Lily Swarn is a very sensitive person and through her poetry we can feel, not only read her poems. She is giving us a morning breeze that can follow our sentence in our quotidian life.
I discovered reading her poetry that verses have colours and perfumes like the flowers and this book is a must to read and even go to all libraries.
Kalotaxido as we say in my country, Bon voyage.
Article in the Hindustan Times on Lily Swarn. Her book should be available to order soon.
Artificial Intelligence: Africa, Asia, and the New Race for the Future
From Nairobi to Tashkent, from Silicon Valley to Beijing, artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of our world. It promises faster growth, smarter healthcare, and better education, yet also brings fears of job losses, fake news, and even global insecurity. For developing regions like Africa and Central Asia, the stakes are higher than ever: will AI be a bridge to progress or a trap of dependence?
The twenty-first century is often called the century of information. But perhaps it would be more accurate to call it the century of intelligence—both natural and artificial. Only a decade ago, artificial intelligence was a topic reserved for scientists, engineers, and philosophers. Today, it is discussed in the streets of Nairobi, in the classrooms of Tashkent, in the boardrooms of multinational corporations, and even in the corridors of political power.
Artificial intelligence—commonly shortened to AI—has emerged as the single most transformative force of our time. It is not just a new tool; it is a new paradigm. Much like electricity in the 19th century or the internet at the turn of the millennium, AI is reshaping every aspect of life: how we learn, how we work, how we communicate, and even how we dream about the future.
Yet while the opportunities are dazzling, the challenges are equally daunting. For Africa and Asia—continents rich in culture, diversity, and ambition but also facing issues of inequality and underdevelopment—AI is not a distant luxury. It is an urgent necessity. It can either accelerate their development or deepen existing divides.
Artificial intelligence, at its core, is the ability of machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. This includes understanding language, recognizing images, making decisions, and even creating new content. But while the definition is simple, the implications are complex.
Take education, for example. Across the world, classrooms are often overcrowded, teachers are overwhelmed, and students struggle to keep up. AI offers a way out. With adaptive learning platforms, students can now receive personalized lessons that adjust to their speed and style. A student in a rural Kenyan village who has never met a foreign language teacher can now practice English or French with an AI tutor. A child in Uzbekistan can learn mathematics not only from textbooks but from interactive programs that respond to their mistakes and guide them step by step.
The impact of AI in medicine is equally revolutionary. According to the World Health Organization, sub-Saharan Africa carries 24% of the global disease burden but has only 3% of the world’s health workers. This imbalance has cost millions of lives. AI can help bridge the gap. Algorithms trained on thousands of medical images can detect diseases like tuberculosis, cancer, and malaria faster and more accurately than the average doctor. Virtual health assistants can guide patients in their own languages, reminding them to take medication or advising when to seek hospital care.
In Uzbekistan, experiments with AI in healthcare are already underway. Startups are developing systems to digitize patient records and predict outbreaks of diseases in rural areas. In Africa, countries like Rwanda and Nigeria are testing AI-powered drones that deliver blood and medicines to remote villages. These are not just innovations—they are lifelines.
Business, too, has felt the AI wave. A recent McKinsey report estimated that AI could add up to $13 trillion to the global economy by 2030. That figure is not just abstract economics; it represents jobs, growth, and opportunity. In Kenya, fintech startups use AI to analyze mobile money transactions and offer microloans to people who lack access to traditional banks. In Uzbekistan, agricultural firms use AI to forecast crop yields, optimize irrigation, and reduce waste. The digital economy is no longer a dream of the future—it is the reality of today.
Even in our personal lives, AI is quietly omnipresent. The voice that greets you when you ask your phone for directions, the recommendations you receive on YouTube or Netflix, the automatic editing of your photographs—all are powered by AI. Sometimes we forget that what feels like magic is actually advanced mathematics working behind the scenes.
But for every promise, there is a peril. The first fear many express is unemployment. Machines that learn and adapt can replace humans in countless professions. Bank clerks are being replaced by apps, journalists by AI-generated articles, and factory workers by robots. Oxford University researchers once predicted that nearly half of all jobs in the United States are at risk of automation. If this is true for the world’s largest economy, what does it mean for developing countries?
