Dhaka Tribune
Thursday, October 30, 2014 Volume 2, Issue 25
Who’s watching you?
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Status of the week A weekly production of
DhakaTribune Editor Zafar Sobhan Executive Editor Shahriar Karim Managing Editor Jahangir Hyder
Editor’s note
Trick or treat, choose your pick. If it is treat give me something nice to eat. If it is trick, I promise I’ll make sure your dead-meat! Happy Halloween. May the best witches go with you. Well, I mean wishes.
Quote of the week
Dear Readers, It’s time to draw the curtains, say a little prayer and head to bed before the clock strikes 3am. In hot topic (pg6&7) we have for you spooky real life anecdotes and also an interview with a spirit medium from Savar. For all of you who want to turn your house into a spook zone, turn to Your Life (pg2) for a horror menu to go with an ominous room decor. Wanna find out which Halloween monster best goes with your inner demon? Check it out on Teenarama (pg12) and let us know which monster you are. If you are terrified of dolls, check out the review on Anabelle on Playroom (pg11) and decide whether you want to watch it or not. Do let us know how we are doing and for this week, beware of the darkness.
Meme of the week
Yesterday my parents told me I was too old for an imaginary friend and that I had to let her go. They found her body this morning.
Magazine Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad Asst Magazine Editor Natasha Rahman TMAG Team Tahsin Momin Fuad M Hossain Saudia Afrin Baizid Haque Joarder Rad Sharar Raisa Rahim Shah Nahian Contributors ASM Foysal Nasif Chowdhury Nadia Abdullah Naveed Choudhury Qarshi
More inside Picks Of the week 2 Room of the week Sharazad Hassan 3 Doodle of the week Latiful Jawad 10 Spotlight Dollhouse 10 The goodsheet Cemeteries of London 11 Movie Challenge Accepted Your world 5 Car The spirit of ecstasy 9 Non-fiction Cinnamon Vapour 9 Comic Strip Nasif Chowdhury 9 Book Bram Stoker’s Dracula Real Life 3 Event Tweets 6 Hot topic Fear Street
12 Listology Five signs your friend is a vampire Fashion 4 Beauty check Little Dead Riding Hood 4 Look of the week Shabrin Islam TMAG says 2 Your room The Chamber of Horrors 2 DIY Yummy Mummy 10 Playlist Creepy Songs 11 TV Quit clowning around! 11 Game I am here! 11 Gadget Understanding Memory
Happy Halloween The TMAG desk
Horoscopes 5 Your forecast
Graphics Mohammed Mahbub Alam Tahsin Momin Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal Kazi Syras Al Mahmood Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed
5 Car talk The spirit of ecstasy
Circulation Masud Kabir Pavel
8 Written in the stars
Brownfish and Co
Email: tmag.dt@dhakatribune.com Website: www.dhakatribune.com
About the cover Who’s watching you? Model Tasnim Mahmood Photo Anup Munir Art direction Baizid, Saudia, Natasha
3 TMAG’s Easel Latiful Jawad
4 Look of the week Snow White
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Your Life
FUNK UP YOUR ROOM
TMAG’s Room of the week
The Chamber of Horrors To rev up the fear factor this Halloween, find out how to transform your humble abode into a haunted mansion
Dress your room with lights
Plan your haunted path
If you want your haunted room to be authentic, come up with a background story. Is it haunted by an old lady whose husband disappeared into thin air? Or by a family that was brutally murdered in the dressing room? You can put up signs on the front door to set the mood and guide your friends’ thoughts as they enter your room, such as “The Haunted Schoolroom,” or “The Unhallowed Graveyard.” Doorways may boast dancing spiders and cobwebs that “welcome” guests to scary stages of the haunted “experience.”
Looking to create a flattering glow in your comfort zone? Illuminate the way with striking chandeliers that deliver big style to express your personality
Dim the lights
Name
Sharazad Hassan Area
Niketon Courtesy
DIY Yummy mummy
Witch’s lair
Try mirrors, black lights to make your visitors hearts beat faster at every turn. You can scatter pretend bones, fake hands, and broomsticks to fit the theme. Get a cauldron and put dry ice inside to create a “smokey” effect. Lit jacko-lanterns, hobgoblin figurines, black capes, and other similar items add to the mood of the place.
What is Halloween without a bit of fun? TMAG knows it well and here we are with a DIY recipe for a few spooky yet ohso-yummy mummy cakes
Ingredients
Directions
Vanilla cake
Baking the cake
• • • • • • • •
Cake flour: three cups Baking powder: one tablespoon Unsalted butter (melted): one and half cups Sugar: one and one fourth cups Salt: half a teaspoon Milk: two thirds of a cup Eggs: four large ones Vanilla extract: two teaspoons
Chocolate ganache • • •
Chocolate chips: four cups Heavy cream: four cups Unsalted butter: four tablespoons
Vanilla frostings • • • •
Whipped cream: two tablespoons Sugar: two cups Vanilla extract: half a teaspoon Unsalted butter: half a cup
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Keep the lighting dim, yet high enough for people to see and avoid stumbling as they move around. You may prefer to experiment with shades and candles by the window to create an eerie atmosphere. Replace your lamps with green bulbs and light them dimly around the room. If you choose to use any traditional lamps, drape them with cobwebs and tape rubber bats to the insides. Light a lamp under a spider web or a fake creepy insect, to create a spooky shadow.
Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and when you are done, grease a baking sheet for the tray. In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt. Let it rest and move on to beat the butter in a mixer until it softens. Add sugar and continue beating for about three minutes, or at least to the point it is light and fluffy. Start adding the eggs one by one and beat it at a medium pace. Now that you are done with that, add the flour mixture, vanilla extract and milk. Mix it until it is well combined. Take the prepared pan and spread the batter evenly on it. Bake it for 20 minutes or so and cool it. Use a cookie cutter to cut the cake into coffin-like shapes.
Making the ganache
Heat the cream on a saucepan at
medium heat. When it starts to simmer, remove the pan from the stove and add butter and the chocolate chips. Make sure all the chips are covered with the cream. Let it rest for two minutes and stir until it is smooth. Start pouring the ganache over the coffin cakes (make sure you cover all the sides) and let them sit until the ganache sets firmly.
Making the frosting
Start by mixing the butter, sugar and vanilla until it is smooth and fluffy. Add the cream in order to make a frosting that is soft enough to be piped in a smooth line. Use a small and round pastry tip to pipe the outline of the mummy on top of the ganache. To pipe the mummy’s wrapping, use a very small and straight tip in a weaving manner to make it look realistic. Baizid Haque Joarder
Eerie walls and halls
Put up wall decorations such as spider webs, funky pictures with moving eyes, dark drapes, and other devices to give your place an authentic “haunted” air. Carve apples to look like skulls or peel the skin off a bunch of grapes and put it in a covered bowl to make them look like eyeballs!
Graveyard
Turn a section of the room into a graveyard. Use ideas such as headstones, coffins and other props. Carve RIP on the headstones, place coffins in the room with mummies or vampires inside. Finally to enhance the dead rooms, drape furniture with sheets or black throwovers to make it look mysterious. You’re all set to transform your crib into a blood-curdling mayhem that brings chills down everyone’s spine. Happy haunting! Nusrat Naushin
Schoologistics
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EVENT Tweets
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SCHOOL SURVIVAL
Spook your friends Weather we want to celebrate Halloween or not, it’s always fun to spook your buddies with some trick and treating. If Halloween parties seem like too much work, then the next best place to take your pranks to is your school! Let’s find out what TMAG has up it’s sleeve for you this Halloween
Unplugged sounds North South University Sangskritik Sangathan have arranged the Inter University Unplugged Session 2014. 15 underground bands from six different universities participated at this event. Among them were Trip, Colors, Candle Carmine, Bhai Brothers, Mayanohor, Mirage and many other unknown yet remarkable bands. Vice chancellor of NSU Dr Amin Uddin Sarkar and the Pro vice chancellor Benjir Ahmed was present at the programme. The bands also performed songs from popular Bangladeshi genres such as Rabindra shongeet, Nazrul geeti, Lalon geeti, Hason Raja and Shah Abdul Karim etc. Old School, the famous band from NSU also performed, boosting the crowd’s enthusiasm. Once all the bands were done performing, 12AM and Avoid Rafa began to cheer the audience with their sensual tones and melody.
bigstock
This trick will work best if the sun is setting, and you and your friends are out practicing some football, volleyball, or any outdoor game for that matter. Pretend to run really fast or bump into someone, or even accidently fall on the ground, flat with your eyes shut. Not only will they try and jostle you awake, but this should get them extremely freaked out. Before they run and call school authorities, suddenly open your eyes and pounce on one of them. Sounds ridiculous? Well, it will be
worth it when you see them scream and run! A word of caution; don’t prolong the playing dead act for too long, go with the flow and end it as soon as possible, unless you want one of your friends to actually knock you down after the scare you have just given them. Pick out a time when the washrooms are pretty empty, walk in and write a scary message on the mirror. For instance, scribbling messages like” I am always behind you” or “Your days
are numbered,” is sure to put the fear of God into people. Breathe on the mirror and then write your message and wait outside the restroom. You should definitely hear a scream. As they try to run out of the washroom, stand outside and press against the door so that they think it’s locked for a second or two. Let him/her out and run as they will surely come after you! Natasha Rahman
TMAG’s doodle of the week Winter is coming “Fight against winter 4” is specifically targeted to promote awareness and call out abled citizens to fulfill their moral duties towards the underprivileged of our society. The main purpose of this event is to help the underprivileged with warm blankets and winter clothing, petroleum jelly and primary medical treatment. 500 volunteers will be all over Chittagong city to collect any sort of aid for the selected distribution locations all over Bangladesh; such as Bandarban, Rangamati, Fatikchari, Satkania and different areas of North Bengal. Registration for the event has started since October 24. The registration will go on till October 31. To register as a volunteer you can visit their website: www.youthsvoice.org
Latiful Jawad “If the sky could dream, it would dream of dragons”
If you are a classroom doodler, email your doodle to tmag@dhakatribune.com and see it in our weekly!
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LOOK OF
THE WEEK
FASHION FACE-OFF
Beauty CHECK LITTLE DEAD RIDING HOOD With Halloween around the corner, it’s the perfect time of the year to bring out the fake blood, or that scary mask you’ve been dying to wear all year and terrify all your friends! But for those of you who want to go that extra mile, Sarah gives you a step by step tutorial on how to create a simple yet freaky look of one of our childhood favourites – Little Red Riding Hood – with some unfortunate injury to her face
What you need
White eye pencil, hand moisturiser, small metal spatula, Ben Nye nose and scar wax, Ben Nye spirit gum, toothpick or bobby pin, liquid latex, powder/foundation matching your skin tone, red and black face paint, detailer brush, Ben Nye fresh scab blood, Ben Nye stage blood.
1
Start by following your normal every day make-up routine. Keep it simple and apply a classic red lipstick.
