Amazon Is Crushing It. Literally — IMRAN®

Amazon Is Crushing It. Literally — IMRAN®

I’m all in favor of saving costs and packing materials. And Amazon is crushing it. Literally. Unfortunately, not in a good way.

Surely it doesn’t require a rocket‑science degree to know this: Don’t shove big, heavy, toxic carpet‑cleaning chemicals into the same flimsy pouch as a box of cereal and other food items in the name of sustainability.

The cereal’s crunchy clusters were pulverized. The jar was dented — though at least its lid didn’t pop off from the impacts the edible items received from the chemical containers.

Amazon didn’t just deliver the order… it delivered a demolition demo.

© 2026 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #Amazon #CustomerExperience #CommonSense #sustainability #UrUXSux

Pleasantly Petrifying Photography! — IMRAN®

Pleasantly Petrifying Photography! — IMRAN®

My beloved late father gave me my first camera — a Diana — when I was seven, growing up in Pakistan. That’s how I began shooting black‑and‑white 35mm film. Agfa‑Gevaert is a name I still recall, followed later by Ilford and others, with Kodak and then Fujifilm as I ventured into color photography a few years later. Soon color became my only medium. Then came digital, from the very day the Apple QuickTake became available.

I barely find time to post even a fraction of my 100,000 color photos, let alone convert images to monochrome. Some photographers choose black and white as their primary medium. For me, certain themes simply gain mystery and drama when stripped of color. Fallen trees, rock formations, even portraits of old, wrinkled faces take on an ironically ageless quality sans chromatic distraction.

This dead tree on my Long Island, New York property already looks mysterious in color — you’ll see that when I post it later. But in monochrome it takes on a truly, pun intended, petrifying presence. Almost like a movie fable talking head emerging from a tree trunk. 

The detail becomes even more interesting when zoomed in to any area for detail. There are dozens of zoomed crops I can imagine posting out of just this picture to illustrate the point. 

Are you into B/W? 

© 2026 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #NewYork #LongIsland #EastPatchogue #HeronPointe #GreatSouthBay #photography #autobiography 

Where’s The Beef? Literally. - IMRAN®

Where’s The Beef? Literally. - IMRAN® 

© 2026 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #food #humor #FalseAdvertising #UrUXSux

Historic Grand Central Terminal, Manhattan, Entrance From 42nd Street - IMRAN®

Historic Grand Central Terminal, Manhattan, Entrance From 42nd Street - IMRAN® 

© 2026 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #NewYork #Manhattan #architecture #travel #GrandCentral 

Grand Grand Central Madison, Modern Magical Magnificent Midtown Manhattan Marvel — IMRAN®

Grand Grand Central Madison, Modern Magical Magnificent Midtown Manhattan Marvel — IMRAN®

Barely made my first actual LIRR train trip out of the new Grand Central Madison last night. After nearly four decades of calling Manhattan home, it still feels surreal to descend into this massive and grand new world carved under Midtown.

This photo is from one of the station’s signature escalators. It’s about 182 feet long, dropping roughly 90 feet below street level. It’s a part of a project that took over 15 years and cost around $11 billion and finally connected the East Side directly to Long Island.

My meetings in the city had been related to innovation for the future of public safety and law enforcement. Ironically, the etched figures you see on the glass — Lady Justice with sword and scales — are part of the station’s art program, symbolizing law, balance, and the civic institutions that define the city above.

The green‑and‑steel color scheme isn’t random either. It’s meant to echo the historic tones of the original Grand Central while giving the new concourse a modern, almost tunnel‑to-the-future feel. 

A long day, a tight connection, but a moment worth capturing. Have you been there?

© 2026 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #NewYork #LongIslandRailRoad #Manhattan #architecture #engineering #LIRR  

“The Dutch” Treat — Salmon & Salad Light Lunch — IMRAN®

“The Dutch” Treat — Salmon & Salad Light Lunch — IMRAN®

A long, challenging Wednesday had already started off on the wrong foot — but at least not foot in mouth. An early‑morning LIRR failure stole two extra hours, created unnecessary drama, and caused me to miss meetings with people who were flying out soon afterward. By the time I finally made it to Manhattan, several back‑to‑back sessions and no breakfast meant hunger was clearly the order of the day.

That made our light working lunch with a few technology leaders at The Dutch — right at the Sullivan and Prince streets intersection — feel especially welcome. It’s a lively spot where our semi‑private corner still felt open to the energy of SoHo. Victoria, our server, was gracious, attentive, and kept the pace just right.

Two of us went for the light salmon over greens, while the others mixed it up with different dishes. My plate was fresh, flavorful, and fairly filling. But as anyone who loves salmon knows, a salmon‑and‑salad combo has a way of making you hungry again a few hours later — which is exactly what happened to both of us who ordered it.

© 2026 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #NewYork #Manhattan #seafood #dining #food #salmon #SoHo

K2 Posing For A Portrait From 300 Feet - IMRAN®

K2 Posing For A Portrait From 300 Feet - IMRAN® © 2025 IMRAN® #IMRAN #NewYork #LongIsland #EastPatchogue #GSD #GermanShepherdDogs #dogs #summer

“Rain Over Manhattan” - IMRAN®

“Rain Over Manhattan” - IMRAN® 

One, I bought this raincoat the same year I started writing my first novel, “Happy Endings”, in Manhattan, in 1993. It took me 33 years to complete. I rarely used this beautiful deep blue London Fog raincoat in that time. 

