Editor’s Note
Well well well, here we are, you’re already reading the 3rd edition of our awesome magzine: Vmag. Soon I’ll be running out of stuff to write here……not. With this new edition we bring forth all sorts of new awesomeness. Firstly we’ve renamed our Vzone section to Arts, Culture & Entertainment and to kick off the change with a bang we bring you an exclusive interview with model/actor Waseem Manzoor by Ally Adnan. Our previous edition’s addition of the Happenings section was a huge hit *self pat on back* so that’s a keeper! In this edition we bring you plenty more events and special coverage of Kayseria’s loyalty card launch and 2014 Eid collection preview with a concert by Sajjad Ali. Driving in Pakistan has always been a unique experience and Sunehra Mehmood’s writeup: Wheeling Charity in our Random Writes section epitomises this perfectly. Do give it a read and then be sure to deal out some charity next time you’re behind the wheel. Blah blah blah……I wonder if anyone is still reading this (do people even read the editor’s note?) Remember you can find lots more bonus content on our website: www.vmag.pk. We’re also on Twitter and Facebook: vmagpk So what are you waiting for start turning the pages already! All of us here at Vmag sincerely wish our readers all the best. Kind Regards,
Imran Johri Managing Editor Vmag Still here…!?
Disclaimer:
Every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, as of the time of publication. However errors, inaccuracies and omissions are possible. VMAG, its employees, editors, designers, printers, publishers, advertisers and all other associates take no liability or responsibility for any loss, damage and/ or distress resulting from use of or adherence to any information made available through this magazine. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of VMAG, its employees, editors, designers, printers, publishers, advertisers and all other associates. Nor do we endorse or approve of any of the products and/or services mentioned within. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced in whole or part without written permission of the publisher.
contents TRAVEL
04 I 5 Great Tourist Attractions in Australia 05 I Answers To The Ten Most Common Questions About Flying During Pregnancy
HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS
06 I Fruits To Improve Skin Complexion HAPPENINGS
08 I Kayseria At Fashion Week Dubai 2014 10 I Kayseria Loyalty Card Launch and Eid
collection preview
Weekend 2014, London
Mall, Karachi
Nilofer Shahid
Store Launch
16 I Sania Maskatiya At Faisana Fashion 18 I Unnu Sullee Launch 19 I L’OREAL Paris Mall Animation 20 I So Kamal Fashion Parade At Dolmen 21 I Award Ceremony For Designer 22 I HSY Opens Flagship Store 24 I CAP At Alchemy Festival, London 25 I Music Mela Conference 2014 26 I Khas Lifestyle DHA, Lahore 28 I Erum Khan Flagship Store Launch 30 I Cristiano Ronaldo Joins Tag Heuer 31 I L’atelier Eid Bazaar 32 I Popinjay Lahore Launch 34 I Brunch In Italy 36 I Tres Chic Store Launch FOOD & DRINK
37 I Caviar: A Brief History
HOME, SHOPPING & LIFESTYLE
38 I 2014 Eid Collections 40 I Gold Everlasting 41 I Daraz.pk: Online Shopping Revolution 42 I Shopping & Lifestyle News PET & HOBBIES
14
44 I Bullmastiff Dog Breed Profile AUTO ZONE
45 I Flashy Extras For Extravagant Cars 46 I How A Rotary Engine Works
46
RANDOM WRITES
48 I Wheeling Charity MONEY & BUSINESS
50 I Philosophy And Advantages Of Open
Source Software
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INTERNET
52 I The Seven Different States Of Matter 53 I Bumpy Road (Game Review)
22
ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
54 I Exclusive Interview with Waseem Manzoor 56 I Shahzad Zar 68 I Celebrating Thirty Years In The Arts 59 I Khumariyyan 60 I Emerging Artist Kausar Iqbal 61 I Frank Herbert’s Dune (Book Review) 62 I Chronicle (Movie Review) 63 I Jokes & More 64 I Quotations & Sudoku “Advertise, Contribute or just get in touch for whatever reason! To advertise in the coolest magazine ever, contribute your stories, articles, photos or tips or for any general inquiries, suggestions, feedback or if you just want to talk to us, send us an email at: editor@vmag.pk”
30
40
Travel
5 Great Tourist Attractions in Australia
Spend your much-deserved vacation time in Australia and check out the country’s spectacular selection of tourist destinations. Read on and find out about some of them.
CAIRNS
Sydney is a lavish fusion of art, culture, and nature. The iconic Opera House, in particular, offers you with amazing theater, ballet, and symphony productions. Malls, museums, and zoos also make your stop at Sydney an enjoyable one.
TASMANIA
The world’s largest all-sand island, Australia’s amazing Fraser Island is home to endangered wild dogs called dingos. Billed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site (and rightly so), Fraser Island boasts of rainforests, mangrove forests, woodlands, swamps, and sand dunes. The picturesque geological formations and the diverse ecosystem of the island will please every nature buff.
GOLD COAST
The small city of Cairns is home to the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef in the world. Check in to any of the luxurious holiday homes in Cairns. Then go diving or snorkeling to admire the picturesque marine life in the famous coral reef. You can also join day tours to Daintree National Park and Port Douglas.
SYDNEY
Once the site of the largest jail for British convicts, Tasmania is now known as one of the best holiday destinations in Australia because of its spectacular lagoons, mountains, and beaches. If you want to sample Tasmanian culture after days of lounging in the beach, you can visit the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or the Salamanca Arts Center. For music and artistic performances in Tasmania, your go-to places are Theatre Royal and Federation Concert Hall.
FRASER ISLAND
Like Fraser Island, the marvelous coastal city of Gold Coast is also located in Queensland. Gold Coast’s sunny climate, surfing beaches, and bustling nightlife make the city a great tourist spot. Enjoy the waterfront canal life in Gold Coast after you spend time surfing in Surfers Paradise. There is no shortage of beaches in Gold Coast, so you can choose from any of the popular beach resorts along the coast.
Home to many tourist destinations like the Opera House, Blue Mountains, Jenolan Caves, Darling Harbor (with its breathtaking aquarium), and the Hunter Valley Wineries, In 1967, Australia’s Prime Minister went to the beach for a swim and was never seen again 6 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Travel
By Dr. E. C. Gordon
Almost all pregnant women have some nagging fears about traveling by plane. It is all too easy to obsess over frightening questions about miscarriages, labor, and dangerous equipment. The following ten concerns are the most common, and the answers can help to put your mind at ease before your journey.
1) Does walking through a metal detector put my baby at risk?
There is absolutely no reason to be concerned about passing through a metal detector in airport security while you are pregnant. Metal detectors use low-frequency electromagnetic fields to make sure that passengers are not carrying any offensive weapons, and these devices have no way of damaging you or your unborn child.
to be sure that that there is nothing about your particular pregnancy that might put you at risk, ask your doctor for reassurance. Further, you should avoid flights on small, unpressurized planes while you are pregnant.
8) Will my morning sickness get worse? 5) Will I develop blood clots in my legs Since traveling by plane can cause motion sickness, you may find that you feel more (i.e. deep vein thrombosis)?
It is true that being pregnant makes you slightly more likely to develop unwanted blood clots in your extremities (usually called DVT). Flying also makes you more likely to 2) What about body scanners? develop clots. Since flying while pregnant Body scanners can find concealed objects combines these two risk factors, you should inside or underneath a passengers clothes. take extra precautions in order to prevent The millimeter wave machine uses DVT while traveling by plane. Make sure electromagnetic waves to do this, and that you acquire custom-fitted compression experts are comfortable claiming that it is socks, walk around frequently, and repeat not dangerous to use during pregnancy. leg and ankle exercises as often as you can. The other type of body scanner is called a If you have had any problems with unwanted backscatter machine, and since it uses lowlevel X-rays there are concerns about whether clotting before, you may be cautioned against flying for the duration of your pregnancy. it safe for pregnant women to be scanned in this way. If you are anxious about either 6) Does cosmic radiation pose a threat type of machine, you can opt to be patted down by airport security personnel instead. to my baby? While some people find this experience Every time you fly, you are exposed to a low uncomfortable or awkward, it comes with a level of cosmic radiation, and studies have guarantee that your baby will be safe. not yet yielded any conclusive evidence that it can cause any problems with fetal development. However, the International 3) Should I be concerned about the Commission on Radiological Protection luggage scanner? released a statement advising that you limit X-ray machines are used to scan everyone's exposure during pregnancy to less than baggage for potentially dangerous items. 200mrem, which simply means limiting While it is true that x-rays are dangerous overall flight time to less than 200 hours. to unborn babies, your baby will not be exposed to any x-rays because you will be outside the scanning machine.
