If you are someone who is currently in the market for a new set of wheels, think about purchasing American Racing wheels. They are some of the most well respected wheels on the market, and have many unique and exciting styles of wheels to select from. American Racing has been manufacturing wheels for over 50 years and are sure to make a set of wheels that would look and perform incredibly on your automobile. By selecting American Racing wheels, you will be riding down the road on some of the most stylish and high performing wheels anywhere.
American Racing
For many years the people at American Racing have been producing some of the best aftermarket wheels there are. Actually, there have been many famous racers who have used American Racing wheels in their winning races. American Racing has racked up many awards over the years and continues to be some of the most well thought of wheels in racing. Any car, truck or SUV would benefit immensely from being outfitted for aftermarket American Racing wheels.
Different Styles
American racing rims offer many different sizing and style options. You are sure to find a set of rims that will not only look fantastic on your car but will help it perform to its maximum potential. This company has literally reimagined the ways in which high performance racing rims are manufactured. They are considered by many in the industry to provide the highest quality wheels on the market.
Production
American Racing wheels are manufactured and produced right here in the United States of America. They are made by professionals who take racing wheels very seriously. Since there are such a large variety of different wheel packages offered by American Racing, it is a good idea to do your research before you purchase wheels to make sure you are getting the best fit for your car, truck or SUV.
Customization
If you do not find any wheels you like in the large catalogue that American Racing wheels has, they still may be able to find a solution for you. They are able to customize wheels for discerning car enthusiasts. You can choose your style, color and finish for your new wheels. This is a great option for individuals who want to stand out on the road. If you purchase a set of customized wheels from American Racing, you can be confident that you will be the only vehicle on the road with those wheels.
If you are considering purchasing custom wheels for your car, truck or SUV, you would be very smart to take a look at the selection of wheel and tire packages offered by American Racing. They have been manufacturing incredible wheels for over 50 years. They will greatly improve the overall look and performance of any automobile they are put on. Adding aftermarket wheels to your vehicle will also help the resale value of your car. By choosing American Racing wheels, you will be making a bold and powerful statement every time you drive down the road.
XD series wheels can greatly improve the look and performance of any car, truck or SUV they are put on. If you are deciding on what kind of aftermarket wheels to outfit your ride with, go online and check out the amazing selection offered by XD. These rims are made of high quality materials and, if taken care of properly, can last a very long time. Also, by adding XD rims to your car, truck or SUV, you will improve the resale value of your automobile.
Performance
If you are looking for a sturdy set of aftermarket wheels that will be able to take a beating and keep performing at a high level, you should consider steel wheels. XD has many different options of steel wheels with incredible designs. Steel wheels are generally less likely to wobble and are a great choice for truck owners. In addition, steel wheels last a very long time if they are cared for properly.
For Trucks
If you are a car owner that is looking for the highest performing wheels you can get, consider choosing alloy wheels. These wheels are a great option for individuals who are more concerned with performance than with durability. However, if you take good care of your new alloy wheels, they will last a very long time, as well. Alloy wheels offer better airflow than steel wheels. Also, because they are more malleable than steel wheels, there are many more design options with cast alloy wheels.
Truck Owners
Truck and SUV owners are just as fashion and style conscious when it comes to their own rides as car owners. KMC Wheel Company has found a solution in a custom lineup they are now offering. XD Series wheels and rims deliver off-road in all types of terrain while delivering a unique look to help your vehicles profile.
Modifications
Once you have your rims installed on your truck or SUV you will have the confidence that you have purchased some of the most coveted aftermarket wheels on the market. KMC is a reputable company that has been creating wheels for over two decades. Rest assured you are getting a product that exceeds normal standards when you buy XD series rims from KMC.
KMC
KMC is a reputable company that has been creating wheels for over two decades. Rest assured you are getting a product that exceeds normal standards when you buy XD series rims from KMC. Once you have your rims installed on your truck or SUV you will have the confidence that you have purchased some of the most coveted aftermarket wheels on the market.
When properly fitted to your vehicle, your new rims will be able to handle any driving conditions thrown their way. There is nothing like the confidence you can experience driving down the trail knowing you are outfitted with some of the most quality aftermarket rims on the market. In addition to being some of the most attractive wheel and tire packages around, these rims offer added safety to your truck or SUV.