• Face YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat BR60, MAC Blot powder to set • Bronzer Benefit Hoola Bronzer to contour • Blush Bobbi Brown Blushed Rose • Eyes Estee Lauder Double Wear Mascara, Prestige liquid eyeliner • Eyebrows Natio eyebrow kit • Lips MAC Ruby Woo
4
Lay the scar wax worm along the first line and using the metal spatula (or tweezers), blend the edges of the scar wax worm into the skin as shown.
5
Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all four claw marks are covered in scar wax. Next, drag the pointed end of a toothpick along the middle of each scar wax to create a tear in the skin.
6
Using a paintbrush, apply liquid latex over all four scratches to seal it in. Wait until clear and to apply powder/ foundation matching your skin tone onto the scratched area.
2
Using a white eye pencil, draw claw marks on one side of your face to use as a guide.
7 Snow white Simplicity redefined with the muted cream blush and off-white netted vest, ready to conquer the day with a pretty smile House Suvastraa Designer Nadira Haque Model Shabrin Islam Photographer Homayra Adiba
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3
Apply spirit gum adhesive along the first line. While waiting for it to dry, roll some nose and scar wax into a worm shape to match the length of the first claw line as shown. Note: moisturise your hands prior to this step as scar wax is heat activated and gets sticky.
Now you are ready to paint! Using a detailer brush, apply red face paint along the inside of each tear. Repeat using black face paint to create the illusion of depth within each tear. Now for the blood. Apply some of the thick fresh scab blood along the inside of each scratch using a toothpick or a detailer brush. Then apply some liquid blood in the same way to enhance the gore effect. And you’re done! Oh and don’t forget your red hood! Sarah Ruhullah
Sarah Ruhullah, 21, Sydney, Australia. A make-up artist at MECCA Maxima, the ultimate one stop beauty destination which sells over 75 well renowned brands including Nars, Bobbi Brown and Yves Saint Laurent to name a few. She is also a selftaught SFX makeup artist who practices regularly to expand and refine her abilities.
STREET
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Car talk
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HOROSCOPE Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19)
Passion is in the air and you want the only person in your immediate vicinity to notice it. Just remember passion can be good as well as evil. Taurus (Apr 20-May 20)
A friend who seems to act fishy, may actually have nothing but your best interest in mind. But do consider all possible reasons for their secrecy. Gemini (May 21-Jun 20)
The spirit of ecstasy With over 70 percent of them still running today, Rolls Royces have endured the test of time. Sir Henry Royce once said: “The quality will remain long after the price is forgotten.” Will Rolls Royce’s new offering continue this tradition and make you forget the $365,000 price tag? The 2014 Wraith is stunning; high belt line, long bonnet and a low roof. They even tilted the bonnet ornament by five degrees forward to make it look more aggressive. The interior on the other hand is packed with elegant hand crafted details that will impress even the most sophisticated car lovers. The window keys on the door handles are designed after the tuning pegs on a violin. The roof lining features the star light head lining. The fibre-optics in the roof lining shows the star pattern of the night BMW bought Rolls Royce and you can also order this from the factory with any night sky you want. All the wood greys are angled at exactly 55 degrees and
the reason for that, according to Rolls Royce is to make the occupants feel like an arrow sitting within a bow, waiting to be fired. Is it over-engineered? Yes, exquisitely so! Though Rolls Royce has long been the choice of the old one; Wraith is aimed at a younger generation, who expects exceptional power with the monogram headrests. But the Wraith goes one step further. It now adds speed to its pedigree. This is the fastest Rolls Royce ever built. Let’s be honest, the title of fastest Rolls Royce ever made is being like the smartest Kardashian. But how do you not test that out? The Wraith will do 0-62mph in 4.4
seconds. It has a 6.6-litre twin turbo V12 that kicks out a staggering 624HP. In short, this thing kicks arse! But that’s not what this car is about. Rolls Royce themselves never said that this was a sports coupe. They said that this was a car where the sense of arrival and joy of the journey is as important as the canvas upon which it is drawn. What is impressive about this car is that Rolls Royce didn’t commit to one idea; they blended two ideas perfectly. In doing so, they have created something so unique that once experienced, your whole perspective on driving may never quite be the same again. tahsin momin
There we go again! “The last minute change” thing is about to happen. All you can do is adjust your attitude. Besides you might like the end result. Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22)
It’s not your imagination. They are trying their best to manipulate you into doing, what they want you to do. Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22)
The rest of the world may be dealing with hurdles but you’ve received a special pass from the stars. Sharing that optimism now just increases your already good karma. Virgo (Aug 23- Sep 22)
They are pouting and giving you the look that clearly says “if you loved me, I would.” Don’t fall for it. Tell them to tuck in that lip before they trip on it and resist feeling guilty. Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22)
Thinking about taking a trip? Well what’s wrong with that? You’ll probably get one very good reason to celebrate. Make plans! Aren’t you down for some serious fun? Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21)
If this isn’t love then you’ve surely fallen under the spell of a master magician. Either way someone has immensely enchanted your world. Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21)
Displaying your emotion in public isn’t something you’re prone to do. However, at the moment, you have far more trouble keeping them hidden. Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19)
A family member is suddenly interested in becoming an active part of your life – but it’s been so long that you can’t help but wonder what’s up! Don’t quash that curiosity. Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18)
It will soon be very hectic but you can’t really depend on anyone but yourself. Your friends and family might disappoint you in your most crucial of moments. Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)
Sure it’s sudden but it’s not like it hasn’t been coming for a long time. You’ve thought of getting away. You’re ready for it. The only thing you need to do is - forget to pack the guilt.