Two, “Rain Over Manhattan” is the title of Chapter 2 of that novel. 

Three, it was pouring rain the day I was headed to Manhattan for what became an eighteen-hour workday. Long, but great. And fortunately it didn’t rain when I had to be outdoors. 

 

Four, In a season of surprises, July of 2026 has been my favorite summer month in 31 years of living in my blessed Long Island home, and nearly four decades in New York. It has provided beautifully mild, even cool, weather — thereby minimizing the need for air conditioning at home. 

I am grateful for everything.

© 2026 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #books #Manhattan #StoryTelling #memories #HappyEndings #gratitude 

A Perennial Favorite Diet, I See (Sea)Food, I Eat It - IMRAN®

A Perennial Favorite Diet, I See (Sea)Food, I Eat It - IMRAN® 

© 2026 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #Japanese #seafood #foodie #sashimi #NewYork

A Perennial Favorite Diet, I See (Sea)Food, I Eat It - IMRAN®

A Perennial Favorite Diet, I See (Sea)Food, I Eat It - IMRAN® 

© 2026 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #Japanese #seafood #foodie #sashimi #NewYork

A Perennial Favorite Diet, I See (Sea)Food, I Eat It - IMRAN®

 

A Perennial Favorite Diet, I See (Sea)Food, I Eat It - IMRAN® 

© 2026 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #Japanese #seafood #foodie #sashimi #NewYork

GSD K2 Guards NY Property On 57F/17C Summer TGIF Morning - IMRAN®

GSD K2 Guards NY Property On 57F/17C Summer TGIF Morning - IMRAN® 

Can you see the dog? Or the Mercury falling?  It’s the middle of summer on Long Island, New York, and 17 Celsius / 57 Fahrenheit! I’m not complaining this Friday morning. It’s like free air conditioning to help reduce electricity bills! My Atlanta-born Tampa(Bay)-raised German Shepherd Dog, K2, loves this weather while surveying and guarding the property. 

© 2026 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #NewYork #LongIsland #GSD #summer #TGIF 

GSD K2 (In The/Wild) Dog- IMRAN®

GSD K2 (In The/Wild) Dog- IMRAN® © 2026 IMRAN® #IMRAN #NewYork #LongIsland #GSD #GermanShepherdDogs #dogs #summer

Cold‑Hearted Self‑Control Crushing Factory — IMRAN®

Cold‑Hearted Self‑Control Crushing Factory — IMRAN® When it comes to ice cream, self‑control has never existed for me since childhood. Yet I had been disciplined enough to drop 35 lbs. in six months, which took real commitment. And even staying away from the ice cream aisles in stores. But back on Long Island, after indulging in a Pakistani‑Indian buffet in Port Jefferson, I couldn’t resist driving all the way to Ice Cream Cottage, in Shirley. It is home to one of the best ice cream places on the planet. I hadn’t been here in several years. But you can see, I made up for it in one visit. Like an old junkyard where cars are recycled, this place is where self‑control goes to be crushed and melted, faster than… drum roll, please…. ice cream on a hot summer day! © 2026 IMRAN® #IMRAN #NewYork #LongIsland #summer #icecream #humor

Do You Recognize/ Remember What These Are? - IMRAN®

Do You Recognize/ Remember What These Are? - IMRAN® Time to put in recycling. But I wonder if you can recall or recognize what these were for? 🙂 © 2026 IMRAN® #IMRAN #accessories #OldTech #quiz #GuessWhat

30-Year Old Butterfly Bush Long Island New York Home iPhone No-Edit CloseIp - IMRAN®

30-Year Old Butterfly Bush Long Island New York Home iPhone No-Edit CloseIp - IMRAN® © 2026 IMRAN® #IMRAN #NewYork #LongIsland #EastPatchogue #flowers #nature

T-Mobile - Pathetic 5G Service Long Island New York - IMRAN®

T-Mobile - Pathetic 5G Service Long Island New York. If considering it, I suggest using a better carrier. This is the highest speed I got in 5 tests (3 did not even complete the upload portion). Dialup modems would be faster. #TMobile #UrUXSux #CustomerExperience

German Shepherd Dog K2 Guarding New York Home & Car Near Midnight- IMRAN®

German Shepherd Dog K2 Guarding New York Home & Car Near Midnight- IMRAN® © 2026 IMRAN® #IMRAN #GSD #NewYork #LongIsland #GermanShepherd

Manhattan New York At Summer Sunset In Second 1212 24-Hour FL-NY Drive In 2 Weeks - IMRAN®

Manhattan New York At Summer Sunset In Second 1212 24-Hour FL-NY Drive In 2 Weeks - IMRAN® Spectacular summer sunset spans steamy skies all across area around my magical magnificent Manhattan. Screenshot from iPhone video taken crossing the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. My 2nd 1212 mile 24-hour drive door to door from the Tampa Bay, Florida place to the Long Island, New York abode in 2-weeks. Grateful to get home safely again. © 2026 IMRAN® #IMRAN #NewYork #Manhattan #travel #HeronPointe #driving #NonStop #adventure

Did You Read And Did You Relate To Catcher In The Rye, Now 75! - IMRAN®