To many people, religious services are hideously boring, so Rabbi Oren Hayon decided to start Tweet the Exodus.  Yes, that’s right.  The adventure started on Tuesday, March 16, and will continue until Passover.  Several ”characters” are involved, including the evil Egyptians (tweeting under handles like @PharaohofEgypt (not very creative, huh?) and @Slavedrivers).  Moses is @Moshe_ben_Amram.  even @The10Plagues has its own entry.  Tweets include random whippings from @Slavedrivers to @God_of_Israel saying “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” to @Moshe_ben_Amram.  The tweets are updated several times a day.

Though this is a very interesting twist, I am sure that traditionalists will frown on this.  Why wouldn’t they?  One shouldn’t really be joking about something as serious as Exodus.  Religion isn’t supposed to be funny or changed.  However, many purists also like Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments (1956 version), which did take some creative licence to the story as well.  Talk about a double standard.

Purists or not, this is going to be an interesting two weeks.  Though most people are familiar with the Exodus story, using Twitter to tell it is very creative, exciting and a great way to be more engaging.  The language is simple and easy for social media savvy people to understand.  It’s even interactive – readers can reply to tweets as well.   In other words, you can reply to @Slavedrivers or @PharaohofEgypt telling them that they suck/are crazy/mean/whatever.  I am definitelly looking forward to the rest of the story.  I wonder how they will tweet the parting of the Red Sea!

Image © John Said/iStockphoto

Sarah Thomson, candidate for Toronto’s top job in the municipal elections this fall, held a press conference at the Fox and Fiddle this morning, announcing her transit ideas if she became mayor.  Ms. Thomson believes in subways.  With the climate that Toronto has, streetcars/Light Rail Transit (LRT)  just doesn’t work.  And not to mention that these huge surface vehicles do nothing in terms of appearance for the city.

What I find interesting is that the first subway line Ms. Thomson intends to build is one along Eglinton Avenue, currently a proposed LRT line.  This line will go east to west.  My worry is that this will only add to the congestion on the downtown-going Yonge-University-Spadina line, one which is already very busy.  I would think that an additional downtown line would also be top priority, since people are already complaining about it.  If the Don Mills LRT continues as planned, it would only make things worse.  The ideal subway expansion should be, first and formost, another north-south line.  A line on Eglinton as well as extending the Sheppard line westward should be slightly further away in terms of planning and building.  Yes, it would be ideal to have a subway which goes out to Pearson, but what about people who live downtown?  Another thing which should be implemented is a smart farecard.  Other cities already have them, so why not Toronto?

Of course, any subway at all is still an improvement from the current Transit City proposal.  To this day, the lack of a downtown line has shocked many.  Toronto always wants to be a “world class city,” and as Prospere Magazine has noted before, Transit City is far from making the city “world class.”  The lack of putting in the effort to making the city polished and sophisticated really astounds many people in the city.  Of course, in order for this to change, the city will require a complete makeover.  Just electing someone new for the most powerful job won’t do the trick.  We need people who are intersted in making the city more polished and sophisticated in council positions as well.

Image from Sarah Thomson’s campaign page.

There is an old joke that goes something like this:

Three women are swapping stories about their wonderful husbands.  The first announces that for their first anniversary, her husband took her on a cruise around the world.  One listener “oohs” and “aahs” and the other says:  “Well, that’s nice”.  The second woman brags about how her man bought her a floor-length fur coat as a birthday gift.  Again, one woman is very impressed and the other simply says “Well, that’s nice”.  Finally, the third woman gushes about how her love is so considerate that after they married, he sent her to etiquette lessons. 

The two wealthy women are puzzled.  After a brief pause, woman #3 says: “I used to say “F@%* you”, “but now I say “Well, that’s nice”.

Many people believe it’s their right to say whatever is on their mind and feel free to express themselves in any manner they choose.  To some extent, that is absolutely true.  If a friend has done something hurtful or your boss has put you in a difficult position, it is important to talk to that person to resolve the issue, and sometimes, the “f” word is the perfect punctuation to a sentence.  At the same time, being judicious and choosing your words carefully when necessary can allow all parties to retain their dignity no matter what the issue.