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hot topic
Fear Street As Halloween approaches, TMAG gets down to discuss all things spooky
The power of the tabij Natasha Rahman
When a black cat crosses the road do you find yourself reciting duahs or calling on a higer power for protection? Do you go to astrologers and gypsies to get better results, or more money? Or do you prefer logical explanations for the extraordinary? Whether or not you believe in ghosts, spirits, and black magic, we have a few anecdotes to share to make you wonder... Chompar Ma, a spirit medium from Savar, claims to possess various forms of good spirits who help her help people with their problems. She says: “People come to me with so much money and gifts, but the spirits aren’t greedy. They only take what they deem is important for their services.” What kind of services do you provide to them? I never do anything. I am just an ordinary woman. But because the jinns
have chosen me, I am blessed to be able to help people sort out many of their troubles. We probed further to find out what kind of assistance she gave to people. She quotes: ”I have helped many people in my village sort out the feuds they had over their lands, and also helped girls find better grooms for themselves.” How exactly do you conjure them? I cannot give out the details. But I say a series of prayer words and I wait for them to make a connection with me. Once they reach me, I am no more myself. They talk to the customers directly. So, any deal that’s made with them is not through me, but through a conversation they had, my body being its medium. Also, once they leave my body, I have no recollection of what happened. I only see the money or the gift and I figure that they have blessed them.
Does this work each time? No it doesn’t. Sometimes I prescribe little tabij for the clients to wear around their hands, neck, or ankles, depending on the problem. However, the power of the tabij depends on the position of the sun and the person’s date of birth. Sometimes, they have a bad period of time going on and this is the time, amulets and tabij really make a difference. According to islamhelpline.net, amulets were worn by Arabs around their necks by both adults and children. They believed it would help them from the “evil eye.” Well, if all the problems could be solved wearing a few stones, and resorting to taking help from spirit conjurers, then wouldn’t life be just perfect and slightly unbelievable? Go figure.
The Witching Hour Shah Nahian
Night after night whispers keep on waking you up right in the middle of the night. The time is always the same. It’s always 3am. You can’t seem to understand what the whispers tell you, but the haunting voice always keeps you up. Tonight, however, there are no whispers. Instead you wake up to the screams of someone from outside your window. The screams are loud and urgent. Someone is hurt and in need of desperate help. Without thinking, you rush outside. Though the cries are loud enough to wake up the neighbourhood, you cannot help notice that it is only you rushing out to help. Your path leads you under a tamarind tree, but there is no one there. The cries finally fade away. As you investigate the area, you hear the sound of leaves rustling and the tree slowly starting to shake. You look up to see a dark figure with glowing eyes climbing down. Your heartbeat drops and your body starts to shake. Terrified but not petrified, you start to run. But as you start running, you hear the same whispers calling out
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your name. You’re almost home but before you can open the door, you feel a rough hand grab hold of your feet as it starts dragging you back towards the tree. Every horror story ever told takes places at the dead of night. The association between darkness and supernatural activities has been around since man could dream. However, the term “Witching Hour” dates back around the early 1800’s. The witching hour, generally believed to begin from 12am to 3am, is thought to be the hour of the night when ghosts, demons and other supernatural beings are at their most powerful state, often appearing near people who are awake at that hour; and when black magic is most effective. The 2005 film The Exorcism of Emily Rose says that the witching hour, according to Roman Catholic tradition, occurs at 3am when evil forces mock the Holy Trinity and also claims it is the opposite of 3pm, the hour when Jesus Christ said “Father, Into Thy Hands, I Commend My Spirit” and died.
The association of darkness and evil often goes hand in hand perhaps because it is difficult to see at night, causing skewed perceptions of the world. In the middle of the night, people are also presumably more tired, and therefore potentially susceptible to events that may feel supernatural. However, according to Wicca (Modern Pagan Witchcraft Religion), 3am is considered important because of its correlation to the Threefold Law and the Triple Goddess; while traditional witch doctors, shamans (a person believed to have access to the world of spirits), and other supernatural practitioners have often worked at night, believing the idea that dark magic can only be practised at night. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, one can admit that the time during the witching hour does feel different from the late evenings to early parts of the night. Will we ever uncover the truth about these unholy hours? Only time will tell.
