The Rhino Outdoor International, Inc. (ROI), a leading outdoor activity based business, including Rhino Off-Road Industries, Inc., its entirely owned subsidiary, earlier announced that the company has formed a strategic alliance with the Arizona Emergency Products (AEP), a famous provider of emergency equipment to government agencies.

The alliance is aimed at designing and producing a specialized Rhino Off-Road Industries RTV to meet the unique needs of first response and search and rescue groups. The “Rapid Response” Rough Terrain Vehicle (RTV) is inspired by the innovative Rhino Off-Road Industries RTV design platform, which is now being produced for both the competitive and recreational off-road marketplace.

In producing the RTV, refinements were entertained to enhance the capabilities of the vehicle for the first response activities in rugged off-road terrains that are inaccessible at present to most vehicles. The main design considerations include increasing the wheelbase to accommodate extra passengers and equipment.

Other considerations include expanding the battery capacity so as to support communications and lighting, creating space to allow for emergency equipment accessories like tool boxes, winches, medical equipment and poly-tanks for fire retardants. These retardants can be refilled by a helicopter.

The AEP is known in the manufacture of vehicles for law enforcement, Homeland Security, fire departments and search and rescue organizations. “The Rhino Off-Road RTV is unlike any other vehicle now in use by the emergency response industry,” said Mike Chamberlain, the owner of Arizona Emergency Products. “It’s designed to go anywhere - and when outfitted to meet the needs of firefighters, police, border patrol, and others - it will allow for rapid response access to areas previously only accessible by horse, foot or helicopter.”

In the past couple of months, the AEP has field-tested the Rhino Off-Road RTV with its customers. This is done to get feedback from them. “Without exception, the response has been very positive”, continued Chamberlain, “everyone who has seen the RTV in action has requested a follow-up demonstration of the prototype and is interested in placing an order.”

ROI and AEP are sharing the cost of development for the prototype version of the RTV. The final design of the RTV is expected to be completed in a matter of 90 days. ROI will be the one to deliver the vehicle. AEP, on the other hand, will install the necessary accessories to meet the needs of emergency response groups. The vehicle will also be given a simple manual which could be likened to Nissan repair manuals.

“Mike Chamberlain and AEP have brought a tremendous amount of expertise to the design table,” said Howard Pearl, the CEO and the President of ROI. “We created the RTV to go just about anywhere. The fundamental design platform is ideal for first responders needing access to backcountry and off-road terrains.”

He added, “The strategic alliance with AEP allows us to learn directly from professionals in emergency response who use this vehicle in search and rescue and rapid response situations. ROI and AEP are creating a specialized RTV that will carry emergency personnel and equipment to and from the most remote locations. This is a fantastic application for the RTV and is a growing, untapped market. You can’t imagine how excited we are to be making a contribution in this important market space - this is the type of opportunity for growth we are constantly seeking.”

Ryan Thomas is a native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in a family of car afficionados. He now resides in Detroit where he owns a service shop and works part time as a consultant for a local automotive magazine. Please visit Nissan repair manuals for more information.

Raising sufficient working capital is an essential pre-requisite for any business start-up. Though the market offers a host of financing options, choosing the right one among the lot can be confusing for an entrepreneur having limited understanding in this regard. The mode of financing is an important element that determines the success of the organization and thus an exhaustive understanding of the available funding options is almost mandatory.

A business, depending on its scale of operation, can be funded through a number of sources. Capital can be raised by borrowing money from friends and relatives, making use of personal savings or seeking loans from banks and credit unions. Firms that had been in the business for a while can seek help from venture capital firms, which extend financial help in exchange of partial ownership of the borrower’s business. However, among the various options available, the ideal funding strategy of a start up business should comprise of a mix of accumulated personal savings and money borrowed from external sources like banks and financial institutions.

