GHOSTICS

    I've spent the last 12 years, moving up the ladder in a top 3 American software firm, starting as a lowly programmer-debugger and now holding the project manager position. For over half of this period, I resided in Silicon Valley; however, I have now relocated to Seattle, where I do all of my business by phone and travel to Silicon Valley needed to provide project leads with guidance or attend meetings. In addition, I am active in my community, give to it, and serve in various nonprofit organizations that work to solve both regional and global issues. I've had a successful career and am extremely lucky to have the work I can accomplish. I hope to be able to do it for a very long time. Despite this, a tech in Trump's America has an issue. I'm not referring to the ongoing sexism and racism that minorities and women experience in Silicon Valley, nor am I referring to the dysfunctional tech culture that regards workers more than simply drones. Instead, I'm re...

In the heat of July, my wife and I embarked on a journey to the enchanting realm of Hunza for our long-awaited honeymoon.  As we planned our trip, one decision lingered: how to traverse the terrain.  Opting for the scenic route, we ventured by road, navigating through Kohistan, Chilas, and Mansehra. Despite the lengthy drive (our first pit stop being Parhena Cottage in Narran), every moment was imbued with awe-inspiring vistas along the Karakoram Highway. Sitting beside my beloved, surrounded by the majesty of the mountains, I couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur of the Karakoram, a true wonder of the world. In Hunza and Nagar, we found a sanctuary of culture and openness, where communal joy and tranquility reign supreme.  Witnessing the sunrise from the upper knot was a revelation, casting a golden light upon the rugged landscape.  Amidst these ancient mountains, one can't help but feel the resilience of humanity, aided by modern advancements yet rooted in timel...

                     In a land almost condemned to produce plodding and lackluster politicians. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto stands out as the perennial exception, as much for his intelligence and energy, and colorful style, as for his ability to transcend class barriers and speak the language of the masses- a surprising trait in a man of his feudal background. It is a measure of his lasting impact upon the country’s politics that he has been romanticized and demonized in equal measure, either loved, sometimes extravagantly so and with only a remote connection to reality, or hated, this too in extravagant and unrealistic terms. Moderation of sentiment and the path in between, somehow seem distant categories when it comes to a discussion of Bhutto. To say that his ghostly presence still looms large over the national landscape is probably an overstatement. This is not Bhutto’s Pakistan. This is not even Bhutto’s PPP. But unlike leaders...