Diplomacy is literally defined as using discretion in conducting relations between nations.  But for those of us not in government, it merely means using tact to find acceptable solutions and being adroit in dealing with others.  Contrary to what you may think, it’s not about playing politics, skirting issues, or putting a spin on the truth.  Diplomacy in daily interactions is about making your self look good without having to make someone else look bad in the process.  Specifically for women in the workplace, asserting yourself without naming names or dishing dirt can set us apart and help stifle the stereotype of cattiness that labels us “the B word”.

Putting your emotions and personal feelings aside is at the core of diplomacy.  It’s as simple as thinking before you speak, keeping your feelings in check, and considering the consequences of your words.  Selecting the appropriate words is crucial to being diplomatic.   Instead of “I feel” or “I think”, you can still be unbiased and show self-confidence by replacing “I think” or “I want” with phrases such as “It is my understanding” or “it would be in our best interest…”.  Showing that you are a team player and that achieving the goals of the organization is your priority will garner more respect and results.  You may have ulterior motives.  You may want to get others involved in a situation to lessen your burden.  You may want to work on a project yourself to get in the running for a promotion.  You’re human.  Self-interest and self-preservation are inherently imbedded in our consciousness and each of us has unique reasons for the choices we make.  But if your priorities clash with those of the team or if you constantly put yourself before the initiative, you may end up with a mutiny on your hands.

Being informed can help tremendously in achieving diplomacy.  Foresight and sagacity will make you look smart and polished in any setting.  Taking the time to research a request will save you a lot of second-guessing that rash decisions often causes.  Appearing to be fair and honest will also make you more approachable and increase the likelihood that you will get the required aid when you ask for it.

In many cases, diplomacy goes out the window at the first sign of a problem.  Perhaps mistakes were made.  It happens.  There is always margin for human error.  Fix the problem first.  If it was a biggie, you can lay blame and punish the guilty parties later.  The client doesn’t care if the snafu was made by Joe in Shipping or Mike in Inventory, they just want their stuff.  Moreover, if you are the one dealing with the issue, finger-pointing only makes you appear to be looking for a scapegoat.  Take responsibility.  Request forgiveness, correct the mishandling, and repair your relationship with the sufferer.  Then, when the panic is over, launch a full investigation if necessary.  If you make your policies – or those of your firm – known, there will be no need to make apologies and no surprises when you are required to enforce them. 

If you have to deliver unpleasant news, be tactful and allow the other person to digest what you’ve said.  Cracking jokes at the other person’s expense or trying to show sympathy by comparing their situation to your own is not going to help.  Pull off the Band Aid and don’t make excuses.  Dealing with unpleasantness is part of being a grown-up and lying or covering up the truth should never be an option.  If a person has made an error that needs to be remedied, tell them honestly and without witticisms, “I told you so”s, or personal attacks.  Confront the situation at hand and, unless this is a repeat offense or part of a pattern, resist the urge to bring into play every faux pas the offender has ever committed.  Identify the problem, recommend a resolution, administer spankings if necessary, and move on.  Letting issues build fosters hostility which can infiltrate a relationship and even an entire company.

Lastly, as our lunching ladies illustrated, being diplomatic can mean choosing your words carefully to potentially widen your audience.  Limiting cursing and keeping your stories to PG13 may mean you’re no longer the entertainment at happy hour, but it could get you invited to attend more industry events or gatherings in people’s homes.  And isn’t that nice… 

Of course, your thoughts are your own and you are entitled to your opinion, but how you choose to express (or not express) those feelings could potentially color how others see you. 

And we want everyone to think you’re fabulous!

Image © aldra/iStockphoto

There’s no surprise here.  41.7% of you thought the biggest faux pas at this year’s Oscars was leaving out Bea Arthur and Farrah Fawcett.  No excuse coming from the Academy will be good enough.  A quarter of you (25% exactly), thought Elinor “Lady Kanye” Burkett was worse.  8.3% of you thought that there should have been some original song performances and 25% of you did not watch the show.  No one chose “other.”

