Category: Day to day

For blogs on the day to day activities

Dookudu Movie Review

Prince Mahesh babu’s Dookudu overwhelms worldwide audience with impeccable performance, music, dances, dialouges,  sentiment, and unlimited comedy. The movie is a major hit setting up all time records for the hero as well as the director Srinu Vaitla.

Story

Dookudu has a family bondness sentiment. Ajay’s (Mahesh) father Shankar anna (Prakash Raj) dedicates his life to the poor people in the slums of Hyderabad. He is liked by many people and worshipped for his social service. Shankar anna and his friends get attacked by his enemies and looses his life.

Ajay relocates to Mumbai where he grows up with his aunt’s family. He becomes a police officer and works with a group of efficient team in tackling mafia in Mumbai. Ajay proves to be fearless and daring in his job and catches big criminals. In the process, he captures one of close associates of Nayak (Sonu Sood), the biggest of mafia leaders. Nayak kills his own associate while in police custody and hence Ajay’s team gets suspended.

Ajay and his team travel to Istanbul to track the criminals. He meets Prashanthi (Samantha) who travelled to Istanbul to attend a fashion competition. He falls in love with her who in turn seems to be uninterested in him. He first tries to impress her with his charm but fails to get her attention.

The story then takes multiple turns and the audience realizes that Shankar anna is alive but has weak heart and cannot handle sudden bad news. So, Ajay pretends that everything is normal and rwquests all his relatives to act normal. He pretends to be an MLA as his father wanted him. In the midst of all the make up, he plans funny events which are hillarious. Further, he also tries to track people who attacked his father and also the mafia leaders. The rest of the story is how Ajay tries to balance his love, career, personal vengeance, and family responsibilities.

Review

The reality show comedy by Brahmanandam, the old hero episode by MS Narayana, and the cool guy by Dharma varapu are a major highlights among other comedians. All the comedians and artists are well blend in to the story without any major bumps. Fights are a must in Mahesh’s movie and are matching the expectations. Whenever there is a fist fight, the audience can see a lightning effect or a fire at the contact. Music by Thamman is different though the lyrics are not catchy in all the songs. The item song by Parvathi Melton and the title song are the ones which are instantly likeable. The main villain, the gorgeous Sonu Sood was downgraded to an old person lest he would dominate the hero. 🙂

‘Mind lo fix aite, blind ga doosukellipota’, ‘Nee kosam wait cheyyataniki emaina fans anukuntunnava, Poleeece’, and other local slangs are never heard in the recent past. Prince Mahesh babu and Samantha’s costumes are good and rich. The locations of songs in Istanbul, Germany, Mumbai, and Hyderabad are good and different. While some are arguing that there is nothing new in the movie, the entire movie creates a magic and needs a second chance. Overall, the movie is a major hit for Mahesh and a mega blockbuster until the next one. 🙂

Moline Library Putnam Museum Passes

Moline public library is giving Putnam museum passes this month for free. The pass is good for a week  for a family of four per visit. Also, get passes for free admission to the Mississippi Valley Fair Grounds this Sunday and get a free book.

Free Programs

The local library is a great source for books and other programs which are available mostly free of charge. Some of the interesting activities for children in this month include:

  1. Pre-school story time
  2. Book Bunch Club
  3. Reader’s Theater
  4. Anime Club
  5. Teen Club
  6. Lego Club

The Putnam Museum pass is good for one week and is not valid for the IMAX theater. You can register through phone  309-524-2480or through the moline public library website.

At the children’s desk pick up a book mark that is also a free pass to the Reading Adventures event scheduled this Sunday from noon to 5 pm at the Mississippi Valley Fair Grounds. Every child under 12 years receive a free book. Area authors will read out stories at 2 pm to the children. Inflatables, rides, and other crafts will engage children for the entire afternoon.

 

Quad Cities Balloon Festival 2011

The Quad Cities Balloon Festival is planned from September 23rd to 25th at the Kennedy Square in East Moline. The event is free but donations of non-perishable food items are encouraged. All the proceedings from the QC Balloon Festival go toward the River Bend Food Bank Backpack Program, which feeds hungry children in Quad Cities.

The QC Balloon festival is scheduled from September 23rd to 25th. The event hosts the launch of 20 hot air balloons, glowing in the dark, art fair, car show, and pan cake breakfast. The pilots are local experts in launching and operating hot air balloons. The pilots involve in different competitions including bean bag toss and races.