Consider Africa, where over 60% of the population is under the age of 25. Each year, millions enter the job market hoping for opportunities that are already scarce. If AI eliminates traditional roles faster than new ones are created, frustration could grow into social unrest. The same risk applies to Central Asia, where governments are working to modernize economies but still face challenges in creating high-quality jobs.
Another danger is the spread of misinformation. AI can create what are known as “deepfakes”—videos or images so realistic that they are almost impossible to distinguish from reality. Imagine a fake video of a president declaring war, or a manipulated audio clip of a religious leader inciting violence. In societies where information spreads faster than fact-checking can catch up, such tools can destabilize entire nations. Already, misinformation campaigns fueled by AI-generated content have influenced elections in different parts of the world.
Ethical dilemmas add another layer of complexity. AI systems learn from data, and data often reflects human bias. If historical hiring data shows that women were less likely to be promoted, an AI system trained on that data might “learn” to favor men in job applications. If health records underrepresent rural communities, AI-driven medical tools might serve urban populations better. In short, without careful oversight, AI could reinforce inequalities rather than reduce them.
And then there is the question of security. Hackers can weaponize AI to launch cyberattacks more sophisticated than anything we have seen before. Imagine AI-powered malware that learns from every failed attempt until it finds a way into critical infrastructure—banks, hospitals, or even national power grids. Some scientists warn that uncontrolled AI development could be as dangerous as the invention of nuclear weapons. Elon Musk, one of the most prominent voices in technology, has repeatedly warned that AI poses an “existential risk” if left unchecked.
Artificial intelligence did not emerge overnight. Its roots can be traced back to the mid-twentieth century, when British mathematician Alan Turing posed a provocative question: “Can machines think?” His ideas laid the foundation for computer science. In the decades that followed, AI passed through cycles of hype and disappointment. Early programs could play chess or solve simple problems, but they lacked the power and flexibility of human reasoning.
The explosion of data and the rise of powerful computing in the 21st century changed everything. Machine learning—teaching computers to learn from examples rather than follow fixed instructions—unleashed unprecedented possibilities. The launch of systems like ChatGPT, capable of producing human-like conversations and creative texts, stunned the world. Suddenly, the dream of intelligent machines was no longer science fiction.
Yet history teaches us that every revolution carries two faces. The industrial revolution of the 19th century created wealth but also inequality. The internet brought connectivity but also cybercrime. AI is no different. “Technology is neither good nor bad; it is only a mirror of how humanity uses it,” says Dr. Amina Mwangi, a Nairobi-based technology ethicist. Her words remind us that responsibility lies not in the machines, but in ourselves.
For Africa, the stakes are enormous. With a population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the continent cannot rely on traditional models of growth. AI offers a shortcut—a way to leapfrog stages of industrialization and jump directly into the knowledge economy. Imagine AI predicting droughts months in advance, allowing farmers to prepare. Imagine automated translation tools connecting Africa’s 2,000 languages, fostering unity and communication.
Some of this is already happening. In Ghana, AI is being used to analyze satellite imagery and detect illegal mining. In Kenya, farmers receive SMS messages generated by AI systems that forecast rainfall and recommend when to plant seeds. In South Africa, AI-powered platforms are helping students prepare for exams by providing personalized practice questions.
Uzbekistan, too, is entering the AI race. The government has launched a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy aimed at integrating AI into sectors like education, agriculture, and public administration. In Tashkent, universities are opening AI departments, training a new generation of programmers. Startups are developing chatbots for e-government services, helping citizens access information without standing in long queues.
But there is a catch. Both Africa and Central Asia face the challenge of digital inequality. Internet penetration is uneven, electricity can be unreliable in rural areas, and the cost of devices remains high for many families. “If AI only serves those who are already privileged, then it will widen the gap between rich and poor,” warns Professor Rustam Karimov, a technology researcher in Uzbekistan. His concern echoes across both continents: how can AI be made inclusive?
The solution lies partly in education. To benefit from AI, societies must cultivate digital literacy. It is not enough to own a smartphone; citizens must know how to use technology critically, how to question what they see, and how to protect their privacy. Initiatives in Kenya and Uzbekistan are starting to introduce coding classes in schools, hoping to prepare children for a future where digital skills are as essential as reading and writing.
At the same time, governments must craft wise policies. Regulation is a double-edged sword: too much, and innovation suffocates; too little, and chaos reigns. The European Union has already begun drafting laws to regulate AI. But for Africa and Asia, the challenge is different. They must strike a balance between attracting investment and protecting citizens. Transparency, accountability, and public participation will be crucial.
