Not an Unknown Man

For a day or two, the headline spread quickly: a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar was discovered deceased on a Buffalo sidewalk, having been left alone by immigration agents at a coffee shop miles from his residence days prior. On a freezing winter night, a 56-year-old man with limited English and poor vision was released and driven to a closed Tim Hortons, then left in thin jail booties to manage on his own.

And then, very quickly, it felt like the story moved on. A few news cycles, a handful of statements, and the world returned to its usual noise. A man who had survived statelessness, camps, and decades of waiting died in a downtown American city, and it was as if his life weighed nothing on the scales of public outrage. His family’s grief, their shattered American dream, seemed to vanish into that silence.

But he was not just “a nearly blind refugee.” He had a name, a history, and people who loved him. His name was Nurul Amin Shah Alam.

A Man Who “Didn’t Matter”: Nurul Amin of Arakan

Shah Alam belonged to the Arakan Rohingya, a Muslim minority from Rakhine (Arakan) State in Myanmar that has lived for generations without recognized citizenship. Successive governments stripped Rohingya people of legal status, restricted their movement, and enabled campaigns of violence so severe that United Nations officials and human rights groups have described them as possible genocide. [1]

In 2017, over 700,000 Rohingya were driven from Myanmar into neighboring Bangladesh in what became one of the world’s largest refugee crises; many others, like Shah Alam’s family, scattered to countries such as Malaysia in search of survival. Their lives were already defined by statelessness and displacement well before Buffalo was ever mentioned.

Twenty years in Malaysia, ten years in the resettlement line

Shah Alam and his wife, Fatimah Abdul Roshid, spent roughly two decades in Malaysia, working and raising their family in the gray zone that so many refugees know too well: tolerated, but never secure. Community advocates later said he worked in construction for years, awaiting a durable solution while trying to build something like a normal life on borrowed time. [2]

In 2014, they entered the long, bureaucratic process of the U.S. refugee resettlement system. It took about a decade for that application to bear fruit. By the time approval came through, the family would have to fracture: Shah Alam would travel to Buffalo with Fatimah and two of their sons, while other family members remained behind, still waiting for their turn.

Shah Alam arrived in Buffalo, New York, on December 24, 2024, officially admitted as a legal refugee. He landed not as an “illegal immigrant” or a border crosser, but as someone the U.S. government itself had invited in after years of vetting. The dream was simple and achingly ordinary: reunite the family, sit at one table again, eat Fatimah’s home-cooked food, and spend the rest of his life in safety. [2]

A walk gone wrong

On February 15, 2025, approximately seven weeks into his new American life, Shah Alam went out for a walk with a curtain rod he had bought and was using as a makeshift cane. He became disoriented just a few blocks from his home and wandered onto or near the wrong property. A resident, alarmed, called 911 to report a suspicious man in her yard. [3]

What happened next is on video. Buffalo police body-camera footage, published by Investigative Post, captures the encounter: officers shouting, “Drop it! Put it down! You’re going to get tased. I’m going to shoot you, dude,” at a man who does not respond in English and does not appear to understand the commands. When he moves toward them still holding the rod, they fire Tasers, knock him to the ground, and cuff him in the snow. [3]

In the struggle, officers say he bit two of them, a detail they repeat on camera as they discuss documenting injuries. The severe charges he faced included felony assault on an officer, burglary or trespass, criminal mischief, and criminal possession of a weapon – the very object he had used to navigate the snowy city. Federal immigration authorities quietly added another layer: an immigration detainer, instructing the jail to alert them before any release. [3] (Continues below)

A year in jail while his family waited

For the next twelve months, from February 2025 to February 2026, Shah Alam sat in the Erie County Holding Center on those charges. His family did not post bail for most of that year. According to his attorney and community advocates, they were terrified that if he stepped out of the county jail, ICE or Border Patrol would take him, move him to a distant detention center, and possibly deport him to the very dangers they had fled. [3]

So they chose what felt, in that moment, like the lesser of two cruelties: leave him inside a county jail they could at least reach by bus, visit him regularly, and wait for the criminal case to resolve. For a nearly blind man who could not read the notices handed to him and who needed interpreters to communicate, it meant a lost year in a concrete world.

A plea deal that was supposed to protect him

As 2025 turned to 2026, the wheels of justice finally began to move. On February 9, 2026, nearly a year after his arrest, a deal finally arrived. Prosecutors dropped the felonies; Shah Alam pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors—trespass and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon—and a sentencing date was set for March 24, 2026. The Erie County district attorney later said the plea considered both his lack of prior record and the harsh immigration consequences a felony could trigger. [4]

His Legal Aid lawyer told the family that now, with only misdemeanors and a sentencing date on the calendar, it was safer to post bail. No one expected miracles. The hope was modest: he would be processed, maybe briefly held in immigration custody, then released to continue his case from outside the cell.

Bail, but not freedom

On February 19, 2026, Fatimah and the children scraped together $5,000 in bond and went to the Erie County Holding Center. They handed over the money and then waited in the lobby for Shah Alam to come through the doors. Instead, because of the old immigration detainer, the Sheriff’s Office called U.S. Border Patrol, and at about 4:39 p.m. agents took him from the jail into their own custody. [2]

Border Patrol later said that when they reviewed his file, they realized he had entered the United States as a refugee on December 24, 2024, and was “not amenable to removal”—in plain language, someone they should not deport.

This determination was bureaucratic language for a simple fact: as a legally admitted refugee, Shah Alam had the right to remain in the United States. He was not deportable. There was no legal reason to keep him in federal custody. The decision to release him was correct; the manner of that release was not.

Border Patrol claims they used a translation app, offered him a phone call (which they say he declined), and then gave him a “courtesy ride” instead of simply releasing him from their office. [2]

The “courtesy ride” to nowhere

What Border Patrol did next would seal his fate.

The “courtesy ride” took Shah Alam to a Tim Hortons in a strip plaza on Niagara Street in Buffalo. Border Patrol has described it as a “warm, safe location near his last known address.” Surveillance footage tells a different story: the Tim Hortons had already closed for the night, and he was dropped there after dark in late February, in winter temperatures, more than four miles from the East Side apartment where his family now lived. [5]

Video obtained by news outlets shows a white van pulling into the parking lot and a man in orange jail-issue booties stepping out, pulling his hood tight and walking away alone into a nearly empty plaza. He had no phone, no English, and almost no vision. Border Patrol agents did not call his wife, his sons, or his lawyer to tell them where he was. [5]

Back at the jail, Fatimah and the children were still waiting in the lobby, not knowing that the man they had just bailed out had already been driven across town and left outside a closed coffee shop.

(Continues below)

Four days missing

Over the next several days, the family and members of Buffalo’s Rohingya community searched for him around the city. His attorney, unable to find him in federal detainee databases, worried he might be lost in the system or on the street; on February 22, 2026, he filed a missing-person report with the Buffalo Police Department. [6]

Police entered Shah Alam into state and national databases as a missing person. On February 23, a detective, after hearing (incorrect) information that he was in federal custody, briefly marked the local case “closed” in the department’s software—a bureaucratic misstep that did not remove his name from national systems but shows how tangled the lines of communication had become. When it became clear that Border Patrol no longer had him, the case was reopened the same day. [6]

By February 24, detectives had talked to a former neighbor and then to one of his sons, confirming that the family had not seen him since the day of his release and learning, finally, that Border Patrol had left him at the Niagara Street Tim Hortons. [6]

Found on Perry Street

That evening, February 24, 2026, a woman near 56 Perry Street, in downtown Buffalo’s entertainment district, saw a man she later identified as Shah Alam moving around outside at about 5:30 p.m.. Roughly three hours later, at around 8:30 p.m., she found him lying on the ground, unresponsive, and called 911. [6]

Firefighters and paramedics tried to revive him; police administered Narcan; he was pronounced dead at the scene. City surveillance cameras that might have captured his last movements were offline because they had recently been vandalized, leaving a blank where the final hours of his life should have been. [9]

The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the body as Nurul Amin Shah Alam on February 25, 2026 and notified his family. City officials initially told reporters that his death was “health-related in nature” and that homicide and death purely from exposure had been ruled out. However, the Medical Examiner’s Office later clarified that the cause of death had not yet been determined and that the investigation remained ongoing. As of late February 2026, the official cause of death has not been publicly released. [6]

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A funeral, and a city that calls itself welcoming

On February 26, 2026, mourners carried Shah Alam’s body into Masjid Zakariya on Sobieski Street for his funeral prayers, then to a cemetery on Stone Street, where about a hundred people—Rohingya neighbors, other refugees, and long-time Buffalo residents—gathered to bury him.

Buffalo’s mayor, Sean Ryan, issued an unusually sharp statement. He called Border Patrol’s decision to leave Shah Alam at a closed coffee shop on a snowy night “unprofessional,” “inhumane,” and a “dereliction of duty”, and said the death was preventable. [7]

Representative Tim Kennedy called the case a “horrific and heartbreaking tragedy,” urged a full investigation, and wrote to New York Attorney General Letitia James asking her to examine the conduct of Border Patrol, the county jail, and local agencies. [8]

Buffalo likes to think of itself as a welcoming city for refugees, a Rust Belt town that has opened its doors to families from Somalia, Syria, Myanmar, and beyond. For many in that community, watching a man like Shah Alam die this way felt like a crack in that self-image.

A death in the shadow of politics and bureaucracy

Was Nurul Amin Shah Alam a victim of the broader political climate, of a country where anti-immigrant rhetoric and cruelty at the border have become routine talking points? Was he simply the casualty of a chain of incompetence and negligence—a police response that escalated instead of helping, a jail that defaulted to calling federal agents, a federal agency that chose a “courtesy ride” to a dark plaza over the simple act of phoning his family?

The honest answer is that the public record does not give us a neat motive. What it shows, across documents and videos, is a series of small decisions that, together, stripped this man of the protections he should have had:

• A police encounter that treated a nearly blind man with a makeshift cane as a lethal threat instead of a lost neighbor.

• A year-long detention that turned a language barrier and confusion into a felony case and an immigration detainer.

• A release process that valued clearing a detainer over reuniting a family in the lobby just a few feet away.

• A “courtesy ride” that ended not at home, not at a shelter, not even at a police precinct, but outside a closed coffee shop.

Whatever labels we choose — systemic failure, bureaucratic indifference, the quiet violence of low expectations for refugee lives — the result is the same. A man who survived genocide, statelessness, and two decades in exile reached the country that promised him safety and died on cold concrete, alone.

A personal note

I have tried to write this piece several times and kept stopping. It is hard to hold the cold language of “custody transfer,” “detainer,” and “health-related death” alongside the image of a father who only wanted to sit at one table with his wife and children and enjoy a meal together, in peace. It is hard not to feel that, somewhere in the machinery of law and enforcement, his life was treated as disposable.

