSERT MISSLE

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Mortal Kombat Sub-Zero Review

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1992 All Sports Exotic Dreams Collectors Card Unopend Box Review

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Great Price Easy to Dress Barbie Magic Talk Club Fashions 2188 for

Barbie MAGIC TALK CLUB FASHIONS w Exclusive Fashion ID TAG (1992 Easy To Dress) Review

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Technical Details

• Easy to Dress Barbie Magic Talk Club Fashions is a 1992 Mattel production.
• Includes: a blue tones "denim" look Jacket w/purple "denim" look trim at collar & sleeve ends, a pink Halter style Top, a pink Skirt, a pink Boombox, & a pair of pink Hi Heel Shoes.
• Fashions fit most Barbie & other 11.5" fashion size dolls; NO DOLLS included.
• Easy to Dress For Ages 4+ Years. All the provided sizes, colors & details are to the best of my ability, approximate & may vary.
• For Package Condition see CONDITION NOTE or Email Seller for Details.

A Caribbean Charter to Jost Van Dyke

There is nowhere else quiet like the 4 mile long gem that is called the "Barefoot" island. Known by travelers around the world as the party capital of the BVI, Jost Van Dyke is equally appreciated for its protected anchorages, breathtaking beaches, unspoiled beauty and calm, casual, laidback lifestyle. Named after the 17th century Dutch pirate who made it his hideaway, the tiny mountainous island of Jost Van Dyke lies 3 miles off the northwest coast of Tortola. Little has changed since a Quaker colony settled here in the 1700s to farm sugar cane. In fact, most of the island's approximately 200 inhabitants (mainly members of the Chinnery and Callwood families) are descendants from the Quaker slaves. The island has only had electricity since 1991, goats graze peacefully over the green hills, and there is only one paved road; yet the charm of its residents and the uncomplicated simplicity make this unforgettable island an idyllic oasis on a Caribbean charter. The three main areas of activity are all on the south side of the island, with White Bay to the west, Great Harbour in the south-central area and rugged Little Harbour to the east.

White Bay

White Bay is named for its pristine long white sandy beach. An extensive reef that runs nearly the full length of the beach provides incredibly calm waters for swimmers and charterers alike. A break in the reef provides safe access to anchor your Caribbean charter. You could just relax in a hammock or walk the incredible beach, but White Bay is home to the famous Soggy Dollar Bar, as well as a hotel, campground, and a few other bars and shops.

One Love Bar is run by Seddy Callwood and his wife Raquel. Seddy is Foxy's oldest son, and he loves to entertain with his magic tricks. One Love Bar is a thatched-roof beach bar decorated with buoys, fenders, life rings, nets, plastic bottles and other cast-offs that have been found on the beach. The interior is strewn with children's toys, making it a great family place to hang out!

A bit down the beach is the Sandcastle, probably the best lodging on the island, although the hotel only updated to electricity in 1996. Its charming cottages are nestled near the beach and its restaurant offers dining by candlelight. No Caribbean charter to the BVI would be complete without heading to the Soggy Dollar Bar at the Sandcastle. Named after the wet bills brought by patrons who swim ashore to the bar, the Soggy Dollar (located right on the beach) is the inventor of the Painkiller, a strongly mixed drink made from dark rum, pineapple and orange juice, Coco Lopez and fresh nutmeg. After one drink, you will feel no pain; more than one and you will feel numb! Delicious sandwiches are available for lunch. There are plenty of BVI bar games to keep your family amused. Every Sunday, local musician, Ruben Chinnery, plays blues and Jimmy Buffet songs. Next door to the Soggy Dollar, you will find Gertrude's Bar and Boutique, offering drinks, snacks, gifts and hair braiding, as well as Wendall's Boutique for ladies clothing.

Farther up the beach, stop at the tiny Jewel's Snack Shack. Run by Jewel Callwood, this is a great place for burgers, beer and the best Hebrew National hot dogs in the BVI! (Jewel, a transplanted New Yorker, married into the Callwood family). If you are on a Caribbean charter, the White Bay Suprette is a quick place to pick up suntan lotion, film, batteries, very basic provisions, soda, beer, some liquor and snacks.

