Golden Globes 2011

The Golden Globes 2011 show on NBC was fun watching. All the celebrities dressed in their best appeared for the Golden Globes in California last Sunday. Ricky Gervais hosted the Golden Globes, while ‘The social network’ won most of the awards.

The Hollywood Press Foreign Association (HFPA) announce the Golden Globe awards annually to the best performances in the year. Operating since 1947, the Golden Globes is one of the most watched award shows apart from the Academy awards and the American music award show.

Colin Firth won the best male performance in ‘The King’s Speech’, Natalie Portman won the best female performance for ‘The Black Swan’, and ‘The Social Network’ won the  best movie award. I think ‘The King’s Speech’ and ‘Black Swan’ would have been great for kids to watch if they were not the ‘R’ rated movies.  Sometimes, it is sad that we cannot watch some of the good movies along with all the family members as they have the commercial elements and are not safe to watch with the kids. ‘The social network’, written by Aaron Sorkin, is a PG-13 movie. It is also a good movie and a real life example of how young teens turn out to be great entrepreneurs.

The award show was hosted by actor and comedian Ricky Gervais. His bold comments may have offended some of the audience and celebrities but I think everybody enjoyed his comments. In current industry, where everybody criticizes everybody, his comments are not as hurting if taken in a light manner. He hosted the show for the second consecutive year and do not be surprised if he gets one more opportunity next year.

Some of the best red carpet arrivals were Anne Hathway, Natalie Portman, Sandra Bullocks, Lea Michele, and Angelina Jolie among others. Some of the male presenters and winners such as Robert Pattinson, Justin Timberlake, Tom Hanks, Robert de Niro, and other stars look good in their best dresses. The guests at the show were looking tired of drinking, laughing, clapping, and cheering for their fellow stars. The award winners were emotional and overwhelmed and searching for words while thanking thier near and dears after the receiving the award. Overall, the show was fun to watch and good time pass on a Sunday evening. 🙂

Home Safety

Winter also brings one more threat for all of us. Winter burglaries and thefts during the long and dark hours is common. Many residents are helpless on the attacks. The police and the authorities in deed are clueless about the house break ins. Here are some tips to be safe at  home during winter.

Safe homes

What is the use of our wealth if we cannot enjoy them? It is ultimately satisfying to show off our possessions, but may not be safe always. House burglaries are on the rise during winter. Home safety is a must for all of us. The thefts are more in Quad cities than the state and nation average. It is alarmingly surprising the rate and efficicieny with which these burglaries are carried out. However, here are some tips to be safe.

  1. Secure your belongings
  2. Never store costly jewellery at home
  3. Store most of the gold coins and jewelery at the safe lockers at the local banks
  4. Wear your jewelery instead of storing them
  5. Secure the laptops and other electronic devices
  6. Keep the blinds and windows closed during the dark hours
  7. Store cash and other valuables in not common placers such as kitchen or store room
  8. Leave the lights on if you are going on a long journey or out of town trip
  9. Let  your radio or TV run for a timed period when you are not at home
  10. Inform a neighbour or friend to keep a watch on the home
  11. Set security devices, cameras, or burglar alarm systems if possible
  12. Storing the valuables in a ziploc and keeping them in an old paint  box or soda can may help
  13. Do not leave any valuables in the car or in the visibility so that you may attract the thieves
  14. Do not leave the garage keys in easy to reach places
  15. Insure the house and list all the valuables however small it is

Burglary

Irrespective of where we store the items, we must be aware that the thieves are smart enough to carry metal detectors which set off and give away the secret place. In case of a burglary or house break in:

  1. Report to police immediately on 911
  2. Stay out of the area until cops arrive
  3. Report to all the local authorities
  4. Check with your local pawn brokers
  5. Changing the locks is a good idea
  6. Spread the word among friends and families so that they are aware of the incident
  7. Check with the insurance agency about submitting the claims and the recovery process
  8. Follow up the investigation

Most of the times we may wonder why it has happened to us. It may be a pure unfortunate timing or bad luck. But, it is important to stay alert and focused. Let the incident not affect and traumatize you as the life has to move on beyond any happenings. Remember that children pick up the tensions from you and let them not get affected by the incident.