The best way to seek financial help from external sources is to opt for loans. Loans are available in two forms - secured and unsecured. Secured loans are lent in exchange of a collateral, which is liable to be seized by the lending authority if the borrower fails to repay the loan amount. Unsecured loans do not need a collateral, but the rate of interest charged is much higher than that of the secured loans. Nevertheless, getting a loan has never been easy for a budding entrepreneur. Banks and financial institutions have stringent qualifying parameters. Operational and successful businesses might qualify for such loans but for a new venture, it could be an uphill task to get the loan amount sanctioned. Other factors like a bad credit record, or insufficient collateral further dents the possibility of getting the loan. Even though the loan amount gets sanctioned, the borrower still has to bear the burden of fixed monthly repayments.

A better way of seeking external financial help is to opt for business cash advance. The qualifying parameters for getting a cash advance are not as stringent as in the case of other forms of loans. A business cash advance neither needs a collateral or security nor does it require the borrower to necessarily have a good credit record. To get a cash advance, the borrower’s business should accept credit cards as the mode of payment. The amount is repaid through future credit card receivables of the borrower.

Every business needs proper capital backup to prosper. A business cash advance in combination with the accumulated personal savings not only ensures adequate capital flow into the business but also relieves the borrower from the burden of monthly repayments. As the repayment is directly linked to sales, people seeking a cash advance do not have to be bothered about it. Once the business has been adequately financed, prosperity is certainly going to be near at hand.

Alfred Anderson has rich experience in the field of online brand marketing. His interests includes Internet marketing and research on emerging online business trends. Small Business Cash Advance

Santa Barbara is a scenic community isolated from most of its California neighbors. If you are heading to Santa Barbara, you will find one of the most expensive places to live in the United States.

Santa Barbara is a medium-sized city with an estimated 90,700 residents in 2005. The city serves as the county seat of Santa Barbara County. With surrounding communities, the metropolitan area has a population closer to 200,000. The entire community is sandwiched between the Santa Ynez mountains and the Santa Barbara Channel. More than half of the city’s 43 square miles is water because city limits extend four miles into the Pacific Ocean. A blend of Mexican and American customs make the city unique. Spanish and English are both spoken. The majority of residents living in Santa Barbara are White non-Hispanic, about 58% of the population. Another 35% are Hispanic, well above the state average, while the African-American population is significantly low at just 2.4%. The average age of residents is near the national average of 36.4 years. Nearly 21% of the population are foreign born, mainly from Latin America.

Santa Barbara has been ranked as the fourth most expensive place to live in the country, according to CNN Money. The city has seen a big jump in home values since 2000 when the average home valued at $479,800. The median house value topped $1,000,000 in 2005, sending people away rather than heading to Santa Barbara. The home values are among the fastest appreciating in the country. The physical limitations of Santa Barbara’s geography contribute to a higher than average cost of living. Areas of land on which to build have become scarce. Roughly three out of every five homes are inhabited by renters. Rent for a two-bed, two-bath apartment can exceed $2000. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners in 2005 was $3,024, non-mortgaged owners $476, and renters $1,231.

Well educated are Santa Barbara’s residents with over 41% of adults 25 and older holding a Bachelor’s degree. The number of college students living in the city is above average with the University of California-Santa Barbara educating nearing 20,000 full-time students yearly. Workers living in Santa Barbara are among the best paid in California. Median household income rose to $61,182 in 2005. Per Capita income was $34,563 and median family income was $82,035, much higher than the U.S. average of $55,832. The community has an economic base built around high-tech, education, agriculture, medicine, government and tourism. A great number of wineries operate in the area, producing high quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Wine grapes command prices that are among the highest in the state. Santa Barbara was primarily known as a quiet, agricultural community before the depression of the 1930s created a large homeless population. Fewer residents were found to be poor in 2005 with 13.7% of city residents, a fraction above the national average. Of those living in poverty, 7.7% are White Non-Hispanic and 22.8% Hispanic.

