Quadsville

I'm sure you're all aware of the earthquake disaster flick, "Megafault," that is filming in the Quad-Cities right now. Well, Major has posted some cool photos from the set of Eriq LaSalle, Bruce Davison, Brittany Murphy and even Davenport's own Mayor Gluba, who has a cameo. I got to peek in on the filming at the MVRBC last week while I was at a workshop there. Also saw them filming by the River Center over the weekend. Have you run into the film crew? And do you plan to watch this direct-to-cable movie?

Now how about "Sugar?" Have you seen it yet? I plan to, but I'm not going to get to it until next week. Quad City Images posted his review this morning. Take a read and add your own review.

If natural disasters and baseball aren't your thing, maybe Vulcan ears and aliens are. David Burke wants to know what all the Trekkies think about the upcoming "Star Trek" movie. Any of you going to TrekFest next month in Riverside, Iowa?

That's all for motion pictures. You can vote for your favorite still image in the photo contest, though, until noon Friday. This week's theme was "diversity."

Q-C Watchblog

The most experienced municipal reporting team in the Quad-Cities is watching out for you. The Quad-City Times reporters who cover Bettendorf, Davenport, Scott County and the Illinois Quad-Cities are watching for news, notes and anecdotes that happen beyond meetings and without press releases. Look for links to articles about events or issues that could affect the Quad-Cities, or contact the Watchbloggers with a news tip.

Track outbreaks, get answers to Frequently Asked Questions, find out how to prevent getting sick and what to do if you suspect you are ill.

Want to check out the Quad-Cities' homegrown talent? Watch more than 100 videos of local bands performing their songs during Go&Do Live Sessions at Mojo's. Then check out our event calendar to find your favorite band's next live gig.

Cheap Eats in the Q-C

Stephanie De Pasquale's $10 or Less feature just turned 1. To celebrate, here's an interactive map plotting the places in the Quad-Cities you can go to dine for under $10.

About 500 people gathered to honor Mayor Mark and all those who give their time on Rock Island's many boards, task forces and commissions. Mayor Mark was presented the keys to Moline and East Moline by mayors Welvaert and Thodos. State Rep. Pat Verschoore read a lengthy proclamation from the Illinois General Assembly recognizing Schwiebert's considerable achievements. Rock Island Alderman Joy Murphy read a proclamation declaring April 27 Mayor Mark W. Schwiebert Day.

Of course, plenty of Mayor Mark stories were shared by M.C. Kai Swanson and the speakers listed above, along with Berlinda Tyler-Jamison, City Manager John Phillips, Renaissance Rock Island President Brian Hollenback and Bill Renk. His retirement gift was a book of well-wishes and remembrances (68 pages and counting) written by friends and community members. Alderman Chuck Austin presented the book.

East Moline Mayor John Thodos joked, "Before Google, there was Mark Schwiebert." His extensive knowledge of everything from the Rock Island Arsenal and passenger rail plans, to the Renaissance period and the Civil War was emphasized by nearly everyone who took a turn at the podium. John Phillips recalled a mentally exhausting 14-hour rental car ride with Schwiebert when weather had closed airports in Washington, D.C. Bill Renk spoke about the "Great Communicator" saving the pitch to the Illinois Gaming Commission to move Jumer's Casino off the river front. The mayor's wife, Deb, spoke of vacations spent inspecting the infrastructure of cities across the U.S., a habit she's sure will die hard.

After all the tributes, including a musical number by Phillips, Schwiebert quipped, "I'd like to say that you've left me speechless. But you all know me better than that."

Which Quad-City leader do you admire the most?

Photo contest

You can follow me on Twitter (@damelemin) for live updates. Or go to this Web page where we are compiling Tweets from around the state regarding gay marriage.

Apart from all the media at the County Administration building, it's pretty much just a regular Monday. Only a handful of couples - gay and straight - have applied for marriage licenses so far.

What else is going on in your world?

As spring blossoms, baseball season is getting under way. Cubs fans and Cards fans in Quadsville are heating up the group blogs, too. What are your predictions for this season?

Thanks to everyone who entered this week's photo contest. I'm so pleased by all the quality entries, but I still have no idea who I will get my vote. Kevin's got his work cut out for him too. Take a minute to cast your vote for the Quadsvillagers' Choice award. You have until noon. Then the next round begins.

I am going to sound like my great-grandmother, but I have to say I'm tickled to death by all the terrific entries in this week's photo contest. The "simplicity" theme seems to have piqued a lot of people's interest. Our judges (that includes all of you voting Quadsvillagers') truly have their work cut out for them. The submission deadline is noon Wednesday. Then you can start voting.

This is one of the coolest video blogging projects I've seen. Quadsville's own Adam Peters has an adoption video blog going on YouTube that will hopefully end with his reunification with his birth parents this summer. This goes beyond the typical hunt for the real mom & dad, thanks to the touching letters his adopted mom wrote describing Adam's youth and development to his birth mom. You have to check it out.

