Most of the feature films shot in Pakistan are in National Language Urdu, Urdu is sometimes used in feature films of Bollywood at small scale, but are largely in Hindi, and may also include films in local languages like, Punjabi, Pashto, Balochi or Sindhi.

Before the Bangladesh Separation, Pakistan had three main film production centres: Lahore, Karachi and Dhaka. The regime of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, VCRs, film piracy, the introduction of entertainment taxes, and Islamic laws, have been some of the many obstacles to the industry’s growth. Once thriving, the cinema in Pakistan now barely exists.

The Pakistani film industry is credited with having produced some of the most notable and recognised filmmakers, actors, writers and directors, and for introducing pop music to South Asia. Competition from Bollywood, however, led to the industry’s decline, although several Indo-Pakistan ventures are promising to help in its revival.

]]> http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/lollywood-biggest-hits/feed/ 2 http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/prison-fortress-museum/ http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/prison-fortress-museum/#comments Thu, 15 Apr 2010 23:46:30 +0000 rappin http://thebizzare.com/?p=2979 The Patarei Prison Museum in Tallinn, Russia was built in the 19^th century. The prison was originally a sea fortress in 1840 and was turned into a prison in around 1919. This prison housed inmates until 2002 and was then turned into a museum. This museum is now an ideal location to experience the Soviet-era prison life in all its gloom. The prison has been left untouched since 2002 to give visitors a real-life feel of the dreariness of prison life.

The museum shows off cotton swabs in the prison operating rooms. The cells still have books and magazines that belonged to the inmates. The museum offers a range of long tours and guides. There is reportedly also a guided tour that is in fact a “prison adventure” and tourists who successfully escape get to have a picnic as a reward.

Photos VIA

The traditional form of sushi is fermented fish and rice, preserved with salt in a process that has been traced to Southeast Asia, where it remains popular today. The term sushi comes from an archaic grammatical form no longer used in other contexts; literally, “sushi” means “it’s sour”, a reflection of its historic fermented roots.

The science behind the fermentation of fish packed in rice is that the vinegar produced from fermenting rice breaks the fish down into amino acids. This results in one of the five basic tastes, called umami in Japanese. The oldest form of sushi in Japan, Narezushi still very closely resembles this process. In Japan, Narezushi evolved into Oshizushi and ultimately Edomae nigirizushi, which is what the world today knows as “sushi.”

Contemporary Japanese sushi has little resemblance to the traditional lacto-fermented rice dish. Originally, when the fermented fish was taken out of the rice, only the fish was consumed and the fermented rice was discarded. The strong-tasting and -smelling funazushi, a kind of narezushi made near Lake Biwa in Japan, resembles the traditional fermented dish. Beginning in the Muromachi period (AD 1336–1573) of Japan, vinegar was added to the mixture for better taste and preservation. The vinegar accentuated the rice’s sourness, and was known to increase its life span, allowing the fermentation process to be shortened and eventually abandoned. In the following centuries, sushi in Osaka evolved into oshi-zushi. The seafood and rice were pressed using wooden (usually bamboo) molds. By the mid 18th century, this form of sushi had reached Edo (contemporary Tokyo).

The contemporary version, internationally known as “sushi,” was invented by Hanaya Yohei at the end of Edo period in Edo. The sushi invented by Hanaya was an early form of fast food that was not fermented (therefore prepared quickly) and could be eaten with one’s hands roadside or in a theatre. Originally, this sushi was known as Edomae zushi, because it used freshly caught fish in the Edo-mae (Edo Bay or Tokyo Bay). Though the fish used in modern sushi no longer usually comes from Tokyo Bay, it is still formally known as Edomae nigirizushi.

1. Crif Dog’s Breakfast Hot Dog

Start the morning right with the Breakfast Hot Dog from Crif Dog’s in New York. Wrapped in bacon and deep-fried, this dog is accompanied with a fried egg and American cheese. All it’s missing is a layer of hash browns and sausage gravy. Hey, when you think about it that way, this breakfast dog is bush-league! Time to step it up, Crif’s. Read more about this hot dog here.

2. South Korea’s French Fry Hot Dog on a Stick

It may look modest compared to the rest of this list, but don’t let the lack of preposterous toppings fool you. The French Fry Hot Dog on a Stick will stick your arteries like Velcro. This South Korean specialty dog is covered in thick-cut french fries and deep fried. Top it with some melted cheese and you’re on your way to bypass boulevard. Read more about this hot dog here.