The Santa Barbara coastline actually faces south rather than west, making for a Mediterranean type climate. The city is renowned for its warm weather, downtown beaches, Spanish architecture and mountain views. If you are heading to Santa Barbara, you will find plenty of weather conducive to improving your tan. Winter temperatures average about 56 degrees. High temperatures have historically averaged 77 degrees at the peak of summer. On an average summer day, a 20 minute drive over the mountains will find temperatures as high as 110 degrees in the valley. Santa Barbara enjoys a cooling maritime fog during the early hours of summer. The best time for sun worshippers is actually in the Fall. With the low humidity comes 18.8 inches of yearly precipitation. The Air quality Index finds 86.3% of the days in Santa Barbara with ‘good air’ to breathe.

Santa Barbara’s strict sign ordinances have attempted to preserve the city’s Spanish Colonial architecture, much of which was constructed after a devastating earthquake in 1925. The city is considered a safe place to live with its low rates of crime. But don’t plan on leaving the doors unlocked, with a moderate risk for both personal and property crime. The 2005 FBI Crime Index of 294.7 finds Santa Barbara below the national average of 325.2. People who live and work in the city enjoy some very short commute times with an average 16.7 minute travel time to work, nearly 10 minutes below the national average. The city is linked to the rest of the central coast area by U.S. Route 101. Santa Barbara Airport offers commercial air service and Amtrak provides rail service that is slow but scenic. Greyhound Bus Lines also has stations in the area.

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San Jose is the oldest city in city in California, rich in heritage with racial diversity and economic opportunities. Families heading to San Jose are finding out why the city is considered fun.

San Jose is a sprawling 175 square miles located in northern California. The third-largest city in the state with over 912,000 residents, it is the eleventh largest in the nation. San Jose is in the Santa Clara Valley with city neighbors Buena Vista and Burbank nearby. After a 14.2% increase in population between 1990 and 2000, the number of people heading to San Jose has slowed in recent years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2005, the median age of city residents was 34.7 years. Three parts nearly make the whole population for San Jose with 32% of White non-Hispanic, 32% Asian and 31% Hispanic races. The average of 3.1 people per home found families accounting for 73% of city households. English was not the language of choice in 55% of city homes, as 38% of the citizenry is foreign-born.

San Jose residents enjoy low unemployment and poverty while earnings are among the best in California. People heading to San Jose are finding well paying jobs with a median household income of $70,921 in 2005. Among the most common occupations are management, professional, and related occupations making up 40% of the work force. Poverty was three percent below the national average in 2005 at 10%, only 4.9% for White Non-Hispanic residents. Agriculture is a large part of the city’s economy, with wine production and food processing and distribution among the leading industries. But it’s technology that has made San Jose what it is today. At the heart of the Silicon Valley, known for its prominence in semiconductor and computer-related technology, is some industry giants. Businesses like Adobe Systems, Cisco and eBay have headquarters in San Jose. Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Hitachi also have bases in the city.

San Jose has some high property values that have risen greatly since 2000 when the median home was tagged at a value of $427,800. That number crept up to 625,400 in 2005, but a very modest increase in a state with surging home values. New home construction is in decline. The number of building permits has dwindled from 2329 buildings built in 1997 to 602 in 2006. Home ownership in San Jose is high for California with 62% of homes occupied by owners. The average age of city dwellings is below the state average with 18% of housing units built since 1990. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $2,409, non-mortgaged owners $439, and renters $1,153.

For a city of its size, San Jose is one of the safest places to live in America. It was ranked #1 among big cities by Morgan Quitno three years in a row. Stolen car reports, however, have been on the rise, from 2,615 thefts in 1999 to over 5,500 in 2005. The FBI Crime Rate dropped during that period to 236.8. The U.S. average is 325.2. Higher than the national average is 36% of citizens who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in San Jose. One big college in the city is San Jose State University with its full-time enrollment of 20,861 students. Heading to San Jose for its climate might be a good choice. Residents enjoy mild but semi-arid weather with about 15 inches of annual precipitation. The average temperature in January is 48.7 while July sees high temperatures averaging 84 degrees. With 300 sunny days per year, the average annual temperature is 70 degrees.