4) Does the cabin pressure pose any risk during a flight?
On commercial flights, the cabin pressure is constantly kept at a level that has been repeatedly proven safe for pregnant women and their children. However, if you want
by-case basis, so make an appointment with your doctor so that you can discuss whether your particular medical conditions make flying a bad idea.
nauseated during your journey. This is of course not dangerous for you or your baby, but it can make flying uncomfortable. Try to pick a seat that is near the planes center of gravity (i.e. over the wings), and make sure to eat easily digestible foods.
9) Am I more likely to have a miscarriage?
It is advised that you avoid flying during the first trimester of pregnancy, as this is the time at which the chance of miscarrying is the highest. Once you are in the second trimester of your pregnancy, however, there is no scientific reason to think that flying will increase your likelihood of suffering a miscarriage.
10) What will happen if I go into labor during the flight?
Firstly, very few airlines will even allow you to travel if you are more than 30 weeks pregnant. If you are less than 30 weeks pregnant, it is extremely unlikely that you will go into labor during your flight. In addition, the pilot of your flight will divert your flight to the nearest airport in the event of your going into labor, so you will be taken to hospital 7) Are there other medical conditions that as quickly as possible. This means that even make it especially dangerous to fly while if you do go into labor on a plane, you are pregnant? unlikely to give birth on one. However, If your pregnancy has involved suffering from if you are in the third trimester of your health problems such as moderate to severe pregnancy then it makes sense to carry your asthma or high blood pressure, it may be a prenatal chart on your journey so that all of good idea to avoid flying during your entire the relevant medical information is easily pregnancy. This decision is made on a case- accessible.
During pregnancy, if the mother suffers organ damage, the baby in the womb sends stem cells to repair the damaged organ. www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 7
Health, Beauty & Fitness
Fruits to Improve Skin Complexion The condition of your skin is a reflection of your happiness and total body health. Simple diet changes can make a big difference in how you feel and look. For example, incorporating different fruits into your diet will not only help you to get a clear skin complexion, it will also strengthen your immune system to fight off common illnesses.
BERRIES
Berries are a rich source of anthocyanins that are well-known for their antimutagenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments found in higher plants, which are responsible for the distinctive colors of flowers and fruits. Berries have been associated with a number of health benefits. Anthocyanin-rich blueb erries, for example, have been found effective in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, enhancing brain function, and minimizing the risk of getting degenerative diseases associated with aging. Like blueberries, cranberries and bilberries have high levels of anthocyanins, and play key roles in reducing inflammation and levels of oxidative stress. Other antioxidantrich berries that are equally good for your skin include strawberry, raspberry and elderberry.
MANGOSTEEN
Mangosteen is an antioxidant-rich fruit that delivers an array of nutrients you need for a radiant complexion. Due to its high antioxidant content, mangosteen exhibits antiinflammatory properties. Mangosteen contains a group of compounds called xanthones, which include alpha-mangostin and gamma-mangostin. A study published in the September 2004 issue of the journal “Molecular Pharmacology” showed that gamma-mangostin competitively inhibited the activity of cyclooxygenase-2. Cyclooxygenase, a chemical, play an important role in inflammation and pain. Evidence shows that antibacterial activity of mangosteen extract may inhibit the progression of acne. Alpha-mangostin, a major constituent in mangosteen, demonstrated good inhibitory activity against acne-causing bacteria, namely Propionibacterium acnes and
Staphyloccocus epidermidis, reports a 2010 study published in the journal of “Medical Principles and Practice.”
PAPAYA
Papaya offers extensive benefits in skin care therapy besides being nutritional. The fruit contains carotenoids, such as beta-carotene and lycopene, which protect your skin from the harmful ultraviolet radiation the sun emits. Beta-carotene scavenges ultraviolet-generated free radicals, which can cause inflammation and cell and tissue damage. The cumulative effects of sun exposure can cause age spots and skin wrinkling.
ORANGES
Oranges are juicy, sweet fruits that are rich in vitamin C. Antioxidant effects of vitamin C protect your skin from sun damage and free radicals. Besides its skin-protecting benefits, vitamin C makes your immune system stronger and helps it prepare to fight off infections and diseases. Eating a whole orange is far better than drinking the juice because whole fruit provides a lot more nutrition than fruit juice. Also, make sure to avoid drinking concentrated juices as they are devoid of watersoluble vitamins and minerals needed for your overall well-being. If you want to drink fruit juice, choose the one without added flavors or sugars.
Farting helps reduce high blood pressure and is good for your health 8 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Happenings
Showcased ‘Shaadianeh’ Wedding Songs’ at Pakistan Fashion Week Dubai 2014
10 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
Photos Courtesy Lotus PR
www.vmag.pk
Happenings
www.vmag.pk
Photography by: Mani Abdul Rehman
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 11
Unveil Their New Eid Collection & Launch Loyalty Card Programme With A Concert By
SAJJAD ALI
12 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Happenings
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 13
Happenings
14 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Happenings
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 15
Happenings
CONCERT BY SAJJAD ALI
16 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Happenings
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 17
Happenings
Showcased ‘Kuamka: Awakening’ in London at
Faisana Fashion Weekend 2014
18 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
Photos Courtesy Lotus PR
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Happenings
Photo Credits: Shahid Malik
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 19
Happenings
Unnu Sullee
Amna & Ahmed
A kidswear brand was launched with much hype on MM ALAM. The event was managed by Bilal Mukhtar Events & PR.
Hira, Aysha, Javeria, Jasrah, Huma, Saman & Rahaab Onaza Butt, Rania and Ali Moin
Chandni, Salaar and Rabia
Ubaid and Khadija
Saba & Jannat
20 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
Moiz
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Happenings
Showcases Their 100 Years of
Legendary Beauty:
Presenting the 8th consecutive Mall Animation in Pakistan!
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Photography Credits: Kashif-ud-Din
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 21
Happenings
So Kamal
Hosted its seasonal grand sale from 26th to 28th May 2014 at Dolmen Mall, Clifton Karachi, followed by a fashion parade of models exhibiting Kamal Lawn by Zara Shahjahan and their latest midsummer collection FLORENCE.
22 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Happenings
H.E Mr. Philippe Thiébaud
Nilofer Shahid Giving her Acceptation Speech
French Delegates with H.E Mr. Philippe Thiébaud, & Nilofer Shahid
Host For The evening - Juggun Kazim
Suraiya Anwar, Justice Dr. Javed Iqbal, Attiya Enayatullah
Guests
Imran Kureshi, Sumera Khan, Nilofer Shahid & Tariq Amin www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Designer Nilofer Shahid Receives Prestigious Le grade de chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des lettres
Nilofer Shahid With Mr. Shahid Aziz (Husband), Fatima Omer Malik (Daughter) & Saad Aziz (Son)
Photos Courtesy Pitch Media Inc.
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 23
Happenings
Opens Doors to Flagship Ready-To-Wear Store at Gulberg Galleria in Lahore
24 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Happenings
Reema Khan (Center) With HSY & His Mother
Sehyr Saigol, HSY, Reema Khan
Team HSY www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Atif Aslam, HSY Photos Courtesy Lotus PR
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 25
Happenings
Present Their First International Exhibition Showcasing Pakistani History at Alchemy Festival in London
Photos Courtesy Lotus PR
26 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Happenings Happenings Abbas Ali Khan
Music Mela
Conference 2014 Photographs by: Shaharyar Khan
Sparlay Rawail - Khumariyaan
By: Ally Adnan The Music Mela Conference 2014 was held over 3 days in Islamabad. The event was sponsored by the U. S. Embassy, in collaboration with the Foundation for Arts, Culture and Education (FACE) and the Pakistan - U. S. Alumni Network (PUAN), and featured workshops, live demonstrations, panel discussions, lectures and performances by more than fifteen bands and musicians. Virtually all genres of Pakistani music -khayal, ghazal, geet, qawwali, kafi, rock, folk, fusion, and popular music - were represent at the conference. Abbas Ali Khan, Arieb Azhar, Zeb Bangash, Taimur Khan, Malang Party, Mai Dhai, Imran Aziz Mian, Mekaal Hassan Band, Humeira Channa, Shairi Bakhsi, Akmal Qadri, Poor Rich Boy were amongst the musicians who performed for over two thousand people who attended the event. Khumaariyan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-based instrumental band became the heart and soul of the show with a thrilling performance that energized everyone, forcing them to sing and dance along with the band. Band members Farhan Bogra, Sparlay Rawail, Shiraz Khan and Aamer Shafiq performed their hits Bela, Shehnai and Malang Yar and many others for an enthusiastic audience for several hours. Uxi Mufti, representatives from Coke Studios and Sachal Studio, Haroon Rashid and Todd Puckhaber participated in the panel discussions and lectures. Poor Rich Boy
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Zeb Bangash
Mekaal Hassan Amna Mawaz & Feriyal Amal Aslam
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 27
Happenings
KHAS
Turab and Salma
L i f e s t y l e
Store was launched in DHA with a big bang along with its 2014 Collection. The event was managed by Bilal Mukhtar Events & PR.