3. Jimmy Buff’s Double Hot Dog

You could meet your demise in New Jersey a couple ways. Mess with the wrong guy and you might end up taking a one-way trip to a nondescript swamp with a guy named “Frankie Four Fingers”. Or you could let another frank (furter) do the job. Meet your maker with Jimmy Buff’s Double Hot Dog. Jimmy cooks two dogs in hot oil, puts them in a pizza roll, and tops them with oil-soaked sauteed onions, peppers, and potatoes. Then he sends you on a one-way trip to that big hot dog stand in the sky. Read more about this hot dog here, here, and here.

4. Paula Deen’s Lard Dog

Serious Eats first uncovered Paula Deen’s insidious plot to kill us all in 2007 with a deliciously deadly mix of butter, liquid cheese, deep-fried meat, and southern charm. However, they missed a 2005 meal that makes all the others look like health food. The Grim Reaper looms largely over Paula Deen’s Lard Dog. Why bother with relish and mustard when you could top your hot dog with bacon, Velveeta, and lard? She may have mixed the lard with a few other ingredients in order to mask the flavor of death, but it really doesn’t matter when you’re six feet under. Read more about this hot dog here.

5. Mulligan’s Hamdog

How can you improve on the chili dog? Humans had pondered that question for decades. One day, the Devil went down to Decatur, Georgia and inspired a mouth-watering, chest-clutching, smile-on-your-face-as-you-drop-dead chili burger/chili dog combo know as The Hamdog. Take one hot dog, roll it in flattened burger meat, fry it, top it with cheese, chili, and a fried egg and kiss your keester goodbye

Because of this water source is very limited, so every month is only 5,000 bottles produced and per 750 ml can you buy with USD 100 per bottle. Still less? Proved in each of thisdrinking water production, there were two special bottles called “Kings and Queen ‘with a similar bottle cap with a crown of Emperor Fredrick II of the Roman Empire, and ornamented with Swarovski crystals, available for those who would release USD 230 only to bottles containing 750 ml of water

]]> http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/world-expensive-mineral-waters/feed/ 0 http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival-2/ http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival-2/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:28:36 +0000 rappin http://thebizzare.com/?p=1093

Welcome to the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in Thailand…
It is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar.

It is believed that the vegetarian festival and its accompanying sacred rituals…

bestow good fortune upon those who religiously observe this rite.

During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet…

… for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making.

Sacred rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples…

… and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot coals…

… and ascending ladders with bladed rungs…

… are performed by entranced devotees known as “Ma Song”.

The festival started in 1825…

… the paricipants are not allowed to eat meat or have sex at the time of the festival.

For obvious reasons participants are asked to use only sterile blades, spears and guns.

According to physicians there is a risk of HIV and…

… hepatitis infections.

The highlight of the festival is…

… the procession in Phuket.

With a lot of…

… fireworks…

… and several different vegetarian dishes.

Enjoy your meal!

]]> http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival-2/feed/ 1 http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/top-10-most-evil-women-world-record-2/ http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/top-10-most-evil-women-world-record-2/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:28:32 +0000 rappin http://thebizzare.com/?p=1086 We all tend to focus on the evil men in the world and forget some of the truly evil women that have lived. I hope to correct that with this list. Here we have not just serial killers, but other utterly despicable women who have caused tragedy in many people’s lives. So, without further ado, here are the top 10 most evil women in history.

10. Queen Mary I Born: 1516; Died: 1558

Mary was the only child of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon to live past infancy. Crowned after the death of Edward VI and the removal of The Nine Days Queen-Lady Jane Grey, Mary is chiefly remembered for temporarily and violently returning England to Catholicism. Many prominent Protestants were executed for their beliefs leading to the moniker “Bloody Mary”. Fearing the gallows a further 800 Protestants left the country, unable to return until her death. It should be noted that Elizabeth I shares position 10 on this list for her equally bad behavior.

9. Myra Hindley Born: 1942; Died: 2002

Myra Hindley and Ian Brady were responsible for the “Moors murders” occurring in the Manchester area of Britain in the mid 1960’s. Together these two monsters were responsible for the kidnapping, sexual abuse, torture and murder of three children under the age of twelve and two teenagers, aged 16 and 17. A key found in Myra’s possession led to incriminating evidence stored at a left-luggage depot at Manchester Central Station. The evidence included a tape recording of one of the murder victims screaming as Hindley and Brady raped and tortured her. In the final days before incarceration, she developed a swagger and arrogant attitude that became her trademark. Police secretary Sandra Wilkinson has never forgotten seeing Hindley and her mother Nellie, leaning against the courthouse eating sweets. While the mother was obviously and understandably upset, Hindley seemed indifferent and uncaring of her situation.