River Bend Food Bank is a hunger relief organization which feeds 45, 000 meals for children every year. It also operates four Kids Cafe Sites and Backpack Program. Through the Backpack Program, the food bank aims to supply food for children who do not have food during weekends. Every Friday, the kids who do not have food facilities at home are given easily cook able meals packets for use during the weekends.

You can park your vehicle at the Kennedy Square Parking lot and bring your lawn chairs to enjoy the show. The festival is handicap accessible but does not allow smoking and pets. The Balloon launch is scheduled for Friday and Sunday 5pm and Saturday 7am. While all the activities are dependent on weather, let’s hope for a fun filled Balloon festival. 🙂

Reckless Driving

Most drivers get comfortable behind the wheel over time and take certain risks which may or may not be safe for them. Reckless driving includes speeding, ignoring traffic rules, and willful disregarding the road safety.

Here are some examples of reckless driving:

  • Approaching a traffic signal, stop sign, exit, or construction zone with high speeds and slowing with sudden breaks
  • Speeding in school zones, construction zones, and on highways
  • Not following lane change rules and indicator lights
  • Excessive speeding, that is, ten over the speed limit
  • Damaging property or other vehicles by dashing
  • Failure to yield to emergency vehicles or other right-of-way
  • Passing a parked school bus, passing two vehicles, or passing in a no-pass zone

Reckless driving may cause heavy fines and may result in imprisonment in case of death or injury. Each state has a different rule and fines for reckless driving. It also may result in suspension of driving licence and may show bad report in background checking.

Hence, reckless driving must be avoided in all circumstances and it is always suggested to drive safe and obey the traffic rules.

 

 

Back to School Infections

Your kid is prone to multiple allergies and infections apart from learning and fun when he gets back to school. Spring allergies, red eye, strep throat, cold, cough are some of the common threats which your child may encounter during the initial days.

Young children might forget the rules of cleanliness when they are playing or interacting with other peers. Here are some common precautions that you can take to tackle back to school infections:

  1. Remind your child of cleanliness and personal hygiene
  2. Ask them not to share any personal items with others and keep contact minimal
  3. Let them wash their hands with during the breaks or disinfect the hands using a hand sanitizer
  4. Pack them healthy food and snacks particularly fresh fruits that boost their immunity and metabolism
  5. Clean their water bottles and lunch boxes with soap and water
  6. Change the tooth brush every three months or after they recover from any fever
  7. Let the child rest a lot ten to twelve hours of sleep that can reboot their energy levels for the next day
  8. If you notice any infection or allergy, supply them with enough rest and medication
  9. If needed, let the child stay at home for a day until the allergy reduces
  10. Give the child allergy medicine or cold medicine for three days

If the infection persists more than a week, it is better to contact the paediatrician as they might suggest the correct antibiotics to treat the infection.

Back to school learning might be fun, but the allergies and infections hinder the child’s interest to get back to school and work. 🙂

 

 

Kids and Money: Why Children Need Money

Parents argue that why do the children need money when they are willing to buy everything for thier children. In contrast, children think having money is cool and they can buy whatever they want. Well, it all depends on the family circumstances on how early one can teach their children about money. Experts suggest the sooner one introduces money to a child, the better the child gets at finances when they grow older.

Teaching Money

The age old piggy bank system does not seem to working in the modern days. All children are looking out for immediate gratification and instant rewards. Why the kids are fascinated about money? It may be the fascination towards the power of money to buy anything or the mess adults make around finances or savings. Parents may wonder why children need to get money when they are struggling very hard to earn it.

Children see a toy as a need while parents might think, it is a waste. 🙂 Teaching money to children is as important to teach any other basic life skills. Initially, counting the coins and identifying and grouping them might be a good idea to start with. Handling small amounts of money to save in the piggy bank or purse helps them understand the importance of saving.

Handling Money

Being money smart can be taught to children by actually handling them some money, say, ten dollars. Allowing them to spend and observing how they take care of the cash will help parents in giving feedback. As it is a small amount, some mistakes may be permitted to facilitate their learning. By learning their spending patterns or saving habits, parents can help the children improve their money skills.