What are the safety practices you follow? How do you secure your belongings? Let me know your best practices. 🙂

Regis Philbin Retiring

The host of the ‘LIVE! with Regis and Kelly‘, Regis Philbin announced his retirement this morning. This may be shocking and sad for many of his fans, but I think he deserves a retirement after a long, tiring, and successful career. When will he enjoy his riches if he is working all the time? 🙂

Regis Philbin, 79 years, announced this morning that he plans to retire in 2011. He is the ‘mogul’ of the morning shows. He had been working for 28 years on the show. Regis along with his partner Kelly Ripa make the mornings more delightful with their wit and timely humor.

Regis has profound knowledge and wisdom in the TV industry. He lives in New York city with his wife Joy Philbin. He had numerous surgeries in his long career and he in deed deserves a relaxing retirement. His comments and comedy will be missed on the show.

The wealth of information and experience he brings to the show is matchless. Regis tends to forget the names of people and often mis spells the names of the celebrities, but I think we all enjoy even that. His facial expressions and timely humor make the show more lively.

You will be missed Regis. 🙂

Symptoms of Stroke

We all might have received chain mails about symptoms of heart stroke. Worldwide heart stroke symptoms observed not only in seniors but also young children in teens and adults. Here are some symptoms which we all must be aware not only for our selves but also for our near and dears which are put into an incident to be easy to remember.

Stroke: Remember The 1st Three Letters… S.T.R ..

During a party, a friend stumbled and took a little fall – she assured everyone that she was fine and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. (they offered to call ambulance)

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food – while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid’s husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital – (at 6:00pm , Ingrid passed away.)
She had suffered a stroke at the party. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.

Some don’t die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead. It only takes a minute to read this…

Stroke Identification

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke…totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

Recognizing a Stroke

Remember the ‘3’ steps, STR. Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster.
The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions :

  1. S * Ask the individual to SMILE ..
  2. T * = TALK. Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (eg ‘It is sunny out today’).
  3. R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS .

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call the ambulance and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

NOTE : Another ‘sign’ of a stroke is
1. Ask the person to ‘stick’ out their tongue.
2. If the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.

As a prominent cardiologist says, if everyone who knows this can educate 10 other people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

and it could be your own..

Winter and Dental Hygiene

Winter brings a secret problem apart from snow, ice and cold. Dental problems are common in winter and the reason is not known yet. Excruciating pain in the jaws and toothache after meals or drink is common. Here is how you can take care of your teeth during winter.

Winter Dental Hygiene

Seventy per cent of adults have gum diseases which they often do not realize until bleeding or pain occurs. Dental hygiene is a must in all seasons but especially during winter, it becomes compulsory as it pains a lot. 🙂 Practice the regular habits apart from the following:

  1. Of course, brush twice a day
  2. Floss as needed
  3. Use a good tongue cleaner
  4. Use a good mouth wash such as Listerine
  5. Use a soft brush with good bristles
  6. Do not change the tooth paste except unless doctor suggests
  7. Visit the doctor twice a year
  8. Get the teeth cleaned at every doctor visit
  9. If the pain persists, brush after every meal
  10. Check for bleeding from gums

Making small circles while brushing is a good practice. Time your brushing for two minutes, twice a day. Check that you clean all your teeth one after the other for complete cleaning. Try brushing the dirt outside the mouth and not vice versa. Change your tooth brush every three months. Quick mouth wash is also an option if you do not have time for brushing second time.

Check with your insurance and dentist about the rules and charges before scheduling a visit. Most insurances offer two free visits per year along with free cleaning. Do not hesitate to ask for a dental insurance card and your account number.

