Sunday Morning

Today was CBC Television`s last broadcast of CBC News: Sunday a terrific two-hour start to every Sunday for Canadians for the past 8 years. Hosted by Carole MacNeil and Evan Solomon, it has featured regional, national & international stories - in all areas of interest.

Topics have included the range from moving and inspiring to confounding and anger-provoking. As mentioned today, many have been moved to action after finding out about a situation in Canada or somewhere else in the world.

Pieces of note for me have included seeing an 80+ year old Flora MacDonald travelling to Afghanistan. For several years, her Foundation has supported a village there with funding for power for lighting so the children can attend school rather than spend daylight hours making carpets to support their families. Seeing her still active - and encouraging girls and women to be politically involved - was truly an inspiration.

Or the story of Dr. Mark Nowashinsky, the doctor who gave up his practice to go on the road delivering home-based care for Toronto`s seniors while advocating for improvements to senior health care in Ontario.

Or the story of Palestinian and Jewish youth participating in a filmmaking camp in Canada - learning to become friends and look at life from different perspectives before returning back to their lives in Israel.

Every Sunday morning brought a combination of views on news, politics, spirituality, sports, music, film, culture and other areas of focus - all from intelligent and very Canadian points of view.

Like the hundreds watching the show live in Toronto this morning, I`m sad to see CBC News: Sunday cancelled - a victim of the recent CBC budget cuts. This high quality program has been a unique contribution to Canada and will surely be missed.

Hitting the road

Vacation's finally here!

Just about to head off to spend time with family, then for a road trip to Muskoka, followed by a visit to Ottawa.

So far, the sun's shining, music's ready, suitcase is almost packed, and very soon, I'll disconnect from e-communications. It'll be a true test of my resolve to take a break, be in the moment and deny my online habit.

Wish me luck and have a great week!

A personal view of a woman's life in Afghanistan

A Thousand Splendid Suns is one of the most powerful novels I've ever read. Given all that's taking place in Afghanistan today, especially regarding the lives and rights of women, I highly recommend this beautifully-written, emotionally-driven story.

Featuring two women who find support, love and strength amid the heartbreak and brutality of their daily lives, it personalized for me the political situation that has existed there for decades. While many are torn about participating in the war, this perspective gave me a different view of why some feel we should continue to fight for the rights and freedoms of all Afghans.

It's hard not to ask why so many civilians and foreign soldiers should be sacrificed in the name of this most current conflict. That said, how can we walk away considering the efforts and recent deaths of real Afghan women who have taken on leadership roles, working to improve their country's future? Or the women, and men, who have seen so many of their civil rights taken away?

It seems that despite the setbacks, it's going to take a concerted effort dependent on force first, but also featuring development and diplomacy. I hope a time will come when armies are no longer visible, nor needed.

Trying Twitter

Being in communications, I know how important (and sometimes daunting) it is to keep up on the trends. Of course, everyone is now well aware of the micro-blogging phenome, Twitter, which has been the talk of all media channels for the past number of months. While I joined Twitter a year ago, I didn't really get it until earlier this year. 

It's a powerful communications form that blends many aspects of life in one place. Used well (I'm definitely still learning), it's a dynamic and convenient way to monitor volumes and volumes of news, updates and opinions while sharing the same. 

That said, Twitter also feeds the already problematic online addiction begun with blogging, facebook, the blackberry et al. Time consuming it is to make and manage all the connections that comprise our social networks. A good example: I need to drag myself away from this laptop right now - grocery shopping is still waiting!

It'll be interesting to see how all of this nets out, but for now, I plan to keep exploring - both from a personal and professional perspective. 

For his hilarious take, check out Stephen Colbert's chat with Biz Stone, Twitter co-founder. And then make sure you follow both!

Question

A friend and I were chatting about an interesting observation. 

Why is it that people who generally behave badly are accepted as such and people who are generally respectful and empathetic toward others are judged if they have a so-called 'emotional' moment of weakness and react out of character? 

It seems quite unfair and hypocritical and yet a fairly common thing. It's no reason to become a narcissist, but sometimes it seems that life would be easier as one.

Inspiring medical care

Toronto is fortunate to count Dr. Mark Nowashinsky among its dedicated citizens. See this CBC piece on his efforts to care for senior patients in the city with house calls, as well as his advocacy for improved home-based health care services. Compelling, inspiring and another wake up to the need for more realistic and effective health care reform in Ontario and Canada. Especially as the ranks of older adults will continue to swell in the coming decades. 

This doctor with a camera is a true visionary. 

Celebrating reading

The Toronto Public Library's annual Keep Toronto Reading kicks off April 1. There's been much behind-the-scenes work to organize this month-long literary celebration. This year it connects with Lit City - part of Toronto's 175th Anniversary, and highlights a number of notable authors, speakers and partners. 

Events feature Cynthia Dale, Shyam Selvadari, Katherine Govier, Anthony De Sa, Nino Ricci, Bonnie Stern, Kenneth Whyte, Joy Fielding, David Chariandy, Dan Hill, David Gilmour, Glen Downie and many more. Also included are well-known TPL'ers Ken Setterington and Tina Srebotnjak. It's definitely worth checking out if you're in the neighbourhood.