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.

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

I have heard about the movie with the title but have recently read the novel by renowned writer Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is all about relationships and feelings between man and woman. The author narrates stories of young women striving to get married and get settled in life. Jane Austen is a master of writing and in this novel she describes the pride we see in self and others and the prejudice we form because of it.

Jane Austen

Jane Austen is an English writer who lived from 1775 to 1817. Jane had a passion for writing though she had not much formal education. She was part of a large middle class family in England.  Her writings were hidden for most of her life, but are now well known worldwide.

The quotes from her works, the stories, the letters, and the novels are popular in literary world. Her work has been a topic of interest for most literary students. The Jane Austen Society of North America organizes an essay contest for literary students every year and rewards their work.

Jane Austen is the author of six novels, on which many movies and television episodes have been made:

  1. Sense and Sensibility
  2. Pride and Prejudice
  3. Emma
  4. Persuasion
  5. Mansfield Park
  6. Northanger Abbey
Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is the story of young women in a middle class family of England. The main character Elizabeth is the second of five sisters Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty, Mary, and Lydia. Elizabeth is close to her her eldest sister and her father Mr. Bennet. During that period, the primary goal of every house was to find suitable matches for their young daughters and marry them off. Unlike her younger sisters, Elizabeth was in no hurry for attracting capable young men in her community and getting married.

Jane, Lizzy’s elder sister and Mr. Bingley, the new visitor of Netherfield meet at a ball and hope to see each other more often. Elizabeth eventually meets Mr. Darcy who is a friend of Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy is perceived as unsocial and a proud man with no minimum courtesies towards women. He owns rich estates and business though. While misunderstandings seperate the two couples, the rest of the story is how the couples end up in marriage.

Review

The story progresses slowly and nothing much happens. But, the reader gets trapped in the narration and may want to complete the novel at once. How Mr. Darcy is perceived in the beginning and how Lizzy’s hatred turns in to love is so gradual and natural. The pride of a person and the prejudices people form entirely can be changed at any time. The sweet smiling faces which we see daily may not be the real nice ones. In contrast, the uncivilized ones may turn up as great humanitarians.

The incidents and consequences narrated back in 1800s are common even now and happening in modern world. The feelings are true in current sitations and can be applied in our lives as well. The social, moral, and economic conditions are similar to the modern world and gives us a feeling that things have not changed much during the last two hundred years. 🙂

Further, the love stories of the novel again suggest that lovers do not mind the social statuses in choosing their partners. The emotions of a father in giving away a daugther in marriage and the anxiety of a mother in finding a suitable match for her daughter is so relevant.
The female characters in the novel were not much educated but acquire knowledge and gain wisdom through reading, observation, and social interaction. The beautiful description of the country side, the elegance of the houses, and the never ending thought processes of the characters capture the readers.

Pride and Prejudice is a must read and if possible to be cherished and passed on to the future generations. 🙂