I should also note, if you did not see it yesterday, we have started a group in support of Tom Saul, the Times investigative reporter. He is still in intensive care after suffering cardiac arrest on Sunday. His wife, Dawn, asked that we start the group as a way for people in the QC and beyond - friends, family and those who enjoy reading his stories - to share their messages of support with him and his family. Leave a little note of encouragement if you can.

In more of a political mood? Adam Peters asks, what's the big deal about a handshake? Is the Obama-Chavez handclasp really worth all the ruckus?

Feeling artistic? Enter the photo contest. "Simplicity" is our theme this week. Lots of terrific images already in the mix.

It's fitting that our gardening blogs are starting to ramp up. You can check in on Marilyn Buel's progress as a first-time vegetable gardener. The Woodwards, newlyweds from Rock Island, are also blogging about their gardening exploits. This Veggie Garden 101 post has lots of useful tips if you are just getting started on your little patch of earth.

For a farmer's daughter, my thumbs are pretty black. But I picked up a little basil starter kit this weekend. We'll see if I can keep some herbs alive in my kitchen window. Mind you, I have killed cacti. Maybe there's more motivation to keep a plant alive if you get to eat it in the end. We shall see...

Happy Birthday, Will!

This week is also Shakespeare's birthday - April 23. Chicago Mayor Daley has declared Thursday to be "Talk Like Shakespeare Day." Anyone want to give an Elizabethan-era blog entry a go? What would Shakespeare blog?

Photo contest

We already have some terrific entries in this week's contest. Hooray! The theme is "Simplicity." You have until noon Wednesday to submit your photos. Good luck!

I noticed that there is some issue with the URL being generated for new group blog posts on groups that were created on Friday or later. I think it's related to a new software release for Quadsville that happened on Thursday. I'll be looking into it first thing Monday morning.

In the meantime, hang tight and don't read anything into your posts being inaccessible. It's a bug. We'll get it fixed.

The good news is that the issue with replying to private messages on Quadsville should be resolved.

If you see anything else strange happening on the site, please drop me a line or leave a comment below. Thanks!

Photo contest winners

QUADSVILLAGERS’ CHOICE: “Graceful Rain” by Erin Keith got the most votes in our “April Showers” photo contest. Erin writes, “Here is a picture that I took of my little sis the other day. I love the rain when the sun is shining!”

JOE’S PICK: “Waiting for Flowers” by abnmag won the Joe’s Pick award. Newsroom artist Joe Kelley writes, “For me the elements of a good photo include composition, subject and lighting, but they all can be trumped by mood. The mood of this photo evokes much more than the sum of its parts.”

Kay Luna and I had a good time at the meet-up last night with alertreader and Klowner. The new Bier Stube in LeClaire is quite nice, and when the patio is open, it will offer an AMAZING river view. It is right on the water, so I imagine people will boat in for a brew this summer.

Alertreader gave us a few ideas for live chats. The poll is still open through middle of next week to tell me what time is good for you for live chats. Evenings seem to be winning, but to be honest, it is difficult sometimes to schedule our "experts" outside of normal business hours. Alert suggested some chats on finances, perhaps with QCDollarWi$e or with a financial adviser. She also suggested some gardening chats. My black thumbs sure could use some pointers.

What live chats would you like to see? What experts, public officials, etc. do you want to have access to? Hit it in the comments.

The photo contest has some great entries for "April Showers" images. You've got until noon to get yours in. Then it's time to vote.

You should also cast your vote in a couple polls we've got going. I want to know what's a good time for people to join in live chats on Quadsville. So far, the majority says evenings. And Stephanie De Pasquale has a funny poll about the Obamas' new dog, Bo.

Did you see this story about David Pautsch's neighbors coming together to help him and his family get through losing his son, Jason, to a suicide bomb in Iraq? Very touching story. Our editorial board recently met with Major Gen. Robert Radin from the Arsenal, and he reminded us to look for family members wearing gold stars in the Quad-Cities. He asked that we shake their hands and thank them for their sacrifice. He worries we don't do enough for the families who have lost sons, daughters, wives, mothers, cousins, brothers, sisters, etc. in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Animated movies are the topic of the day in Quadsville. Linda Cook asks which Pixar movie is your fave. And Anne-Marie Hislop has a discussion going on the recent 3-D trend for animated movies. Talk amongst yourselves. :-)

I picked up this week's New Yorker last night and started, as always, with Shouts & Murmurs, the short satire, parody or comedy piece in each issue. This time, it was an Italian lesson for a farm boy who has one shot at impressing an Italian super model. Here are the sample sentences for Lesson 1 (English only):

"Hello! May I have your name and telephone number?