Located in Australia, The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most amazing tourist locations in the world. It is a World Heritage Site and a one of the natural wonders of the world. If you are going to be taking a vacation to Australia, it is important to remember that you will need a passport before you go. So, how long does it take to get a passport? The answer to that question can vary. It depends on what kind of service you are paying for. For an expedited US passport, you can get your new passport in as little as a few days. So, go online and find a reputable passport agency so that you can start planning your vacation to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
International Travel
When it comes to international travel passports are essential. All US citizens including infants are required to have a passport when entering a foreign country. Sometimes travel comes up unexpectedly and if you do not already have a passport it can be very stressful. For these circumstances there are expedited U S passport services available. Once you have your passport it is important to keep it up to date making sure passport renewals are done on time as well as passport name changes.
Wonders Of The World
The Great Barrier Reef is actually one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It is the largest coral reef system in the entire world. In addition, it is one of the very few living organisms that can be viewed from outer space. The Great Barrier Reef goes on for about 1,600 miles and touches about 900 islands. This means it actually covers an area of about 133,000 miles. The Great Barrier Reef is located off of the north east coast of Australia.
Wildlife
There is a spectacular amount of unique wildlife to be found in the Great Barrier Reef. For example, there are many endangered and exotic life forms that thrive in the Great Barrier Reef’s amazing ecosystem. There are many different types of whales, dolphins and porpoises that inhabit the waters surrounding the Great Barrier Reef. In addition to the incredible sea life that is in the Great Barrier Reef, there are also many wonderful species of rare and exotic birds that live near the Great Barrier Reef.
What To Do
When visiting The Great Barrier Reef there are many unique ways to explore the natural wonder. Scuba diving and snorkeling are very popular in the reef in areas where the water quality is good. There are also pontoon pouts that go out. Helicopter rides touring the reef from above are also popular. There are also extensive fishing tours as commercial and recreational fishing is allowed in certain areas. Tourism of The Great Barrier Reef brings in revenue to fund more research and help in conserving the largest marine preserve in the world.
Accommodations
There are many venues and accommodations when it comes to exploring The Great Barrier Reef. Due to many islands being along the reef, there are many options to consider. Each island offers unique experiences and places to stay. Be sure to research thoroughly and make sure you choose an island that has great access to the reef and offers competitive tours for scuba diving and snorkelling.
Anyone who is considering purchasing aftermarket wheels for their car, truck, or SUV should consider looking at what the American Racing Company has to offer. This company manufactures of series of wheels called Fuel rims, which have become incredibly popular amongst the driving community. These unique rims are offered in a variety of sizes, colors, and finishes. After looking at all of the options Fuel has to offer on their webpage, you will be sure to find a wheel package that is right for your ride. Adding an aftermarket wheel package to your vehicle can have many incredible benefits. You will experience better driving performance and your automobile will look better than ever.
Sizing
You need to make sure, whatever size you end up going with, that the wheels will conform to your car or truck properly. You can take your ride to a local wheel shop who will be able to tell you exactly what you need and what size would be optimal for your vehicle. Also, it is important to remember that you will need to purchase new tires that match the size of your new aftermarket rims. There are many different options to choose from when going through the Fuel rims catalogue. One of the very first things you need to decide on is what size wheels you want.
Styles
Wheel styles define the look of a car or truck by giving it a unique style and driving experience once behind the wheel. The most common wheel style Fuel rims offer is called a “6-spoke”. This style classification created by the company has become wildly popular amongst racing enthusiasts. Some wheels can actually have two styles because they have newer designs that do not fit the traditional wheel designs.
Things To Remember
It would also be wise to keep your automobiles original wheels and tires for optional use when driving in winter conditions. Once your car, truck or SUV has been outfitted with Fuel rims it is critical they be properly taken care of. Regular washing will help insure that your wheels do not become cracked or malfunctioning. It is also important if you live in an area where there are harsher driving conditions that you pay extra close attention to your wheels maintenance instructions.
If you go online you will be able to view the entire Fuel catalogue. However, make certain before you buy your new wheels that you are getting a size that will fit your particular vehicle. You do not want to pay for wheels that end up not fitting on your ride. These amazing rims, produced by American Racing, have taken the automotive world by storm with their unique styling and high performance. Outfitting your, car, truck or SUV with Fuel rims will give your vehicle upgraded performance, improved styling, and better resale value overnight. Again, anyone who is thinking about adding an aftermarket wheel and tire packages to their car, truck or SUV should consider selecting Fuel rims.
Listen up, kids. I am old enough to remember when the Soviet Union was the United States’ “No. 1 geopolitical foe,” however you define that term. When its leaders gave speeches about possibly using the more than 30,000 nuclear weapons targeting us, instead of joining us for summits on how to safeguard them. When, instead of opposing us in Security Council votes over Israel, Iran and Syria, the Soviets fought or aided proxy wars against us in Korea, East Africa, Nicaragua. (No, I’m not old enough to remember Korea, but still.)