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hot topic
True Horror: Real life cases investigated by Dhaka Paranormal Society Rafee Tamjid
Mine In an old house in Mirpur, sometime in the early 1990’s, there lived a family of four; the father, mother, and two daughters; Rumana, and Rubana. The oldest daughter, Rumana would at times complain that she felt as if she was being watched and that an unknown man would always follow her. After numerous complaints, Rumana’s parents decided to take her to a psychiatrist, but the psychiatrist found nothing wrong. After a while everything became normal. Rumana stopped seeing this unknown man and also got back to her daily life. She started dating a boy named Arman. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. One night while Rumana was heading for bed everything changed. Rumana saw the unknown man again, this time inside her very house, in her very room, and this unknown man spoke to Rumana. He told her that she belonged to him, and nobody else, and if anybody tried to take Rumana away, there would be consequences. Rumana immediately ran out of her room crying. Her parents tried to console her, while she told them what she had seen and heard. That whole night the family barely slept, but come morning, everything was back to normal. This normality lasted to three years. Rumana and Arman’s relationship evolved and they decided to get engaged. The night before their engagement Rumana went to bed happy that the next day she would be engaged. The next morning, Rumana’s parents found her door locked from the inside. They knocked for hours, but nobody answered. Finally, they knocked down the door, and inside they found Rumana dead. She had slit her wrist, and wrote in her suicide letter that the unknown man had come back, and said she can’t be with anyone except him. Everyone was devastated, but most believed that Rumana must have had psychological problems, which led to her suicide. A few years went by and everything was normal once again, then one night Rubana the youngest and
now the only daughter of the family ran out of her room crying. When her parents approached, Rubana mentioned seeing an unknown man in her room who spoke to her and told her that she only belongs to him. Night terror One of our paranormal investigators recently took a trip to attend a wedding in Barisal. Since weddings in Barisal are huge and the entire extended family is invited, at times there is a shortage of sleeping space. Thus our investigator, with his cousin went to sleep at a neighbour’s house. The room that was arranged for them to sleep in at night was very hot and the fan barely worked. To try to make the ventilation system better the investigator’s cousin decided to open the window. In the process of doing so, he found Arabic writing on a piece of paper that was glued to the window in such a way that it prevented the window from being opened. His attempts to do so anyway, caused the paper to tear. That night while they both were sleeping, the investigator felt someone sitting on the bed. Suddenly he could not breathe or move. After a minor struggle, he opened his eyes, and what he saw scared him like he has never been scared before. Looking down at him, was an old woman with rotting flesh, her skin was falling of off her face. Right at that instant the cousin also woke up and saw the woman. They both screamed and ran out of the room, waking the neighbours. When the neighbours heard the full story, they didn’t seem surprised. One of them mentioned that the Arabic writing on the window was there for a reason, it was to keep bad spirits and entities out. By ripping the paper, they had taken away that shield of protection. After having this encounter the investigator did some research, and found out that the house was built in the early 1900’s, but was not able to find any evidence of an old creepy lady with rotting flesh visiting people in their sleep. photos: bigstock
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written in the stars
Brownfish and Co Broadcast yourself! Sounds familiar? Most of us usually spend a significant amount of time surfing through YouTube videos and songs. But how many of us have the passion to actually broadcast ourselves to entertain others. We present to you, Salman Muqtadir (aka Salmon the Brownfish), the famous “YouTuber” indulging his time/effort to entertain and inspire the Bangladeshi youth. Nusrat Naushin reels in the Brownfish this week
photo Courtesy
the truth is, being in a contract is like stabbing yourself, especially in Bangladesh How did “TheBrownFish” start? I always wanted to gain attention and I believe everybody loves attention. It might sound wrong but I find it perfectly normal. I wanted to become a guitarist and I became very popular in my college too. But soon I realised there are hundreds and thousands of people who are better at it than I am. I was nothing in front of them. I suffered from depression because I was scared of math and numbers (still am), I was horrible at sports and I had to leave music as well. I wanted to do something that no one else had done before, at least in Bangladesh. I called up my friends and told them I want to become a YouTuber. Some of them laughed and some agreed. We made our first video called “stuff Dhaka guys do” and it went viral. Right then I gained a lot of confidence and became very optimistic about it. The reason why I desperately wanted to gain fame was because I was bullied till I joined college. Growing up, were you always considered as the “joker” amongst your friends and relatives? No, not at home but yes, my mates would laugh at me because of my silly tiny-hair cut, my skinny body and thin
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mustache. I looked stupid and funny. I used to cry at Friday prayers wondering why God made me like this. How supportive is your family? My mom loves it when she sees me on TV, newspapers or when my fans recognise me in public. But my dad always makes a poker face. I don’t think he likes my work. Videos aren’t easy to create and upload, tell us a little about your production process. I think of a relevant topic and close my eyes and visualise totally random scenes. Anything that comes to my mind, I jot them down. I call my crew members and discuss the budget, costume, location, safety etc and then we fix a date for the shoot. We improvise the scripts on the spot depending on the location and characters. We usually start shooting in the morning until the evening and then edit at night. The following morning I upload it and then affix the kind of advertisements I want to show and in which countries. Finally I share it on Facebook. How do you pick themes for your videos?
I am a very observant person. I constantly focus on everything that’s happening around me. If I find something interesting then I believe there are more people like me who would be interested in it. Then I go ahead and make a video on it.
This is something that I have to face every month. If I say no to sign a contract, the people at the agencies get really angry because they think I’m getting bossy. But the truth is, being in a contract is like stabbing yourself, especially in Bangladesh.
Which of the “TheBrownFish” videos are your favourites? Why? I don’t watch my own videos after I upload them. I don’t know why. But my most successful videos are “Bengali couples,” “Funny politicians,” “Awkward Bollywood dance.” and “Worst Bengali host.”
You have gained fame and popularity across social networks. Any tricks that you can share with us? Honestly speaking, I don’t know exactly how it all happened but it is all just a blessing for me. Instead of following tips and tricks, be yourself and find out what you are good at.
Several others have made appearances in your videos. How do you decide who comes on? I never bring anyone new into my videos. Either they are my friends,or I make a friend before making the video. First of all, I need to know if the person is doing justice to my character. Secondly, if he or she is a friend in real life, the chemistry looks way more realistic in front of the camera and it’s a lot of fun to work then.
Finally, what does the future look like for you and “TheBrownFish?” Well right now my primary aim is to change the way people think. The more powerful my channel becomes, the easier I can deliver my messages to people (Be Positive, Spread Love, Don’t judge). Brownfish is just a made up character. It doesn’t have a future. But for me, I want to get a decent job within the next few years and continue YouTubing as a hobby and deliver my messages to the people.n
What is the biggest obstacle you’ve ever had to face?