Do you face toothaches in winter? What do you do? Write back. 🙂

Boy Scouts Pinewood Derby

The boy scouts of the the Illinois and Iowa Council get together for the annual Pinewood Derby this 23rd. I was not aware of the Pinewood Derby races earlier, but as the time comes nearer the tension builds up as all the scouts prepare for the final race. 🙂

Pinewood Derby

Pinewood Derby is a miniature car race held by the Boy Scouts annually. Children receive a Derby pack consisting a block of wood, wheels, screws, and some stickers. The real challenge is in preparing a design for the car. Each car has to be according to the specifications mentioned in the letter. Typically, the maximum design specifications for a derby car are 5 ounces weight,  2 3/4 inches width, and seven inches length. The car must be free of springs and attachments as it should run freely on the track.

Before the race, the scouts meet in multiple sessions. The den leaders help the scouts to design, build, smooth, color, and attach the wheels for their cars. Additional weights can be added on the final day of the race. The car must pass the inspection before it can participate in the race.

Initially, the children may be clueless about what to do about the block of wood and what has to be done to meet the specifications. But, as the sessions progress, they gain knowledge, experience and confidence.

Apart from the scouts, parents and siblings can participate.  The entire excitement of building their own car and adding designs and competing against each other is a different experience for the scouts and families as well. It is just amazing to watch how serious families get about the race and winning. 🙂

New Year Resolutions – 2011

After Thanksgiving and Christmas, its time for the new year celebrations. People party with friends and families to bid farewell to 2010 and welcome 2011.  So, what about the new year resolutions. The popular ones may be reducing weight and quitting smoking apart from creating a new habit. 🙂

Joel Stein, a columnist of the TIME magazine, says that 2010 is a year of leaks. 🙂 The oil spill and the Wikileaks left the world polluted enough in 2010. Anyways, lets look forward for the future and make a new resolution for 2011. You may continue the last year’s resolution or chose to make a new one. But, the actual point is adhering to the resolution and continuing it.

Here are some popular new year resolutions:

  1. Getting married
  2. Changing job
  3. Quitting smoking
  4. Reducing weight
  5. Visiting a tourist spot
  6. Spending more time with family
  7. Making new friends
  8. Ceasing Alcohol
  9. Volunteering
  10. Contributing for a social cause
  11. Donating blood
  12. Getting education
  13. Learning a new skill
  14. Getting organized
  15. Saving money and procuring assets

Spread your new year resolution among your friends and family so that they will remind you in case you forget. 🙂 I am still thinking about reducing weight or travelling to a new place. Let me know what your new year resolution is. Happy New Year – 2011 everybody. 🙂

Anger Management

Is it cool to show anger and get powerful? Aggressiveness may give temporary power, but in time leaves you vulnerable and emotional. Anger is one of the natural feelings which is good at times but may create havoc in relationships. Anger management is must in highly stressful jobs and lives. 🙂

Why people get angry?

People may get angry when they see the things go out of control or situations turn not as expected. Minor irritations may build up slowly and create anger. Misunderstanding and a feeling of neglect make people angry. In addition, any past tragedy or incident may trigger anger when encountered with a similar situation.

Symptoms

Anger symptoms may include high blood pressure, raised voices, throwing away stuff, making loud noises, using direct or indirect attacks on other people. Abusing verbally and physically are a result of extreme anger. Cursing the situations or people around or constantly worrying about personal life are some other symptoms.

Control

Anger is natural but if it goes to extreme levels it is dangerous for people around and in turn to you. So, how to control anger. People use their own techniques to control their anger. Awareness of the reasons of anger and managing the mind will control the emotions. Here are some tips that may help:

  1. Relaxing is a must to be stress free
  2. Redirecting from the triggering situation or person
  3. Expressing the anger in an assertive manner
  4. Being respectful of self and others
  5. Breathing and using humor
  6. Creating a situation based controlling strategy
  7. Getting out of the environment
  8. Talking with people about the situation
  9. Using positive words
  10. Changing the routine-triggering conditions

Further, ‘Take it easy’, ‘Relax’ are the key words to keep in mind if you realize you are getting angry. What do you do when you are angry? How do you manage the situation? Write me back. 🙂

TRON Legacy – Movie Review

The latest science fiction, TRON Legacy manages to meet the expectations but is incomprehensible for normal viewers. 🙂 The video game development, the ‘grid’, and the action sequences make it a good movie, but at times TRON Legacy leaves you clueless.