Handling money for children in turn for small chores around the house is a traditional and good idea. Depending on their age children can be appreciated and rewarded for minor chores such as putting the toys away, sorting laundry, throwing waste, unpacking groceries, keeping their room clean and so on. Older children may be allotted additional tasks such as vacuum cleaning, lawn mowing, snow blowing, raking leaves, baby sitting, and so on.

The minimum age at which children can start earning is 14 and it may vary by state. While handling money in return for chores, parents must always emphasize that education is the top priority for children and that earning comes only at a later stage in life.

Spending and Saving

Spending the money appropriately and identifying the change is a good skill for children. Basic math skills can be put to use while children learn money management. Children can be supervised while performing small transactions such as ordering their food, buying their favorite toys, choosing their video games, and so on. Calculating and handling change is also a good skill to be taught to children.

Letting the children save their money (which is hard :)) in a piggy bank or a bank account for future use is a good idea. Keeping track of the money initially through a small note book is suggested so that every body has a track of the money. Accounting and budgeting can also be introduced to children apart from buying and saving.

While financial management is the constant learning for most adults, it is also crucial for children. Children learn by observing parents and might want to exercise their own money management techniques. Sometimes parents may be surprised to hear the ideas from children that they could never think of. 🙂

August Events 2011

Quad city residents look forward for the annual Mississippi Valley Fair, Tug fest, River roots, Tax free weekend in August. Make the most of the rest of the summer with the events and sun. 🙂

August brings back many events to the locals.

  1. The MV Valley fair offers a free admission to kids today apart from other grand stand shows. – The fair ends this Sunday and costs $10 for adults and $3 for children.
  2. Illinois hopes to win the Tug fest this year too. – Get your lawn chairs to Port Byron or Le Claire from Aug 11 to 13th to enjoy the cool river side and hot sun. The event has minimum admission fee that is donated to wards charity.
  3. River roots live is set to rock downtown Davenport with great food and music. – The free event on August 19th and 20th is full of free music and interesting food that comes yearly once. 🙂
  4. Tax free weekends in Iowa this Friday and Saturday allows you to buy garments or shoes sales tax free for up to $100. – Illinois residents may visit Iowa stores and avail the facility as Mr. Quinn does not declare any tax free holidays for Illinois. 🙂
  5. Movies in the park start this Friday in Moline showing Tangled this week and Tron legacy next Friday. – Again, get your lawn chairs, blankets, and bug repellents to enjoy the free movie with pop corn.
These events provide opportunity to enjoy the little outdoor fun opportunities we have before the onset of the cold weather. 🙂

 

Motorola Xoom

With the deluge of tablets being released, it has become tedious to decide which one is the best. Motorola Xoom, the latest in the tablet family performs well in the wireless networks for multimedia operations and web browsing. The high priced tablet is a good add on if you are a gadget geek. 🙂

With 10.1 inch display and 1280 x 800 screen resolution, Motorola Xoom is best suited for videos. It is built with Google Android and Honeycomb 3.0. Released in January 2011, the tablet has 32 GB with 1 G Hz processing speed. It weighs around 25 ounces and though some of its features are still being developed, the Xoom is admired by many for its flexibility.

The music is crisp and clear and the video streaming is good. The tablet has support from Google maps, e-books and blue tooth. The mail notification system is at the right hand corner which helps to enjoy the current program uninterrupted. The widgets can be scrolled and stacked on the home screen itself apart from searching and arranging.

You can attaching external memory and though Flash is not inbuilt, it can be downloaded. You can also transfer files from your computer through a cable. You can rent movies, buy applications, and games through the Android market. The tablet is available in different versions and is priced from about $500 to $800.

One can open and view MS Office files through the applications. You can work on Google documents and write blogs using the tablet. The tablet is good for on the go internet, multimedia, emails, and video chatting. The 4G upgrade is planned to release in September 2011. The microSD feature is expected with software upgrade. Its optional accessories include a charging cum speaker dock, wireless keyboard, protective case, vehicle adapter and so on.

The major drawbacks include the high price, limited applications, poor resolution in games, cramped keypad, and heavier than its competitors. Most of the games and applications seem to hang and quit while downloading itself. Despite the dual cameras, the pictures are not that clear.

