Rendezvous
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amongst li can be counted Pakistani of d the new bree s the ability ha ho w rs designe energy by to infuse a fresh ni aesthetta kis combining Pa sensibilities. ics with modern much by an He is defined as aftsmanship cr of astute sense e ability to and has shown th triguing garmake the most in th is keeping ng ments. His stre dition and the essence of tra d presenting it reinterpreting an men. for the urban wo g from tin ua ad After gr of Fashion te itu st In n Pakista 06 with 20 Design (PIFD) in Couture in ee gr an honours de r the Best and an award fo institute, Ali Collection at the ction at the lle co launched his ilk Fashion debut PFDC Suns 2010 last Week in February his position d year which seale s in the ar st g in ris as one of industry. Pakistani fashion r has ne This young desig since he er ev es lin made head t bu couture showcased his de st Romance” collection “The Lo bright colour which reflected n, the napalette of Pakista rnivals and tion of colours, ca llection at co s Hi celebrations. nsilk Fashion the 2nd PFDC Su r 2010 Week in Novembe nix” was inoe Ph entitled “The wer coloured spired from the flo tage dullness heritage and vin llishments of be of the gold em Sindh, one of in be the Kohli tri ected areas. the worst flood aff ion Crimlle His recent co ct titled en n ha es son by Ali Xe ored av de en x” do ra “The Pa
April 24, 2011 Sunday Plus
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Rendezvous
to encapsulate the spirit, diversity and contrasts of fashion as evident on the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week platform. Paradox as Ali explained is a combination of two extremes which he dutifully attained. Masterful of creating a harmony between traditional and the avant-garde style, Ali sent out an extravagant collection of elaborately 10 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
crafted chaddars, digital printed saris in silk plus nets, dresses and some quirky yet doable accessories. With his liaison as the creative director of Crimson design house, Ali is lending his fashion panache to the luxe label. What makes his collaboration with Crimson click is that whilst retaining his personal styles. He has brought his own fresh perspective on the label. His designs are hard to miss-bright pop of colour and playful parrots and flower motifs- they inspire deep sartorial lust. Not afraid to experiment, Ali’s bridal collections are meant for the modern bride of today. His usage of unconventional embellishment techniques
in eclectic palettes of emerald green, deep maroon with a fuse of tradition in contemporary cuts are meant for the free-spirited and distinctive bride. His collections usually have a quirky and whimsical feel to it. Mystic yet restrained, ornate yet elegant, Ali’s exquisitely constructed dresses lend a theatrical eclecticism. Ali is a true runway performer. Each piece of his tells its own unique story. In a tête-à-tête with the Sunday Plus, this young designer spills some of his design secret, his latest collaboration with Crimson and his personal favourites. Q: Your design philosophy… Ali Xeeshan: My design philosophy
Rendezvous
is about working with conventional materials and using them to create unorthodox aesthetics and in that way creating a simple harmony between the traditional and the avant-garde. Q: Why have you decided to collaborate with Crimsons? Ali: Quite honestly one should know his weakness and strength. I am good with creative department. I would call myself more of an artist and to make your label as a brand you need to have more abilities like accounts to marketing to production and thousand other dimensions. May be that was the reason crimsons was right idea to merge with. Q: What are the current trends in fashion in terms of colours, cuts, silhouettes, fabrics? Ali: Since internationally economy is lifting up and a lot of international designers are bringing bright colours and we like it or not we are somehow west followers. So you would see lot of bright colours happening in Pakistani fashion scene. Q: What dose easy chic mean to you? Ali: Easy chic would be something which is comfortable yet up to high street fashion Q: What dose success mean to you? Ali: Quite honestly success is just another phase of my life. I don’t want to consider it more than that and make eleventh sky my residence. Q: Who is your favourite designer international and local? Ali: Internationally it has to be Vivienne Westwood and locally it can not be any body else but Kamiar Rokni. Q: Your day starts with… Ali: With random things. First day it can be coffee, second day it can be call from my manager and third day it can be my assistants call and saying its 1’0 clock. Q: You are addicted to… Ali: I don’t want to answer this question. Q: Your dream destination… Ali: This must be clichéd but Paris. Q: An unknown fact about your self… Ali: I can easily be suicidal for just absolutely nothing Q: One thing you would like to change about yourself… 12 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
Ali: (laughs) Just one thing!!! Q: Up for grabs on your shopping list? Ali: I told you I am so unpredictable it puts me in shock sometime so this question is not for me. Q: The thing I treasure most from my wardrobe is? Ali: The thing I treasure most are my fathers’ vintage frame of sunshades which he used to wear during 60s and 70s. I saw them and thought they are so hip and so in fashion now. Q: A must have for you… Ali: My Blackberry Q: Style statement… Ali: Originality is something which always is a statement Q: Style icon… Ali: I would say Frieha Altaf because of her diversified sense of styling, and her strong persona. Q: Celebrities you would love to dress… Ali: David Beckham. Q: Three must haves in any ones closet?? Ali: An interesting range of accessories, scarf and shoes and at least one pair by Ali Xeeshan. Q: Who do you think is the most over rated designer?? Ali: Louis Vuitton. Q: Personal strengths… Ali: My imagination and now Crimson Q: Your first fashion creation… Ali: My tota (parrot) Q: Personal weaknesses… Ali: I take too much time to design things in my mind; I sleep on ideas for bit to long so in result I am left with less time for execution. Q: Your journey so far… Ali: Is not that bad Q: A city that inspires you the most… Ali: Of course Lahore. Q: Most prized possession… Ali: My self respect Q: The best thing about being a Pakistani… Ali: Is that you can pee on the road (laughs) Q: One thing I would change about Pakistan is… Ali: I love it as it is.
Interview
Just a vivacious girl
Studying from the prestigious National College of Arts, Ayesha Omar has always flaunted her acting and showman skills on various platforms. Having a background of miniature, painting and photography she has not only tabbed into the TV arena but also tried her luck with modelling and singing. As a student in Collage Jeans to her performance in Bulbulay, she has rightfully gauged into the mainstream TV industry. She has to her credits famous plays and serials like Kaisa Yeh Junoon, Roza Keh Rozay, Dolly Ki Aye Gi Baraat, Ladies Park, Bulbulay, Hot Chocolate, and Coke Cricket Junoon. During my coffee session with Ayesha, I found her to be straightforward and candid. Muttahir: Was Ayesha as a child, fussy, loving, naughty, bold or shy? Ayesha: Well I was full of energy and very curious, wanting to know everything and had a say on everything. I was into a lot of extra-curricular activities but, despite that was also a brilliant student. M: Were you interested in creative arts right from your childhood? What were your hobbies in school life? A: Yes. I was extremely fortunate to have studied in a school which offered a lot of extra-curricular activities, so I tried my efforts successfully in the fields of singing, dancing, theatre, arts and crafts, swimming and sports as a child. My mother also made sure that we did everything which is important for a healthy childhood. Even throughout my collage phase, I was doing all sorts of things like mime, theatre, puppetry, singing and all, as it was an arts collage. I really owe a lot to my institution because it developed and finished my raw talent and inherent qualities. M: When did you realise that you could be a model or an actress or have potential for this? A: I was acting on stage throughout my school and collage life and also hosted a kids interview based show when I was very young. So, it was nothing new. I was getting a lot of acting offers while in collage but it was only after graduating from collage that I took up all the offers and got into acting professionally. The journey started and went on and on. M: We often use the term entertainment or TV Industry. Do you really see TV Pro-
ductions as an industry in our country? Are you satisfied with the co-operation of the state department to promote this field as a full -fledged industry? A: Yes it can definitely be an industry, but, keeping in view the prevalent situation, we can not dub it as one in its true perspective. It is not being treated as an industry and the state department do not cooperate or support it at all. It is the responsibility of the whole society and especially the art and cultural spheres to give the industry its proper status. M: Do you think that fashion designing, along with its related fields like fashion photography, modelling and catwalks, can contribute in creating employment opportunities in the country? A: Of course, it does and can contribute even further. So many people are employed in this industry like makeup artists, designers, set designers, lighting and audio crew, caterers and transporters. Apart from permanent jobs, such circles provide daily-based jobs by arranging continuous functions and events. M: You have done a lot of plays. Which one do you most admire? A: I have sweet memories associated with all my projects, but, I can say my most favourite ones are “Bulbulay” and “Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat”. M: If you had not been an actress, what would have you been? A: I would definitely have been a professional painter or singer. M: Do you think our TV dramas can develop and promote socio-moral values
amongst masses and educate them to be good and useful citizens and Muslims? A: Yes of course, media is the most influential and powerful source of awareness and education. It always covers the whole society with all the classes and segments. Socio-moral values and lessons about evil and virtue can be transferred to the new generations’ minds with the help of plays, films, documentaries and other such ventures. M: Why do our women have craze for Indian dramas? Is there any quality vacuum in our entertainment productions? A: Well I don’t know. I can’t stand Indian soaps. I like some Bollywood films, but not dramas. I think our women love the glamour and the Saas-Bahu conspiracies and melodramas because they can relate that to their own lives at home. But, our productions are getting better now, and going back to the old style of drama seen here. M: What message or advice do you want to convey to the readers? A: There are no shortcuts in life. You have to work hard and give your best in everything and never even think to compromise on your principles and moral values. You must never let people take you for a ride and put up with any sort of harassment. At the end, I must categorically say, “Where there is a will there is definitely a way”. One must be very clear about his/her goals and must run after that with firm conviction and restless struggle.