TRON Legacy is a sequel to the 1982 version of TRON. The latest movie is directed by Joseph Kosinski and casts Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde, and Garrett Hedlund in the main roles. The Walt Disney movie has couple of good animations and action sequences but overall, the movie has a moderate rating.

In TRON Legacy, the CEO of ENCOM and a video game designer, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) disappears suddenly and leads to many rumors. His parents and son are clueless about him and hope that he might return. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) grows up and becomes the CEO of ENCOM, though not willing to take up the entire responsibility of his duties. However, he tries to maintain his father’s ideals by keeping the software open to general public which is against the interests of the company’s board members.

Sam Flynn gets the keys to the gaming arcade which his father used to maintain when he worked at ENCOM. Sam explores the ‘Flynn’s’ arcade and finds a unique computer which his father operated in the past. He logges in to the machine by trying out different credentials and eventually ends up in landing the ‘grid’, that is in side the gaming program. 🙂

Till now everything seems to be normal. Hereafter, the imaginary world of programs-as-humans and users begins. Next, Sam is captured by the people there and is thrown in to multiple challenges. He is unaware of the reason behind the attacks, but still hopes to find his father in the grid. The main villain, Clu (also Jeff Bridges) puts Sam in another Light Cycle attack. When Sam starts bleeding, other programs in the fight realize that Sam is user.

Quorra (Olivia Wilde) rescues Sam and takes him to another remote place where he meets his father. Kevin Flynn narrates that he entered the grid and was captured by Clu and cannot enter the portal as Clu is trying to capture his disc and destroy the world. The rest of the movie is how Quorra, Kevin, and Sam try to reach the portal by fighting Clu. At the end, Kevin dies while reintegrating with Clu. Sam and Quorra enter the real world and Sam agrees to take his role as CEO of ENCOM.

The bike action sequences are worth watching but the movie is boring at times. If you like the ‘Matrix’, ‘Inception, ‘Surrogates’, and so on, you might like TRON Legacy too. 🙂

Winter Sports at Andalusia, Illinois

Skiing, tubing, skating are all some of the popular activities at the Ski Snow Star Park in Andalusia in Illinois. Winter vacation and snow everywhere leave little opportunity for outdoor activities. However, you can plan a weekend at Andalusia, which is half-an-hour from the Quad cities for exciting winter sports and some fun.

Andalusia

Andalusia is a small village which is located at around twenty five miles from the Quad cities. The small town environment with many volunteer driven services is a good place for weekend visits. The major attraction in the town is its winter sports park. The location and facilities make it a popular destination for short visits and winter sports.

Ski Snow Star Winter Park

Located at 9500 126th Street West at Andalusia, Ski Snow Star Winter Park has ample facilities apart from the professional trainers. Serious skaters and skiers as well as beginners can reach out to the Ski Snow Star park for their activities. The park has good snow slopes for all the related sports. Here are some tips for a successful visit.

  1. Food and beverages are not allowed in the dining area, though you can purchase them at the cafeteria
  2. Three layers of clothes must be worn to stay warm apart from hats and gloves
  3. You can purchase your snow gear or other goods at the gift shop
  4. Advance reservations may be required for tubing
  5. Check out the weather before proceeding

Operating since 1982 by the same group of people, the professional team obviously know how to generate and maintain snow during the winter season. The hours of operation vary depending on the season. Special classes for young children are also available on Thursday evenings. Serious skiers can purchase season or group tickets and you can also subscribe online for free information and coupons. You can reach them on 800-383-4002 or 309-798-2666.

Have a happy visit and let me know how you enjoyed there. 🙂

Winter Workout

Snow and rain everywhere make it difficult to get out of the house during winter. Then, what about workout and exercise? Whole winter we tend to add few more pounds and increase belly fat.  Small exercises at home can in deed help in reaching our daily exercise goals.