Right next to the White Bay campground, on the east end of the bay, you will find the Local Flavor Beach Bar, aka the Stress Free Bar. Decorated from top to bottom with shells collected off the beach, the Stress Free is proudly owned by Ivan Chinnery. The bar operates on an honor system- so mix your own drinks, keep your own tab and leave some money in the jar when you leave. Thursday nights you will find a delicious BBQ and live music.

If enjoying sea breezes while quenching your thirst, limin' on a hammock and taking a stroll on one of the most perfect picture-postcard beaches in the Caribbean is not enough stimulation, at the far end of White Bay, check out BVI Sea and Land Adventures. You can rent a variety of water sports equipment, including jet boats, kayaks and water trampolines, as well as mountain bikes and ATV's.

Great Harbour

Half a mile to the east, beyond Pull and Be Damn Point, is the settlement of Great Harbour, aptly named for the spacious harbor that is sheltered by mountains. The beach here is fine for swimming and it is close to the laid-back Main Street, which is little more than a sandy track. Here you will find rooms for rent, a handful of bars, boutiques, a provision store and even an ice cream shop. The biggest draw, however, is Foxy's Tamarind Bar and Grill, tucked into the eastern corner.

Foxy's is the bar that put Jost Van Dyke on cruisers' map. Tessa and Foxy Callwood are known by sailors and yachtsmen the world over. Together, this dynamic duo has built a fabulous business which has become a main attraction to this harbor and these islands. No Caribbean charter to the BVI would be complete without a visit to this quintessential beach bar. The bar is open to the elements and decorated with various articles of underclothing hanging from its thatched roof. What began as little more than a lemonade stand sized bar which was supposed to be open for only 1 day, Foxy's has evolved over the last 40 years into a major cultural force. Big annual events at Foxy's are his Old Year Party (a 3 day New Year's party which is so popular you can literally walk from one boat to another in the Harbour), the Halloween Party, the Cat Fight (catamaran race) and the Wooden Boat Regatta. A legend throughout the BVI, larger than life Foxy himself does impromptu shows, playing calypso and telling stories and jokes often at the expense and delight of his audience. Known for great local food, Foxy's has BBQ buffet nights on Fridays and Saturdays and live music Thursday through Saturday. Be sure to check out the rotis, flying fish sandwiches, and grilled fresh fish and lobster dinners.

On the opposite end of the beach is Rudy's Mariner Inn. This establishment has 5 rooms, a bar and restaurant featuring seafood and live entertainment, and a small store in the back offering basic provisions. Next store to Rudy's, you will find the charming Methodist Church where, "All are Welcome" and the Jost Van Dyke Primary School- located behind the church. Next down the beach is Ali Baba's. This picturesque bar and restaurant specializes in BBQ ribs and chicken, conch, grilled local fish, drink specials (including their own rum punch) and a Monday night pig roast. At Wendell's World, get some delicious ice cream, stock up on provisions, or have one of the ladies braid your hair in the back beauty shop.

In the center of the harbor is the Government Dock. In front of the dock is the Customs & Immigration and local Police station. You may need to hunt for an official since the station is rarely open. Behind this two-story building, is the local Ice House, which has ice by the block as well as cubes. Take the alley next to the Ice House to reach Christine's Bakery and Nature's Basket. Christine's Bakery is a quiet little place for great breakfast sandwiches and is especially known for the tasty banana bread. Nature's Basket has fresh fruit and vegetables from Ivan Chinnery's own plantation. Finally, be sure to take a stroll along Back Street that forms an arc through this interesting little community. While there, check out the wooden sloop behind Foxy's that is being built by the Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society.

Little Harbour

Just over a mile to the east of Great Harbour is Little Harbour- an incredibly quiet and picturesque anchorage. Those on a Caribbean charter know it for its 3 restaurants that offer great lobster dinners! On the west side, dine at either Harris' Place or Sidney's Peace & Love. Sidney's has been open for nearly 30 years. T-shirts of guests dangle from the ceiling. Lobsters are caught by Sidney himself, and both the lobster and chicken are cooked over an open fire according to an old family recipe. Meals are served with hearty helpings of rice and peas, coleslaw, potato salad and steamed vegetables. Thursday night is all you can eat lobster and Mondays and Saturdays are pig roast nights- each with live music. The bar is self service: mix 'em as you like 'em, just keep a tab!

