DISCLAIMER: This review is not sponsored. The Current has done its own independent research for this review.
Looking to buy a fridge? Which one is the most popular in Pakistan? We compare two – Dawlance and Kenwood – that are the most popular in your city. According to our research, Orient, PEL and Haier are also very popular but salespeople at local stores claim that these two are the ones which are most commonly bought.
The table below gives a brief outline of the two fridges.
Dawlance
Kenwood
Rs 33,000 – 55,000
Rs 45,000 – 65,000
Service Centres: 4 in Karachi, 2 in Lahore
Service Centres: 4 in Karachi, 3 in Lahore
3-way cooling
Unbreakable models
Works on low voltage
Best in load shedding
Warranty – 12 years
Warranty – 3 years
Because of its services, price and warranty time period, Dawlance emerges as a winner.
It’s a trend now. To talk about the non-conformists, the ones who don’t fit in and the ones who don’t want to.
In her 10th novel, Japanese fiction author Sayaka Murata doesn’t make up a story. She calmly and incredibly coolly takes us into the world of the straight face life of a “convenience store woman” in her internationally best-selling book of the same name.
Stores of Convenience
It’s a weird book and it’s so much fun. We enter the world of a convenience store worker, Keiko, who is 36 years old and single, has never dated anyone and has worked part-time at the same store for the past 18 years.
No one seems to understand why she has worked in the Smile Mart for so long, why she yearns to be there and how it literally becomes her day and her night. But then she isn’t one to do things normally.
The first blow that Keiko gives us is a memory of her childhood, when, to break up a fight, she hits one of the boys on the head with a spade and doesn’t understand when everyone is shocked by what she does. They did say they wanted the fight to stop.
Deadpan and almost robotic, Keiko is the person we would tend to avoid — lacks emotion, copies emotion, and doesn’t get angry. You can’t trust Keiko but you can’t help but like her. Murata has so beautifully carved out Keiko’s character that you somehow don’t feel bad for her at all. Perhaps because you know that she already has everything; a job she lives for, a convenience store she loves and that’s enough for her.
Murata, through Keiko, takes us through the experience of milestones that are part of every single society in the world. Work, life-partner, marriage, children and how we tend to isolate and judge people who don’t fit in society’s norms.
Keiko’s counter, the young, lanky, and smelly Shiraha, is full of disdain. He joins the store and soon gets fired from the Smile Mart for not doing his duties. Figures that his only reason for taking the job was to find a woman, stalk her and marry her.
The utter stench his words produce when we meet him is more effective than repellent. He is a loathsome character and as we move through the book, and discover that he might be important, we try to like him when there is nothing at all to like.
But to be fair, Murata rushes through the existence of Shiraha. Maybe because she doesn’t want to marry the crazy beauty she has created with Keiko and perhaps she realises that the reader might relate more to Shiraha; whether they like him or not.
It’s a short read, ends in 162 pages, bound to finish in a few hours because of how perfectly normal it is. It’s not at all a judgey book but it takes us into such a quirky and strange journey through Keiko that we can’t help but reflect on how judgemental we can be. How she, without question, anger, regret, tries to adapt to her society, where she doesn’t fit in. She cleverly and poignantly highlights what we all do: mirror others, judge others for not fitting in molds and feel happy for them when they do.
At one point of the book, Keiko is told off by Shiraha who says, “You’re not human” to which Keiko thinks, “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!” a thought which will leave you with a smile and simple reflection on life’s ambitious rat race and the simplicity of the convenience store worker. For a moment you’ll want her contentment, her creepy thoughts (inertly thinking that you might have had one or two of those yourself) until you conveniently forget and go back to ignoring the simple, convenient things.
Independence Day makes the patriotic in us all excited. Catchy melodies simply add to the patriotic sentiments and feelings. On Pakistan’s 75th birthday, let’s look at some patriotic songs that will make you fall in love with your country all over again.
While songs sung by our legends are without a doubt outclass, The Current has summed up a list of patriotic songs remakes that are definitely worth listening to.