April 24, 2011 Sunday Plus 15
hERITAGE
Heritage T at risk
he Kashmiri Gate is one of the thirteen gates of Walled City of Lahore. It is so named because it faces the direction of Kashmir. Inside there is a shopping area and market that is called “Kashmiri Bazaar� and a girls’ college. This college, built upon an old haveli belonging to a shah, is a beautiful example of Mughal architecture. Like all the other gates this heritage monument is also at risk. While there is no conservation effort going on the gate is being used advertisement purposes and political sloganeering. It is responsibility of the City District Government that this practice should stop. But alas preserving the heritage has never been a priority with the rulers. It is time for the civil society to wake up to salvage what is left of our rich cultural heritage.
16 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
Courtesy: Stoneage
interview
In 2005, Jimmy formed a ballad and funk lead band, Tansen, being the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist he performed for many , but his most cherish gigs were when he performed for the handicapped and disabled in 2006. Since 2009, Jimmy has rocked out his audience at Lahore’s Gunsmoke where he has performed some smashing covers and original songs live every Friday and Saturday night. With his instrument of choice, an acoustic guitar, this enthusiastic and devoted musician has spent over half a decade in refining his art and musical skills leading him to record and shoot his debut single ‘Pehla Pyar’ at LJP Studio in Karachi. Released in February 2011, the song has been composed and written by Jimmy himself and features industry stalwarts such as guitarist Omran “Momo” Shafique and the groovy Kamran “Mannu” Zafar on bass. Sung in Urdu, 20 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
both the song and the video are inspired by a person’s journey through his first love following a flashback sequence ideology. Jimmy is currently putting together original material for an EP slated for a 2011-12 release. We at Sunday Plus got an opportunity to talk to this budding talent and how he got into the music industry. Q-What is your personal style of music, what is Jimmy Khan’s music? Jimmy Khan: My music at the moment is simple, light, easy on the ears and fun. Something that people can relate to and sing along. Q-What motivates you to play this kind of music? Jimmy: My motivation lies in giving people the ‘get away’ they need from the realities of life! Q-What was the inspiration behind “Pehla Pyar”?
Jimmy: The feel of falling in love for the first time, the shyness, the ‘cute- meet’ reference of it and most importantly the emotions behind the whole love mantra, hence the very title of the song. Q-Who is your role model in the music world? Jimmy: It’s a list you cannot pen down, too many to pick from, but loving John Mayer these days. Q-You had the likes of Ali Zafar and Mekaal Hasan in your debut performance; do you feel baggage of expectations from them? Jimmy: I believe it is extremely hard to please such big mainstream artists as they have their own experience driven ideas and genres of music! If nothing else I just hope I don’t disappoint them and that I show that their support is hopefully justified. Q-Is it easy for a new comer to sustain in the ever crumbling economy and music industry? Jimmy: I have been doing music professionally between 3 - 4 years and have somehow managed to sustain myself and hopefully with this professional launch, will be able to do so even more beyond the basic level. The music industry has developed over the years and I feel it will continue to grow in turn enabling musicians to grow, the corporate synergy with music is also important for the industry in terms of financial growth. Q-If you were to do a duet, who would you choose and why? Jimmy: If only my sister would stop interacting with her computer so much and start singing again, she’d be the first I’d want to do a duet with. She has an incredible voice and needs to get back to practice. Q-This is just the beginning of your career, where do see for yourself in the future? Jimmy: I never know what to say when someone asks me this question as the response of my listeners will define my future. Q-Have you ever thought ‘this is what life was made for’? Jimmy: The reason I got into this line of work is only because I thought to myself ‘maybe this is it, maybe this is what I’m supposed to do in life’. At times there’s a creeping element of doubt but I have to continue to produce more and more songs to eliminate that doubt and prove to myself that I can do this.
OBITUARY
By Tahir Naseer Dogar
The men that they were Leaving a big void in the world of art and comedy in Pakistan, Mastana and Babu Baral passed away last week. Hundreds of thousands of their fans were shocked to hear the news of their death. Both the comedians crowned the stage drama with innovations and news techniques. They ruled the roost with their remarkable performances, writing and direction for over three decades. Their job was the most difficult one – making people laugh. They were best at doing it. Being top professionals they would have the people rolling in laughter as long as they stayed on the stage. 22 SuNday Plus April 24 , 2011
Their relatives, colleagues, and fans all over the world are sad over the death of their heroes who bravely fought the fatal diseases for years. On April 11 Mastana died of Hepatitis-C in Bahawal Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur. Just five days later Babbu Baral also passed away. He was admitted to the hospital 20 days before his death, in a critical condition as, according to doctors, his liver had become 80 percent dysfunctional. His family appealed to the government and the philanthropists to extend financial help but only Rs 200,000 to Rs 300,000 were received as ‘charity’. As he appealed on a private news channel, people used various channels such as Facebook and other social networking sites to raise funds (Rs 8.5 million) for his treatment but to no avail. Mastana is survived by a widow and a son, Saad Hasan, a Hafiz-i-Quran. His family also complained of lack of cooperation on the part of the government. The real name of Mustana was Murtaza Hasan. Babbu Baral’s real name is Ayub Akhtar. Zahid Hasan Khan starred Suhail Ahmad Mastana, Babbu Baral, Ashraf Rahi in the play “Pukhay Huth Btaira” in 1978. Mastana was embroiderer before joining the field of theatre. He moved to Lahore and got his first-break when he performed in ‘Visa Passport’ staged at the Open Air Theatre, Bagh-i-Jinnah.
OBITUARY
During his over 30-year career, the matchless comedian’s popular stage plays include, ‘Ashiqo Gham Na Kero’, ‘Bashira in Trouble’, ‘Shabash Begum,’ ‘Double Swari’ ‘Howay’, ‘Hero-99’ etc. His popularity touched a new height with ‘Kotha’ a drama that was also written and directed by him. His career ended with a sorry story when Mastana left for Bahawalpur after quitting the field in 2004 when a policeman slapped him in public during a “raid as part of crackdown on dancers” at Naz Theatre. Greatly disturbed on being beaten in public by a cop he left showbiz for good. He started a utility shop ‘Mastana Karyana Store’. Most people are of the view that though the comedy icon passed away this year but in fact he died in 2004 when the policeman slapped him in public. Zahid Hasan Khan talking to this scribe said both the actors started his venture. “Babbu Baral came to Lahore in late 70s and after three years he went to Rawalpindi where he stayed with Almas Bobby. He worked with the eunuch band performing at the weddings. “Later, Babbu stayed with versatile artist Sadu Shah Koti. Then again, he came to Lahore and his story of success begun when he did various roles in super hit stage plays, including ‘Bevi No 1’, ‘Yarah Nal Baharan,’ ‘Lotay Zero Metre’ etc. But, he wrote and directed ‘Shartiya Mithay’ that set a record, giving him fame and earning that led him to produce the film with the same name,” Khan explained. “Mastana, Babbu Baral and Saleemul Hasan were the producers of the film. The film bombed at the box office. It caused them huge loss. The comedians made a comeback on the stage. Mastana’s and Babu Baral pair was again a super hit. They also played roles in TV serials and films. ‘Mohabbatan Sachiyan Nay’ was the last films wherein Babbu performed. He is survived by two widows, a daughter and a son. “In the case of Babu Baral, the Punjab government left no stone unturned but he was a careless man as he was diagnosed diabetic but never bothered to take precautions,” said Khan He was admitted to Sharif Medical Complex for chronic diabetes, kidney failure and other medical complexities. Babbu had all five fingers of his right foot amputated. Legendary comedian and stage artist Khalid Abbas Dar said the real loss is for the families of the deceased who have to continue their existence without their beloved. Javed Koddu has called upon the govern-
ment to set up an organisation for the welfare of ‘deserving’ artists as, according to him, they are assets of the state. “When an artiste is caught by a fatal disease, the government just gives a cheque to get publicity. Are we beggars? No we are ambassadors of state representing Pakistan abroad. We have acted in hundreds of plays staged abroad,” he averred. “There is need to activate organisations such as Punjab Art Council. There exists no record about the artists. How can you scrutinise which are the deserving artistes. “There is only media that highlights the problems of showbiz people that makes the government come in action and we got some assistance,” Koddu concluded. In their deaths the Pakistani commercial
healer in the play ‘Man Mein Toon Maojood’ which was written and directed by Ayoub Gaad. Ayoub Gaad talking to this scribe said Sariyo was a versatile artiste and a humble person. He criticised the Sindh culture department for being unsympathetic towards the artistes. “The government spends a huge amount of money on the treatment of its MPAs, but always fails to respond when it comes to the treatment of ailing artistes,” Gaad was of the view. Muhammad Ali Pathan, an ailing short story writer and playwright, said that Sariyo had played leading roles in 10 TV plays. “He was a nice person and a versatile artiste with progressive approach. The department of culture is responsible for his death,” he said.
theatre has lost two legends. Another factor, according to his close aides, was his addiction to hash. However, his family members said that he had stopped taking all types of narcotics. The addiction among the artistes is an open secret. They must leave this practice for the welfare of their families. Earlier on April 8, stage and television artiste Abdul Hussain Sariyo died after a protracted illness in Karachi. Born on Sept 17, 1968, in Gund Sharif village on the outskirts of Badah town, Sariyo joined the theatre world in 1985 from a stage drama ‘Manzil’ and till death appeared in about 240 stage dramas and TV plays. Graduating from Shah Abdul Latif University, he wrote more than 25 stage and TV dramas. He first appeared in TV play ‘Inzargah’ written and directed by Ayoub Gaad and his last play was ‘Nazo’. He has left behind his widow, one son and three daughters to mourn. He performed the difficult role of a fake spiritual
On March 30 theatre actor and writer Liquat Soldier died of a cardiac arrest when he watching and commentating in his typical style on the semi-final of World Cup 2011 between Pakistan and India on TV . Liaquat Soldier made a famous comedic pair with Shahzad Raza on Karachi’s commercial stage. It was in 1973 that he joined showbiz and ever since wrote and acted in hundreds of plays. All is not well in our entertainment industry. It is time the civil society and the state institutions take up real issues that are destroying the very fabric of our society. The institutions that are supposed to look after the artistes’ welfare are not doing their job properly. There is need to revamp them for better results. There is also need to set up artistes’ welfare fund. We need to take a fresh start in the right direction straight away otherwise we will continue to lose talent. April 24, 2011 Suday Plus 23
TECH
GADGET ADVISOR 3DS by Nintendo The Nintendo 3D comes up with 2 outward lenses and 1 inward lense for taking pictures and it is compatible with 3D graphics sans glasses. With outward lens you can take picture of any person and at the same instant the user’s picture can be taken with the inward lens. It is possible to combine two images and produce a single one. Users cartoon avatars automatically created by 3DS. It also enables users of 2DS for communication. With the help of tag mode, you are able to get the details of another user of 3DS, like you can come to know about the games he or she played last.