Amna & Khurram Mukhtar
Saira Mansoor, Moeed Tariq & Amira Farooq
Yousaf & Sundus 28 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
Ayesha , Zara , Zebi , Rotaba & Nadia
Bushra Aftab & Fatima
Madiha Abrar & Abbas www.vmag.pk
Happenings
Mariam Imran & Mariah Usman
Amna and Zeeshan
Mr ana Mrs Awais Mukhtar , Ahmad & Umair
Uzma Pervez & Asma
Naila Ishtiaq www.vmag.pk
Juggun Kazim
Mr & Mrs Rana Arif
Hamid Mukhtar & Raheel Salamat
Mr & Mrs Umair Mukhtar
Mahwish
Daniyal & Sadia
Sharmeen , Janat & Nageen Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 29
Happenings
Erum Khan Launched Her First Flagship Store In Lahore On MM Alam Road
Alizay Gabol
Daniya & Natty 30 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
Aisha Imran
Sadia
Rizwan & Sanaa The PR for the event was managed by Fashion Circus and Savvy PR
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Happenings
Hunera & Fia
Alizay & Sofia
Kazim Zaidi
Sonia Nazir
Imtizar Zafar & Ahmed
Aamir Mazhar & Sohail Butt
Maria
Ali Xeeshan
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 31
Happenings
Cristiano Ronaldo joins TAG Heuer
Football superstar joins the Swiss pioneering watch brand’s star team of sports & celebrity ambassadors
32 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Happenings
www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 33
Happenings
After a successful launch in the US, Popinjay officially launched in Lahore. Popinjay is an ethical fashion label that produces hand-crafted bags embroidered by female Pakistani artisans. The bags are available online and will soon be stocked at leading Lahore multi-brand stores. The event was managed by Bilal Mukhtar Events & PR.
Amina & Tabinda
Sonu & Sadia 34 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
Hira
Anum, Hira & Nida
Libby www.vmag.pk
Happenings
Fatima & Amber Liaqat
Fatima & Emaan
Ayma noon, Eman omar & Hamna Khalid
Zahra www.vmag.pk
Yasmeen & Samia
Mona
Shafaq Habib & Meesha
Sadaf Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 35
Happenings
One of the country’s toniest restaurants, the Tuscany Courtyard, launched their Sunday Brunch by organizing a grand invite-only event for Islamabad’s glitterati. A large number of socialites, diplomats and jetsetters enjoyed the elaborate brunch while an instrumental band performed in the background. Asma Mukhtar, Sibah Farooq Khan, Rezz Aly Shah, Nabia Khan, Natasha Ahmed, Beenish Khan, Faisal Khan, Khurram Khan, Sara Walid, Nadia Manzoor, Sobia Aamir, and Ally Adnan were amongst the guests at the party.
36 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Happenings
Nabia Khan
Sara Walid
Nadia Asher
Sibah Farooq Khan
Natasha Ahmed
Rezz Aly Shah, Beenish Khan, Aliya Shah & Nabia Khan
Aamir Rashid & Sehra Villani with the Ambassadors of Tunisia, Greece, Egypt & Romania & their Spouses
Band www.vmag.pk
Nadia Manzoor
Beenish Khan, Sibah Farooq Khan, Samir Ahmed Khan & Faisal Khan
Sunday Brunch By: Ally Adnan - Photos By: Shaharyar Khan
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 37
Happenings
38 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Caviar
Food & Drink
A Brief History
Caviar is something that has long been loved the world over. Often associated with the wealthy, and also the refined, caviar has a long history in the world and has impacted culture in the same. Caviar as a word is Turkish in origin, coming from the word khavyar. First seen in English publication around 1591, caviar itself dates back over 250 million years. Though once held in favour only with royalty or the very wealthy, the Americas saw caviar as a common saloon snack during the early 19th century. Due to its natural salty flavour, it was excellent for increasing the sales of beverages for many saloon owners. Because caviar is so expensively priced today, it is still associated with the very wealthy or affluent. Considered a luxury in most western countries, in the east it is often found much more reasonably priced. Though still expensive it is often served at ritual celebrations in Russia, such as weddings and holiday feasts. Perhaps not surprisingly, caviar can be found in Japan and Hong Kong paired with sushi, and is often cheap in comparison to the rest of the world. Caviar is commonly something that is gifted as a show of wealth, and is used by the common folk in celebration as a means of experiencing a moment of “rich life”. It is considered to most people as a luxury and non-necessity, known as a delicacy or treat. Often it is considered rude or unkempt to ingest any more than two or three spoonfuls, even when much caviar is available. Traditionally caviar was and still is tasted or tested by placing a small amount on the back of the hand. It is important to note that caviar is also always eaten with a non-metal spoon, with the most common spoon being made of mother-of-pearl and
the second most common being manufactured of tortoiseshell or other types of bone. Complementary foods are often eggs, potatoes or toast points, although caviar is most often enjoyed pure. Caviar can also be found in some types of hors d'oeuvres and the classic Russian combination is caviar and blini, served with sour cream. Caviar is the eggs or spawn of some 26 species of fish known commonly as the Sturgeon. Sturgeons are well known to be great in size, and have been revered as one of the world’s oldest species of bony fish in the world. Common to the oceans near Eurasia and North America, they are found in subtropical to subarctic waters. Sturgeon has only been specifically farmed for about the last decade, and even today there exist only 30 or so farms around the world producing 20 tons of caviar per year. Due to the long production time (5-8 years) most farmers can only produce a small amount per farm. It is expected that in the next decade Caviar production will increase to 40 – 50 tons. Caviar is prepared by killing the Sturgeon and removing its eggs. The eggs are found appearing as shining black pearls or round beads, and are then passed through a fine mesh or filter to remove any remaining tissue or membrane. The eggs are then classified depending on size and colour, with the highest quality often coming from the Beluga, Ossetra, and Sevruga Sturgeon. Once classified, the
eggs are lightly salted, and tend to be approximately four to eight percent salt, with the eggs salted the least often known as the highest in quality. Although typically caviar is only considered “true” caviar if farmed from the Sturgeon, it can also be farmed from Salmon, Lumpfish, and also Whitefish. Today’s caviar is found throughout most of the modern world, in both the west and the east, though it is still uncommon for most of society. "Hackleback" caviar from the Shovelnose Sturgeon is a popular, inexpensive product of this industry today and has resulted in caviar being available to more of society. American Paddlefish, a sturgeon cousin, and one of the largest freshwater fish in North America, is also farmed as an alternative source of roe for caviar. Today, the highest prices are paid for the Beluga, Ossetra, and Sevruga sturgeon varieties of caviar, and these are considered true caviar. Beluga caviar is specifically considered the most expensive and pure form of caviar. Controversy has existed over the Beluga Sturgeon as it is considered endangered. In 2005 the United States enacted a ban on the import of Beluga Caviar as an attempt to save the fish; however, this ban was partially lifted in 2007, allowing 15 percent less import than 2005. Because of this caviar is available today in grades from imitation to the purest of Beluga and is enjoyed occasionally by most of society.
Cheicken contains 266% more fat than it did 40 years ago. www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 39
Home, Shopping & Lifestyle
40 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Home, Shopping & Lifestyle
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 41
Home, Shopping & Lifestyle
Gold
Everlasting While many colors and styles of jewelry have come and gone in the arena of fashion, no metal has enjoyed such popularity as that symbol of wealth, gold. More than just a safe haven for investors in a troubled economy, gold jewelry has been a mainstay of fashionable men and women everywhere, a sign that the wearer has excellent fashion know-how and superior taste in accessories. From the understated to the ostentatious, gold has made an appearance in almost anything we wear, from gold-laced threads in the garments of ancient royalty to exquisite touches on the earrings women wear every day. The pinnacle of wealth is often tied to gold jewelry in fashion; with lesser versions of a product (such as a watch or ring) being sold in metals such as sterling silver, while the deluxe versions are offered plated or made entirely of gold. Premium gold jewelry, a must-have addition to any designer’s fashion line, is well known for taking lavish advantage of that lovely glow in various forms. Gold jewelry uses the bright yellow metal as well as white gold and rose gold accents to entice and delight gold jewelry fans. Even when straying from the expensive metal itself, the color of gold is a constant that remains trendy, no matter where fads may stray. Gold jewelry is a popular choice among consumers as it will not tarnish like silver or rub off like paint or enamel. While it is still a relatively soft metal, modern jewelry-making techniques ensure that gold rings, bracelets, necklaces and other adornments maintain both their beauty and durability, even when worn every day. Easy to clean and maintain, gold is the metal of choice for favorite and familiar items like wedding bands, thanks in part to its ability to withstand the demands of everyday wear. A must-have for any modern man or woman, a few simple pieces of real gold jewelry go a very long way. Women ought to consider a small, simple earring – such as a ball or small hoop – as a way to upgrade any look, from jeans to a little black dress. Men can look to a small-link necklace chain, ring, or goldaccented watch to do the same double-duty, no matter what they’re wearing. Whatever style you choose, just make sure it isn’t overly flashy or too outfit-specific; this will enable you to mix and match your clothing and jewelry effortlessly and not look too “over the top”. 42 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Home, Shopping & Lifestyle
Daraz.pk Continues Revolutionizing Shopping in Pakistan!
