I won’t have to drive for miles to get to H&M in Coquitlam anymore either once they open their new store in Pacific Centre on May 22. The old Holt Renfrew store is being demolished and 12 new tenants will occupy that space. I won’t miss it. How many of us could afford to shop there anyway? One of the new stores is “Teenflo” - no not a store for teenagers, rather for modern women, already with stores back east. Looks like we have some fun shopping ahead of us!

Sad end for her family and for search and rescue teams.

Do between one and three good deeds for others without asking for anything in return. Instead the recipient should be instructed to pay it forward to someone else in need.

Actually, the concept goes back to Benjamin Franklin in 1784, when he said: “I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you […] meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro’ many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money”.

Shouldn’t we all try “Pay it Forward”on any day, not just on this particular Day?

This has hit home the past couple of days when we heard about a 25-year-old female Japanese student who went snowboarding in Whistler on Thursday and her homestay family only became concerned about her whereabouts on Sunday when she did not return home for the weekend.

Ai Ito, a Japanese student studying English in Whistler, was headed on a solo run. You could call it shear bad luck that her school was closed for the Good Friday holiday and her home-stay family thought nothing was unsual because Ito sometimes stayed overnight with friends.

She wasn’t reported missing until Sunday, when an immediate search was launched, but that delay may not bring the positive result we wish for.

Her family has since arrived in Whistler from Japan, but hope is fading fast as temperature have dropped to -12 to -15 in that part of the search area.

We pray for a miracle and her safe return.

You can spend a day at Science World and /or Imax, the Aquarium at Stanley Park, take a ride on the skytrain to New West Quay, go up Grouse Mountain or take the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay. A day trip to Bowen Island is always great - perhaps take your bikes for some exersize too.

Don’t forget Monday is St Patrick’s Day and you can check out the 5th Annual Parade on Granville Street Sunday, March 16 at 11 am.

Dubai in 1990

in 2003…

and in 2007!

and the tourist attractions……

The Burj Dubai. Construction began in 2005 and is expected to be complete by 2008.
At an estimated height of over 800 meters, it will easily be world’s tallest building when finished.
It will be almost 40% taller than the the current tallest building, the Yaipei 101.

Palm Islands
The Palm Islands in Dubai. New Dutch dredging technology was used to create these massive man made islands which are the largest artificial islands in the world and can be seen from space. Three of these Palms will be made with the last one being the largest of them all.
Upon completion, the resort will have 2,000 villas, 40 luxury hotels, shopping centers, movie theaters, and many other facilities. It is expected to support a population of approximately 500,000 people.

Healy lost his sight as an infant and developed a unique guitar style, forming his first band at 17, performing his passion for old-time jazz, playing the trumpet and clarinet.

The Jeff Healey Band was formed in 1985 and signed with Arista Records in 1988 and released the Grammy nominated album, See the Light. He earned a Juno award in 1990 as Entertainer of the Year.
He leaves his wife, Christie and two children aged 13 and 3.

Jennifer Garner’s ring from Ben Affleck

Jessica Alba’s ring from Cash Warren

Fergie’s ring from Josh Duhamel

Katie Holmes’ ring from Tom Cruise

Nicole Kidman’s ring from Keith Urban

The Oscar for Best Actress went to France’s Marion Cotillard for La Vie en Rose. Best Actor went to Britain’s Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood. Tilda Swinton took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Michael Clayton.

Other big winners of the night were the Bourne Ultimatum for Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing, There Will Be Blood picked up an award for Best Cinematography and La Vie en Rose won for Best Makeup. Ratatouille was named Best Animated Film. Oscar for Best Original Song went to “Falling Slowly” from Once.

For a complete list of the nights winners, click here.

Eva Longoria’s ring from Tony Parker

Christina Aguilera’s ring from Jordan Bratman

Katherine Heigl’s ring from Josh Kelley

Jennifer Love Hewitt’s ring from Ross McCall

Salma Hayek’s ring from François-Henri Pinault

Heidi Klum’s ring from Seal

Jennifer Lopez’s ring from Marc Anthony

Terry Gilliam, the director, will keep the original scenes with Heath, the remaining portions of the film will be completed by Depp, Farrell and Law as incarnations of Heath’s character.

It has also been reported that the three actors will donate their salaries in Heath’s memory.

Donald Trump

Will Smith

Arnold Schwarzenneger

Larry King

Avril Lavigne

Playboy Mansion

Ashlee Simpson

Winehouse, who had visa issues, couldn’t make it to the awards show in LA. She performed live via satellite. Her performance was much improved from her singing a few months back at the European MTV Music Awards. She even paid homage to her husband, who is incarcerated.

Winehouse took home five trophies.

West impressed the Grammy audience with his glow in the dark performance of “Stronger”. Many in the crowd shed tears while the listened to him sing “Hey Mama” - a tribute to his mother who passed away from complications following a cosmetic surgery. He even shaved “Mama” on his head.

West won four trophies.

The victim has been identified as Pritpal Singh Virk of Richmond. Virk was found lying on the street around 11:00pm by a passerby.

Virk was rushed to a hospital, but died as a result of his gunshot wounds. Apparently, the victim was visiting friends nearby and was shot after he stepped outside.

The police are asking anyone who may have been in the area and witnessed the incident.

For more information, please click here.

The Giants defeated an undefeated team - the New England Patriots. The Patriots had a 19 game winning streak, unfortunately they fumbled in the game that mattered the most.

Eli Manning was named the Super Bowl MVP.

A victory parade is planned to be held on Tuesday to honour the Giants win. Hundreds of thousands of supporters are expected to attend the event. The parage will begin at Battery Park at 11:00am and proceed northbound in the Financial District - along the “Canyon of Heroes” route - to Chambers Street.

Giants players, team officials and city notables will ride in the parade, culminating at a victory rally at City Hall around 1:00pm.

The out-of-control satellite could contain hazardous materials, what is known is that it contains rocket fuel - hydrazine, a colourless liquid which is toxic and can cause harm to anyone who comes into contact with it. Officials are unsure of where the satellite may come down. The officials revealed this information on a condition of anonymity as this information is classified as secret.

Experts believe that this satellite does not pose a threat to people.

If the re-entry of the satellite isn’t controlled, the US runs a risk of exposing its secrets.

It is still unknown when the satellite lost power or how.

For information, visit CBC or BBC.

Police were called to scene when residents nearby Gray’s Park complained about noise. Police found the two victims in an alley way.

This is the third homicide in Vancouver in 2008

Deward Ponte, 15, had left his house after telling his parents that he was going out to play basketball with his friends. He was a grade 10 student at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School.

If anyone has any information on this case, place call the Major Crime Section at (604) 717-2500.

For more information, click here.

Scarpino was one of the two victims shot to death in a gangland-style shooting. The name of the second victim has not yet be released by police, but it is known that he was a 38-year-old man not known to police.

The two victims, Scarpino’s fiancee and another man were in their stopped SUV outside the restaurant when shots were fired around 10:00pm. The shooting has be described as “targeted” by Vancouver Police Spokesman Const. Tim Fanning.

Scarpino was “well-known” to police. He was connected to criminal activities, it is believed that this is the reason he was targetted.

The restaurant the Scarpino and his party were outside of is located in the busiest part of downtown Vancouver.

After about 11 shots were fired, the suspects fled on foot and “disappeared” in the busy location.

For more information please visit: CBC or; canada.com.