The least we can do is say his name, tell his story truthfully, and refuse to treat his death as just another line in the news. I know there is so much much more going on in the world right now and that also matters but this man deserved a lot more from his new hosts.

References

[1] Al Jazeera. (2026, February 26). Near-blind Rohingya refugee dies after US agents left him far from home.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/26/near-blind-rohingya-refugee-dies-after-us-agents-left-him-far-from-home

[2] CNN. (2026, February 27). Key questions surround the death of a nearly blind refugee after he was released by Border Patrol in New York.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/27/us/shah-alam-death-new-york-border-patrol-wwk-hnk

[3] Investigative Post. (2026, February 25). Blind refugee abandoned by Border Patrol is dead.
https://www.investigativepost.org/2026/02/25/blind-refugee-abandoned-by-border-patrol-is-dead/

[4] The New York Times. (2026, February 27). Nearly blind refugee is found dead after Border Patrol drops him at Buffalo Tim Hortons.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/nyregion/myanmar-refugee-buffalo-border-patrol.html

[5] Syracuse.com/ Associated Press. (2026, February 27). Video shows nearly blind refugee left by Border Patrol at closed Buffalo shop.
https://www.syracuse.com/state/2026/02/video-shows-nearly-blind-refugee-left-by-border-patrol-at-closed-buffalo-shop.html

[6] WKBW, Buffalo. (2026, February 26). Community mourns man who was found dead after he was mistakenly taken into custody by CBP, then released.
https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/buffalo/community-mourns-man-who-was-found-dead-after-he-was-mistakenly-taken-into-custody-by-cbp-then-released

[7] City of Buffalo. (2026, February 26). Statement from Mayor Sean M. Ryan on Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam.
https://www.buffalony.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1614

[8] U.S. Congressman Timothy M. Kennedy. (2026, February 26). Kennedy calls for comprehensive investigation into death of Rohingya refugee in Buffalo.
https://kennedy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2372

[9] WGRZ Local News - Buffalo Police offer timeline of events following Nurul Amin Shah Alam’s death.
https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/nurul-amin-shah-alams-death-timeline-buffalo-police/71-19fe1511-b558-4df6-990a-167cd89b27e1

Originally published at https://munvaray.com/

The Hidden Cost of “Free”

Right, so what I was saying is, isn’t it strange that there are apps these days where you scan your receipts and get some cashback, a discount, or points? It seems like free money. People start by scanning their own receipts, then they start collecting them from friends at school or colleagues at work just to get those extra points.

But here’s the reality: all those receipts are sent to companies that sell your life story to data brokers. These are companies whose entire business model is gathering every scrap of info about you to sell it to other people. That’s their entire business model.

The Data: As of 2026, the data broker industry is worth over $360 billion. They aren’t just looking at what you buy; they are building a “digital twin” of you. *

Now, in America, we do have some laws. You can reach out to these brokers and opt out, but most people don’t even know these companies exist, let alone that their information is being sold.

Your Data as a Product

What ends up happening is you start getting random mail or seeing weirdly specific ads. Let’s say you bought a PlayStation 5. You didn’t search for it online or do anything else. You just scanned that physical paper receipt. Suddenly, you’re bombarded with ads for PS5 accessories. Some are good, but others are cheap knock-offs or flat-out scams.

This happens because those data brokers take your receipt and add it to your consumer profile.. They essentially build a digital version of you and put you into a “bucket” for people who just bought high-end electronics.

Legitimate brands and scam artists both buy access to those same buckets. They target you because they know exactly what is sitting in your living room, and you’re left having to figure out for yourself which ads are real and which ones are fake.

Someone’s at the front door?

But it goes deeper than ads. Imagine someone is sleeping at home, deep in sleep, and suddenly there’s a loud bang. The door is broken down, police sirens are blaring, and they’re dragged out of bed. Let’s say it’s immigration services (ICE). Why did they come for him?

Those data brokers sell your info to their consumers (government, private companies, politicians, etc alike) who share with companies like Palantir or others, these are massive data analytics firms whose stocks are soaring right now. These companies buy your data legally. Your driving habits, your home address, your grocery list—it all leaves a digital trail.

Reference: Investigations by groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) show that agencies like ICE buy access to private databases—like utility bills and DMV records—to bypass the need for a search warrant. *

“Make Profiling Cool Again”

What do they do with it? They run it through AI to try and figure out who might be living here illegally. Maybe someone scanned a bunch of receipts from Mexican grocery stores or Hispanic shops. The AI looks at that, then looks at your map data: Are you visiting immigration lawyers? Which websites are you hitting? Once that digital breadcrumb trail exists, it’s available online for a long time.

And it’s not just receipts. Look at Ring sharing. There have been huge concerns about how these doorbells share footage with law enforcement and agencies like ICE. Even if you aren’t doing anything wrong, your neighborhood becomes a web of cameras that you don’t control.

The Bottom Line

If you have searched yourself, you’ll see that Google isn’t the only thing out there. There are “people search” sites that have your phone number, your relatives’ names, and your past addresses all sitting there for a $10 subscription. I am not even talking about all your data sitting in the data black markets.

All I’m saying is: be careful. Nothing in this world is truly free. If you don’t pay the cost upfront, you pay it in the long run with a lot of interest. Don’t share info if you don’t have to. Some people don’t care, and that’s fine, but at least keep the important stuff offline. Don’t break the law, and don’t give them anything they can use against you.

This shouldn’t sound science-fiction to you at all. This is the reality we live in.

The emperors are naked and they command us to be the same. But they mistake their own filth for skin, and their shame for a crown. 🦁

-MunVaRay

Sources:

• Data Broker Market Report 2026 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/data-broker-global-market-report

• Data Broker Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031)
  https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/data-broker-market

• ICE Is Going on a Surveillance Shopping Spree https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/01/ice-going-surveillance-shopping-spree

First published on: munvaray.com

Mike Huckabee’s Israel Problem — And America’s

When Mike Huckabee sat down with Tucker Carlson at Ben Gurion Airport this week, it was supposed to be a conversation about faith, geopolitics and the U.S.–Israel relationship. Instead, the interview has become a litmus test for where an American ambassador’s first allegiance truly lies.

In a sprawling, combative exchange, Huckabee — the U.S. ambassador to Israel and a longtime Christian Zionist — went far beyond standard pro‑Israel talking points. At one point he said it would be “fine” if Israel took control of all the land described in the biblical covenant “from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates,” a zone that in modern terms would swallow large parts of the Middle East. When Carlson pressed him on civilian deaths in Gaza and on whether Israel was drifting toward genocidal logic, Huckabee’s instinct was not to create distance but to defend, rationalize and reframe.

The result was less the posture of a U.S. envoy representing American interests abroad than that of a political client fiercely protecting his host government.

The interview that blew up

The confrontation did not come out of nowhere. Carlson has recently repositioned himself as one of the loudest “America First” critics of the U.S.–Israel relationship, arguing that Washington is too deferential to the Israeli government and that criticism of Israel is stigmatized or censored. Huckabee, stung by Carlson’s earlier segments on the treatment of Christians in Israel, invited him to come and see the country for himself.

What the audience saw, however, was not a calm tutorial but a clash of two worldviews.

On territory, Carlson pointed to Genesis 15:18 and asked the obvious question: if Huckabee insists God granted this land to the Jewish people, does that imply Israel has a moral right to annex swaths of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and beyond? Huckabee replied, “It would be fine if they took it all,” then quickly tried to walk that back as “an exaggerated remark” while insisting Israel is not actually seeking to conquer that territory and only wants to keep what it now holds.

On Gaza, Carlson read out biblical passages about Amalek and asked how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s use of that language could be interpreted as anything other than a call to genocide. Huckabee flatly rejected the premise, arguing that if Israel had truly wanted genocide, it “could have done it in two-and-a-half hours,” given its military power, and insisting that the Israel Defense Forces had gone to great lengths to spare civilians.

Pressed again on children killed in Gaza, Huckabee suggested that minors who “supported Hamas” or “fought Israel” were legitimate targets — a line Carlson met with undisguised horror, responding, “I would not kill children, period. And I wouldn’t make excuses for killing children either.”

Whose ambassador is he?

Diplomats are supposed to advocate for their country, but also to exercise judgment and maintain some daylight between themselves and their host government. Huckabee’s performance made that line almost impossible to see.

Throughout the conversation, Carlson accused him, in effect, of prioritizing Israel over the United States — on questions of war with Iran, on the legacy of the Iraq War, on the presence of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard in Israel, and on the broader tilt of U.S. foreign policy. Huckabee responded with the talking points of a seasoned pro‑Israel advocate: Israel does not drag the U.S. into wars it does not want; American troops have never fought “for” Israel; Iran is an American enemy on its own terms; and military aid to Israel delivers a huge “return on investment.”

There is nothing inherently illegitimate about an ambassador defending a close ally. The problem here is one of tone, framing and hierarchy. At key moments Huckabee spoke less as the guardian of an American national interest that happens to include Israel, and more as a theological salesman for the maximalist claims of the Israeli right.

His comfort with the idea that it would be “fine” for Israel to annex an area “essentially covering the entire Middle East,” even if later qualified, was not the language of a cautious U.S. diplomat in a volatile region. It was the language of a movement that views ancient scripture as superior to international law and current borders — and expects Washington to bend accordingly.

Theology over policy

Huckabee’s remarks are a textbook case of what happens when personal theology blurs into public policy.

As an evangelical Christian, he has for years argued that Jews possess a biblical entitlement to the land of Israel and has supported Israeli sovereignty claims over the occupied West Bank. Now, as ambassador, that conviction appears to shape not only his rhetoric but his tolerance for Israeli state violence. When the Gaza war is framed primarily as a matter of Israel’s 3,800‑year‑old connection to the land and Americans’ supposed moral duty to back that story, the lives of Palestinians — including children — are reduced to a grim footnote.

That framing also diminishes American voters. Carlson, drawing on his “America First” line, argued that Prime Minister Netanyahu wields more influence over U.S. foreign policy than ordinary Americans do and that Washington too often takes the Israeli government’s side over its own citizens.Huckabee rejected that, but he did little to articulate a vision of U.S. interests that stands apart from the priorities of the current Israeli leadership.

In practical terms, an ambassador who leads with God’s land covenant and the righteousness of the IDF — and only secondarily with U.S. law, treaty obligations and democratic accountability — is signaling to both Israelis and Americans that his primary emotional allegiance lies with his host country’s narrative.

