Beloved

You are the seasons that I am grateful to live. Your heart is a field of wildflowers; I explore in the spring. And you hand me the first yellow leaves of the forsythia, then when in bloom you brush my cheek with the white light of the Queen Ann’s lace. 

Beloved, when your arms open, they are my shelter from the rain that pummels the shed. In summer, after I sit in the sand, my heated body embraced by your cool ocean turquoise body. I float on my back, flip, and float again on my back. Your heart, a warm spoon to my mouth feeds me figs, mulberries, raspberries stirred in oats at morning when the sun rises. It’s the golden drizzle of honey I savor on my tongue as October winds scatter orange, and plum-colored leaves in the pond. Does your heart remember the silence of winter? I recall the way you turn up my palms to hold generous quiet snowflakes. Thank you beloved for chiming my heart with warmth of your eyes.  

Carrying The Cherry Blossoms 

Rosa steps on the six o’clock train traveling North alongside the river. Her window seat is perfect for her brown eyes that now belong to the ripples riding on the breeze, the occasional willow, and the mauve clouds crawling behind linked mountains. The train pauses at the Delmara Station picking up more passengers heading home after work. Rosa tucks a strand of curly hazelnut hair behind her ear and closes her eyes. Sounds of birds rush in as the doors close. She keeps her eyes shut when the stirring in her belly starts as if butterflies are taking off in a field of wildflowers. Her hands grip the handle of the small black suitcase in her lap, touching both sides of her thighs. In it, her daughter Clara’s favorite white silk dress, painted with pink blossoms on branches. When Clara was six years old, she walked barefoot under the cherry trees leaving her footprints on their roots. Look Mom, I’m helping them grow, she said, each time she circled them. At the picnic for her twenty-first birthday last year, Rosa recalls her glowing neckline in the sun.

The dress sitting at edge of her shoulders, sleeves at length of her mocha elbows. Rosa’s face and lips tremble with the image of Clara’s feet once again tip-toeing over roots. The train departs for her stop at Willow Kill. She reopens her eyes, the sky has an indigo hue, the half-moon has cast a silver shine on the river’s ripples. The train pulls into the station. Rosa’s heartbeat quickens like legs of horses galloping fast, kicking up dust behind them. Doors slide apart. She’s off the train before any other passengers push past her. Stepping onto the platform in the open moist air, an unexpected drizzle begins. Rosa’s face tingles. She walks down the stairs of the station hurrying to find a taxi. She looks up. Clouds shield the moon. A navy-blue Toyota pulls forward in front of her from the line of cars waiting for passengers. The driver leans across to the open window. Need a taxi? he asks. Rosa nods yes. Can I help you with your suitcase? I can put it in the trunk?  Rosa clutches the handle, No thanks, I need it by my side. The silk cherry blossom dress for Clara’s wake flashes in her mind.

Jerrice J Baptiste is an artist, poet, author of nine books. Her most recent book titled, Coral in The Diaspora published by Abode Press (August 2024). She’s been nominated three times for a Pushcart Prize by The Poetry Distillery in 2026, Jerry Jazz Musician 2024 & Abode Press 2025, and as Best of The Net in 2022 by Blue Stem. Her writing has been published or is forthcoming in Mantis, Neologism Poetry Journal, The Write Launch, The Banyan Review, The Yale Review, The Lake, Artemis Journal and hundreds of others. Her watercolor drawings on paper have been accepted or forthcoming in Synchronized Chaos, Jerry Jazz Musician Magazine, MER, Saugerties Shout Out, Las Laguna Art Gallery exhibit in California, Spirit Fire Review. Jerrice has presented her art work at The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, in June 2025. She’s been featured twice as a solo artist in 2025 & 2026 in an art exhibit at The Mountaintop Library in Tannersville, NY. She facilitates poetry as a returning teaching artist at The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. Her poems & collaborative songwriting are featured on the Grammy nominated album-Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti. 

Lebanon, Our Final Destination

Writing about Lebanon carries a different resonance — a new voice I didn’t know lived within me.

What can I write about a pain that hurts me?

How can I write about a homeland that beats in my heart?

And where and when can I write, when longing has consumed me?

Here is Beirut awakening once again to the symphony of blood.

Here it prepares to wear the shawl of ashes, like a grieving mother embracing her children with what warmth remains.

We grew up without realizing how much our disappointments had grown.

We grew old with the passing days, and the swings of peace that once played with our forgotten childhood faded away.

Our beloved Beirut, our great Lebanon!

How can your might wipe away the injustice of weary days?