Named the third Most Fun City in America by Cranium Inc., San Jose is just 20 minutes away from some popular beaches on the Pacific Ocean. Nearby Santa Cruz is a popular hangout for surfers. Residents can also access nearby mountain ranges for summer hiking and winter skiing. The city is a short distance from some top-notch golf courses, including renowned Pebble Beach. One major sports franchise, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks makes their home on the ice at HP Pavilion, known as the “Shark Tank.” Public transportation is seldom used by people who commute to work. A whopping 78% of workers drove to work alone in 2005, while 3% used mass transit. Among those who commuted to work, it took an average of 25 minutes to get to their jobs. Three international airports in the area with Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International the closest, followed by airports in Oakland and San Francisco. San Jose is also served by Amtrak.

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A city with a rich history spawned by the California gold rush, San Francisco presents opportunities for many today. There is much to explore for someone heading to San Francisco.

Between the Pacific Ocean and its bay lies the city of San Francisco in Northern California. On 46.7 square miles of land is a densely populated city with an estimated 739,426 residents. The population shrank nearly 5% since the 2000 U.S. Census, but San Francisco remains the state’s fourth-largest city. The city is part of the fourth largest metro area in the U.S. San Francisco is the birthplace of famous people like author Jack London, actors Clint Eastwood and Bruce Lee, and the voice of Looney Tunes, Mel Blanc. San Francisco is also home to two major sports franchises: baseball’s San Francisco Giants and the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.

Those heading to San Francisco know the city supports a large gay and lesbian community. Among its diverse cultures is one of the country’s largest Asian communities that makes up 34% of the city’s population. Chinese residents account for well over half of that figure. About 44% of the population is White non-Hispanic, 14% Hispanic, 7.8% African-American and Filipino, 5.2%. Nearly 37% of the people living in San Francisco were foreign born. A language other than English was spoken in 46% of city homes. Roughly 32% of households in San Francisco were married-couple families. At 39.4 years, the citizenry is about three years older than the national average. About 12% of people were living in poverty. However, 26.6% of African-American residents were considered poor along with 18.6% of Hispanic or Latino residents.

Compared with cities of a similar size, San Francisco has some of the best paid men and women. According to U.S. Census figures, the median income of city households in 2005 was $57,496. The most common occupations, making up 49% of the workforce, were in management, professional, and related occupations. In the world’s largest land-locked harbor, San Francisco has long been a top commercial hub. The city is home to many high-tech businesses and is prominent for semiconductor and computer-related technology. The community serves as the headquarters for Adobe Systems, Apple, eBay, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, National Semiconductor, Sun Microsystems and Yahoo. San Francisco has some of the smartest people in the nation with 45% of residents 25 years and older holding a bachelor’s degree. Among more than 100,000 students in the city, San Francisco State University has a full-time enrollment of 21,373 students.

The average value of San Francisco’s homes has risen sharply since 2000 when the average value was $396,400. Estimates in 2005 put that number at $726,700. With an average U.S. home value of $167,000, it may deter some people from heading to San Francisco with plans to own a home. Only 35% of San Francisco’s homes are owner occupied. The national average is almost twice that. Housing starts are at a near standstill with 51 buildings going up in 2005. Just 7% of the city’s housing has been built since 1990. About one-half of all homes were constructed prior to 1940. Median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $2,558, while renters paid $1,118 monthly on average.

While the FBI Crime Index for San Francisco has held steady since 2000, murder and auto theft are on the rise. There were 12.4 murders for every 100,000 people in 2005. The number of reported car thefts topped 8,000, twice since 2004. The city’s crime index was 450.6 in 2005, over 125 points above the U.S. figure. While not as warm as southern California, the Bay area has an agreeable climate. The weather tends to be warmer in early fall. The average low for January is 46 degrees, while the average high is 68 in July. October is even warmer at 70 degrees for a high. San Francisco sees about 22.2 inches of precipitation yearly. Residents have access to several international airports, including San Francisco International. Just across the bridge is Metropolitan Oakland International. Amtrak has four stations within the city. About one-third of people commuting to work in 2005 used public transportation. On average, it took nearly a half hour for residents to get to their jobs. Easily accessible are two major parks in San Francisco. Golden Gate Park is the largest in the city with its arboretum, lakes and waterfalls. Walking trails inside the Golden Gate National Recreation Area will find towering redwoods amid 75,000 acres that includes beaches, islands and forests.