A Republican and evangelical split

The interview also exposed the widening rift on the American right. For decades, evangelical support for Israel was one of the most stable pillars of U.S. Middle East policy. Now, younger conservatives and some populist voices question that consensus, pointing to Gaza, to lobbying power in Washington and to the risk of another war with Iran.

Israeli and evangelical leaders have already been working to shore up that relationship, organizing mass trips for pastors and influencers to Israel to counter growing skepticism. Huckabee, in that context, is both ambassador and symbol — the man who stands at the intersection of Christian Zionism and American state power.

By choosing to meet Carlson’s criticisms with near‑total theological and political alignment with Israel’s government, he likely reassured the already‑convinced. But he also reinforced the very caricature Carlson is selling: an American official who seems more animated by defending Israel’s reputation than by grappling with the moral and strategic costs of unconditional support.

The disgrace is the shrug

Reasonable people can disagree over where to draw lines in the U.S.–Israel relationship: how much aid, what conditions, how to handle Iran, what to say about settlements or the West Bank. That debate is overdue, not dangerous.

What felt most jarring in Huckabee’s remarks was not that he supports Israel — that is hardly news — but the apparent ease with which he brushed past the hardest questions. If it would be “fine” in theory for Israel to take all the land from the Nile to the Euphrates, what does that say to millions of non‑Jews currently living there? If killing children who are deemed “complicit” can be rationalized, what does that do to America’s own moral vocabulary about war and civilian protection?

An ambassador who shrugs at those implications does a disservice to the country he represents. The job is not to be a “pet” of the host government, nor a traveling preacher for someone else’s theology, but a steward of American interests and values — including the uncomfortable ones.

Sources:

https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/tucker-carlson-mike-huckabee-israel-middle-east

https://www.trtworld.com/article/51a0af83a11b

https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-887379

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/02/20/tucker-carlson-mike-huckabee-israel-middle-east/

https://www.timesofisrael.com/tucker-carlson-falsely-says-herzog-visited-epstein-island-in-interview-with-us-envoy/

https://singjupost.com/mike-huckabees-interview-tucker-carlson-show-transcript/

https://thehill.com/policy/international/5749053-huckabee-israel-middle-east-takeover-carlson-interview/

Why Millennials Are the Last Generation to Bridge Two Cultural Eras.

Throughout human history, each generation has typically passed on knowledge and responsibilities to the next, much like a relay race. The baton is passed from one runner to the next, with consistent speed and direction, even if their shoes are different. However, recently, it appears the course has been completely changed.

Many Millennials experience an almost instinctual connection to the preceding generations, the Boomers and Gen X. However, when we consider the newer generations, there’s a feeling of a growing divide. This isn’t merely a cliché about younger generations, anymore.

The Shift from Vertical to Horizontal Transmission

To understand this, we have to look at how information travels. Sociologists often discuss “Cultural Transmission”—the process by which a society’s heritage is passed across generations. Historically, this was transmitted vertically (learning from parents, elders, and legacy institutions).

Millennials came of age as the “Broadcasting Era” was drawing to a close. We watched the same sitcoms our parents did, listened to the radio, and sourced our news from the same few outlets. This created a shared vocabulary. Even if we rebelled against our parents’ values, we were rebelling against a framework we both understood.

Newer generations, in contrast, are at the forefront of the “Narrowcasting Era,” a period defined by horizontal transmission.

Owned Media: Beyond just consuming media, their engagement involves a more active and involved relationship with it.

Sovereign Learning: Education is no longer a top-down handoff. When a Gen Z or Gen Alpha creator needs to learn a skill, they don’t look for a legacy institution; they look for a peer creator who speaks their specific “digital” dialect.

The Phenomenon of “Generational Amnesia”

Psychologist Peter Kahn describes a concept called “Environmental Generational Amnesia.” It suggests that each generation takes the world they were born into as the “normal” baseline, often unaware of what came before.

For Millennials, the normal included a sense of historical context. Needing to go back to understand the present. But for newer generations, the baseline is a world of fragmented, real-time data. They aren’t “forgetting” the shared media of the past; they simply don’t see it as a requirement for social connection.

They’ve built a sovereign culture. This culture doesn’t need to look back. It’s too busy building its own future. It does this efficiently in 9:16 vertical video, or maybe 6:7.

The Fading Bridge

The Brookings Institution often refers to Millennials as a demographic bridge. We are probably the last generation to experience both the analog past and the digital present. We can sit with a Gen X’er and discuss a film from 1985 because that film remained a pillar of the zeitgeist for decades. They watched it. We watched it too. Back then, we watched it over and over, as media was pretty scarce. However, for the newest generations, a “pillar” might only last for a two-week viral cycle.

While not necessarily an architectural flaw, this decoupling signifies a major transition. Newer generations’ independence fosters creativity and challenges old norms but may lead to a loss of shared history.

As Millennials, we act as a sort of translator between the analog past and the hyper-digital future. But translation only works if there is a record to look back on. Therefore, we need to write and document our perspective more frequently. If we don’t put these observations down, that transition knowledge just fades out, and the connection between where we came from and where we are going gets lost in translation.

Love

-MunVaRay

Sources & References

• Environmental Generational Amnesia: Kahn, P. H. (University of Washington)

• The Demographic Bridge Concept: The Brookings Institution - Millennials as a Bridge

• Horizontal vs. Vertical Transmission: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Cultural Evolution

• Media Consumption Shifts: Pew Research - Gen Z and Social Media as News Sources

First published on: munvaray.com

When the Land You Love is Turned Against You

For many families in Southern Lebanon, the land is not just dirt and rocks. It is a living member of the family. Abu Elias, a farmer whose hands are as weathered as the bark of his ancient olive trees, knows this better than anyone. His morning ritual usually involves the sweet scent of citrus and the quiet rustle of leaves.

But on a recent Sunday in February 2026, that peace was shattered by a low hum in the sky. As the planes passed, a heavy mist settled over his groves. It did not smell like life. It smelled like the end. Within hours, the silver-green leaves began to curl and turn black. This is the nightmare currently unfolding in the south. It is a story of where the very soil people need to survive is being used as a weapon of war.

Recent investigations, including reporting from The Guardian, have exposed a horrifying tactic. The Israeli military is accused of spraying cancer-linked herbicides over Lebanese farmland. This is not just about security. It is about making the land uninhabitable for generations to come.

A Toxic Legacy: The Chemical War on the Soil

The laboratory results from soil samples are devastating. The spray contains glyphosate, a chemical that the World Health Organization warns is “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

What makes this even more sinister is the concentration. Samples showed levels 20 to 30 times higher than what is allowed in normal farming. This high-dose exposure creates a long-term horror for the families who call this land home:

• A Stolen Future: Glyphosate is directly linked to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. By saturating the soil, they are poisoning the food and water that children will consume for years.

• Biological Damage: At these levels, the chemical acts as an endocrine disruptor. It interferes with human hormones and can cause permanent developmental issues.

• The Death of the Soil: This isn’t just killing weeds. It is killing the microbial life in the earth. It “salts the earth” so that nothing can grow, effectively starving the community from the ground up.

Erasing the Map: The Systematic Destruction of Home

We are seeing a campaign to erase more than just buildings. It is about wiping out the very memory of these villages. Data from Amnesty International and the UN shows the heartbreaking scale of this destruction:

• The Ruins of a Life: In border villages like Yarine and Boustane, more than 70% of all homes and structures have been leveled.

• A People Uprooted: Over 1.2 million people have been forced to flee. When they try to return, they find their childhood homes in ruins and their family land poisoned.

• Blocking the Path Back: There have been documented strikes on the equipment needed to clear rubble and rebuild. The message to these families is clear: you are not allowed to come back.

Scorched Earth: The Reality of the 800°C Fire

This strategy is a page from a very dark history book. We saw the horrors of Agent Orange in Vietnam, where children are still born with birth defects 60 years later.

In Lebanon, they are combining these toxic chemicals with white phosphorus. This substance ignites on contact with air and burns at a staggering 800°C (1,472°F). That is hot enough to melt through metal and penetrate deep into human tissue. On the land, it bakes these chemicals into the soil, creating a toxic “dead zone” where life simply cannot persist.

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A Moral Crisis: Demanding an End to Impunity

We are witnessing a moral catastrophe. When you level a village and then poison the ground it stood on, you are not fighting a war. You are committing a crime against humanity. The international community cannot stay silent while an entire way of life is systematically erased.

We must demand accountability. We must protect the right of families to live on their own land without the fear of being poisoned. Every ancient tree and every family home is a piece of our shared human history.

The era of impunity must end. This must stop.

-MunVaRay

References & Sources

• The Guardian: Israel accused of spraying cancer-linked herbicide on farms in southern Lebanon (Published Feb 5, 2026)

• World Health Organization (WHO): IARC Monographs Volume 112: Evaluation of five organophosphate insecticides and herbicides (Classification of Glyphosate as a probable carcinogen)

• Amnesty International: Evidence of White Phosphorus Use in Southern Lebanon (Detailed investigation into similar incident in 2023)

• Human Rights Watch: Israel: White Phosphorus Used in Gaza, Lebanon (Analysis of the legal implications and humanitarian impact)

First published on: munvaray.com

I’ve been looking at this new ceasefire plan from The Honorable President Donald Trump, and honestly, the more I read about it, the more I’m left with this gnawing feeling. It’s presented as this huge, historic step, but when you peel back the layers, it looks like a one-sided deal with almost nothing in it for the Palestinians.

It’s a shocking lack of guarantees, and it’s something that analysts from all over are pointing out.

The whole situation is infuriating.

We’re talking about a plan to end a war that’s killed more than 66,000 people and wounded over 168,000. Yet, the people who have been through the absolute worst of it are being told what their future will look like by the very people who carried out and funded the conflict.

As the Palestinian lawyer and analyst Diana Buttu once put it, Palestinians are being “forced to negotiate an end to their own genocide“. This has been true for the Palestinian people in almost every proposed solution.

The thing that really gets me is the power dynamic. It just feels so backwards. How can the prime minister of a small nation (Israel) seem to be dictating the rules for the biggest democracy in the world?

You see our President making promises, and then Israel does something that completely undermines them.

Just this week, Netanyahu had to call the Qatari Leadership and apologize for the Israeli airstrike that killed a Qatari serviceman and risked upending peace talks. He made that call from the White House, under pressure from President Trump, who needed to clean up the diplomatic mess to keep his own deal on track.

It all comes down to a complicated game. Netanyahu’s governing coalition is “more fragile than ever“, so he has to show his far-right partners he’s being tough on Gaza. Meanwhile, Trump has shown signs of impatience with Netanyahu after the failed strike on Hamas officials in Qatar, but he also wants to be the one to get this deal done. It’s this strange push-and-pull, and it’s why the situation feels so confusing from the outside.

