Category: Day to day

For blogs on the day to day activities

Race for the Cure

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded by Nancy G. Brinker in 1982 to spread the breast cancer awareness in the world. Today, the group is the largest in the world to support breast cancer movement. Special races are held worldwide to raise funds and support the patients. You can participate in the races or donate the non-profit organization to support their cause.

Initially, only women were allowed to participate in the races. Later, men, children, families, and organisations joined the races. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure conducts special races which include:

  1. Race for the Cure
  2. Rally for the Cure
  3. Bowl for the Cure
  4. Cook for the Cure
  5. 3 Day Walk for the Cure
  6. Ride for the Cure

You can see thousands of people participating in the races. Some of them are fighting breast cancer, some have lost families due to the disease, some are honoring their acquaintances, while some are just having fun in the sun by walking. A festive environment can be found at the races with dances, freebies, DJ’s, live music shows, and performances before and after the races.

The entry for the race costs from $25 and you can contribute more by additional donations. Participating in the race is a special excitement for the people as it gives a sense of satisfaction to having done something for the cause. The winners get a prize of course. But, everybody is a winner for having getting outside and participating in the race.

Numerous information centers are set up during the race so that people can get to know about the check ups and tests to be done. Information is given on what to do and whom to approach in case of any symptoms of breast cancer. Contact the Quad city Affiliates if you want to participate in the race. There may be no cure as of now for the disease but the fighting spirit prevails.

 

Dispatch Argus

The largest selling newspaper in the quad cities with the most accurate information is the Quad cities Dispatch Argus. The paper costs less than a dollar a day but is the only source for exclusive news in sports, politics, entertainment, arts, weather, and so on. Dispatch covers local, national, and international news in the area bringing up to date news. The coupons which drop by every other day along with the paper are the most precious.

Dispatch Argus

The Dispatch and the Rock Island Argus are the local newspapers found in 1878 and 1853 respectively. They serve the local areas with both the papers carrying the same news except modifyng the cover page to suit the individual areas. They both were acquired by the Small Newspaper Group in 1986. The news can also be accessed at their website qconline.com.

Dispatch covers local news and all the articles are well researched, written and edited. Pictures accompany some articles to give more details. The different sections of the paper which appear on special days include:

  1. Cover page
  2. Sports
  3. Arts
  4. Faith
  5. Home
  6. Automobile
  7. World
  8. Comics
  9. Teen
  10. Obituaries
  11. Events
  12. Entertainment
  13. Movie Reviews
  14. Crime reports
  15. Politics
  16. Jobs
  17. Finance
  18. Weather
  19. Honor rolls
  20. Education

Local people including friends and families are featured in the newspaper for their special achievements. Special happenings such as births, marriages, engagements, divorces, and deaths are published in the paper to spread the word easily. On request, Dispatch publishes free obituaries up to 25 lines to honor the local residents who passed away. The local crimes and other follow ups can be tracked through the paper. Families and teenagers can write to the paper to ask a specific question they are facing and can get expert suggestions while being anonymous.

Dispatch Argus supports local students by publishing their essays, achievements, scholarships,  and the Regional Annual Spelling Bee. Photo contests are held occasionally and local residents are encouraged to send in the pictures. Frequent job positions in the paper include journalists, writers, editors, home delivery, and so on. 

Dispatch provides exclusive coupons apart from special news. Local stores provide deals and discounts through the newspaper and can be used during the valid period. Dispatch provides great news in simple language for people of all ages. Children are encouraged to read the newspaper to improve the awareness of the world around them and also their reading and comprehension. You can also sponsor the newspaper for a day to a local school through their special partnership program.

To subscribe to the Dispatch Argus, call 309 797 0345 or 800 660 2472. You can also visit their website to check out the different delivery options.

Saris at Sears

Yes, ladies. Sears is selling saris on its website. So, now ladies can purchase the exquisite Indian saris at their own pace instead of rushing to major cities!