Daraz.pk – The online retail destination of choice in Pakistan. If you are a shopaholic but don’t have enough time to step out and spend endless hours pondering over window displays at malls, you don’t have anything to worry about. It is no longer necessary to go to outlets to purchase your favorite items. The best of Pakistani fashion, from well-known designers to popular brands are now just literally a click away. Daraz.pk, Pakistan’s ultimate online shopping mall, offers a stunning range of clothes and accessories, giving unlimited access to favorite brands, which can be bought straight from the comfort of your seat. Daraz may seem like any other e-commerce website, but it has actually taken the Pakistani fashion scene by storm and proven to be a game changer in the online shopping world of Pakistan. While there are several websites that keep popping up in the digital shopping sphere, most of them feature cheap rip offs of international brands or bad local products and are hardly worth the mouse click. One of the reasons to pay a visit to Daraz.pk, is their exclusiv e collaborations with top local and international designer brands. Add to that men’s, kids’ and a home & lifestyle section and you’ve got yourself the ultimate onestop online shop. For women, you can find shalwar kameez to jumpsuits and everything in between – Daraz has its roots in Pakistan, but the style is global. The best part of this online store are the numerous options through which you can find exactly what you require. There are always discounts and deals being offered at the website which make the experience of shopping from Daraz even more thrilling. You can find high profile brands such as Al-Karam, Bonanza, Almirah, Exist, Feeha Jamsheid and Arsalan Iqbal to international fashion giants like BVLGARI, Burberry, Crocs and Salavatore Ferragamo. Daraz.pk offers everything you find in a shopping mall minus the hassle of going out and wasting hours when you have to work round the clock. Embrace the new era of shopping and go online! To save money when you shop, don’t touch anything. Touching an item makes you more likely to buy it, and willing to pay more www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 43
Home, Shopping & Lifestyle
Arm Candies To Put You On The Right Trend Gold accents perfectly complement freshly sun-kissed skin, while bold pops of colour add an element of fun to this much-anticipated season. Summer is all about easy-to-wear, bold accessories paired with feminine attires. Add a delicate accent of elegance to your outfits this summer with the perfect arm candies from highstreetshop.net. highstreetshop.net is an exciting new addition to the online market, with an easy Cash on Delivery service across Pakistan and 24/7 customer support makes the online shopping experience convenient and hassle free.
Levi’s Introduces COOLMAX
Understanding the dilemma faced by their customers in sweltering months, Levi’s® collaborated with a fabric based company in Wichita, Kansas, Invista to combine their Coolmax fabric with Levi’s® denim, and create the Spring/Summer 2014 line which will change the perception that jeans can only be worn in cooler months. The Coolmax fibres are not only woven differently - in a zigzag pattern as opposed to the traditional rounded pattern - but they also evaporate perspiration four times faster than any other clothing. These thermo-regulating fibres help in moving perspiration away from the body, allowing it to evaporate faster and enabling the fabric to breathe.w
No Need To Wash Your Levi’s! At the recent Fortune’s Brainstorm Green Conference Levi’s® CEO, Chip Bergh confessed that ‘he does not wash his jeans’. In order to be eco-friendly and save water, Levi’s® introduced their stone washed jeans, smoothed with rocks but no water, back in 2011. Guess what? They practice what they preach. Chip Bergh openly stated that he hasn’t washed his jeans in over a year and he isn’t the only one. Fashion designer, Tommy Hilfiger is also part of the same bandwagon along with journalist Anderson Cooper. In fact it is advised by some to put ones jeans in the freezer if they start to smell, instead of washing them. “These jeans are maybe a year old and these have yet to see a washing machine,” said Chip of the pair he wore during a chat onstage at the conference. “I know that sounds totally disgusting.” He recommended spot cleaning jeans with a sponge or toothbrush and a bit of detergent, rather than using water. He added that less washing equals greater environmental sustainability. So are you up for the challenge? What better way is there to prevent your mum or spouse from throwing your jeans in the wash than telling them they’re your Levi’s® and are designed to not be washed! 44 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Home, Shopping & Lifestyle
Get Ready With Dockers At Mall Of Lahore Ever since the brand launched in Pakistan a number of years ago, it has been steadily growing in popularity throughout the country. In keeping with the growing demand Dockers® has launched its outlet at the luxurious Mall of Lahore. Mall of Lahore is already home to a number of top brands including but not limited to: Levi’s®, Mothercare, Next, Accessorize, The Body Shop and Chinyere. Dockers® recently joined the family as i t officially opened up a world class outlet with all its glory.
The Art Of Perfect Hair Now In Pakistan L’Oréal, the world’s leading beauty brand, has introduced Kérastase in Pakistan. On the leading edge of the avant-garde, Kérastase innovates with customized protocols and targeted product ranges designed to give women beautiful hair. Combining the finest technology with the brand’s unique haircare artistry and performed by top-level professionals, the Kérastase ritual is a comprehensive beauty care experience with a ritual designed to bring out every woman’s best. It is present in the world’s most luxurious salons and used by the world’s best hairdressers from Paris, New York and London to Milan. Kérastase provides a high-performance
ritual for every woman leaving each with a transformational experience through its cutting edge formulas in a custom 3-step beauty ritual: Cleanse, Treat and Texturize, with carefully conceived methods for beautifying the hair. Cleanse, the first step in the routine, engages a specific product for every hair type; Treat, works with targeted, high-performance products that take in-depth action whereby vigor and sumptuous body are restored to the hair; Texturize, the third and final step of the regimen, rests on the application of a no-rinse product that leaves the hair fiber with a beautiful finish offering effective protection and shine.
Lala Textiles Introduces Exclusive Embroidered Collection - “Dahlia” After showcasing its ‘Fragility of Life’ Collection at Pakistan Fashion Week Dubai 2014, leading Pakistani textile brand LALA introduces “Dahlia” - Exclusive Embroidered Collection at all leading stockists across Pakistan. Featuring a romantic aesthetic that is representative of Pakistan and the Subcontinent, Dahlia - Exclusive Embroidered Collection consists of 8 unique designs across a rich diversity of fabrics such as lawn, chiffon and cotton. Priced between PKR 2,500 to 5,000, the new collection also offers clients different add-on options including chiffon work, dobbie fabric, embroidered patti, panels, cotton thread embroidery and embroidered net. www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 45
Pets & Hobbies
BULLMASTIFF Dog Breed Profile
Designed and bred to be a working guard dog, the bullmastiff was created by mixing a mastiff with the bulldog. This mix combined a greater speed from the bull dog with greater power from the usually much slower mastiff breed. The specific original task of the bullmastiff was as a companion to estate groundskeepers in their quest to capture game poachers. The bull mastiff, when properly trained, could outrun and overpower a man and hold them down until the gamekeeper caught up. They are not trained to actually attack.
On average, the breed will stand between 24 and 27 inches with a weight that varies between 90 to 130 pounds. Bull mastiffs enjoy an average lifespan of between 8 and 12 years although 10 years is most normal for the breed. The coloration is usually brindle or solid fawn (tan) to red (reddishbrown). While some white on the chest is permissible, purebred bullmastiff should not have white on them anywhere else. The bull mastiff does have the flattened face like their bulldog ancestors so breathing
difficulties, especially sinus trouble and snoring, are to be considered normal. The bullmastiff is a drooling dog. These dogs have a short, course, flat coat that lays hard and flat. It does require the occasional brushing to remove shed hair. The bull mastiff is not an ideal dog for everyone even though they are very loyal, surpassingly gentle, and quite intelligent. Since they are very territorial and protective of their family it is required that a young bullmastiff be given early obedience training. The owner of a bullmastiff must
be firm and confident but gentle with their commands. A weak or noncommittal tone will generally be ignored. These dogs do require a good bit of exercise to prevent obesity and it is recommended they have at least a decent sized, fenced yard to be able to run in. The size and temperament of the bullmastiff makes them very good guard dogs to look after children. It is not recommended, however, that children attempt to command the bullmastiff as they are too small to easily enforce commands. While the bullmastiff
can be somewhat stubborn, they are not easily angered and resist a good bit of provocation so long as their territory or family is not threatened. They can be specifically trained to remain motionless until given the order to pursue. Despite their short coat, the bullmastiff is more of a cool weather dog and does not do well in hot climates or situations. Bullmastiffs suffer from the usual dog ailments of hip dysplasia, tumors and cancers and the gastric torsion that can twist and block the intestines.