This is a familiar pattern, too. Analysts say Netanyahu has a history of outplaying Trump and getting what he wants, whether it’s US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital or getting the US to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal.

The Details Behind the Plan

On the surface, the plan seems to offer some hope. It calls for fighting to stop, an exchange of captives, and aid to resume.

But the details are where things get murky. The plan demands that Hamas disarm and hand over control of Gaza to a “Board of Peace” chaired by President Trump himself, and it offers amnesty only to those who promise “peaceful coexistence“.

Here’s the thing that gets me: the plan doesn’t offer a clear timeline or enforcement mechanism. Israeli troops are supposed to withdraw, but it’s not clear who would make sure they actually do.

Even the Palestinian Authority (PA) isn’t given an immediate role in governing Gaza. They have to first complete a reform program that’s vaguely defined, which means their ability to rule could be delayed indefinitely.

A State That Is Being Erased

I’ve been thinking about the “two-state solution” and how much we’ve heard that phrase over the years. This plan brings up a question that’s been on my mind: What shape would a Palestinian state even be in now?

As Buttu points out, the international community is “recognising the state of Palestine as it is being erased“.

It makes me wonder if this is an even worse deal than the Oslo Accords. I mean, back then, at least there was a Palestinian voice at the table, even if the progress was slow. This time around, Trump met with leaders from Arab and Islamic countries, but no Palestinian leaders.

The plan puts the entire burden of ending the war on the Palestinians themselves. If they don’t accept a deal with so few guarantees, the war continue.

The recent international recognition from countries like Canada, Australia, and the UK should feel like progress, but honestly, it feels hollow. I can’t help but see it as a cynical move from countries that simply don’t want to be seen as complicit in the murder of hundreds of thousands of innocent Palestinians.

Yes you (EU) were complicit in it. At least President Trump has taken the initiative himself.

Very recently I remember hearing, one leader telling the EU that Israel is doing their “dirty work”.

Dirty work?

What did the Palestinians ever do to Europe to have their genocide described in such a way? The whole idea is pathetic, and it makes this so-called “recognition” feel less about justice and more about easing a guilty conscience long after the damage has been done.

-M

I moved to Dallas in 2009 for work and, through a friend’s recommendation, discovered a local mosque in Plano. At the time, the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) was modest, nothing more than a small building that many in the community relied on for their prayers and events. That little structure, now used as the mosque’s medical clinic, was the heart of a growing, tightly knit community.

Even though I’m Shia, I felt welcome at EPIC. My friends, who were Sunni, made me feel at home, and I found myself visiting regularly. It became a central part of my life, not just for prayer but for the connections it fostered. Living just across the street, I could easily walk over for Friday prayers, classes, or even just a moment of quiet reflection. The sense of community was palpable—people greeted you warmly, and it felt like everyone was working toward something bigger than themselves.

But the EPIC of today is a far cry from what I first encountered in 2009. It’s no longer just a mosque. It’s a sprawling community hub, a safety net for North Texans of all backgrounds. With its extensive services—from free health clinics to food drives and interfaith events—EPIC has become a cornerstone of the region’s Muslim community. And with that growth has come attention—sometimes positive, but lately, far more contentious.

In Trying to Silence EPIC, Texas Might Be Undermining Itself

Over the past year, EPIC has found itself under intense scrutiny. Multiple investigations have been launched by state authorities, casting a shadow over the center’s operations and its ambitious development project, EPIC City. What began as a small community mosque is now seen as a major player, and not everyone seems comfortable with that growth.

I’ve seen the changes firsthand. The crowds, once manageable, now overflow the parking lots and spill into neighboring streets during Ramadan and other religious holidays. It’s heartwarming and challenging at the same time. EPIC’s success is undeniable, but it’s also made the mosque a target for scrutiny that seems to go beyond simple regulatory concerns.

⚖️ The Investigations: What the State Is Claiming

In March 2025, the Texas Funeral Service Commission issued a cease-and-desist letter to EPIC, claiming that the mosque was running unlicensed funeral services. This move quickly escalated to a formal inquiry by the Collin County District Attorney’s office. At the same time, Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into EPIC’s ambitious 400+ acre development project, known as EPIC City. The project, which includes housing, schools, and businesses, is now under the microscope for potential consumer protection violations.

Meanwhile, Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that over a dozen state agencies are investigating various aspects of EPIC’s operations. While no criminal charges have been filed, the sheer scale of the scrutiny has left many wondering if these actions are truly about regulatory compliance—or if something deeper is at play.

🕌 EPIC’s Reality: Service, Not Secrecy

When I reflect on my time in Dallas, I think about the first time I brought guests to EPIC for water and facilities because our apartment building had a water outage. I remember the kindness of the staff, who didn’t hesitate to help us. It was a small act of hospitality, but it showed the heart of this community.

EPIC’s services go far beyond religious gatherings. They’ve organized countless food drives and offered critical support to families in need, especially during Ramadan. They’ve provided culturally sensitive counseling and support groups—resources that many community members might not otherwise have. And, most importantly to me, they’ve stood by families in times of loss. Two years ago, when I lost a close friend, EPIC stepped in to handle his funeral without charging his widow a single penny. They cared for him as if he were family, and the entire community came together to grieve and honor him.

The point is, EPIC isn’t hiding from Texas—it’s serving it. The services they provide—charity, education, community building—align closely with the values of faith, family, and civic responsibility that so many Texans hold dear.

🏙️ EPIC City: A Vision, Not a Threat

EPIC’s vision has grown along with its community. The EPIC City development, while ambitious, is not unprecedented. Faith-based communities—Christian, Jewish, and others—have long created values-driven neighborhoods that include homes, places of worship, and educational facilities. EPIC City is just another iteration of that idea, and it’s intended to be open, not closed off.

The controversy surrounding it, however, has brought to light some troubling rhetoric. Terms like “Sharia enclave” and “no-go zone” have been thrown around by state officials, painting a picture of division and fear. In reality, EPIC City is no fortress. It’s a community, built on shared values, and open to those who respect its mission.

👁️ Retaliation in Plain Sight?

It’s hard to ignore the timing of these investigations. EPIC has become more vocal in recent years—hosting civic forums, questioning policies, and advocating for refugee rights and civil liberties. Is this scrutiny a response to genuine regulatory concerns, or is it a political statement?

To me, it feels personal. EPIC has been nothing but a positive force in the community. I’ve seen how it brings people together, how it lends a helping hand in times of crisis, and how it creates a space for spiritual and personal growth. The idea that it could be treated as a threat feels deeply unjust.

✉️ EPIC’s Invitation: Don’t Judge—Visit

Through it all, EPIC has maintained a welcoming stance. They’ve removed disputed content, cooperated with regulators, and kept their doors open. Governor Abbott, Attorney General Paxton—anyone who has questions—is invited to come see for themselves.

And what better time to visit than now, as one of the biggest Muslim holidays, Eid ul-Fitr, approaches? This weekend—either Saturday or Sunday, depending on the moon sighting—the mosque will be alive with prayer, celebration, and community. It would be a perfect opportunity for them to experience the warmth and hospitality that EPIC offers firsthand.

🧭 Final Word: The Stakes Are Bigger Than EPIC

At its core, this story isn’t just about EPIC. It’s about what kind of state Texas wants to be. Is it a place where communities can thrive without fear of discrimination? Where diversity is seen as strength, not a threat?

From the small mosque I first encountered in 2009 to the bustling center it is today, EPIC has proven it’s more than capable of rising to any challenge. It’s not just a mosque. It’s not just a community. It’s a reflection of the very best Texas has to offer—resilience, service, and a commitment to helping those in need.

This weekend’s Eid festivities could also be an opportunity for local representatives, to step in and help facilitate meaningful conversations. It’s not just about ending the current wave of scrutiny, but about building bridges and fostering understanding.

Perhaps this Eid can bring more than just celebrations; perhaps it can bring the gift of peace and unity. That would be a truly welcome holiday blessing.

Despite the challenges, Pakistan is not devoid of hope or options. To leverage its strengths and mitigate its risks in this generational shift, a multi-pronged strategy is needed:

Stabilize the Ship:

Political stability remains a cornerstone for progress. The 2024 general elections were marred by allegations of rigging and political unrest, leading to a coalition government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Political stability and policy continuity are paramount. Pakistan must break the cycle of constant upheaval. This could involve reforms to strengthen democratic institutions, foster consensus across party lines on key economic policies, and empower technocratic governance for economic management. A stable government that lasts its full term and pursues consistent pro-investment policies will immediately boost confidence. All stakeholders (civilian leadership, military, judiciary) need to commit to a period of economic focus free from political melodrama.1

Continues below…

Series Overview:

Part 1: Shifting Sands—Understanding the New Global Economic Landscape
Part 2: Pakistan’s IT Sector—A Rising Digital Hub?
Part 3: How China’s Industrial Shift Could Transform Pakistan
Part 4: Stability at Stake—Addressing Pakistan’s Internal Challenges
Part 5: Lessons from Global Successes and a Roadmap for Pakistan’s Future

Create an Investor-Friendly Ecosystem

Pakistan should dramatically improve its business climate to attract foreign and local investment. This means cutting red tape, ensuring contracts and property rights are upheld (rule of law), and tackling corruption. The military's expanding role in Pakistan's economy has also raised concerns about the equitable distribution of resources and potential conflicts of interest. Initiatives like the Special Investment Facilitation Council and “One-Stop Shop” for investors need to be empowered to actually solve problems on the ground.

Vietnam’s government, for instance, proactively worked with companies to smooth out bureaucratic hurdles. Pakistan should do the same – assign dedicated facilitation teams for major investors, offer reliable utilities in industrial zones, and streamline customs and tax procedures. Incentives are already in place (tax breaks, etc.), but implementation and ease of operations will set Pakistan apart. If a company finds it can start a factory in Karachi or Lahore just as easily as in Dhaka or Ho Chi Minh City, it will be more inclined to choose Pakistan given our large market and workforce.2

Invest in People – Pakistan’s Ultimate Resource

The long-term game is won by countries that invest in human capital. Pakistan’s youth are smart and hardworking, but too many lack quality education or marketable skills. A national effort is needed to improve education at all levels – from basic literacy to advanced technical training. This includes public-private partnerships to expand vocational training centers, IT bootcamps, and science/engineering programs. Initiatives like the “Skill Pakistan” program could train large numbers in coding, digital marketing, electronics assembly, and English communication, feeding both the IT sector and higher-end manufacturing. A skilled workforce will not only attract investors (who need technicians, not just laborers) but also ensure that Pakistanis can climb the value chain and launch homegrown ventures.3

Leverage Strategic Partnerships (but Balance Them)

Pakistan should continue engaging China for industrial investment – it’s a comparative advantage to have a neighbor willing to deploy capital. But it must also diversify its economic partners to avoid over-reliance.