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If you do not own property or do not want to risk it in offering as security for a smaller loan amount, then surely you are looking for an unsecured loan. However as unsecured loan is highly risky for lenders, the borrower may face lot of hurdles in getting the loan approved and it may get delayed also. Online unsecured loans are usually offered without many hurdles posed by the lenders and the approval also comes in time. The loan amount can be utilized for various purposes like paying for medical or educational bills, clearing smaller debts, paying for holiday bills etc.

As is clear, online unsecured loan is provided by online lenders. These lenders have displayed online application on their websites and the borrower is required to give details like loan amount, purpose of the loan, repayment duration, income and personal information. Instantly the online loan application is with the lender for fast processing and approval of the loan.

Online unsecured loans providers do not require the borrower to place any security of the loan with the lender. So these loans are completely risk free for the borrowers like tenants or non-homeowners. However for ensuring timely repayment of the loan, the lenders would like to have a deep look at the repaying capacity of the borrower. Income and employment documents along with bank statements of last few months are considered necessary for assessing the repaying capability of the borrower. Good credit history of the borrower also plays a role in approval of the loan. Under online unsecured loans, usually an amount ranging from £5000 to £25000 for shorter repayment duration ranging from 5 to 15 years.

One disadvantage of online unsecured loan is its higher interest rate. The lenders charge higher rate of interest to cover risks in the unsecured loan. However, on comparing number of lenders, a comparatively lower interest rate is possible to avail especially if the borrower’s credit history is good. But bad credit borrowers are also eligible for online unsecured loans if they have adequate repayment plan in place. Make sure to clear online unsecured loan installments in time or you may fall in a debt trap. Timely pay off of the loan also results in your credit score improvements.

Maria Smith has not been writing articles from the beginning. she writes in a way that is logical, comprehensive and understandably meant to cater to the need of general public who is left breathless while searching for loans. To find Online Unsecured Loan, Unsecured Debt Consolidation Loan, Unsecured Home Improvement Loan, Unsecured Business Loans visit http://www.loansfiesta.co.uk

San Diego, California is the seventh largest city in the United States. Many people are heading to San Diego for a diverse and hot job market.

San Diego is located in Southern California on San Diego Bay, 20 miles from the Mexican border. The border between the city and Tijuana is the busiest in the world. San Diego is the county seat of San Diego County, the third most populated county in the nation. According to CNN Money, San Diego is #5 among big cities in its ranking of the best places to live. The community is home to numerous U.S. military bases. As of 2006, there were five Fortune 1000 companies with headquarters in the area, including Qualcomm and Petco. San Diego’s strategic location draws jobs from the government and military, technology, aerospace, tourism and agriculture. The economy is led by manufacturing that includes shipbuilding, industrial machinery and metals production. San Diego Bay is one of California’s five major ports where the U.S. Navy bases its Pacific fleet. Recent increases in military and homeland security have added to an economy that benefits from $13 billion in annual military spending.

With an estimated 1,255,540 people, San Diego’s population has increased 2.6% since the 2000 U.S. Census. The median age of residents in 2005 was 33.5 years. White non-Hispanic residents accounted for 48% of the population, 26% were Hispanic, 15.8% were Asian and 6.8% were African-American. San Diego has some well-educated people. In 2005, 87% of adults 25 years and over had graduated from high school, 40% held a bachelor’s degree or higher. With an 8.1% growth in jobs in the five years since 2000, many workers have been heading to San Diego. Federal and state government provide employment to over 75,000 area residents. More than 32,000 jobs are provided by 500 biotech companies. Take home pay for San Diego’s workers is well above national levels. The annual income for an average household in 2005 was $55,637. While poverty was nearly equally the U.S. percentage, 26.1% of African-American residents and 24.4% of Hispanic residents were considered poor.