Fiction
you write it ................................................................................................................... tmag
Flashback
Comic strip
non Fiction
I remember a swing-set situated in the middle of the grassy backyard. I remember the soft creaking noises the swings made when we rode on them. I remember pointing our toes so we could touch the leaves of the mango tree some 10 feet above the ground. We thought we ruled the world with our hair flying back and forth. We thought we knew everything when the cold winter air licked our cheeks. We didn’t. I remember wide grins and little pigtails. I remember playing
with plastic stoves and baking plastic cookies. I remember playing dress-up with our dolls and cutting their hair, not knowing it’d never grow back. I remember playing teacher while you were playing student. We didn’t follow the norm, we taught each other things; we taught each other how to conquer the world. Ma used to have to force you to take baths while I sat on the bed secretly hoping you’d ask, “Can I take a bubble bath with Apajaan?” Remember when we used to race our tricycles around the house? Remember when we used to play hide and seek for hours and hours at a stretch? Remember when everything was timeless? I remember taking Ma’s sweater and fitting the both of us in it while watching the sunset on chilly days. I remember you asking, “Apajaan, can I take some of the sunlight? It’s so pretty.” Darling girl, little did you know that you already had enough sunlight to radiate warmth to anyone around you. I remember you wearing bunny ears for your sixth birthday party rather than a princess crown. I remember
you hiding away in the closet that day thinking everyone would laugh at you. I remember the look of surprise on your face when everyone told you how cute you looked. I remember your little doodles of flowers with smiling faces and butterflies with wings as large as your heart. I remember all the napkin-corner drawings and the white walls filled with colours. I remember telling you to be an artist when you grew up. I remember us sitting on the hospital bed together thanking God that we got to miss finals. I remember our whispered voices when we heard Ma or Baba crying outside the room. I remember telling you everything was going to be all right. I’m sorry I couldn’t stay around. I’m sorry I wasn’t stronger. I’m sorry I couldn’t watch you grow up. I’m sorry you have no one to call Apajaan anymore. I think about you everyday; I think about what your life is like and how you plan to conquer the world. I know I told you it’s us against the world, but you’re strong enough to do it on your own. I know it. Zubaida Rahman
Cinnamon vapour The cinnamon flavoured incense burned in one corner of the room and she in the other. The red and orange batik bedspread was strewn with objects of different sizes- a china cup with the blue floral pattern with a broken handle, an African comb with one broken arm, a moth eaten journal inside which ants had located the dried roses from her old Islington garden, an Ikea cappuccino frother that old cinema tickets of which the writing had faded and assorted wine bottle corks1994,2001, 1998. Damaged. Broken. Consumed. The view through the window provided no relief from looking at these random remnants of a kind of life in neverland. It was strangely pixelated by the newly
installed aluminum grill with the naive promise of protection from thieving worlds. Abida Parveen’s husky voice battled it out with the 12 year old ceiling fan’s moans of fatigue: “If the destination is nowhere in sight, take pleasure in the quest … If union is impossible, make do with desire.” Faiz was talking out of his behind, much like Shakespeare and believable only when accompanied by wafts of smoke … for effect. The lethargy and fantasy in the air lay thick and tangible, having jumped straight out
of the frontispiece of Orientalism. She began to walk in her head towards an end, a resolution. What was to become of her pieces? Could they come together as a story, something real? Or were they to be tossed to be picked up someone else? Qarshi
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book Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Dracula, in pop culture, is the name of a fearsome vampire. The name often appearing in various movies, comic books, video games etc. A name so popular that sometimes it is used as a synonym for vampire among the people living in Dhaka. But what started it all? Dating back to 1897, Dracula and his story was first published by Bram Stoker as a novel. Despite being a story from the Victorian era, Bram Stoker’s writing style and storytelling abilities makes Dracula feel much like a modern day horror novel. The story, told through a collection of personal journal entries and letters, creates the illusion of a “found footage,” similar to modern day horror films; Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. The novel begins with Jonathan Harker, a solicitor acting as an estate agent, for Count Dracula, a foreign client from Transylvania who wishes to move to England. From the start of his journey, Jonathan is warned by the locals that Dracula is not someone you want to meet after dark. However, Harker stays at Castle Dracula and he slowly starts to realise that his host isn’t really a human and that the locals weren’t being paranoid when they warned him against his journey. Travelling back to a time when vampires were villains and didn’t glitter under the sun; Dracula is a novel that touches topics such as love, religion, savagery, xenophobia, to name just a few; leaving you with an aftertaste that’ll keep you thinking about the story for days to come. If you’re familiar with the concept of Dracula only through pop culture and media, then Bram Stoker’s little demon will help you immerse even deeper into the world of the nosferatu. So if you’re a fan of the concept of vampires, Dracula is definitely a must read. Shah Nahian
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10 tmag ........................................................................................................................... stereo The Good sheet
THIS WEEK’S BESt
Artist Coldplay Song Cemeteries of London Capo 1 D5 D5/C D5 At night they would go walking till the break in the day D5 D5/C D5 The morning is for sleeping D5 D5/C D5 Through the dark streets they go searching to see God in their own way D5 D5/C D5 Save the nighttime for you weeping D5 Your weeping
Spotlight
Dollhouse
F C Dm Singing la la la la la la lay F Am Dm And the night over London hey Dm F Am Dm So we rode down to the river where the toiling ghosts spring Dm F Am For their curses to be broken Dm F Am Dm We’ll go underneath the arches where the witches are in the sea Dm F Am There are ghost towns in the ocean Dm The ocean F C Dm Singing la la la la la la lay F Am Dm And the night over London hey
Track listing • • • •
TOP
Creepy 10 Songs
1.
Cripple and Starfish Antony and the Johnsons
2.
Mermaid Sashimi Juan Sons
3.
Ami je tomar OST Bhool Bhulaiya
4.