Middle Eastern investors (e.g. in tech startups, textiles), Western companies looking for “China-plus-one” manufacturing options, and multinational tech firms seeking talent. Joining regional trade agreements or blocs could help; for example, exploring links to Southeast Asian markets or reaping benefits under GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) for exports.

Diaspora diplomacy is another underused tool – Pakistan’s expatriates in Silicon Valley, the Middle East, and Europe can be ambassadors for investment if given incentives to connect back home. By widening the circle of partnerships, Pakistan reduces vulnerability and integrates more broadly into the multipolar economy.

Security and Inclusive Growth Measures

Economic plans will only succeed if Pakistan is safe and stable. This requires a dual approach: continue vigorous counterterrorism and intelligence efforts to neutralize militant threats, and simultaneously address the root causes of extremism by improving governance in border regions, creating jobs, and integrating marginalized communities.

The presence of advanced weapons with militants means security forces need better equipment and training – Pakistan should cooperate with allies for counter-insurgency support. On the socioeconomic front, policies must ensure that the benefits of growth (when they come) are widely shared. Disaffected populations are more prone to unrest. Investing in neglected provinces (Balochistan, KP, Urban Sindh) with infrastructure and industry can help bring everyone into the fold of progress. An inclusive growth model, where the average citizen sees tangible improvements, will undercut the appeal of militant narratives and solidify national stability.4

Conclusion: A Vision for Pakistan’s Role

Pakistan stands at a critical crossroads. The generational shift underway globally—accelerated by geopolitical realignments like the return of the Trump administration in the U.S., tensions between Western powers and China, and the rise of multipolar economic alliances—offers Pakistan unique opportunities. The U.S.'s renewed focus on reshoring manufacturing and counterbalancing China's influence, for instance, opens a window for Pakistan to position itself as a viable manufacturing and technology hub, bridging the East and the West.

To leverage this moment, Pakistan must strike a careful balance in its foreign policy—maintaining its robust strategic partnership with China, particularly through ongoing projects like CPEC, while simultaneously engaging proactively with Western and Middle Eastern partners to diversify economic ties and minimize dependency risks. Recent diplomatic breakthroughs, including Pakistan’s role in capturing high-profile terrorists and handing them over to the U.S., underscore how security cooperation can also strengthen bilateral trust and economic collaboration.

Domestically, reforms in governance, transparency, and political stability remain paramount. Strengthening democratic institutions, improving investor confidence, and developing human capital will create a stable internal environment—vital for attracting investment and partnerships. The global realignment, characterized by competition but also interdependence, provides Pakistan a timely opportunity to redefine itself not merely as a recipient of investment but as a pivotal, strategic player in the global economy.

Imagine a Pakistan where software engineers power a thriving IT export sector, factories across Punjab and KP become essential components of global supply chains, and strategic ports like Gwadar serve as bustling gateways linking diverse markets. This vision is achievable, provided leadership seizes the moment, commits to lasting reforms, and navigates global geopolitics astutely.

The world is watching closely. Pakistan's actions today will determine whether it emerges as a success story—capitalizing on geopolitical shifts—or a cautionary tale of missed opportunities. Let’s hope the nation chooses the path of progress, diplomacy, and innovation, securing its rightful place in the emerging multipolar global order.

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This concludes the series “Pakistan’s Potential Role in the New Global Tech and Manufacturing Shift".

References

No analysis of Pakistan is complete without confronting the internal challenges that could undermine all these opportunities. The country faces a crucible of political, economic, and security issues. Politically, instability has been a recurring curse – governments swing between parties (or military influence), policies flip-flop, and business confidence suffers. In recent years, Pakistan has seen mass protests, a no-confidence removal of a sitting Prime Minister, and a precarious caretaker government setup.

This turbulence erodes investor trust. As a U.S. State Department report bluntly noted, Pakistan’s economy is hamstrung by “weak rule-of-law, corruption, political uncertainty, security concerns,” all of which make it a “challenging environment for investors.”. Political uncertainty and red tape were cited by both foreign and local firms as the top constraints to doing business in Pakistan. It’s hard to plan a factory or a software park when you’re not sure who will be in power next year or what the tax policy will be. Thus, without addressing governance and stability, Pakistan risks scaring away the very investors it courts.12

Continues below…

Series Overview:

Part 1: Shifting Sands—Understanding the New Global Economic Landscape
Part 2: Pakistan’s IT Sector—A Rising Digital Hub?
Part 3: How China’s Industrial Shift Could Transform Pakistan
Part 4: Stability at Stake—Addressing Pakistan’s Internal Challenges
Part 5: Lessons from Global Successes and a Roadmap for Pakistan’s Future

Economically, Pakistan has been on a rollercoaster of distress. External debt and balance-of-payments crises have brought the country repeatedly to the brink of default, requiring IMF bailouts to avert collapse. Inflation spiked above 30% in 2023, squeezing household budgets and fueling public anger. A youth entering the workforce today encounters high unemployment and few prospects in a stagnant economy.

This “demographic dividend” of a young population could quickly turn into a demographic time bomb if millions of frustrated young people see no future. Over 60% of Pakistan’s 240 million people are under 30 – a huge potential labor force for industry and IT – if they can be gainfully employed. But if the economy cannot create jobs fast enough, social unrest and brain drain are real threats. We already see many talented Pakistani engineers and entrepreneurs emigrating to more stable environments. Those who stay voice growing disenchantment on social media and in the streets. Simply put, economic distress and lack of opportunity can fuel instability, creating a vicious cycle where instability then further hurts the economy.

The security situation adds another layer of risk. After a relative lull in the late 2010s, militant violence has resurged. The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and other extremist groups have become emboldened, in part due to developments next door in Afghanistan. When the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, it left behind an estimated $7 billion worth of military equipment. The Taliban regime seized this arsenal—including firearms, night-vision goggles, and armored vehicles—and now much of it has bled across the border into Pakistan, arming militant groups. Security experts warn that American-made weapons are boosting the lethality of the TTP and Baloch insurgents, who have killed hundreds in attacks over the past two years. Videos circulating online show militants with modern sniper rifles and thermal scopes, outmatching local police. The result has been a surge in terror attacks in Pakistan—a 27% increase in 2022 alone compared to the previous year.3

In a significant recent development highlighting these security risks, Pakistan captured Muhammad Sharifullah, a senior ISIS-K commander responsible for the deadly Kabul Airport bombing in August 2021. The operation, conducted jointly with the CIA, led to Pakistan handing Sharifullah over to the United States for prosecution. This incident underscores not only the active threat posed by terror groups operating within Pakistan’s borders but also the critical need for international cooperation to combat extremism. Despite such successes, the overall security environment remains precarious, jeopardizing key projects like CPEC (which has seen attacks on Chinese engineers) and further eroding investor confidence.4

The specter of instability—whether from political chaos, economic meltdown, or militant violence—is the central risk undermining Pakistan’s ambitions. Without stability, even the best-laid development plans will falter.

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This series concludes with “Part 5: Lessons from Global Successes and a Roadmap for Pakistan’s Future".

References

One external partner could significantly accelerate Pakistan’s industrial leap: China.

As China’s economy matures, it’s actively looking to relocate some manufacturing abroad. The reasons are twofold. Economically, China’s manufacturing wages have risen rapidly (over 10% yearly in the 2000s), eroding its edge in labor-intensive goods. China is now “moving from light manufacturing for exports toward higher technology” ,

Continues below…

Series Overview:

Part 1: Shifting Sands—Understanding the New Global Economic Landscape
Part 2: Pakistan’s IT Sector—A Rising Digital Hub?
Part 3: How China’s Industrial Shift Could Transform Pakistan
Part 4: Stability at Stake—Addressing Pakistan’s Internal Challenges
Part 5: Lessons from Global Successes and a Roadmap for Pakistan’s Future

focusing on semiconductors, EVs, and advanced industries. To do that, it benefits from shifting lower-end factories (textiles, basic electronics, etc.) to lower-cost countries. This allows China to reskill its workforce for higher-value work while still keeping its companies’ supply chains running elsewhere.

Strategically, China also faces trade tensions with the West. By moving some production to friendly countries like Pakistan, Chinese firms can reduce exposure to tariffs and sanctions. Goods “Made in Pakistan” could potentially enter markets with fewer trade barriers than goods made in China, helping Chinese businesses remain competitive amid geopolitical headwinds 1.

From Beijing’s perspective, investing in Pakistan has an added bonus: it helps stabilize a strategic neighbor. Pakistan is a key partner in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and the flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has seen tens of billions invested in Pakistani infrastructure.

A more industrialized, prosperous Pakistan would be a more stable Pakistan – securing China’s investments and strengthening an ally on India’s doorstep. Thus, it’s no surprise that Chinese and Pakistani leaders have actively discussed industrial relocation. In mid-2024, Pakistan’s government even “greenlighted” plans to relocate China’s textile, leather, and footwear factories to Pakistan via joint ventures. Special Economic Zones are being set up under CPEC precisely to host such Chinese-invested industries, with one-stop facilitation centers and legal tweaks (like an “Easy Business Act”) in the works to smooth the process. The vision is for Pakistan to absorb the kind of light manufacturing that China is moving away from 2.

For Pakistan, the benefits of Chinese industrial investment are clear. It brings much-needed foreign capital, technology transfer, and jobs. “Pakistan’s low labor costs present an unparalleled opportunity” for industries like textiles and agriculture, notes the head of Pakistan’s CPEC Centre of Excellence, pointing out that wages here are lower than many regional peers. Sectors that Pakistan already has a foothold in (e.g. textile apparel, which makes up 60% of our exports) could scale up dramatically with Chinese partnership. New ventures – say assembling electronics or auto parts – could plug Pakistan into global supply chains it currently misses.

The development of Gwadar Port and new road/rail links are improving logistics, making Pakistan more attractive as a manufacturing and export base for Chinese and other foreign firms. Indeed, officials report that investors from China (as well as Turkey and the Middle East ) are already exploring opportunities in these special zones. By hosting Chinese factories, Pakistan can start climbing the industrial ladder that countries like Vietnam have ascended in recent years. However, both countries must navigate risks in this partnership. For China, the primary concern is stability and security – its investments and personnel in Pakistan have occasionally been targeted by insurgents, and an unstable economic environment could jeopardize projects.

For Pakistan, there are cautions about becoming too dependent on one country’s capital. If not managed well, an influx of Chinese firms could outcompete local industries or lead to unsustainable debts (a worry often voiced with Belt and Road projects). Moreover, relying on just cheap labor is a dead-end if not paired with skill development.