On the eastern side of the harbor is Abe's by the Sea. Owned by Abe Coakley, this small restaurant does not look like much from the outside. There is a tiny bar and just a few tables, along with a little store out back to do some simple provisioning. The pleasant surprise comes from the quality of food that emerges from the kitchen. Freshly caught lobster and fish is brought in daily. If you are lucky, you can actually meet the fishermen at the dock and select your dinner. The tables are meticulously set with pretty placemats and flatware. Besides fish and lobster, the menu also includes conch and chicken. Prices are reasonable and serving are generous. Meals include peas and rice, coleslaw or salad and delicious homemade desserts.

Other Places To Visit

If you are on a Caribbean charter to the BVI, there are many other things to do in and around Jost Van Dyke. You can trace the varied history of the Arawak Indians, Caribs, Dutch, African and British on the old trails that meander over Jost Van Dyke. The highest point is only 1,054 feet, so you can easily hike or take an ATV. You can explore the vegetation-covered ruins of centuries old sugar mills. In the autumn and winter, watch the whales and dolphins from a peaceful hilltop. A series of small islands off Jost Van Dyke's east end also offer spectacular beaches, day anchoring and snorkeling in shallow reefs:

• Diamond Cay on Long Bay Beach, Jost Van Dyke is where Foxy's has opened Foxy's Taboo bar and restaurant. There are a few moorings and a substantial dock. From there, take the goat trail crossing the short peninsula separating Long Bay and a salt pond through waist-high wild sage bushes to the "Bubbly Pool." This geological delight is one of the BVI's Nature's little secrets! This spot is like a natural Jacuzzi. The rock formation on Jost Van Dyke's rugged northern coast funnels waves through a very narrow passage into a small natural pool that "bubbles" as the waves crash in. It is about five feet deep and fun for the whole family.


• Little Jost Van Dyke offers a small anchorage except when the surge is up. There is good snorkeling along the south side. On the north side, there is a dive site called, Twin Towers. In the springtime, expect to see schools of reef squid.


• Green Cay is a superb daytime stop with excellent snorkeling on the reef that extends south of the cay. Off Green Cay's oceanside, The Playground is an exciting dive site for swell-less days. A series of pinnacles covered with brightly colored sponges and branching hydroid fans shelter abundant marine life such as angelfish and glassy minnows, patrolled by jacks, snappers and schools of barracuda and tarpon.


• Sandy Cay is located to the east of Jost Van Dyke. Owned by Laurence Rockefeller, this is an ideal tropical island dotted with palm trees on wide, gently sloping beaches. There is a botanical tour on a small path that encircles the island and affords spectacular views of the surrounding islands.


• Sandy Spit is a superb day anchorage laying immediately south of Green Cay and within "spitting" distance of Jost Van Dyke and Sandy Cay. This is an fantasy-like little island that is encircled by a picture perfect 360° white sand beach, some green vegetation, and only two coconut palms. It is a fun place to sun bath, picnic and explore, but the snorkeling is not great.

Jost Van Dyke is a special island with incredibly friendly residents and a casual way of life. It is a world apart from any of the other British Virgin Islands. For years, it has been a favorite destination of yachties because of its unpretentiousness. Discover this idyllic tranquil retreat. Joie de vivre awaits you on Jost Van Dyke.

Donna Wolfson also know as "Sailgirl" at Virgin Island Sailing, has been sailing in the Caribbean and writing about it for years. Learn more about Caribbean Charter.
http://www.visailing.com

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Jade 10" Figure From Mortal Kombat Review

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Technical Details

• 10 inch figure from Mortal Kombat
• ages 4 and up.