Ghost Song Max Ablitzer
5. Dushshapno Poraho 6.
Come to Daddy Aphex Twin
7. Der Vampyre Marschner 8. Isle of the dead Rachmaninov 9.
Ami je adhar er bondini Hoimonti Shukla
10. Everyday is Halloween Ministry
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The 19 year old singer, Melanie Martinez, might not have made it to the finals of the American television singing competition, The Voice, but she might become the show’s first real breakout star. The photography student known for her two toned hairstyle, has a sound that can be vaguely compared to Lana Del Rey and the Grammy winning prodigy, Lorde. Despite the creepy melodies from the songs, in combination with Melanie’s soothing voice, it has a captivating effect on its listeners. Her first debut and outrageously popular track released earlier this year, Dollhouse, is easily the strongest track from the EPwhere she sings about a picture perfect family that is much troubled under the surface. However, the
rest of the tracks also carry the same haunting and eerie elements that gave “Dollhouse” that unique touch. The theme for the EP, starting with the music video to the lyrics and even the cover art has an almost gothic touch to it. It proves to be haunting yet soothing, almost as if you can find some form of peace within the darkness. However, the “it” factor that makes Melanie’s music so special is the depth of her melodies and lyrics. Every song has layers, exploring some very dark issues demonstrating that she is far too mature for her age. During an interview with Newsday, an American daily newspaper, “Everything in my life is based on my childhood,” she added, laughing about her diet of mainly grilled cheese, chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese and fries. “It’s just my personality.”
Dollhouse Carousel Dead to Me Bittersweet Tragedy
But in reality, it goes much deeper than that. Her combination of an artsy personality, distinctive vocals and strong musicianship had already attracted enough attention to land her all the way to the Top 6 in the third season of “The Voice,” even before graduating from high school. Now focusing full time on her artistic endeavours and musical career, she’s finally ready to share her talent with the world. From the very first listen, the songs are very easy to get into; leaving an aftertaste that can keep you humming the music once you’re done listening to it. If you’re in the mood for some haunting, yet meaningful music this Halloween, addition of Dollhouse EP to your playlist is sure to spice things up for the better. Shah Nahian
playroom ....................................................................................................................... tmag
Gadget
Understanding Memory Most gadgets or devices come with preloaded storage of their own so you can start using it right away without having to put in any additional storage. However, after some moderate use you’d find yourself out of memory to put that new album that you just (hopefully) bought. Most devices these days use the standard SD or micro SD card so one piece of the cake has been cut out for you. Now all you have to do is decide the volume of the storage you need and it’s all done. Right? WRONG! Granted the amount of storage volume available is important, but equally important is the “class” of the memory card you decide to put into your device. You’ll notice that a small number enclosed within an almost
movie
circle right beside the storage size, that is the “class” of your memory card. “Class” defines the writing speed of the memory card; simply put, the higher the class of the memory card, the faster data can be written on it. Unless you are using a very old gadget or non-smart phone, a class 2 memory card would hardly be of any use. So, your best bet with most devices would be a class 4 or class 6 memory. If you are using a DSLR that takes a lot of enormous sized pictures, you should opt for a class 10 memory card. Memory cards are typically available in most gadget selling shops but if you don’t want to be cheated, you should stick to buying it from a known brand vendor or importer. ASM FOYSAL
What a doll wants “I like your dolls,” whispers a creepy voice to the distressed pregnant Mia, and the movie starts off on an eerie note. Set in 1969, Annabelle shows a satanic cult couple, disciples of the Ram, trying to attack Mia and John Gordon after killing their neighbours. The police arrive just in time when the female disciple kills herself. Her blood falls into the eyes of Mia’s new doll - our demonic Annabelle. That is said to be the scariest yokes one has ever seen. From then on the movies horror rises and falls, with deafening sound effects, creaking floors, and mysterious hand written messages all over the walls. Yet again, we see an “evil doll” syndrome, which is said be sealed in the Warrens’ museum and kept in check by a priest just so all is good in the hood. It’s almost laughable
though when Mia decides to keep the doll in the nursery even after all the hocus pocus that’s been going on in the house, and that too with her new born child. Also, it’s inexplicable why she likes collecting scary looking dolls and adorns her nursery with them. There are some scares that will have you jump off of the bed or grab your friend beside you, but it couldn’t do justice as a prequel to The Conjuring’s brilliant cinematography and simple elements of horror. Basically, the movie has what you get from most horror flicks; creaking floors, an ugly doll, white robed figures and a priest that is supposed to save the day. Not the best of its kind, but definitely a movie to enjoy for some spooky fun.
they are recruited to join the local carnie freakshow. The blood starts to flow less than half way into the first episode and cliques begin to form within the characters of the show, as we begin to get comfortable with the characters and their struggle in a failing business with a murderous clown on the loose. The episodes so far have been interspersed with the usual American Horror Story thrill, as we experience a few murders every now and then to keep the blood pumping. The creators of the show remember how to create, and the
atmosphere of the show is stunning. Jump-scares are few and far between, and the suspense is a lot more cerebral this time around. The characters fit perfectly, and are also completely insane. The suspense will have you on the edge of your kedara and the killer clown will make you go fetal. While the clown’s role, beyond the “horror quota” is not apparent to us, the rest of the plot is a lot more coherent. So this season holds a greater promise than at least the first two. This one is not to be missed!