Doctors do advise one hour of physical exercise per day apart from work and house hold chores. In spring and summer we can get out of the house for walking, but during fall and winter it is risky for outdoor walking or jogging. We can subscribe to a gym if feasible. Else, working out at home itself is the only alternate option.

Wii

The popular video game Wii offers an opportunity to exercise apart from fun. The Wii balance board, Wii Fiit Plus, Wii Sports, and Wii Sports Resort are the basic games available in the package. The games suggest appropriate exercises based on your weight and age. You can customize the games and choose from a range of aerobic and balance sports. If you can couple the exercise routine with your family member, it can be even more fun. 🙂

Yoga

Originated in India, Yoga is a traditional and popular method worldwide for exercises and healthy practices.  You can learn yoga through videos or take a formal training lessons from a learned guru in your local area. Initially, it is better to get yoga training from an expert rather than experimenting. Yoga postures help  improve body and mind and offer a large variety of ‘aasanas’ according to your needs.

Fitness Equipment

Treadmills, home gyms, ellipticals, bikes, rowers, and so on are the different fitness equipment which you can install at your home. You can buy them new or used or check out the craigslist. Once installed, it is suggested to know the equipment thoroughly before using it. The weights and other lifting accessories are good for building muscles. Most equipment have a video guide apart from the user manual.

You can set up a fixed time for the workout routine. It is better to start with small intervals and increase the intensity and time going forward. Do not overdo any thing and strain yourself. Let me know if you have any other winter workout methods and tips and watch your weight before you take any junk food. 🙂

Driving in Snow: Tips and Best Practices

God had just started to shower the beautiful snow.  Trees, house tops, cars, roads, and everything is covered with white snow giving a wonderful view. But, driving in snow is a  nightmare for new drivers. Icy roads and sliding cars make it tough to drive in snow and ice. Here are some tips and best practices for driving in snow.

Snow and icy conditions make it difficult to drive. Drivers must exercise extreme caution while driving in snow and ice. Here are some tips and best practices.


  • Do not drive until the roads are cleared
  • Start the engine and set the temperature to maximum
  • Start the glass heaters in front and rear
  • Clear the snow and ice of all the glasses
  • Use a snow scraper to wipe off the ice and snow
  • Do not use wipers to clear the ice or snow
  • Drive slowly and maintain two car  or seven second distance between cars
  • Check and maintain the fuel, tires, breaks, battery, and traction
  • If the sunlight is less, use your car lights to let the other driver know about your vehicle
  • Wear winter gear to keep your self warm
  • Set extra clothes in your car to keep you warm if the car breaks down
  • Keep salt bag or any other weight in the car to maintain traction
  • Use a de-icer to minimize the snow accumulation
  • If the breaks fail, hold the steering steadily and drive in the direction you want the car to go
  • Press the breaks on and off in case car starts skidding or sliding

Black ice is dangerous as the vehicle may skid. Further, due to unpredictable road conditions, it is not advisable to drive in ‘Cruise’ mode in long journeys. During the holiday season, it is also essential to check the weather before planning any travel. Stay warm and drive carefully during the winter. If you have any additional best practices for driving in snow, let me know. 🙂

Anuradha Koirala – CNN Hero of the Year 2010

For her work towards stopping human trafficking and sex slavery, Anuradha Koirala won the CNN Hero of the year 2010. All the heroes receive $25, 000 for continuing their work, but the winner receives additional $100, 000. Anuradha Koirala plans to contribute the amount towards establishing hospitals for women and children in Nepal.

Anuradha Koirala won the award and she says that the award increases her responsibility even more in stopping the crime. Small children get lured and kidnapped to bigger cities and get forced in to prostitution and sex workers. The crime has roots in many parts of the world. The children or the younger women get traumatized with the incidents. Often, they end with HIV positive, AIDS, STDs, lost limbs, mental depression, and other problems. The kidnappers abandon these workers once they get ill.