Beyond politics and economics lies a deeper question: what does AI mean for our humanity? Machines can imitate human conversation, paint pictures, and even compose music. But can they truly create? Can they feel joy, sorrow, or love? Most experts agree they cannot. Creativity, at least in its deepest form, remains a uniquely human gift. AI can assist, but it cannot replace the spirit behind a song or the emotion in a poem.
This tension between human and machine is not new. When photography was invented, some feared it would kill painting. When cinema appeared, many predicted the death of theater. Yet both art forms survived, adapting and flourishing. Perhaps AI will follow the same pattern—not as a destroyer, but as a transformer.
There is also a spiritual dimension. In many African and Central Asian cultures, community, empathy, and respect for tradition are central values. These are things no machine can replicate. “AI may teach us efficiency, but it cannot teach us compassion,” says Reverend Samuel Njoroge, a pastor in Nairobi. His words highlight an important truth: technology must serve people, not replace their humanity.
For all its risks, AI also brings hope. In countries burdened by corruption, AI can increase transparency by tracking government spending. In regions suffering from climate change, AI can forecast natural disasters and save lives. In economies struggling to diversify, AI can create entirely new industries.
The challenge, then, is not whether to embrace AI, but how. Should it be left to the free market, where profit dominates? Or should governments step in to ensure fairness? Should international organizations like the United Nations play a role? These are questions without easy answers.
But one thing is certain: the race for AI dominance is already underway. The United States and China are investing billions, competing to control the future. Europe seeks to carve its own path with strict regulations. For Africa and Asia, the choice is clear: either join the race or be left behind. The outcome will shape not just economies, but cultures and identities.
Yet, embracing AI is not merely about technology—it is about choices. Humanity is faced with a decision that will define generations to come. Will we use AI to amplify inequality or to expand opportunity? Will we allow machines to dominate creativity, or will we use them to unlock our own potential?
In Africa, young entrepreneurs are already experimenting. In Lagos, a tech startup uses AI to predict urban traffic, reducing commute times and pollution. In Kenya, AI-driven platforms provide mental health support to youth who would otherwise never speak to a counselor. Across the continent, universities are partnering with tech companies to provide hands-on AI training, ensuring that the next generation of leaders can harness technology for social good.
Uzbekistan’s approach is similarly forward-looking. In Tashkent and Samarkand, AI programs help preserve cultural heritage by digitizing manuscripts and creating interactive museum experiences. Local startups are developing chatbots that respond in Uzbek, Russian, and English, breaking down language barriers. Even small farmers benefit: AI tools suggest optimal planting times and predict water needs, helping secure food supplies in an era of climate uncertainty.
Experts emphasize that collaboration is key. Dr. Amina Mwangi in Nairobi notes, “Africa does not need to copy Silicon Valley—it needs to learn from it, adapt it, and apply it locally.” Similarly, Professor Rustam Karimov in Tashkent stresses that Central Asia must balance innovation with cultural and ethical considerations. By sharing knowledge and experience, emerging regions can leapfrog older technologies and create unique solutions that address local challenges. But we must not overlook the human dimension. AI can assist, inform, and analyze, yet it cannot replace empathy, morality, or wisdom. The power of AI is amplified or diminished depending on the humans who control it. Teachers, doctors, leaders, and citizens are all stakeholders in shaping this new world. Their decisions will determine whether AI becomes a tool of liberation or a vector of control.
Consider the words of Reverend Samuel Njoroge in Nairobi: “AI may increase efficiency, but it cannot teach us compassion.” This reminds us that as much as we celebrate technology, the essence of progress lies in human values. Efficiency alone does not create meaningful lives; opportunity alone does not cultivate wisdom.
Global cooperation is essential. AI knows no borders. Its impacts ripple across continents instantly. Developing countries must be included in global discussions on ethics, regulation, and best practices. International institutions, civil society, and the private sector must work together to ensure that AI serves humanity universally, not selectively.
The final question is not whether AI will change the world—it already has. The pressing challenge is whether humanity can guide this change responsibly. For Africa, Central Asia, and the rest of the globe, this is not a distant philosophical problem—it is a practical, urgent task. The choices made today will shape economies, education systems, healthcare, and social cohesion for decades to come.