Pakistani experts emphasize that while relocating Chinese light manufacturing can “initiate industrialization,” Pakistan “must move beyond this model and invest in creating a skilled workforce” to truly thrive. In other words, leveraging Chinese investment is a jumping-off point – but Pakistan’s long-term competitiveness will require innovation and upgrading, not just low wages. Done right, the collaboration with China is a win-win: China eases its industrial transition, and Pakistan kickstarts its own industrial era. Done poorly, it could reinforce old patterns (e.g. Pakistan exporting only low-value goods) without building a self-sustaining economy. The onus is on policymakers to maximize the benefits and mitigate the risks through savvy negotiation and strategic vision.3

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This series continues with “Part 4: Stability at Stake—Addressing Pakistan’s Internal Challenges".

References

Jack Had Rose. My iPad Had a $9 Case. None Survived.

The Texas Highway Death Race

So, this morning, I had the absolute pleasure of driving down Central Expressway 75 South—which, if you’ve never had the privilege, is basically a real-life Mad Max sequel, but with more trucks, minivans, fewer rules, and a whole lot of student drivers. Every car was going at least 80 mph, some even past 100 mph. I am sure.

I wanted to slow down. I really did. But have you ever noticed how cars in Texas drive in these tight little herds, like they’re migrating across the plains? And the moment you try to break free, someone behind you is already inches away from your bumper like, "You either keep up, or you die, buddy."

So, I do what any rational human would do—I get away from the pack. If things get too sketchy, I’ll even take an exit, breathe for a second, and then rejoin the chaos at the next ramp like, "Surprise! You thought I was gone?" Defensive driving? More like survival tactics.

And don’t even get me started on left turns at a green/yield light. Some Texas cities have these turns where you literally can’t see oncoming traffic until it’s already too late. You’re just sitting there, creeping forward, praying your next move isn’t your last. And the city? Oh, the city knows this is a problem. Do they fix it? Nope. They just tweak the traffic light timer by half a second, like that’s going to stop people from becoming statistics.

At least they finally made one of those dangerous right on red at stop intersections a full stop on red. But, let’s be real, does anyone in Texas actually follow that?

Absolutely not.

The iPad Mini Betrayal: The Jack to My Rose

So, why was I even out braving the Texas Highway Death Race this morning? Oh yeah, my iPad Mini. The same iPad Mini 7th Gen with A17pro and I was hyping up just weeks ago, saying it was perfect for reading comics, watching videos, and getting some light work done. Yeah. The one where I accepted I was wrong about it. That one. It’s dead now.

I am wrong again. Actually, I am not so sure anymore.

Guess what took it down? A $9 case from Amazon.

See, I cheaped out on a partially magnetic case—which is really just a fancy way of saying, "This thing will hold onto your iPad until it actually matters."

So, I step out of my car, holding it by the case like an idiot. And mid-step, I realize—I messed up. 💭This is a bad idea. But before my brain can even finish processing the thought, my iPad is already falling.

And this wasn’t just a normal fall. No. This was a Titanic-level betrayal. My iPad Mini was Jack, slipping away from Rose’s door. Only, in this version, there was no Rose. Just me, standing there, gripping a crappy $9 case, watching helplessly as it did absolutely nothing.

I stare at the case in my hand, my eyes filled with pure dumbfounded betrayal. Then, with all the disappointment of an abandoned lover, I tell it:

"Sorry if you thought you were also gonna live to be 101", I then close my eyes -and straight into the trash it goes.

Back to the iPad, The iPad hits the driveway edge first, bounce like it has unfinished business, and then slides—face down—across tiny rocks, dust, and whatever other evil resides on the ground. It slid three whole feet before stopping. That’s how I know I was meant to suffer.

I pick it up, already knowing I’ve ruined my life. The screen? Destroyed. The edge? Dented so badly that the Apple repair center at MicroCenter couldn’t just replace the screen—they had to fix the body too.

Instead of a $29 screen replacement, now it’s a full $99 repair. I just handed over my iPad and my dignity.

Apple vs. Samsung: The Durability Smackdown

And this is where I start to question if getting the iPad Mini is worth the pain? Because let me tell you something—my Samsung devices? They don’t break like this. This easily. This soon.

My Galaxy Fold 6? I drop that thing every day. Like, every single day. It has fallen off tables, taken full-on faceplants, and even survived me accidentally punting it across the room when I tried to stop its fall with my foot. And guess what? Still working. No cracks. No panic. Just vibes.

Even my backup Flip phone has taken several nosedives. And one time, I tried to catch it with my foot and instead kicked it deep under a shopping aisle at Target. Had to wait for a very confused employee to crawl under the shelves and retrieve it for me. My Hero! ❤️🫸🏻🫷🏻.

I don’t have it on video, but honestly, the closest comparison I can give is this legendary moment from a cricket match:

All those years playing cricket as a kid has helped.

But back to Apple. Why are we still fixing screens in 2025? How is it that Samsung figured this out in 2018, but Apple is still making devices that crumble at the sight of concrete? Just think about how much money you could save, Apple. You wouldn’t need all those Apple-authorized service centers anymore—kind of like how you got rid of your own stores. Yeah, I see what you did there.

You know what I want? I want an iPad Mini that can survive my Texas life. I don’t want to buy a $100 repair every time I look at it the wrong way. I don’t want to risk my life by driving down to microcenter to get the iPad fixed, through the Texas Death ways.

Dear Apple Make your devices durable. Again, 2025, cost shouldn't be an issue, and even it it costs more. Yes I think people would be willing to pay more upfront than pay each time you break it.

Sometimes, it's also not about the cost, but the overall task to backup an iPad, then book an appointment, then miss your appointment because its going to your icloud mail not the real one. Yeah my bad. Then book again, and find out you booked for Wednesday not Monday. Then finally book one final appointment for same day, survive the death race, and then find out 7 days to get it fixed. Yep. Now I also have to back and pick it up when ready.

Right now, my iPad Mini has been in my life for exactly 3-4 weeks—and it’s already in the repair shop. Meanwhile, my Samsung Fold (and other samsungs) have been through more trauma than a Red Wedding and it’s still going strong.

What I learned from all this

1. Don’t cheap out on cases. You think you’re saving money, but you’re actually just investing in heartbreak.

2. Apple, fix your durability problem. If Samsung can make a foldable phone that survives daily abuse, you can at least make an iPad that doesn’t crumble at first contact with pavement.

3. Texas highways are not for the weak. If you ever find yourself on 75 South(or any highway, direction), just know—you’re in for a ride. Please drive responsible and safe.

Alright that’s it for today.
-M 💓

"The Whale", released at the end of 2022, was one of those films I'd put off intentionally. I'd heard the buzz about Brendan Fraser’s powerful comeback, the emotional intensity, and its reputation for reducing viewers to tears. Honestly, I was saving it. Some movies demand your full attention, and this was that movie for me. Plus, emotional films often set off my "allergies," leaving me misty-eyed.

A few weeks ago, I finally found the perfect quiet moment, settled in, and pressed play. Within minutes, I understood the hype. "The Whale" isn’t just a movie—it’s an intense, deeply personal experience.

Darren Aronofsky brilliantly confines nearly all the action to Charlie's small apartment, creating a feeling of tension and intimacy. You're pulled into Charlie’s world, experiencing every bit of his struggle.

Brendan Fraser’s performance was indeed transformative. Beyond the makeup and prosthetics, he portrays a vulnerability and loneliness that's painfully real. You don’t just see his physical pain; you feel the emotional torment he’s going through.

Hong Chau’s Liz, Charlie’s nurse and friend, is equally powerful. She's brutally honest, fiercely protective, and someone who genuinely cares. Their friendship feels real and complicated in a way only true friendships can.

Sadie Sink as Ellie, Charlie’s estranged daughter, brings a raw, explosive energy to their troubled relationship. Their interactions feel authentic—tense, painful, and deeply human.

The film bravely tackles addiction, self-hatred, depression, and the search for redemption without sugar-coating. As someone who once weighed over 100 pounds heavier than I do now, I felt a strong connection to Charlie's challenges. At my heaviest, depression and diabetes were constant threats, and my weight created personal and social obstacles I struggled to overcome. Although I've worked hard to get healthier, the memories of feeling trapped in that place of isolation and despair are still vivid. Losing the weight helped my body, but also transformed my mindset, opening doors to healthier living and better emotional connections.

The Whale isn’t an easy watch, but it’s rewarding. It asks difficult questions about empathy, forgiveness, and personal responsibility. The characters each carry their burdens, reminding us that everyone is fighting unseen battles. Yet, even amid pain, there are sparks of genuine connection and hope.

In the end, this movie stayed with me long after watching. It’s a powerful example of cinema's ability to explore complex emotions and remind us how beautifully human we all are.

Love
-M

Pakistan certainly has ingredients to capitalize on these shifts. Its IT industry has been growing steadily over the past decade. By 2023-24, the country’s software and IT-enabled services sector was estimated at around $3.2 billion in size.

This includes software development, outsourcing services, call centers, and other IT-enabled services – a sector where 60% of services are exported abroad. In fact, Pakistan has quietly become a global force in freelance work.

The country has consistently been in the top 5 largest providers of freelance services for many years, and self-taught young programmers and designers selling their skills online. The vibrant freelance economy – from coding to content creation – has not only brought in export dollars but also nurtured a generation of tech-savvy youth.1

Continues below…

Series Overview:

Part 1: Shifting Sands—Understanding the New Global Economic Landscape
Part 2: Pakistan’s IT Sector—A Rising Digital Hub?
Part 3: How China’s Industrial Shift Could Transform Pakistan
Part 4: Stability at Stake—Addressing Pakistan’s Internal Challenges
Part 5: Lessons from Global Successes and a Roadmap for Pakistan’s Future

Over 5,100 IT companies are registered with the Pakistan Software Export Board, and Pakistan’s IT products and services reach clients in over 170 countries. These range from software houses to Call Center/BPO firms.

Growth was somewhat flat in 2023, but the long-term trajectory from 2024 is upward, with authorities targeting $3.5 billion in IT exports in the near term. Crucially, the government recognizes IT as a priority sector. Multiple policies and incentives have been introduced: foreign IT investors are allowed 100% ownership of companies in Pakistan, export incomes from IT services are tax-exempt, profits can be repatriated freely, and special technology zones are being developed for tech firms. 2

High-speed internet access has expanded and new IT institutes and training programs are underway to grow the talent pool. These steps signal Pakistan’s intent to emulate the success of its neighbors in the digital economy.

What lessons can Pakistan draw from peers like India, Vietnam, and Costa Rica?

