Wheelchair Lifts

America's still-vivid memories of that miserable morning five Septembers ago may be brightened by recollections of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's focused, confident performance on 9/11. The ongoing good will his leadership generated may explain why he outpaces potential rivals for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.

Polls last month showed Giuliani waxing on the right, despite misgivings that conservative GOP voters may have with him on abortion, gay rights or gun control.

_ Among 432 registered Republicans and pro-GOP independents surveyed by CNN and Opinion Research Corp., 31 percent favored Giuliani for the nomination, while 20 percent backed Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. (Error margin: +/- 5 percent.)

_ In Strategic Vision's studies, Giuliani trumped McCain, 42 percent to 28 percent, among Republicans in Florida and 44 percent to 24 percent in Pennsylvania.

Wheelchair lifts

Wheelchair Lift was designed and engineered for home use. It's easy to operate, easy to install and virtually maintenance free. Every safety detail has been carefully designed into these lifts. Including a non-slip platform, constant pressure switches, a low platform for easy roll-on/roll-off, safety barrier and railing, and rolled edges.

Handi-Ramp® Residential Wheelchair Lifts have maximum lift heights of either 50 inches or 72 inches. These Wheelchair Lifts are sturdy enough to lift and lower up to 500 pounds and will accommodate electric wheelchairs and scooters. Running on a gear box and chain, these wheelchair lifts provide a smooth and quiet up and down ride, requiring little maintenance. All mechanics are fully enclosed, yet are easy to access through the rear or front of the housing unit. The wheelchair lifts are completely weatherized and attractively finished in off-white.

One of Washington's dirty little secrets: How to avoid ...

You won't believe this. Or maybe you will if you run and hide when you hear, "Hi, we're from your government, and we're here to help you."

In this case, the chilling greeting comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), those wonderful folks who since 9/11 (under strict orders from the recently-resigned Secretary Norman Mineta) have been wanding little old ladies from Keokuk, Iowa, at America's airports all in the name of political correctness. DOT now has decided that it will apply the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in such a manner as to make it theoretically easier for the wheelchair-bound to board passenger trains.

There is just one problem, and in a metaphorical sense, it comes under the heading of the old gag, "The operation was a great success, but the patient died."

DOT has proposed a rule requiring that every single passenger train platform in the United States (1) stretches the full length of the longest train that serves the route, and (2) provides level (no steps) boarding for all doors.