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!

Teen Maar: Movie Review

Teen Maar starring Pawan Kalyan and Trisha is another love story from a confused youth who is unable to decide his present and future. The movie fails to capture the audience as well as Pawan Kalyan’s acting talents to the fullest. Poor storyline and boring comedy are a major drawback for the film. You may watch it if you are a loyal fan of the Chiru’s family and get bored at your own risk. 🙂

Story

Pawan Kalyan plays the dual role of Michael Velayudum and Arjun Palwai (Funny names though). Arjun Palwai is the youth in past and Michael Velayudum is a youth in the modern ages. Arjun Palwai falls in love with a girl Vasumati. He follows and sticks to her faithfully while trying to win her. He believes that dating does not matter if they both love each other. Despite Vasumati’s family opposition and other differences, he succeeds in winning the girl at the end.

In contrast, Michael Velayudum is an upcoming youth who has high career aspirations and flexible life goals. He is good at flirting with women and dating them. He meets a girl named Meera and spends couple of years with her. Once she decides to relocate to another place, he breaks up with her as the long distance relationship would not work for him. Later, while he is dating another girl, he realizes that he misses Meera.

Meanwhile, Meera decides to get married another man in India. Michael Velayudum gets hurt to lose Meera and after her marriage he realizes that he indeed loves her and misses her. He decides to reconcile their relationship and discovers that Meera too broke the marriage as she missed him too. Finally, they both realize that they cannot live apart and decide to commit their lives to each other. (duh!)

Review

The main drawback of the movie is the story or lack of it. Mani Sharma’s music fails to capture the audience nor the comedy by the hero. Trisha and Pawan Kalyan have put up weight but have been shown gracefully. Pawan Kalyan is indeed a feast to watch in both the roles of Michael Velayudum and Arjun Palwai.

The locations of Varanasi, Madras, Australia, and Mauritius have some good scenes. The movie resembles many past movies including the recent ‘Orange’ or Pawan Kalyan’s own ‘Badri’. While watching the movie, the audience will hope that some good may come up at the end but will get disappointed by the predictability throughout. Everything about the movie is plain and predictable and so if you have high expectations due to the star cast, you will be frustrated. 🙂

Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)

Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, also known as FBAR is a mandatory document to submitted to the Department of Treasury if you hold foreign accounts over $10,000. The IRS is questioning some HSBC and Swiss accounts which hold unaccounted money all over the world. The recent guilty pleas and discoveries may lead to huge penalties and criminal punishment.

FBAR

The United States government mandates that all tax payers must submit FBAR if they hold any foreign account in any other country. All citizens, residents, and visitors who pay tax to the United States government must submit FBAR if they hold a  foreign account exceeding $10000 in an year.

The tax payers need not submit with federal tax return but must send a separate mail to the Department of Treasury. FBAR form or the        TD F 90 -22.1 can be downloaded from the IRS website. The pdf file allows you to enter and save the data. The basic details which you need to fill include:

  1. Type of Filer
  2. First and Last Name
  3. SSN
  4. Date of birth
  5. Passport Number
  6. Country
  7. Address
  8. Bank account number and type
  9. Bank address and contact
  10. Maximum amount held in the account in the year

You may have to declare all the multiple accounts which you have under your spouse’s name or dependent’s name. Convert the exchange rate in that year and fill the amount in US dollars.

Exceptions and Disclosures

FBAR has some exceptions which need not be declared. For example, norso accounts – banks linked with your current account need not be declared. All the accounts that are owned by a government agency or retirement accounts need not be declared.

The IRS has extended voluntary disclosures if you missed submitting FBAR in the past. You may declare and pay any late penalties to avoid any criminal charges.

Filing

Filing the form is simple as downloading the form, entering all the details, printing., and signing the form. Mail the form to United States Department of the Treasury, P.O. Box 32621, Detroit, MI 48232-0621. You may call 800-800-2877 after ninety days to confirm the receipt of the form. Note that the deadline to submit an FBAR is June 30 in 2011. There is no extension.