My favorite part of the tablet is the fruit slicing game and one touch email. Motorola Xoom is a favorite if you need flexibility and watch a lot of videos. (The only reason people buy a tablet is – slightly larger than a smart phone and slightly smaller than a laptop. duh!  :))

Heat Wave

Yeah, after the snow storms, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and cyclones – it is the time for heat waves. The entire nation is captured by extreme temperatures and much more heat indexes. Stay hydrated and cool during the rest of the little summer we are going to have. 🙂

The much awaited summer does not seem to please any body. People planning for vacations and trips during the summer have to deal with the extreme temperatures apart from unemployment,  high fuel rates, construction zones (huh) and speeding tickets! The heat is in deed a concern for people without air conditioning and proper ways to cool down. Here is how you can stay safe and cool during the scorching summer.

  1. Drink a lot of water for every couple of hours. Lemonades and mineral water may help in getting more minerals and nutrients.
  2. Do not leave the children in the car. Try to switch on the car before you all can get in to get the car to normal temperatures.
  3. The swimming pools and other water bodies are good to keep cool though may not be suggested during the extreme temperatures.
  4. Avoid travel and all outings during the heat waves. Outdoor activities and camps are not suggested when there is 120 degrees heat index.
  5. Wear loose fitting clothes and light shades as the darker ones attract more heat. Sun screen, cooling glasses, and hats are good accessories.
  6. Notice for extreme nausea, tiredness, and loss of fluids and contact ER if needed. Timely actions may avoid in dangerous situations.
  7. People with chronic diseases, elder people, and children must be examined for any tiredness or symptoms of dehydration or sun strokes.
I wonder where did all the snow vanish and I suppose the global warming is really kicking in. In door air conditioned malls or libraries are best for killing the time rather than the hot 200 degrees temperatures outside. 🙂

 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows – Part 2

The final series of the Harry Potter, Deathly Hollows Part 2 takes the viewers in to a emotional turmoil and tense ear situations. The movie is crossing all box-office records world wide. The grown up Harry makes extreme sacrifices for saving the Hogwarts and killing his life-time enemy. Many thought he would die in the movie. He did die and came back to life for performing his duties. 🙂

Harry Potter must destroy all the powers of Lord Voldemort acquired in the past. The cup, tiara, elder wand and Nagini are his important powers apart from the vast number of death eaters. Harry, Hermoine, and Weasley set out for searching for the powers. They discover the cup in the vault for which they gain entry with the help of a Goblin.

Next, the three reach Hogwarts to search for the tiara. The dead help them in finding the tiara in the secret hiding place of the Hogwarts. Meanwhile, Voldemort plans attack on the Hogwarts with all his death eaters and evil powers. The professors at the Hogwarts secure the college with certain powers which may not be enough to stop Voldemort, but certainly will slow him down.

In the course of destroying the cup and the tiara, Harry uncovers many secrets about his life and why he is able to see what Voldemort id doing and intends to do. He sets to sacrifice his powers and life in order to kill Lord Voldemort, but magically gets back to life and attacks Voldemort. Hermoine, Weasley, and Neville kill Nagini thus weakening the poers of Voldemort. In the end of a long war, Voldemort dies.

Harry secures the elder wand thinking that the “Wand chooses the Wizard”, but decides to destroy it though its power can make him invincible. Harry and Ginny, Hermoine and Weasley chose to lead a normal life and they send their children to Hogwarts once they grow up. Harry advises his son to choose house which suits him the best. 🙂

The epic finale says that everything ends here but there is still scope for future editions. Maybe J.K.Rowling would not write more books, but many fan fiction series have already published on the internet by fans. If you are disappointed that the story ends here, you may write your own!

The movie will mesmerize you with the plot and the graphics. You will be fascinated by how the little boy is determined and performed for his and common good. Make sure to watch it in 3D and watch it twice to enjoy Harry again. 🙂

Cars 2: Ka-Ching

For all the fans of Lighting McQueen, Cars 2 offers a great entertainment with best pal Mater playing a key role. Cars 2 by Disney Pixar is fun to watch and the humor by the tow truck is engaging. The only thing lacking in the movie is people. 🙂

Story

After winning the piston cup Lighting McQueen plans to take rest for a while in Radiator Springs along with his friends and team members. He plans special days with Sally, but to his despair, his friend Mater joins him everywhere. Although Lighting McQueen appreciates Mater’s friendship, he does not like Mater meddling in his own affairs.

a new entrepreneur designing alternate fuel plans to organize a World Grand Prix and invites major cars in the world to join the race. Lighting McQueen joins the race and this time plans to take Mater along with other team members to the races. The funny old Mater with his natural gestures adds humor and embarrassment to their trip.