BlackBerry PlayBook BlackBerry PlayBook isn’t just the third major tablet platform to launch, or the first one to deeply poke at figuring out why 7-inch tablets should exist—it’s literally the future of BlackBerry, since the QNX-based OS is going to be the gooey software heart of BlackBerry phones in the next year or so. It’s sort of the idealized seven-inch tablet, so dialed in it might be generic if it wasn’t so cleanly executed. As thin as an iPhone 4, the corners are rounded, but not too rounded. The back is a rubber-y soft touch, but not too rubber-y. The button-free glossy black bezel? It’s actually a blank touch surface for gestures, like the Palm Pre. A 3-megapixel front camera stares out of the top.
24 SuNday Plus April 24, 2011
Samsung LED 9000 Series Samsung’s LED 9000 series of television sets is pencil-thin. Yes it’s just 0.3 inches wide and it can support and having the great ability to display 3D images and can convert 2D content into third dimension. You must be impressed by knowing that it can offer great support for downloadable apps, just like you’d find on the iPhone or Nexus One. Its application served via open development platform which means that any entrepreneur is able to insert content in it and can add up huge functionality, from the world of social networking clients to the downloadable games.
TECH
Lenovo IdeaPad U1
GoogleNexus3
Lenovo IdeaPad U1 is a 1.6 inch Linux based PC. It can also become a fully functional 3.7lb notebook having multi-touch capabilities that boasts an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. This device really functions well while offering solid five hours of battery life. E-mail and other web surfing facilities are also available. It attracts to those mobile professionals who are looking for great diversity in computing solution. So you can call it as two for one deal.
Google’s Nexus is a speedy smart phone. It’s a intuitive handset having five customizable home screens with animated backgrounds. It also provides slick speech recognition capabilities. Nexus is now integrated with most of the software services provided by Google. Nexus One represent itself as a search giant’s first expansion in the world of e- commerce and hardware. Although that some well-publicized customer service issues come up with the device, still it remains among those ionic customer electronics which are at top of the list throughout the year.
HP’s TouchPad Web OS HP’s software developer’s kit for HP’s TouchPad tablet is out, and one coder has leaked an extensive video walkthrough of everything the new Web OS 3.0 has to offer. The video is only an emulator running on the developer’s computer, but it still shows everything the TouchPad will be able to do when it launches later this year. The email app is similar to the one on the iPad, but with a slick, rounded look. There’s a two-pane view with your inbox on the left and message previews on the right. Just like previous versions of Web OS, you can swipe left and right through open apps. There’s also a universal search bar that will look up anything on your system.
26 SuNday Plus April 24, 2011
Movie
A ‘Bourne’ Killer Rarely do you get so much fine acting, action and suspense all packed into one jet-fueled, 70s-Euro-esq thrill ride as you do in the movie “Hanna”. The film stars the impressive cast of the young and talented Saoirse Ronan; Cate Blanchette one of the best baddies there is; Eric Bana who provides both the depth and heart needed in the film; and finally Tom Hollander with one of his creepiest performances to date. Director Joe Wright has made one of the most interesting and yet simple action films in theaters, which (aside from Source Code) is really the only thing worth seeing.Find out why it’s worth seeing below. The Players: Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Director: Joe Wright, Writer: Seth Lochhead and David Farr, Actor: Saoirse Ronan (interview), Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Jessica Barden, Tom Hollander, Original Music by: Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (as The Chemical Brothers), Cinematography by: Alwin H. Kuchler
THE PLOT:
A teenage girl goes out into the world for the first time - and has to battle for her life. Director Joe Wright weaves elements of dark fairy tales into the adventure thriller Hanna, filmed on location in Europe and Morocco. Hanna (played by Academy... A teenage girl goes out into the world for the first time - and has to battle for her life. Director Joe Wright weaves elements of dark fairy tales into the adventure thriller Hanna, filmed on location in Europe and
Morocco. Hanna (played by Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan of Atonement, also directed by Joe Wright) is 16 years old. She is bright, inquisitive, and a devoted daughter. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a soldier; these come from being raised by her widowed father Erik (Eric Bana), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of North Finland. Erik has taught Hanna to hunt, put her through extreme self-defense workouts,
and home-schooled her with only an encyclopedia and a book of fairy tales. Hanna has been living a life unlike any other teenager; her upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. But out in the world there is unfinished business for Hanna’s family, and it is with a combination of pride and apprehension that Erik realizes his daughter can no longer be held back.
begins with a fast beat that lays underneath the film like a heartbeat that just keeps beating, faster and faster. It’s relentless. Then they integrate a childlike innocence to it which they bring in at some of the most intense moment — perfectly balancing the naivety of the character with the growing dark and macabre atmosphere. Just be careful if you listen to it while driving, you’ll want to go fast, very fast. • The Pace: As was said about the music, the film sets a fast pace from the first moment
the screen lights up and keeps a fast moving pace through to the bitter end. You won’t need to worry about feel the weight of this film’s length, it breezes right along. • The Old/Euro Feel: There’s something this film that reminds you of a 70′s, Italian, action thriller — but brought to modern times and presented in a modern way. It’s absolutely wonderful because it takes the best of that era and brings it to modern cinema. Very nice touch.
rest of the film is, for some reason I didn’t really mind the problems with the story and enjoyed some of the more inconceivable action scenes — they all seemed to help the story move along and didn’t outwardly hurt
the story. I’m a stickler for this kind of stuff, but they did such a good job of tying it into the film and making it their own that it didn’t really hurt them. So why not!?
THE GOOD: • Action and Acting: Finally, an action film that actually hires solid actors to give real performances so that when the action scenes kick in, you actually care about them! All the characters have layers that are not fully explained, but felt by the audience and leave you intrigued. Who knew actions films could be so much fun!? • The Music: If you don’t see this film, you must buy the soundtrack. The music sets the pace for the film from the very beginning — it
THE BAD:
• The Inciting Event: One could pick apart this and a few other details from the film that really don’t make perfect sense. There are definitely some things that could absolutely never happen, but because of how strong the
OVERALL:
Really great film that will keep your heart pumping while watching some fine acting on the big screen. Go see it! Make it a double bill with Source Code!
RATING: 8/10
28 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
STYLE
FASHION SOIREE
KARACHI: The Rich & Famous Event Management organised a colourful fashion show followed by musical concert and dinner to launch new Chinese mobile phones of Ken Xin Da, at local hotel. The event director was young and talented Ms. Manaal-e-Fizza. It was attended by diplomats from Chinese Consulate, leading mobile dealers and elite of town. The dress designer of the event was Sadaf Rameez & Shan Ahmed, media coordinator was Imran Gilani.
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Sahry Askari
Manaal, Kashiyal, Sadaf, Qaisar & Nasir
Show stoper & orgniser 30 SuNday Plus April 24, 2011
vironica
society
Priority Banking in Lahore 1
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Lahore: After a successful launch in Karachi, Standard Chartered brought its new, enhanced “Priority Banking” offering for Lahore’s increasingly sophisticated and discerning banking customers. The event was organised at The Asif Jah Haveli.
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1 Atif Aslam & Mikal Hasan 2 Natasha & Frieha 3 Mr. & Mrs. Asim Baksh 4 Ali zafar, Sameena Peerzada & Arif Lohar 5 Guest at the event 6 Ali Zeeshan & Maram 38 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
society
gettingtogether
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LAHORE: L’Oréal Paris and the Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) staged a press conference to announce their exciting partnership through the PFDC - L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2011 to be held in Lahore later this year. The press conference was attended by Lahore’s prestigious media, fashion stalwarts and industry personalities and was managed by QYT with PR by Lotus.
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1 Maria B and Khadija Malik 2 Mehreen Syed 3 Asmaa Mumtaz 4 Asifa and Nabeel 5 BU Manager L’Oréal, Sadia Shah 6 Zara Shahjahan 7 Ammar Belal and Fahad Hussayn 8 Abdullah 9 Mohammed 10 Nickie, CEO PFDC Saad Ali
40 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
society
The royal collection 1
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ISLAMABAD: Designer Sobia Nazir launched her latest Lawn collection 2011 in much stylish way; the glamorous PR and Red carpet event had Islamabad’s elite rubbing shoulders to get the best pieces before it all sold out. The event was managed by REZZ EVENTS.
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1 Wajeeha & Sonia 2 Momeena Sibtain & Rezz aly Shah 3 Talat & Ayesha 4 Shezelle & Sharmeen 5 Samman & Leena 6 Laila Zuberi 7 Reema, Bilal & Sameera 8 Amara & Mubashra 42 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
decor
By Amina Saeed After years of experience in Pakistan Amina Saeed launched her brand ‘The Furniture Gallery’. Her signature look defines cuts & curves, shaping the wood and giving it a beautiful meaning all together. A luxurious style with a respect for tradition infused with a modernist flair. Her work also shows the marriage of vintage, antique and modern pieces; creatively express a meaningful space filed with style and sophistication, combined with that an appreciation for the classics and a mood of informality and comfort with a twist of character and style.