Small businesses and Self-employed tax payers may have to follow separate forms and declarations. In any case, the IRS is watching all your accounts and be cautious! 🙂

Idli Recipe

Idli is one of the famous South Indian dishes which is savored by many people. However, the preparation needs careful practice otherwise they may turn rock hard. Here is the recipe for idlis.

Beans are a very healthy meal for strength. Dry beans can be soaked or cooked to prepare a variety of recipes. Idli is one of the recipes made of  urad dal or Vigna mungo, a special kind of beans grown in Asia. Follow these steps to make smooth idlis.

  1. Soak one cup of urad dal for overnight or five hours.
  2. Grind the soaked dal with little water to make a smooth batter.
  3. Wash three cups of idli rava (Cream of rice) in water.
  4. Drain all the water from the rava and mix in the urad dal batter.
  5. Add salt and mix the batter.
  6. Let the batter remain outside for three hours to five hours.
  7. Make idlis and store the rest of the batter in fridge.

Note that you may substitute cream of wheat or parboiled rice (soak and grind) along with the urad dal batter. You will also need muffin maker type vessel to pour the batter and steam them for about ten to fifteen minutes. Non-stick microwave or electric vessels also provide a fat-free method to prepare idlis.

Idlis go well with peanut chutney. Dry roast pea nuts and peel the skin off. Grind pea nuts, green chillis, dhaniya powder, and coriander. Add seasoning and serve. Coconut, coriander, or ginger chutney may be prepared to serve with idlis.

Idlis with sambar make a good dinner or breakfast. Enjoy. 🙂

Quad Cities Earth Week Fair – 2011

The QCCA Expo Center will be hosting the Earth Week Fair this Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. The event is free for all visitors. The first two hundred visitors receive free goodies apart from special exhibits from all the local authorities. It is a good opportunity to learn about conserving the natural resources and waste reduction.

The Quad Cities Earth Week Fair will be held at the QCCA Expo Center this Saturday. To increase the awareness among the local residents, this event has several hands-on activities for children and interesting presentations for adults. The presentations will be about natural beauty products, edible plants,  and raising environmentally friendly pets.

In our daily lives, we can make small changes to make earth more green and eliminate hazardous materials that damage the environment. The different local institutions have set up booth activities such as:

  1. Recycling
  2. Environmental landscaping
  3. Leaving no trace
  4. Water quality
  5. Reusable products
  6. Sculptures from junk
  7. Earth friendly practices
  8. Reusing

All the local authorities will display the green practices followed by them and some booths will have free arts and crafts for children. If you are a earth friendly and a nature loving person, do visit the fair. In contrast, if you are not earth-friendly person, do visit the fair to realize the small steps we can take to make earth a better place for our future generations. 🙂

You can reach the QCCA Expo Center at 2621 4th Avenue Rock Island IL. 309 788 5912

Total Body Workout

Body pains, muscle cramps, neck stiffness, back pain are all some of the side effects of not working out and exercising your body. Hitting the gym may not be a total solution for the complete workout. Flexibility and stretching exercises must be practiced daily to enhance the body fitness and lessen the body aches.

Cardio Exercises

Exercises for your heart are a must to compensate the sedentary life style. The top cardio exercises that improve the heart rate and health include:

  1. Running
  2. Bicycling
  3. Swimming
  4. Walking
  5. Walking steps

The treadmill and the elliptical also might be good for cardio exercises. Typically, thirty minutes per day cardio is mandated for most of us. Out door sports such as tennis, soccer, base ball, basket ball, volley ball, jump rope and so on provide fun and exercise simultaneously. The cardio exercises reduce the risk for heart and also help in toning. Aerobics help in increasing the heart rate too.

Stretching Exercises

Stretching Exercises play a key role in preventing aches and pains in the body. Simple stretching exercises aiming at the following parts can provide a good balanced workout:

  1. Neck
  2. Back
  3. Shoulders
  4. Calf
  5. Thigh
  6. Waist
  7. Hands
  8. Fingers
  9. Wrist
  10. Upper arm
  11. Ankles

Stretching exercises help in working the muscles of the body and the body pains can be reduced  by practicing them daily for about ten minutes. Yoga is a perfect tool for stretching but must be practiced correctly according to the guidelines.