Sohni Dharti
Celebrate the spirit of Independence with Sohni Dharti by all the renowned artists of Pakistan.
Khayal Rakhna
Strepstils Stereo made the remake of Khayal Rakhna by the legendary Alamgir and interestingly, no musical instruments were used in this song, and all sounds are made from voice and mouth. An August 14 must listen.
Dil Se Pakistan
Remember Dil Se by Haroon. Every millennial can relate to this song as this was everyone’s jam for Independence Day.
Pakistani National Song Mashup
This tribute to Pakistan by the Christian community in their magically sweet voices is wonderful.
Main tou Dekhoonga
We know Main tau Dekhoonga by Strings is not a remake but this song must be in everyone’s playlist as it gives you hope for a brighter future for Pakistan.
No Lies Fries is late to the game. The gourmet burgers and fries came into existence a century ago and left Karachi two years ago with Burger Lab, Oh My Grill and Juicy Lucy. Though some did come close to the Holy Grail of burgers – Shake Shack – others were a miss. After hearing rave reviews on No Lies Fries, I wondered could it be? Had they cracked the Shake Shack code?
The NLF: beef patty, lettuce and secret sauce
Sadly, no. They’re close. But they’re drying their meat out by overcooking it and assuming their secret sauce will hold it together. But those extra 40 seconds on the grill only shock the patty into becoming plain boring. The ‘secret sauce’ doesn’t really need to be a secret since it’s nothing earth-shattering.
The only shake in their shack is that perfectly perfect potato bun. Oh my, what a bun. I disassembled the burger and tried the soft potato goodness on its own and it’s legit, the best bun in town.
The Crispy Chick: fried chicken, secret sauce, jalapenos and cheese
The Crispy Chick, a fried chicken burger, didn’t get the slather of the secret sauce that was needed but it was fried to perfection. Depends on how crisp you like your chicken though. This was perfect. A not so thin layer of breadcrumbs resulted in a perfectly cooked chicken breast with that oh-so-delicious potato bun. The Crispy Chick isn’t KFC level, but then again I don’t particularly enjoy the fat layer of crispy crumbs which tend to overcook the chicken.
Coming onto their main item. The guy taking the order recommended the Authentic Canadian Poutine but I really wish he hadn’t. The dish on its own didn’t come together and it seemed that the creators of this one expect that customers, (mostly Canadian returns) will be wowed by the thought of Canadian poutine rather than the work that goes into it.
A decent (but too thick) beef gravy, cheese curds and fries, it lacked the flavour of traditional Canadian poutine, which is made by the gravy.
Authentic Canadian Poutine Fries
So are they lying? People expect that the juiciest details, the final verdict is usually delivered in the first few paragraphs. But something as inconsequential, as common, as Alanis Morrisette Ironic can be picked up, bitten into and make you do a 180.
Belgian Frites
No Lies Fries Belgian Frites are out of this world. Thick cut fries, Gordon Ramsay level cooked, crisp and aggressively seasoned, they are without an atom of a doubt, the best fries in Karachi. Their burgers might lie, but those simple fries definitely don’t. This just goes to show that secret sauces, shake shack references, Canadian copies won’t get you anywhere but a side item can make you live up to your name.
(On a side note: the burger doesn’t come with fries; they are sold separately. And with a burger starting at Rs. 560, it’s really not the best deal in town).
It is so much fun making boomerangs on Instagram and then
sharing it with your friends. Soon we all will be able to make boomerangs not
only on Instagram but also on the WhatsApp.
WhatsApp is reportedly working on a Boomerang feature similar to the one on Instagram. It is in the development stage and soon it will be launched for the users.
The feature will be available in the Video Type panel for the videos that are less than 7 seconds long. These boomerangs can be shared with friends in your contacts. Also, users can post them as their WhatsApp status.
WhatsApp
does allow users to convert their videos into GIFs. But Instagram’s Boomerang
feature on WhatsApp will be something new and interesting.