Sears is a major supplier of appliances, electronics, kitchen, jewelry, and clothing. They are catering to the needs of large Indian community by selling saris. You can find a wide variety of Silk, Georgette, Crape saris in luxury, printed, and casual models. Saris do come with blouse piece so that you don’t have to buy another one.

Some saris are marketplace items that is they are sold by a third party through Sears. The price range of the saris is between $25 to $200 or more. Check with your local store for site to store pickup. Extra shipping charge is applicable on some items.

Sears is expecting a 20% increase in sales through saris. The flexible return policy makes the purchases easier as the customer can return the item if they are not satisfied with the material of the sari. It is a welcoming change and a lot more encouraging for even  more shopping! 🙂

International Women’s Day 2012

World is celebrating the 101 st International Women’s Day on March 8 with seminars and events everywhere. Women have emerged as a global power fighting for their rights and demanding equal status in the society. Women bring a lot of difference in daily lives as well in global developments. The female is needed every where but has been limited most of the time.

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 since 1911. Global events and seminars mark the celebration of women and their success. Women have been encouraged to vote, lead, manage, and negotiate in political, business, health, education, sports, military, and family among other areas. Special privileges and reservations have been given to women for bringing up the status of the girl power.

China, Nepal, Cuba, Russia are some of the countries which declare March 8 as a national  holiday. While in some countries such as China only women get a national holiday on March 8, some other countries such as Bulgaria celebrate Women’s day as Mother’s day.

Women presidents, Prime ministers, Home ministers, and other representatives bring empathy and leadership in the politics. In corporate sectors, women are largely encouraged to take up high positions as they bring a great deal of patience often required for these jobs. Education for girls and employment for women has been a common agenda for most of the nations. Parents consider girl as a crucial asset for the family and respect women in the family to a a great extent.

Women networks in workplace a common for many multinational companies to address women issues and encourage women. Support groups have been established to bring awareness among women about right and wrong and other abuse aspects. Women courts have been providing special legal and family justice for women in many parts of the world.

Areas of Improvement

However, women in some countries such as Saudi Arabia cannot drive or cannot travel alone, while in USA women do not have a right to have an abortion. Some countries such as Afghanistan are rated as most dangerous place for women. Rapes, abduction, abuse, discrimination, and murder of women is still a common phenomenon. Women safety is a prime concern for most countries. Lack of  basic food, shelter, and clothing is still prevalent in most parts of the world.

Women organisations have been helping women for their growth. Women must get education and be independent by getting a job. Fighting for the rights and demanding justice and respect must be a women’s responsibility. A woman should respect herself and gain confidence in self to shine in the world. Putting others first and letting self down is not a solution and the right example in all cases. Communication and networking skills are a must for a successful career. Personal safety and awareness of surroundings is the necessity of the modern world.

Finally, respecting other women, spreading love, and appreciating womanhood also give a positive approach to the daily situations. Do respect women in your family, workplace, and in your community to celebrate the International Women’s Day.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Do something special for your partner this Valentine’s day to make it a memorable one.  Expression of love is playing a major part in the busy lives and hectic schedules. The cost of the gift may not quantify your love but sure makes an impression. Sometimes a small gesture or a thoughtful appreciation leads to magical results.

Valentine’s day is celebrated worldwide to express love though its origins are unknown. It is the right time to show the bottled love and affection which may yield more in turn. The day marks the celebration of love with exchange of flowers, chocolates, and gifts.

The celebration of Valentine’s day has spread to schools where children are encouraged to share small valentines or cards. Some schools have class room parties and other crafts. Weddings and engagements are common on Valentine’s day or proposals might be on the rise. Special crafts, recipes, and personalized gifts are shared on Valentine’s day.

The anti-Valentine’s day brigade is also becoming popular by people who believe that all the expense is futile. Some think that the time and effort is wasted in unnecessary hype and artificial expression.

