Valentine's Day

Folks, tomorrow the date is 14th February, 2011 - Valentine's Day. It is a day when people express their love for loved ones through cards, flowers and gifts. My question to people is simple: Do we really need a specific date to express our love for someone?

Gaining popularity in my home country of "Islamic Republic of" Pakistan at a breakneck speed, this day is notorious for guys taking gals out on "dates", exchange of gifts, and similar stuff. The local media covers this day as if it were at par with Eid.

Programs on television promote this day to the maximum, and they encourage the youth to celebrate this Christian holiday with passion and love. Gals traditionally wear red (see Lady in Red - if you are into conspiracies), and the "hunks" wear whatever their favorite style-icon prefers (even if makes them look cheap and retarded). I won't be amazed to spot a few guys looking "Dabangg" tomorrow ;)

I confess my love for my mother daily, so do I really need a specific day, related to a Christian Saint, to tell my mother that I love her? Should I give red roses to my wife along with a card, showing her how much I love her, on this specific day? What if I love God (and I am a Muslim); should I wait for this Christian holiday to come around so that I can show my love to God? I don't think so.


In my opinion, this is a day cleverly crafted by card/gift companies like Hallmark to give an adrenaline shot to their sales. What's up next? Marry-me Day? Divorce Day?


Also, it's an anti-Islamic day, in my eyes atleast, which threatens to convert our world into a next-generation Babylon.


Instead of throwing money away on cards and gifts, I think we are better off giving it in charity and to needy and the orphans. There is so much suffering in the world right now, which we can curb down somewhat by our actions. A used blanket for a victim of an environment calamity seems to me the perfect gift this Valentine's Day. 

Mafia II Game Review (PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3)

Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven was one of the best video games I played during the last decade. It had a powerful storyline, a high level of authenticity and was fun to play. Mafia II is the sequel to that game, developed by the same talented folks at 2K Czech (previously called Illusion Softworks) who gave us the previous entry in the franchise. Here's a look at it:

Mafia II looks like a dream - the technology behind this game is spellbinding. The game itself is one of the most boring games I've ever played.

You take on the role of Vito Scarletta, son of Italian immigrants, who along with his best friend Joe embarks on an interesting journey. The game is set in 1940's and 1950's in the fictional Empire City, modeled after New York City.

Mafia II appears to be a sandbox action adventure game, but in reality is just a linear shooting-and-driving game. Roughly lasting 15 hours, the players get a chance to work for the Mafia as their driver and a "cleaner". The storyline is good, but not great. In all honesty, this kind of story is better suited to a movie than a video game. Games are meant to be played, not watched and pondered over.

Empire City will take your breath away.

I am a sucker for good stories, but I also want to have a good time while playing a video game. Mafia II makes the player do things like "Open the refrigerator and grab a beer". The player has to adhere to the speed limits on the road, otherwise will find the Police on his tail. Thank you please, I have a life.

The missions are standard drive-from-point-A-to-point-B, pick up a guy and then drive to another point. Some scenarios force you to use your fists, while in others you have to shoot using the available weapons - but more than 50% of the time the player will have to drive around. They really should've canned the idea of making a sequel to Mafia, and called this Mafia Driver or something.

The licensed music from the appropriate era is a nice touch - you can choose from three available radio stations to listen to while driving. The original soundtrack itself is also very moody. Voice acting is adequate, but nothing special.

Extras include collectible Playboy centerfolds, posters and artwork. There is no multiplayer and almost negligible replay value is present.

Shooting missions are eclipsed by the driving ones.

As I've said before, the graphics of Mafia II are extraordinary. If you have a high-end PC, and can crank up the settings to the max, you'll see how carefully every texture and every polygon has been created. On Playstation 3, some details like 3D grass have been sacrificed to get a better frame rate; but PS3 owners get an exclusive DLC with the game: The Betrayal of Jimmy, free of cost.

Overall, I'll give Mafia II, a 4 out of 10.

PROS: Amazing graphics. Good storyline. Transports the player into a bygone era.
CONS: Boring missions. Little replay value. System Hog (PC version). 

Christopher Nolan Oscar-snub

Christopher Nolan is considered to be one of the best movie directors of this era. He directed and co-wrote Memento. He rekindled the flame called Batman. He crafted the experience that was Inception. He's overlooking the Superman reboot and directing the sequel to The Dark Knight. His filmography is impeccable and his style is unique. But despite his intelligence, and ability to turn anything he touches into gold, this guy gets snubbed by Oscars year after year. Why is that so?

A similar thing happened with Stanley Kubrick, who is considered one of the finest directors ever. Same goes for Mr. Alfred Hitchcock, the "Master of Suspense" and Martin Scorsese, who got nominated numerous times before finally getting the golden statuette for 'The Departed' - a rather weak movie when compared to his earlier works.

Frankly, the Oscars are a joke. Anyone who has been following these awards over the years knows how lame they are. I mean, Clint Eastwood getting an Oscar for Million Dollar Baby but not even a nomination for Gran Torino is plain stupid. Titanic beating out L.A Confidential and Good Will Hunting? Wow.

Is Avatar really worthy of an Oscar nomination and The Dark Knight is not? Oh please. Avatar was a complete rip-off of Dances with Wolves - an Oscar-winning movie made much earlier than it, and without any gimmick.

Anyway, I feel really bad for Nolan. It's not like Inception is the best movie ever made; hell, Buried is way better movie, but Nolan sure did deserve an Oscar nomination this time around.