Random Thoughts… 10 - Updates, Outrage, and Ideas

Hello and Peace!

I’ve been away for a while, caught up once again in the corporate world. Thankfully, it was only a short stint, and now I’m back. This time, I plan to stick around and be more consistent—God willing. Here’s what’s been on my mind these past few months.

Gaza Genocide

The situation has only worsened during this time, and now we’re witnessing the most horrendous development in the Gaza–Israel war: genocide. After killing thousands of innocent civilians since 2023, Israel is now starving the besieged civilians who have nothing to do with the war. This is one of the most shameful events of the 21st century.

Alongside the military, certain religious leaders in Israel also bear responsibility for this tragedy. Over the past two years, their statements have been chilling, and the military has taken action accordingly. When they said to kill even children, the army killed more than 20,000 children (a very conservative estimate—thousands more are still buried under the rubble). When they said starving civilians are justified, the military created a famine-like situation in Gaza.

The world must act now to protect and feed those who are starving. In Sudan, Congo, and Myanmar, there are similarly desperate situations where people urgently need food and assistance. I’ve donated as much as I can, and I urge everyone who has the means to support people in distress—through prayers, donations, time, advocacy, or resources.

Blog Update

The most important change with the blog is its rebranding. It is now called Content Syrup Labs. Many readers will remember it as Mise-En-Scene, but there were strong reasons for the name change. First, “Mise-En-Scene” is a French term—few people can pronounce it, and even fewer know what it means.

Although people usually associate 'Syrup' with medicine, especially in South Asia, where it is exclusively used for medicinal purposes. However, originally it refers to the fruit juice or sugary solution. 

Thanks to AI, I’ve been experimenting with many new content formats. AI has been a game-changer for non-programmers, but in the end, it all comes down to creativity and vision. I hope and pray to stay consistent in both. The new name reflects this experimental spirit.

Although the blog is still in its early days and I’m not competing with major platforms yet, I’ve noticed that many Pakistani blogs—such as Mangobaaz, Parhlo, Mashion, and ProPakistani—stick to only two or three formats, usually articles and videos. They also tend to be local in scope. My approach is different: I’ve tried quizzes, apps, tools, games, comics, and more—alongside traditional articles.

Books & Ideas

I’ve read quite a few books recently, including Economics for Dummies, Fundamental Analysis for Dummies, Etiquette for Dummies, Limitless, The Richest Man in Babylon, Accelerated Startup, Change Management, Anthropology, Speed Reading, and more. Here are some ideas that stayed with me:

1. Economics & Diminishing Marginal Utility
   Economics is fascinating because it touches everyone’s life. Take diminishing marginal utility, for example. Imagine you haven’t had pizza in ages. You order one, and it arrives in an hour.

   • First slice: gone before you even realize it.

   • Second: savoring every bite of cheese and spice.

   • Third: starting to feel full.

   • Fourth: “Okay, but can you pass the mayo?”

   • Fifth: “Do I really need this?”

   • Sixth: you feel sick.

   This is diminishing marginal utility—each additional unit you consume has less value than the previous one. This applies to almost everything… except the Quran. I’ve read it over 200 times, yet each reading teaches me something new. I’ve heard similar experiences from people of other faiths regarding their scriptures, but with the Quran, it’s truly exceptional.

2. Speed Reading
   Limitless introduced me to speed reading—the idea that our brains can process text up to 10× faster than usual with practice. Then I read Speed Reading for Dummies to learn techniques. The catch? Speed often compromises comprehension, but with practice, you can still understand even at 5× your normal pace.

3. Etiquette
   Etiquette for Dummies is an excellent guide to the basics of good manners across life’s situations. I’ll admit I’ve been a bit rough around the edges, so this book helped a lot.

4. Personal Finance
   The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason is a gem for money management. Set in ancient Babylon, it gives timeless advice through storytelling. The 7 rules of money are:

   1. Save consistently.

   2. Spend less than you earn.

   3. Invest wisely.

   4. Avoid “too good to be true” investments.

   5. Own your home.

   6. Protect your income and future (e.g., insurance).

   7. Keep learning to earn more.

5. Startups
   Accelerated Startup is a must-read for aspiring entrepreneurs. Written by Vitaly Golomb, it covers everything from idea to exit strategy, drawing from his experience as a serial entrepreneur.

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Note: I don’t earn anything from recommending these books—I simply want to share knowledge.

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Random Thoughts ... 8

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