However, a universal celebration of love can be appreciated anytime of the year. 🙂

 

January Events

The first month of the year is packed with events which are getting pretty difficult to manage. With first snow (and storm), January is getting busier. Here are some of the events in the area.

  1. Bettendorf family museum is offering free evening admission on January 16th from 5pm to 8pm on Martin Luther King Jr.’s day. Enjoy the exhibits and explore nature wonders at the museum.
  2. Moline library is offering a range of free programs including Messy Monday on January 16th, Lego club on January 19th, and Contented canines on January 25th. Registration may be required for some programs. Check the timings before going.
  3. Rock Island Center for Math and Science is offering a free STEM program on January 24th 5pm to 7pm in coordination with IMSA. Children can do variety of science experiments and win prizes!
  4. iwireless center is hosting the World’s toughest rodeo show on January 27th and January 28th at 7.30 pm. Admission is from $18 to $35 and a special goody bag for $55 seat tickets.
  5. Rivercenter Davenport is hosting the Quad City Boat and Vacation show this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Special gifts for children visiting early on Sunday.
Visit the programs and be safe in the weather. 🙂

 

 

Bald Eagle Days

The national bird returns to the lands of Mississippi commencing the 25th annual bald eagle days. Over 2500 bald eagles return every year in search of food and shelter. QCCA Expo Center is hosting the annual bald eagle days show this Friday through Sunday. Watch the show for some live birds of prey and other animals from Niabi zoo apart from the bald eagle.

  1. QCCA Expo Center is hosting the annual bald eagle show this weekend. The center will host over 100 booths demonstrating animals from Niabi zoo, Pella wildlife, and birds of prey. The show is open from 4pm to 8pm on Friday,  8 am to 6.30 pm on Saturday, and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday. The event costs $5 for adults and $1 for children.
  2. Mississippi River Visitor Center is hosting the 42nd annual bald eagle show on weekends from January 14 to February 12 from 9.30 am to 11 am and 12.30 pm to 2pm. Call 309 794 5338 ahead for reservations as the group is limited for the clock tower tour.
  3. Clinton Bald Eagle Watch is this Saturday from live birds, wild life exhibits, activities for children, and door prizes. The event is free to public and may host a tour to the bald eagle watching time permitting.

If you cannot go to any of these events, drive by the Mississippi river Lock and dam #13 and #14 during afternoons for a better viewing and picture opportunities. 🙂

Happy New Year 2012

The New Year marks a universal celebration and brings hope in to many people worldwide. With 2011 being the year of disasters and protests, let’s hope 2012 to be a joyful year.

Happy New Year 2012

New year brings joy to everyone with people celebrating on the streets in all arts of the world. Despite the disasters and grievances, people have in deed celebrated new year with friends and family. The hope and passion keeps life running and leads in to new directions.

Revoking past resolutions or taking up new ones is a common trend. Health takes priority over financial prospects. Quitting some habits and taking up new ones is trending during the new year celebrations.

Many new laws come into effect in the new year in the United States. Illinois requires all passengers to be wearing seat belt regardless of age and position in the car. Many states have set up strict laws for immigrants and gay rights. Check your balances and future plans in the new year and set up less shopping targets. 🙂

Happy New Year 2012!

Putnam Museum – Fun in the Exhibits

Putnam museum is offering unique events and fun opportunities this holiday season. Visit Putnam this Thursday and Friday for a Pyjama party. Further, December 26th thru Dec 30, Putnam is hosting special events for all.

Putnam Museum

Putnam is a venue for different exhibits and shows for Quad city residents. They encourage fun and learning and is a great place for the IMAX movies.

Pyjama Party

Putnam is hosting the pyjama party this Thursday and Friday from 5pm to 10pm. Each ticket costs $10. Audience can watch Polar Express in 3D and get their flashlights ready for a total lights out experience.

Fun in the Exhibits

Putnam is arranging family friendly activities in the exhibit halls from Dec 26th to Dec 30 from 1pm to 3pm. The events are free with the museum admission $7.