Based on figures from the National Association of Realtors, the San Diego metro area has seen some big changes in real estate values. By 2005, the metro area had a 118% appreciation on home values over a five year period, more than twice the national trend. The average metro home valued at $605,600, easily topping a national average of $167,000. San Diego homes are below the average age of California housing with 18% of homes being built since 1990. The owner occupancy rate was just over half of city homes. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners in 2005 was $2,054 while renters had an average housing bill of $1,104 per month. FBI crime statistics show San Diego is the norm, with personal and property crime risk about the same as the national average.

San Diego weather is typically sunny and mild without many temperature extremes along the ocean. Situated in rolling hills and mesas that rise from the Pacific shore, San Diego’s 324 square miles covers all types of terrain helping the climate fluctuate by location. On the coast, temperatures are usually mild with an annual average of 70 degrees. The desert areas can get up to 30 degrees hotter. September and October are the hottest time of the year with desert winds from the east. The city has historically averaged just 9.32 inches of annual precipitation. Sports Illustrated calls San Diego “the sports and fitness capital of the U.S.” A wide variety of recreation can be found from swimming, sailing, water skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving and ocean fishing to hiking, jogging, and public parks. You’ll find more than 90 golf courses in the area and access to winter skiing in nearby mountains. The city is home to two pro sports teams with baseball’s San Diego Padres and the NFL’s San Diego Chargers.

Popular tourist attractions include the San Diego Zoo and Sea World. In 2004, Travel and Leisure magazine ranked the city as America’s second favorite place to visit (behind Honolulu). One big college campus is San Diego State University with 25,831 students. There are 19 colleges, universities and professional schools in the area. San Diego International Airport provides major domestic and foreign air service. Amtrak carries passengers from San Diego through Los Angeles to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. A commuter rail service also operates in and out of the city. San Diego is the birthplace of Cameron Diaz, Ted Danson, Robert Duval and RuPaul.

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Sacramento is described as a city that promotes racial harmony, while attracting a large homeless population. Heading to Sacramento has become an affordable option for some California residents.

Sacramento is the capitol of California located about 90 minutes northeast of Oakland and San Francisco. Sacramento’s population has grown by an estimated 12% in the five years since the 2000 U.S. Census. Immigrants and people seeking lower housing costs have sought out the city while housing costs soar in surrounding communities. With 456,441 citizens, Sacramento is the fifth largest city in the state. The metropolitan area is the fourth-largest in California with 2,042,283 residents. The community has been cited as one of the five “most livable” regions in America. In 2002, Time magazine picked Sacramento as the nation’s “Most Integrated City.” The White non-Hispanic community made up 36% of the population in 2005, 25% were Hispanic, 18.4% Asian and 16.3% African-American. Families made up 61% of city households. The median family income was $50,653, a little more than $5,000 below the national average. The percentage of people living in poverty was high at 19.2%, including 31.2% of all African-American residents. The city’s mild climate, easy access and tolerance have been cited as reasons for an influx of homeless people.

With a job sector that grew by over 16% from 2000 to 2005, many were heading to Sacramento for employment. As a state capitol, the largest portion of jobs are federal, state, and local government. One-fourth of California’s 471,000 government employees are employed in the Sacramento area. The city has been an important transportation hub since the gold mining era. Sacramento is ideally situated with access to air, rail, sea and freeways for commercial shipping. The Port of Sacramento is connected to San Francisco Bay by a 43-mile channel that serves international ocean-going ships. The city is served by three major rail lines and offers air travel through Sacramento International airport. Among the biggest employers are UC Davis Medical Center with 8,500 employees, Intel with 6,500 workers, and Hewlett-Packard Co. and its 4,500 jobs.