Whatever workout you chose, be it indoor or outdoor, or yoga or aerobics, make sure you do it regularly and in a proper manner. Note that even skinny people need to exercise to maintain the cardio and flexibility. 🙂

Spring Cleaning? Involve Everybody in the Family!

Spring is around after the long winters. Spring cleaning of the house is a mandatory to allow freshness and a clean house. It is a better to clean the house room-wise. Further, involving all the family members increases the ownership and the task becomes more fun. Of course, cleaning  must be a family affair, not a single person’s responsibility. 🙂

Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning helps to allow bright light and cool air in to the house. It is better to clean:

  1. All the windows – mesh, glass, frame, blinds
  2. Kitchen – Rearranging the cabinets
  3. Floor – carpets, wooden floor, vinyl floor
  4. Clothes – Store the winter and bring out the light clothes
  5. Vacuum cleaner – Clean the bag and the filter
  6. Footwear – Store the snow shoes and rain boots and take out the flip flops
  7. Books – Dust and rearrange the book shelves
  8. Beddings – Wash all the blankets, pillow covers, comforters, bed skirts
  9. Garage – Check for water and rearrange all the boxes
  10. Car – Throw out the waster and wash

It is better to clean the house from top and vacuum all the dust on the floor at the end. Spring is also the time for throwing away old clothes and getting new ones! 🙂 While buying new clothes, keep the cost and style in mind. You may still need some light jackets due to the rains, storms, and winds.

Involving Entire Family

Mostly cleaning ends to be a one person’s job. It would be fun if all the people in the family are involved as increases the ownership making it less messy. Dividing the regular chores such as loading and emptying the dishwasher and laundry, grocery shopping, cooking and serving among the family members is good.

Spring cleaning involves throwing away all the waste and rearranging everything. Avoiding mess and clutter is a dream of every  home which is possible with a combined effort. Happy Spring Y’all 🙂

Arguing in front of Kids

We don’t often realize that the kids have grown up and what not to do when they are around. Arguing parents is one of the conditions which most kids confront in their childhood and may have created unnecessary thoughts. Most parents argue without actually realizing and some argue to prove their power in front of the kids. While negotiating and settling matters softly will prove as a good example to your child rather than calling names, insulting your partner, or hurting.

Arguing Couples

Most couples or in any relationship arguing is natural. Wife and husband do argue quite a few times. Be it a petty issue such as a messy toilet or a major financial issue, couples do tend to argue with each other. Sometimes, the arguments go over the board and result in screaming, yelling, pushing, physical attacks, calling names, swearing, and what  not.

Such powerful arguments do not necessarily result in divorce or a settlement for that matter. Arguments do not really produce results or a common agreement. They just increase the tension in the relationship.

Arguing in front of the kids

OK, we all grew up watching our parents argue. Didn’t we turn up alright? Perhaps, Yes or No. But, how are we making sure how our kids are going to tackle it in a proper manner. Avoiding arguments in front of the kids may not be possible all together. Sometimes, we do not really mean what we say to each other while we argue. But, the kids may take it in a real sense. Their small minds may stay confused who is right or whom to take sides with.

Some kids may undergo severe shock or depression when they confront arguing parents. They may get scared that their parents might hurt each other which they do not want. Often, they may find it amusing and may wait for a chance to use it back on parents. 🙂 Be mindful that how we behave in front of them may lay guidelines for them to behave with others.