  1. December 26th – Travel around the world on Map-it Monday
  2. December 27th – Explore the gadgets on Tech Tuesday
  3. December 28th – Encounter hands on science experiments on Weird Wednesday
  4. December 29th – Solve puzzles and numbers on Think tank Thursday
  5. December 30th – Visit live animals and birds on Friends of Nature Friday
Visit the museum during the special events to make most of the holidays. Get a free pass at the public library and have more fun. 🙂

TVDL Illinois

Temporary Visitor Drivers Licence (TVDL) is issued to legal residents in the United States who are not eligible for a Social Security Number. Until lately, there was no such provision but in 2005 Illinois started issuing TVDL to enable the residents drive.

International students and spouses of temporary international workers may apply for a TVDL as they are not eligible to work in the United States. They are legal residents but are ineligible for a Social Security number. In order to facilitate driving for these residents, a TVDL is issued.

Documents

Bloomington, Rockford, Springfield, Carbondale, and Chicago are the offices that issue a TVDL. They process TVDL only on certain days of the week. Take the following original documents to your nearest DMV office.

  1. No SSN letter from the Social Security Office issued within the last 90 days
  2. Passport with original I94
  3. Any mail with name and address within last 30 days
The documents will be verified using the online verification system. If there is any additional verification, a second visit maybe required.

Validity

An applicant must be having at least six months visa and one year valid stay while requesting a TVDL.  A TVDL is valid until three years or the visa expiry date whichever is sooner.

A TVDL can be extended after receiving the extension notice from the USCIS. The application may be sent for additional processing. The DMV will issue an invitation letter to revisit the DMV office to get the renewal.

Tests

First time applicants have to go through vision test, computer test, and driving test. Applicants renewing TVDL may have to go through vision test and other tests if required.

Once all the tests have been passed, a photograph is taken and the TVDL will be issued. It may be a shocking and tiring process but the pain is worth. The stringent rules by the Illinois DMV may seem ridiculous but at the end ensure the safety of the drivers.

 

Day After Thanksgiving

The day after Thanksgiving or Black Friday is popular for the shopping gobble that drives many shoppers into fuzziness. The mad rush to the door busters in the wee hours may or may not give a good deal to customers but sends the businesses from red to black.

This year businesses and retailers decided to offer sales on thanksgiving night itself. Stores opening at 9pm and 10pm kept shoppers running around for deals and bargains. Further, the stores planned their timings such that the shoppers could line up at the stores one after other.

Kmart and Walgreens opened stores on Thanksgiving itself. Walmart and Toys r us opened at 10 pm and 9 pm. Next, Best Buy, Kohls, and Target opened their stores at midnight. The deals and long queues made the shoppers spend night in these stores itself. Last, JCPenney, Sears, Gamestop and other retailers open at 4 am in the morning so that the shoppers could continue shopping. (phew…)

The shoppers were confused and got in to the trap and spent heavily on Black Friday. Some of the door busters on Electronics such as televisions and Xbox were good in deed. Toys and basic clothing were on sale for considerable difference. Many new board games and kitchen gadgets were on sale offering mail in rebates.  Price matching and comparing continued before and after door busters where shoppers could buy online.

Mostly customers end up buying beyond their shopping lists and Christmas shopping. People who were jobless or about to lose their jobs did not even refrain from shopping. The credit cards and some websites got down due to the sudden surge and could not operate.

Finally, shoppers end with huge debts and retailers in huge profits. The returns and exchanges were expected as customers want to get best out of the deals. No wonder the sales this year have surpassed last year’s. 🙂

John Deere Pavillion

The famous attraction in Moline has changed its layout to set up its ‘can do’ look. Visit John Deere Pavillion to see the sculpture made with 320,000 food cans!

John Deere Pavillion launched its latest tractor S690 by creating a sculpture of food cans. Around 320,000 food cans were used this morning. 10,000 bags of rice and pasta were used in addition to the cans. The sculpture weighs around 170 tons and is 80 feet wide and17 feet height.