Located on Harbord Street, between Spadina and Bathurst is the DT Bistro, the restaurant that sweets shop, Dessert Trends operates.  Offering much more than just desserts, this restaurant is an ideal place for a nice, weekend brunch. 

At my last visit, I ordered a lemon dill egg scramble with cheddar cheese served over brioche (top image) .  It was draped with smoked salmon and served with a side salad.  The eggs’ texture was very good, but even better was the salad.  Consisting of mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumber and a vinaigrette dressing as well as nut brittle, giving the salad a unique texture and taste.  The mushroom omelette with parmesean served with a mini-croissant (middle image), which my dining partner had, however, was more mushroomy-than egg-y, a dish that is great for those who are mushroom-obessed.  It also comes with a mixed green salad.  In addition to brunch-y foods, DT Bistro also has a regular lunch menu. Highly recommended is the lamb meatloaf sandwich (bottom image). 

The restaurant is pretty cozy - enough seating for approximately 40-50 people, split on two sides, with a dessert/take-out counter in the middle, towards the doors.  Also, there aren’t many large tables – most tables seat two, with a handful for four or six.  However, this is not really the type of restaurant that you would take big groups to.  It’s really for a chilled, relaxed Sunday. 

DT Bistro is located on 154 Harbord Street.  Phone number is 416-916-8155.

Toronto’s LG Fashion Week, which takes place March 28 to April 1, has posted its full schedule online.  Designers presenting their Fall/Winter 2010-2011 collections include Project Runway Canada alumni Evan Biddell, Lucian Matis and Jessica Biffi (who will be showing a collection of plus sized clothing for MXM and Addition Elle) as well as favourites like Joe Fresh, Andy The-Ahn and Pink Tartan.

Due to it being an extra long weekend, Fashion Week actually starts on a Sunday this season, with one show, IZMA.  This show not open to the public.  The first public shows are on Monday with the final day will be on Thursday, April 1, due to Friday being Good Friday.  Tickets for the event are available online, for a cost of $24.99 per show.  A full week pass is $475.

Who says spring always has to be about pastels and flowers? Spring 2010 promises to change the way women are dressing and give them an edge all their own. This season is full of ways to rock out while still looking chic.  With distressed denim, 80’s inspired muscle tanks, and one piece jumpers you can make spring your season to show off your chic tomboy persona.  By simply adding a few key pieces into your current wardrobe you can update your look and create that rocker chic style.  
 Distressed Denim

From jeans to jackets to vests this spring takes denim to a whole new level.  By using classic washes and intentional fraying, designers are taking a rawer look at the everyday jean.  The new take on denim is taking the basic skinny jean and adding an edge with acid washing and deconstruction.  With the addition of distressed and acid wash denim you can take your basic bright tee and create an 80’s inspired look.  With skin reveling rips and form fitting cuts this new trend is all about channeling your inner rock star. 

Girl Meets Boy

Show off your feminine side while hanging out with the boys.  This look is all about hanging out and looking cool with putting that girly spin into the typical tee shirt and jeans.  Off the Wall clothing knows just how to do this as they pair together distressed Hurley Jeans with a Dakota tank; topping it all off with a great Dakota Jacket. By utilizing floral inspirations and distressed denim, you can create a look all your own and be more than just one of the guys. 

80’s Style Re-run

This spring brings back the 1980’s with bright colours and classic cuts that bring the rocker edge front and center.  With cut off sleeves and animal prints you can return to the decade where rock was chic and expression was all in what you wore.  Being that 80’s inspired drama queen means taking those bright colours and letting your personality shine through your clothes and accessories this season.

That One Piece

This spring shows the one piece romper making a strong comeback and continuing on the rock and roll theme of this season.  With a tye-dye Roxy romper available at West 49, you can bring out your chic tomboy while still looking girly enough to be more than just one of the guys.  

Make this spring your season to be more than just a girl.