Mosaferín-e Mohtaram
A story of a return to Kabul after decades away — through ordinary moments that carried unexpected weight, and a country that was both exactly as she remembered and entirely changed.
BlogEtcetera
Thoughts on this, that, and the rest
BlogEtcetera
Thoughts on this, that, and the rest
One Narrow Patch: Staying Ready in the Comfort of Your Niche?
Specializing in a niche software field offers job security and develops strong interpersonal skills through direct user interaction. However, deep expertise in a narrow area can lead to career vulnerability if market demands shift. Specialized professionals risk finding their experience disconnected from broader technological trends and current hiring needs.
Do Not Trust the Sunset: Notes from a Doha August
Stepping outside in a Doha August is a tactical operation. A light-hearted look at heat, humidity, and the stubborn weekly football match that refuses to quit.
Reclaim Your Terminal: How Lazygit Supercharges Your Git Workflow
Finding the right tools for your development workflow is a constant struggle, and Git tooling is no exception. Despite the plethora of Git clients available, none of them ever felt quite right. For a while, I settled on GitFiend. It…
Why XFCE Makes Windows Optional
Windows isn't the default anymore. Xfce is fast, familiar, and finally polished — running it on Fedora's bleeding-edge spin, coming off years of i3, and I haven't noticed a single performance hit.
How to Fix i3 Workspace Assignment Failing for LibreOffice (Startup Race Condition)
I tweaked my i3 configuration to automate application placement. During this process, I encountered a frustrating issue. LibreOffice was ignoring my workspace assignments. While the main suite started correctly, specific components like LibreOffice Writer refused to land in their designated…
AI and Sufi Poetry: Analyzing Abdul-Qadir Bedil with Large Language Models
But beneath all that, a profound reality is that we’re building tools that can engage in subtle, reflective, and culturally rich conversations.
Why I Ghosted My Blog (And What Brought Me Back)
It’s been quite a while…. such a long time that I can’t think of how to begin anymore. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I’d blog again. It wasn’t because I did not have anything to say. Somewhere along the…
Marx, Engels and Lenin in Pul-e-Charkhi Prison
With all the hype about Marxism and Socialism, I remembered this story. Someone in my family back in the 1980s spent some time in the infamous Pul-e-Charkhi prison. They had taken him because of suspected links to anti-government elements. There…
Best Doha Layover Itinerary: Tips for Long-Haul Travelers
Having lived in Australia, I’m no stranger to long-haul flights. If you’re going to be stuck on a plane for over 15 hours, why not break up the journey with a layover that feels like a mini-holiday? For travelers between…
