Mystrey of Mona Lisa's smile finally unveild

Walking through the corridors of Louvre thousands have wondered the arguably most enigmatic question out there... the Mona Lisa smile. Mona Lisa is now believed to be Da Vinci's venture in one of his bad times that almost invariably every artist has to suffer.
Accordingly Mona Lisa is believed to be a work commissioned around 1500 for the merchant Franceso Giocondo's wife, Lisa del Giocondo.

Recently the researchers entered the tomb of the Giocondo family and obtained DNA samples to ascertain the parentage; i.e. Lisa is the mother of the Giocondo family children buried out there.
The head researcher Venciti is out to set the records and end the dispute once and for all about the identity of the beautiful, enigmatic woman. If DNA's match; it would confirm her true identity. So finally we may have the answer to who is the person behind the enigmatic smile :)

The Laptop cum tablet... the ultimate computer nowadays. Lenovo bags the market

So finally here is someone who understands how to exploit the Windows 8 in a classic form. Although it is not an unheard of idea; Lenovo is the first company off the mark to market the laptop cum tablet.

Powered by Intel Core i7 the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix is totally versatile; acting both as a desktop/laptop when attached and as a tablet when detached. Though the price now is too high but it lives up to the expectations of a computer specifically build for Windows 8. 

To be honest the conversion of  the laptop to tablet and back is totally mesmerizing, never loses its charm ;)

Apple rushes to put out the fire over electrocuted Chinese woman

In the latest move, the Apple Inc. has decided to replace all the counterfeit USB chargers in the market.

The users of any Apple product are to provide the serial number of their gadget (iPhone, iPad, iPod) and get exactly one replacement of an official Apple charger on the payment of a discounted price of $10 or equivalent in local currency.

The move has been made after the reports of young Ma Ailun, a Chinese woman who was electrocuted when a surge of electric current passed trough her non Apple USB charger, as she was charging and using her iPhone 5 simultaneously resulting in her death.

Apple has maintained that the disposition of the counterfeit chargers will be carried out in a safe and environmental friendly manner.

Pakistan to send first official entry to Oscars in five decades

Pakistan has decided to nominate a film officially under the category of Best Foreign Language Film for the prestigious Academy Awards.

The previous two occasions when Pakistan send an entry are 1959 for Kardar's film Jago Hua Savera and 1963 for Kahwaja Kurshid's Ghughat.

 

The film entry has yet to be decided by the committee set up for this sole purpose consisting of esteemed judges Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Mehreen Jabbar, Samina Peerzada, Mohsin Hamid, Rahat Kazmi and Akifa Mian.

The news is well appreciated as it just points out that the future of Pakistan cinema may not be so bleak after-all. Though in the past the military coups and the political instability had never left much space for the performing arts to be taken seriously or to be actively promoted. This piece of news is the silver lining that has long been anticipated and bodes well for all the film makers out there. Indeed it may rightly be termed as the straw for our drowning cinema.  

The death of the PC.....

Though it was quite apparent that the days of the big box Personal Computers were nearing... nobody was prepared for the shocking decline in their sales this quarter.

Seems like as if unlike the previous generation, the good old PC is to be replaced by a tablet for many of the toddlers. So it is world at your fingertips quite literally  now . With the new phones coming in with all built in features, the PCs are becoming obsolete.

The change is mainly being blamed on the low cost tablets being manufactured world over. However some of the blame does rest on the shoulders of the Microsoft Inc. which in its effort to remodel Windows operating system ( the most popular worldwide) has basically made it more difficult for the PC users (the omission of familiar start button being just one example). 

High Heels as Children Fad .....

So true we always want to imitate in fashion that is the current in thing . And no matter what we say, yes we do end up buying exactly the things that we see our idols supporting be it an actress or a successful business woman.
However things do get serious when we see kids so taken with the newest fashion trends that it does give you a pause.

I know young girls are always fond of wearing high heels. I remember myself as kid when i used to sneak up to my mother's wardrobe, get out her heels, and walk (or rather try walking :P ) in them. When ever caught of course i was given an excellent punishment and somehow it all added to the charm of heels.

Now when i see kids brands coming up with high heels, it makes me wonder where is that innocence gone? But the thing is when kids see their idols as Suri Cruise supporting high heels, they naturally want to follow in her footsteps literally.

         Seeing the rise in their sale, and judging by their popularity more and more kids brands are featuring high heels in their collections. I wonder though would they let their young ones wear the same?                                                                          

         

 According to Dr. Oliver Zong  "A common side effect of adults wearing heels too often is the tightening or shortening of the Achilles tendon," Given the softer bones still in the process of development in children, only adds to my concerns.

The added aspect of children lifestyle being more rough, I for one am just not in favor of letting young girls wear high heels. I just can't begin to picture the playing grounds filled with girls running around in high heels. I find the childhood fading fast enough as it is than to rush the younger ones into adulthood sooner.

I think it is responsibility of parents of idols as Suri Cruise to see what they support.

A new Low for Ramadan Show Ratings... Aamir Liaquat Hussain gives away Orphaned babies on his show

So i know that TV shows do lots of weird stuff just for their ratings but to go as far as to to give away children in a live TV show.... well someone is making news (and ratings as well) here.

 Aamir Liaquat came to front scene of the showbiz by doing an Islamic program for Geo Network Aalim Online. Propelled by the immense popularity of show Mr. Hussain has been riding the air ever since despite his many controversial aspects. 