In conclusion, artificial intelligence is neither inherently good nor inherently evil. It is a mirror reflecting the intentions and values of those who wield it. In the hands of responsible, ethical, and visionary leaders, AI can accelerate progress, enhance human creativity, and save lives. In the hands of the reckless or short-sighted, it can deepen inequality, manipulate truth, and create new risks.The responsibility lies with all of us. Scientists, policymakers, educators, entrepreneurs, and citizens must work together. They must ensure that AI serves humanity, preserves our values, and empowers future generations. In the partnership between humans and machines, humans must remain the guides, the creators, and the moral compass. As Africa and Central Asia embrace AI, they are not simply adopting technology—they are shaping the future. Their choices, innovations, and ethical decisions will set a precedent for the rest of the world. The race is not about who creates the smartest machine; it is about who uses intelligence—artificial and human—to build a fairer, wiser, and more compassionate world.
Artificial intelligence, in its essence, is a test of humanity. It challenges us to rise to the occasion, to harness knowledge responsibly, and to act with wisdom and empathy. Those who pass the test will not only survive—they will thrive. Those who ignore it risk leaving future generations with a world that is technologically advanced but morally impoverished. The time to act is now. Africa and Central Asia stand at the crossroads of opportunity and responsibility. By embracing AI thoughtfully, they can leap into a future where technology amplifies human potential rather than diminishes it. This is the moment to ensure that intelligence—both artificial and human—serves the highest purpose: the well-being, growth, and dignity of all people.
Nilufar Mo`ydinova was born in Qoshtepa district, Fergana region, Republic of Uzbekistan. She graduated from Uzbekistan State World Languages University. Currently, she works as a Manager at “Fair Print” Typography Service. Her articles have been published in the “Bekajon” and “Kenya Times” newspapers. She is also a holder of international certificates.
“POETRY – BOTH PAIN AND REMEDY”
Our guest today is— a prominent representative of contemporary Azerbaijani poetry, a poet and publicist whose works are renowned in the Turkish world, often centered on themes of Turkism, national identity, and freedom; recipient of the Mahmud al- Kashgari Medal, laureate of the Gold Prize at the International Poetry Festival of the Turkish World, and honorary professor at the International Academy of Turkish Studies, Rustam Bekhrudi.
— In your poems, one feels the “suffering of the nation’s soul” and the breath of history. How does a poet’s heart reflect the pain of the homeland?
— In my poems, the people’s pain is not just words—it is breath. The wound of the homeland beats in the poet’s heart like blood; in every verse, there is a trace of the nation’s tears. That pain resonates within me like music—it is both melody and cry.
— You have touched many hearts with your work. Yet, have you ever faced injustice or denial along this path?
— Injustice has been my companion. Whoever speaks the truth will see a wall before them. I have seen it too. Yet I have not feared being denied—because the truth finds its way to hearts, and walls crumble one day.
— In terms of life and creative progress, what does “patience” mean to you?
— Patience for me is a silent cry. Patience is the silence that holds rebellion within. Without that silence, words would hold no power.
— What tendencies in contemporary Turkish literature both delight and worry you?
— What delights me is the search for identity and return to roots in contemporary Turkish literature. What worries me is vulgarity and soullessness. When literature becomes a marketplace, the poet loses their spirit.
— What does the phrase “literature is the heart of society” mean to you?
— “Literature is the heart of society” means that wherever the people’s blood flows, the poet’s words must flow there too. If there is no literature, the heart of society has stopped.
— In the context of national identity, the spirit of the people, and Turkish unity, how can literature spiritually unite Turkic-speaking peoples?
— Literature can unite Turkic-speaking peoples through God’s same breath, through the power of language, through the power of the spirit. For the great unity of the Turks will not be forged by the sword, but by words.
— Your poems are letters not only to the past but also to the future. For what future do you write?
— I write my poems for a future generation that will be free and never forget its identity. So that the Turkish children of the future may find their roots within my verses.
— In your view, is poetry the expression of pain, or a means to overcome it?
Answer: — Poetry is giving voice to pain, but in such a way that the one who shares it feels relief.
Poetry is both pain and remedy.
— In Sufism, the stage of “annihilation” (fana) leads to “eternal existence” (baqa). As a poet, how have you experienced this spiritual stage?
