Reputed "Titanic violin" likely to be Auctioned

Are you a collector? If so get ready to add a rare violent to your collection.

The violin is not ordinary but it made headlines when it was played on that fateful night when the mighty luxury liner Titanic was sinking.

Scene from 1958 film: A Night to Remember

The scene has been immortalized in movies like 1958's "A Night to Remember," in which the band played on to calm the Titanic's passengers as chaos and icy waters swept over and sank the so-called "unsinkable" ship. It's a scene later revisited in James Cameron's film version. The story is real by survivors' accounts, and unlike the fictional Jack and Rose, bandmaster Wallace Hartley was a real-life star.

And how the violin survived. Well it is presumed that in the final moments, Wallace used a bag to protect the one thing that he valued most to him, his violin. He strapped the bag around his shoulders, above his life jacket, in the hope that he and his violin would survive.

The 34-year-old musician's body was found floating in the icy water 10 days after the shipwreck, among 1,500 people who perished.

Although some personal belongings were noted in the paperwork for "Body #224," initially, there was no mention of a violin among his possessions. But in the days that followed, newspapers reported that Wallace had been found with the instrument. And in her diary, Mariah Robinson thanked Canadian authorities for its return to Britain.

(via CBS This Morning)

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Top Rare Photos from History

Photographers catch some of the rare photos that become history one day. And sometimes ordinary photos of people when they are just ordinary become a rarity when decades after these people or places assume a place among people's hearts.

Herein under are some of such photos that reminds us of the beginning of history.  Find out yourself:

The first computer

Beginning of the Brazilian Capital

 Fall of the Berlin Wall

 Che Guevara and Fidel Castro

 Elvis Presley on conscription

 Beatles in their infancy

Beatles in 1957

 John Lennon  giving his last autograph to his 'murderer' 

 Titanic - Before (above) and after sail (below)

All phots above are courtesy: Today's Whisper
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Play Video Games with 3D Headset and Treadmill Combo - and Exercise Too

This is about video games and gamers who have so far been playing video games while sitting or lying on a coach with a hand held console with various buttons on.

These consoles have made gamers rather static and motionless - something that take s aheavy toll due to lack of any physical activity.

But not anymore: Here is an innovative 3D Headset and Treadmill Combo called Omni that is a treadmill-like "natural motion interface for virtual reality applications" that enables a user's in-game avatar to mimic his or her real-life movements.

The video below shows it being used along with the Oculus Rift virtual-reality headset.

Now you can can walk, run, jump, step sideways and crouch (by bending over) in any direction on Omni's circular treadmill.

Check out the video below to see the immersive action:

(via Mashable)
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Pakistan Post Commemorates Centenary of Kinnaird College for Women - Lahore (1913-2013)

Pakistan Post has issued a commemorative stamp of Rs.15 to commemorate the centenary of the famous Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore. A First Day Cover was also issued simultaneously. The stamp was issued on 11th April and is horizontal layout with 13 perforations.

Established in 1913 by the Zenana and Bible Medical Mission, now called Interserve, the college initially had intermediate level of education for the women. The BA classes commenced in 1917. After partition, the college was upgraded to have classes of Masters / M.Phil level.

The college was initially housed near Kinnaird High School. However it was moved to Jail Road in 1926.  In 1933, the college acquired land near Lahore's canal and new buildings were constructed to house the increasing numbers of girls studying at the college. By 1939 the college had grown into a 20-acre campus.

As of now, Kinnaird College is a premier institution exclusive for women. The college has its won Campus radio which started its test transmission in June 2010 and was officially inaugurated on 31st January, 2011.

[Photo: Kinnaird College/Facebook]

Some of the notable graduates of Kinnaird College include Bano Qudsia (author), Faryal Gohar (journalist), Kashmala Tariq (politician), Hina Rabbani Khar (politician), Ayesha Saddiqa (writer), Bapsi Sidhwa Writer/author), Nasira Iqbal (former Lahore High Court Judge) and Hadiqa Kiyani (pop singer).

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My Collection of Postage Stamps of Pakistan 1974

During 1974, Pakistan Post issued stamps on ten occasions and luckily I have all of these in my collection, but one.

 The first set of two stamps was issued on 1st January on the eve of the World Population Year. The stamps valued 20p and Rs. 1.25 showed a family and the emblem of the World Population Year.

The second set of two stamps was issued on the holding of second Islamic Summit Conference in Lahore, Pakistan. The two stamps valued 20p showed the conference emblem while the 65p stamp showed the conference emblem and the sun. 

A souvenir sheet of 85p was also issued beside the FDC.

 The third stamp of the year was published on 1st July on the eve of Adoption of International System of Weight and Measures in Pakistan. The 20p multicoloured stamp showed units of weight and measurement.

 21st July always came with a set of three stamps to commemorate the RCD anniversary. IN 1974, the RCD celebrated its 10th anniversary and the theme selected for this year was the carpets of Iran, Pakistan and Treky which are known the world over for their finest hand knotted carpets. The stamps were valued 20p, 60p and Rs. 1.25.

 The fifth stamp of the year was published on 9 August on the eve of National Day of Tree Plantation. The 20p multicoloured stamp showed hands protecting the fragile saplings.

The sixth stamp was issued on 28th August on the Namibia Day. This 60p multicoloured stamps showed the map of Africa and torch showing the light of freedom.

The seventh stamp was issued on 23 September to commemorate the Shahrah-e-Pakistan or the roads of Pakistan. This 20p multicoloured stamps showed the road map of Pakistan.

The eigth stamp was issued on 7 October on the eve of Universal Children Day. This 20p multicoloured stamps showed a baby boy and a desk.

On the Centenary of the Universal Postal Union, Pakistan Post issued two commemorative stamps. The 20p multicoloured stamp showed the UPU emblem and Acroll, while the Rs. 2.25 multicoloured stamp depicted the UPU emblem and an aeroplane.

A Souvenir sheet was also issued on the occasion, priced at Rs. 2.45.

The tenth stamp of the year was to pay homage to the first Prime Minister of Pakistan who was assassinated on 16th October 1951 at Rawalpindi Liaquat Bagh. The stamp was issued on 18th October.

The last and eleventh stamp of the year was to commemorate the Birth Centenary of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the national poet of Pakistan. The stamp valued 20p bearing portrait of the Iqbal was issued on 9th November.

via My Philatelic World
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