How can the culture of the written word scatter nothingness over the culture of war?

Be certain: Beirut will awaken tomorrow to hymns of love and songs of dreams.

It will be perfumed with the blossoms of hope, adorned in the cloak of peace.

It will return as a city reborn like the phoenix from its ashes.

To you, Beirut, I say—

For you, Lebanon, we chant:

We will keep writing you as love,

And recite you as a daily prayer in our hearts.

And even if the roads grow narrow before us,

You will remain, Lebanon, our eternal path.

You will remain our final destination.

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: A CONVERSATION WITH ANKICA ANCHIA

Croatian writer and poet Ankica Anchia is a master of words. She is not only a writer for adults but also considered a children’s author. The poems she has written reach the hearts of people. Through her poetry, Ankica Anchia can sometimes make readers laugh, sometimes bring them to tears, and at times leave them deep in thought.

Q1: To begin with, tell us a few things about yourself, introduce yourself briefly to those who don’t know you?

A1: I was born in the beautiful Dalmatian city of Split, where the sun and the sea intertwine with stories of times long gone. My childhood was filled with the smiles of my parents, the warmth of home, and a sense of safety. But everything changed when I was twenty.

In that youth, suddenly without my parents, I felt a deep emptiness, as if the world around me had collapsed. I fell often, faced with pain that seemed endless. Betrayals came like storms—my heart shattered, trust wounded. Yet through those painful moments of breaking, I learned how to rise again.

The betrayals left scars, but they shaped me. I realized that those who make promises are often the ones who hurt the fastest. Pain became a teacher, a reminder that true value lies in those who stay, who do not turn their backs when things are hardest.

But the falls were not the end of my journey. They were simply the path toward awakening, toward the lessons one cannot learn without struggle. In my verses and stories, memories of those ups and downs came alive—moments of pain, sorrow, and emptiness, but also the strength that grew from every fall.

With each rise, I felt the blessings of my own resilience. The path was not without battles, sleepless nights, and tears. But in every fall and every betrayal, I discovered my own beauty—the kind not measured by success, but by the endurance of the spirit. My words are a testament to everything I have been through, everything I have become:

Life writes the words, but you choose the music!

Croatian Dalmatian city 

Q2: When did you start writing, and why? What does writing mean to you?

A2: I began writing poetry and prose as I was growing up, but the true intensity of my poetic expression reached its peak over the last 20 years.

Drunk on the love for Dalmatia, my homeland, and driven by deep respect for tradition, I tried to preserve that richness from fading away. My poems are filled with Dalmatian expression, images of the land, the scent of the sea, and the soul of the people. My love poetry leads us through romantic imaginings wrapped in everyday moments of life. The verses are filled with emotion—from joy to sorrow, from happiness to pain.

Writing never felt like a decision—it was a natural continuation of something I carried within me. Writing has always been my way of expressing what cannot easily be said, a way to touch the emotions and images hidden in silence.

Why do I write? Because each sentence brings me closer to who I truly am. Writing is my bridge to the world and to myself, my way of capturing fleeting moments and turning them into something eternal. In every letter, I find refuge, passion, and boundless freedom.

—

Q3:Did you dream of seeing your work on the shelves of bookstores, libraries, or readers?

A3: Of course I did—not out of vanity, but from the desire that my thoughts, feelings, and words find a home in the hearts of others. I dreamed that the pages I write would become a bridge between me and unfamiliar faces, that my stories and verses would serve as refuge, inspiration, or comfort.

To imagine my work resting on bookstore shelves, in readers’ hands, or in quiet library corners that safeguard stories—that feels like a quiet longing fulfilled, proof that words are not in vain, that they can reach someone and touch them, even for a moment. That is the beauty of it: sharing a piece of your soul with those who seek something similar within themselves.

—

Q4: How did the idea for your first poetry collection come about? Who or what inspired it?

A4: The idea for my first collection, “Beside jedne Dalmatinke” (“The Verses of a Dalmatian Woman”), was born from my love for the land I come from—for its rocky paths, the scent of the sea, and the timeless beauty Dalmatia carries. Every poem, every word, was my way of preserving the stories told by the waves, the whisper of olive trees, and the old stone walls.

Q5:What was it like preparing your first book for print? Describe the moment when you held it in your hands for the first time.

A5:Preparing my first book for print felt like waiting for the birth of something precious. Every decision—from the cover design to the final full stop—carried both excitement and gentle worry. It was a mixture of joy, pride, and responsibility, because I knew those pages would become a bridge between me and my readers.