While on the tour, mysterious accidents happen with the new fuel and all the participating cars start exploding one by one. The mystery behind these accidents gets the top spies to work. The spies mistake Mater for one of the agents and involve him in the operations. Good Mater thinks that its all part of a dating scheme and joins the game. The rest of the story is how Mater helps solve the case through his wit and wisdom.

Review

The movie casts cars in all the roles including the Queen of England! As the team has to travel world wide, popular locations in Japan, Russia, Italy, France are good. The animations and scenes are engaging and the screenplay is well planned. You would not feel bored but continue laughing with the comedy by Mater.

The sequences, situations, and locations seem so real that one may forget it is involving only cars. Kudos to the Pixar’s animation team for capturing the expressions of the cars just like real people. Overall, you will fall in love with the Mater and Lighting McQueen once again in Cars 2. 🙂

Disowning a Child

Most believe that all children are equal and are treated equally by parents. But, most parents have a personal favorite to whom they may or may not bestow gifts. In contrast, some parents who are disgusted by their children’s choices may even disown them barring from all their properties and inheritances.

Parents versus Children

Some children make their parents proud through their achievements while some others may bring embarrassment and shame on the family through their failures. Regardless of the child, most parents treat children fairly and try to support even in their old age. All children will be equally fed and provided education with some minor adjustments and based on the financial situation of the family.

Children during the young ages look up on the parents as role models and try to learn from them. As life progresses children get busy with studies, jobs, families, which is inevitable and is expected. During the entire process, how efficiently one is balancing parents and siblings expectations differs. While all may not manage equally, most of us feel related and belonged while speaking to a family member or sibling.

Disowning

Disowning siblings or children is a common phenomenon in families. Due to changes in lives or personal choices many family members may not stand each other and try to avoid each other. Disowning formally involves barring all communication and inheritances which may be further distressful.

Why some chose to disown a child or family member is a individual decision. But, the common psychology may have been in the interest of the child. Many poor families disown their children so that they may find a better family. In modern days, children who marry out of the parents choice or who are drug addicts or have committed serious crimes are all being disowned by parents.

Disowning is an extreme choice and must be done only in severe circumstances. While the disowned may face depression and loss, the dis owner may feel satisfied by being able to do what they wanted to do. Disowning may sometimes provide relief from the emotional burdens. 🙂

Nowadays, some children too are disowning their parents once they become major. Would you disown your children if they acted out of your beliefs and wills?

June Events – Quad Cities

The onset of summer and the Memorial day mark the beginning of many local events. With short trips during the weekends, get the most of the summer and the warm weather. Here is a heads up on June events in and around Quad Cities.

  1. American Pickers Weekend – Visit LeClaire, Iowa for the annual event on June 4th and 5th based on the famous History Channel show ‘American Pickers’. Visit the levee for free music and other shows.
  2. Superman Celebration – The annual celebration from June 9th to 12th provides a unique opportunity to view hundreds in the Superman costume in Metropolis, Illinois.
  3. Mardi Gras in the District – The downtown Rock Island will  host the Mardi Gras festival on June 10th and June 11th hosting entertainment and providing festive mood.
  4. Tom Sawyer Day – Visit the boyhood home of Mark Twain in Hannibal, MO and celebrate the Tom Sawyer Day on June 11th apart from other free events.
  5. Music on the Lawn – The Butterworth center hosts free  music show on June 15th at 9.30 am and 1 pm by famous band.
  6. Quad City Air Show – The Davenport air show is a must watch on June 18th and 19th. It costs $15 per adult, $6 per child, free for children under 3. Book tickets online or at local Hy-Vee stores.
  7. Back Water Gamblers – The free ski show by the volunteers is performed at Rock Island every Wednesdays and Sundays at 6.30 pm up to Labor day.
  8. Butterfly Day – The Quad City Botanical Center will host the butterfly show for children on June 19th 1pm to 3pm at the rate of $5 per person.
  9. Niabi Zoo Wildfest – The zoo and local sponsors host special events and activities for children apart from the regular zoo admission. Niabi zoo is hosting the kids wild fest on June 25th from 9.30 am to 5 pm.
  10. Blossoms on the Butterworth – Visit the Butterworth Center in Moline on June 26th 12 pm to 5pm for the free event and goodies.

