Happy New Year!

from Flickr, by AnnecyEmily

2008 Retrospective from Powell River Books

2008 was a great year for Wayne, me, and Powell River Books. Here are a few exciting moments:

January - Two of Wayne's books (Up the Lake and Up the Strait) are released in Kindle format. After the holidays in the States, we returned to our beloved float cabin on Powell Lake.

February - After almost a two year wait, Wayne and I received our Canadian permanent residency. Back at the cabin, I learned to bake bread inside my woodstove.

March - Up the Airway is launched at Cole's bookstore. Low water levels on Powell Lake expose "treasures" from early 20th Century logging cabins and camps. Powell River Books joins YouTube with several videos.

April - Bumblebees make a home in daffodils in my newly planted garden and Wayne and I go to Comox to see the Canadian Forces Snowbirds Demonstration Flight Team put on their annual free show.

May - Our airplane 997 takes us on a flight to the San Juan Islands. Back at the cabin, spring birds include Crossbills, Swallows and Canada Geese and we join the ATV Club for the annual Nanton ride.

June - My floating garden produces lots of vegetables and Mr. Float Cabin heads "up the lake" on a book tour. Back in Bellingham, I meet Betty, my blog's most faithful reader, in real life.

July - Our cabin gets a boost from twenty blue barrels. Book signings take us to the Texada Airport Fly-in, Sea Fair and a book launch for Farther Up the Lake at Breakwater Books. For fun, we join the ATV club on a Poker Ride.

August - Slide show tours take us to Gibsons, Sechelt, Powell River Library, Bellingham Museum of Flight, Chilliwack Air Show and Blackberry Festival. Halcyon Days takes us on a cruise to meet Dave and Marg at the lodge.

September - I pick and store onions, potatoes and tomatoes. Our float cabin is highlighted in an article in Our Canada magazine and Wayne gets a flood of e-mail.

October - Fall colours make Powell Lake beautiful and I invent Margy's Mouse Mechanism to keep little critters off the float. Wayne and I set up a booth again at the Powell River Newcomer Social.

November - Our float cabin is showcased on Tiny House Blog. PRB is honoured at the Horizon Business Awards and Wayne is nominated as an entrepreneur of the year. Best of all, we get lots of time at the cabin.

December - Snow, snow and more snow - and lots of really cold weather. We get a new chimney cap and use our wood stove almost 24/7. The PRB blog had a great year with over 21,750 visitors.

It's been a great year and I've had fun sharing it with you. Wayne and I wish you and your family a happy new year. May it bring you peace, love and contentment. -- Margy

Now Available Online - Up the Winter Trail

A Great Book
for the Outdoor Enthusiast

Up the Winter Trail

Coastal BC Stories

Your winter plans won't be complete without a visit to Powell River and its uncrowded winter vacation opportunities. Hike, snowshoe, cross country ski - we have it all and more. Want a preview? Read Up the Winter Trail by Wayne Lutz and start your adventure.

Go to www.PowellRiverBooks.com for ordering information.

Cristiano Ronaldo : Manchester United Team

Full name :Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Date of birth : 5 February 1985
Place of birth :Ffunchal, Madeira, Portugal,
Playing position :Winger, Striker
Number Costum: 7 (in MAncherter United)
CAREER CLUB
Junior Club :
1993–1995 : CF Andorinha
1995–1997 : CD Nacional
1997–2001 : Sporting CP
Senior Clubs
2001–2003 : Sporting CP, (25 games 3 Goal
2003– now : Manchester United, (178 games 74 Goals)
National Team
2002–2003 : Portugal, U-21 (2 games 2 goals)
2003– Now : Portugal, (61 Games 21 Goals)

Diego Armando Maradona : The Legend from Argentina

Diego Armando Maradona is arguably the greatest footballer that has ever put on a pair of boots. He is born in the slums of Villa Fiorito near Buenos Aires as the fifth of eight children. Maradona enters professional football at the astonishing age of 15. By the time he turns 16, Diego is called in the senior national squad of Argentina. Regardless of his talent, Diego is considered too young by coach Cesar Menotti, who rejects him from his selection for the 1978 World Cup. Bitterly disappointed, Maradona watches the tournament from home as his country wins gold. In the following four years, Diego dominates his country's domestic league and is eventually added to the Argentine squad for Spain 1982.
Argentina advances from the first stage of the tournament by losing to Belgium, but beating Hungary and Salvador. Maradona manages to leave his mark with two beautiful, yet not critical goals. In the the second stage of the tournament, Maradona is manhandled by his Italian marker Claudio Gentile. Diego's frustration gets him sent off. Argentina fails to advance and Diego is again suppressed from unleashing his full potential. Although unsuccessful, the brilliance of the Argentine footballer does not go unnoticed and after the World Cup, he is picked up by European powerhouse Barcelona. By 1984, Maradona had established himself in Barca and is picked up by the Italian club Napoli.