Watch out

If you are caught arguing in front of the kids, apologize and say that you really don’t mean it. Sometimes, due to emotions, adults do forget the rules of fighting and set up a bad example. You can promote healthy argument by:

  1. Respecting your partner
  2. Facing your spouse while talking
  3. Making your point clear while listening
  4. Not involving in any other task while talking
  5. Repeating what the spouse said as an example
  6. Talking softly as you would talk in front of your neighbors
  7. Restating your expectations
  8. Agreeing or proposing an action plan for the resolution

Most of the things may seem ideal and unattainable, but there is  no harm in practicing once in a while. 🙂

Logitech Revue with Google TV

Google TV lets you watch television channels, internet websites, net flix, mobile apps and videos on your normal television. Logitech Revue, the wireless keyboard with a mouse lets you watch and surf right from your coach. The combo of Logitech Revue with Google TV might seem alluring in the beginning, but after a while you might feel crippled due to its limitations.

Google TV

Google TV comes with a box through which you can watch channels and browse the web on your television. Its installation is simple as connecting a couple of wires. It s unique features allow the users to browse the web, operate your mobile apps, search the channels, and so on. Google TV allows the users to control their television using any advanced smart phone.

You can watch multiple channels on the TV using the dual view feature. Using the DVR option, you can record or save the programs on your satellite dish. It is an open source software and easy to operate. The TV has certain drawbacks as it can sometimes fail to operate flash programs on the screen. Further, it is not compatible with your gaming systems such as Wii or XBox. Google TV allows you watch television and browse the internet all the time but is not suitable for worldwide operations.

Logitech Revue with Google TV

Logitech Revue with Google TV comes with a box to which you can connect to internet and television. the wireless keyboard has full keys on it including the volume controls and mouse. The Revue can be operated by operating an app on your smartphone. The listings on the Google television are found to be inaccurate. The Netflix app does not allow the browsing option and also does not work well. Major television channels such as ABC and NBS have blocked their channels on Google TV.

While  many have liked the Logitech’s keyboard, the combo does not work well with most channels. If you are looking for an all-in-one option, this may  not be the correct choice. You may have to wait for the upgrades to enjoy a less-flaw version.

Moline Soccer Club

Operating since 1978, the Moline Soccer Club has encouraged area children to play soccer. Setting the teams, providing the ground, arranging the team uniforms, and facilitating the games are some of the services apart from providing expert coaching. Moline Soccer Club is a great platform to encourage the sportsmanship in children while mastering soccer.

Soccer, also called as football, is a great sport played by millions worldwide. It is the most popular sport in all parts of the world. The FIFA World cup will be held in 2014 in Brazil.  Spain, Netherlands, and Germany are the top countries in the Men’s rankings.

Moline Soccer Club

Moline Soccer Club aims at promoting soccer in area schools and children. They provide unique coaching and guidance in soccer as well as building sportsmanship and teamwork.

Moline Soccer Club provide coaching and facilitate games for children from ages five through fourteen. They form the teams for both boys and girls according to the ages and arrange the games. The teams are called Gnats, Bumblebees, Mosquitoes, Hornets, and Grasshoppers based on the ages.

Registration

The registration forms are supplied through area schools or can be downloaded from their website. The charge for six games and twelve practice sessions is about $61. One can register for both fall and spring sessions.  The players will be recognized and awarded a medal a the end of the session. Some of the best players are identified for travel teams and other soccer sessions.

Quad Cities United Soccer also offers soccers sessions for children for around $40 at Augustana College.

Rules

Moline Soccer Club expects the participants and their parents to follow certain guidelines during the sessions. For instance, calling names, using drugs, abusing, hurting, or passing negative comments must be avoided. All the players and parents are expected to display positive sportsmanship attitude during the practice and games.

The Moline Soccer Club is one of the mediums through which boys and girls can learn soccer and develop sportsmanship. 🙂

Washington D.C.: The Mystical City

The nation’s capital and the most popular tourist destination – Washington D.C. is famous for its attractions, cherry blossoms, memorials, and museums. Some find the city mystical and get mesmerized by its grandeur. If you are visiting the nation’s capital, planning ahead saves time and money while enhancing your delight!!

Preparation

Washington D.C. has many attractions including the Capitol and the White House. For visiting the Capitol you may need to take a prior appointment online and take a print out. For visting the Congress in session and tour the White House, you will need a written permission from the office of your local Representative or Senator. In case of immigrants, they may have to seek permission from their embassy too.