Enjoy the events and let me know if you find any more. 🙂

Guide to Quit Smoking

Are you planning to quit smoking or are you preparing to quit smoking? Spread the word and get support of the people around you. Observe the triggers and manage the craving situations with the help of family and friends. Know the results and side effects of quitting smoking and be prepared for the ‘big’ change.

Quitting smoking can be as heard as stopping breathing. Since smokers get addicted to the nicotine, they find it often hard to quit smoking cigarettes. Every cigarette reduces the life time of the smoker by five minutes and eliminates the family life. Quitting needs strong determination and understanding support network.

Here are some tips to quit smoking:

  1. Set a big date, such as, birthday, wedding day, or any other important day
  2. Spread the word among friends, family, and peers
  3. Remove the triggers and stay away from such situations
  4. Stay indoors and smoke free environments
  5. Have a candy or fruit instead of smoking
  6. Keep a list of benefits in the car, at home, and at the office
  7. Set aside a ‘money jar’ to save the money supposed to be spent on cigarettes
  8. Get help on 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669/TTY 1-800-332-8615)
  9. Buy some over the counter cessation medication if needed
  10. Observe the side effects such as weight gain or coughing
  11. Enjoy the smoke free breath, healthy body, and increased savings by quitting
  12. Set a good example for your children and prove that ‘You Can’
  13. Keep busy by walking, playing tennis, enjoying the nature, or start a new hobby such as reading or painting
  14. Stay away from alcohol and drugs as a substitute for smoking
  15. Brush your teeth and stay fresh

Enjoy a smoke free life and offer a good environment for the people around you. Stay fresh and healthy while saving money for your own good by quitting smoking. 🙂

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States. Known for its longest history, amazing natural landscape, hiking and camping ground for the elite, the Grand Canyon is one of the largest canyons in the world carved by the Colorado river. Do not miss the Sky walk and the scenic hiking trails when you visit the Grand Canyon National Park.

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is the home for many living species since four thousand years. Archaeological evidences in the area prove that people did live there since thousands of years. The Grand Canyon is one of the National monuments, national parks and the world heritage sites admired by many. Geologists study its rocks which possess information about  250 million years ago. The erosion is constant through rain and snow causing the natural shapes.

The length of the Grand Canyon is about 277 miles. Its width and depth differ in different places ranging from 6 miles to 20 miles. The South Rim is about 7000 feet above the sea level, whereas the North Rim is 8000 feet above the sea level. The summer and winter temperatures reach the extreme from 100 degrees Fahrenheit in summer to less than zero degrees in winter.

Visitors

The visitors and hikers in the area must take several precautions while exploring the Grand Canyon. The park entrance fee is based on the type of vehicle one drives. $20 is the charge for a private non-commercial vehicle. If you are driving your own vehicle in to the park, it is better to park in the lots near to the shuttle service. The free shuttle service can be utilized to roam around the park and visit the buildings in the park.

If you plan to see the sunset or sunrise, it is better to take enough time to enjoy the nature rather than rushing your trip. Reach early so that you can find a good spot and relax in the nature. If you are hiking, it is better to carry enough water and food to keep you active through the trail.

It is better to follow a park ranger’s directions to get the most of the park. The views from the South Rim village, Hermits Rest road, and the Desert view drive are the popular ones.  If you hike the Grand Canyon, you can visit the North Rim and if you take a mule ride, you can go in to the Inner Canyon.

The different historic buildings and sites in the park include:

  1. Hermits Rest
  2. Kolb Studio
  3. Lookout Studio
  4. Bright Angel Lodge
  5. El Tovar Hotel
  6. Train Depot
  7. Hopi House
  8. Verkamp’s
  9. Watchtower
  10. Tuweep
  11. Visitor Center
  12. Tusayan Museum

Skywalk

The Sky walk on the South Rim is an engineering master piece. Built at an elevation four thousand feet, the glass platform enables the visitors to experience the Grand Canyon in a unique way. Apart from the air rides, river rides, helicopter rides, and mule rides, the Sky walk is a perfect way to get scared and get amazed. 🙂

Take time to enjoy the beauty of the Grand Canyon. Since it has life since thousands of years, your ancestors might actually might have lived there. 🙂

Salvation Army

Operating since more than a century, Salvation Army changed many lives through their Adult Rehabilitation Centers. The goods donated by the donors are sold at the thrift stores or family stores at reduced prices. The funds generated thus are used to help many adults going through rough phases in their lives. So, donate your unused items and help change a life through the Salvation Army.