At the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Maradona makes his return on the World stage in a spectacular fashion. After leading his team to a quarter final against England, Diego steals the attention of millions with both his controversial character and technical brilliance. The fuss around the Argentina-England encounter is further elevated by the Falkland Islands conflict, which at that time had turned both countries against each other. Diego opens the game 1-0 by striking the ball with his hand over the English goalkeeper Shilton. Unnoticed by the referees, the mishap is ruled a goal. Five minutes later, Maradona single handedly takes the ball through the entire English defense with a slalom from midfield right down to the goal line. After the match, when confronted with the video footage of the illegal goal, Maradona replies simply "Even if there was a hand, it must have been the hand of God." Maradona silenced his critics by deciding the following semi and final matches. By scoring two goals in the first and with an assist in the second, Maradona practically earns the World Cup for his nation.
Maradona's influence on his teammates was carried over to his club side Napoli, as they reached unprecedented heights, winning their very first and second Scudetto (1997 and 1990) and the UEFA Cup in 1988/99.

At Italy 1990, all eyes are on Argentina and its brightest star Diego Maradona. Diego comes close to replicating his success from four years ago. With Maradona's ability, Argentina defeats Brazil, Yugoslavia and Italy on its way to the final. Most memorable is the semi-final match between Argentina and Italy played at Diego's club home Naples. To the torment of Maradona, the fans at his own club stadium boo him during the match. Nevertheless, Argentina eliminates Italy after a penalty shootout. The final of the 1990 World Cup, leaves Diego helpless as Argentina are defeated 0-1 by West Germany with a goal from a questionable penalty.
After the loss against West Germany, Maradona's career plummets. In March of 1991, he tested positive for doping and is banned from football for 15 months. Maradona refuses to return back to Napoli after the World Cup incident and transferrs to Sevilla for a year. He eventually goes back to Argentina with Newell's Old Boys.

The 1994 World Cup confirms that Diego's career in international football is over. He is suspended again after failing yet another doping test. Hurt by his absence, Argentina is eventually eliminated by Romania in the second stage.
Shortly after, Diego takes on a new career path as a coach. He fails miserably again, unable to remain at a single club for more than four months. By 1995, Maradona is forced to return to the game as a player. He goes back to his former club Boca Juniors, and remains there until his last match on 25th of October 1997. Five days later, during his 37th birthday, Maradona announces his retirement from football. Up until 2001, Diego remains away from the playing pitch, periodically entering rehab for cocaine abuse. Diego plays his farewell match on the 10th of November 2001 against a select team comprised by some of the greatest footballers in the game including Ferrara, Suker, Stoichkov, Cantona, Higuita, and Romario. One year earlier, Maradona is voted Best Football Player of the Century by a global Internet poll. Controversy is stirred yet again, by his nearly unanimous victory. FIFA, who find Maradona's personal image as the 'King of Football' unacceptable, decide to give the same award to Pelé as the Best Footballer for the first half of the century

Source Article : http://expertfootball.com/players/maradona/biography.php

Dragging out 2008

Pele : The Legend from Brazil

Pele the legend foot ball from Brazil.Edson Arrantes de Nascimento by his full name, Pele was born in Tres Coracoes in Brazil, in a family that loved soccer, his father being himself a player for Fluminese (his father was known as Dondinho). In this sporty atmosphere, the young Pele learned to enjoy the game, despite the poverty he grew up inIt’s hard to put anyone else than Pelé on the top position. Especially after looking at his track record in World Cups. He is the only man to win it 3 times and is among the all-time topscorers. A virtually complete footballer with an impressive strength in the air despite being relatively small. He scored more than 1000 goals in his career.
PELE
Full name :Edson Arantes do Nascimento
Date of birth : October 23, 1940
Place of birth :Tres Coracoes, Brazil
Playing position :Striker
CAREER CLUB
1956-1974 : Santos, games 605, goal 589
1975-1977 : New York Cosmos, games 64, goal 17

My 2009 Rescue Resolution

I invite you to join me in my New Year’s Resolution. Let’s each of us do one thing for a rescue group or animal this year.

For example:

• Donate a bag of food

• Donate some money

• Do one home check for prospective adopters

• Deliver a dog or pick up a cat in a shelter.

• Foster a dog just one time

• Work at a rescue event

• Answer phones for one week, or respond to emails

• Evaluate an animal in a shelter

• Take some photos of homeless pets for an event or web site

• Donate something to a fundraiser

• Buy something at a fundraiser

• Write a press release or brochure

• Process paperwork

• Solicit for donations

• Place or sponsor ads in the paper

It’s hard to volunteer for rescue. Many volunteers work so hard they burn out and quit. Some can’t bear to see the shelter animals, knowing so many of them will die. There is plenty you can offer without actually working with animals.