— For me, “fana” is to turn away from this world; “baqa” is to exist through words. A poet dies many times and is born many times in life. In each of my poems, I both disappear a little and exist a little.
— What is the form of resilience? Which harsh days of your life shaped you into the person you are today, Rustam Bekhrudi?
— Resilience is standing up even after being broken. The harsh days of my life—imprisonment, persecution—did not break me; instead, they nurtured the poet within me.
— In your opinion, what new awakenings does the Turkish world need today?
— The Turkish world needs a new awakening—to return to its roots, to protect its language, history, and culture, and carry them forward. Without this awakening, a nation will lose itself.
— Sometimes a poet challenges their heart to the hearts of others. How do inspiration and creative suffering influence each other in you?
— Inspiration is God’s breath for me. Yet, when that breath comes, suffering also rises within my heart. Creative suffering and inspiration complete one another—without one, the other cannot exist.
— Among the images you create—“Soullessness,” “Tear,” “Wound,” “Memory”—which have you
lived most fully?
— I have lived most in the “Wound.” Because wounds do not heal; they bleed throughout a poet’s life. “Memory” and “Tear” are there too, but “Wound” has defined me most.
— The word “nation” in your mind signifies not only love for the homeland, but also memory, suffering, and honor.
How do you think young people perceive this feeling today?
— For me, “nation” is memory before land. Some young people today understand the nation only through flags and anthems. But a nation is suffering, blood memory, a burden of honor.
To grasp this depth, one needs words, one needs literature.
— What dreams occupy your mind currently?
What are you engaged in?
— From the window of the “Acı Badem” hospital, I watch plane trees whose leaves have just begun to turn in pain… People are like trees! There is no place to run, no refuge here… I once said: “Man is born alone, lives alone, and dies alone.” Now, what is meant to happen, happens! I was born one autumn morning when wolves howled; when the wolves arrive, everything will end! God had given me a mission—to light the path from Turkish lands to Mount God, to read the poems of nameless heroes along that road, to convey the light of the “Golden Apple”! Have I succeeded? I do not know! Such is the life I have lived!
Awake, my soul, why dream so deep?
Another dawn may never keep.
A call resounds from God’s high height—
Rise, let us seek the “Red Apple’s” light!
Jakhongir Nomozov is a young poet and journalist from Uzbekistan. He is also a Member of the Union of Journalists of Azerbaijan and the World Young Turkic Writers Union.
Work Anxiety Dream: The Haunting
All the bar walls feel hot and achingly
alive. Even the windows are breathing,
in and out, bending as if they have been
made elastic to accommodate an impossible
move. I look into the back bar mirrors
and two of the three faces of Eve look
back at me mocking my uncertainty,
my fear that cannot accommodate
of the already low ceiling, with its fake
tin overlay, is shrinking, compressing,
inching downward into what feels like
a torture chambered night. Then all 12 of
the for-sports TV’s turn themselves onto
different horror show channels, creating
a kind of cacophonous haunting in a dozen
different tongues, each more foreign
than the next tat feels like a festival
of technicolor blood and gore only a real
human sacrifice can allay. All freezing
in place, soundless as an autoplay
on the juke cranks out the Iron Maiden
album, The Prisoner, “I’m not
a number, I’m a free man!”
Then AC/DC Hell’s Bells, then Blue
Oyster Cult, Don’t Fear the Reaper
but I do.
A Beast in the Jungle: A Work Anxiety Poem
Waking up after sleeping in
the heat, bar interiors have been
transformed into taxidermy dreams
that make no sense.
Bewildered, I feel like Captain Willard
in a Saigon hotel seeing the overhead
fans as chopper blades descending
into a jungle instead of safely, behind
the lines, where dreams are the enemy
and there is no escaping the prison he is in.
Instead of in country, I’m in the bar,
Looking over Norman Bates’ shoulder
at birds of prey poised to attack,
at pointed antlers from long dead
steers, hear the rutting elks in the zoo,
fear the mounted wild cat heads,
the rare white buffalo skins and
the signs that say: CAUTION:
DO NOT TOUCH ENDANGERED
SPECIES, as if somehow, touching
them might make them more dead
than they already are.
I can barely see what must have been
the bar beyond the walls of mounted
heads receding into the darkness with
each tentative step I take.
The darker it becomes, the louder the dead
animal noises become and the jungle
I was now in, more confining and alive.
