*kiran muses » Culture

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Kiran — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:31:32 +0000

Today is National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, which also commemorates the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre in 1989. I am honoured to have been asked to read one of my poems at the Toronto Candlelight Vigil to mark the anniversary of this tragic event. The fact is that violence against [...]

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is a post from: *kiran muses

“Pretty” ~ a poem by Katie Makkai

Kiran — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:53:06 +0000

This spoken word video has been going around the social networks. If you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, here it is: “Pretty” ~ a poem by Katie Makkai is a post from: *kiran muses

“Pretty” ~ a poem by Katie Makkai is a post from: *kiran muses

Coke Studio

Kiran — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:50:40 +0000

It is the most amazing thing to come out of Pakistan in recent years, IMO. Here are my favourite songs from this show, produced by Rohail Hyatt: To see more videos, check out Coke Studio’s YouTube channel, and official website. Coke Studio is a post from: *kiran muses

Coke Studio is a post from: *kiran muses

Dancing around the world

Kiran — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:58:43 +0000

Came across this sweet little video recently. Check it out for yourself Dancing around the world is a post from: *kiran muses

Dancing around the world is a post from: *kiran muses

Bicycling in Toronto ~ Lovin’ the ride

Kiran — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:24:57 +0000

Earlier this summer, my partner and I bought these cute, functional, folding bikes that have already become our primary mode of transportation. I used to bike when I was a wee teenager, growing up in New Jersey, while my partner had never biked before. So lately, we have been going out biking almost everyday, getting [...]

Bicycling in Toronto ~ Lovin’ the ride is a post from: *kiran muses

The Burqa/Niqab ban controversy

Kiran — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 23:01:28 +0000

This was written as part of a response to Martha Nussbaum’s opinion piece found here: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/veiled-threats I’d like to share my personal view on the burqa (face mask) controversy. My views are not based on the black-and-white, binary, false dichotomy presented too often by both supporters of the face-mask ban and those who wish to [...]

The Burqa/Niqab ban controversy is a post from: *kiran muses

A cool painting: Influential people, past and present

Kiran — Thu, 13 May 2010 03:41:30 +0000

…apparently, Discussing the Divine Comedy with Dante. [with Wikipedia Links & Mouse-over Tags] It’s got 103 of the most interesting figures of history juxtaposed together, and in some cases, interacting with each other, in a timeless image. From Bill Gates to Plato, Bruce Lee to the Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II, Margaret Thatcher to Audrey [...]

A cool painting: Influential people, past and present is a post from: *kiran muses

Nazanin — “Someday”

Kiran — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:20:33 +0000

Came across this beautiful, articulate and talented Iranian-Canadian singer and activist, Nazanin Afshin-Jan: and a *MUST WATCH* interview with her from AlJazeera English: Nazanin — “Someday” is a post from: *kiran muses

Nazanin — “Someday” is a post from: *kiran muses

The best analysis of the Aafia Siddiqui case.

Kiran — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:59:39 +0000

If you haven’t seen this yet, here’s your chance It’s a well researched critical analysis of this current hot-button issue. Aafia Siddiqui VS (Jews, Zarina Mari, Shazia Khalid and others) by Anas Abbas The best analysis of the Aafia Siddiqui case. is a post from: *kiran muses

The best analysis of the Aafia Siddiqui case. is a post from: *kiran muses

Scientists think dolphins deserve “non-human person” status

Kiran — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:17:09 +0000

Thanks to a Facebook friend, I came across this article in the Times Online which reports on zoological findings that dolphins’ brains, cultural and emotional complexities, and behaviours are close to those of humans. I think this is significant because there are more and more people waking up to the realities of how we treat [...]

Scientists think dolphins deserve “non-human person” status is a post from: *kiran muses

Profiling: Pros and Cons?