If $5 is all you can do for rescue this year, thank you. You have made a difference.

You may have read the story of the starfish: 

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed 

a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. 

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.  

The surf is up and the tide is going out.  If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?  

You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, 

and threw it back into the surf.  Then, smiling at the man, he said…”

I made a difference for that one.”

Original Story by Loren Eiseley

Artwork above: "Starfish" a yellow Lab named Shelby holding a starfish on the beach. © Terry Albert

Body Art Paintings Festival in St. Petersburg

Body Art Paintings Festival held in St. Petersburg. More than 1,000 body art professionals and amateurs from 35 countries show their skills in body art and body paintings. Here are some of the body art paintings like-giraffe body paintings, Lion body paintings, Flamingo body paintings, Tiger body paintings, girls portrait body art and paintings.


Body art model painted her body like a giraffe-giraffe body paintings.


Body art model painted her body like a Lion-Lion body paintings.


Body art model painted her body like a Flamingo-Flamingo body paintings.


Body art model painted her body like a Tiger-Tiger body paintings


Body art model painted his body like a zebra-zebra body paintings


Female body art model painted her backside body of a girls portrait.

Video: Slinky Cat

Watch video

(via lolcats)

Aishwarya is very special to me: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

The maestro of movie making Sanjay Leela Bhansali is all set to return to direction with a film that will star one of his favourite actresses Aishwarya Rai with Hrithik Roshan….a first in the filmmaker's oeuvre. Neck-deep in pre-production the last thing Sanjay needs is fake reports about actors and films who are allegedly working with him. A wild story about Sanjay signing a Pakistani actor finally persuades him to break his silence. He sets the record straight, once and for all. You seem to have quietly gone and signed a young Pakistani actor called Imran Abbas for Heera Mandi. So quietly that even I don't know about it. I haven't signed anyone called Imran Abbas. I'm not making Heera Mandi right now.It may happen much later. When it does we'll think of the casting. At the moment you're working on another film? I'm directing another film with Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai. I'm very excited about the film, and so are they. So no newcomers in this film? No.I need an experienced crew this time. I need their expertise. I've worked with many newcomers like Ismail Durbar, Nusrat Badr, Shreya Ghosal, Monty Sharma, Ranbir and Sonam. You continue to be fearless in spite of Saawariya? This is the time when we filmmakers need to be fearless and experiment with themes. Fearlessness is my biggest asset as a filmmaker. I will continue to make films that come from deep within me. I cannot make assumptions on people's tastes and make films accordingly. My very first film Khamoshi: The Musical didn't do well at all. A lot of people think it's my best work. So are you as proud of Saawariya as the rest of your films? Of course. In fact a Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam or a Devdas can be made again. But Saawariya can never be made again. It's my rarest work in terms of treatment. It had beautiful performances and visuals. I tried to put a stage-play on film. Of course at the end of the day the audience decides what it likes. But in this case the audience was conditioned not to like Saawariya. So have you met this Imran chap? Moin Beg who has written Heera Mandi wanted me to meet this actor.So on Moin's persistence I did meet him almost a year ago. I immediately realized he wasn't the actor I was looking for. The next thing I know, I'm supposed to be arranging this guy's visa to India. What nonsense! Just because I don't speak out people take advantage of my silence. Please don't exploit my name for your own advantage. Why don't you clarify the misconceptions when they occur? Kuch to log kehenge, kehne do. I can't bring myself to become the master of sound bytes. But beyond a point silence is construed as a sign of acceptance.I don't even meet new actors, technicians, musicians or lyricists. I've already decided whom to work with in my next project. So why waste time meeting people you won't be working with? And why go to Pakistan to get actors? We've very talented people in our own country. There were reports that some actors including your own protégé Ranbir Kapoor didn't want to work with you? (laughs) Poor me. People are writing out tragic tales about me every day. They are even deciding what film I'm making and also helpfully casting actresses in them. There's a whole section of people who spend their time spreading false rumours about my films. I wish them luck. Maybe stories about me sell. I've to believe in my work and focus on it. But when the misrepresentations go beyond my tolerance power it's time speak up. The truth is, Ranbir and Sonam would be there for me whenever I need them. However at the moment I'm making a film with Hrithik and Aishwarya. What prompted you to sign Hrithik? Hrithik and I wanted to work together for a very long time. I've always been impressed by his sincerity as an actor. I was waiting for the right opportunity to sign him. Working with Hrithik would be a new and rewarding experience. You and Aishwarya created magic in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas. Time for a hat trick? Aishwarya is very special to me. She suits the role in my new film to perfection. When she read the script she was deeply moved. Of course true friend that she is, she told me she would've agreed to work with me even if I didn't send her the script. But it's important for an actor to be convinced of what he or she is doing. Will this Hrithik-Aishwarya film be your first for an international market in English? But Black was also in English. It is important for me to make my films for our market. Having said that we must take our cinema to the remotest corner of the world. Today the spoken language is no barrier.The spoken language in our country is as much Hindi as English. I want to capture that feeling of everyday conversations. 2008 was a great year for you?It was the year when an Indian director was invited for the first time to direct an opera in Paris? Yes, I had a wonderful a time. I loved directing the opera That was an exceptional honour and an unforgettable experience. I managed to write the script that I wanted to and got the cast I wanted. I may be producing a couple of films. It's been a year of hard and fruitful work.And 2009 will mean even harder work.