Big Oil Companies No longer Pull the Plug on Electric Vehicles

Introduction

As gas prices continue to rise throughout the nation, rumors of oil conspired wars loom in the Middle East, and the lingering threat of human-induced harmful global warming becomes a reality; it is clear that an alternative form of energy must be implemented soon to replace the nation’s addiction to oil. While oil is used for many different forms of energy, vehicles used for transportation are responsible for a large portion of the oil consumption in the United States. Therefore, the need to convert our gas-guzzling autos to run off of alternative forms of energy is the first step to wining our nation off of oil usage.

Over the past decade, there have been several attempts to produce alternative forms of energy which can be converted to power by our every day drivers. These attempts have encompassed everything from solar to alcohol powered vehicles; however, due to lack of technology most of these non-greenhouse emitting vehicles have remained as nothing more than a dream. However, electric vehicles proves to be the exception as it has already been mass produced in 1996 by one of the Nations leading auto manufactures.

The first initial push that drove automobile producers to create an electric car came from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The CARB mandated that 2% of the cars sold in California by 1998 must be considered "Zero Emission Vehicles"(ZEVs). After the 1998 dead line, new requirements were made by the CARB, mandating that by 2003, 10% of all automobiles sold in California must be ZEVs (Motavalli, 1997).

General Motors was one of the first companies to meet the CARB’s new mandates for the first zero emission vehicle. They did this with the release of the first electric vehicle known as the EV1 (Electric Vehicle 1). Conversely, soon after General Motors started, they abandoned the popular project joining the Federal Government in successfully suing the State of California to remove the CARB zero emissions requirements.

Hence, despite the large need, want and availability of the mass production of electric vehicles—they are still not being produced due to the overwhelming influence of oil driven industries and the Federal Government’s lack of intervention.

The Need

Global warming has been the center of environmental debate since 1896 when Swedish chemist, Svante Arrhenius, hypnotized that the build up of carbon dioxide, produced by burning fossil fuels, such as coal, would increase the temperature on the planet (Clemmitt, 2006). Since the establishment of Arrhenisus’ theory on global warming over 100 years ago, scientific advancements, and new technologies have re-enforced his theory. However, the most convincing evidence of global warming is the actual changes that are occurring throughout the globe.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the global temperature has increased by one degree Fahrenheit (Clemmitt, 2006). While one degree may not seem worthy of alarm, a change in one degree can cause a devastating domino effect that can lead to the demise of the entire planet. For example, the one-degree increase in the global temperature has caused many of the worlds glaciers to begin to melt. Glacier melting is currently affecting Montana’s Glacier National Park, where nearly 120 glaciers have melted since 1910. As glaciers, such as those in Montana’s Glacier National Park, melt they cause the sea levels throughout the world to rise in both temperature and depth. Although the negative effects of melting glaciers and rising sea levels may not seem detrimental, the increase temperatures from global warming are responsible for “… providing added fuel to growing storms and hurricanes, making them more intense” (Lener, 2006). The overwhelming deadly aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has been directly attributed to global warming. Rising global temperatures are also being blamed for the European heat wave of 2003 that was responsible for killing 25,000 people (Clemmitt 2006). The list of increasing powerful and frequent natural disasters continues to grow as the globe continues to heat up.

The director of Climate and Global Dynamics Division at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, James Hurrell, told the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee recently that, “The climate is changing, and the rate of change as projected exceeds anything seen in nature in the past 10,000 years” (Clemmitt, 2006). With the deadly effects of global warming already unfolding throughout the world, the solution must be implemented immediately.

Currently, green house gasses are the highest they have been in 75,000 years. In addition, human emitted carbon dioxide is at the highest levels it has ever been in the history of man (Clemmitt, 2006). Hence, it is hard to ignore the theory, of human induced-global warming, when green house gas concentrations are parallel to the large amount of human produced carbon dioxide. It is also hard to ignore a panel of nearly 25,000 scientists gathered together in 2001 to form the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The team of scientist reported “That most of the observed warming of the last 50 years is attributable to human activities” (Cooper 2001). They furthered their argument by predicting that the Earth’s overall temperature could climb up to eleven degrees Fahrenheit, under the worst-case conditions, if the amount of green house gases continue to rise (Cooper 2001). If this takes place scientists have projected that “such a rise could inundate many low-lying islands and eventually threaten such areas as the New York City borough of Manhattan and Miami Beach” (Griffin, 1992). The green house gases responsible for current and future disasters are made-up of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. The increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are the direct result of the burning of fossil fuels and the source of most of the danger.