Salvation Army has around 120 rehabilitation centers throughout the United States. These centers provide clean living environment for poor and broke people. They provide food, working opportunities, clothing, and spiritual services to the adults in the rehabilitation centers. They also have anti-pornography programs, alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs, combating human trafficking programs, elderly services, disaster relief,  youth camps, entertainment services, missing persons services, and so on. The sole method of running the centers is through the funds generated at the thrift stores.

Salvation Army is similar to the Goodwill programs. The Salvation Army has several drop off locations, stores, centers, pickup trucks to donate your items. Find your local center and do donate your unused items. You can obtain a receipt for your donations mentioning the total worth of items you gave. The receipt can be used to get tax exemption while submitting the tax forms.

Your unused items including large ones such as the sofa, television, computers, electronic goods, lighting fixtures, chairs, bed, and so on can be donated to the Salvation Army. All these items can be sold at the local thrift stores and funds can be generated. A unique way to donate is to give your air miles to the Salvation Army which in turn will be used to transport people during emergencies and natural disasters. You can schedule monthly donations, through your personal will, car donations, and so on.

Salvation Army also provides employment opportunities to eligible people apart from housing and transport facilities for the officers. The donation guide gives you an idea of the value of the donations made. It is better to prepare a list of items so that the team can give you a receipt when you deliver the goods. Next time, before you throw away any useful thing, consider giving it to the Salvation Army!

Celebration Belle Cruises

The Schadler family runs the Celebration Belle cruises on the mighty Mississippi river right from the heart of Moline. The river cruises offers a unique opportunity to travel the river without actually getting sea sick. 🙂

The Celebration Belle cruises run from the past 25 years to entertain the visitors and residents of Quad cities. The recent flooding of the river might caused some closure of the cruises for a while. The cruises are available at an affordable prices. For a family event or business meeting, the Celebration cruises are a perfect match at an affordable price.

The range of cruise optons available vary from one hour narrated cruises to two day cruises. They include:

  1. Big Band
  2. Broadway and Movie Show Tunes
  3. Classic Oldies
  4. Dixieland Cruises
  5. Fall Foliage
  6. Holiday Cruise
  7. Mardi Gras
  8. Oktoberfest Cruises
  9. The Legends Music Review
  10. 2 Day Cruises
  11. Day Long Excursion

The cruises also include enhancements and other cruise options:

  1. Captain’s narrated lunch cruises
  2. Captain’s dance and dinner cruises
  3. Northbound cruises
  4. Narrated sightseeing cruises
  5. Southbound cruises

The prices are affordable and children under three are admitted at no charge and children three to twelve receive extra discounts. You can call the office 800 297 0034 to reserve an appointment. Visit the Cruise calendar to choose a show of your choice. 🙂

The Pros and Cons of Freelancing

Freelancing is a popular career option for majority of workforce throughout the world. It provides the flexibility of work hours and location of work. On the other hand, it also requires the same concentration and commitment which a regular job demands. Payment and delivery terms must be made clear ahead of time to avoid confusion. Large commute times can be avoided through freelancing but getting the dispersed team work together is a real challenge.

Advantages

Freelancing is popular in the workforce as it provides an opportunity at working at once own pace and timings. Pregnant or nursing mothers, people  recovering from injury, family emergencies, long commute are some of the situations in which people opt for freelancing. Getting the project requirements, understanding work, and completing the task happens mostly through telecommunication or through internet. Emails, cloud computing, servers, and other sources have reduced the burden of exchanging documents.

Freelancing supports self-employment and entrepreneurship and has proven to be a key growth factor to many. Freelancers can work within their own terms and times. They have to meet the requirements and deadlines based on which the payment may be made. Long commute and unnecessary disturbances associated with a regular job can be avoided altogether.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantages of freelancing are meeting the deadlines and getting the payment. Most freelancers lose track of the deadlines and requirements as they work on their own and lack a team support and learning. Sometimes the team members may not be able to work together due to the different timings and distances. The freelancer may sometimes lack the motivation and energy to complete the work in time. Quality aspects are also a major setback in freelancing.