Classic interi o r
A 46 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
Interior decorating is beginning to become a hot topic as the economy seems to recover and people have a little more money to spend on home interiors. But throughout the economic crisis a few lessons were learned that have found their way into interior decorating and are destined to be there for quite a while. Decorating is more personal and plays to individual interests and passions. Also that expensive isn’t always best, people are looking to repurpose, recycle and reuse items in unique and creative ways. Classic interior design is derived from Greek and Roman design. This type of interior design is based upon order, balance, and perfect harmony. Classical design does not include any modern elements or current influences. Instead, classic interior design is steeped in tradition. In order to distinguish classical design from other types of design, it is important to
decor
understand the idea behind a focal point. Classically designed rooms often contain large focal points. A large fireplace, grand table, or impressive staircases are good examples of focal points that are often used. Once a designer has chosen the focus of a room, all other items within the room are placed in order to enhance the look of the chosen focal point. The idea behind a classically designed room is to create a sense of perfect symmetry. If a classic interior design were to be sliced down the middle, one side of a room would perfectly reflect the other side of a room. Everything from the lighting to the way that pictures are placed inside of a classic room should be immaculate. The colors that are used in classic interior design are often inspired by Mother Nature. Deep blues, browns, yellow, green, and earth tones such as terracotta are frequently found within classical spaces. In addition, black can be used to outline important items within a room. Objects such as Roman columns, busts, and large vases are also quite common within classical themes. As with most other materials used inside of a classical space, fabrics should be understated. Linen, cotton, and other durable fabrics are often used to create a classic theme. Designers who wish to add a bit of a splash to a classical room may choose to use taffeta April 24, 2011 Sunday Plus 47
decor
finished style, and quite decorative in looks. Selection should be dark woods, especially oak, mahogany, teak, walnut and rosewood.
Accessories and Lighting • Bring your whole Victorian interior design look together with a careful choice of accessories and lighting. • Your lighting should be beautiful and decorative - try ornate chandeliers in brass or cut glass. • Decorative little lamps of china, brass or marble, with pretty little decorative touches, such as fringing around the base of the lampshade. • Candle holders also is a good addition to give the Victorian look • Old-fashioned paintings or print particularly oil paintings, and paintings of pretty, young maidens, or sweet, innocent children and puppies. • Framing pictures in large, decorative frames/antique silver frames, with a touch of gilt, to get that really authentic look.
Flooring • Hardwood floors are a good Victorian staple, but carpet is fine too. • Adding oriental, Persian and traditional rugs would look fantastic in any Victorian style home. • Neutral colors are the color palette used in Victorian interior design, mid tones of gray and taupe.
Fabric and silks along with cotton and linen. Velvet is also used in abundance, though velvet is best used as an upholstery fabric.
VICTORIAN INTERIOR GUIDLEINES Victorian interior design is influenced by the Victorian Age but these days it does not need to be an exact historical replica and I don’t think it would be particularly practical to do this either. It is enough just to get the general look and feel right and get a decorating style which you know will suit your home perfectly, but to have the whole feel that is warm, comfortable and cozy. 48 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
The Victorian Age was in England, Great Britain, in the time of the reign of Queen Victorian (1837 to 1901). The whole Victorian interior design style is, in general, very lavish, luxurious and ornate, think colors, fabrics, patterns, lots of furniture, photos etc.
Furniture • Don’t spoil the look by adding modern style furniture. You really have got to go for furniture with the traditional Victorian style and look. • Victorian furniture is good, solid furniture, with a nicely carved and
It isn’t just colors the Victorians were keen on; they were pretty big on pattern too! Use patterns on wallpaper, and fabrics for curtains and upholstery to get the look. Choose an old-fashioned looking pattern, of course, in deep, rich colors; perhaps accented a little in gold. Patterns were frequently large scale, and featured flowers, foliage, birds and butterflies. Ideal fabrics for curtains, or upholstery, are very opulent fabrics velvet, damask, brocade, and heavily embroidered fabrics. These are fantastic for winter. For summer, try lighter cottons, muslins and chintz. And don’t forget the rule for Victorian decorating as far as patterns are concerned, it’s the more the merrier!
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interview
By Sadia Kamran
Meet MAXIM -The Cartoonist Communication the earliest skill the human beings needed to acquire in order to lay the foundation of a society. The more sophisticated societies required speech which brought the issues of medium and expression. One of such mediums to express one’s thoughts and ideas is cartoon making. Shaukat Mahmood with a Master’s degree in Fine Arts and Architecture Conservation and a Doctorate in Islamic Architecture chooses this genre of art as his tool to communicate. Such a selection is not common in our part of the world where this profession of ‘cartoon making’ does not earn enough to provide butter to a family though if you are lucky bread can be managed.
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mong the circle of his admirers he is known as ‘MAXIM’. Cartoon making is his passion and profession. In a society or in a newspaper to be precise where there is no positive news, his cartoons bring a smile on the face of an apprehensive reader. It is by all means a noble act of a reliable citizen. The word ‘cartoon’, to Shaukat Mahmood is a socio-political satire, caricature, or simple graphic humour. Amused laughter is a sign of pleasure to Maxim. It falls under the auspices of “a picture tells a thousand words”. A good cartoon slowly seeps into the public psyche and does not leave. To him, cartoon making is like encouraging and emphasizing an idea or a thought and giving it a creative and artistic touch which is obviously the hallmark or a characteristic feature of his cartoons.
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His cartoons also act as the harsh critique as they are his ‘honest opinions’ about people and events. He believes that his cartoons involve no build-up expectations. They are just his ‘way of saying’ things—things which are important to him and his surroundings. It’s about his wit and cleverness. Of course, he is concerned to the affect they summon up so the critique must be tactful, moderate and useful at the same time. To make cartoons one needs to have an ‘eye of a journalist and a hand of an artist’. Maxim has both. His is a positive journalism and not a bag of accusations and assumptions. He doesn’t believe in hasty rather nasty journalism of today’s Pakistan where our honourable reporters shove mike in front of bleeding, injured survivors of
a bomb blast asking for their remarks on the ominous incident accusing and suspecting anyone and everyone around without wasting a moment. Reporting deaths without verification, discussions on pending court judgments, confidential reports, state secrets, and conspiracies, even the marital affairs of TV and film stars and politicians and giving their proletarian advices. All this without minding their language and their business is peculiar to our journalism. We have become insensitive towards the ethics and morals of responsible journalism. In such a situation, after all these traumatizing visuals and crude commentary, Maxim’s cartoons are the best public service one can do for a nation of lost souls. Cartooning is not just an art but a science, following trends and
interview
In the most turbulent times our nation is facing on national and international fronts, Dr. Shaukat Mahmood sits patiently in his office in the Punjab University where he is a professor, supervisor and coordinator at the Research Centre of College of Art and Design. Teaching is his second love. knowing what newspaper readers would like to see and what they must see. Comics have a powerful psychological effect and as Churchill said, ‘a joke is the most serious thing’. Maxim’s cartoon would be on the important and grave issues. It would not be exaggerating that ‘he wears his pen as others do their sword’. He claims himself to be a representative of the public and a spokesperson. He calls himself a powerless man. ‘Powerless’ due to his inability to abuse or thrash anyone in an argument or is he simply someone who doesn’t have the strong nerves in addition to strong background and abundant resources to allow him to play around with other people ‘s sentiments. His cartoons—his cartoons are not just the statements they are the actions—actions a well educated and a sophisticated member of a civilized society can take against the ‘esteemed’ characters or their acts which are particularly stupid, vain, greedy, cruel, ruthless, dirty, deficient and unjust in one way or the other. A person presenting a superior insight on the ridiculous absent mindedness (intentional or unintentional may it be) exhibited by others can not be powerless. Answering a question on tolerance and reaction of his critique and satire, Maxim reveals that there were times when ‘of-
fice bearers’ would call and thank him for inviting their attention to certain issues but now all he gets are threats. Being an active part of Pakistani journalism and not belonging to any political party sounds strange to one’s ears. The fact is that Maxim is conscientiously doing his job as a spokesperson of general public and is not interested in joining the rat race of changing loyalties with the ever-changing governments of Pakistan. “Dictators or democrats nobody appreciates criticism and truth” so he remains among those very few who apart from being published regularly stay away from the benevolence of any political party. In 2001 he was awarded the President’s Pride of Performance award, despite his not being in the country that is without using any connections and approach in the corridors of power. The medal was granted by a person who had always been on the hit-list of Maxim’s cartoons, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. While recognizing the contributions of Dr. Shaukat Mahmood, the present Government of Pakistan, on August 14, 2010, conferred upon him Sitara-i Imtiaz, the Medal of Excellence for his service to Islamic architecture and arts. In the most turbulent times our nation is facing on national and international fronts, Dr. Shaukat Mahmood sits patiently in his office in the Punjab University where he
is a professor, supervisor and coordinator at the Research Centre of College of Art and Design. Teaching is his second love. First must have been his talented wife, who happens to be his class – fellow while he was doing his Masters, talented and supportive, as she was able to keep the ‘tall, fair and handsome’ artist on the right track – the track which brought him success and fame. His is an impressive CV with more than five hundred publications to his credits and numerous conservation projects. To his students he is ‘polite, patient but particular’ and ‘he would smile on your gaffe and you just need to decode his smile’ another added. Dr. Shaukat Mahmood the educationist and a cartoonist is an institution within himself, an encyclopaedia of art and architecture. Being the mentor and teacher of thousands of scholars, he is fulfilling the duties of the prophets. He is responsible for bringing the feigned smile to otherwise gloomy situations. To cover the dynamics of his creative endeavour here is a collection of his cartoon which speaks of our recent past, a drop from the ocean. Surely this is not the complete socio-political and cultural commentary of the past fifty four years since he has been making cartoons. (Courtesy: Heritage)
April 24, 2011 Sunday Plus 51
travel
By Zainab Hassan
Offthe
beatentrack Azerbaijan, does it exist on the earth? It was the first question that stuck my mind when my husband told about the new home destination that is Azerbaijan. The nerviness was creeping with the days coming closer to the departure day.
