If you are looking for a great place to take an international vacation to, you should consider going to Victoria Falls. This magnificent site is in Africa and is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the continent. You must remember, if you are going to be traveling to Africa, that you will need a valid United States passport in order to be eligible for international travel. If you need to get a passport renewal before you leave, you can visit a pasport office where they will be able to assist you with all of your passport needs. Once you have your new passport in hand, you can start planning your vacation to go and see Victoria Falls.

Things To Remember

Passports are necessary documents when it comes to international travel. Without these permits an individual cannot leave the United States and may have a very difficult time re-entering. There are many services provided when it comes to obtaining a passport such as passport renewal services, passport name changes, as well as expediting services that allow a passport to arrive much sooner than regular services. Now, with the internet and technology expedite us passport renewal are much easier to obtain than in the past.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is the world’s largest waterfall it is found on the Zambezi River in Southern Africa between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is not the highest waterfall in the world nor is it the widest. However, it is the largest waterfall based on it’s width of 5,604ft and it’s height of 345ft. This makes it the biggest sheet of falling water in the world. The waterfall also contains a series of gorges.

When To Go

The rainy season is from November to March which means the water volume will be much higher and more dramatic. The dry season occurs from April to October this means a much lower water volume, however you will get a nice view of the rocky ledge that is underneath the fall, but the actual site of the flowing water will be less impressive. It is thought that the waterfall was formed in the Jurassic period due to the presence of molten lava. It has been an extremely long process in forming the waterfall to what it is currently.

Things To Do

There are many wonderful things to experience when you visit Africa. Besides visiting the world’s largest waterfall, you can do many other exciting and spectacular things. There are many wonderful restaurants and hotels you can visit while in Africa. Also, you can take guided tours of Africa that will expose you to the wonderful culture the continent has to offer.

Manufactured by a company called American Racing, Fuel rims are some of the most coveted aftermarket wheels on the market. They are available in many different designs, sizes, and colors. They offer drivers high performance and unique styling for their cars, trucks, or SUVs. If you are considering adding an aftermarket wheel package to your vehicle, you should consider taking a look at the amazing catalogue that Fuel has to offer. You are sure to find a wheel package that is the perfect complement to your car, truck, or SUV.

Sizing

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. You need to make sure, whatever size you end up going with, that the wheels will conform to your car or truck properly.

Different Styles

The most standard wheel style Fuel rims offers is known as a “6-spoke”. This style classification created by the company has become very popular amongst driving enthusiasts. Some wheels can actually have two styles because they have newer designs that do not conform to the traditional wheel designs. Wheel styles define the look of a car or truck by giving it a unique style and driving experience once behind the wheel.

Maintenance

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. It would also be wise to keep your automobiles original wheels and tires for optional use when driving in winter conditions.

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 tire and wheel packages to their car, truck or SUV should consider selecting Fuel rims.

Research has shown that those students who were privy to early intervention counseling before entering their freshmen year of college stymied their alcohol consumption more so than those who did not receive a parent or peer based intervention. This is an important tool when it comes to educating young adults about the effects of alcohol and substance abuse. This may also lead to less instances of alcohol poisoning and get help for those needing it such as alcohol medical detoxification at an alcohol detox rehab.

College

Everyone knows that college can be the most exciting time of a young person’s life. However, it can also be filled with many temptations since there is not as much supervision around. It is incredibly important for young people who are headed off to college to understand how alcohol can be a damaging substance. It can make you do things that you would not otherwise consider doing. Binge drinking is a very serious problem at colleges all over the country and needs to be addressed. The best way to defeat alcoholism is with alcohol detox rehab

Research

There have been many scientific studies recently that have shown that college students are drinking more than ever before. This is a disturbing trend that needs to be quickly addressed. However, with television and movies continuing to glorify alcohol consumption, this does not seem like a likely scenario. We must learn from this research so that we can educate these young people on the dangers of alcohol abuse and the damage it can reap on their academic careers.

Student Athletes

The research focused mainly on student athletes, as they have the highest propensity towards alcohol abuse and addiction. This also leads to alcohol related risky behaviors. Due to the high stress placed on athletes from coaches and peers, as well as the celebrations that accompany a huge win, alcohol and substance abuse problems are common within the athletic community.

Education

It is vital that we educate our young people about the dangers of alcohol abuse before they leave for college. Especially, it is important for kids who have gotten into trouble with alcohol during high school. More than ever, college aged people are succumbing to alcohol poisoning and even death in some cases. It is vital that we begin to educate children on the dangers of alcohol addiction so that these types of cases can start to subside.

Counseling

It does not matter if the counseling comes from peers or from parents and teachers, once students here how dangerous alcohol abuse can potentially be they are much less likely to binge drink .This flies in the face of the long held notion that teenagers do not listen to their parents. Parents and educators will have a much better chance of curtailing binge drinking by young people if they simply educate them about the dangers before they leave. This is a fantastic way that society can stop the rising number of student deaths caused by alcohol poisoning.