8. Isabella of Castile Born: 1451; Died: 1504

Isabella I of Spain, well known as the patron of Christopher Columbus, with her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon, are responsible for making possible the unification of Spain under their grandson Carlos I. As part of the drive for unification, Isabella appointed Tomás de Torquemada as the first Inquisitor General of the inquisition. March 31, 1492 marks the implementation of the Alhambra Decree; expulsion edicts forcing the removal or conversion of Jews and Muslims. Roughly 200,000 people left Spain; those remaining who chose conversion were subsequently persecuted by the inquisition investigating Judaizing conversos. In 1974, Pope Paul VI opened her cause for beatification. This places her on the path toward possible sainthood. In the Catholic Church, she is thus titled Servant of God.

7. Beverly Allitt Born: 1968

The “Angel of Death, Beverley Gail Allit, is one of Britain’s most well known serial killers. Working as a pediatric nurse, she is responsible for the murder of 4 children and the serious injury of 5 others in her care. When available, insulin or potassium injections were used to precipitate cardiac arrest; smothering sufficed when they were not. Although convicted with death or injury in nine cases, Allit attacked thirteen children over a fifty-eight day period before being caught red-handed. Allit has never spoken of the motive for her crimes, but Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy explains her actions. This debatable personality disorder involves a pattern of abuse or harm to someone in your care in order to garner attention (Alitt was known as a child to wear bandages and casts over wounds, but would not allow them to be examined).

6. Belle Gunness Born: 1859; Died: 1931

Belle Gunness was one of America’s most degenerate and productive female serial killers. Standing 6 ft (1.83 m) tall and weighing in at over 200 lbs (91 kg), she was an imposing and powerful woman of Norwegian descent. It is likely that she killed both her husbands and all of her children at different times, but it is certain that she murdered most of her suitors, boyfriends, and her two daughters, Myrtle and Lucy. The motive was greed-pure and simple; life insurance policies and assets stolen or swindled from her suitors became her source of income. Most reports put her death toll at more than twenty victims over several decades, with some claiming in excess of one hundred. Inconsistencies during her post mortem examination; the corpse was reported to be two inches shorter than Belle’s six feet, paved the way for Belle Gunnes to enter American criminal folklore, a female Bluebeard.

5. Mary Ann Cotton Born: 1832; Died: 1873

Englishwoman Mary Ann Cotton is another for-profit serial killer, predating Belle Gunnes by thirty years. Married at age twenty to William Mowbray, the newlyweds settled in Plymouth, Devon, to start their family. The couple had five children, four of whom died of ‘gastric fever and stomach pains’. Moving back to the north-east, tragedy seemed to follow them; three more children born, three more children died. William soon followed his offspring, dying of an ‘intestinal disorder’ in January 1865. British Prudential promptly paid a 35 pound dividend, and a pattern was established. Her second husband, George Ward, died of intestinal problems as well as one of her two remaining children. The power of the press, always a force to be reckoned with, caught up with Mary Ann. The local newspapers discovered that as Mary Ann moved around northern England, she lost three husbands, a lover, a friend, her mother and a dozen children, all dying of stomach fever. She was hanged at Durham County Gaol, March 24, 1873, for murder by arsenic poisoning. She died slowly, the hangman using too short a drop for a ‘clean’ execution.

4. Ilse Koch Born: 1906; Died: 1967

“Die Hexe von Buchenwald” the Witch of Buchenwald, or “Buchenwälder Schlampe” the Bitch of Buchenwald was the wife of Karl Koch, commandant of the concentration camps Buchenwald from 1937 to 1941, and Majdanek from 1941 to 1943. Drunk on the absolute power rendered by her husband, she reveled in torture and obscenity. Infamous for her souvenirs; tattoos taken from the murdered inmates, her reputation for debauchery was well earned. After building an indoor sports arena in 1940, with 250,000 marks stolen from inmates, Ilsa was promoted to Oberaufseherin or “chief overseer” of the few female guards at Buchenwald. She committed suicide by hanging herself at Aichach women’s prison on September 1, 1967.

3. Irma Grese Born: 1923; Died: 1945

Another product of the Nazi’s final solution, Irma Grese or the “Bitch of Belsen” was a guard at concentration camps Ravensbrück, Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Transferred to Auschwitz in 1943, (she must have shown particular enthusiasm and dedication to the job), she was promoted to Senior Supervisor, the 2nd highest ranking female in camp, by the end of the year. In charge of over 30,000 Jewish female prisoners, she reveled in her work. Her work included; savaging of prisoners by her trained and half starved dogs, sexual excesses, arbitrary shootings, sadistic beatings with a plaited whip, and selecting prisoners for the gas chamber. She enjoyed both physical and emotional torture and habitually wore heavy boots and carried a pistol to facilitate both.