All memorials and all Smithsonian museums are free to public. But, your tour depends on how much time you can spend and what you want to visit when. Be prepared to walk miles and miles with a good pair of shoes to enjoy the tour.

Next, you may have to think of accommodation and mode of transport depending upon your vacation time. Washington D.C. has hotels ranging from $125 to $6000 per night. You may decide based on your preferences. Public transportation or hop-on hop-off trolleys are suggested for local tours. Free walking tours that are tip based are also available. Booking online saves money and AAA members can avail extra discounts!!

Note that public parking lots charge around $25 from 9 am to 6pm. Free parking lots are available along the Ohio Drive SW and near the Jefferson memorial. The Smithsonian’s charge $15 per day during working hours.

Attractions

The popular memorials and attractions in Washington D.C. are:

Visitor Centers

  1. The White House
  2. The Capitol
  3. Library of Congress
  4. Supreme Court
  5. Department of Treasury
  6. Union Station

Memorials and Monuments

  1. Lincoln Memorial
  2. Jefferson Memorial
  3. World War I and II Memorial
  4. Korean War Memorial
  5. Franklin Roosevelt Memorial
  6. Arlington Cemetery
  7. Boy Scouts Memorial
  8. Washington Monument

Smithsonian Museums

  1. Natural History
  2. National Archives
  3. American History
  4. Natural Art
  5. Modern Art
  6. African-American Art
  7. Asian Art
  8. Sculpture Garden
  9. Holocaust Museum
  10. Natural Zoo

What to Expect

All the guides and tour operators are friendly and explain the sites. You will be surprised by the facts in Washington D.C. For instance,

  • The Library of Congress has over 142 million objects but only congress members can check them out.
  • The Capitol was burned in the past and was built in phases.
  • The Washington Monument has two different colors as it is built by different type of stones.
  • Women were not allowed in the elevators to the top of Washington Monument.
  • Martin Luther King Junior gave his famous ‘My Dream’ speech at the Lincoln Memorial.
  • All the memorials and statues face the Capitol or the White House.
  • The Capitol has an unoccupied tomb!
  • Supreme Court was a part of the Capitol building.
  • The Union Station hosts the Christopher Columbus statue and Freedom Bell!
  • Lady of Liberty sits on top of the Capitol.
  • Japan sent thousands of Cherry trees to Washington D.C.
  • Embassy row has office from over 200 countries.
  • The Capitol’s paintings have some unsolved puzzles and symbols.
  • The Smithsonian’s host the original Wright brothers’ plane

And still some more memorials are under construction and in the planning!

Free Attractions

Somebody in the past said, ‘the best things in the world are free’. Most of the attractions are free and need only your time and energy. You can find your own local cuisines. George town has three universities and hosts many students. The Cathedrals and secret societies are popular in the nation’s Capitol. Dan Brown’s ‘The Last Symbol’ aptly describes the city.

The orange line, blue line, and the red line will capture everybody. One will be left mesmerized by the attractions and might get totally lost in its  beauty. 🙂

Speeding: Myths and Facts

Driving on a highway can be tedious and at times enjoyable. Maintaining the speed limit always can be challenging in the freeways. Most drivers enjoy risking by crossing the speed limits. The cat and mouse game can be disastrous for self and others. Most states have imposed photo or radar enforcement methods to control the fatal accidents of speeding. Here are some speeding myths and facts.

Myths

  1. I am ok at this speed: Modern cars have high maximum speed and hence drivers feel confident to drive at higher speeds on freeways. Though the cars are advanced, human errors are inevitable at high speeds and one may not control the car.
  2. The cops cannot catch me: Most drivers think that they can spot a police car and then can reduce the speed. In fact, the cop can trace your speed, before you can actually see the cop through the sophisticated radar enforcement methods
  3. I have to cut the travel time: Long journeys force drivers to increase the speed hoping that they would reach sooner. But in contrast, speeding may result in reducing the time and the car’s performance may suffer at higher speeds. Driving at the posted speed limit can take the driver in time and can improve the mileage of the car.
  4. I am not tired: Most drivers do not realize that they are tired and continue driving ignoring the signals. Breaking for every two hours at the rest areas and swapping the drivers may be a good idea to avoid fatigue. Having enough diet and rest in between the drives is suggested.