Mitt Romney reflexively saying that Russia is the U.S.'s "No. 1 geopolitical foe" today shows, yet again, how bad the U.S. political class is at geostrategy; it also shows how uncomfortable Romney is on national security issues, needing when in doubt to reach back to those comfortable certainties of the 1980s.
Today, Russia’s economy is dependent on extractive industries and stagnant; its nightmare demographics mean it fears Chinese takeover in its east and rapidly-aging cities in its West. It produces world-leading innovations in weapons, cybercrime, and high culture… Growing Arab-spring-style protests in its cities will dampen whatever global cachet as the anti-America its leaders have sought to build.
Were I asked to choose America’s number one geopolitical foe, I’d answer these questions:
1) Who has killed the most Americans in the past decade? (That would be nationalist and Islamist movements in countries we’ve invaded coming in at #1; Al Qaeda and its affiliates at #2; Iran at a distant #3 and perhaps even #4 behind nationalist and Islamist movements emanating from Pakistan.)
2) Who has the greatest ability to harm our economy and way of life – the foundations of our strength? (China, no contest; then maybe the Saudis?)
3) Who has the greatest ability and shown the greatest willingness to frustrate our key geopolitical aims? (Given that Russia has gone along with some of our Iran sanctions, facilitated our continuing presence in Afghanistan, and avoided using its energy wealth to pressure our European allies during their economic weakness, I’d vote for either China or the emerging powers writ large here.)
4) Who has not just capabilities but intentions to foil continued progress toward a more integrated, more democratic, more free and prosperous (free civilly, socially and economically) world – which is, ultimately, what most benefits the United States? (C’mon, the Russians are pikers in this category.)
In geopolitical terms, Russia has three things which pose significant problems for the US – its energy, its nuclear weapons and its Security Council seat. Ironically, Mitt Romney is on record opposing just about everything we can do to reduce the salience of both. He opposed the New START Treaty, which required Russia to destroy hundreds of nuclear warheads; and he opposes efforts to shift US energy production and consumption away from the fossil fuels in which Russia is so rich. I don't know his position on Security Council reform and diluting the veto. Might be fun to ask. Or, just check with his advisor John Bolton.
There are many psychological and physical effects a person confronts when the begin rehabilitation for a drug addiction. Typically, the most successful way to get a person off meth completely begins with a detox. This takes place, under the supervision of medical professionals, in a hospital or rehabilitation facility. The detoxification process will purge the addict’s body of all heroin. Next, a recovering heroin addict will check into rehabilitation center where they can begin their heroin medical detox.
Consumption
When a person starts using heroin, it is not just their health they are putting in jeopardy. They are risking their freedom as well. In most countries, the possession or sale of heroin is classified as a felony and is punishable by jail. You are literally taking your life and putting it on the line if you decide to use heroin.
Risk Factors
The goal of treatment is to get a person off of heroin permanently and to demonstrate to them how being sober is a much better lifestyle. There are a multitude of grave consequences an individual can face with a meth addiction. Paranoia, impaired judgment, and violent behavior are all regular effects of heroin use. It is imperative that anyone who has developed an drug addiction to heroin find treatment as swiftly as possible in order to curtail potentially devastating, long-term consequences.
Overcoming An Addiction
One of the other main problems with heroin is how easy it is to get in major cities around the country. It can be snorted or injected to produce an instant high. It does not matter what sex you are, what your age is, or how much money you have in the bank, anyone who tries heroin is putting themselves at risk of developing an addiction. Heroin abuse is a very serious public health concern that needs to be dealt with.
Seeking Treatment
It is important that the population be properly educated about the dangers involved with heroin addiction. If all people continue to see and learn about heroin comes from television and movies, we can expect to see a larger number of heroin addicts in the future. Heroin addiction can rapidly take over and consume a person’s life. This is yet another reason why it is so incredibly important to seek out medical attention if you or someone you know has an addiction to heroin.
Thousands of New Yorkers chanted "we want arrests" as Trayvon Martin’s parents joined them for a protest calling on police to arrest George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed their unarmed 17-year-old son but has yet to be arrested. These are some of the voices of the protesters, many of whom wore hooded sweatshirts and called for an end to racial profiling.
PROTESTERS: Trayvon Martin could have been my son! Trayvon Martin could have been my son! Trayvon Martin could have been my son! Trayvon Martin could have been my son!
JAMIEGATES: Jamie Gates, Brooklyn, New York.