An architecture firm from Chicago designed and supervised the sculpture. The colors of the cans were chosen and arranged in order to represent the natural colors.

The sculpture is free for public viewing until December 11. Later, the the food will be donated to Riverbend foodbank. It seems that this donated food can serve 150 families for an year! Further, there is a talk about Guiness world record. Let’s wait and see.

John Deere must be appreciated for all the support they offer to the community. 🙂

Annual Holiday Events

Do not miss the annual holiday parade, festival of trees, and lighting on the commons this weekend. Quad city is gearing up for the holiday season with the annual events. Before the Thanksgiving celebration and Black Friday shopping, it is time for the annual celebrations.

  1. Holiday Parade – The parade in Davenport will  feature local businesses and organizations with colorful platoons. Helium balloons, dance shows will entertain the local people in downtown Davenport at 11 am.
  2. Festival of Trees – Festival of trees will feature different Christmas trees decorated and fun events for all ages.
  3. Lighting on the Commons – The annual lighting on the commons at the John Deere Pavilion will feature festivities, wagon rides, cookies, hot chocolate, music, and of course fire works. The event is from 3.30 pm to 8pm and is free to general public.

As Thanksgiving approaches businesses are attracting shoppers with numerous discounts and coupons even before Black Friday. To avoid long queues most stores are offering online sales during the special timings.

The annual events in Quad cities will kickoff the holiday season despite the weakening economy. 🙂

 

 

 

Gifted Child

Every parent feels that their child is exceptional and gifted. There is no other star in the world than your own child. But, gifted children have a different kinds of capabilities and requirements which must be identified and hence can enhance the child’s learning and performance.

In the highly competitive world, is it just enough if your child gets good grades, or do you think they have to work hard to shine and exceed expectations in the standardized tests and teacher expectations. It is easier said than done. How are the gifted children identified and what are the parameters.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act defines a gifted child as – ” Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities”.

Characteristics

Here are some of the characteristics of gifted children:

  1. Ability to read at an early age and develop independent learning
  2. Asking why and how rather than taking granted
  3. Having large vocabulary and expression of the ideas
  4. High energy levels in academics
  5. Exceptional skill in music, art, sports, or any other activity
  6. Extremely curious about objects and topics
  7. Breaking complex material and systematic analysis
  8. Elaborate thinking and thrive on problem solving
  9. Handle tasks in efficient manner
  10. Understand their own abilities and capabilities
The National Association For Gifted Children (NAGC) defines gifted children as -“Gifted individuals are those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10% or rarer) in one or more domains.  Domains include any structured area of activity with its own symbol system ( mathematics, music, language) and/or set of sensorimotor skills ( painting, dance, sports).”

Schools use standardized testing to determine the gifted children apart from classroom assessment. Students scoring 90 percentile in the tests or exceeds expectations in the state wide or nation wide tests. NUMATS is also used to determine students with exceptional abilities and achievements.

Strategies

Once the gifted child is identified, the child must be treated with extra care and special attention. They my feel bored easily in class rooms if they are not challenged accordingly. They may also feel left out and are vulnerable. Here are some strategies that can be used with gifted children:

  1. Challenge them to achieve more
  2. Let them know that it is ok to perform above standards
  3. Put them in to special programs which have curriculum prepared to suit them
  4. Promote positive environment and encourage learning
  5. Set up high standards and appropriate coaching so they can achieve the goals

Parents and teachers can work with the gifted children and challenge their minds for a better performance. Appropriate training and counselling is required to make them successful. Underachievement is also a common trend in gifted children due to lack of proper identification and training.

Note that the government does not provide any additional funding for the public schools to nurture the gifted children. Schools formulate funds to take care of the special programs.

Is your child gifted? What steps have you taken to meet your child’s learning demands.