And when I held my book for the first time, my heart stopped. It felt like meeting a part of myself for the first time outside my own mind. Touching the covers, feeling the weight of the pages that were once only thoughts—that is indescribable. I thought: This is a part of me that will live on—in the hands, minds, and hearts of others.

It was a moment of pure happiness, wrapped in gratitude.

—

Q6: Which of your collections is your favorite, and why?

A6:Each of my collections carries a part of me and holds a special place in my heart. But if I had to choose, my favorite is always the one that most deeply reflects the moment of life in which it was created.

“Beside jedne Dalmatinke” is dear to me because it carries not only my love for Dalmatia, but also nostalgia for childhood, memories of those who shaped me, and the strength of the emotions I lived back then.

Yet I always feel that my favorite collection is the next one—the one still being written.

“Kleknut htjedoh učitelju” holds a special place because it was created out of deep respect for wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual growth. It honors the teachers in our lives—the visible ones and the invisible ones.

On the other hand, “Zvjezdana prašina” (“Stardust”) is dear because it was written with childlike joy and imagination. Writing for children means letting go of all boundaries and returning to simplicity and wonder.

Both collections tell their own story—one speaks to the deep reflections of adults, the other plays with the stars and opens the door to childhood imagination.

Interviewed by:

Juraeva Aziza Rakhmatovna, who is a young poet from Uzbekistan. 

DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM BASED ON COMPUTER VISION

Tursunoy Akramjon qizi Umirzaqova Andijan State Technical Institute2nd-year student, Information Technology Services (ATT)

Email: umirzaqovatursunoy7@gmail.com

Abstract: The rapid increase in urbanization and the growing number of vehicles are placing significant pressure on urban infrastructure. Consequently, the number of traffic accidents rises, congestion intensifies, and time and economic resources are used inefficiently. This article discusses the development and implementation of an intelligent transportation system (ITS) based on computer vision. The study analyzes methods for real-time traffic flow monitoring, vehicle detection, speed and direction calculation, as well as the automation of traffic management. The results indicate that the developed system effectively manages traffic flow, reduces congestion, and enhances road safety. This work contributes to the optimization of urban transport and the development of the “Smart City” concept.Keywords: intelligent transportation system, computer vision, artificial intelligence, traffic flow, real-time, congestion reduction, smart city.

INTRODUCTION

The sharp increase in population and vehicle numbers in modern cities poses a serious threat to the efficient operation of urban infrastructure. Problems related to traffic intensity, road network density, and population mobility arise in every urban area. Therefore, managing and optimizing the transport system has become a primary focus of urban development today. Monitoring traffic flow, congestion, and preventing accidents requires a systematic approach. Traditional management systems, typically relying on static traffic lights and manual monitoring, fail to respond quickly to real-time changes. Consequently, modern cities are turning to innovative approaches based on artificial intelligence, sensor technologies, and real-time information systems to optimize transport networks [2].

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) implement these innovative approaches. ITS enables real-time monitoring of traffic flow, vehicle detection, speed and direction calculation, and congestion forecasting. These systems are used to improve efficiency in urban transport management, prevent accidents, and reduce fuel consumption. Furthermore, the system provides an essential scientific basis for decision-making in urban transport planning and infrastructure management.

Computer Vision is one of the most critical components of ITS, as it allows for the analysis and management of traffic flow based on visual data.Computer vision algorithms perform tasks such as detecting and classifying vehicles, and calculating their location, speed, and direction. This enables the system to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion.

Specifically, real-time monitoring allows for rapid decision-making in transport management. Research shows that computer vision technology significantly reduces the likelihood of accidents, smoothens traffic flow, and saves time for city residents. These systems are also effective in enhancing security and detecting traffic violations. By identifying emergency situations and sending immediate signals to relevant services, accidents can be mitigated.

Additionally, real-time monitoring serves as a vital scientific foundation for developing urban development strategies [1].

LITERATURE REVIEW AND METHODS

The research process consisted of several key stages.Stage 1: Selection of the Research Object and Urban Area. Busy urban transport areas were identified, and ideal intersections and highways were selected for the experiment. These areas featured high traffic intensity, providing suitable conditions for testing the efficiency of the ITS. Existing statistical data on accidents and vehicle counts were also analyzed.Stage 2: Installation and Configuration of Video Surveillance. High-definition cameras were installed at each intersection. Camera angles were optimized to maximize the field of view under various lighting and weather conditions.Stage 3: Image Pre-processing. Raw video feeds were cleaned of noise and adjusted for lighting variations. Images were normalized for contrast and brightness and filtered to improve the accuracy of detection algorithms [3].