For Gossips And Mirch Masala Log On To Bollywood Paradize

Salman and I are not ganging up against Shah Rukh: Aamir Khan

Why was this copyright issue brought up at the last time? This copyright issue has been with us for quite some time now and the producer of the film Allu Arvind was trying to resolve the issue in the court. The information I have with me was that the hearing was over by 10th December but the order came on the 23rd December. We appealed on the same day and you won't believe how happy I am today that our film is officially releasing. The producer has deposited Rs. 5 crore in the court and there is no stay on the film. Whoever has seen the film are saying that there is a lot of violence shown in the film. The response I've just got before I came in to meet you all is that the film is being appreciated and the kind of advance bookings for Ghajini is the highest ever for a Hindi feature film because it's four times more than the previous films. I am happy that there is a lot of excitement surrounding the film. I am waiting for the response from the audience. How different or difficult was it to portray a character who talks more with his eyes than his mouth? To play the character was very difficult but I don't want to say anything about my role. Please let the audiences come out and we will talk then. Normally a film title is based on the name of a hero or heroine. This one is based on a villain called Ghajini. The film is called Ghajini because it's the only clue which the hero has. That's the only name he wants to find and kill. What was your biggest inspiration while you did Ghajini? Surya, the actor who was in the original Tamil version of the film Ghajini. He has done a fantastic job. After watching the film, I was a bit hesitant whether to do the film or not. I was in two minds. Surya convinced me and said that I was the only one who could do justice to the character. He pushed me to do Ghajini. As you've now got a lot of hair cutting experience behind you and then the legal hassles to face, do you think aap baal baal bach gaye? (laughs) I am feeling very relieved and nice to know that there are no more legal hassles. What have you to say on the paintings gifted to you by Salman Khan which Asin unveiled three days back? I am truly touched by the gestures of Salman Khan. He is such a great artist and I didn't know that till I saw his work. He has made some amazing paintings on Ghajini and I thank him for that. How did you relate those paintings with your character in the film? One of the portraits he has made matches my looks and the personality in the film. The second one is a much conceptualized version of the same. Pirated cd's and dvd's will be available from day two after the film releases. Aren't you angry? I am but what can we do about it. No one is ready to take action against this crime. How true is it that yourself and Salman are forming a team or a camp against SRK? There is no truth in that at all. I think, Salman, Shah Rukh and me are individuals in our own right. I have a relationship with SRK and Salman. Both are friends and there are no camps or anything like that. Anushka and Asin, both have made their debut. Who do you think will win an award come 2009? What awards are you talking about and to whom are you asking this question! (Laughs) Only our audiences can give awards, nobody else. How do you intend to celebrate Christmas this year? I am going to be at home with my family for Christmas. With so much goodwill surrounding you in the industry and your films going to the Oscars and the BAFTA's and people talking good about you and your films, this time around, are you ready to face criticism? I am always open for criticism. What if you get to know that Ghajini is not up to the mark? If people don't like any of my films then I treat it as a learning experience. What excited you to do Ghajini? What excited me about this film was the action, the story, the exciting screenplay and above all, the love story in the film. That really won my heart. One of the main reasons I did this film was A.R. Murugadoss. When I met him it felt like meeting a kid who has this toy in his hand. All my expectations were fulfilled after working with him. He is so clear and understands the film so well that it's really amazing. The Oscar committee saw Taare Zameen Par and has praised it. What have you got to say about it? The committee liked the film a lot and the concerned person called me to congratulate me on how good Taare Zameen Par was. That doesn't mean that we are nominated because I am sure he liked other films too. But the fact that he has taken the effort to call was touching and I am very happy about it. Aamir, I've lost a bit of my memory. Can you please tell me who was the lead actor in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi? Why do you guys do this to me yaar. You like such things, don't you? One day because of you, I'll be beaten up badly (laughs). Who according to you has got the best body in business in Bollywood? In male, it has to be John Abraham and Hrithik Roshan and in females it has to be Kareena Kapoor because she is very good looking and has a great body. What is your New Year resolution? I haven't yet thought about it. But I will be going to the theatres to watch my film Ghajini in disguise. Where and how I am going will be kept a secret (laughs).

For Gossips And Mirch Masala Log On To Bollywood Paradize