RENÉE FELTZ: Tell me why you’re out here today.
JAMIEGATES: Support a cause. That could have been me. That could have been my son. That could have been my brother. Justice needs to be served. That man should have been arrested.
PROTESTERS: We are Trayvon Martin! We are Trayvon Martin!
RAHELTEKA: My name is Rahel Teka. I’m from Minneaopolis through Ethiopia. I’m here because the death of Trayvon Martin isn’t specific to his family. It’s not specific to Florida. It’s something that happens every day in this country, and it’s something which is ignored or is given attention for a week and then swept under the rug. So I think, through events like this, we can bring attention not only to Trayvon Martin and not only to the injustices in Florida, but across this country and throughout this world.
PROTESTER: What do we want?
PROTESTERS: Justice!
PROTESTER: When do we want it?
PROTESTERS: Now!
PROTESTER: What do we want?
PROTESTERS: Justice!
PROTESTER: When do we want it?
PROTESTERS: Now!
PROTESTER: What do we want?
PROTESTERS: Justice!
PROTESTER: When do we want it?
PROTESTERS: Now!
GRACEHAMLER: My name is Grace Hamler, and I’m from Harlem.
VICTORIACHIRAC: My name is Victoria Chirac [phon.], and I’m from the Bronx.
RENÉE FELTZ: And I see this is a family affair for you. Can you tell us who you brought with you and why you’re out here?
GRACEHAMLER: I’m here with my grandchildren. This is my granddaughter. My daughter is over there with my grandson. And we’re here because of Trayvon Martin. It could be my son. It could be my grandson, my nephew. Today it’s a stranger. Tomorrow it’s your son, your grandson, your nephew. We have to be out here. We have to participate. We have to gather up. We have to stand up for this type of violence against black youth.
RENÉE FELTZ: And how about you? What do you think?
VICTORIACHIRAC: I think that it was just totally unnecessary. Just Skittles and iced tea, and he gets shot for nothing.
ELGIE: My name is Elgie.
RENÉE FELTZ: And how old are you?
ELGIE: Six.
RENÉE FELTZ: And what do you think about what happened to Trayvon Martin?
ELGIE: Well, it’s just hard stuff to believe.
PROTESTERS: Justice! Now!
CANDICE: My name is Candice. I’m 11. And I’m from the Bronx. We feel like the police are racist, because when a black man died for no reason, they didn’t do anything, and they didn’t prosecute the killer.
FATOUWAGIH: My name is Fatou Wagih [phon.]. I’m from Bronx, and I’m 11. We’re here today because this is a national issue, and probably a worldwide one. I’m also wearing a hoodie, because he died with it and because we want to honor him today, which is what this protest is about.
AUNDRUS: My name is Aundrus, and I’m 12 years old. When I heard what happened, I was kind of confused, because at first—at first I thought it was a regular murder, but I wanted to know why it was like so, like, national. I went to Union Square, and I heard that he got—he got shot since he was wearing a hoodie that, like—like he was bad, he was suspicious. So, I think, like, maybe police might look at me suspiciously because of the color of my skin, and I’m wearing a hoodie.
PROTESTERS: We are Trayvon Martin! We are Trayvon Martin! We are Trayvon Martin! We are Trayvon Martin! We are Trayvon Martin!
The following is an amazing must-see documentary by German documentary film-maker Marc Eberle. It was released in 2008, but I don’t believe it got much attention, certainly not in the U.S. (According to one source, the film was “screened at ten international film festivals and in German cinemas early 2009 and was nominated for the Golden Panda at Sichuan intl. Film Festival, China, the History Makers’ Award, New York, the Banff World Television Award, Canada, and the North German Film Award.” It’s currently posted on YouTube. Hopefully it stays up there. (H/T Doug Valentine)
PHNOM PENH, Aug 22, 2008 (IPS) – It was known as the ‘secret war’, a covert operation waged by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) throughout the sixties and early seventies against communist guerrillas in Laos.
And the most secret location in this clandestine war was the former CIA air base of Long Chen, in central Laos, a place that remain off limits even today.
A new film, ‘The Most Secret Place on Earth’, to be released in cinemas across Europe later this year, explores this little known conflict.
The film, which previewed for the first time in Phnom Penh in mid-August, includes images of Long Chen shot by the first Western camera crew to enter the base since the communists took control of the country in 1975.
“I first got the idea to do the film when I visited the Plain of Jars in Laos in 2002,” recalled Marc Eberle,36, the German director in an interview with IPS.
“You could still see the craters from the air bombing and unexploded ordnance was everywhere.”