Like much of California, Sacramento has experienced a surge in housing values. In 2000, the average house value was $128,800. By 2005, the median price tag reached $341,400. Figures compiled by the National Association of Realtors found the Sacramento metro area experienced one of the greatest housing value increases in the country. The median home was priced at $377,400 in 2005, making for 121% appreciation since 2000. Housing starts in Sacramento increased dramatically since 1997 when 258 building permits were issued. By 2003, 3,600 new homes went in the ground. New home construction dropped below half that figure in 2006. Sacramento housing is newer than the state average with 17% of its homes built since 1990. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,609, non-mortgaged owners $339, and renters $852.

The crime rate in Sacramento is high, nearly double the national FBI Crime Index. Both personal crime and property crime risk in the city are well above U.S. levels. The city ranks as one of the top 10 areas in the country for car thefts. Sacramento’s climate is described as arid Mediterranean with extremely low humidity and heavy pollen in the summer. Shielded by several mountain ranges, the city enjoys a mild climate for most of the year. The winters are rainy with annual precipitation averaging 18.8 inches. Low temperatures in January average 39 degrees with highs of 55. July sees average highs reaching 94 degrees. The city’s tule fog can get extremely dense, making driving hazardous about 96 days a year, mostly in December and January. In the center of California’s Sacramento Valley, the city doesn’t support the best air quality. People heading to Sacramento will discover ‘good air’ only 28.8% of the time, according to the EPA’s Air Quality Index.

Sacramento is home to California State University-Sacramento with its 20,830 full-time students. The city hosts one professional sports team, the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. With over 1,000 miles of waterways in the area, recreational opportunities include river rafting and boating, salmon and steelhead fishing, and sailing and windsurfing. Sacramento has a great number of public golf courses and more than 120 city parks. Skiing is also available at 17 locations within 100 miles. Sacramento International Airport handles flights to and from various U.S. destinations, Mexico and Canada. Amtrak provides the city’s main train service.

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Oakland, California can be described as an ethnically diverse community with high crime and clean air. Here are some things to consider if you are heading to Oakland.

Oakland is linked to the city of San Francisco by the Bay Bridge. Located in west central California, Oakland serves as the county of seat of Alameda County. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with over 395,000 residents, according to U.S. Census estimates in 2005. A densely populated area with 7,126 people per square mile, the citizenry has decreased since 2000. The population has been at a near standstill since the 1990 census. Oakland is part of the fifth most populated metro area in the U.S. with over seven million people. The average age of city residents is 35 years. Of the population, 33% were African-American or African American; 25% Hispanic; 24% White non-Hispanic, and 17% Asian. Oakland has a growing Hispanic community and a African-American population in decline. A high percentage (28%) of people living in Oakland are foreign born. Among its residents, 40% speak a language other than English at home. Oakland’s school district has suffered financial and administrative failures since the state stepped in back in 2002. As recently as 2005, only 20 percent of students were deemed “proficient” in English. However, among residents 25 and older, 34 percent hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Heading to Oakland to find work and you’ll discover job growth has been nearly zero. Between 2000-2005, the U.S. Labor Department found a 0.96% increase in employment. Oakland had attracted a large blue-collar work force beginning with the shipbuilding era of World War I. As one of the three major shipping ports on the west coast, Oakland is the fourth busiest container port in the nation today. The city is home to Fortune 500 companies Clorox and Golden West Financial. The yearly median income of households in 2005 was $44,124. White non-Hispanic householders typically out earn all other races — $57,399 annually in 2000 compared with just $31,184 for African-American householders. Poverty levels have historically been above the national average in Oakland. The percentages of minorities living in poverty are more than double that of White non-Hispanic citizens.

Despite the aging appearance of Oakland’s housing, property values continue to surge. Dwellings built between 1990 and 2005 accounted for just eight percent of all housing. Median home values have soared since the advent of the California housing shortage. The average home in Oakland valued at $235,500 in 2000. Census figures in 2005 put that number at $487,300. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,999, non-mortgaged owners paid $396, and renters $889. Of the total housing units, just over half were in apartments and duplexes. With public transportation in the top 1% of the state, 62% of city workers drove to work alone in 2005. The average commute time to work is 26.9 minutes.