Anuradha Koirala and her group in Nepal help these suffering people to regain their lives. The rape victims and sex trafficking survivors are rescued by Anuradha’s group and brought back to the shelter. She teaches the rescued girls and women arts, crafts, sewing and any work they are interested. ‘Maiti Nepal’ helps the children to get hope back to life and adapt to normal life again.

The awards were announced on Thanksgiving night in California. The show was hosted by Anderson Cooper! and the performances included Bon Jovi, John Legend, and Sugarland among other celebrities. CNN Heroes walked the red carpet and received a standing ovation from the audience.

Movie Review: Orange

If the movie is directed by Bommarillu Bhaskar, it has to be different. Orange is in deed different and entertaining, but at times leaves you puzzled what the actual point is.

Ram Charan Teja and Genelia take the lead roles in Orange. Brahmanandam, Prabhu, Manjula play other crucial roles. The rest of the actors include  junior cast and some popular television actors. The hero is a Graffiti artist uncertain of his career and love and is occupied with his own self interests.  He has a history of breaking up with past girl friends just because he cannot commit to them. The hero argues that too much commitment limits his freedom and bounds him in to certain restrictions. At the same time, he wants to be true and does not want to lie.


On the other hand the heroine is a common bubbly student who is crazy about falling in love and having boy friends. She is influenced by the love marriages in her family and chases her college mates in pursuit of love. The hero meets heroine and falls in love with her. He then follows and tries to convince the heroine to love him although he cannot commit his love for her. The heroine in turn refuses him for not committing. The entire story is about convincing from both sides.

The movie is mostly screened in Sydney, Australia. Some of the scenes are shot in Mumbai. The music by Harris Jayraj does meets the expectations and the songs are catchy. Apt comedy by the comedians and the heroine is timed and blended in the story. There are a couple of action sequences and fights. The hero and heroine look so tired that we can see their bulged eyes and improper make up in most of the scenes. Ram Charan looks like a common student but has put on a lot of weight. His dances were good though.

The director highlighted that ladies harass men to change and sacrifice their long term habits and friends. He stresses that men have to undergo a lot in a relationship and have to lie to satisfy spouse or girl friend. But, he forgot to mention that the opposite is also true and has been happening since ages. I think it is true in both the cases and in any relationship change and adjustment are mandatory to gain faith and happiness. 🙂

Cyber Monday surpasses Black Friday Sales

We have seen a heavy sales of over 45 billion on Black Friday but the Cyber Monday is about to surpass the store sales. Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Leapfrog, Meritline, and other stores offer heavy Cyber Monday deals for online shoppers.

Black Friday

Black Friday door busters resulted in heavy shopping in all the local stores. JCPenney and Kohls had clothing for half prices. Bedding, Apparel, Kitchen items and other house hold items for on sale. Toys r us had select toys for reduced price. I must say that the Toys R Us stores did not expect the huge crowd for their first time door buster sales. The staff were unprepared and unequipped causing heavy delays in billing.


KMart advertised the popular black diamond ear rings but not enough stock for the demand. Best buy saw huge sales with shoppers lining up early Thursday night itself. Sony and Toshiba laptops were the big tickets. Popular DVDs and Blue rays were at reduced prices and are ideal for holiday gifts. Sams club and Sears saw a huge sales in electronic appliances, where as Walmart was popular for clothing and toys. Gamestop had one video game free for every two.

Cyber Monday

The Monday after Thanksgiving also known as Cyber Monday is well known for the huge discounts by websites for online shoppers. Free shipping and heavy discounts are rained on customers and the deals are claimed within minutes!

Most of the deals start at  midnight on Sunday. Walmart has cyber week going on and Best Buy has started Cyber Monday deals today itself. Amazon posted the deals on its website. All the retailers participate in the Cyber Monday deals and offer discounts to the shoppers. Shoppers can order online and pick up the goods at a nearby store or get it at their doorstep for free shipping.