I check my sidearm to make sure it
is still loaded and walked on.
What else could I do?
Dormitory Fire: a work anxiety poem
I can smell the smoke from a dormitory fire,
in a building that would be attached to
the second floor of the tavern where
the overflow auxiliary bar would be if we
had one.
Though it is a semester break, there are a
few kids who have no homes staying in rooms
where fire alarms would be if the smoke
and the dorms were real.
My bar back rescues what could be
saved before the blaze becomes fully
involved.
I feel justified not helping out as someone
has to stay behind to mind the store.
Still, I feel a sense of guilt though
the authorities all say, “Just as well
you didn’t get involved, the old guys
always get in the way.”
Somewhat mollified, I am confronted
by a young woman from a 40 years ago
poetry workshop insisting she is my betrothed
though we both know I am married
to someone else.
The last time I saw her, decades ago,
she had short black hair cut in a page boy
but now it is dyed purple, shaved on
one side and long on the other with
curly bangs. “I just had it done,” she says,
“how do you like it?”
I think it looks awful but I don’t say anything.
Then she wants to take her home and
do what must be done.
Whatever that might be.
We leave together but I don’t know
where we are going.
Apparently, I have no say in the matter.
“Boy, are you in for a surprise.” She says,
as if that was a good thing.
I know this is the time to object
but I don’t say anything.
There is no explanation for any of this.
Work Anxiety Dream: No Exits
The sense is that my former
employer has a No Compete
option on my professional
services but as I have been retired
for over ten years, it seems unlikely
it could be applied. Still, I feel
guilty considering the new guy’s
offer to manages as, “the obvious
choice,” of a new bar in the cellar
where my first fulltime work was.
I’m inclined to say no but
this project is intriguing.
They show me around the place
which takes about two minutes,
as there isn’t anything to see:
just a freshly painted square space
with no tables, chairs, stools or
even a functional bar. They say,
“You just have to imagine those
being there.” I’m thinking this
project has more to do with Room
than The Tavern but I reserve judgment
until I hear their pitch. “We figure
that we can get maybe 200 or so
bodies in here.” And I’m remembering
that the tavern in this space had
a max capacity of 120 and it was
wider than this one, as these new guys
seem to have figured out a way to shrink
the walls and raise the ceiling
while removing all the personal touches
that make a college bar a desirable
hang out.” What do you think?”
They ask, and all I can think of is
the fire inspectors who used to hang out
here after checking out the high rise
mausoleums at the state school that
were being used as dorms saying,
“Those buildings are fire traps but this one
is worse. Where are the fire exits?
There aren’t any anyone could get to,
is there?” I looked around, though
I knew they were right. I said to the new guys,
“200 bodies seems just about right.”
Snowbound: A Work Anxiety Dream
Maybe it was the wind in that dream
of being snowbound in the bar,
one of those dreams so real,
it’s impossible after, to remember
what was real and what was dream
as is stand watching the snow drift
on Western Avenue, no cars moving,
no people walking, no cross country
skiers, nothing but the wind and
the still leafy tree limbs snapping,
falling taking the power wires with them,
no light anywhere but half a block
where the bar is, house lights dimmed,
MTV on mute Eurythmics surreality,
“Sweet Dreams Are Made of These,”
though there is nothing sweet
about this dream once the black
curtain is drawn down across
the bar and a spot light haloes
a silent talking head like something
out of Cassavetes and we’re in
their living room improv acting,
uncomfortable closeups and heat
lamps inducing sweating fever dream
soliloquies then the light switches off
and we hear three voices like something
from a Beckett play set in a graveyard
with beer taps and Irish whiskey added,
and their voices modulate in a kind of
crazy loop tape summary of their lives
together, tales of love, and hate and
lust that death does not have the power
to end and then the ghost light behind
the bar switches off and there is nothing
but darkness, a black shroud that used
to be a curtain and the muted voices
of all the people who died here calling
for a drink.
Night Walking: a work anxiety poem
All the addresses on
the buildings are the same
All the front doors
All the curtained windows
All the store fronts
exactly the same
All geometric as pieces
of jigsaw puzzle
a lab testing rat maze
you feel as if
you are walking in
but somehow remain
rooted in place
as the walls slide by
as the storefronts
curtained windows
front doors the same
of all the buildings
with the same address
on streets without lights
you cannot move on
out of breath
wheezing
from all the efforts
of standing still
all the effort expended
going nowhere
INTEGRATING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES INTO SCHOOL: GAME TOOLS. EDUCATION-BASED LEARNING AND INNOVATION
ANNOTATION.