As show in Figure 1, nearly 1/3 of the increased levels of carbon dioxide can be contributed to transportation ( Cooper 2001).

Figure 1

Carbon dioxide is one of the byproducts that are produced by the burning of gasoline within the combustible engine found in all cars and trucks on the road today.

In other words, one of the solutions to preventing further global warming is to either stop transportation all together or implement an alternative form of energy, which does not produce carbon dioxide, to power our vehicles. Obviously, the economy and the human way of life would cease to exist if we stopped transportation altogether. However, the obvious decision to use an alternative form of fuel to save the earth is rejected by major oil companies and other related industries to keep Americans addicted to oil in order not to loose their $300 billion dollar a year industry (Motavalli, 1997).

The Kyoto Protocol

Recently, measures have been taken to curb the production of carbon dioxide, not only on a state level with the “Zero-Emissions Law” passed by the California State Legislature, but these efforts are also seen on a global level as well. In 1997, more than 150 countries met in Kyoto Japan to sign the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that required signing countries to reduce green house gasses to 5% below 1990 levels by 2005 through the implementation of taxes and laws. The United States, responsible for emitting the largest amount of green house gases, vowed to cut their share by 7% under the Clinton administration. As the deadline for the Protocol was set for February of 2005, the United States, under the Bush Administration, has since changed their stance stating that there is a lack of scientific evidence to support global warming (Cooper, 2001). Bush was also quoted by saying it [the Kyoto Protocol] shackled the U.S. economy(Cooper, 2005). In addition to the Bush administrations lack of support to the Kyoto Protocol, the U.S. Senate and the House of representatives are also opposed to the treaty (Clemmitt, 2006). One can only speculate that the rejection of the Kyoto Protocol and California’s zero emissions laws are just two examples of a larger picture: the oil and auto industries massive influence on the United States Government.

The Oil Industries Influence in the Government

The WSPA (Western States Petroleum Association) is made up a coalition of oil companies that are located in the western United States including: Mobile, Shell, Chevron and Arco. The WSPA is also one of the top five lobbyist employers in California. Therefore, much of the lobbying done in California is influenced from the major oil companies. Two of the major activist seen in California State’s legislature is know as CAUCA (Californians Against Utility Company Abuse) and CHAT (Californians Against Hidden Taxes). Both of these lobbyists are funded in part by the WSPA (Motavalli, 1997). The executive director of the “Grass Roots” lobby CHAT, Linda Mangels, even said, “I believe most, if not all of our funding comes from WSPA --that's no secret,” (Motavalli, 1997). With such a powerful influence in the state legislature the WSPA has declined how much money it has invested in the campaign against the electric car mandates such as the Zero Emissions Mandate by the CARB and the CETC. (California Electric Transportation Coalition).

In addition to the massive influence of the WSPA, the coming fourth electric vehicle has also been hit hard by the AAMA (American Automobile Manufactures Association). The AAMA has done its own lobbying campaign against the electric vehicle. In six months, the auto industry spent around $500,000 to campaign against the electric car mandates (Motavalli, 1997). While that number may not seem that impressive, it represents nearly four times the amount of money the California Electric Transportation Coalition has available each year.

In a recent study named the Pollution Politics, done between the years 1991-1995, revealed that nearly $34 million dollars in public policy was spent by oil companies and automakers to influence public opinion against the electric car mandates. Of the $34 million spent, $29 million went towards lobbying and $3.97 million went towards donations to legislative candidates (Motavalli, 1997). The majority of the public relations campaigns done by both the auto and oil companies were aimed at the increase of taxes that it would take to promote the electric car. The public, however, was not informed of the larger amount of money they are currently spending to continue the use of gas-powered vehicles. As the numbers and facts are examined it is clear that the oil industry has used its power and influence, both monetarily and legally, to keep the electric car from being produced.