Other more specific concerns for this breed can include elbow dysplasia as well. They can easily develop eye and liver problems and suffer hyperthyroidism and the bone disease of panosteitis. The bullmastiff was developed in England in the nineteenth century as a working breed. By 1924 England recognized the bullmastiff as a distinctive breed and had standardized the official pureblood features. This was accepted and registered in 1934 by the American Kennel Club registry of breeds.
80% of all animals on earth are Insects 46 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Auto Zone
Flashy Extras For Extravagant Cars Carmudi finds out world’s most luxurious add-ons that cost more than cars
If cars are considered commodities in your world, then read no more. We are talking about cars as characters; absolutely brash ones that come with all the bling and shimmer in this world. What’s brow-raising is that often the ‘extra’ bling and shimmer can cost more than an average car itself. Carmudi, the international car classifieds, did a little survey into some of the flashiest car add-ons that the ultra-rich are buying to pimp up their rides.
DIAMOND ENCRUSTED RIMS:
The king of bling Asanti Wheels offers 22 inch wheels studded with diamonds that cost 1,000,000 USD/98,430,000 PKR. Obviously, these beauties come with expensive parking tickets. But the renowned car specialist takes care of this by offering a 24-hour security guard to watch your rims for a whole year. The spokesperson of Asanti commented, “With the response we gathered from the public on these rims, we could confidently affirm that our target market is everyone that appreciates art and the art of dreaming.”
WATCH-CUM-CAR KEYS:
A pure collaboration of prestige and elegance! Aston Martin and Jaeger-LeCoultre teamed up to create the first mechanical watch, the Jaeger LeCoultre AMVOX2 chronograph, developed with the ability to access the car through the use of a built in micro transmitter system. With a high price of 34,000 USD/3,346,652.10 PKR, you can flaunt sapphire crystals with control strapped around your wrist.
AUDIO SYSTEM:
For a show stopping road experience, add the Rouge Acoustics Audio System RA: 1K to your car. It features an incredible number of 6 unbeatable amplifiers, each reaching 1,000 watts at 8 ohms (bridged) or 500 watts at 4 ohms per channel. With a hefty price tag of up to 300,000 USD/29,529,161 PKR (with added extras), the audio maker ensures that a built in mobile phone is placed to allow technicians to examine the system from any location around the world if a technical error was to arise.
NUMBER 1 LICENSE PLATE: Anyone who loves their motor, dreams of a customized number plate. We found that the “World’s Most Expensive Number Plate” ‘1’ has sold for a whopping 14,000,000 USD/1,380,897,506 PKR. And this sale represents more than just wealth, status or vanity. It is an investment that quadruples the price of your car the moment it adorns a number plate with a single digit. The lower the number, the higher the status, it seems.
DIAMOND ENCRUSTED SHIFT KNOB:
This royal masterpiece is handcrafted with 30 karat genuine diamonds and costs 150,000 USD/14,795,346 PKR. Shifting gears has never been so pricey. Be careful with the onlookers as you could easily trade several new cars for the price of this single knob. But if this isn’t enough bling for you, there is an even pricey model for the Bentley Continental GT finished in white gold and 30 carats of diamonds for 165,000 USD/16,240,207 PKR. www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 47
Auto Zone
How a Engine Works By Erich Shuman
Rotary engines have been used in cars since the late 1950‘s. They are very uncommon, and many people do not even know they exist. Also known as the “Wankel Engine,” the first running prototype was perfected in 1957. Rotary engines are used for their incredible power-to-weight ratio as well as their ability to operate safely at higher RPM’s than any regular piston engine. The most common vehicles on the road today that use rotary engines are the Mazda RX-7 and RX-8. The rotary engine uses the same four stroke cycle as a piston engine, however it’s design is extremely different. Instead of pistons, the rotary engine uses a triangular shaped rotor that spins in a housing and drives the crankshaft as the engine runs. The rotor and housing are shaped so that as the rotor spins, each side of the triangle creates a pocket with the side of the housing that seals in the air/fuel mixture as the engine spins. On the intake stroke, air is drawn into one of the pockets through the intake valve. As the rotor spins, the space between the rotor and the
housing gets smaller causing the air/fuel mixture to become compressed. This is called the compression stroke. The power stroke happens when the compressed air/ fuel mixture is ignited by the spark plug. On it’s final stroke, the exhaust stroke, the rotor pushes the exhaust gases out of the housing through the exhaust valve. After the exhaust stroke, the rotor has completed a full revolution and the intake stroke begins again. While the engine is running, this cycle is taking place simultaneously on all three sides of the rotor, allowing the engine to fire spin very quickly. Because the engine has the ability to spin so quickly, the rotary engine is able to create an incredible amount of power for it’s size. Rotary engines are light, small, and powerful which makes them popular for racing and performance applications. They are less common on factory produced vehicles because they tend to be much less reliable than a conventional piston engine, especially in cold weather.
It would take less than 6 months to get to the Moon by car at 60mph (95km/h) 48 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Random Writes
Wheeling Charity By: Sunehra Mehmood
There are cars driven by professional drivers, women, and yes, children. You must have seen those triflingly small inhabitants of the earth handling cars light years bigger than themselves, without a care in this world, putting themselves and others at risk while their parents snore away. On the other hand, some cars are driven by professional drivers, who butter their bread by driving as if they are rushing to put out a fire. Then, there are women drivers who are disparaged far and wide for being bad drivers. That’s just a myth. Don’t believe a word of it. The only difference between women drivers and others is that they drive like educated people whereas the others, well, not so much. The fact that I myself am a driver and female is purely coincidental and not at all prejudicial. A common sight on the roads are the technicolor monstrosities that rumble around carrying their burden, panting and shuddering, complete with a conductor precariously perched on his appointed place by the door, whose one half dangles joyously out in the wind with the exposed hand tightly holding on to a wad of money. These road elephants have their own laws, which they make and break with impunity. They move at their own pace, braying hideously,
50 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
and stop wherever they very well please, which is most likely not at a bus stop, pick up passengers and remember to take their sweet time about it. Incidentally, when they drop off these same passengers, they hardly wait long enough to see if the passengers’ feet have touched the ground or not. Motorcyclists and rickshaw walas are the most uncharitable of the lot. They would rather see you in the underworld (quite literally actually) then let you pass first, so don’t waste your indicators at them. They would hardly glance at them and if they do, they would be astonished to know that the blinking light was meant to convey a message to them. Rickshaw walas, in particular, don’t drive, they glide as if on air and their peculiarities include going wrong way on a one-way. They would rather face death or worse, a challan, then waste their gas and go the lawful way. The motorcyclists, on the other hand, accommodating souls that they are, can be seen sailing by on motorcycles laden with all the inmates of their house plus a few of the neighbour’s kids as well, changing lanes like there’s no tomorrow, and not even sparing footpaths. They would blur past you as if it was their divine right to do so, without so much as a penitent backward glance. And if, God
forbid, you were so incredibly unfortunate as to collide with them and unintentionally be the cause of totalling their vehicle, then they would charge up to you with a host of colourful language, and if you do get a word in edgewise, they would vehemently disagree with your quite rightful accusation that it was their mistake in the first place. So, why waste your breath, instead just keep a wide breadth from them. Traffic police are few and far between. They may not be thin physically but they are stretched thin on the busy roads, where they are most needed. They may be notorious for taking bribes and other such irregularities, but in the spirit of charity, we should cut them some slack. Can you imagine yourself standing in the heat, surrounded by dust and fumes, trying to direct traffic when each of us is hell-bent on getting out of it legally or illegally? Imagine what humongous headaches they must get from all that noise. Now, on to traffic signals, which just stand where they are, looking pretty and doing nothing, especially not what they are supposed to do. Only a few of them sport any colour, while the rest appear to be in mourning. Man-holes are an interesting creation, particu-
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Random Writes larly if they are placed in the middle of the road. Their cover, for some reason, bulges upwards and outwards and one’s sure that there must be a perfectly good scientific explanation for it but to the naked eye it looks plain useless and quite annoying when one has to avoid them like a chore. And talk of their cousin, the speed breakers. They used to be of manageable heights but now they are getting increasingly taller and wider, so it takes extra effort to mount them. Also, there are other kinds of things that you’ll find on the roads, which you can either view as decoration pieces to beautify the streets or, conversely, as a warning to the unsuspecting driver. They are, indeed, man-holes that are not suitably covered as man-holes are wont to be; instead tree branches or palm fronds protrude out of them, no doubt the work of some generous soul to sufficiently attract the driver’s eye and prevent him from lodging his tyre in the hole. Other bumps and holes made by rain and such are nature’s way to test the mental and physical agility of the driver as he tries in vain to avoid them and bring the minimum of discomfort to the passengers. Pedestrians defy understanding and the rules governing road sense. When seeing them live in action, one finds oneself unshakably in possession of the idea that they are, perhaps, suicidal. Why else would you try to cross a busy main road with such sublime equanimity? But perhaps people walking on smaller lanes contribute much more towards giving the driver a migraine. It’s common knowledge that these special kind of pedestrians actually hold the belief that roads are meant for them to walk on. And one particular street that I frequent is scattered with human zombies who keep on walking even after I half strain my arm honking. In a big city like Karachi, there is no lack of park-