Speeders do agree that they undergo a lot of pressure while speeding and miss the scenic beauty on the drive. The time savings (2 1/2 hours when 65 mph posted) for a thousand mile trip at 80 miles per hour is not worth the risk and tension. Rather it is better to enjoy the drive at the posted speed while being safe for self and others.

Radar Enforcement

Speeding, drunk driving, and reckless driving are the major causes of accidents. Authorities aim to control the speeding through radar enforcement and other traffic control systems. Red light cameras have reduced the cases and helped increase the safety. Road side electronic displays notify the oncoming vehicles speed to notify the drivers. Aerial traffic enforcement is in force in highly busy states.

Radars are exclusively used for identifying the speeders. Through Doppler effect, the radars can detect the speed of the objects arriving. In heavy traffics, it may be difficult to identify the original car. Radar detectors, which detect the police radars, have been banned in many states.

Fines

Some states have doubled the fines in work zones and increased the penalties for toll violations.  While many citizens criticize the photo and target radar enforcement systems as money-making methods, but the National Safety Council has seen reduced accidents due to the traffic enforcement methods.

If you are caught speeding, do not panic. Most officers are trained to the process and manage the situation in highly professional manner. Accept the citation in case you did speed. If you choose to visit the court, you are free to do. In some states, you can pay the fines online or  may send the check through mail. If you do not pay the ticket or ignore the citation, your driver’s licence may be suspended!

Japan – Earthquake, Tsunami, Nuclear explosion ….

The largest economy in Asia and third largest economy in the world, Japan, is now faced with the largest crisis. A 8.9 magnitude earthquake shook Japan, which led to a 27  feet Tsunami wave, that collapsed its nuclear plants resulting in explosion and dangerous radiations. Nature remains the most powerful with no escape from its effects. People worldwide pray and hope speedy recovery(?) for Japan.

Japan

Japan, the land of rising sun, comprises thousands of islands on the pacific coast of East Asia. The Japanese Yen is the currency and people practice Shinto and Buddhism religions in Japan.  With a strong history of resilient people and mighty leaders, Japan plays a prominent role in the world. Being the fourth largest exporter and fifth largest importer in the world, Japan has a strong hold in world’s economy.

Japan has excellent infrastructure with the its expressways, railways and roadways. Its high work ethics and affectionate people attract a lot of tourists from all around the world. Its manufacturing practices and technological production measures have set an example to the rest of the developing nations.

Earthquake

Earth has many earthquakes over the years but the most dangerous ones that are felt on the surface of the earth.  They are caused by faulty planes in the earth’s interior that send seismic waves to the surface. Human activities such as mine blasts or nuclear tests can earthquakes.

Scientists can estimate but cannot predict the occurrence of earthquake. Seismographs record an earthquake, the scale of three or lower is unnoticeable while the scale of seven or higher is devastating.   They can trigger tsunamis, cyclones, land slides, and volcanic activities among others.

Due to its location, Japan is prone to earthquakes and typhoons. The proximity to water proves to be dangerous naturally. Many earthquakes have shook up Japan in the past. The Japanese are prepared for similar disasters but were helpless when the magnitude was around 9 on March 11, 2011 followed by a monster Tsunami!

Tsunami

Sudden movements of earth planes under the oceans beds cause a large displacement of water. The displaced water result in large waves widely known as ‘tsunami‘. The waves travel with a speed of a jet under the water. When these waves hit a land, they cause a height of waves submerging the land around. In 2004, Indonesia and other surrounding nations were devastated by a monster tsunami in the Indian ocean.