2. Katherine Knight Born: 1956

The first Australian woman to be sentenced to a natural life term without parole, Katherine Knight had a history of violence in relationships. She mashed the dentures of one of her ex-husbands and slashed the throat of another husband’s eight-week-old puppy before his eyes. A heated relationship with John Charles Thomas Price became public knowledge with an Apprehended Violence Order that Price had filed against Knight and ended with Knight stabbing Price to death with a butcher’s knife. He had been stabbed at least 37 times, both front and back, with many of the wounds penetrating vital organs. She then skinned him and hung his “suit” from the door frame in the living room, cut off his head and put it in the soup pot, baked his buttocks, and prepared gravy and vegetables to accompany the ‘roast’. The meal and a vindictive note were set out for the children, luckily discovered by police before they arrived home.

1. Elizabeth Bathory Born: 1560; Died: 1614

Countess Elizabeth Bathory is considered the most infamous serial killer in Hungarian/Slovak history. Rumors had circulated for years about missing peasant girls; offered well paid work at the castle, they were never seen again. One of these rumors reached the ears of King Mathias II, who sent a party of men to the massive Castle Csejthe. The men found one girl dead and one dying. Another was found wounded and others locked up. Described atrocities, collected from testimony of witnesses, include; severe beatings over extended periods of time, the use of needles, burning or mutilation of hands, sometimes also of faces and genitalia, biting the flesh off the faces, arms and other bodily parts, and the starving of victims. The victim total is thought to number in the hundreds occurring over a twenty-five year period. Due to her social status she was never brought to trial but remained under house arrest in a single room until her death. The idea that the Countess bathed in the blood of her victims is folklore, and one of the few things she did not do.

“Our once-pristine wildlands are threatened by ever increasing problems of pollution. Since its first publication in 1989, How to Shit in the Woods has been adopted by outdoor enthusiasts everywhere as part of the solution. In this updated edition, outdoorswoman Kathleen Meyer reviews the newly available portable potties, with special attention to individual trekkers in an all-new chapter, “Plight of the Solo Poop Packer.” Other topics include: the growing array of travelers’ field water-disinfecting systems, Giardia contamination and the now infamous critter Cryptosporidium, crotch-accessible clothing for women, and a fresh batch of “worst experience” stories, all peppered with irreverent musings. For the purist, there are more wise t.p.-less techniques from the Old World.”

“In People Who Don’t Know They’re Dead, Gary Leon Hill tells a family story of how his Uncle Wally and Aunt Ruth, Wally’s sister, came to counsel dead spirits who took up residence in bodies that didn’t belong to them. And in the telling, Hill elucidates much of what we know, or think we know, about life, death, consciousness, and the meaning of the universe

“If you have ever wondered what action to take to keep clear of a fast moving ship, this book will remove the doubt.” – from back cover. Author is a Master Mariner and Deep Sea Towing Master, Licensed Panama Canal Pilot and Active Washington State Pilot

“Whose Bottom Is This? teaches children about wild animals using an appealing quiz format. Colour photographs feature familiar and exotic creatures from around the world, and children are challenged to guess the animal by looking at it from a rear view before turning the page to see the entire animal

“A clearly illustrated manual that shows equestrians how to prepare their mounts for the unexpected, turning them into safer, more pleasurable mounts.

“A Report on Popular British Attitudes

“As soon as publisher Neil Rhodes received Brian’s manuscript he knew he had finally found the book that would redefine the publishing world. It’s the book that will tell all you less-than-successful authors where you went wrong. No longer need you try and sell your novel or play or memoir and be rejected again and again. Now you can write your own How to Write book and at last success will be yours. (…)”

“Better Never to Have Been argues for a number of related, highly provocative, views: (1) Coming into existence is always a serious harm. (2) It is always wrong to have children. (3) It is wrong not to abort fetuses at the earlier stages of gestation. (4) It would be better if, as a result of there being no new people, humanity became extinct.

“What evils await Captain Henry Mitchell on the island below? A U.S. Navy fighter pilot, he’s forced to abandon his Grumman after battling Japanese Zeros over the Pacific, but soon Japan is the least of his worries. Parachuting into rainforest canopy Mitchell is greeted by a lost tribe of pygmies and their insanely cruel leader, a female.

“Arranged in practical question and answer format, Cheese Problems Solved provides responses to more than 200 of the most commonly asked questions about cheese and the cheese making process, from problems arising during the preparation of cheesemilk and cheese ripening to queries regarding cheese analysis and the nutritional profile of cheese.”