ing space. You can park your car every which way, in two or three rows behind already parked cars. Indeed, you can even park on the road. And houses whose owners did not have the foresight to imagine that they were building their houses right where a few decades down the road (pun intended) a palpitating market-place would emerge have to sport a ‘do not park in front of the gate’ sign. Then, there are individuals, sanctioned by the government, present at virtually every makeshift parking space, demanding any amount between 10 to 30 rupees in exchange for the privilege to park. They’ve become quite commonplace, haven’t they? We hate them, we abuse them, we try to escape unnoticed, but in the end, pay the fee. But the other day, having too much time on my hands waiting for my mother to finish her grocery shopping, an inadvertent glance at the parking receipt led to illumination of the most treacherous kind. One of the conditions listed on the receipt was, ‘Owner parks at his risk’. Even a person in possession of an otherwise calm demeanour must feel an uncontrollable and highly inappropriate urge to do something drastic to the person who collects the money. The young and enthusiastic, who have just learned to drive must be familiar with a scary presence in their car. That presence is, most often than not, characteristically female and sits in the most uncomfortable manner in the front passenger seat, prophesies a horrible accident every so often, and calls all the shots. She is not there to haunt you, in fact, she’s scared herself. She is your mother, and she is the worst thing that could happen to a newbie driver. She may never have driven a car herself but she is so learned in that particular art that she’ll tell you to stop the car if there is another one approaching from the far opposite end of the lane. Don’t worry, though, this is a rite of passage that most
young drivers must go through. Speaking from personal experience, it gets better with time, slightly. Once in a blue moon, if you’ve been extra good and have completed all your chores and haven’t been guilty of back-biting against your boss for a while, then you may be rewarded with a glimpse of that rarest of species, the one that practices charity while driving. But how will you recognize that model citizen? Simple, if you’re ever waiting at an opening in the road hoping to come onto the road running parallel to the one you’re on but are detained by a long strand of cars that won’t give you the time of day, this one specimen of charitable conduct will stop to let you pass. If you have ever been on the receiving end of charity on wheels, consider yourself blessed, because the next time you’re in a similar situation, that chivalrous being may not stop for you for he may have learned his lesson that letting you pass also means letting the throng of cars behind you pass as well. Those older and wiser than us have said that charity begins at home but they were speaking of an age in which motor-vehicles were not yet invented, and, hence, could be forgiven for not foreseeing that that extremely scarce commodity would become just as necessary on the roads. Indeed, if you’re a first-time driver, or from foreign parts, or just a plain old homebody who seldom risks the roadways, then go wheeling at your own discretion. But whenever you do happen to be driving always remember what my father, a nonpareil, used to say, ‘drive as if everyone else on the road is blind and you’re the only one with eyes’.
Sunehra Mehmood is a lawyer and freelance writer who blogs at sunehram.blogspot.com
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 51
Money & Business
To analyze the pros and cons of Open Source (or ‘Free’) Software model, one must first understand the philosophy in which it is rooted. Suppose you’re a student reading a physics book which explains the Theory of Relativity. Now, you are able to read the book, use the notorious formula E=mc^2 to solve all of your exercises and, if you’re a particularly brilliant student, why not, even start from there to come up with a new scientific discovery. In other words, scientific knowledge is free for everybody to use, modify and redistribute -- you don’t have to pay a royalty to Einstein’s nephew every time you solve a difficult physics exercise or daydream about time-space travel. The world of technology, on the other hand, is largely dominated by patents, which makes it a ‘close’ and competitive model where knowledge is rarely shared without money involved: companies strive to patent their latest innovations and boost their profits. Standard licenses and patents therefore prohibit any attempt at understanding the detailed mechanism through which a particular piece of technology works. In this sense, the Open Source Software can be seen as a way to bring the worlds of science and technology closer together, particularly in the field of computer software, by granting everybody the rights to disassemble, rebuild, manipulate and personalize the software, making it possible to understand its inner mechanisms and adapt it to the user’s needs. Many Open Source licenses therefore state the source code of the program must be available for immediate download. This, unluckily, is sometimes considered to impact the fields in which the OS model can be applied. For instance, using free software for network security purposes is generally discouraged, as the source code availability makes it easier for a malicious user to find a bug in the program and exploit it, whereas with proprietary software you would have to reverse-engineer a large part of the code to achieve the same result. However, the advantages in terms of transparency and reusability coming from the Open Source model are unique and will often attract developers willing to review and submit frequent patches and updates on a voluntary basis to ensure the quality of the project remains high. n a voluntary basis to ensure the quality of the project remains high. Donald Trump, one of the world’s most famous businessmen, has filed for bankruptcy 4 times 52 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Science, Technology & Internet
By: Geoffrey Weed
The sixth state of matter, which is actually much lower on the scale than any of the previously discussed five, is called BoseEinstein condensate. This is also called the The next state of matter, after plasma, is zero state of matter. It takes place when the beam state. This is a somewhat difficult matter is frozen to a temperature that is so state of matter to understand, without Solid - Ice low that it almost reaches absolute zero. In a great deal of background scientific Liquid - Water this state the matter almost ceases to be, knowledge. For all intents and purposes, Gas - Steam and the nuclei pile on top of each-other. what’s important to understand about However, there are actually four other states beam matter is that its particle makeup acts The final state of matter, the seventh, is of matter that exist. Understanding them all much differently than that of solids, liquids, by far the most ethereal concept. It is the fully can be a rather complex exercise, so thought wave state of matter. The thought gases, or plasmas. In all of those other let’s just examine the basics instead. wave moves more quickly and is more states of matter, the constituent particles act in seemingly random patterns. In the efficient than even beam matter. It is an First of all, the fourth state of matter, after beam state, however, the particles all act in idea, however, that is far too complex to gas, is plasma. Most people are familiar a sort of synchronized harmony, all working deal with exclusively in one short article. In with plasma primarily due to its prevalence towards the same end. Hence the term order to find out more about the thought in plasma screen TV’s. Plasma is, wave state of matter, one needs to do “beam.” Beam is also different because it essentially, an ionized gas. This means that is not a heat-exchange form of matter. In some extensive background reading. It plasma is gas that has become so hot that other words, all the other states involve an is, however, a truly remarkable subject some electrons have become separated and learning about it in greater detail is exchange of heat energy, but the beam and have joined other nuclei. Plasma can extraordinarily fascinating. state does not. Seven states of matter? I know, I know, we’re all taught in school that there are only 3 states of matter, right? There are solids, liquids, and gases. For instance, in the case of H20, it can take the form of:
act in bizarre, unpredictable ways, and is therefore a somewhat dangerous form of matter.
If you search “askew” in Google, the content of the browser will tilt slightly 54 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Science, Technology & Internet
Review: Unique, Charming & Polished By: Timo, TapArena
It’s a great game that perfectly demonstrates how to utilize the touchscreen interface on iPhone and iPad to create a unique and fun gameplay mechanic. Oh, and it also looks and sounds great. Sounds good? So lets talk about the controls. In Bumpy Road, you guide the car of an elderly couple. But you wont be doing this with any on-screen buttons. Nope, in Bumpy Road you control the ground. Wherever you touch the road, it will lift up, creating a bump that you have to use to create momentum for the car. Creating a bump left of the car will make it go right and vice versa, touching the road right underneath the car will make it jump. The mechanics of this control scheme are implemented perfectly and work like a charm. However, as easy as it might sound, you’ll actually need to spend some time practicing until you get the hang of it.