Christmas gifts for family, friends, and colleagues are the most sought items along with the electronic gadgets during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It does not matter if you retain the item or return it, buying and boosting the economy is important. Let me know what you bought this year. 🙂

Walgreens Jinglecash – Storecredit for selected items

Walgreens has offered store credit for certain items as its Jingle Cash. Selected items include the smaller versions of popular brand cosmetics, toiletries, medicines, and so on. Thanks to my friend who enlightened me with this knowledge.

Go get the free items or reduced items for $2 or less. Apart from the store credit many items are on fifty percent sale. Household items such as rice cooker and bread toaster are for $10. Toys start from $2 and more.  The Mickey brand toys are for $5. Covergirl, Revlon, Colgate and other brands are for free or just $2.


Popular perfumes including Celion Dion, Play boy, Usher, Antnio Banderas, Britney, among others are just $20. Normally these items would be $80 or more. If on sale, they would be $30. But, Walgreens has put these branded perfumes for just $20.

I don’t know what the matter with the Walgreens. They might be having an old stock clearance policy, but have to rush back to claim the store credit in another week! 🙂

Black Friday or Thanksgiving: What are you buying?

Have you made up your mind on what to buy this Thanksgiving or on the day after? The pressure builds as the date arrives and the count down has already begun with some stores offering exclusive online deals much ahead. Hurry up and grab the deals before it is too late. But, do not buy unnecessary stuff just because it is cheap.

Black Friday

The annual tradition of ‘Thanksgiving’ has arrived and families have already begun preparations for the dinner and travel plans. For most families, the day after Thanksgiving or the Black Friday plays a crucial role. It is the day of the year when stores rain discounts, offers, and deals which can never be found during the regular days. Most stores promote holiday shopping and offer goods at reduced prices during certain hours on the day after Thanksgiving. Often, some of the deals are extended to online shopping or also known as ‘Cyber-Monday’.


The mad rush, long queues, lack of parking spaces, midnight shopping, and heavy shopping are worth on some goods which we desperately need and are available at reduced prices on the Black Friday. You can even find shoppers lined up on the Thanksgiving day evening itself to claim the goods as soon as the doors of the stores open.

Stores

So, how do we go about claiming these deals when entire community population is hovering around the stores. It is better to check the previews of the deals online. The stores announce their deals on their websites or through local paper advertisements. Shoppers can get a preview of the deals of what is the price of the item you are looking. Let’s look at the different local stores and their Black Friday deals.

  1. Walmart has given the store layout in its ad, so that shoppers can reach the exact point of the item. The stores open at five in the Friday morning, so you may start standing in the queue right from the day before. 🙂 The toys and video games can be bought starting midnight 12 am itself.
  2. Bestbuy opens the door at five on Friday morning and you can find great deals on electronic items. You can buy online this Thursday itself instead of waiting in the midnight queues. Some of the deals are good through Thursday to Saturday.
  3. Sears opens the doors at seven am on Friday morning till noon. Sears has different offers on all the three days, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
  4. Kohls opens at three on Friday morning. You can create a list and shop all day on Thursday itself.  Kohls is also popular for its cash back offer!
  5. JCPenney opens the store at four on Friday morning up to one in the noon. The store’s sneak peek reveals the deals the store is going to offer.
  6. Kmart opens at five on Friday till eleven in the morning. You can shop online on Thursday itself and some deals are good on Thursday and Saturday too.
  7. Target opens at four on Friday morning and has posted the Black Friday deals. The sale is extended up to Saturday apart from the exclusive online deals.

Menards, Toysrus, Blair’s farm and fleet, Hyvee, JewelOsco, Sams and all the local stores have posted their ads.

Choice

The Wii bundle is $197 at Best buy and Sams, but Walmart is pricing $250 along with the Balance board. Board games start at $3 on Walmart and $5 on Kmart. Sears is offering diamond jewelery at reduced prices such as the diamond pendant from $78. JCPenney and Kohls have apparel at reduced prices for everybody.