Stage 4: Vehicle Detection and Classification. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) based on deep learning were utilized. Specifically, the YOLO (You Only Look Once) algorithm was chosen for its high speed and accuracy in real-time. The algorithm calculated the density of the flow and predicted potential accidents.Stage 5: Data Transmission to Central Control. Data regarding detected vehicles was transmitted to a central server, which calculated average speeds, congestion levels, and emergency risks.Stage 6: Automated Management Mechanism. The system dynamically adjusted traffic light intervals based on real-time flow. In the event of an accident or blockage, the system automatically alerted emergency services [5].

Stage 7: Testing and Evaluation. The system was tested across daytime, nighttime, and various weather conditions. Results confirmed the system’s stability, achieving an average vehicle detection accuracy of 94%.

DISCUSSION

The results demonstrated that computer vision-based ITS provides high efficiency in managing urban transport. The average detection accuracy of 94% proved sufficient for reliable decision-making. The system significantly reduced congestion and optimized fuel consumption, contributing to environmental sustainability. By dynamically controlling traffic lights, the central control module smoothed traffic flow and reduced the probability of road accidents. The automated mechanism minimizes human error. However, analysis showed that system performance is dependent on camera quality, lighting, and weather conditions. To further enhance the system, it is recommended to integrate infrared sensors and more adaptive algorithms [8].

The practical significance of this study lies in providing a scientific and practical platform for the “Smart City” concept [10].

RESULTS

The research proved that the ITS achieved high efficiency. While some challenges were noted during nighttime operations, the system remained stable overall. Traffic congestion was reduced by an average of 30%, and average vehicle speed increased significantly.Table 1. Performance indicators of the proposed Computer Vision-based ITS№Indicator NameTraditional SystemProposed ITS SystemChange (%)1Vehicle Detection Accuracy75%94%+19%2Congestion LevelHighMedium / Low−30%3Average Transport Speed25 km/h35 km/h+40%4Number of Traffic Accidents100% (Base)70%−30%5Fuel Consumption100%80%−20%6Real-time Monitoring CapabilityLimitedFull+100%7Traffic Light ControlStaticDynamic (Adaptive)—8Emergency Response TimeSlowInstant/Fast—The findings confirm that computer vision is an essential tool for smoothing traffic flow and enhancing safety. It serves as a vital instrument for urban policy-making and infrastructure management [6].

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that computer vision-based intelligent transport systems are reliable and effective for urban management. By automating traffic flow, the system reduces congestion, lowers fuel consumption, and improves road safety. It minimizes the human factor in decision-making and provides an advanced scientific platform for implementing “Smart City” strategies. Future developments involving advanced sensors and AI algorithms will further modernize urban transport, making it more efficient and environmentally sustainable

[9].REFERENCES

Abdurahmonov, S. (2020). Information Technology and Urban Transport Management. Tashkent: Fan va Texnologiya.Karimov, A., & Tursunova, M. (2019). Intelligent Transport Systems Based on Computer Vision. Tashkent: Information Technology Publishing.Qodirov, R. (2021). Methods of reducing congestion in urban transport. Journal of Transport Sciences, 15(2), 45–58.Axmadjonov, B. (2021). Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision in Transport Management. Tashkent: Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan.Karimova, D. (2020). Urban Transport and Intelligent Systems: Practice and Development. Tashkent: TUIT Publishing.Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2022). Strategy for the Development of Urban Transport. Tashkent.Mirzaev, F. (2019). Transport Management Based on Information Systems. Tashkent: Ilmiy Nashr.Tursunov, S. (2020). Intelligent Transport Systems and Urban Transport. Tashkent: Information and Transport Technology Publishing.Rahmonov, E. (2018). Innovative Technologies in Urban Transport. Tashkent: Fan va Texnologiya.Islomov, M. (2021). Computer Vision and Transport Management. Tashkent: IT Academy Publishing.

First, a few announcements.
Sandra Tabac invites poetry and art submissions for an international Hands of Love anthology.

Also, The Arab Poets Forum has recently published the book “Alphabet of Pain… Letters Bleeding Meaning”, a remarkable poetic encyclopedia featuring 212 poets from around the world, presented in two volumes spanning 800 pages.

The cover artwork is created by Iraqi visual artist Nada Askar, and the cover design is by Lebanese artist Layla Beiz Al-Mashghariya. Several Synchronized Chaos contributors, including Taghrid Bou Merhi, Mirta Ramirez, Eva Petropoulou Lianou, Dildora Xojyozova, Binod Dawadi, and Kujtim R Hajdari, are published in this collection.