Add the Magic

Feel stagnant and neglected in a relationship. Not getting much attention from life partner. A common feeling among busy couples and increasingly cluttered life styles. Add little magic and spruce up the relationship to enjoy and have more fun.

With busy life and work schedules, many couples do not appreciate the better half in their lives. The silent supporter and secret admirer can be neglected and left out in some cases. Expression of love does not harm and will not let you down after all the time you have spent together in the life.

Ego and misunderstandings dominate the underlying passion and result in conflicts many a times. Every couple have their own way of getting back to normalcy.  Sometimes even subtle hints would not work and explicit expression might be necessary. Here are the top ten ways to rekindle the life:

  1. Say what is on your mind rather than indicating
  2. View the partner as you were during the initial years
  3. Forget all the problems and think about pleasant times spent
  4. Plan outings and get together with family and friends
  5. Movie or other public events may reduce the tension
  6. Nice words and being respectful always helps
  7. Gifting on important occasions demonstrates affection
  8. Being specific on your expectations might clear out some air
  9. Positive talk and behavior are important in all circumstances
  10. Be nice and show respect however lenient your partner is
As family grows and responsibilities increase, couples tend to misjudge the partner. Ego and misunderstanding can ruin any relationship. It is crucial to get back to the basic rules and expressing. Finally, it is you who can help you and responsible for having a good life. 🙂

Vizio Tablet

The eight inch tablet from Vizio has good display and widgets but is limited in audio and browsing capabilities. The WiFi tablet costs around $200 and has all the basic requirements of a tablet with many android apps.

Here are the good aspects of VTAB1008:

  1. 8 inch LED LCD display with capacitative touch buttons and screen resolution of 1024×768
  2. Front facing camera for chatting and taking pictures
  3. Inbuilt television remote and bluetooth
  4. 32GB maximum storage with 4GB built in storage
  5. Can be connected to a TV, headset, SD Card, and USB
  6. Weighs 1.5 pounds
  7. Battery life up to 10hours
  8. Bottom menu bar

Here are the not so good aspects I observed:

  1. Heavy and bulky appearance
  2. No horizontal panning
  3. Maximum volume is low
  4. Sensitive buttons get pressed unnecessarily
  5. Browser closes abruptly
  6. Camera is not good for pictures
  7. Web browsing is not that comfortable
With affordable cost, the Vizio tablet provides basic requirements of a portable device. It is a good choice for starters. You need to download additional apps to reduce the lag. 🙂

 

 

 

iPhone 4S

Just before  Steve Jobs passed away, Apple introduced its iPhone 4S, which is basically same as iPhone4 but has inbuilt voice assistant Siri. It also features 8 Megapixel camera for better face detection and video stabilization. iPhone 4S also has iCloud which can synchronize all your Apple devices.

iPhone 4S already sold out its pre orders for its latest features. Apple fans are ordering the latest version of the iPhone series. Its latest features include dual core A-5 chip, built in assistant Siri, Bluetooth 4.0, 8 mega pixel camera, iOS 5, iCloud, along with other built-in applications. The data download speed of iPhone 4S is 14.4 Mbps which is double the iPhone 4.