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hy Azerbaijan? The thought was hard to accept but God bless the people of Google earth for creating the facility to manoeuvre the country with this technology at my laptop screen. I was much relieved and relaxed while seeing Baku known as the city of winds. Coming out of the airport with the gush of the cool breeze swiping through our faces, welcoming us to the unknown city, I felt a sigh of relief with the pouring of confidence for the comfort. Everything I had heard about Azerbaijan was right in front of me a beautiful kingdom of humble people. For a country that encompasses population of 9 million, it is no coincidence most people know very little about Azerbaijan, aside, of course, from textbook blurbs of Russian rule, conflicts of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, revolutions and finally the independent state. The Caspian Sea makes the country a more versatile destination than any other place in the world. The Walled City of Baku is the ancient historical core of Baku called as ‘Ichari shehr” means “Old city”. In December 2000, the Old City of Baku, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower, became the first location in Azerbaijan to be classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The buildings and architecture is no doubt worth seeing, Walled City of Baku or Ichari Sheher hosts over 50 historical and
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architectural monuments from various eras. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the Maiden Tower and Synyg Gala (The Broken Tower) are among the monuments which survived till present day. Azerbaijan is located on the western shore of the Caspian Sea at the southeast extremity of the Caucasus. The region is a mountainous country, and only about 7% of it is arable land. The Kura River Valley is the area’s major agricultural zone. Neither Europe nor Asia, Azerbaijan is an incredible tangle of contradictions and contrasts. It’s a fascinating nexus of ancient historical empires. Yet it’s also a new nation finding its feet as it emerges from a war-torn post-Soviet chrysalis on a petroleum-funded gust of optimism. Surrounded by semi-desert on the oil-rich Caspian Sea, the nation’s cosmopolitan capital Baku is a dynamic boomtown, where flashy limousines and mushrooming skyscrapers beautifies a picturesque. Yet barely three hours drive away lies an entirely different world: timeless villages clad in lush orchards from which shepherd tracks lead into the soaring high Caucasus mountains. Where Baku is multilingual and go-ahead, the provinces shuffle to the gently paced click of nard (backgammon) on tree-shaded teahouse terraces: women stay home, herds of cattle wander aimlessly across highways, and potbellied bureaucrats scratch their heads in confusion on finding that an
travel
Baku musicians
masjid bibi heybat, baku
baku carpet shops near maiden tower
Azerbaijan is an incredible tangle of contradictions and contrasts. It’s a fascinating nexus of ancient historical empires. Yet it’s also a new nation finding its feet as it emerges from a war-torn post-Soviet chrysalis on a petroleum-funded gust of optimism. Surrounded by semi-desert on the oil-rich Caspian Sea, the nation’s cosmopolitan capital Baku is a dynamic boomtown, where flashy limousines and mushrooming skyscrapers beautifies a picturesque. April 24, 2011 Sunday Plus 53
travel
Grocery market in Baku
Azerbaijan Light snack
Artworks on sale outsider has wandered into their territory. My experience with the youth has been quite wonderful. Here Russian language is considered as the language of elite or educated class. It is same like speaking English in Pakistan- a person who can’t speak English in Pakistan is not considered educated, same goes for those if you can’t speak Russian here, you are not considered educated. Visiting the country takes creativity and imagination, as the tourist industry is at best ‘nascent’. Although there are plenty of rural ‘rest-zones’ for holidaying city folk, they cater mainly for locals who want to unwind with hefty feasts and family chats, so rarely provide any activities. Very few people outside Baku speak English, but the challenge is a great part of the appeal. Southern Azerbaijan is one of the country’s more pleasant regions, 54 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
In December 2000, the Old City of Baku, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower, became the first location in Azerbaijan to be classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
both along the coast and inland: Lәnkәran is a quaint seaside town famed for its flowers, while Masalli & around makes a good entry point for exploring the Talysh Mountains. Northern Azerbaijan is where you’ll find the Caucasus Mountains and the incredible village of Xinaliq, with its jaw-dropping views and traditional mountain culture. And for something completely different (in a country full of completely different travel experiences!), there’s always the remote and intriguing enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Meandering about the peculiarly wide Baku roads in the soothing evening breeze, coupled with the sights of undoubtedly some of the prettiest females of the human species to inhabit the planet Earth, was just divine. I noticed that the evening life there was pretty vibrant. The downtown streets are flooded with people and it was particularly surprising
to see most of the high street shops open until as late as eight on a Sunday evening. These shops included outlets of some of the best designer brands in the world with some of the most expensive cars waiting outside; not quite fortuitous for a cosmopolitan city that’s home to plenty of nouveaux riches making hay with both hands in this wave of capitalism that has recently taken over the country. But one thing is for sure, it’s a fascinating place to live especially for Pakistanis as you can’t face any kind of racism here unlike other countries. No hassle, no need to have a check up of your shoes to bag through a scanner. Perhaps we are getting this privilege because Pakistan is the first nation who accepted Azerbaijan as an independent state and we can see many Pakistani living here peacefully married to Azeri women. Am I giving hope to Pakistani men, well it can be hoped! H HH
ART
By Madiha Syedain Orders wood and brass 36 x 49 inches (each piece 11 x 11 in) Rs 250,000
Soulstirrers Recently, an exhibition titled, ‘An obsession with sculpture’ by Abdul Jabbar Gull was held at the Drawing Room Art Gallery, Lahore. The exhibition showcased variety of elements which reflected the notion of time existing in the inner and outer world.
W Ordinary Souls wood, brass & aluminum 66 inches Rs 500,000
Self Absorption 18x24 oil on canvas Rs 70,000 56 SuNday Plus April 24 , 2011
hile talking to Sunday Plus, Abdul Jabbar Gull pointed out that his work depicts the physical and inner state of an individual’s mind. “We live in two worlds, the physical world that we see with our open eyes and to interact we ‘speak.’ The inner world, we see when our eyes are closed and to interact we keep ‘quiet.’ The more I try to explore the mysterious phenomenon of the corporeal linked to the ethereal world, the more my thoughts fly on delicate wings of imagination. Searching for answers, I am confronted with ever deeper unresolved questions.” His subject is three dimensional and based on winged forms which, challenges the ‘unwanted
Salute 57x72 inches oil on canvas Rs 350,000
silence of a mind.’ Various sculptural symbols of brass, wood and aluminium depict thought and order pattern of human mind. “I endeavor to discipline my thoughts and create order by juxtaposing them with the thakhti, a symbol of awareness. Still my thoughts fly hither and thither, leading me into unknown dimensions, ever teasing ever intriguing,” stated the artist. Abdul Jabbar Gull has done Bachelor degree of Fine Arts in Sculpture from National College of Arts Lahore Pakistan. He continues to draw inspiration from humanity, spiritual belief, politics, human beings and ordinary people. “I call them `ordinary souls’ and I am one of them so I endeavour to express their common sufferings, grief, and relationships on individual and collective levels.” These concepts have helped him understand different religions inculcating in him the experiences of spirituality and Sufism and through politics he has been able to address local and global issue of war. Themes of ‘self absorption,’ ‘ordinary souls,’ ‘salute,’ ‘caged,’ ‘destiny,’ ‘dream,’ ‘history’ ‘decoded,’ ‘mother and child,’ ‘orders,’ ‘ordinary souls,’ ‘unsung heroes,’ ‘untitled,’ ‘winged thought’ and ‘winged thought II’ have been expressed well through oil, wood, brass and aluminium mediums motivating the artist community and art lovers to search for their self expression which Jabbar has always tried to explore. According to Abdul Jabbar Gull, “To me inquiry is life and while it exists questioning is the essence of it if one is to keep moving and evolving. So much is happening out there that one cannot cease to ques-
History Decoded 15 x 15 inches wood and brass Rs 70,000
art
Unsung Heroes Aluminum with wooden frame 21 x 42 inches Rs 175,000
tion oneself... especially if you are an artist.” The variation and moods of his works were further highlighted by Drawing Room owner Sanam Taseer. “An obsession with sculpture presents the work of Abdul Jabbar Gull who has utilized a variety of media to explore and represent complex notions of time, movement and thought, the past and future, the real and imagined.” She further emphasised that Jabbar’s work focuses on the tension between physical and psychological dimensions. His work has a certain
Themes of ‘self absorption,’ ‘ordinary souls,’ ‘salute,’ ‘caged,’ ‘destiny,’ ‘dream,’ ‘history’ ‘decoded,’ ‘mother and child,’ ‘orders,’ ‘ordinary souls,’ ‘unsung heroes,’ ‘untitled,’ ‘winged thought’ and ‘winged thought II’ have been expressed well through oil, wood, brass and aluminium mediums motivating the artist community and art lovers to search for their self expression which Jabbar has always tried to explore.
symbolic quality. The first is the use of round solid forms depicting our earthly selves -- our universally lived experience of the everyday world. Warm, smooth, wooden forms that that have their eyes closed as a subtle gesture evoking a feeling that although they are physically present on this earthly plane their thoughts are turning heavenwards in a moment of introspection. Enlarged to monumental proportions, the subject matter is presented with a strength and individuality not commonly represented in popular media. Secondly he uses the ‘takht’ or slate. A simple folksy symbol of knowledge and learning adorned with a universal script from which we often see winged creatures resembling angels emerging. These angels or visions are moving freely through either side of these brass mesh screens producing sculpture infused with light, movement and freedom. The exhibition was attended by many who appreciated the works of Abdul Jabbar Gull and reinforced the idea that his work has a universal experience of enlightenment that goes beyond religion or culture. The sculpture ‘beings’ present, a period of meditation and spiritual enlightenment which unites us rather than dividing us. The exhibition, ‘An obsession with sculpture’ by Abdul Jabbar Gull has received a positive response from people. The prices of the artwork ranged between Rs 35000 and Rs 500,000. His collection has been a part of many solo exhibitions. Recently, his solo exhibition of painting was held at Khaas gallery, Islamabad. The exhibition would continue till May 12th, 2011.