There is an upside and downside to the quality of life for someone heading to Oakland. Oakland is the eighth most dangerous city in the country, according to Morgan Quitno crime rankings in 2006. The number of murders in the city went from 94 in 2005 to 148 a year later, an increase of 57%. The area of the city known as ‘the flatlands’ has seen a majority of violent crime. On the upside, residents enjoy an average of 91.8% days of good air yearly. Some of the more favorable locations in the nation have clean air about 75% of the year. The city’s climate is likened to that of arid Mediterranean, warmer than San Francisco but cooler than San Jose. The city is cooled by maritime fog in the summer, while remaining typically sunny. January temperatures range on average from 43 to 58 degrees and from 54 to 75 in July. About 23.5 inches of precipitation falls each year.

Oakland is served by the Oakland International Airport, one of three international airports in the Bay Area. Amtrak provides the city with regional and long distance passenger train service. The city had some reconstruction to do after the 1989 earthquake that collapsed a double-decker portion of highway, killing 42 people. Significant improvements are still being made to the Bay Bridge. Oakland supports three major league teams: baseball’s Oakland A’s, the NFL Oakland Raiders and the NBA Golden State Warriors. Oakland is the birthplace of rapper MC Hammer and actor Mark Hamill, and has produced music acts like Sly & the Family Stone, Green Day, En Vogue and Tupac Shakur. Most notable for higher education in the area is the University of California-Berkeley with a full-time enrollment of nearly 30,000 students.

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The New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) has already opened its doors and in connection with the opening ceremonies, Toyota showed its concern for the American soldiers who have fought in wars and places of chaos around the world.

At the opening ceremonies of this car show in the Big Apple, two modified Toyota vehicles were presented to two young veterans of the Iraqi war and both of these soldiers have sustained leg injuries. Both soldiers are wounded by IED or improvised explosive devices at some stage in their tour of duty in Iraq. The explosive devices caused leg amputation for the two young soldiers.

U.S. Army veteran Luis Puertas of Long Island City, Queens is one of the two young veterans presented with a modified Toyota vehicle. The 20-year old veteran lost both his legs while on tour of duty in Iraq when an improvised explosive device was detonated under his Humvee while he was stationed in Baghdad. Toyota presented him with a wheelchair-accessible 2007 Toyota Sienna Rampvan. The vehicle is modified to suit Luis’ need for mobility.

First, the vehicle’s floor was lowered by ten inches by the BraunAbility group. The mobility company also integrated a power wheelchair ramp to make the vehicle even more accessible to Luis in his wheelchair. Further, the J. Busani Inc. will also integrate a wheelchair dock to enable Luis to drive the vehicle on his own.

Hand controls will also be installed since the brake and accelerator foot pedals will not be of use to the young veteran. The Toyota Sienna with its modified amenities and stock parts like the Toyota window motors will surely increase Luis’ mobility.

U.S. Marine Ryan Donnelly is the second recipient of a modified Toyota vehicle. The 23 year old veteran from Manhattan received a 2007 Toyota Yaris during the opening ceremonies of the New York Auto Show. Ryan lost his right leg below the knee to an improvised explosive device on his second tour of Iraq. Due to the amputation of his right leg, the J. Busani Inc. modified the Toyota Yaris by transferring its accelerator foot pedals on the left side of the driver.

Ryan, just like Luis, is also fitted with prosthetic legs and with the modified Toyota Yaris, he can also increase his mobility and certainly go places.

The modified Toyota vehicles are part of Toyota’s Mobility Assistance Program. The program, aside from providing modified vehicles, also provides information to their disabled consumers. Their website gives out information where consumers can find rehabilitation specialists, driving instructors for person with disabilities, and other mobility equipment dealers. This program allows disabled motorists to continue driving even after suffering injuries such as that of the two veterans who received the modified Toyota vehicles.

The mobility equipment dealers that Toyota listed on their website not only install specialized equipments but also impart training to consumers on hoe to use the installed equipments.

Katie Jones writes for a local newspaper and her beat involves the latest updates in the automotive industry. She is also working on her book on cars during her spare time. You can visit for more information.