The Want

As gas prices rise and rumors of oil conspired wars are consistently looming in the Middle East, it comes as no surprise that the general public would prefer an electric powered vehicle over a gas powered vehicle. While a mass produced electric vehicle is not currently available on the market, the electric and gas hybrid is. The hybrid car takes electric technology and combines it with the traditional gas powered engine. The result is a low emissions vehicle that has a high mile per gallon rating, as the car relies on both electric and gas power.

In a resent study done by J.D. Power and Associates, 57% of the consumers in the U.S. who expected to purchase a new vehicle by 2009 are considering a hybrid vehicle (King Flounders, 2007). This attraction to hybrid vehicles offers the most realistic glimpse into the future of the motor vehicle industry. Hence, it seems only logical that if the hybrid vehicle is attracting consumers because of the electric qualities, that a completely electric vehicle would gain an even greater demand.

This demand for an electric car was recently experienced by General Motor Company with the release of the first production electric vehicle, the EV1. The first EV1 concept car was revealed in the Los Angles Auto Show, in 1990. General Motor executives were surprised by the large demand for the concept to become a reality. The demands were not only from the public but also from the California State Legislature as they continued to enforce the Zero-Emissions Law that required General Motors to produce the vehicle. The EV1 was released by General Motors to the general public in the fall of 1996. As the public discovered that the completely electric car was about to hit the market, it became obvious that the demand for the EV1 was still strong.

Even with the limited availability, there was a large waiting list to purchase the new electric cars. Perhaps the large demand for the EV1 spawned from its ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in nine seconds, the standard air bags, anti-lock breaks, cruise control, traction control, electric locks, keyless entry and ignition, liquid free batteries, aluminum frame, or the 90 mile highway range of the batteries (Cook 1996). The car had such a high demand that the Saturn dealerships, where the car was offered for lease, had to screen the potential owners and then select only the most qualified applicants from the list (Cook 1996). Those that qualified were only allowed to lease the EV1 with no option of purchase. Of course the EV1 had its share of critics; however, due to the popular demand, it was apparent that General Motors had taken a step in the right direction.

At the end of the leasing option in 2003, many of the satisfied owners offered to buy the EV1. Instead of taking the buyers offers General Motors had all the EV1 returned, taken to a junk yard in Arizona and crushed (More, 2006). This bizarre decision to suddenly crush the vehicles raised the eyebrows of many EV1 enthusiasts. The decision to crush the EV1 came the same month the State of California lifted the Zero-Emissions mandate to accept lower forms of carbon producing vehicles (Silberg, 2006).

The Means

After the recall of the EV1, General Motors stated that the production costs for the all electric vehicles were too high and the technology did not allow for their production. While this excuse may have been effective over ten years ago, it has become more apparent that the technology is currently available and affordable. The technology to build an electric car has become so affordable that as Bill More, an author of the Mother Earth News, points out, “Anyone who has the time, talent and the resources can convert a conventional automobile to electric drive” (More, 2006). Of course most Americans do not have the ability to convert their daily driver into an electric vehicle, but it does show that the technology is currently available.

Often times many critics of the electric car debate that the car would need re-charging too often in order to allow the user to travel the distances needed throughout the day. Amazingly enough, one of the breakthroughs technologies of the EV1 was the ability to reuse kinetic energy displaced when breaking. This recycled energy could charge the battery up to 30%. Of course advanced breaking methods do not replace the need for recharging the batteries, but there are ways of incorporating charging batteries into our everyday life as seen in Europe.

Electric cars are one of the fastest growing forms of transportation in London; the number of electric cars jumping from 49 to 1,278 in two years. To make up for this increased form of electric transportation London has provided re-charge bays next to most parking meters (Britain: Charging around the city; Electric cars, 2007). It is only a matter of time before all of England is equipped to handle the electric car.