  1. The A-5 chip is the Package-on-package System-on-a-chip developed by Apple. Apple had already released the iPad 2 with the A-5 chip followed by the iPhone 4S. Apple claims that the chip is seven times faster than A4 and has better image processing capabilities. Manufactured by Samsung, A-5 chip is the latest chips by the Apple which is included in the iPhone 4S.
  2. The voice assistant Siri, the Beta version, sends messages, sets up reminders, makes phone calls, schedules meetings, sets messages, and son based on your voice. You can activate the commands through voice and the assistant replies to you as if a person is reading to you. You can check the weather in a particular place, find out local restaurants, and movie theaters through your voice commands.
  3. Bluetooth 4, primarily consumers 90 per cent less energy. It is useful for medical technologies and medical devices for capturing the data within up to 20  feet. iPhone 4S features Bluetooth 4, through which you can synchronize and control other bluettoh devices such as headset, or mouse, or keyboard, or television.
  4. The 8 mega pixel camera is the next big thing in the iPhone 4S. Additional face detection capabilities along with auto focus, illumination sensors enhance the picture quality. Grid zoom facilities and tap to focus help to take better pictures and videos. The video stabilization in iPhone 4S is claimed to be better than the iPhone 4.
  5. iOS 5 is the latest operating system from Apple that has extended features such as messaging from one Apple device to other, seeing voice messages, capturing pictures, checking instant messages right from the lock screen. Te Notification Center acts as a one stop for all the mails, calendars, reminders, tweets, face book messages and so on.  iOS 5 has inbuilt twitter making easy social networking.
  6. The biggest buzz about the iCloud is synchronizing all your Apple devices such as the Mac book, Apple TV, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and so on. That means, you can download a book on a phone and read it anywhere on your computer or pad or mac book without synchronizing with a wire. It is automatically updated on all your Apple devices.

Compare the Apple iPhones before purchasing and the new features will pave way for more discoveries in the future models. It seems, Steve Jobs laid out future plans for the next four years despite his illness. While some argue that nothing is new in iPhone 4S, some see innovations and advanced technologies in built. 🙂

Oktoberfest

October is the time for apple picking, fall colors, and Halloween preparations. Parades, tours, costumes, and travelling are major occasions where we all can have some outdoor fun before winter sets in.

Apple Picking

Apple is the most favorite fruit and is ready for picking during the fall. Here are some local famrs where you can pick your own apples for a minimal cost.

  1. Tanners Orchard, Speer IL
  2. Stone’s Apple Barn, East Moline IL
  3. HappyHollowUpick, Port Byron, IL
Check with the farm for the timings and special events.

Fall Colors

Fall is the time when leaves stop producing chlorophyll gradually. The carotenoids which were always present now make the leaves turn yellow, purple, red, crimson before they finally fall. Follow a river in your local area to get the best view of the fall colors.

  1. Mississippi Palisades National Park, Savanna, IL
  2. Galena, IL
  3. Spoon River Scenic Drive, Fulton County, IL

Check the weather and routes before setting off to enjoy the nature.

Halloween: Parades and Trick or Treat

  1. Rock Island District – Oct 27th 5pm to 8pm
  2. Le Claire – Parade on Oct 29th 11am to 1pm,  Trick or Treat on Oct 30th 6pm to 8 pm
  3. Davenport – Oct 28th 5pm to 7pm
  4. Bettendorf – Oct 31 5pm to 7pm
  5. Moline – Oct 31 5pm to 7pm
  6. South Park Mall – Oct 29th 4pm to 6pm
  7. Quad City Botanical Center – Oct 30th 1pm to 4pm

Follow the safety rules during Halloween parades to make it more enjoyable and memorable.

R.I.P Steve Jobs

Apple co-founder passed away leaving his followers sad. All are praying for his soul to rest in peace and hoping strength for the family members.

Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer. He was suffering since 2007 and underwent multiple surgeries and treatments in the battle. Though there is no known cure for cancer, efforts have been made to reduce the pain. Steve Jobs has been a role model for many engineers, computer professionals and entrepreneurs.

He found Apple computers in 1976 and had led many product innovations including the ipod, mac book, iPhone along other products. Steve Jobs and his expertise will be missed. He was just 56 years old.

The iPhone 4s released just before his death already sold out in pre orders. Apple and Steve Jobs laid future product plans for next four years before Jobs died.

Frost Tonight!

Bring in the lovely plants. It is going to be frosty tonight in the early morning.

Weather experts predict frost in the mornings despite the temperature. So, it is suggested to bring the outdoor plants inside during the nights.

After a while, they have to be inside anyways due to the low temperatures and snow and cold.

Plants cannot survive the extreme temperatures and hence you need to move them. This is the right time. 🙂