Now, for this month’s first issue, Where Memory Meets Tomorrow.

This issue is beautiful, rich, and international. There’s a strong throughline of memory, devotion, identity, and renewal running across continents and genres.

For this month’s first issue, we are proud to present a collection of voices that span styles and topics, each offering a meditation on what it means to live, remember, and hope.

Vo Thi Nhu Mai opens with a heartfelt tribute to her mother, honoring the quiet love and lifelong dedication of a teacher. From Uzbekistan, Orzigul Ibragimova calls her people forward with intelligence and determination, while Namozova Sarvinoz Erkin qizi explores the nation’s ongoing transformation toward an eco-friendly, energy-efficient future. Sevara Abduxalilova reflects on the legacy of Mirzo Ul’ugbek, the great Central Asian astronomer whose vision still resonates across time, as Botirova Gulsevar Muzaffar qizi honors political leader and poet Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, known for promoting education and national development. Munisa Islomjonova celebrates her native Uzbekistan through verse.

The power of words themselves comes into focus in Harinder Cheema’s celebration of poets as messengers of peace and inspiration, echoed by Soumen Roy’s prayer to poetry as a source of healing and transcendence. Jamoliddinova Dilnozaxon Mirhojiddinovna discusses how countries and social groups form communication and speech traditions. Olimova Shahina Botirjon qizi discusses strengths and weaknesses of different methods for teaching foreign languages. Hamdamova Sevara Saidmurodovna outlines modern philological theory about the power of language beyond literal meaning. Türkan Ergör sharpens her focus to highlight the pain of a world without trust and truth. Rev. Dr. Jitender Singh speaks to human unity across race, color, nationality, or creed. Manik Chakraborty and Mesfakus Salahin and Mahbub Alam each issue urgent calls for peace, reminding us of our shared humanity in a fractured world. Graciela Noemi Villaverde depicts the pain of words felt but never sent. Christina Margeti speaks to war and childhood, what humanity destroys and what we strive to protect. Faleeha Hassan reviews Saudi directors Meshal Al-Jaser and stars Adwaa Badr and Yazeed Al-Majioul’s film “Naga” (Purity) which, through the tragedy of a betrayed and rebellious young woman, shows the weight of a society imploding upon itself as it punishes the existence of femininity. Asadullo Habibullayev brings violence down to a smaller scale, reminding us that how we treat each other at the interpersonal level matters. At the same time, poet Nilavronill decries how poets have failed to stop the world’s violence with their words.

Themes of love and devotion weave throughout the issue. Sandro Piedracita reflects on the distinction between selfless love and possessiveness, while Eva Petropoulou Lianou honors the tender, enduring bond between mother and child. Nazokat Jumaniyozova offers a moving elegy for her grandfather, and Danijela Ćuk pays tribute to Eva Petropoulou’s tireless support of fellow writers. Saparboyeva Laylo Xajibay qizi relates a folktale-like story of grief, justice, fate and renewal. Joseph Ogbonna expresses his spiritual devotion in the Easter season and his thanks for Christ’s humble sacrifice. Maqsudova Anora Alisherovna’s poem urges heartfelt sincerity and reflection when people observe Ramadan. Sarvinoz Bakhtiyorova relates the tale of a now-adult son who sacrificed his own body for his mother. Jahongir Murodov expresses his tender care and respect for his mother. Xojamurodova Nigina urges sensitive souls to continue loving and not lose heart in a brutal world as Ms. Kim Sun Young shares how longing for a lost love is persistent, like a weed in her heart and Do’sanova Dilnoza Xolmurod qizi reflects on heartbreak and regret.

Other contributors turn toward time, myth, and the natural world. Ananya Guha evokes deep, mythic landscapes, while Sayani Mukherjee and Lan Xin draw on the imagery of spring—its motion, memory, and rebirth. Ankica Anchie Biskupović finds unity in flowing water, and Elaine Murray immerses herself in nature’s quiet revelations. Ms. Koo Myongsook reflects in stillness on a mountain as a metaphor for life. David Kokoette’s desert journey and Duane Vorhees’ meditation on absence and longing remind us of the inner landscapes we all traverse. Maja Milojkovic laments the steady decline of her powers due to old age. Aziza Jorayeva expresses heartbreak, loneliness, and grief. Dr. Prasanna Kumar Dalai speaks to autumn, night, longing, and confession. Siyoung Doung expresses the mystery of our existence and the beauty of finding small moments of beauty and meaning. Dr. Tomasz Laczek urges us to make the most of the lives we have and live for something that matters.