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Bumpy Road comes with 2 modes. The first one, Evergreen Ride, is an endless mode where you’ll be trying to get the couple as far as possible without falling into the numerous gaps or running out of gas. In order to get going you’ll need to collect little gizmos that are everywhere along the way to fill up your fuel gauge. Once the fuel gauge is completely filled up, the game will go black-and-white and speeds up for short period of time. The second mode is called Sunday Trip and is all about getting the couple as fast as possible from start to finish. On top of the normal gizmos you’ll also find some that will speed up the car, making it crucial to catch as many of them as possible. There are no gaps in this mode, so it’s a great choice if you need some more practice with the controls.
Every inch of Bumpy Road feels incredibly polished. From the menus to the art style and the music: Simogo has put a lot of attention to detail and made sure that Bumpy Road is a flawless experience. It really is a very charming game. The fact that you can collect memories of the couples while playing that, bit by bit, unlock their romantic story only emphasizes this point. The only criticism that I can think of is a lack of variety. But since the whole point of the game is the control scheme it’s build on, that’s a minor complaint. Bumpy Road is out now on the App Store as universal app for $2.99.
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 55
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Exclusive interview with
Waseem Manzoor by: Ally Adnan - Photos by: Ammar Shareef
Waseem Manzoor plays one of the lead roles in the upcoming feature film, Phida Hussain’s Swaarangi, which marks the return of Resham to the silver screen after an absence of eight (8) years. Waseem’s performance, in a negative role, has impressed veteran co-stars Resham and Ayub Khosa as well as the film’s producer and director. The erstwhile singer and television actor is expected to enter the world of cinema with a bang and is currently contemplating his next career move. In an exclusive interview with Vmag, Waseem talks to Ally Adnan about his career, his friendships, his upcoming feature films, and much more.
Your first feature film is all set to see the husband recover and add to her troubles and suffering. be released. How does it feel?
human psyche has always impressed me. I had always wanted to work with him. Phida came up with the idea of Swaarangi Surreal. and narrated the story to me casually one Tell us about your role in the I am happy, anxious, apprehensive, day. It left me spellbound. He has a very optimistic, nervous and hopeful, all at the film. artistic vision and described each scene to same time. A lot has been invested in I play a young man, Zaryab, who has me vividly. All major characters in the film Swaarangi - time, money, effort, emotion strong feelings, of both love and lust, for had been defined well and motivations, ac- and the film’s success is very important Salma. He is a selfish person who wreaks tions and feelings were clearly delineated. to me. Pakistani cinema is undergoing a havoc in Salma’s life. The role is negaI wanted to be a part of the film and was grand revival and I want Swaarangi to be a tive but traverses various shades of grey on board immediately. part of the resurgence of our film industry. between the villainous and the truly evil. The producer of the film, Mazhar Abbas, Zaryab was not written as a completely became a good friend during the making negative character and I had to work work What is Swaarangi about? of Swaarangi as did my costar, Naveed hard to give a nuanced performance, one Swaarnagi is based on actual events. It Akbar. The four (4) of us are now very is a sad and tragic story set in Pakistan’s that humanizes him while showing his dark close, almost inseparable, friends. side. tribal areas where the strong and the powerful hold all the power and show no regard for law, ethics and morals. It It seems that a few close friends Swaarangi is an art movie. Do you expect Swaarangi to be a depicts the miserable life and struggles of collaborated to make Swaathe weak who live in this patriarchal and rangi. How did the project come commercial success? cruel society. I believe that Swaarangi is going to be about? The story revolves around a careworn a tremendous commercial and critical woman, Salma, whose husband is a drug The director of the movie, Phida Hussain, success. addict and brings great suffering and pain and I have been friends for a very long Pakistani film viewers are smart, intime. He is a very perceptive, creative and telligent, well-read, and mature. They to the lives of those around him. She is surrounded by people who do not want to sensitive person. His understanding of the have been ready for “good” cinema for a 56 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Arts, Culture & Entertainment with her. My wife is a trusting person. She knows me well. I love her immensely. She need never worry about me.
enjoyable, tasks. I hope that I will improve my craft with time and working in films will become easy for me. Right now, it is not.
When did you decide to take up In addition to being an actor, acting? you have worked as a model. Do I never made a conscious decision to you enjoy modeling? become a professional actor; things just worked out in a way that I ended up in films. Voice acting has been my profession for years. I have provided voice for commercials, films, video games and many other works. I enjoy doing voiceovers and am still engaged in voice acting. A few years ago, some friends encouraged me to audition for television. The audition went well and I acted in a few television plays. Then Swaarangi came along. It was a project I could not turn down as an actor. So, here I am. My first film is going to be released soon and I am in talks for several other feature films. long time. The industry has been late in producing serious films. Now things have changed. Our industry is going through an incredible resurgence and reinvention. I am confident that the results will be phenomenal. We will produce good films and people will come in to see them in droves.
Resham plays the central character in Swaarangi. Did you enjoy working with a famous star?
Resham is a true legend of Pakistani cinema. She has been a star for more than two (2) decades. That is an awfully long time to maintain top status in show business; but she has done it with grace, dignity and glamour. A lot of glamour. Resham was a pleasure to work with. She always showed up on time, well-prepared and well-rehearsed. She made sure that all of us understood the characters we were playing well and gave us great support on and off set. Her character in Swaarangi is not glamorous. She could only play it well by utilizing her histrionic abilities and not capitalizing on her glamour and looks. She did that exceedingly well. She immerses herself in the character of Salma in Swaarangi. A few minutes into the film, one forgets that it is Resham Do you enjoy acting? on screen starts to see only Salma. I I am passionate about acting. I like being believe that she will get a lot of recognition in front of the camera and am most comfor her role in the film. fortable when I am in the company of other actors. That being said, I must confess How did your wife react to you that acting does not come easily to me. I have to work very hard to get my perforworking with Resham? mances right. Memorizing lines, getting Her reaction was good, way better than into character, maintaining continuity, interI had expected. She is a fan of Resham and was excited that I was getting to work acting with the crew, and remaining faithful to the script are all very arduous, albeit www.vmag.pk
I consider modeling to be a form of acting and enjoy it a lot. Even though acting is my first love, I plan on continuing to model. It is nice to see myself on billboards!
Who are the people who have helped you in your career as an actor?
My friend have always been there for me. They are the ones who encouraged me to audition for television. I am a big believer in true friendship and have been fortunate enough to reap its many benefits, all my life. Resham, Phida Hussain and Mazhar Abbas are three (3) people who helped me enormously as an actor. Their coaching, guidance and support gave me the confidence I needed to act in a feature film. Our senior vocalist, Attaullah Khan Niazi, has always been a source of support and comfort in my life as well. I owe him a lot.
When you are not acting, or modeling, what do you do?
I read books and I watch films. A lot of films.
What projects are you currently working on?
I am in final discussions with the producer of a feature film that will start filming in the fall. I play the lead in the film. The director of the feature film is new to cinema and will be making his debut with the film. He is an immensely talented and dedicated individual. There are a few other projects in the pipeline but I am holding off on signing on to any of them until after the release of Swaarangi. I want people to see my performance in the film first.
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 57
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Shahzad Zar
By: Ally Adnan Shahzad Zar started painting as a young child and was a self-taught artist until he approached Syed Ali Imam and started studying with one of the pioneers of modern art in Pakistan. His first oneman show was held at the venerable Indus Art Gallery in 1999. There has been no looking back for Shahzad Zar since who has exhibited and sold works all over the world. Zar’s modern calligraphies, brightly colored explorations of the female form, and works in multiple media are part of some of the must important collections of South Asian art in the world.
58 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 59
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Celebrating
Thirty Years in the Arts By: Ally Adnan
2014 marks 30 years in the world of arts for Islamabad’s Nomad Art Gallery. The gallery opened its doors in 1984 and is today one of the most venerated art galleries in South Asia. Founder and director, Nageen Hyat celebrated the gallery’s thirtieth birthday by mounting an exhibition of modern calligraphic works by the two of Pakistan’s most promising artists, Shahzad Zar and Mian Athar. The two (2) artists have reinvented the ancient art of Islamic calligraphy by merging classical with modern techniques, unusual media and rich color palettes; the highly personal works on display were unique, daring, vivid and inspired. Shaharyar Khan, Rebekah Wigemaile, Syed Najam Kazmi, Syed Hasnain, Riffat Khattak, and Penelope Kinch were amongst the guest who attended the opening of the exhibition.
