Gifted Child

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

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

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

Characteristics

Here are some of the characteristics of gifted children:

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

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

Strategies

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

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

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

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

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

Add the Magic

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

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

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

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

Vizio Tablet

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

Here are the good aspects of VTAB1008:

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

Here are the not so good aspects I observed:

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

 

 

 

iPhone 4S

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

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

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

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

Oktoberfest

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

Apple Picking

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

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

Fall Colors

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

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

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

Halloween: Parades and Trick or Treat

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

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

R.I.P Steve Jobs

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

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

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

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

Frost Tonight!

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

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

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

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

Dookudu Movie Review

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

Story

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

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

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

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

Review

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

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

Moline Library Putnam Museum Passes

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

Free Programs

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

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

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

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

 

Quad Cities Balloon Festival 2011

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

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

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

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

Reckless Driving

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

Here are some examples of reckless driving:

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

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

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

 

 

Back to School Infections

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

Kids and Money: Why Children Need Money

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

Teaching Money

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

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

Handling Money

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

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

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

Spending and Saving

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

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

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

August Events 2011

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

August brings back many events to the locals.

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

 

Motorola Xoom

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heat Wave

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

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

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

 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows – Part 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cars 2: Ka-Ching

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

Story

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

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

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

Review

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

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

Disowning a Child

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

Parents versus Children

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

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

Disowning

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

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

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

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

June Events – Quad Cities

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

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

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