Natasha Rahman
TV
Quit clowning around! If clowns are among your biggest fears, you’re in for a treat with the latest season of American Horror Story. The creators of the series bring you yet another stylised tale of horror, this time set in 1950s Florida. The latest season, titled “Freakshow,” follows the story of Fraulein Elsa’s Cabinet of Curiosities, a group of carnies with strange physical characteristics and deformations. We see the grimy politics behind carnie life, and the trials and tribulations of being a “freak” in the world of 1950s America, a time where “politically correct” and tolerant folk were a rare commodity. A ghastly murder at the residence of our two headed freaks Bette and Dot start off the story, as
Naveed Choudhury
11
game
I AM HERE! “I hear footsteps. Oh my God! It’s getting closer! No! Please don’t! HEL…” Mascots can be extremely effective when it comes to promoting a family oriented establishment. Most people and children, generally love them as we all know there is a living sweaty human breathing underneath that fluffy exterior. Now, what if there was nothing but a soulless and badly programmed robot that just wants to toss the first person it finds into one of these empty suits. That is where “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” an indie point-and-click survival horror game comes in. Developed by Scott Cawthon, the game’s set in a fictitious pizzeria called Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. In a nutshell, you, the player, are a night guard defending yourself from malfunctioning animatronics/ mascots. You do this by tracking their movements throughout the establishment via security cameras. However, you only have enough electricity to keep your desk light and security cameras running between 12am and 6am. This is of course if you feel secure and safe enough to leave the metallic doors open for you to lock down when you see any threats. However, this doesn’t even come close to explaining how nervewracking the experience actually is. And you have to do this for five nights in a row. You have to flit around using the cameras and check if all the animatronics are in their designated places. Your problems begin when one of them starts moving. One may think that keeping the lights on and doors locked is a safe option. Well it isn’t, since doing that will drain the battery bar on your screen in as quickly as 20 seconds, leaving you all alone in the dark to die. In this game survival is a matter of preservation, timing and observation. Though there is more that this writer can say about the game. The desolate and derelict pizzeria it is set in, it goes without saying, is a horrifying event that needs to be experienced firsthand. Oh my God! The fox is missing… fuad m hossain
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12 tmag
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Take TMAG’s halloween QUIZ Now!
WHICH HALLOWEEN MONSTER ARE YOU?
Find out which gruesome Halloween monster you are meant to be by taking this quick quiz Question 1 If you are invited to a friend’s party, you would 1. Go with a group of friends and stay together during the party 2. Go alone and try to enjoy without causing much trouble 3. Be excited, and look forward to having a great time with friends 4. Pull some crazy pranks on your friends and create a ruckus 5. Not go at all Question 2 In your free time, you like to 1. Explore scary and supposedly haunted destinations at night 2. Learn and read about ancient myths and stories 3. Practice your mad magic skills 4. Device new pranks to pull on your friends 5. Retreat into your own little world, and steer clear of the acquaintance of others as much as possible Question 3 In times of disagreement, you 1. Force others to follow what you say, because you are the “alpha” of your group 2. Hypnotise others into believing that
3. 4. 5.
you are correct Try to understand everyone’s point of view and reach a consensus Have a mini fight with your friends until someone surrenders Accuse others of their mistakes and make them feel guilty
Question 4 You’re known for 1. Your frequent and sudden bizarre behaviour and unprovoked rage 2. Your inhumane strength 3. A cheerful and lovable character 4. Your infamous devilish schemes and your shrewd character 5. Your quiet, reclusive nature Question 5 You are secretly drawn to 1. Cutting up biological specimens and experiment with their blood 2. Night travels. You hate going out during daytime 3. Collecting stones and rocks, visiting woods and lakes, loving animals, reading tarot cards, astrology, runes etc 4. Earning money, saving and counting money, but just not spending money 5. Death
Mostly 1’s A werewolf. You believe in the strength of staying in packs, and are known to display aggression and prefer doing things nocturnally. Mostly 2’s A vampire. You deceive and trick, dislike daytime outings because you think sunlight makes your skin sting, and you have the strength of 20 men! Mostly 3’s A witch. You love nature and enjoy playing with animals and collecting earthy items and believe in magic. Mostly 4’s A goblin. You are shrewd and hate sharing. You love to pull pranks on others, but hate being tricked yourself. Mostly 5’s A demon. You are a free soul and create your own rules. You are prone to lying and storytelling and have a deceptive nature.
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Listology
Five signs your friend is a vampire This Halloween, little awkward habits of your close ones may come into a new perspective. Can they be the monsters of your worst nightmares? Think about it, he is never there when the sun is up! She told you that the stains on her shirt were strawberry sauce. This time, TMAG asks you: “How sure you are that your friend is a not a vampire?” Blood for thought... Rad Sharar
Shadow lines It’s a hot day. The weather’s beautiful outside. But your little pal here would rather sit in the shadows with her homework. There’s no point in asking her to play for the handball team, she’s always out sick during trips anyway. A bit too much of a coincidence don’t you think?
Steaking it rare During a dinner outing, you never notice him eat. He likes his steaks rare, with an extra splash of steak “juice.” Always quiet, he’s always well...not hungry at all. He doesn’t munch at school and hates the bright cafeteria.
Winging it! How often have you seen your bestie arrive at school? She seems to magically appear out of nowhere at just the right time. Oh please! I’ve seen her getting out of her house last winter! Well, if she’s riding when the suns hiding, it all starts to add up.
Feeble scribbles “Please be careful with that pencil!” Who says that? A vampire, that’s who. Playing around with dangerous little wooden steaks have never really been a recreational sport for our fanged friends. Use a pen, stay safe.
Master cleanse Every once a while, he starts to look like a cut-out from Cosmopolitan while resembling a drunken Jack-Sparrow on a rum diet during others. What’s the catch? Blood isn’t very available in every departmental store nowadays. Either that or his supplies come in after business hours. Maybe his monthly beauty secret is a good, long bath while playing with a bully’s severed head. Think about it, when your neck starts to get better. It’s been aching for a while now...
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