“Then I heard about Long Chen and the fact that no one had got there since the war and I thought, how do I visit and how do I make a film about it?”
Little is known about the Lao conflict despite the fact that it remains the largest and most expensive paramilitary operation ever run by the U.S.
It was completely run by the CIA using largely civilian pilots from the agency’s own airline, Air America, and mercenaries recruited from the Hmong, an ethnic tribe living in mountainous areas in central and northern Laos.
Despite being the centre of the covert operation and, at its peak, one of the world’s busiest airports with a population of 50,000 people, Long Chen’s location was never marked on any map.
“I found it bizarre that at one time this was the second biggest city in Laos and it was completely secret,” Eberle says.
Long Chen remains off limits to foreigners and most Lao due to clashes with remnants of the CIA’s Hmong army. Until recently it formed part of a special administrative zone under the direct control of the Lao army.
Renewed interest in the Laos’ secret war was briefly rekindled in 2003 when two Western journalists made contact with members of the Hmong resistance, the first white people they had seen since the CIA abandoned them 27 years ago.
Although pictures from the encounter were printed in Time Asia and won a world press award, U.S. media failed to pick up the story and it died….
“Laos was the progenitor of the way America fights wars in the 21st century,” [Eberle] says.
“Outsourcing the war to private companies, gathering public support by falsifying intelligence and documents, embedded journalism and automated warfare including the use of so-called ‘smart weapons’, all these methods were first tested in Laos.”
The conflict began in the late fifties, as Washington sought to counter communist Pathet Lao forces and their North Vietnamese allies who had began building the Ho Chi Minh trail through the jungles running down the eastern border of Laos.
The operation was placed under CIA control to get around Laos’ supposed political neutrality and the conditions set by the Geneva Accords.
Vang Pao, then an officer in the Royal Lao Army, was recruited in 1960 to lead the Hmong troops drafted to fight the communists, which at the peak of the fighting numbered up to 30,000.
The largest of hundreds of airstrips built by the CIA throughout Laos, Long Chen was established soon after.
The Most Secret Place examines the conflict through the stories of players involved in the covert, diplomatic and military aspects of the conflict, including former diplomats, CIA officers and Air America pilots.
It also draws on critics such as Alfred McCoy, author of The Politics of Heroin: CIA Complicity in the Global Drug Trade and a reporter in Laos at the time, and Fred Branfman, an aid worker turned anti-war activist who worked to expose the conflict.
Ordinary Lao people at the receiving end of the world’s most technologically sophisticated military machine get a chance to tell their story….
This film’s analysis sets it apart from other books and documentaries on the subject, most of which justify the conflict, lauding the CIA operatives and their Air America pilots as heroes.
The reality, as Alfred McCoy says towards the end of the film, was very different. “We destroyed a whole civilisation, we wiped it off the map. We incinerated, atomised human remains in this air war and what happened in the end? We lost.”
The covert nature of the conflict meant that U.S. forces were able to ignore virtually all the rules of engagement operating in Vietnam. Every building was a potential target and the civilian toll was huge.
The situation grew worse in 1970 when U.S. President Nixon authorised massive B-52 bombing strikes on Laos, which remained classified information until many years later.
American planes dropped an average of one planeload of bombs on targets in Laos every eight minutes, 24 hours a day for nine years, making it the most heavily bombed country on earth per capita in the history of warfare….
“Marc Eberle has previously directed award-winning documentaries for ARTE, Discovery Channel, NDR, WDR, SWR, BR, MDR and ZDF in Oman, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. He holds an MA in Film and TV from Royal Holloway, University of London.” (Link)
A new phenomenon has been sweeping job interviews. Many employers are checking out perspective employee’s social media profiles…and it gets worse…
The Maryland Department of Corrections has taken to asking job seekers to log-on during the interview so they can see information found behind the privacy filter. But some companies are going even further, asking applicants to give them their username and password.
If you’re getting the heby-jebies you’re not alone. Facebook is taking offense to this and posted on their privacy page that they will ”take action to protect the privacy and security of our users.” To Facebook, this is an invasion of privacy (ironic right?). But that doesn’t mean they’re wrong.
Privacy filters are there for a reason and Facebook is threating legal action against anyone who tries to violate it:
Facebook takes your privacy seriously. We’ll take action to protect the privacy and security of our users, whether by engaging policymakers or, where appropriate, by initiating legal action, including by shutting down applications that abuse their privileges.
However, there is an easy way around this, don’t put anything on Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube that you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see.
A new phenomenon has been sweeping job interviews. Many employers are checking out perspective employee’s social media profiles…and it gets worse…