This article analyzes the role of digital technologies in the preschool education system, in particular, the possibilities of increasing the effectiveness of lessons through interactive tablets, VR technologies, and game programs for children. It also discusses the relevance of the game-based learning methodology today and its impact on the educational process.
KEYWORDS: digital technologies, preschool education, interactive whiteboard, game-based learning, VR technology, innovative education.
INTRODUCTION.
In recent years, the use of digital technologies in education has been developing rapidly. This process is also reflected in the preschool education system. After all, today’s children are representatives of the digital generation, and they are introduced to information technologies from an early age. Therefore, the use of technologies such as interactive whiteboards, tablets, and virtual reality (VR) in classes not only increases the effectiveness of education, but also increases children’s interest in learning.
MAIN PART.
Preschool educational institutions – in the formation of a child’s personality
is an important stage. Therefore, it is important to give children innovative thinking skills from an early age through the use of modern educational technologies. With the help of interactive tools, educational processes are organized in a more lively, interesting and memorable way. In this process, interactive boards allow educators to conduct lessons visually using various pictures, animations, and videos, in addition to simple explanations. Tablets allow for an individual approach to working with children. During the learning process, each child is given separate tasks, and their results can be monitored in real time. Virtual reality technologies can take children on a journey into the world of imagination. A preschooler can “fly into space” or dive to the bottom of the ocean using VR glasses. This not only increases interest, but also consolidates knowledge based on a clear imagination.
The fact that children learn through play has been proven many times by psychologists. Therefore, through game programs and applications, skills such as mathematics, language learning, and logical thinking are effectively formed. Special mobile games for learning English, interactive programs for introducing numbers give effective results.
Despite the fact that the use of these methods has yielded high results in improving the quality of education, there are still unresolved problems in the implementation of digital technologies today: these include the lack of technical equipment, the lack of teachers’ ability to use technologies, and the lack of
low skills or parents’ concerns about children spending too much time in front of gadgets. The solution to these problems is to strengthen the technical base in institutions, train teachers in regular professional development courses, work in partnership with parents, and limit the time spent using technology. CONCLUSION.
In today’s rapidly developing era, the effective integration of digital technologies into the preschool education system during the lesson is a must. Interactive whiteboards, tablets, VR technologies and game-based learning methods increase children’s interest in learning. Also, the rational use of digital tools allows educators to more conveniently manage the pedagogical process, regularly monitor children’s development and strengthen effective cooperation with parents. However, when using digital technologies, it is important to take into account the age characteristics of the child and ensure information security.
The introduction of digital technologies in preschool education is a key requirement of modern education, which creates a solid foundation for the formation of 21st century skills in children and the upbringing of a competitive and intellectually mature generation. Therefore, today it is necessary to widely use these tools in the modernization of the education system.
References:
1. Strategy of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “Digital Uzbekistan 2030”.
2. Data from the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan (2021).
3. Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. One the Hoziron.
4. Gee, J.P.(2007). What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy.
Abdirashidova Ozoda was born in Chiraqchi district of Kashkadarya region and studied at the Pedagogical Faculty of Karshi State University, majoring in Preschool Education. She’s an ambassador and member of international organizations and the holder of international certificates.
Topping From the Bottom and the Top by Kandy Fontaine (Alex S. Johnson)
I’ve spent decades in the velvet trenches of kinky erotica, writing alongside and in tribute to masters like Kate Bornstein, Thomas S. Roche, Thea Hillman, Patrick Califia, Edo van Belkom, Lucy Taylor, and Maxim Jakubowski. My work is a ritual of rupture, a glitter bomb of desire, a scream stitched in leather and lace. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from living, loving, and leaking in this world—it’s that power is never simple. It’s never static. It’s never one-directional.
I’m a dominant. I’m genderqueer. I’m neurospicy. And I love to mix it up.
Being Queer is a high. A sacred intoxication. It’s the kind of pleasure that makes the strongest alcohol taste like ginger beer. But let’s be clear: BDSM is not unhealthy. Quite the opposite. It’s one of the most psychologically and emotionally grounded ways to explore intimacy, power, and trust.