60 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Khumariyaan By: Ally Adnan - Photos By: Shaharyar Khan
Recently selected to tour the United States as part of the Center Stage program, the Peshawar based band, Khumariyaan, is all set to rock the country with their richly layered and energetic music. The band is known synthesizing ancient Pushtun music with modern music and creating music uniquely their own, one that is neither fusion nor traditional, but an intelligent interpretation of Afghan, Pakistani and Persian musical traditions. Islamabad's top celebrity photographer, Shaharyar Khan, took some shots of the four band members – Farhan Bogra, Shiraz Khan, Sparlay Rawail and Aamer Shafiq, for Vmag recently at Islamabad's famed Italian restaurant, the posh Tuscany Courtyard.
Aamer Shafiq, Sparlay Rawail, Ally Adnan, Farhan Bogra & Shiraz Khan
Farhan Bogra www.vmag.pk
Sparlay Rawail
Shiraz Khan
Aamer Shafiq Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 61
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Emerging Artist Kausar Iqbal By: Arif Mahmood
Kausar Iqbal, originating from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, discovered his desire to paint at a very young age. His conservative and strict upbringing only fueled his ambition to become an artist. Acquiring a Master’s degree in Miniature Art from NCA enabled Kausar to pursue his dream. He has exhibited his work at numerous galleries across Pakistan and been featured in galleries within the United States. He has incorporated elements from well-known miniature techniques to help establish his own unique style. Kausar lost several of his members in the earthquake and channeled his grief into a powerful series on elephants, depicting resilience, strength, and perseverance. He also honors women by painting a captivating burqah series which highlights the fortitude and strength of Pakistani women. Another series focuses on Sufis which demonstrates their mysticism, religious fervor, and allure. Kausar’s work continues to inspire audiences across the world.
62 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Book Review:
FRANK HERBERT’S DUNE
By: Andrew Sehmann
The book Dune was written by Frank Herbert in 1965. It soon came to be known as one of the greatest science fiction books ever written, if not the greatest one of all time. However, if you haven’t actually read the book, that’s ok because that’s what this review is for. To understand some of the book though, you need some information of who the author is, and thusly I’ll be going over him just a little bit right now. Frank Herbert was born Oct. 8th, 1920. His first writing job was when he got on the Glendale Star newspaper in 1949. He had a break in his job, because he was assigned to the navy during World War Two, as a photographer until he got a medical discharge. His first actual novel was: Dragon in the Sea, which was about a submarine and madness in the 21st century. The book also predicted over oil consumption and production, scarcity of it abounds. His work on Dune began when he was assigned to Florence Oregon to report about the sand dunes there. He ended up getting almost consumed by his article. It never really published but it gave him the base ideas for Dune. He wrote many more novels, five of which being Dune related, but he had a stretch of cancer in the 80’s. He died in 1986 because of a complication with his cancer as he recovered. Don’t you feel a bit more enlightened about the author now? Anyways: a bit about the book itself, and a bit about when it was published. Dune is like Star Wars: it takes place a long time ago in a galaxy far away. In this galaxy, the spice Melange is needed for almost everything transport wise which the Spacing guild has control of. The only place that this stuff can be found is a desert planet known as Akkaris, which a tribal people called the Fremen inhabit. The main character Paul Atreides fits into this because the emperor ordered his family (who rules over a planet known as Caladan which is a lot like America…) to move to the planet and take it over from the family currently ruling it: The Harkonens. Certain things happen to Paul’s family, along with certain things to him… however I can’t really say any more on this without spoiling most of the plot. So read it yourself! A couple of the things about this book can also be derived from the time it was written. That being: it was 1965 when the Flower Power movement was just getting started, environmentalism followed as well. Secondly, the space race was just getting underway in both the USSR and the USA. Thirdly: Vietnam had just started getting its shipments of troops from America. Interestingly enough the major themes of the book have to do with environmentalism uses of natural resources, war, and space. However the biggest theme to me seems to be the environmentalism factor, as the outsiders running the planet are turning it almost dry so they can get the spice they need. Secondly: the natives, Fremen, are trying to preserve what they can, they live in an almost harmony-like existence with the desert because they treat it well. In the book you never here of a Fremen dieing in the desert, however the outsiders always seem to die in the desert which is because of their mistreatment of the planet. Thirdly, in Dune Frank www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Herbert describes Dune as a whole: as a living thing. In just that statement he shows what I think to be one of the main ideas of the book, that if you can treat it well you live fine together with it, if you treat it badly, looting and pillaging it, you’ll most likely encounter problems till it’s completely dead. Ironically, things like this are happening on our planet, with the large amounts of oil being drilled and burned. In my opinion, I think he made this very agreeable to the people reading the book, because of the character Kynes the ecologist. He instills the idea in the Fremen that they must try to clean up their world, that being to make desert into oasis. Now me being the big long haired guy and all, I do have to agree that, that’d be a very, very good thing to do for our environment (even if it won’t happen at the current rate), he pushes it a bit further with the whole sandworms thing but I can’t get into that much though without spoiling the book. Also putting through the eyes of Paul, the impressionable young teenager really helps get the point across. Compared to other books about the environment of this time, Silent Spring, I think Frank Herbert does it in a better way. For example: if you’re trying to read Silent Spring you’re not going to be very interested in it at all, instead you’re most likely going to just skim through it and pick up the basic facts. In Dune however, you get the entire epic journey of Paul, which has many of the environmentalist ideas strewn throughout it. He also makes it exciting, which is a plus compared to Silent Spring. In closing: Dune is a very exciting Science Fiction novel, which should be read by everyone if they can. Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 63
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
By: Andy Simcox The ‘difficult’ teenage years have always provided rich pickings for screen writers. There is an immediate connection with an audience eager to be understood and the licence to roam great distances in imagining what might happen if one or two things were added to even up the obligatory injustices. Like giving the power of telekinesis to those who are bullied for example. ‘Chronicle’ is the tale of three late-teens who gain superpowers through an encounter with a force lurking down a mysterious hole in the back woods. This is Seattle, known not only for Microsoft and Frasier, but also grunge and teenage angst. The friends are initially careful in developing their powers, mostly for their own entertainment – moving cars, flying above the clouds, performing magic shows. But you know it is ultimately going to go wrong. It’s just a question of when. Before jumping down the ‘rabbit hole’, Steve – a fully grown Michael B. Jordan, a.k.a. Wallace from ‘The
Wire’, is a popular school president in the making. Matt is a likeable, relaxed, growing philosopher .. if a little bumbling. Andrew, played by Dane DeHaan – a dead ringer for a young Di Caprio – is a good kid, but he is weedy and pushed around for not being cool. His abusive father beats him and doesn’t care for his terminally sick mother. Andrew’s wish to record everything on his out of date video camera adds to his unpopularity. When he discovers that as an “Apex Predator” he no longer feels physical pain, you wonder how long Andrew will be able to avoid using his powers to address that which hurts him emotionally. It’s a thought that increasingly worries Steve and Matt. They know he is damaged. Will their friendship survive and at what cost to them and others? Director Josh Trank’s relatively low budget piece has been described as ‘Carrie vs Blair Witch’ and you can see why. Potentially irritating, the handycam-view works well, allowing a different perspective. We are a presence in the scene, chronicling that which is happening, but helpless to influence the impending horror. This is something of a departure from the typical superhero movie, compounded by the understated use of CGI until the final twenty minutes. The combination of the budget and the freshness of Max Landis’s screenplay add an ‘independent’ quality, reminiscent of ‘Reservoir Dogs’, or ‘Shallow Grave’, without being quite in their league. You don’t have to be a teen to enjoy ‘Chronicle’ and you get the feeling you will be hearing more from Trank and Landis.
Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” was the first blockbuster, because people lined up around the block to see the movie 64 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
JOKES “Take one of these whenever you get the cap off.”
&
more
Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn’t seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps, “My friend is dead! What can I do?”. The operator says “Calm down. I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.” There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says “OK, now what? Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson were going camping. They pitched their tent under the stars and went to sleep. Sometime in the middle of the night Holmes woke Watson up and said: “Watson, look up at the stars, and tell me what you see.” Watson replied: “I see millions and millions of stars.” Holmes said: “and what do you deduce from that?” Watson replied: “Well, if there are millions of stars, and if even a few of those have planets, it’s quite likely there are some planets like earth out there. And if there are a few planets like earth out there, there might also be life.” And Holmes said: “Watson, you idiot, it means that somebody stole our tent.”
www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 65
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Quotations
&
Sudoku A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths. Steven Wright Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three. Elayne Boosl My fake plants died because I did not pretend to water them. Mitch Hedberg
Solved
66 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk www.vmag.pk
www.vmag.pk
Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep) 67
68 Vmag 3rd Issue (July-Sep)
www.vmag.pk