While the mass produced electric car is not currently on the market, smaller simpler electric vehicles are. The electric
scooter [http://www.mycityscooters.com] and electric bike are two forms of electric vehicles that are mass produced and can be bought at the local toy shop or even over the Internet. The electric scooter can be bought in two forms; the classic Vespa style, which appears resemble a motorcycle; or the children style electric scooter that represents a push style scooter. Both types of electric scooters are extremely popular amongst college students and inner-city commuters alike. The electric scooter is powered by batteries that can be re-charged using a conventional AC adaptor. Jerome Byrd, a web publisher, who lives in Philadelphia, has driven to work and throughout Philadelphia on his electric scooter and has gone nearly a total of 30,000 miles (Moore, 2007).

Even more popular is the electric
bike [http://www.mycityscooters.com]. Just like the electric scooter, the electric bike is powered by batteries and can come in two forms: the human assisted (comes with pedals) or the completely electric bike (does not need pedals). While there are many different forms of e-bikes they are all measured in watts and amps. The more watts and amps that you purchase the more powerful the electric bike (and scooter) are. These bikes can reach up to 24 mph and travel up to 15 miles on a single charge. Although, the electric scooter and electric bike are by no means an alternative to a car, their ability to be mass produced commercially is paving the way.

Conclusion

Each year, as the temperature rises and more human lives are lost to the intensified natural disasters due to global warming, we are reminded of the need for a solution to combat global warming. The solution comes in the form of a pollution free electric vehicle. While the mighty oil companies and their minions, the U.S. government and auto manufacturers, have done all they can to stop alternative forms of energy from emerging, the overwhelming need, the undeniable want and the available technologies cannot stop the electric car from once again quietly gliding down a street near you some day soon.

References

Britain: Charging around the city; Electric cars. (2007, June). The Economist, 383(8531), 38. Retrieved August 3, 2007, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1280674301).

Clemmitt, M. (2006, January 27). Climate change. CQ Researcher, 16, 73-96. Retrieved August 3, 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2006012700.

Cook, W. (1996, September 30). Look, mom, no gas. U.S. News & World Report, 121(13), 52. Retrieved July 31, 2007, from Academic Search Premier database.

Cooper, M. (2001, January 26). Global warming treaty. CQ Researcher, 41-64. Retrieved July 31, 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2001012600. Graphic

Cooper, M. (2005, February 25). Alternative fuels. CQ Researcher, 15, 173-196. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2005022500.

Griffin, R. D. (1992, February 7). Threatened coastlines. CQ Researcher, 2, 97-120. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1992020700.

"Global Warming: The Culprit? Evidence mounts that human activity is helping fuel these monster hurricanes". (2006). In Brenda Lerner & K. Lerner (Eds.), Environmental Issues: Essential Primary Sources, (139-142). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved August 07, 2007, from Gale Virtual Reference Library via Thomson Gale:

Moore, B. (2007, April). Ride Green with Electric Bikes and Scooters. Mother Earth News, Retrieved August 7, 2007, from Academic Search Premier database.

Motavalli, J. (1997, March). The ties that blind. E Magazine: The Environmental Magazine, 8(2), 36. Retrieved August 4, 2007, from Academic Search Premier database.

Silberg, J. (2006, July). Who Killed the Electric Car?: Plinyminor's New Model for Production and Post. Videography, 31(07), 16. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1094860951).>

Creatively Setting Up Play Environments to Help Children Learn How to Crawl, Stand and Walk

Think about how to set up your child's play environment when you are NOT working with them. Setting up your child's play environment for success is very useful in helping your child progressively move their level of skill up to standing, walking and beyond.

Sometimes without even realizing it, we encourage our children to stay "stuck" in a developmental level because of how we have the play environment organized, and where we put the toys and objects they want. We tend to leave toys right where they can easily play with them and don't give it much thought.

To use this tactic successfully you will need a good working knowledge of the developmental levels and positions discussed in Tip 5. Here's a little table to help refresh your memory.

Levels Developmental Positions

Level I Supine (back), Prone (stomach), and Sidelying
Level II Sitting (on the floor), hands/knees (crawling), and kneeling
Level III Standing, cruising (walking while holding on to furniture), and walking

Simply put, observe what level your child plays in most, and set up the play surroundings to encourage movement up to the next developmental level. Decide what position(s) your child is moving "from" and the position(s) you would like them to get "to."