In fact, studies have shown that BDSM practitioners tend to be healthier than the general population. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that BDSM participants scored better on measures of psychological well-being, including lower neuroticism and higher levels of secure attachment. Another study published in the Journal of Homosexuality in 2025 replicated these findings, showing that BDSM practitioners exhibit higher emotional resilience, lower rejection sensitivity, and greater overall well-being.
So let’s kill the myth. BDSM is not abuse. It’s not pathology. It’s not a symptom. It’s a circuit. It’s a ritual. It’s a scream that listens.
What turns me on the most? Imagining a circuit where I am both the bottom and the top—not alternately, but intensely and simultaneously. I want to dominate while surrendering. I want to control while being undone. I want to bring a partner off—be they male, female, or some glorious new gender I haven’t yet encountered—and feel their climax as my own. That’s not just sex. That’s communion.
The great leaders are servants. The master is a slave to his slave. And you don’t need to read Hegel to understand it.
Responsibility and trust are essential. This is never about anger. Never about abuse. Never about taking your emotions out on someone else.
Those people? They’re not kinky. They’re criminals.
BDSM is about consent, communication, and care. It’s about knowing your partner’s boundaries better than your own. It’s about listening with your whole body. It’s about crafting a scene that’s not just erotic—but sacred.
If you want to experience pleasure so intense it makes the strongest drug seem like ginger beer, look into BDSM and D/s. Discover your own circuits. Read the ones who’ve paved the way:
You’re welcome. Love and 40 lashes, Alex S. Johnson / Kandy Fontaine
Sources:
Corridors of Conscience
My Dialogue with the Painting of Dr. Alaa Basheer
Look into the depths of a shattered head,
The lines intertwine like thorns,
Dancing in the corridors of blue shadows,
Where silence clashes with the moan of souls.
O fading conscience,
You who have become a cloud pursued by the winds of conflict,
Do you dwell in the prisons of memories?
Or swim in the swamps of lost dreams?
Heads merge with the roots of the earth,
Turning into branches without features,
As if they are trees searching for the fruit of truth.
O you who are lost in the forests of noise,
Your lines have been colored in black and blue,
As if you scream without a voice:
“Where are you, O hidden light?”
Chains coil around the neck of the dream,
Yet the soul dances in the spaces of the unseen,
Searching for a conscience turned into the rubble of fear.
O human of today,
Do you still hear the steps of your burdened conscience?
Do you still touch the face of truth in the mirror of distortion?
The search is long like the paths of the wind,
But if you walk through the alleys of the self,
You will realize that conscience is not absent,
It is you, in your deep self, waiting.
—
Poem by Her Royal Highness Princess
Donia Sahab – Iraq
The Painting by the World-Renowned Visual Artist Dr. Alaa Basheer
______________________________________
أروقة الضمير
حواري مع لوحة د. علاء بشير
انظر في أعماق رأس مَهشم،
تتشابك الخطوط كالأشواك،
تتراقص في أروقة الظلال الزرقاء،
حيث يصطخب الصمت مع أنين الأرواح.
أيها الضمير المتلاشي،
يا من صرت غيمة تُطاردها رياح الصراع،
هل في سجون الذكريات تسكن؟
أم في مستنقعات الأحلام الضائعة تسبح؟
الرؤوس تتماهى مع جذور الأرض،
تتحول إلى فروع بلا ملامح،
كأنها شجر يبحث عن ثمرة الحقيقة.
يا من ضاع في غابات الضجيج،
تلوَّنت خطوطك بالسواد والزرقاء،
كأنك تصرخ بلا صوت:
“أين أنت، أيها النور الدفين؟”
القيود تلتف حول عنق الحلم،
لكن الروح ترقص في مساحات الغيب،
تفتش عن ضمير أحيل إلى ركام الخوف.
يا إنسان اليوم،
أما زلت تسمع خطوات ضميرك المثقل؟
أما زلت تلمس وجه الحقيقة في مرآة التشوه؟
البحث طويل كطرق الريح،
لكن إن سرت في أزقة النفس،
ستدرك أن الضمير ليس غائباً،
إنه أنت، في نفسك العميقة، ينتظر.
—
القصيدة بقلم الشاعرة الأميرة الهاشمية
دنيا صاحب – العراق
اللوحة الفنية بريشة الفنان التشكيلي العالمي د. علاء بشير