Payment is another challenge in freelancing. While correct bank documents are required for remote money transfer, which many may not possess. The client may feel to hold back some amount of money due to quality issues or any future issues. Freelancers sometimes are easily duped and deprived of payment. Their work would be taken and they would never get paid back. Following the old client may be better payment wise, but if a freelancer wants to take up new assignments, he may have to think twice about the money.

Tips

A freelancer may follow the following best practices to gain more:

  1. Get clarity on requirements
  2. Talk the payment terms
  3. Negotiate for a part payment before the project begins
  4. Understand the quality requirements
  5. Deliver on time
  6. Review the work
  7. Follow up for feedback and payment
  8. Keep the existing clients while taking up new projects
  9. Follow strict timings for working
  10. Communicate any delays or challenges in work

Freelancing is a great way to utilize time and generate revenue, but in deed requires lot of commitment and patience to really pay off. 🙂

Astronomy Day

May 7, 2011 is celebrated as the National Astronomy Day throughout the US to provide astronomy lovers an opportunity to celebrate the common passion. General public can interact with the astronomers and find out more about the cosmic space above us. John Deere Planetarium at the Augustana College and the Moline Public Library host special events for children and adults to participate ans learn more.

Astronomy Day is celebrated every year before the first quarter moon in April to May to encourage general public’s learning. Local planetariums and institutions set up telescopes free of cost so that the public can view the space. The rare opportunity provides children and adults to know and learn about astronomy.

This Saturday Moline Public Library is hosting a series of events ranging from activities and crafts for children, mobile observatory, and telescope clinics. The event starts from 2.30 pm to 9.30 pm.

The John Deere Planetarium at the Augustana College in Rock Island will host several presentations by experts. Further, the planetarium’s telescope will reveal the rings of Saturn and the crescents of moon. The event is from 8.30 pm to 12 am.

Register early to book an appointment for the events. Enjoy the Astronomy Day with the help of local institutions! 🙂

The Royal Wedding

Every wedding is special marking a new beginning for the bride and groom and the families involved. The Royal Wedding of Prince Williams and Catherine Middleton this morning created moments of joy and happiness for the Royall family as well as the entire world.

OK, Everybody gets married. So, What is so special about this particular wedding?  The wedding day is a national holiday in London to let the people enjoy the celebration going on at the wedding. Millions of people gathered around the Buckingham Palace and West Minister Abbey to catch a glimpse of the newly wedded couple apart from the royal family.

The Queen completed her eighty fifth birthday recently and is ruling the United Kingdom for the past sixty years. She is the monarch for the sixteen Commonwealth countries. Prince Williams, is the grand son of the Queen and the eldest son of Prince Charles, who in turn is the first son of Queen Elizabeth. Charles first wife and mother of Prince Williams, Diana, passed away in a car accident who is well known for her style and kindness.

Prince Williams served in military and attended college in St. Andrews university where he met Kate Middleton. Kate Middleton is the eldest daughter if the Middleton family who run a private business in the suburbs of London. In their eight years of dating, William and Kate’s relationship bloomed and their love flourished.

Their engagement was announced five months back and the preparations for the wedding began. Everything including the guest list, dress code, food, and the timings were planned meticulously and rehearsed. Today morning, when the world saw Catherine Middleton in her wedding dress, there was no doubt about how lucky the Prince was.

The wedding took place in a highly traditional manner at the West Minister Abbey church. Later, the couple drove in a horse carriage to the Buckingham Palace. The couple greeted millions of people from the famous balcony. The crowd cheered and applauded while the royal couple kissed and waved at the crowd. The Royal military aero planes  performed and bestowed their best wishes to the couple.

All the leaders of the Common wealth countries were invited along with all the relatives of the royal family. The couple were well balanced and in good spirits despite the traditions and tension surrounding the wedding. As the couple heads for the wedding parties and honey moon, the world wishes them long life and a happy married life.

The fairy tale wedding where a common woman becomes the Princess has come true. Kate Middleton may become the Queen in future when Prince Williams becomes the King. Everything about the wedding is so special and fairy!