An important note: I am keeping this tip simple to stress the importance of moving up, against gravity, for your child to reach a new developmental level. However, I realize your child may not be physically able to move independently between levels, and we do not want them becoming frustrated. As a step along the way, we can still encourage progress by setting up a play environment that encourages your child to move within a given level. Again, I highly recommend you consult with a physical therapist if you are having difficulty figuring out the best way to set up the play environment for success, or to teach your child how to move between positions and levels.

As an example, perhaps you would like your child to move from Level II to Level III but the spasticity in their legs doesn't allow them to go from kneeling to standing without help. We would encourage them to move independently between the positions in Level II (sitting, hands/knees, and kneeling) by virtue of the way you set up their play environment. As they gain strength functionally and through the use of other therapeutic techniques to reduce the effects of spasticity, the goal would be to eventually work towards changing the play environment to promote moving up independently to Level III.

Things to keep in mind when setting up the play environment:

What exactly is the "play" environment?

When I am referring to the "play" environment, I'm mostly talking about where a younger child spends time during the day, such as your home, daycare, Grandma's house, etc... When considering play surroundings for grade school age children, think about where they like to hang out after school or on weekends, and what activities they enjoy doing. Inside or outside? Does it depend on the weather? Does their favored environment include other children?

Keep them focused on what you would like by setting up a "corral."

It's better to limit the amount of stimulation your child has in the level from which you would like them to move. In other words, if you give them access to anything remotely interesting to do in the "from" developmental level, they will often choose to be there instead of working to reach the "to" level.

This is an issue that comes up a lot when trying to get your child to move up to Level III (standing, walking). Children that move well within Levels I and II are very good at escaping to other places in the home to play with objects, and they will often avoid doing anything more challenging.

If, for example, your son crawls well but is not yet that interested in standing, your goal would be to help him transition to standing at furniture. The challenge is that when you put the objects that he wants on the couch or coffee table to encourage him to stand, he simply crawls someplace else within the home and plays with things that require less effort on his part. This is where a "corral" is helpful.

The "corral" can surround him with furniture, walls, gates or other barriers to keep him directed and focused on where you would like him to play. Things like a circle of chairs, half of a room, or a gated-off hallway work well. The reason corrals are so helpful is that it is simply not practical to move all of the objects in your home out of the way or somewhere your child can't reach them.

Here's one way it can work: we use the corner of a room (two walls) as part of our corral and then place a piece of furniture diagonally (a couch or a few chairs) to make the last side of a triangle. Then we place your child inside the triangular area with the objects he wants on top of the furniture. By containing him within this area having nothing to play with on the floor, he will usually start trying to stand - we are directing him toward the only source of play.

In situations like this, expect to get inside the corral with your child at first. You may need to show them how to play in the level you would like them to achieve, and then you can begin to come and go with regularity.

Try to avoid moving a lot of furniture and objects from room to room for your set-up.

Being ambitious is great, but being over-ambitious can backfire. I have had clients who rearranged furniture from different areas of the house on a daily basis, until they lost steam and just stopped. Doing a daily major overhaul just isn't practical. I recommend you study each room where your child plays and decide how each room can be set up and positioned in order to challenge your child to move to the next level. Try one arrangement, leave it like that for a while to see how it works, and then make adjustments as needed.

How long do I have to do this for?

It depends on your child's diagnosis and which body systems are affected, but typically you are not going to have to arrange your home in the described manner for months and years. This is because once your child is used to playing at more challenging developmental levels it is natural for them to be internally driven to want to play there more without needing much (if any) encouragement from you.

Continue to use your creativity with how you set up the play environment, and your child will progress more rapidly. Again, if your child is making progress and then all of a sudden gets "stuck," review some of these tips to help re-evaluate whether or not you need to make a change in your practice routine. Perhaps you may find that the play environment set-up needs a little adjusting.

Are you a parent trying to provide the best possible life for your child with special needs? Go to our website http://www.professionaltherapies.com and sign up for our FREE monthly teleseminar designed to train parents, answer questions and give valuable information about topics such as physical therapy treatment, therapy equipment and other resources to help you become more self-sufficient.