This issue also engages with contemporary life and its tensions. Abdumaxamediva Gulchexra looks at the positive and negative effects of American cultural influence on traditional Uzbek culture. Patricia Doyne sharply critiques the current U.S. administration, while Bill Tope employs satire to confront its institutional excess and brutality. J.K. Durick reflects on individuals navigating vast, impersonal systems, even systems invented for fun, such as professional sports, engaged yet estranged. Peter Cherches plays the absurdist blues for us in his poem that’s equal parts exile ballad, street song, and darkly comic cabaret. Christopher Bernard kicks off the first installment of his children’s story Otherwise, with a mixture of philosophy, mystery, and middle-grade energy.

Science, education, and personal determination appear in compelling ways. Urokova Nargiza discusses ways to protect against new types of viruses. Jorakulova Gulshoda Uchqun qizi examines disease detection through the lens of blood cell analysis, while Abduhalilova Sevdora Xayrulla qizi advocates for reconnecting physical education with nature. Nabiyeva Xilolaxon Axrorjon qizi discusses how to make fuel composition less toxic and more environmentally sustainable. Choriyeva Oynur analyzes the role of music in helping students concentrate and learn. Anarboeva Madina Ulmas qizi highlights her accomplishments in the Uzbek national sport of kurash. Laylo Yo’lbarsova highlights the role of personality in determining suitability for different careers. Priyanka Neogi asserts her self-determination, strength, self-respect, and independence. Maxsudbekova Farogat Izzatbek qizi valorizes self-assurance, personal dignity, and individuality. Toshmamatov Javohir tells a story of perseverance through the journey of a computer science student, Jumayev Akmal G’ulom o’g’li discusses ways to get young people more involved in shaping the future of Uzbekistan and to help them take their place in the workplace, and Gulhayo Abduqahhorova considers the choices that shape life after college.

Artistic memory and cultural reflection round out the issue. Mark Young presents his signature altered geographies, while Brian Michael Barbeito revisits the world of hockey through personal recollection. Mykyta Ryzhykh captures the intensity of first awakenings—moments that divide life into before and after. Jacques Fleury offers a haunting vision of beauty, resilience, and power embodied in a goddess who still fades from view while he can only watch. Ms. Im Sol Nae looks at death not merely as an ending, but as a transformation, a communal aesthetic experience.

Finally, editor Cristina Deptula contributes a review of No One Dreams in Color by John Biscello, a work that meditates on consciousness, grief, the creative process, and the fragile boundary between reality and imagination.

Together, these works form a tapestry of voices, which are urgent, reflective, and deeply human. They remind us that across distance and difference, we are united by our search for meaning, our capacity for love, and our enduring hope for renewal.

---

Trump Deploys ICE Agents to Stand In for Striking Minnesota Doctors

Citing understaffing, improper training and administrative overload, some 28,000 Minnesota physicians have walked out. The gesture was made in sympathy with the almost 400,000 health care workers who staged a work stoppage last Thursday.

In response to this health care emergency, President Donald J. Trump has deployed some 5,000 ICE agents to stand in for the idled physicians. “We can’t have this bullshit,” railed Trump from Mar-a-Lago’s Epstein Lounge today.

“What if there’s an emergency?” he cried. “What is somebody’s suffering from deadly bone spurs or somethin’? Or if he gets a bruise on his hand, or starts fallin’ asleep at meetings and stuff?”

Confusion has been rampant, as poorly trained, unlicensed ICE agents grapple with medical emergencies. In Minneapolis, a pregnant Somali woman visited a hospital in desperate need of medical treatment.

But when the ICE physician was summoned, he immediately demanded identification. According to the agent, “Dr.” Biff Sluggard, a former nightclub bouncer from Keystone, Colorado, who was attracted to the $50,000 ICE recruitment bonus, the woman proved to be a non-citizen, but had a green card.

Slamming the woman to the floor, the doctor/agent arrested her on the spot. Prior to incarceration, the woman was sped by ambulance across the northern border into Canada, for delivery.

This was done, said an ICE spokesperson, to forestall subsequent patient claims of birthright citizenship. “ICE don’t believe in the 14th Amendment,” said Sluggard with a grin.

Emergency responders reacted to a call for help in the downtown Minneapolis area, only to find Jose Ruiz, a father of three small children, who became trapped under an automobile when the jack slipped.

 Deducing that the brown-skinned man, who had no papers, was illegal, they left him as he was and instantly took custody of his children, aged 1-7 years. Last word was that the children were en route to a containment warehouse in Muncie, Indiana.