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Ordinary Souls 57x72 inches oil on canvas Rs 350,000
Ordinary Souls 24x36 inches oil on canvas Rs 85,000 April 24, 2011 Suday Plus 57
off the Shelf
Himemoir lariofous war days Title:
The Taliban Shuffle (Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan) Author: Kim Barker, Pages: 302, Price: Rs 1,795, Genre: Asian History Review: What is remarkable about ‘The Taliban Shuffle’ is that its author, Kim Barker — a reporter at ProPublica and the South Asia bureau chief for The Chicago Tribune from 2004 to 2009 — has written an account of her experiences covering Afghanistan and Pakistan that manages to be hilarious and harrowing, witty and illuminating, all at the same time.
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t’s not just that Ms. Barker is adept at dramatizing her own adventures as a reporter — though she develops the chops of a veteran foreign correspondent, she depicts herself as a sort of Tina Fey character, who unexpectedly finds herself addicted to the adrenaline rush of war. It is also that Ms. Barker has discovered a voice in these pages that enables her to capture both the serious and the seriously absurd conditions in Af-Pak (Afghanistan and Pakistan), and the surreal deal of being a female reporter there, with dating problems. Black humour, it turns out, is a perfect tool for capturing the sad-awful-frequently-insane incongruities of war. Ms. Barker conveys the shocking lack of security in Pakistan, even after the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Of a meeting between the newly sworn-in Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and the Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Islamabad, Pakistan, she writes that “the event featured absolutely no security, no metal detectors, no bag searches, even though the list of people who wanted to kill either man was surely the size of a New York phonebook.” She conveys how small the war in Afghanistan still was in the spring of 2005, before insufficient American resources and growing anti-foreigner sentiment fuelled the Taliban’s resurgence: “Sure, the Taliban blew up things in the south, but so far they mostly blew up themselves, and their attempts to use recalcitrant donkeys as suicide bombers” — known in the parlance as D.B.I.E.D.’s, (donkey-borne improvised explosive devices) — “only provoked laughter. It was a known fact: Afghans and
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Pakistanis were probably the worst suicide bombers in the entire spectrum of militants.” Also conveyed here is the daunting challenge that the United States faces in trying to develop a police force in Afghanistan. “The only thing that would make a difference,” Ms. Barker writes, “was a whole lot of training, for a whole lot of years, with a whole lot of money.” As for the chaotic election process in Afghanistan, Ms. Barker notes that in the 2005 parliamentary elections, voters had to choose from 390 candidates: “The ballot folded out into seven large pages, and each candidate had a photograph and a symbol, because many Afghans were illiterate. But creativity ran out, and symbols had to be reused. Candidates were identified as different objects, including a pair of scissors, one camel, two camels, three camels, two sets of barbells, mushrooms, two ice-cream cones, three corncobs, two tomatoes, stairs, a turkey, two turkeys, one eye, a pair of eyes, a tire, two tires, three tires — to name a few. The symbols were randomly drawn out of a box.” Ms. Barker readily acknowledges her own eager enrollment at Kabul High: how she rented a room in the “Fun House,” a kind of dorm filled with journalists, United Nations workers, lawyers and other Westerners orbiting the war — temporary expats all “on the same acid trip,” who forged fast, intense friendships that were galvanized by adversity, the curfews and the frequent power failures. She writes about how the war undermined her relationship with her serious man back home and how she became an “adrenaline
junkie” — hooked on things that “went boom,” to the “vortex of work and fun,” to the sense of aliveness she felt amid the chaos. And she writes, too, about how she fell in love with the countries she was covering, how “Pakistan and Afghanistan would ultimately become more all-consuming than any relationship I had ever had.” Eventually, Ms. Barker says she realized she “had turned into this almost drowning caricature of a war hack, working, swearing and drinking my way through life and relationships” and that she “had a choice — I could choose life, or I could choose to keep hopping from one tragedy to the next.” She chose to graduate from Kabul High, to return home before it was too late. According to her, “The only workable solution to the region’s many problems was a long-term commitment from the world, with no end date in sight, focused on building actual governance systems rather than propping up various personalities. Only a long-term plan would prevent the region from falling into further chaos.”
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About the Author: Kim Barker joined the Chicago Tribune in 2001 and was South Asia bureau chief from 2004 to 2009. She currently holds the prestigious Edward R. Murrow press fellowship at the Council on Foreign Relations. She lives in New York City.
off the Shelf
Do-Qoumi Nazaria (In the light of Holy Quran) Author: Raja Mohammad Akram Pages: 271 Genre: History By: Syed Mohammad Tahir
Review: Much has been written about Two-Nation Theory and Pakistan but still there is a need to make our generation aware about the sacrifices made for Pakistan. The book, titled, ‘Do-Qoumi Nazaria’ (In the light of Holy Quran) by Raja Mohammad Akram highlights the creation of Pakistan from Quranic perspective. It provides various evidences which suggests that creation of Pakistan in sub-continent was an inevitable event and even super power at that time, British Empire, could not deter Muslims of their independence goal. According to the writer Raja Akram, though Pakistan came into beings on August 14, 1947, but its foundation was laid down when first Muslim was landed on this very soil. In order to support this view he provides original text of speeches of sub-continent Muslim luminaries which includes Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Allama Mohammad Iqbal, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his accomplices who not only presented the idea of independence but also achieved their ultimate goal of a separate homeland within short span of time where native Muslims could perform their rituals and customs according to their belief and religion. The book also contains original text of Quaid Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah August 11, 1947 speech. It states, “now I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the state.” Another important speech of Allama Mohammad Iqbal at Allah Abad in 1930 is also included in the book coupled with Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s concepts for a separate homeland for Muslims. The book also raises various issues like dishonesty of Radcliffe boundary commission, titling of Viceroy Mountbatten towards Hindus and conspiracies hedged by Hindu leaders against Muslims along with important events that happened after 1857 till the inception of Pakistan. The title of bilingual (English and Urdu) book is catchy and shows pictorials of Quaid-iAzam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Mohammad Iqbal and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan along with Holy Quran.
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National Geographic Answer Book: Fast Facts About Our World Publication: National Geographic Pages: 448 Price Rs.3,395 Genre: Science
Synopsis: National Geographic magazine has always delighted its readers with wonderful photos and fascinating information about all parts of the world. As the cover material claims, Designed for enjoyable browsing, the Answer Book is a treat for an inquiring mind. Two-page spreads are organized into nine thematic chapters Maps and Globes, The Universe, Planet Earth, Life on Earth, Climates and Habitats, The Human World, World History, Science and Technology, and Countries of the World. The main contributors are National Geographic and Washington Post writers and editors. Illustrations are credited to a variety of sources, including National Geographic, Getty Images, and Encyclopedia Britannica. It is recommended as a ready-reference tool for most school and a valuable addition to home libraries, too.
The Song House
Author: Trezza Azzopardi Pages: 256 Price: Rs 6,95 Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: When Kenneth Earl realises his memory is failing, he advertises for someone to help him catalogue his vast collection of music, and so create a record of his life. Maggie, the final candidate, is his last hope. But he doesn’t guess, when he gives her the job that the archive will be as much about her past as his -- because this isn’t the first time that Maggie has been to Earl House, and it’s no coincidence that she applied for the post… Azzopardi is a good sensual writer, especially strong on smells good and bad and their emotional colours, and at evoking sensations like river mud between one’s toes. However, this novel is a house built on shaky foundations. If what should be an overwhelming story of trauma confronted and healed touches the heart less than it should it’s because the premise – Kenneth and his wish to annotate a record collection – feels willed and mocked. Still the book is not only a good read but shows a fireworks display of true talent. Azzopardi is an accomplished writer who has beautifully woven the past into the present until her words literally sing off the page. The book is not only a good read but shows a fireworks display of true talent. Azzopardi is an accomplished writer who has beautifully woven the past into the present until her words literally sing off the page.
