Poetry
When AI Meets Bedil: A Conversation on Poetry, Meaning, and Machine Insight
But beneath all that, a profound reality is that we’re building tools that can engage in subtle, reflective, and culturally rich conversations.
Afghan politics
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 were certainly more than one in every family who the Read more…
Holiday
Maximising your layover in Doha: A personal guide
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 Europe and Australia/New Zealand, a stop in the Middle East Read more…
Computing
Volunteer Computing
Volunteer computing is an arrangement where volunteers provide or donate their computer resources to projects. That way, these projects are able to do really advanced and time-consuming computations. Most of these projects are scientific trying to solve different problems. Some are run by universities and other not for profit foundations. Read more…
Islam
A Shared Ramadan Experience
We are only two Muslims in our workplace, but every Ramadan almost everyone else fasts one day to share the Ramadan experience with us. Our work organises a dinner for those who fast. This year, one of our colleagues emailed us the following and with her permission I decided to Read more…
Afghan diaspora
Afghan Girls and the Dilemma of Marriage
📝 Disclaimer:This post was authored by a guest contributor several years ago and reflects the personal opinions and experiences of the author during that time. It encapsulates a specific cultural perspective and moment, which may not align with the current views of this blog or its owner. Readers are encouraged Read more…
Islam
Ramadan: The transition is easy, the upkeep not so much
I know some inspiring brothers and sisters who make being a practicing, obedient Muslim look so easy. But it is not. It takes constant struggle and for people like myself who are not very disciplined it is very hard to keep up the pace. I know several brothers and sisters Read more…