So far as Humor Times could determine, the man remains trapped under his vehicle. At a community clinic in Rochester, a meaty ICE agent stood guard before the “Whites Only” entrance. Various patients approached the portal and were summarily turned away.

The patients were denied entrance, according to the guard, in order to “forestall contaminating blood lines.” Inside, the physician, who was identified as Dr. K. Noem, was at an adjoining animal shelter next door, executing dogs with a large caliber handgun.

Border Czar Tom Homan told Humor Times that ICE agents are a “natural fit” to replace “slothful and lazy physicians” who forgo work. “ICE agents,” rasped Homan, “are first and foremost enforcers: of immigration law, removal of felons and others who violate U.S laws.

“They conduct criminal Investigations in a manner similar to the way a doctor catalogs symptoms. We also conduct document inspections: you ever tried to get health care service without providing ID?” Homan asked. “Ain’t gonna happen.

“An’ we surveill and collaborate with other agencies. ICE agents,” said Homan, “can be used as a force multiplier. We do this,” he explained, “by stepping into duties that do not require doctors’ specialized screening training, like reading X-rays.

“ICE agents won’t be performing major surgery,” he said with a laugh. “I mean, no brain surgery or heart transplants or deliveries of babies. Unless,” he said, raising a thick forefinger, “they’re illegal. In that case, we’ll deliver the little bastard, but separate the child from the parents at birth. We’ll put ’em all in a cage!”

The decision to replace Minnesota doctors with ICE agents came about because of the success of Trump’s deployment of thousands of ICE agents to supplement the depleted roll of TSA agents who have been working at airports without pay.

Some 50,000 TSA workers have gone without a paycheck since DHS funding was denied on February 14. Trump said on Saturday that ICE agents would “do doctoring like no one has ever seen before.”

Trump said this includes “the immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants who have come into our Country, with heavy emphasis on those from Somalia.” Minneapolis, a hotbed of Somali occupation, is host to more than 107,000 such individuals.

Trump, who has often shown a flair for naming his various programs and policies, was asked what he’d call his Minnesota-based ploy. After a reflective pause, he replied, “I think I’ll call it The Final Solution. Kinda rolls off the tongue, don’t it?” he asked.

The Heirs of Mirzo Ulugbek

KDPI Faculty of Philology and Social Sciences
Uzbek Language and Literature Department
1st-year student: Sevara Abduxalilova
Email: abduxalilovasevara007@gmail.com

Abstract: This article discusses the life, scientific activities and great contribution of the great astronomer and statesman Mirzo Ulugbek to the development of science. His interest in science from a young age, the establishment of the Ulugbek Observatory, his research in astronomy and mathematics, and the history of the creation of the famous work „Ziji-i Koragani“are analyzed. Information is also provided about Ulugbek’s contribution to the development of science, his students and scientific school. The article considers the fact that the scientific heritage of the great scientist still retains its significance today.

Keywords: Mirzo Ulugbek, astronomy, mathematics, observatory, Samarkand, science, „Ziji-i Koragani“, Timurid era, scientific heritage.

The great scholar and statesman Mirzo Ulugʻbek (full name Muhammad Taraghay Ulugbek) was born on March 22, 1394, in the city of Sultaniya. He was the grandson of the great commander Amir Temur and the son of Shah Rukh Mirza. From an early age, he showed great interest in science, especially mathematics and astronomy. From childhood, he was respectfully called “Ulugbek,” and later he became famous under this name. Literacy, as well as the basics of religious and secular sciences, were not unfamiliar to young Muhammad Taraghay. He was a great astronomer and mathematician and had memorized the Holy Qur’an. Although his mother was Gawharshad Begum, he was raised in the court of Temur. According to tradition, the young prince was entrusted to the upbringing of Saroymulk Khanum, the chief wife of Sahibqiran.

Although not much historical information has been preserved about Ulugbek’s family and personal life, it is known that he was married and had children. His family was formed in accordance with the traditions of the Timurid dynasty to strengthen political and kinship ties. His wives held an important place in palace life; although they did not directly participate in state affairs, they were active in the cultural and social life of the court. Among his children, the most famous was his son Abdulatif Mirza. Unfortunately, the tragic end of Ulugbek’s life is connected with this very son. As a result of struggles for the throne, Abdulatif rebelled against his father and caused his death in 1449.