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April 24, 2011 Sunday Plus 59
Zodiac
STAR
o et los y, inc g t g li sin a hin as rigin eryt ximp ll w o d ev pro s in ) sti ay is esto t an lose cces into M s b . c su u h u l ll 20 en wil insig e in you g yo rove V p h b , , bu – n g c i ss so in rn et hi im con lan s, w ivene ill al y, giv o, tu will will ossi- r The0April p s u (2 ng ran vent ler w ercur – als tter . You y – p ion o n uli r r ous U ce, in ur ru ve M tion l ma rizon ecrec relig atio s u Yo elli den d. Yo cati uca ncia ho d s rds edic lem . reb pen ecte uni d ed Fina the cy an towa a d prob erge t l l de exp omm s an ssip. ar on riva ted with ical o em apis a f un to c field d go ppe ur p direc long olog als esc nd and i w s g ity rary rme an a in yo ion ch a sych s can void l n i cia eou ept ing lite onfi ve c inta ocat roa ed p sue to a ) n g c a c w lo o ma of v app root al is rder ina ura ac tak rely. f pril A d co o n i n t u n d Ne ue t ense arian ply . Leg in o n 19 a a er a u r ve c k m tin a s anit . Dee lved ised n o i i v r to e r r t i o e . Y t h q u p a ge h e re s t i c bly um use reso xerc Ram a l i r l e e s l t u i u e arch w he a h a ca o be be e r e b c t T 1M p e p i c r i t w i l l d o n b e y o u r a la t i v o b to ed t ust 2 s ( l l s u e fav o r e e . J n l y in the spi u w n i ne re m e s i v ta i e r ck in ng Yo ofte w pur ill s Ca ugs. u r o s i L e r s. e th y w c l re o u i ll dr a r o n e e n g e - , y e w t s d a g g s t c e ra o r i t o p i a l le o n s a l l y lo v la n e a n d m o i l l b u t h w t c h c i s i n t i c a n d p i n g s a n o r e w d . A s lo d e m a t – T h e i b l l o u s e d e l i f c te l b e e . R o d e n o. s . S z e a n te o m x p e w i l r o v a r u g v o r v e r u a ra s . H b e e i o r s i m p yo d ea e o s g a n d a n p e r w i ll e n i ll b s s i r h g c r s u lt h w cce y o u e l i n s o H e a su s in Trav osse vor. lie w. s, b r fa s lo u re y o u fig t in ac
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d ) un e r rte aro uar o ua mq t e s ovember t q co g olv in ou d on 21 N las , of win as rev luto el y ecte l– u ) l p p he gy vie rpi l r P g t o wi nt. pro unex e. M ted ne re in roin uly Sc e ill n us s n g e nd lov ret m lif 2J e e e r a o m i n o s i e e crab – 2 The 3 October tivit iron us w th th mily pre foc mMo wan sks ill b Plut ng t isd e o i v c e m n e a a 2 o e f o h n t a a ( w t b l w The June c t r r e th f i o , y 1 l k e U ce ur ill an you se t a er, e ed gs . W se om it th (2 cia or th fa yo w nh lo rul a tim nish iblin ntal hou ce s oxim d 30 ns. So ur w wi -to- in ities n e s or lf c ome ss, r fi S i e ur e n n yo pect face nces rtun be a yee itse bec hele siYo ll be g un ns. ram rriag erie in p th a l ga ith as and sta ppo will plo ifest bly net a po eal wi tin pla pe ma exp oon 27 cia ed w ons a o m v t o n m n s ple ture s tem our will e M n the finan oad opti t on cu job here es, e ma prob y – n to i y re d is- y s rl r c ill a l cir Th o T fu lu a t e l e l e e r u u s i n . l l g r p . w i e v i i tip you lleag ve w ce o d du re. P un m solv er a lve we de nsh ding enu brin se o care ry d iors ions u S h so n r a re t o o l t o a t c n c gra atio tan nd V ill hou d rcu pe ect n yer. L ork p vice e pi the d u or o to tion h o rel ders ne a ly w eer cete h Me ur su e inf r y la lt r h o r plo ur w f se in t ct t owa the bilit e re Hea ue un ptu tive car i-fa it yo cut W t . yo rm o ce is aspe ss t ur fa ur a riat ay. und Ne pec our mul le. with nd a rns ne yo yo op aw oid fo an e r res ith y ts, ailab ort rs a once e n p i d rom e tr war rding an nap rop – av W ne av app feve th c i s a d v i , a t pla ll be rd, r igh eal ur reg gure ever can itive o y fi w s wi e 23 ve. H nly h ns es su rity ho job e se th ro r o p o u th em – and ill b . im e yo th ips rs w ork ar sh atte at w n m ress sig oe st th ce, r ed ) g yin ten ne Fiugust ccup ersis ense rity. our o p int cu . Y ur n 22 A e d o er u lio – rul yo an l s 3r y n 2 d itio ur ive nd cia e The 3 July yo ill g ty a nan er th an ogn igh- f i (2 h o fi d c n, l t Su rus w sua and e af ccee l re uing ose ve e n v Th Tau , se nal pro su iona purs l. Th ll ha ns of ance otio ll im to fess nts ssfu wi ssio e a m r em s wi tion pro ude cce road rofe hav elfo nce ina for t. St e su s ab e. P ill trav ed na term ng den ill b isa tru es w nce clin er de arni evi on w for v me ntur ista e in each lth ye l be cati ing co ve g d ill b or t Hea l wi edu ply ms seas . Lon u w ntor ce. er u ap drea ver me . Yo me idan yo eir to o utco bility g a f gu th ed e o ossi ssin e o k lin sitiv a p osse ourc po is s p a s ing ward u as . to gur care or eds ne
60 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
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ll in wi son o sig s t ds ur nitie frien no) o y in ortu eet or in will March oon opp nd m sual ces use 0 M th a u an ho h –2 the , wi use un fin ey 28t th, wer y ca thing 0th , mon th – l and d 7 ish 2 o th e i F 7 a he l p or m e 3 ur e 2 nti vo s The February till t sona r a w m so ill th rs yo n th ote es. A tter . a nt o cp m th er fo or g t te (19 25 our p teer perf enin n en tune ychi che ve m mine s Lo m s p m o n n v y p e o o u a e Fr ase vol u c th e M ct N ion, king eer. is i cre lize, ct, yo m 27 s th njun inat ma car ling h t cia n fa Fro te a n co ag ey- your rave 0 3 al – i tive. una oo ur im mon s in d. T e n h ll t otio end va fort the M e yo in nge 23r ate. i t ) m be nd tivat nse cha the erior 8th our e ll dep ople 2 e i n – a ll ac e se astic fter det the ver, y g w w p un i ol wi uitiv g dr ve a can ebruary from we bein ho e S ho F earer o ll d th t sc ess B 18 int akin pro tters h n n – sig er – r we ge a with ts a expr nd r m ll im ma a n ill ater ou ow ou a e wi alth W g y ill p all. Y lf-im creas tude u w ation n im r n i s e r He The 0 January ente our w s to or, s ill in vors ct, yo educ lay a n you ly ou an y w fa fa i p a , l n y n b (2 l l oo the bvi me sit ion in alism s wi less ank m– rn g rt b ga ill e M ng e o de urio sit Th ll stre ill b your ur c is po udies , jou siblin effo efty and ps w i o w g t h d w te on u. Y – t ir s ritin an l flow of a h cies nshi sta gely e yo use the in w avel y wil ood den latio lar rceiv d ho el in se, s. Tr one elih n ten g. Re 3rd. pe ur 3r exc th ea field ife. M se lik latio anin he 2 yo el to lf wi tion our l crea ecu is w t on t lev urse unica in y an in id sp oon irec yo mm t role with r, avo he m urn d co rtan n – eve as t will t po ectio how osts ury dir ce – t all c Merc an ng a e as bli prov im April 24, 2011 Sunday Plus 61
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) goa d t t se ecember pec crea as1D as in d p ful –2 se w an nt s, clo esto lity rese gain ll Archer r in b , vita gry, on ndfa n) he i i n i ite ill n t ill The November up w ion l a lat w n e no w , r J rs at fee ecu ial is a ll b 22 ( tio us ers ule Ma rmin ay Sp anc ere s wi tivity e eptember mo Ven oth ate rr h m . n e r r . 2S ou sive et ou ed fi r, t nce rea a ct th th d e Y n c a e n m s y d wi n wi labo nse l , e , r v –2 n e dir gre ergy but urd an owe at fi airs ildr te the in tact ctio ns, e ial se wil Virgin r en – erb es h h aff ch ng t ury on era tio nc ars na, e z r o n i v l – e e The 3 August Merc ose c d int affec fina g M tami ge sio d o pr ted ood Lov with nd afte Car job l d in ra r e f s n ery ica lih d. n a e ct. – c c u (2 r , o w u er, a r al e e t v e s o rul in an on shre s da owe e co ia yo ey lot ind d lik nag pati iage pro dir ble tion ity. h ur nd nh ssi d Yo rd a rth e xpre s and war ill p nd t ces v mon rce are ase ma ccu arr l im ning vora ltina sibil 23 ng fo ed e ulse g to ng w th, a inan t – sou urcre orly re-o d. M wil tur fa mu pos bri prov imp ovin stro reng nt. F dan e a ins our po d p hte ips cury ome ign re a im istic y, m a l st wa bun ecom and lly. Y ive. an hlig nsh Mer bec fore s a art rcur estow ysica t you are a ot b nce ssfu port es. hig latio ith ill in rsea Me o b , ph wha se st n erita ucce sup loss re rd w rs w ties ove ng. als ssion fter spou t mu inh ed s and and 23 atte tuni s or stro pa go a r or men tate, ackl ntal ents m por nie h is a lt s e t e id p to ne st E c o t e m b c i r . mp ea pa d inv flict will sent nt a co ur h o an on es e eve u Y b c r s of e is will to p c an use aste d ) o an y sp oid h en it Av ) ldr tun e s i anuary ag ch or lo t 9J e, opp ler c tha in es. –1 the n lov e ctober ed su e ru s a s t h i n ur g r c h n t s at 2O ga al o t t o e yo ae i ou . You gge you ning Go en rivi y t et –2 ec ac u y r be u , b t y l t i s t y t a o i t dir urs unic g. ge er im ing u The2 Decembernd s give ativ kar sibili a w ay rn, ) ng u p m lin to s ov rox ow mm our s t m tu l re en n fi mi yo com dea tistic Scales (2 une ue ion se p est , co . Y al ill tha r c M po rrie es Sa ea r co ile c y s n u , n b t n a r 0J a be h nce bli res t ca anc nts. l rev – The 3 Septemberonti nta in clo nce mor ilitie otio niu w ies yo ta Twins –2 ry th w ha pu ow fin ing c ro e b o e Yo tivit ress ed s and al. I erit me s wil hips w(2 rcu pa en nd est en ag y s o e e h ay nf s is , h m a em rm s is c l e d p y y l g r u o a r The 1 May l a u Me our wil g a ill b ud an on n ex fix nce t d in gre enu ion – h . It u m e c en rcu zin era ra n h en of (2 to the atie grea and disa to V relat up vive ss. er, e y , it lin w d s n m m ca Yo essiv ler V l Me ama d lit ove upo of V ose cial r re l rul as ct ave us an es i ith ts ed p g y n o h l d s u u i t l i r t l w r i s g l urs lat , ur ill e fa tr en es tio ing kin s th e a ie tua nt, an an ent tion d t an esur Yo rd w s – in ing, to V enci e key refu utb s re club l wi hiev egac n fam posi xist brea will onal rio w will Yo ellec gme wer eing end posi rs an ur fin inv ort l pi e f a s d th ca y o k c a ua p s ti o e t p 23 m rn e n s n a d a b o t r s t p o t , n o a d e i e n i e e r u a i e u i s u r g o j a de his nge . Yo sid upp le. e p ll dre ns, l y cl tic t eve y – b . An s. T ith Spi ene ll th und ler in abo bility onsh f em ic sc nanc o, bu in ter tiv we hly s. T , si blic out ’s s r ro t i i i s w t F s t ica ral hig ip rs pu n se ajo oom l tio cur an ow sel ing ter s w ed. sc wi bo r ru h e o es a s o h t e o . t h u i r l l t i n l e m i n u l o s – flo ns o m ne is ns ct e ly ol Me ir, ro ins – es w wa ma tivit hligh d th ality s wi yo e tru he p g re a tim dom sized sse e to agai bge alth atio or a h th rge or sp ay a e t ers w ng. n ro a re nu d t l t d h s o fla l ga anc n is ple p ac hig ehin rson tter . t he s rel ble f g wi nd la ers ill p ntinu att ani ith , str icate e an mph prog onti uar lth p cia ur fin moo sim grou are d b r pe ma osts w e k l c . G ea ou vora alin epe artn es w ll co er m is w er d m yo the cate nd rnity an You alth all c ev o in , ho o be wee wil 0th le h fa de ll d s p yp wi are on i t s o C u l as mpli ds a frate ation ted. s. He er at als mily ue t the oney he 3 ssib yo te w usine of al riage ou. e m co frien or edit dica tion ang Fa ntin le as – m till t d po sta , b es ar of y th i s s o to ciety , m re in adic oid c ind isely tion ry an tor gac d m any g a te. n a w e c or so dies ies a ontr g. Av d – l ve a or m ovin delic t w ire f m stu vit f c vin ge r d ive w o i e o L e t u o b ac full -m yo cess arg slow will l be slow ex be alth be He