"My name is Stan, which is a nickname for Stancil.

"I live on a farm near the Quad Cities.

"They are Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, and Bettendorf.

"Not many people know what the Quad Cities are.

"East Moline is technically one of the Quad Cities also, but it's usually left out, because that would make five.

"Who is your favorite Italian fashion designer?

"Personally, I have been a fan of Valentino ever since ag school.

"During Milan's Fall Fashion Week, in which hotel will you be staying?

"Could you please give me directions how to get to that hotel from western Illinois?

"Now I must repair the stock-tank de-icer in our back pasture. It is a piece of junk, and has once again broken down."

I am now on a quest to find out what Ian Frazier's connection to the Quad-Cities is. The index of contributors says that he has written for The New Yorker since 1974. Is he a native? Does anyone know?

My follow-up question, of course, is whether he intended us to pronounce the name of the city in the 3rd to last question "My-lun" or "Mih-lahn."

The Quadsville Bookworms are discussing ZZ Packer's short story "Brownies" today. Click over to their group to join in.

Photo contest voting ends at noon. The next round, "April Showers," begins at 12:01 p.m., so start rounding up your rain pictures.

Alan got to spend some quality time with Mike Singletary while he was in town Tuesday. Read about their dinner conversation and why Singletary is one of the few members of the 1985 Chicago Bears that Alan can stand.

CJWard is pondering a side job as a funeral singer. His sister says that's creepy. What do you think, Quadsville?

Anne-Marie Hislop asks how many people go to Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services or if you hit the highlights of Palm Sunday and Easter. Discuss the message and the rituals here.

Got ink? There's a new Quadsville group for you: Tattoo Talk. Post the photos of and stories behind your body art.

Quadsville Bookworms are preparing for their Friday discussion of ZZ Packer's short story "Brownies." Read up on the author here.

And, of course, there's voting to be done in the Quadsville Photo Contest.

Now that you've had a chuckle at the funny photo, it's time to peruse some pictures that will make you go "awwwwww." "Kindred Spirits" was our theme this week in the photo contest. If you're reading this before noon, you can still submit your photo. The voting begins at 12:01 p.m.

And the photo amusement never ends... Just got this on my block club e-mail. Rock Island architect Jeff Dismer is documenting the last days of the Armory. Check his Flickr stream to see amazing photos of the demolition.

What do you think about yesterday's election? A couple real squeakers in Rock Island for mayor and 5th Ward alderman. The 1% sales tax for school maintenance was voted down, likely a victim of the current economy. Were you pleased with the results in your city?

Here's a run-down of the contested races and ballot issues. If you want to take a peek at the ballot before heading to the polls, click here. This is a consolidated ballot -- yours won't be this complicated. Just find your city/village/township to get an idea of what you will be asked.

Quad City Images has started an election day open thread, so you can discuss there if you like. I'm going to be watching the Rock Island mayoral race closely. Sad to see Mayor Mark go, but 20 years is a good run, huh? Who do you think is going to win? What race are you watching?

Buddha70 is also new to Quadsville and to the QuadCities. He's looking for some ways to meet more people. If you've got a suggestion for fun things that will get him and his girlfriend out of the house, drop by his blog and let him know. 

Our photo contest theme this week is Kindred Spirits. I'm hoping we get lots of entries. Show us what ya got!

The ruling will take effect in three weeks, so same-sex couples still have a few days to wait before applying for marriage licenses. A request for a rehearing could also be filed during that time.

What are your thoughts on this monumental decision?

LOLFriday

I'm going to attempt a new Friday feature in my council bulletins. My goal is to make you laugh. It's the end of the work week for most of us. Time to blow off some steam and have a little fun. If you see funny happen somewhere on the Web, let me know and I will point all your eyes and browsers in its direction at the end of the week.

This week, as promised, I thought we could amuse ourselves with a little photo caption contest LOLCats-style for this cute picture of Penelope's cat (you don't mind, do ya, Pen?). For those of you unfamiliar with the LOLCats, let me offer up one of my favorite images. Yes, this site combines adorable pictures of cats with poor grammar and spelling born of the interwebs. High class, I know. But funny.

Do your worst. Just leave your caption in the discussion under the photo of Penelope's news junkie kitty cat.

Check out the meal Marismom is going to serve to her kids tonight. Those are no ordinary fish sticks. That is one dedicated April Fooler.

Quad City Images also has a rumor blog that will make you chuckle. If you've heard a few "good ones" lately, you can add 'em in.

For real now...

There are only two entries in this week's photo contest (where did all my shutterbugs go?), but don't let that stop you from voting. Someone's got to do it. ;-)

And don't miss this Friday's short story discussion. The Quadsville Bookworms are discussing "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

Are you playing any April Fool's pranks today? Tell me about them. Make me laugh, folks.