Speaking about his scientific activity and legacy, when his father Shah Rukh Mirza appointed Herat as the capital of the state, sixteen-year-old Ulugbek became the ruler of Samarkand in 1409, and in 1411 he became the independent ruler of Movarounnahr. Mirzo Ulugbek created the largest scientific school of his time. Many famous scholars gathered around him, such as the mathematician and astronomer Qazi Zada al-Rumi, the astronomer Ghiyath al-Din Jamshid Kashani, and the scholar Ali Qushchi, who conducted research at Ulugbek’s observatory.

Ulugbek’s scientific works made a great contribution to the development of astronomy and mathematics. He is famous in the scientific world as a great astronomer. His greatest achievement in this field is the astronomical table known as Ziji-i Ko‘ragoniy. This work served as an important reference for astronomers around the world for centuries. Ulugbek was also interested in medicine and music and wrote poetry. In Alisher Navoi’s work “Majolis un-nafois,” examples of his poems are presented. Four works of the scholar have survived:

1. “Ziji-i Ko‘ragoniy” — on astronomy; 
2. “A Treatise on Determining the Sine of One Degree” — on mathematics; 
3. “Risola-yi Ulugbek” — dedicated to stars; 
4. “Tarixi arba ulus” (History of the Four Nations) — on history. 

Mirzo Ulugbek was not only an astronomer and mathematician but also engaged in architecture. Thanks to his architectural activities, Samarkand flourished. He turned it into a center of science and culture. On his initiative, the famous Ulugbek Observatory was built in Samarkand. This observatory became one of the largest scientific centers of its time, where many scholars worked. In his famous work “Ziji-i Ko‘ragoniy,” the precise coordinates of more than a thousand stars were presented. Later, this work was widely used by European astronomers.

By his decree, madrasas were built in Bukhara in 1417, in Samarkand in 1420, and in Gijduvan in 1433. Charitable institutions were established in the city of Marv. Construction of architectural monuments such as the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Gur-e-Amir, and Shah-i-Zinda was completed. Ulugbek also built caravanserais, markets, domed bazaars, and bathhouses. The Ulugbek Observatory, constructed in 1428–1429 on Kuhak Hill, is one of the finest examples of 15th-century architecture in Samarkand. During his reign, many works were translated from Arabic and Persian into Old Uzbek. His rich library contained more than 15,000 books.

The scientific legacy and historical significance of Mirzo Ulugbek are widely reflected not only in historical sources but also in literary works. One such work is the novel Ulugʻbek xazinasi by Odil Yoqubov. This historical-artistic novel depicts the life, scientific activity, and tragic fate of the great scholar and ruler. Although based on historical facts, the author presents a creative interpretation. The novel highlights Ulugbek’s boundless love for science, his qualities as a just ruler, and the complex political struggles of his time.

At the center of the novel lies Ulugbek’s scientific treasure—not gold or wealth, but his scientific works, astronomical observations, and scholarly school. In particular, his famous work “Ziji-i Ko‘ragoniy” is shown as a great contribution to world astronomy. The novel also portrays the political conflicts of his time. As a ruler devoted to science, he could not reconcile with certain forces and ultimately faced a tragic fate. Through this, the author artistically depicts the struggle between knowledge and ignorance. The main idea of the work is that science is humanity’s greatest treasure, and the legacy of great scholars is an invaluable heritage for future generations. Thus, “Ulugbek’s Treasure” emphasizes that the true treasure is not material wealth, but knowledge and enlightenment. We, in turn, are the heirs of Ulugbek’s treasure!

The name of Mirzo Ulugbek is forever engraved in history as a great scholar, wise ruler, and patron of science. His life and work demonstrate that true heritage is not material wealth but knowledge, intellect, and enlightenment. The scientific school he founded, the works he created, and the institutions he built still play an important role in the development of human thought. Only the younger generation who choose the path of science and strive to develop knowledge and intellect can continue the legacy of great ancestors and achieve new scientific discoveries in the future. Ulugbek’s scientific activity serves as an inspiring historical example, encouraging youth to pursue knowledge, research, and critical thinking. His contributions to science remain a powerful source of inspiration. Therefore, studying and promoting Ulugbek’s legacy is an important task for all of us. In conclusion, the true treasure is not material wealth, but knowledge and enlightenment.

References:

1. Ahmad Donish. Historical works. — Tashkent: Fan Publishing. 
2. Aziz Qayumov. Mirzo Ulugbek. — Tashkent: O‘qituvchi Publishing. 
3. Boriboy Ahmedov. History of Amir Temur and the Timurid Era. — Tashkent: Uzbekistan. 
4. Sadriddin Ayni. Historical works. — Tashkent: Fan. 
5. “Ulugbek’s Treasure.” — Tashkent: Sharq Publishing.