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You already know that the obvious signs and symptoms likr chest pain, abdominal pain or unexplained bleeding, are generally good reason to seek immediate medical care. But, the not-so-obvious symptoms may leave you questioning whether you need to see a doctor. Here’s a list of warning symptoms worth reading. You may find some of the symptoms surprising. But, be aware of the significance of these symptoms and when it is important to seek timely medical care. It could make a difference in your quality of life and may even save your life. Don’t ignore these symptoms Don’t ignore the following ten signs and symptoms, some of which are not obviously alarming. But, trust that your body informs you of its needs. While some messages are more urgent than others, milder but persistent symptoms may also signal trouble.
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Unexplained weight loss If you find you’re losing excessive weight without intending to do so, see your doctor. Unintentional excessive weight loss is considered to be a loss of more than five percent of your weight within one month. Ten percent of your weight within six to 12 months An unexplained drop in weight could be caused by a number of conditions, such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), depression, liver disease, cancer or other noncancerous disorders, or disorders that interfere with how well your body absorbs nutrients (malabsorption disorders).
2
Persistent fever If you have a normal immune system and you are not undergoing treat62 Sunday Plus April 24, 2011
Don't ignore the following ten signs and symptoms, some of which are not obviously alarming. But, trust that your body informs you of its needs
health
ment, such as chemotherapy for cancer, a persistent low-grade fever (over 100.4 F), should be checked if it lasts for a week or more. If you have a fever with shaking chills, or a high fever (greater than 103 F), or if you are otherwise severely ill, see your doctor as soon as possible. If you have an immune system problem or take immune-suppressing drugs, fever may not be a reliable warning sign and your primary doctor or oncologist can tell you what would signal a need for an evaluation. Persistent fever can signal hidden infections, which could be anything from a urinary tract infection to tuberculosis. At other times, malignant conditions, such as lymphomas, cause prolonged or persistent fevers, as can some medications and conditions and reactions to certain drugs. Fever is common with treatable infections, such as urinary tract infections. But if a low-grade fever persists for more than two weeks, check with your doctor. Some underlying cancers can cause prolonged, persistent fever, as can tuberculosis and other disorders.
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Shortness of breath Feeling short of breath, beyond the typical stuffy nose or shortness of breath from exercise, could signal an underlying health problem. If you ever find that you’re unable to get your breath or that you are gasping for air or wheezing, seek emergency medical care. Feeling breathless with or without exertion or when reclining also is a symptom that needs to be medically evaluated without delay. Causes for breathlessness may include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, heart problems, anxiety, panic attacks, pneumonia, a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism), pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension.
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Unexplained changes in bowel habits See your doctor if you have any of the following: l Severe diarrhea lasting more than two
days l Mild diarrhea lasting a week l Constipation that lasts for more than two weeks l Unexplained urges to have a bowel movement l Bloody diarrhea l Black or tarry-colored stools Changes in bowel habits may signal a bacterial infection, such as campylobacter or salmonella, or a viral or parasitic infection. Among other possible causes are inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.
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Mental status changes Immediate medical evaluation is warranted if any of the following occur: l Sudden or gradual confused thinking l Disorientation l Sudden aggressive behavior l Hallucinations in someone who has never had them Changes in behavior or thinking may be due to infection, head injury, stroke, low blood sugar or even medications, especially ones you have recently started taking.
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New or more severe headaches (especially if you’re over age 50) Seek prompt medical attention if you experience: l A sudden and severe headache, often called a thunderclap headache, because it comes on suddenly like a clap of thunder. l These headache symptoms may be caused by stroke, blood vessel inflammation (arteritis), meningitis, brain tumor, aneurysm or bleeding on the brain after head trauma.
(TIA). Seek immediate emergency medical care if you have any of the following: l Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of your body l Sudden dimness, blurring or loss of vision l Loss of speech, or trouble talking or understanding speech l A thunderclap headache l Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a fall
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Flashes of light The sudden sensation of flashing lights may signal the beginning of retinal detachment. Immediate medical care may be needed to save vision in the affected eye.
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Feeling full after eating very little Feeling full sooner than normal after eating and having persistent nausea and vomiting that last more than a week are warning signs that should be checked by your doctor. There are many possible causes, including pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer and ovarian cancer.
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Hot, red or swollen joint These warning signs may occur with a joint infection, which requires emergency care to save the joint and keep bacteria from spreading elsewhere. Other causes may include gout or certain types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis.
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Short-term loss of vision, speaking or movement control If you have these signs and symptoms, minutes count. These are signs and symptoms of a possible stroke or transient ischemic attack April 24, 2011 Sunday Plus 63
PICKS OF THE WEEK
HOTTESTT,, NEWES… LATEST
We at Sunday Plus have brought a smart wish-list for all our readers that are the best buys which range from the trendiest brands to the most delicious palate to à la mode popular gateways. So get ready as we present our picks for the week. There’s something for everyone.
Colourful mystery by Khaadi
Khaadi weaves a brand new kind of magic this summer with the launch of Khaadi Lawn collection 2011 for the very first time. The colourful bohemian inspired lawn prints have been inspired from the mysteries of sublime Uzbek and William Morris prints. Khaadi is also offering its new embroidered lawn collection that will leave you marvelling at how elegantly you beat the heat. Flaunt them all season long because the fabric and colours are stamped with the Khaadibacked assurance of quality that you know and trust. Available at all Khaadi outlets
3D adventure in Pakistan The latest 3-D animated adventure movie “Rio-The Movie” recently hit theatres for the first time in cinemas equipped with digital 3D screenings, both in Karachi and Lahore. Twentieth Century Fox’s next animation venture from Blue Sky Studios the makers of hit ICE AGE series is RIO, a comedy adventure about taking a walk on the wild side. RIO the movie is set to become the first biggest animation film of the year. Come enter the world of 3D adventure for the first time in Pakistan. Screening: Cine Star Cinema in Lahore & Atrium cinema in Karachi
Going the Chinese Way
Maya’s Lunch Box
Maya’s Tex Mex grill is offering daily specials that will fill one’s appetite without emptying the pocket. This dining cuisine has dedicated different in-house specials to all days of the week, starting from Speedy Gonzales, Lady’s Day, El Rodoe to Viva la Brunch. If you’re in the vicinity and craving for scrumptious delicacies Maya’s Tex Mex grill is your one stop destination, relish and indulge in this fine Mexican cuisine. Hotel One, Mehmud Kasuri Road, Gulberg III
64 SuNday Plus March 24, 2011
N’eco’s Natural Store and Café is store cum café which facilitates to buy everything natural- from honey, to organic flour, to furniture and more. Like wise the café serves breakfast, lunch, hi-tea and dinner while using organic ingredients as per availability in all our dishes. Neco’s this month celebrates alkaline foods! Spirulina- a great alkaline food- a blue-green algae food supplement, packed with antioxidants, calcium, vitamin A and minerals, esp. iron. High in chlorophyll and digestible protein, without the cholesterol and fats found in other protein sources. So do check in for the sake of healthy lifestyle. Contact: 8C, Lane #1, Bukhari Commercial Area, Phase 6, DHA, Karachi.