Getting it wrong; Steve Martin, art curator; In praise of the donkey; The biological clock; Canadian diplomacy

If we're so full of information, why do we get everything wrong? - Michael's essay: Here's an excerpt: "We are the most informationized generation in human history. We have think tanks and experts and pundits and consultants and above all the internet." How Steve Martin fell in love with the paintings of Canadian artist Lawren Harris: The talented Mr. Martin is much more than a brilliant comedian -- he's an actor, producer, novelist, essayist, banjo-player...and art connoisseur. He has co-curated a new exhibition of the work of Group of Seven artist Lawren Harris, which opened at the Art Gallery of Ontario on Canada Day. He takes Michael Enright on a tour of his favourite paintings. In praise of the humble (and unfairly maligned!) donkey: Alisa Siegel visits Karen Pollard's farm in Erin, Ontario, where the donkey is king. Or queen, to be accurate. Science, sexism and the ticking of the biological clock: Women are urged to put aside their careers and start having babies before it's too late. But why is the pressure to have children focused solely on women? Moira Weigel says the biological clock was invented in the late '70s by a combination of science and sexism. Weigel is the author of the much-praised new book, Labor of Love: The Invention of Dating. Rebuilding Canada's foreign service after its "decade of darkness" under the Harper government: Shortly after last October's election, Justin Trudeau sent a message to our allies around the world. "Canada is back", was a signal that we would once again embrace our traditional role as a peacekeeper and leader in matters of conscience. Former diplomat Daryl Copeland says this is in marked contrast to the foreign policy of the Harper government, which, he says, inflicted great harm on Canada's global influence. Music this week by: Aaron Copland, Duke Ellington, Allison Crowe, Papa Haydn, Dinah Washington and The Gene Di Novi Trio.