Initially,
the feature will launch on iOS and later on Android phone.
After cycling 4,000 miles through 17 countries for 60 days, the Tour De Hajj team arrived in Saudi Arabia from London on Saturday. The group of cyclists travelling for Hajj received a hearty welcome upon their arrival in Medina.
Announcing the completion of their mission, the team shared an emotional video of themselves on social media.
They added, “Hajj begins next week and we touched down Masjid Nabawi just after the Maghreb! The hospitality we received today was incredible. Huge thanks to the Saudi Ministry for looking after us.”
People admired and we in awe of the dedication of the cyclists and wished the team all the very best.
The
Tour De Hajj (TDH) challenge for Penny Appeal from London to Makkah was hoping
to raise tens of thousands for charity. The money collected will fund a model
village consisting of schools, places of worship and a water well in four
countries – Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Uganda.
Most restaurants in Pakistan, especially Lahore, operate on one theory: the more you have on the menu, the better it will be.
Dock 27 sounds like a seafood joint and looks like one too… or does it? Nevermind, it’s complicated.
The base of any chef, any restaurant or any food, is the basics. Books for professional chefs, bibles of food pairings, all emphasise the utmost importance of the basic commandments, which when perfected, are what the finer, complex ideas should stand on.
Dock 27 is as confused as the “About Us” section they have posted on their Facebook page.
The words, that jump at you from their Facebook page, don’t mean anything when put together. “Deepwater expeditions,” “Drifts and Jolts under the dark eclipse,” “journeys with dancing dolphins” and ultimately a “nautical hub” bistro. What did it all mean? I couldn’t tell.
Dimly lit, the clashing interior of Dock 27
Dock 27, a “worldly” restaurant in Lahore Defence, simply put, focuses on seafood, but also on cuisine from around the world. From Thai green curries to NY Strips, Italian pasta to Chinese stir-fried beef, it’s as if the owner and chef sat down and decided to make everything: because excess is always good, isn’t it?
Not spoilt for choice, but feeling overwhelmed, my dinner partner and I asked the courteous waiter for his recommendations. In the dim lighting, I could barely see his face but appreciated the impeccable service. We ordered two mains on his recommendations.
Tampa Chicken with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables
It is incredible how something as basic as BBQ sauce can save a restaurant’s review.
What a BBQ sauce. The Tampa Chicken is grilled chicken slathered in shiny BBQ sauce, a bone dry potato mash (that I sent back) and decently grilled vegetables. The flavour was spot on, with the perfect balance of ketchup, Worchestershire and the tartness of what tasted like imli. Another bowl of the sauce was requested and dumped on everything else. Including the second main, the penne pasta with chicken and mushrooms in a creamy sauce. It elevated everything that touched it.
Penne pasta with mushrooms and grilled chicken
The al dente penne pasta had a solid flavour with and the right basics — decent white sauce, perfectly seasoned…but that was it. After a few luxurious bites, it became a little one-note — until I took a journey under the dark eclipse and mixed it with some BBQ sauce, licking the bowl clean.
Singing praises of the sauce, I left thinking that I will not return again. The dim interior, the confused setting, and the loud music left me feeling disoriented. But I would definitely send someone to pick up anything with extra BBQ sauce.
After severe backlash, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has withdrawn the decision that made it compulsory for air travelers to plastic-wrap their checked luggage.
Notifying the compulsion, CAA had said it was implemented for the safety of passengers and the price for wrapping each piece of baggage was set at Rs50.
New wrapping machines were to also be installed at airport check-in areas, however, the decision was severely criticised by travelers as well as environmentalists, which led to the reversion.
Ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Jahangir Tareen was among those who criticised the notification.
Just came across a very illogical notification issued by the CAA. Forcing passengers to wrap their luggage is not on. People should have the right to decide whether they want their luggage wrapped or not. The notification should be withdrawn asap. pic.twitter.com/lEyFhOcAJR
— Jahangir Khan Tareen (@JahangirKTareen) July 21, 2019
Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari notified the withdrawal on Twitter saying that it was never a federal government decision as it was not discussed by the cabinet.