First, invest in human capital relentlessly. India’s IT rise was built on producing masses of engineers and programmers, often through public-private initiatives in education. Pakistan can accelerate programs to train youth in coding, data science, and English fluency – the skills global clients demand.

Second, create an enabling environment for business. Investors often compare Pakistan with more stable destinations. Consistent policies, better infrastructure, and ease of doing business reforms are vital to compete with Vietnam’s efficiency or Costa Rica’s investor-friendly climate. For instance, India’s early IT parks and tax holidays attracted global firms; Pakistan’s Special Technology Zones must offer world-class facilities and one-stop problem-solving.

Third, leverage the Pakistani diaspora and global partnerships. India tapped diaspora networks to open doors abroad. Pakistani tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere can be bridges for investment if the local climate is right.

Finally, focus on niches of strength. Pakistan has excelled in areas like gaming software development and fintech innovation. Encouraging these niches can differentiate it in the global market.

It’s true Pakistan’s IT sector is still small relative to India’s giant, but it’s growing from a similar playbook. Over a decade ago, experts lamented that Pakistan had “a vast pool of talent” but lack of IT enablement kept its services sector from globalizing . That is changing now. The new generation of Pakistani techies are hungry, connected, and entrepreneurial. With prudent policy support, Pakistan’s IT industry can follow the trajectory of its neighbors – not to become the next Bangalore overnight, but to carve out its own respected place in the global digital economy.3

This series continues with “Part 3: How China’s Industrial Shift Could Transform Pakistan"

References

Our world is no stranger to moments when entire industries, alliances, and global power balances undergo dramatic realignment. From the post-war industrial boom driven by Japan, to India's rise as a global IT powerhouse, history teaches us that each generational shift creates winners and losers. Today, as tensions reshape global trade, supply chains shift, and technology drives economies, a new opportunity emerges—especially for countries positioned strategically with untapped potential.

Could Pakistan be the next nation to seize such an opportunity ?

Series Overview:

Part 1: Shifting Sands—Understanding the New Global Economic Landscape
Part 2: Pakistan’s IT Sector—A Rising Digital Hub?
Part 3: How China’s Industrial Shift Could Transform Pakistan
Part 4: Stability at Stake—Addressing Pakistan’s Internal Challenges
Part 5: Lessons from Global Successes and a Roadmap for Pakistan’s Future

Shifting Sands—Understanding the New Global Economic Landscape

Economic power has never been static – it shifts from one generation to the next. In the late 20th century, Japan exemplified this by transforming itself into a tech manufacturing powerhouse. With strong government support (through MITI) and an export-driven strategy, Japan captured global markets in electronics and automobiles^1. By the 1980s, “Japan Inc.” was synonymous with high-quality tech exports, illustrating how a nation could rise within a generation through focus and innovation.

Later, India charted a different course: starting in the 1990s, it became the back-office of the world. A catalyst was the Y2K scare around 2000, when U.S. companies desperately needed software talent. Indian engineers, abundant and affordable, answered the call. This outsourcing wave launched India’s IT services boom – beginning with basic coding and call centers and evolving into a $227 billion tech industry by 2022 2. In short, India leveraged its English-speaking workforce and early investments in tech education to become the world’s IT helpdesk 3.

Smaller countries too have seized generational opportunities. Costa Rica, once known for coffee and bananas, shifted to microchips and medical devices. Over decades, it attracted giants like Intel and 450+ multinationals, propelling its exports from a mere $63 million in 1950 to $28 billion by 2023 4. Costa Rica’s focus on education, political stability, and green growth turned it into a high-tech hub despite its size.

Similarly, Vietnam moved from textiles to tech manufacturing. With a stable pro-investment regime, Vietnam became a prime destination for factories relocating from higher-cost China. The U.S.-China trade war accelerated this shift – Vietnam’s steady policies and low costs drew in firms seeking to bypass tariffs. By 2019, Vietnam was Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy (7% GDP growth), clearly benefitting as companies moved operations from China5 . Vietnam’s emergence shows how a country can ride geopolitical waves: it positioned itself as a reliable alternate supply chain base, though it too must keep improving competitiveness to sustain the gains.

Today’s current global context is defined by a reordering of these economic relationships. We live in an increasingly multipolar world where no single country dominates. The U.S.-China rivalry has led to protectionism and “decoupling” in critical industries. Both giants are reducing mutual dependence: the U.S. is “friend-shoring” production to allies, while China is moving up the value chain and localizing high-tech manufacturing6. This realignment is unraveling old supply chains built purely on cost efficiency. Instead, concerns about national security and resilience are driving decisions. Trillions of dollars in investments are targeting new hubs – from India to Mexico to Southeast Asia – as firms diversify away from over-reliance on any one country.

In short, globalization’s next chapter will be written by multiple regional players. The question is:

Can Pakistan be one of the winners in this generational shift?

This series continues with “Part 2: Pakistan’s IT Sector—A Rising Digital Hub?"

References

A Comedy of Errors

Imagine this: Pakistan is hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, yet somehow, the final isn’t even happening on Pakistani soil.

Instead, it’s being played in Dubai. To make things even funnier, Pakistan isn’t even in the final.

The grand event they’re supposed to be hosting? It’s now just a formality for them—a glorified organizer while other teams fight for the trophy.

Let that sink in.

The Jokes Write Themselves

Naturally, the internet has a field day with this situation. Here are just a few gems that come to mind:

• Champions Trophy is out of Pakistan. Pakistan is out of the Champions Trophy. Balance restored!😆

• Pakistan and the Champions Trophy: A breakup so bad even DRS can’t review it.🤦‍♂️

• Champions Trophy ghosted Pakistan. Pakistan ghosted the Champions Trophy. Who did it first? 👀

• Pakistan and the Champions Trophy—both left the chat. 🚪🏃‍♂️

But beyond the jokes, there’s a real question to be asked:

Why Is Pakistan Hosting A Final That’s Not in Pakistan?

It’s bizarre, isn’t it? A country wins the bid to host a major sporting event, yet can’t actually host it.

Worse, the final is moved outside the country entirely.

If that wasn’t humiliating enough, Pakistan’s own team didn’t even make it to the last stage of the tournament. So, they’re not competing. They’re just… "hosting".

At this point, it’s fair to say that Pakistan has become an expert in hosting events for others to enjoy. Whether in Pakistan or out of Pakistan.

The one benefit of hosting should be that your own people can attend and celebrate. But nope—Pakistani fans can’t even do that.

Who’s To Blame?

You could say it’s Pakistan’s failure in securing a stable enough environment to convince all teams to play there. Or, you could argue that India played the role of a power broker, making sure that all their games were moved out of Pakistan. India has done this before, citing security concerns, but let’s be real—this is as much about power and money as it is about safety. They know their matches bring in the most revenue, and they don’t want that money flowing into Pakistan.

By shifting the matches to UAE, India not only ensures a safer environment for its players but also secures more favorable playing conditions. No travel disruptions, no unnecessary risks, and no distractions. One could even argue that India’s performance in this tournament might have benefited from this controlled setup.

So, What’s the Point?

At this stage, you have to wonder: why even host it in Pakistan if the biggest matches aren’t happening there? What did Pakistan really gain from all this? If the goal was to prove that Pakistan can host international tournaments, this situation has done the opposite. It’s shown that Pakistan is still struggling to convince the biggest cricketing nations to play on its soil.

Call it politics, incompetence, or just bad luck, but one thing is certain—this whole situation is embarrassing. And the worst part? It’s not even surprising anymore.

Pakistan: Great at hosting. Bad at winning.

At least we’re good at something.

Leave a comment

Originally published at: https://munvaray.com/60070/pakistan-out-of-champions-trophy-champions-trophy-out-of-pakistan-balance-restored

A few days ago, I had an interesting lunch experience at a ghost kitchen.

My Ghost Kitchen Experience 👻🍔

This particular ghost kitchen was set up like a food court at the mall, with a large bar area on one side and pickup on the far corner.

What's a ghost kitchen? Well, it's a professional food preparation and cooking facility set up for the preparation of delivery-only meals. They're also sometimes called "cloud kitchens" or "virtual restaurants".

A self-driving robot was delivering orders directly to the tables. It was fast, efficient, and super cute! I get excited when I see good use of technology.

It was a large hall with so many tables and people eating in. The only trouble was that parking was hard to find because it was super busy. I ordered my food using their app and then waited for it to be delivered to my table. The whole process was seamless and efficient.

What I loved most about this experience was the use of technology. The app was easy to use, and I was able to track my order in real-time.

I also appreciated the fact that I didn't have to interact with any humans (jk). This is a great option for introverts or people who are short on time.

The Growing Trend of Ghost Kitchens 📈

Ghost kitchens are a growing trend, and they are likely to become even more popular in the future. As more people order food online, ghost kitchens offer a convenient and affordable way to get a variety of meals delivered to your door.

Why This New Model Is a Great Idea 👍

I think this new model of ghost kitchens merged with a food hall is an excellent idea.

What are people doing when not using delivery apps? Well, they are picking up themselves or eating out like before.

Food courts/ghost kitchen combos offer great convenience with so many different varieties of restaurants in one place.

I stopped using food delivery apps because even after subscribing to their member's tier, I was paying much more on each item compared to the restaurant's dine-in and over-the-phone or direct website orders.

Then you pay almost a $15 premium fee + tips + bs per order. And then they may deliver to the wrong house or not deliver at all.

Or even when they deliver, I find missing items or an order that has been messed with. I'd rather do it myself and right the first time.

Overall, I had a great experience at this ghost kitchen. The food was delicious 😋, the service was efficient ⏱️, and the use of technology was impressive 🤖. I would definitely recommend ghost kitchens to anyone looking for a convenient and affordable way to get a variety of meals delivered to their door.

Have you ever been to a ghost kitchen? What was your experience like? 🤔

Cheers 🍻
-MunVaRay

Originally published at: https://munvaray.com/60021/are-ghost-kitchens-the-future-of-food

When I bought those [Lenovo ThinkSmart View for Teams ](https://community.home-assistant.io/t/my-take-on-a-home-dashboard-running-on-the-lenovo-thinksmart-view-and-managing-multiple-devices-running-fully-kiosk/718355) devices, I wasn't sure what I'd do with them, but I knew one thing for sure: I'd be modding them for HA or some other Assistant.

At home, we have an alarm clock that plays the Muslim Azan five times daily. These times change often. These specialized Azan alarm clocks use AA or AAA batteries. You set them up by pressing buttons, entering your location, and so on—but every time the battery dies, you have to start over.

I got tired of this and, like anything that bothers me, I thought,

This shouldn't be this hard.