Kiran — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:43:10 +0000

A British MP has caused some controversy by publicly stating that profiling of Muslims is to be expected in the light of recent events: He said: “I think most people would rather be profiled than blown up. It wouldn’t be victimisation of an entire community. What I like is that Muslim organizations and Muslims with [...]

Profiling: Pros and Cons? is a post from: *kiran muses

(I’m not a queer or nothing, but…)

Kiran — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:05:40 +0000

Have you ever said, “I’m not gay, but…” or “I’m not bisexual, but…” as a disclaimer before expressing how much you are attracted to someone of the same gender as you? If you are progressive, liberal, and you stand for LGBT rights, have you ever wondered why you need to give a disclaimer like that [...]

(I’m not a queer or nothing, but…) is a post from: *kiran muses

Nick Maxwell — The Philosophy of Science

Kiran — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:59:53 +0000

From CBC’s Ideas radio show, I am listening to the podcast with Nick Maxwell on the ideas about science presented in his book From Knowledge to Wisdom: A Revolution for Science and the Humanities. Nick Maxwell — The Philosophy of Science is a post from: *kiran muses

Nick Maxwell — The Philosophy of Science is a post from: *kiran muses

Salman Rushdie and Irshad Manji — Moral Courage Conversations

Kiran — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:48:44 +0000

A long but highly insightful conversation between acclaimed authors Salman Rushdie and Irshad Manji on the nature of belief, Islamism, the history of Islam and Quran, and what to do in a world full of crazies on both the Islamist side and the racist westerner side. Rational, thinking people of all varieties will enjoy this [...]

Salman Rushdie and Irshad Manji — Moral Courage Conversations is a post from: *kiran muses

Long time no blog! (Or R.I.P. Hazrat George Carlin)

Kiran — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:37:49 +0000

So many things to occupy time, so little time for them to occupy. Here’s an interesting interview I came across with author Salman Rushdie For the other geeks among us, you might find PC World’s list of the Top 50 Tech Visionaries inspiring. Here, you can listen to an audio version of a Q&A between [...]

Long time no blog! (Or R.I.P. Hazrat George Carlin) is a post from: *kiran muses

So Many Reasons to Adore Her

Kiran — Sun, 11 May 2008 01:25:26 +0000

Battlestar Galactica‘s Tricia Helfer’s ‘Angel for Animals’ PETA PSA Click on the poster to read more about Tricia and to enter a contest to win Battlestar Galactica DVD’s! So Many Reasons to Adore Her is a post from: *kiran muses

So Many Reasons to Adore Her is a post from: *kiran muses

WGA Strike a “Huge Victory”!

Kiran — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:31:41 +0000

“Since we began negotiations in July, we’ve been saying, ‘If they get paid, we get paid.’ This contract makes that a reality. It’s the best deal this Guild has bargained for in 30 years after the most successful strike this Guild has waged in 35 years. It was arguably the most successful strike in the [...]

WGA Strike a “Huge Victory”! is a post from: *kiran muses

Leave the AMPTP alone!!!

Kiran — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:39:13 +0000

Here’s an awesome parody of the “Leave Britney Alone!” video. hehehe…. Leave the AMPTP alone!!! is a post from: *kiran muses

Leave the AMPTP alone!!! is a post from: *kiran muses

Care about the environment?

Kiran — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:52:24 +0000

Eat less meat Not only are meat and dairy production & processing immensely energy-inefficient and polluting, the animals we eat are saturated with hormones and genetic modifications. My partner and I decided on my last birthday (August 2007) to go veggie . It’s been at times inconvenient and at times very easy to keep it [...]

Care about the environment? is a post from: *kiran muses

Ads — What they do & how they do it

Kiran — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:46:09 +0000

A couple of excellent articles from Business Week: 1 about how ads push your buttons, and another about how ads are changing in the face of the new media evolving in front of us: This Is Your Brain On Ads Advertising: Now a Conversation Ads — What they do & how they do it is [...]

Ads — What they do & how they do it is a post from: *kiran muses