The plastic covering for outgoing baggage notification is wrong. Federal govt was incorrectly mentioned as Federal Govt means Cabinet and no such issue was even discussed in Cabinet let alone decided upon.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Wazir has posted a video clarifying that the wrapping was mandatory only for Hajj flights as it was a requirement of the government of Saudi Arabia.
میں سیکرٹری ایوی ایشن کا شکریہ ادا کرتی ہوں کہ انہوں نے میرے کہنے پر ہوائی سفر کے لئے دیئے گئے لوڈنگ کے سامان ہر پلاسٹک چڑھانے کے معاملے پر فوری ایکشن لے لیا ہے۔
صرف حج کی فلائٹس پر یہ ضروری ہے کیونکہ سعودی حکومت کو یہ درکار تھا۔
Who doesn’t want to be a billionaire? I mean is that even a question to ask. But the problem is that becoming a billionaire is not an easy task. Author of the book How Rich People Think Steve Siebold says “getting rich begins with the way you think and what you believe about making money.”
Here are seven mental tricks, outlined by Siebold, that rich people use to make money.
1. They believe that they have enough money even when they don’t
Rich
people are not afraid to borrow money from anyone. If they have a great idea
which they’re unable to finance, they execute their plan by using other
people’s money to make it happen.
2. They set high expectations
The rich set their expectations exceptionally high. No one would ever strike it rich and live their dreams without huge expectations. Ancient wisdom says you get what you expect.
3. Making money is a game for them
Making money is like a game for rich people. This is the reason why people who are already millionaires go to work every day with the aim to jump to the next level.
The interest and enthusiasm for playing the game urges them to constantly raise their level of expectations. The more excited they get, the harder they work and the more they succeed.
4. They personify money and see it as their friend
Rich people consider money as one of their greatest friends. A friend who can end sleepless nights of worry, physical pain, and mental stress. Wealthy people believe money can solve problems and purchase peace of mind.
5. They are not afraid of fear
Rich
people block out fear. They think at a level where everything is possible.
Every task that seems difficult or impossible to the masses looks practical to
the rich people.
They
already keep in mind that becoming a billionaire is not an easy task and they
have to be out of their comfort zone for like forever.
6. They think that getting rich is natural
Rich people think that becoming a billionaire is natural. Instead of thinking why me, they say why not me? This behaviour of being optimistic about themselves guarantees their success.
7. They tell themselves that they deserve to be rich
They not only think that getting rich is natural but they think that it is their right. World-class thinkers know in a capitalist country they have the right to be rich while the masses think getting rich is only for a lucky few. This distinction in thinking leads the middle class to the lottery and the world-class to work.
Social media trends are forever changing. Last week the Bottle Cap Challenge had taken over the internet and this week people are playing around with an app called FaceApp that make you look younger or older. The app transforms your face and gives you an image of what you would look a few decades down the line. Celebrities and social media enthusiasts alike have jumped the FaceApp bandwagon which is why we’re seeing old people all over our timelines these days.
The app is going viral for the second time in two years. The app fascinated internet users in 2017 with its fun filters that included gender-swap selfie filter, and now with this age filter.
Here are some of our celebrities trying this new app.
Faisal Qureishi
Fahad Mustafa
Wasim Akram
Junaid Khan
Ahmed Ali Butt
But beware! The app may also breach your privacy. FaceApp is allowed to use your name, username or any likeness provided in any media format and you will not be able to take it down or complain about it. Because FaceApp uploads your photo to the cloud for processing, it doesn’t do on-device processing as other apps do. It retains the image even after you’ve deleted the app.
name, username or any likeness provided in any media format and you will not be able to take it down or complain about it. Because FaceApp uploads your photo to the cloud for processing, it doesn’t do on-device processing as other apps do. It retains the image even after you’ve deleted the app.