“Life in Eighteenth Century Manchester

“Italian gestures are a language unto themselves. In Italian Without Words, 86 expressions are presented, paired with the Italian phrases they conjure and their English translations, all demonstrated by a man and woman who have to be seen to be appreciated. They’re funny, but the intent is not to ridicule; rather, they are holding on to a part of their heritage.

“No one’s got a wickeder eye for the absurdities of contemporary culture than Kaz Cooke. In Living with Crazy Buttocks she sets her sights on Barbie, NASA, celebrities, firemen (phwoaarr!), archbishops, cosmetic surgery, internet gurus, The Bill and Ben-Hur. She even takes a long, hard look at Ricky Martin’s bottom, not to mention Barbara Cartland’s beauty secrets.

Underwater explorer Barry Clifford holds some of the treasures recovered from the wreck site of the Whydah, which sank in 1717. Many of these artifacts will be on display in the new National Geographic exhibition, “Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah From Slave Ship to Pirate Ship.”
This gold ring recovered from the wreck site of the Whydah has been the subject of much conjecture. Some believe the cryptic letters are the abbreviation for a Welsh “good luck” wish. Others speculate that they may be of African origin. Another theory has it that the ring once belonged to a Royal Navy seaman named Teye, who later turned pirate.

When this bell was discovered, it provided the final confirmation that the wreck site was indeed that of the Whydah, which sank in 1717. The bell is part of a new National Geographic exhibition, “Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah From Slave Ship to Pirate Ship,”

This pistol with its brass serpentine side plate was recovered from the wreck site of the sunken ship Whydah.

This gold coin was one of many found at the wreck site of the Whydah, which sank in 1717.

And more pirate booty! Coins and artifacts recovered from the wreck site of the Whydah, which sank in 1717.

The quality and engraving of this turtledove seal suggest that it was made for a wealthy buyer.

Did you know owls regurgitate football-shaped objects twice a day? Well, they do, and those objects contain the crashed skeletons of at least one owl meal, usually a mouse, vole, shrew, or small bird. Owl pellets are commonly used in elementary schools as food web teaching accessory. However, at least according to the publishers of Owl Puke: Book and Owl Pellet they were virtually unavailable at retail before “professionally collected, heat-sterilized owl pellet” items were – believe it or not – stuffed into the above two-color illustrated book by Jane Hammerslough. Now don’t get me wrong here. I like all kind of birds, including owls. I know “kids love science especially when it’s hands on”. I also know they love “yucky stuff” but having this particular educational item in my home… I don’t know.

Though the top side of the Ouch Voodoo Doll (& Toothpick Holder) was designed to hold your favorite oral fixation toy, this product is first of all a tension reliever. Yet this is not the kind of accessory your kid’s teacher is likely to allow in class. According to baronbob.com, an online shop “crusading against the common gifts since 1998″, this Voodoo Toothpick Holder is also; an excellent conversation piece; the next great party starter; slightly (?!!) creepy; and a whole lot of whole poking fun. I am just not sure about the slightly.

The attractive artifact shown above is packaged as a keychain, so your kid can always have one of his toilets handy when feeling like freshen up a little bit. Your 12 years old likes her own flavor in everything? The Toilet Bowl Lip Gloss comes in Grape, Lemon, Apple, and Strawberry. They are chosen by the Toilet Bowl folks but there is a promise that if you buy more than one, they’ll make sure you get different ones. How lovely.

Everyone wants his kid to have artistic qualities. That is to some extent, not necessarily “all the way” as they say. It may indeed be that there were not many greater characters in the history of art than this fellow who chopped his ears off “in the name of love“. We all know that but with the Vincent Van Gogh Action Figure, your kid can now enhance his artistic tendencies and identify with Vincent “before and after his self-conducted surgery; with 2 ears or with bandaged head”. Explicitly suggested to be used as “an inspirational tool” this masterpiece is accompanied with a set of paintbrush, palette, an easel, a frame and some mini masterpieces to display. Spec: 5-1/4″ inches tall vinyl figure, two interchangeable heads. Art never looked more frightening.

The above piece of high tech technology is claimed to be a “replacement for the Whoopee cushion” and being a remote controlled device it is promised that no one will ever know who’s to be blamed. From parties and school class to elevators and your living room, your kid is promised to use the Remote Controlled Fart Machine anywhere as it works up to 100 feet and through walls. Sold, for those who are interested after all, on Spoonsisters.com. I guess some people would do anything for money.

Lastly, the Mr. Suicide

Know any other products you rather your kid won’t even know about?