I tried some not-so-user-friendly solutions, like running a command on Google Home through a custom app that makes API calls back and forth. Meh. Like I said, it shouldn't be that hard.

So, I finally found a good use for the Lenovo ThinkSmart View. These devices run a customized version of Android that's locked to the Teams app. After some research on HA forums and xda-developers.com, I rooted the device and loaded vanilla Android on it. Then, I set up my favorite kiosk app, Fully Kiosk Browser, and pointed it to http://smartazanclock.com/. Using the touch screen, I found it picked up my location automatically, and I set up Azan by different moazzins. All good to go!

This idea works perfectly, just in time for Ramadan, which started on March 1st.

Now, a new prototype is in the works using a Pi Zero 2 in a 3D-printed enclosure.

It will run FullPageOS without GPU acceleration to save memory on the low-memory Pi Zero. Maybe next week I'll have it ready.

Originally Published at: https://munvaray.com/60017/building-smart-azan-clocks-with-lenovo-thinksmart-view-and-pi-zero-2

In high school, this passion led me to represent my school at the Sindh Board Tech Fair in 2001-02. I poured my heart and soul into my project - a nice 3D simulation. With the full support of my principal, we went all out. Giant projection TVs, a prime spot right in the center of the hall – we were ready to wow the crowd.

And did we ever! People flocked to our booth the entire time. The buzz was undeniable. I was riding high on confidence, convinced that a top prize was within reach.

But then came the twist. The judges, after praising my work, disqualified me. Their reason? They claimed what I'd developed was simply "impossible," implying that I couldn't have possibly created it myself.

It was a crushing blow. I tried to explain the countless hours, the dedication, the sheer effort behind my project, but it fell on deaf ears. Whether it was genuine disbelief or a move to favor someone else, I'll never know.

That experience left a mark. It was a harsh lesson in navigating expectations, especially in a competitive environment where things aren't always fair. But it also ignited a fire in me. I refused to let their doubts define me. I knew what I was capable of, and I was determined to prove them wrong.

Even after years of success, that feeling of 'not being good enough' still lingers.

That tech fair fiasco became a turning point. It fueled my drive to push further, to explore deeper, and to never let anyone else's limitations dictate my potential. It's a memory that still stings a bit, but it's also a reminder that sometimes, the greatest obstacles can lead to the most unexpected triumphs.

The Imposter Within

Even with years of experience and a string of successful projects under my belt, that tech fair experience left a lingering doubt - a whisper of "imposter syndrome" that sometimes creeps in. It's that nagging feeling that maybe I'm not as good as I think I am, that maybe I've just been lucky, that maybe one day everyone will realize I'm a fraud.

This feeling is especially pronounced when I'm working with new clients. I often find myself overthinking, second-guessing, and struggling to convince them that I'm the best person for the job. It's like that tech fair all over again, that feeling of being underestimated and misunderstood.

But I'm learning to overcome this. I'm learning to trust my skills and experience, and to let my work speak for itself. I'm also learning to be more open and communicative with my clients, to share my passion for technology and my commitment to delivering the best possible solutions.

It's a work in progress, but I'm making progress. And I know that with each successful project, that imposter within gets a little quieter.

Leave a comment

A while back, I was on a mission to find the perfect comic book reader. My search took me through e-readers, Android tablets, and everything in between. Eventually, I convinced myself that the iPad Mini 7 A17 Pro would be the ultimate choice—a small, distraction-free device dedicated solely to reading comics.

I was so wrong. 🤦‍♂️

But not in the way I expected.

Continues Below…

📱 Not Just for Comics—The iPad Mini 7 Is the Perfect All-Around Tablet

When I first got the iPad Mini 7, I thought it would be the device for comics—portable, sharp display, great battery life. And while it’s excellent for that, it turns out to be even better for everything else.

✨ Why I Love the iPad Mini 7 A17 Pro

✅ It’s the perfect middle ground between my Fold (which is too small for some things) and a larger tablet (which is too bulky for everyday use).
✅ It lets me avoid my primary phone, meaning I can still stay connected without getting sucked into endless distractions.
✅ It’s amazing for creative work—whether I’m brainstorming, writing, or sketching with the Pencil Pro.
✅ Typing on the on-screen keyboard is surprisingly comfortable, and I’m getting really fast at thumb typing.

I originally wanted a separate, distraction-free device just for comics. But what I really needed was a perfect secondary tablet that lets me work, read, and create—without pulling me back into my main phone’s distractions. And that’s exactly what the iPad Mini 7 turned out to be.

📖 What About My Old Nook Simple Touch?

Even though the iPad Mini 7 is my go-to for everything else, I still have a soft spot for my old Nook Simple Touch. It’s dying, but I’m not ready to let it go.

🛠 The Problem With the Nook: The Sticky Back

If you’ve ever owned an older Nook Simple Touch, you know the struggle. The rubbery back melts over time, especially if you try cleaning it with alcohol. I’ve seen this happen with older Kindles and some Motorola phones (remember those self-repairing ones? Yeah, they also turned sticky).

🔧 The Solution? A Full Rebuild

Subscribe now

Instead of tossing it, I’m rebuilding the Nook:

🟢 New Battery – Ordered and ready.
🟢 Wireless Charging Mod – Adding a Qi charger with a switch to disconnect when needed.
🟢 New Custom Case – I 3D-printed a prototype case, and it fits! Once I finalize the design, I’ll make a better, cleaner version and transfer all the components over.

It’s a side project, but I love the idea of keeping this e-paper reader alive for as long as possible. 📚

🕌 One More Side Project: Fixing the Azaan Clock Problem

With Ramadhan around the corner, I’ve also been tackling another issue—our non-smart Azaan clocks.

❌ The Problem

• My wife has these old-school Azaan clocks, and they are a nightmare to set up.

• Every time the batteries die, or it resets, I have to relearn the whole setup process.

• I wanted an easier, smarter way to have Azaan play in our home.

✅ The Solution: A Smart Azaan Player

🔹 I have a Lenovo ThinkView Smart for Teams lying around.
🔹 Plan: Root it, install a custom Android OS, and put it in kiosk mode.
🔹 Final step? Call one of the many Azaan websites or PWA, or maybe even build something I can host locally.

If this works, it’ll be a huge upgrade over the frustrating traditional Azaan clocks.

BONUS: turn all useless smartphones and tablets into smart azaan kiosk. Would this be the perfect gift for friends and family this year?

🌙 Final Thoughts: Wrapping Up the Weekend, Gearing Up for Monday

I started this whole journey thinking I needed a dedicated comic reader, but I ended up finding the perfect all-around tablet in the iPad Mini 7 A17 Pro. It’s not just a great device for reading—it’s the ideal secondary screen when I need something bigger than my Fold but don’t want the constant distractions of my primary phone.

Meanwhile, my old Nook Simple Touch is still kicking, but barely. The sticky back and dying battery need fixing, and I’m determined to keep it alive for as long as I can. And then there’s my smart Azaan player project—I’ve got the hardware, I’ve got the plan, now I just need to set it up to pull Azaan times from a PWA or a local server.

📅 Can’t wait to get back to these projects this coming Saturday morning. Yeah, I’ve got a full-time job and a family, so weekdays are mostly a blur—hardly any time for side projects. But weekends? That’s where the magic happens.

And just like that, Sunday night rolls around, and it’s time to shift gears back to work mode. Monday morning, professional mode ON.

😴 Good night, folks.
-M

A few weeks ago, I saw Will Ferrell show up at an NBA game dressed as Buddy the Elf, and for a second, I wondered—was this just Will Ferrell being Will Ferrell, or was he out there promoting something new?

Then I caught him on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he talked about his latest film, You're Cordially Invited. They played a short clip, and from what I saw, it felt like another classic Will Ferrell comedy. That was all I needed to get excited.

Last night, I finally got a chance to watch it. And within the first few minutes—bam—my allergies kicked in.

Eyes watering. A quick glance at the person next to me confirmed they had the same "allergies." That’s when I knew: this wasn’t just a comedy; it was one of those feel-good, heartfelt movies that sneak up on you.

A Theatrical Touch

Right from the start, the director set the stage like a theatrical play. Not theatrical in the grandest manner but how the scenes unfolded. It felt more like acts in a performance rather than traditional movie storytelling.

I think that had a lot to do with the cast—so many stand-up comedians, each with their own style of humor. Not sure that is how they imagined it.

There were moments where the film’s momentum stalled a bit, almost like they hit pause on the movie to let the stand-ups riff for ten minutes. Some of those bits were hilarious, others felt like extended skits that didn’t quite push the story forward.

The Heart of the Story

At its core, You're Cordially Invited is a film about relationships—the kind that feel so deeply real, you only catch their tiny, intricate details if you’ve actually lived them.

There were several other relationships that felt just as genuine and had the potential to be explored further, but with the movie’s limited runtime, only so much could be unpacked. Still, the father-daughter dynamic and the bond between sisters were given enough space to breathe, making them feel intimate and personal.

And then came the gut punch: Will Ferrell’s character drops a line about how the 18 years your kids spend with you account for 92% of the total time you’ll ever have with them.

Oof. That one hit hard!

The film beautifully captures how people, in their loneliness or fear of change, can latch onto the one person they believe they have left—investing their entire sense of happiness into that relationship. But as time goes on, that connection starts to shift. One person clings tighter, afraid to let go, while the other is naturally growing into their own life. It’s a heartbreaking reality, one that the film handles with authenticity, never veering into melodrama.

It’s heavy, yes—but it’s handled with warmth, humor, and honesty, making it all the more impactful.

The Comedy Factor

And of course, Will Ferrell was funny as hell. His comedic timing was Impeccable as always. He has that unique ability to drop a joke that makes you explode into laughter, pause, think about it, and then laugh even harder.

You know that layered laughter? The kind where each second adds a new level of hilarity? Yeah, the movie was packed with those moments.

Then there was Reese Witherspoon. Now, don’t get me wrong—she’s a fantastic actress. But in a movie filled with stand-ups and seasoned comedic actors, she felt a little out of place. It’s not that she was bad; it’s just that she couldn’t quite keep up with the comedic rhythm that Ferrell naturally owns.

Final Verdict

You're Cordially Invited is one of those feel-good movies that hits you with a mix of humor and heartfelt moments.

It’s not the best screenplay ever, but it’s a sincere, well-intentioned attempt to capture real human relationships. If you’re looking for a movie that will make you laugh, cry (or at least trigger your “allergies”), and leave you with that warm, fuzzy feeling—this one’s worth a watch.

Here's the trailer for You're Cordially Invited:

Stream Now on Amazon Prime

Rating: 🤣🤣🤣💓💓💓🌟🌟

Rewatch: Don’t mind