If I could recap this game in one word, it would be frustrated.

Fans are frustrated with a home loss that the Lakers could have used to build on their back to back wins over Dallas and Portland.

The coaches were clearly frustrated by their players’ lack of effort on defense and their casual approach on offense.

The players were frustrated by the physicality of the Grizzlies, where tough defense and a patient approach on offense must have seemed like a turn in the torture chamber.

Frustrated. Everyone is feeling it right now.

Save for the Grizzlies of course. Give the blue bears credit in this game. They played harder and smarter than the home team. Rudy Gay paced his ‘mates with 18 points on 14 shots on mostly disciplined attacks off the dribble. He used his quickness advantage over Artest to get below the foul line and shoot turnaround jumpers that Ron tried to contest but couldn’t fully get to. OJ Mayo poured in 12 points in the decisive 4th quarter on hot outside shooting and strong drives to the rim and his 16 points for the game nearly doubled the output of the Lakers reserves (who tallied all of 9 points on the evening). When you add in Haddadi’s 10 points off the bench and Zach Randolph’s 10 and 12 rebounds from a reserve role, the Grizzlies bench gave their team a spark that the Lakers simply couldn’t match.

From the Lakers end, though, it was truly a lack of effort and commitment that did them in. Yes, some of the players point totals and shooting percentages look nice but when you look closer at the boxscore, you can see the red flags. Bynum had 4 rebounds all game and besides Pau’s 11 defensive boards no Laker had more than 3 defensive rebounds all game. The Lakers committed 16 turnovers, mostly of the lazy and weak variety where they either floated a pass or weren’t strong enough with the ball. Rather than doing work to establish the post or set good screens, the Lakers settled for jumpers or tried to do all their work after having the ball in their hands neither of which were very successful.

But it was the defense that really let the Lakers down. The rim went unprotected. Cutters weren’t bumped. Too many shots went uncontested. When the ball was turned over, too many Lakers watched instead of racing back on D. The result was too many easy shots and on a night where the Lakers couldn’t hit their own open jumpers, they didn’t have the firepower to overcome such poor effort. It got to the point that Mike Brown even sat Kobe in a key stretch of the 4th quarter trying to give his team some life only to bring him back in with under two minutes remaining because that didn’t work either.

And so everyone is frustrated. You, me, the coaches, and the players. But, when you take a step back the realization comes that games like this happen. Some nights the other team comes out hungrier, plays harder, and proves to be better on that evening. Such was the case for the Lakers in this game, just like it was for the Mavs this past Wednesday. Hopefully the team learns from this game and can turn some of that frustration into stronger play.

Forum Blue And Gold

Stocks climbed higher in Asian session today as China stepped up easing measures. The Chinese government announced, in order to boost credit, a reduction of reserve requirement ratio in 379 more branches in rural areas of the Agricultural Bank of China. The scheme was initially applied to 563 branches in 8 provinces. The reduction of the ratio by 2% is expected to free up RMB 23B. In the US session, the markets were a tad lower due to weaker than expected existing home sales data.

China Steps Up Easing by Cutting RRR for More Banks

Sell Gold, Silver, and Jewelry for Money

Gold futures trade higher Monday, shaking off initial weakness as bargain hunters snapped a cheaper gold after steep losses in the previous week, and other commodities and U.S. equities also post gains.

Metals Stocks: Gold ends higher as bargain hunting ensues

Sell Gold, Silver, and Jewelry for Money

Market sentiment strengthened in the NY session in a quiet trading day, due to Apple?s announcement of a new dividend plan. Wall Street soared with the DJIA and the S&P 500 gaining +0.05% and +0.40% respectively. In the commodity sector, crude oil extended gains on Monday despite speculations that Saudi Arabia may increase output. The recent rise in oil prices has also triggered growth concerns with the IMF managing director Largarde warning that ‘the rising price of oil is a new threat that could derail the recovery’. The front-month contract for WTI crude oil climbed to a 2-week higher of 108.24 before settling at 108.29 while the equivalent Brent crude contract ended the day largely unchanged at 125.71. On the contrary, gold continued its consolidation below 1700. UBS downgraded its 1-month price forecast to 1550 from 1775.

Strength in Oil may Derail Growth

Sell Gold, Silver, and Jewelry for Money

Records: Lakers 29-18 (3rd in West), Blazers 22-25 (12th in West)
Offensive ratings: Lakers 104.5 (13th in NBA), Blazers 105.0 (11th in NBA)
Defensive ratings: Lakers 101.7 (10th in NBA), Blazers 103.8 (13th in NBA)
Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Ramon Sessions, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum
Blazers: Raymond Felton, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge, Joel Pryzbilla
Injuries: Lakers: none; Blazers: Elliot Williams (out), Shawn Williams (out)

The Lakers Coming In: After two straight losses to Utah and Houston, the Lakers bounced back with good performances from Kobe, Pau and Ramon Sessions. Kobe went into the game against Dallas with little rhythm offensively, having shot three-for-20 and 10-for-27 in the two games prior, but he ended up having one of his most efficient nights on the season in Dallas, scoring 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting. Pau Gasol also had a big night, scoring 27 points (his second highest mark of the season) on 13-for-16 shooting with nine rebounds. On top of that, Ramon Sessions seems to be coming into his own in this Laker offense, as he had his best night as a Laker (granted, he’s only played in four contests in the Forum Blue and Gold), recording 17 points and nine assists — more assists than any Laker point guard had recorded up to this point in the season. In the post-game thread, Travis noted that it was his first time being able to see Sessions play as a Laker, but was able to sum up his effectiveness pretty well: “The best part is his game is controlled and even though the ball is in his hands a lot, he rarely gets in trouble or lets the defense hone in on him.”