Japan had many tsunamis in the past but the recent one is more dangerous. The waves hit within minutes of the warning. Older people and younger children who could not reach higher places lost their lives. Millions of people could not be traced with families entirely clueless whether their loved ones are alive or not. Funeral organisations cannot handle the large number of dead bodies appearing every day. However prepared the people are, all remain helpless under the power of nature.

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy provides a clean and safer energy and helps reduce green house effects. The large energy generation with high safety standards has encouraged nations to set up nuclear plants. The developed nations encouraged the nuclear plants to meet the never ending demands of people.

Nuclear energy plants supply electricity to most of Japan. While nuclear plants are built with concrete and steel containers and have sound evacuation plans, the recent disaster in Japan had cut off power to the nuclear plants. The containers need power to supply to maintain the coolants and the equipment. One by one, the nuclear plants are exploding releasing large amounts of nuclear radiation in to the atmosphere. The exposure to the radiation may result in cancers and other complications to the current and future generations.

Help

All nations are sending people, equipment, money, and all other required things to Japan. The social networks such as the twitter and face book are helping people to stay in touch when the other means of communication is disrupted. Google has set up person finder options through which one can track their loved ones. The economy is having effects through out the world.

You can help by contributing to the Red Cross or any other organisation. Emergency preparation kits are now mandatory for all house hold everywhere!

Fight Against Corruption

Well, corruption is an international epidemic prevalent in all countries. According to the 2010 corruption index, Somalia is the most corrupt country and Singapore, Denmark, and New Zealand are the least corrupt countries. Corruption hinders a nation’s progress no matter how hard its leaders try. Citizens are fighting back corruption through all means. In India, a social activist, Anna Hazare, opted for a hunger strike to pass a bill against corruption.

Corruption

Corruption is as common as the money itself. It may be getting a college seat, a railway reservation, or a movie ticket, piracy, human right abuse, or major scams involving governments and politicians. Huge amounts of money or goods are exchanged pushing a country in to its decline. Transparency International, a Berlin based firm, recently released a list of corruption index in the world. The results are alarming.

Here are the most corrupt countries:

  1. Somalia: 1.1
  2. Myanmar: 1.4
  3. Afghanistan: 1.4
  4. Iraq: 1.5
  5. Uzbekistan: 1.6
  6. Turkmenistan: 1.6
  7. Sudan: 1.6
  8. Chad: 1.7
  9. Burundi: 1.8
  10. Republic of Equatorial Guinea: 1.9

Here are the least corrupt countries:

  1. Denmark: 9.3
  2. New Zealand: 9.3
  3. Singapore: 9.3
  4. Finland: 9.2
  5. Sweden: 9.2
  6. Canada: 9.1
  7. The Netherlands: 8.9
  8. Australia: 8.7
  9. Switzerland: 8.7
  10. Norway: 8.6

The corruption index of 10 is highly clean and 0 is highly corrupt. The most corrupt countries have weak governments while the least corrupt countries set up strict measures against corruption.

Anna Hazare

India’s corruption index is 3.3, which is highly dangerous to its growth. Despite large educated population, exports, and growing economy, India is still suffering from corruption. Transparency and accountability are absent in most of the public and private sectors. Education, healthcare, revenue, judicial, transportation, and political corruption is prevalent in India. Corrupt politicians and criminal leaders tend to rule the developing nation. Though rich in natural and human power resources, India’s growth is hindered by its corruption. The youth and the learned desire a thorough revamp of the entire system.

Anna Hazare is a social activist in India who has been working for social causes since man years. At age 73 years, he resorted for hunger strike for passing Lokpal bill. According to the bill, any corrupt case is handled by a special committee of representatives whose verdict stands against over any other department or committee. A retired soldier and the recipient of Padmashri award, Anna Hazare has inspired many lives and is fighting for the justice in rural India.

Social Media

Let’s not undermine the power of social media in the light of latest revolutions in the Middle East. You can join Anna Hazare during his fast and support him on his facebook page. The fight against corruption will need the support and backing of many citizens worldwide.