Catwalks in Karachi: Gesture of defiance

Looking past the bullet holes and ignoring gunfire, Pakistan hosts it's first ever Fashion Week and forgets the Taliban.

The four-day event which had previously been postponed is being held in the countries largest city has attracted the worlds media.

This was an immense blown to the Taliban's plans for reigning over the country. Ignoring warnings, fashion lovers, designers and well know models took the stage to show their God given talents.

Security was so tight, foreign buyers and designers where not invited to the event but organizers wanted to show the world that Pakisan had more to offer than images of pain and suffering.

Ayesha Tammy Haq, the CEO of Fashion Pakistan Week spoke about the problems they faced and added, '... but that doesn't mean that the country shuts down. That doesn't mean that business comes to a halt."

As models took to the stage, reflections of the drama surrounding Pakistan were evident in many designs.

Some women graced the runway in body armour and dangerously spiked brackets. Others wore the traditional burqa-style headgear but revealed their shoulders alongside tattoos.

The controversy aims to show the other side of life. There are people who live, work and shop the wealthy and stable parts of town and have some normality.

This event may one day rival Milan and Paris but for now the message is quite clear.

' This is our gesture of defiance to the Taliban.' Ayesha Tammy Haq

Image taken by Kay Obibi

Movers and shakers

You can look under any rock and I'm sure you will find a story. There are only a few which I can engage with so here are some of the 'most interesting' stories I have come across this week.

Oprah leaves CBS

Oprah is asked to 'move it or lose it,' as the Communications chief David Zaslav (Discovery Health Channel) gives the talk show Queen an ultimatum on her own network.

The Oprah Winfrey Network is supposed to commence broadcasting in early 2011 but rumors surfaces that Winfrey was looking to continue her contract with current Network CBS for 1-2 years.

The Chicago-based daytime talk show was said to move to Los Angles as part of the Discovery Health Channel's release and the OWN take over.

CBS, ABC and Sony TV executives are hoping the star continues until 2012 but if she does move sooner, she will be inside 70 million homes. Currently, no decision has been made.

I say, whatever you do, make that money.

5 Days Later

A missing baby girls is found alive laying quietly under her babysitters bed five days after being reported.

The 7-month-old infant was left in a '2-foot by 3-foot cedar box' underneath baby sitter Susan Elizabeth Baker's bed. The sitter was given care of Shannon Dedrick on Saturday morning but the mother Chrystina Lynn Mercer reported her missing 10-hours later.

Interestingly, Baker had written a letter to the Governor back in August raising questions about the child's well-being and 'pleading for help' because of abusive parents . She even asked for permanent custody a week before the incident but was ignored.

Both the mother and sitter are facing charges which may leave the child the care of an alleged drug abuser.

4 Wheels... No 4 Legs

Did you hear the one about the elephant and the SUV? Well, there was a car, a couple and an animal in Oaklahoma.

Bill and Deena Carpenter drove home from church when they attempted to swerve but hit an 8-foot, 200-pound elephant. The 29-year-old female pachyderm had escaped from a circus in Garfield Country late on Wednesday night after being 'spooked.'

The couple were not injured but the animal surfed a broken tusk, a bad leg and bruise.

How do you spook an 8-foot elephant, was there a mouse?

Now we have all learnt a valuable lesson today. SUV's can take on and destroy anything. If your in a ford, move out the way.

Final Thoughts

Why would anyone want to buy someone else crypt, regardless of who's name is on it. Yes, it is Marilyn Monroe but that should not make a difference. It is just creepy!

Virgin Atlantic Airlines launches an app to help conquer your fear of flying. All you need is an iPhone or iPod Touch. Really? Are you sure? Be serious and do not believe the hype.

Finally, the government admits they have been talking **** this whole time and are willing to accept they do not really know what constitutes an expense.

Sooooo what they are trying to say is... we have found a new way to scam the public and we don't think they will not find out until the next recession.

Thanks for that guys.

At War with the War

5 British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan today by a 'rouge' policeman.

There is another reminder of mankind's stupidity and the governments ever growing ego in the war against... everyone else.

Without trying to cause any discomfort to those are 'truly' affected by the reoccurring events. I and many others stopped caring about the death toll a long time ago.

The general public came to the conclusion that they did not see any real reason to fly half way round the world to join the war.

So if there are people willing to go and fight for a cause no one really can explain in plain English. To put it plainly, 'that's your business.'

As remembrance day approaches the total number off dead British soldier's rose to 200 plus.

There is no doubt that Sunday will bring forth images and past stories of what our troops have been through but to be frank, I'm not bothered.

What does worry me is the amount of Afghan's that will die as a result of the witch hunt that is bound to follow.

Image- Army Showroom in Hounslow High Street (taken by Odiri Obibi)

Choo's move to High Street

The red carpet shoe of choice, 'Choo' is coming to H&M at affordable prices.

For women everywhere the name Jimmy Choo commands excitement and respect. After six months of hard work from designer, President and co-founder Tamara Mellon, Monday night hosted a star studded LA event to promote Jimmy Choo for H&M.

The line launched in 1996 when Ms Mellon left her job as an Accessories Editor at British Vogue and joined Mr Jimmy Choo to create the chic brand.

Mr Choo was renowned for his craftsmanship as a couture shoe maker in the East End of London.