The Trailblazers Coming In:  Portland is coming off a big win over the Memphis Grizzlies that saw Nicolas Batum score 24 points, which included four three-pointers. Wesley Matthews, who has recently become a starter after Portland effectively got rid of two-fifths of their starters at the deadline, chipped in 18 points and nine rebounds. While most expected the already struggling Trailblazers to be playing for a lottery pick the rest of the season, they currently sit at 2-2 since the trading deadline, just like the Lakers — who many expected to be much improved with the addition of Sessions. Instead, Portland has now won two of three against playoff bound teams (the other loss was an embarrassing effort against the Milwaukee Bucks), and have been either really good or really bad with their new roster and coach.

Portland Trailblazer Blogs: Portland Roundball Society is a fantastic blog to check out all Blazer news and analysis.

Keys to the Game: I mentioned that the Blazers lost two of their five starters at the trade deadline, and they happen to be two guys who were best against the Lakers’ strengths. As far as under appreciated ballplayers go, Gerald Wallace may define that more than any other small forward in today’s game. He’s an energy guy who can knock down jumpers, attack the rim, pass well, and defend the hell out of some of the league’s best perimeter scorers. If you needed one guy to shut down Kobe for one possession, he’s one of the first three guys that I’d consider, and he’s no longer a member of the Portland Trailblazers. The task of guarding Kobe will now fall on either Nicolas Batum or Wesley Matthews, who Kobe has destroyed over and over again. With Wallace gone, Kobe should feel a lot more comfortable working within the offense, especially in the mid to low post with Matthews guarding him or around the perimeter with Batum guarding him. While Batum is no slouch on the defensive end himself (he’s the kind of tall, lanky defender Kobe has struggled with in the past), he hasn’t had the same success stopping Bean that Wallace has had.

The other guy the Blazers lost was Marcus Camby. While one of the oldest players in the NBA, Camby was still a serviceable post defender who was still rebounding at a nice clip. Before the trade deadline, Camby was at his best defensive rating in seven years and starting every night with the condensed schedule at age 38. Now with Camby gone, the Blazers lose some of the frontcourt depth that’s needed to counter the Laker bigs over the course of 48 minutes and now start Joel Pryzbilla, another aging big man but one less skilled than Camby. A heavy dose of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol should give the Blazers all they could handle on the night, and both Drew and Pau have had relatively good games when Camby was on the helm.

Even with Wallace and Camby gone, this is still a team that won’t allow you to key in on one guy defensively. The Blazers will run their offense through LaMarcus Aldridge (as they should), but both Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews could give the Lakers issues. Batum was fantastic from behind the 3-point line in January and February, averaging better than 42 percent from range. However, teams have finally started to close out and run the Frenchman off the three-point line, lowering his shooting from behind the arc to 32 percent in March. Even with his significant drop off, he’s still a dangerous shooter when open (as Memphis found out), and it would be wise for the Lakers to run him off the line and not trade two points for three. Wesley Matthews is another guy who can score the ball. While Kobe has repeatedly killed Matthews when Bean has had the ball, Matthews is the kind of guy who moves around a lot and has given Kobe problems himself. He moves well without the ball and is an excellent spot-up shooter, which accounts for 33 percent of his overall offensive production. Per mySynergy Sports, Matthews is hitting 42 percent of his spot-up threes and scores 45 percent of the time he spots up (this is accounting for the times he’s fouled). Finding Matthews, keeping Batum off the three-point line, and working hard to keep Aldridge from going off will all be instrumental, but obviously much easier said than done.

Where you can watch: 7:30 PM start time on Fox Sports West. Also listen at ESPN Radio 710AM.

Forum Blue And Gold

Gold and silver continue their strong 2012 advance with relatively sparse mainstream press headlines.  Gold is now only 4 per ounce below the all time high of ,895 reached on September 6, 2011 and silver looks more and more like it is getting ready to challenge the range last seen in mid 2011. Based [...]
Gold and Silver Blog

The U.S. Mint reports that March sales of the American Eagle Gold and Silver Bullion coins are on track to more than double from February sales levels.  Sales during February were unusually low with gold bullion sales down 77.3% and silver bullion sales down 54% from the prior year.  Shown below are the U.S. Mint [...]
Gold and Silver Blog