         Where last year we saw channels as Hero TV putting on the most controversial presenter for an Islamic show that they could come up with i.e. Veena Malik, the start of Ramazan this year saw a new wave of heated competition between different presenters for show ratings.

         With everyone coming up with newest possible ideas, Aamir Liaquat; in an unprecedented move came up with the brilliant idea of giving away orphans to childless couples as Ramazan gift.

          Immediately, the people are in uproar while Mr. Hussain claims himself to be Santa Claus of Islam. Those in his favor are of the opinion that there is no wrong done if the abandoned children find themselves homes and loving parents.

        The argument might have been just a bit more convincing if the show didn't give away cell phones, lawn dresses, bikes and home appliances to the audience. Really children are not things that you can give away on your show as prizes. No ethical law permits you to dole out innocent souls that way. It is inhumane and seriously when I think I have heard it all.... people do come up with new ways to shock you out of your existence. 

    What I am truly amazed at is the behavior of Chippa Welfare Organisation an NGO which is actually acting as the provider of these abandoned children because where we may blame TV ratings for Aamir Liaquat's antics; I can not come up with any other plausible reason for the NGO 's involvement in the matter than for cheap publicity.

          The matter however brings to light another serious issue, where we see that there are no specified rules or a set procedure for such adoptions and the loop hole has been exploited very well by Aamir Liaquat Hussain in his show. It is now necessary to take effective measures in this regards so as to stop this practice right here once and for all.

Your SIM Card is no longer secure.....

As if the uproar caused by the snooping of NSA into the phones was not enough to scare people and to put them on their guard, the recent development has it that even the mobile phone SIM cards are prone to hacker attacks.

The German cryptographer Karsten Nohl broke the news to the world declaring we might be having a problem ( as if we don't have any before ) .

 According to Nohl's research (all set to be presented in LasVegas on July 31st) the SIM cards which are mostly protected by the DES developed in the late 70's were hacked by him.

Now this is a serious issue not only in Pakistan but all over the world because till now the SIM card was supposed to be the impenetrable domain, however Nohl puts forward the figure of 1/8th ( i.e. an astonishing 62500000 SIM card world wide ) that are susceptible to attack.

It adds specifically to the worries of Pakistani nation ( who already are facing problems and concerns over recent barge of hacker attack on the online banking system in their country ), as almost 1.4 millon  people in the country use mobile banking ( easy Paisa UBL omni MobiCash) for various transactions. 

The Recent wave of Hacker Attacks on the Pakistani banks

Recently two Pakistani hackers Dr. Freak and Xploit3r have attacked quite a number of Online systems of the Pakistani banks.

This series of attacks which began by the said hackers when they first took out Soneri Bank website reached a new high when they took out Allied bank which is one of the most popular banks of the country with its customers spread nationwide.

The hackers maintain that their purpose is only to point out the weaknesses in the system. They reinforced the point repeatedly that in a country as Pakistan no one gives a damn to what you say until the sword is hanging over the heads. It seems as if they are trying to make their point (literally) as the attack frenzy didn't stop but continued as HBL, MCB, Sindh and KPK Govt. websites were taken out subsequently.

This whole episode has created much panic among the customers who are now concerned for their security and are questioning the safety of their confidential data. This event is an eye opener for the respective banks and the concerned authorities on the lax security measures. A prompt action is called for in this regard so as to give people some sense of security and addressing their concerns accordingly. Still waiting for the uptake on this issue by the PTA.

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Extradition of Aafia Siddiqui from US

So the news has it that Aafiaa Siddiqui from Pakistan ,who on the accusation of grabbing a rifle of a US marine and shooting at a group of FBI agents and soldiers was sentenced to 86 years in prison, is now to be handed over to Pakistan. This is a part of a deal between the two allies according to which they are to release other's their inmates.

Since her capture her sister Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui has led an active movement all across the country for the extradition of her sib and this demand for her release has been put forth internationally as well.

 It should be kept in mind that US claim of Aafia being an Al Qaeda agent is denied and scorned upon by the Pakistanis who deem this idea as preposterous. Aafia had also denied all the charges put up against her.

The part of US deal requires that Aafia is to complete remainder of her sentence in her own country. We still have to wait and see how this news is to be received in Pakistan, i have thoughts that her continuing imprisonment in her own country is not to be welcomed wholeheartedly and many will be having qualms at this.

Meanwhile the Interior Ministry's task force is considering the US offer.

A recent development shows that Pakistani nation is strongly opposed to terms of Aafia's release as Shireen Mazari of PTI declred it unacceptable.

Kate Middleton and Prince William Impostors @ Hospital in London

St. Mary's Hospital witnessed a strange event yesterday as Prince William and his Princess Katherine were spotted at the entrance of Lido Wing....and SNAP!!!!

 ... there goes the paparazzi cameras...

For a moment or two everyone assumed the moment was finally here....those who had been keeping a vigil for the #RoayalBaby went frantic.... and turns out it was all a prank played upon by The Sun .

The media has surprisingly been unable to appreciate the humor  in this situation.

 Seems as if the paparazzi are not happy with the turn of events. Funnily enough to me it seems as if they are not much enjoying when the camera turned towards them for once in their lives. Who says media can not make news!!!!!