Most stores have online deals coupled with free shipping and site to store picking to avoid the rush on the Black Friday. You can find many Black Friday deals on Slickdeals, Dealsplus, Amazon, ebay, and Blackfriday.

If you have a group of friends, it is better to share the stores and buy a planned item. Remember that long queues are inevitable and it might take hours before you get in the store. Do not get disappointed if you do not find the planned item when you reach the store.

Whether it is a kitchen item, toys, apparel, electronics, gifts, or a long planned gadget, the main goal is to be safe and happy during the annual Thanksgiving and Black Friday. 🙂 Let me know your best deal.

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows – Part I

The movie version of J.K. Rowling’s seventh book,  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, is very engaging and sometimes scary too. I was trapped by the emotions and amazing storytelling in the movie. This fantasy epic is entertaining and has earned $235 million so far.

Past

Harry Potter is a wizard whose parents were killed by Lord Voldemort when he was a  baby. Then, his true identity is hidden and was moved to his relatives, who were Muggles, that is non-wizards. When Harry was eleven, he gets an admission in to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. At the school, Harry meets his friends and learns new wizard skills. As he grows up, Harry encounters through different challenges and in turn masters newer skills and expertise.


Award winning author, Joanne Kathleen Rowling, captures the audience with her writing. The books so far are:

  1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
  2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The fiction takes you to the different worlds yet it seems natural and connected.

Present

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows is the continuation of the Harry Potter’s series. The last movie ended with the death of Dumbledore, the senior guide at the school. The three main characters Harry, Hermione, and Ron are grown up now and are exposed to greater dangers of the death. The teenage wizards are cute to watch and are more emotional now.

The movie starts with Lord Voldemort meeting with all his evil assistants. He intends to destroy Harry and attacks Harry in different situations. Meanwhile, the three friends set up on solving a mystery about a locket which Dumbledore left to Harry in his will. In the journey of solving the mystery, Ron gets hurt. While recovering from the injury, he starts suspecting Harry and Hermione. They encounter mysterious symbols which lead to the Deathly Hollows!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows has brilliant screenplay and the locations are engaging. The story moves on slowly, which is why I understood most part of it. 🙂 Some parts of the story I think are copied from different myths and epics of the world. Some scenes such as the snake attack and the underwater capture are scary. The kissing scenes are inappropriate for young audiences and unnecessary too. The suspense builds up so you may want to buy the book and know what happens next. 🙂

The release of the movie and the book are synchronized nowadays to increase the curiosity! If you go to the midnight show on the day of release, you can see all the teens and children dressed as the characters from the movie. 🙂 The movie ends abruptly leading to the Part II in July, 2011.

Opt out of the Yellow Pages Paper Version

Why do you need a paper version of the yellow pages when you can get all the addresses online. You can opt out of the delivery service with a simple click.

Yellow pages have been a great source of finding local information. But, the heavy books which we receive and which we never use are a waste of paper. The directories are of course a great source and you can train your children to search through indexes through the book.


But, if you are internet friendly and never use the book, you can stop the book delivery. You can opt out of the yellow pages and be guilt free.

Similarly, you can find other directories at your doorstep and simply opt out. Go green and save the paper. 🙂

Lighting on the Commons

Do not miss the Lighting on the Commons at the John Deere Pavilion this Saturday. The annual event is free and a lot of fun with fireworks and goodies!

Lighting on the Commons is the annual event that kicks off the holiday season in the Quad Cities. Local community people gather at the John Deere Pavilion to celebrate together. People get free horse cart rides around the John Deere Pavilion. Further, free hot chocolate, cookies, and coffee is served for the visitors. Santa’s family greet the visitors and everybody gets an opportunity to take a family picture with them.


Fireworks will be started after the lighting followed by choir by Moline school’s children. The event is free this Saturday from 3.30 pm to 6 pm.  Last year, Anthony Peoples, the meteorologist on WQAD hosted the event and led the countdown for the fireworks. Children will enjoy for sure, adults will have a good time. Be prepared for the cold weather and do not forget to wear your winter gear. 🙂