The first boutique opened on Motcomb Street and in 1998 New York followed by Los Angeles in 1999. Establishing the British brand internationally.

The range has moved on from Shoes to Handbags and Accessorise and was valued at $187 million in 2007 but it will not break the bank.

Items in the H&M collection range from £30-£200 and includes Leather, Suede and Cashmere.

The collection is available from November 14th 2009 and the first 160 costumers will be given bracelets with an allotted time to shop for Jimmy Choo.

Everyone else may have to wait up to two hours and with Christmas round the corner, it is good practice.

Image Taken by Kay Obibi

Celeb Culture: Journalist vs Celebrities

With a society that is obsessed with celebrity life rather than their respective talents. Who is driving the culture forward, the media or the celebs?

Many children grown up with dreams of being on television and with jobs like David Beckham's and Kelly Brook, how can we be surprised.

No one really understands why we have become a society obsessed with the star's personal life as opposed to why they are in the public eye.

Encarta online defines a celebrity as 'Somebody famous admired for skill or talent.' The two key words are 'Skill' and 'Talent.' Katie Price, Peaches Geldof and Big Brother's Brian feature regularly in magazines and entertainment news for unprofessional reasons.

Many of these celebrities are role models for young children but they are becoming obsessed with their private lives and many stars are blaming the journalists.

Rob Powell an MA Journalism student voiced his opinion in a class discussion. 'If your a celebrity, you don't have a private life.' He believes he is printing the truth. Is it possible that the truth is irrelevant?

Who cares if a model took drugs or a singer went to rehab? How does this knowledge contribute to the betterment of society? Mr Powell would say, 'It is a question of public interest,' therefore it must be reported.

One semi-professional footballer agrees. Lamin Kolly a central midfielder, said, 'If I come stumbling out of a club with two girls on my arm at 3am. I expect it to be in the entertainment pages of The Sun. It comes with the job.'

Previously, X-factor winner Alexandra Burke had said the press is 'crazy.' Others celebs agree with statements like, 'They want to knoweverything...they never leave you alone.'

If the Journalists are acquiring the stories, it stands to reason, they are bombarding the public by publishing them. Many stars would be happy to be interviewed about their professional attributes but and leave the personal baggage at home.

Celeb Culture may be perpetuated by journalist but it is sustained by the gossip hungry public. Should we feel sorry for those who have public carer or should they be grateful that their privacy can pay the bills?

Image- Lamin Kolly on a night out.

Local Authority answer Hotspur’s call

Next week Tottenham Hotspur’s expansion plan will be presented to the public. Although Haringey Council welcome the change, many groups are already against it.

A £200 million pound investment is promised for the completion of the stadium by 2014 but groups including British Heritage are calling for the brakes. Haringey’s project planning manager Sue Cook has said ‘the high road is very poor and derelict,’ the new development will ‘lift the area, with a new superstore, housing and employment.’ These are all good reasons for the change but the image of the stadium appears to engulf the surround town.

One reason why these groups are against the plans includes the demolition of buildings. Ms Cook explained ‘9 conservation buildings and 2 listed buildings’ will be torn down. Not forgetting the disruption to local business during the buildings erection. ‘The construction will be problematic,’ but the after affects outweigh all the negatives as new users will emerge and revenue will increase.

Tottenham Hotspur’s have said the spaces created will accommodate ‘local schools, churches and Haringey Council for events and activities,’ as the current space is not fluffing its potential.

Haringey and Enfield estimate a 50/50 response to the announcement but are confident that the public welcome a change which encourages growth. Resident, Henrietta Bediako said ‘If it means more jobs and a better look then they need to get on with it.’

Get Your Head in the Game

It's hard to understand why some men are paid a £100,000 a week to throw or kick a ball but where are all these athletes coming from and why are they getting paid before the whistle is blown.

The NBA (National Basketball Association) and the EPL (English Premier League) are recognized internationally with the highest franchises in the world. Manchester United and the New York Knicks earn millions every year from ticket sales, merchandise, global acclaim and winning tournaments.

Manchester United who are rated second in the world's richest football clubs are valued at around £257,000,000 are owned by the American Malcolm Glazer who bought the club in 2005. Malcolm Glazer and family who help run the club are valued at around £1.5,000,000,000.

The New York Knicks who are valued at around $613,000,000 are owned by cable vision systems who bought the team for around $300,000,000 in 1997. The question that people want to know is where does this money come from and could some of it be used for better purposes.

In 1984 the NBA started salary capping all players with a modest $3.6 million, it was announced this July that the cap set for this season was $57.7 million which allows players Boston's like Kevin Garnett (highest earning player 2008-2009) to earn $24 million a year.

The English Premiership enforces a similar rule which is called a wage bill which means team's allow a certain amount of money for players wages. For example if a teams wage bill is set to £1,000,000 this means the team cannot give the player 1,000,000 a week. The highest paid player in the English Premier League is Manchester City's Robinho who earns £160,000 a week.

In their defense, a lot of money the money made is spent on free sports camps for kids and setting up soccer schools for younger players. Manchester United are currently involved in many charities globally and nationally such as UNICEF, The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Rainbow House.

Bottom line, sport is a business if you want in then you have to learn to play quickly then maybe you might be earning the top money.