(CNN) –  My trip back to my native Bulgaria this summer took on a special meaning because of an event that changed the course of history and my life! Twenty years since the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, I was taking special notice of how things had changed. I noticed a new generation gap, separating those like me, who grew up with communism, from those who have no memory of it.

I came face to face with that reality on the plane back home to the United States. 

I was chatting with a 20-something Bulgarian college student on her way to a student work program in the U.S, when I had a flashback to 1991, and my own trip to America when I was that age.  I almost didn't make it. Not because I was late for my flight. But because, to use a famous Cold War scholar's phrase, "history" had not quite "ended" in 1991.

Just a month before my flight, communists opposed to Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms, deposed him. All of sudden, it seemed, my dream CNN job could have been shut down behind the "Iron Curtain."

Fears grew in Bulgaria, that a return of communism in Russia would bring the Cold War back to tiny Bulgaria. A week later, it was over. The communist revival attempt failed, I was free to board my trans-Atlantic flight!

I glanced over at the young woman sitting beside me. Such a relief that history is no longer in our way. But even though we're both enjoying the benefits of change, there's one big difference. I experienced that history first hand; she's only heard about it from her mom. And that's a generation gap I gladly embrace.

I don't know about you, but anytime I look at art, I want to know, what does it say?

Most artists say, it is what it is! In a word, it's what you make of it. There's no agenda. Yet, I still can't stop asking myself that question.

And I did it again when I interviewed San Francisco artist Andres Amador. He makes art that disappears just a few minutes after it's created!

Andre's canvases are the beaches of San Francisco, his paintbrush a huge rake. He goes to work at low tide, etching intricate geometric designs. By the time he's finished, the high tide is lapping at the edges of his sand creations. Just enough time for him to take a picture, before it's all swept away. Gone!

Now why would he do that? He actually had an answer! He wanted us to stop and "smell the roses." Enjoy the moments we miss out on in the everyday rush of life!

A great thought to start the work week with. Even if we forget, as soon as we plunge back into the weekday rush of life!

What do you think, should art have a purpose? What draws us to art?

Send me a tweet twitter@RALITSACNN or post a comment on this blog.

SUNGI SIPUT, Malaysia - We spent the day with Kartika Shukarno, a 32-year-old mother of two who will become the first woman in Malaysia to be caned under Islamic law. She is a small, fragile woman with a soft, gentle voice who carries guilt, regret and shame heavily on her shoulders. She's also a loving mother who cares for her two children who live each day with their own problems. Her 7-year-old son Mohammed has cerebral palsy and slight autism. Her 5-year-old daughter Wann was born with a hole in her heart and has undergone surgery many times.

Kartika was caught drinking three glasses of beer in a Malaysian hotel in December of 2007. It was the second time she had ever drunk alcohol. She said she wanted to try it. She was there with her non-Muslim friends. They weren't disturbing others, she wasn't making noise or causing any damage, Kartika said. Religious authorities in Kuantan in the state of Pahang surrounded the hotel and asked her to take a urine test. She was arrested after they discovered alcohol in her system.

Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim state; 60 percent of the population is Muslim and under Shariah law it is illegal for Muslims to drink alcohol. In the past, Muslims who were caught drinking alcohol were either fined or simply given a warning. But recently there has been a religious and political push within Malaysia to have Shariah law extended across the country.

For more than 18 months, Kartika has fought this case in the courts - she pleaded guilty and asked for a lenient sentence because she's a first-time offender. Kartika says she has decided not to appeal the sentence because she is tired of the ongoing saga and has decided to accept her punishment.

Her greatest regret is the shame she feels she has brought to her family. They're all extremely close. Her sisters and brothers and all the children and cousins gather at Kartika's father's house to share their last meal together for a while. They're not angry with her, nor are they ashamed. They love this woman who feels sorry for what she's done and has repented. They come together after fasting all day to eat and say prayers to celebrate the end of the second day of Ramadan. They share their meal with my crew - hospitality and warmth that you only ever experience among people where there is genuine love and respect.

Kartika's father, Shukarno Abdul Muttalib, will have to hand his daughter over to authorities when they arrive on Monday. Something I know he will struggle with. He wanted her to appeal her sentence. She will then be driven 250 kilometers (155 miles) to a prison on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. She understands she will receive six lashes on her buttocks, fully clothed. Moderate force will be used by the "whipper" armed with a bamboo cane. She says the pain she will experience doesn't compare to the pain she has already caused her family.

ATLANTA, Georgia – The "rags-to-riches" story! Few of us haven't dreamed about it! Maybe one day lightning will strike and we'll be rich and be happy! But more often reality check strikes, a rags-to-riches tragedy, like the Michael Jackson story. When it hits, it makes us wonder, why aren't people who have so much going for them happy?

The thing is that riches place you in a whole different league, a place where some can’t make it.

I learned about that from an old friend who came into money. It was not a "King of Pop" kind of fortune, but still her newly earned "riches" put her in a different league. She never felt comfortable in that world of wealth. She told me she saw some people get ruined by their financial success.

But my friend's story has a different ending. Because she found a way to be happy in her new circumstances. Her answer was to stay grounded in her old world.

She clung to her old friends but had to make a few adjustments. People from her old circles couldn't afford her lifestyle. It meant toning down her spending and spreading the wealth, just enough, to avoid making her friends uncomfortable. That's worked for her. 

Michael Jackson never had the benefit of my friend's "old circles," the friends before success struck. You know, the ones who keep you grounded and tell you the truth, no matter what. 

Jackson was a star since he could remember. I once heard him describe how, as a child being driven to a rehearsal, he wished he could join the kids playing outside.

He never had a life beyond show business to develop the kind of relationships that helped my friend survive financial success AND be happy.

HONG KONG, China — What's your food addiction? Let's be honest. Everyone has a snack or a food that keeps them reaching for more. For me, it is Doritos. Not just any Doritos...but Cool Ranch-flavored Doritos. For some reason, I can't seem to stop at one. My hand is reaching into the bag as my brain is saying, "Stop." We explored the issue of "food bliss" with a guest on Friday morning on CNN Today. Dr. David Kessler is the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration in the United States.

Dr. Kessler became curious about food bliss when, one day, he couldn't stop thinking about that chocolate chip cookie sitting on his kitchen counter. So he spent time researching the topic and has some interesting findings. He answered our questions about the link between combinations of ingredients and their effects on our brain.

I put out a Tweet and asked viewers what their food weaknesses are. The answers are coming in from many different countries. Owais from Pakistan says "Cheese Pizza." From Seoul, South Korea kayakapuccai  tweets," I like almond and potato chips. sometimes once i start eating them it's hard to stop and eat too much in the end. wanna know why." From San Francisco in the U.S., foodielive says, "ice cream, diet coke."

You can tweet me with your food obsession at paulineCNN.

BLACKBURN, Scotland – Finishing runner-up in the "Britain's Got Talent" contest almost seems anti-climactic for Susan Boyle.

Hers was a story that one almost expected would have a Hollywood ending. At least that's how it began. But Saturday night, for reasons we will probably never know, the British public decided that a dance troupe from East London and Essex should perform for the queen, leaving the second place spot for Ms. Boyle.

At the community center in her hometown of Blackburn where some 200 people showed up to watch the finale, you could imagine hearts collectively drop. It was a nail-biter of a show and if a microphone was attached to every heart in the seconds before the announcement, one would probably think all 2008 Fou drummers from the Beijing Olympic opening ceremony were performing right there.

After the announcement, residents went home visibly disappointed. For them, it was a depressing end to what has been an amazing six weeks from the moment Susan Boyle captured the world's attention.

One resident told us she "was disappointed for Susan" but that "her career starts now."

Back on Yule Terrace, Boyle's street, neighbors shook their heads in amazement at the outcome. Margaret Miller who lives across the street and has known Boyle since she was a baby said she was sad for her.

But when we asked her what she thought about reports that Boyle could stand to earn millions, Miller replied, "Good for her, because they were a hard working family. There were nine children and had lovely parents, lovely mother - she was a gem."

She went on to say that by performing on a national stage Susan had made her mother's dream come true and that "it was a pity her mum died before all this."

So while this particular chapter in Susan Boyle's life has come to an end, her story continues. Newspapers predict she could earn millions with a recording contract, a book deal, and perhaps even a movie about her life - all possible projects that could happen for her.

And when you visit her street and learn more about this woman who grabbed hearts globally, you wouldn't want to begrudge her that.

BLACKBURN, Scotland - Hearts collectively dropped in Blackburn Saturday night. The town's shining star Susan Boyle did not win the contest “Britain's Got Talent.” That prize went to a dance group called Diversity - a group of young men from East London and Essex.

Susan Boyle remains at the top of the charts for people in Blackburn, Scotland.

It was a nail biter, though. You could almost hear hearts thumping in the community centre where the town gathered to watch and wait for the final result. And when that result came, Susan Boyle could be seen looking almost relieved that she didn't win the big prize. After hearing the announcement she said graciously "the best act won." But in Blackburn it was a devastating disappointment. For many in this small town just outside of Edinburgh, the excitement Susan Boyle has generated has been more than many have seen and felt in a long time.

For all intents and purposes, Boyle put Blackburn on the map. From the moment she stepped onto the stage six weeks ago, she had everyone's attention. In the beginning, though, Boyle was subjected to looks of scorn and disdain … simply because of the way she looked. But as soon as she started to sing, everything changed. From that moment on, life for Susan Boyle would take a dramatic turn. Celebrities supported her and media from around the world camped outside her home to catch a glimpse of the woman who defied stereotypes.

But for Blackburn, it's a dramatic end to a rollercoaster ride. A neighbor said "I'm disappointed for Susan, but this is just the beginning of her career.” In July, Susan Boyle is scheduled to record an album with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and there's even talk of some performances in London's West End. And while she didn't win the opportunity to perform in front of the Queen, she did make her and her late-mother's dream come true, to sing in front of the world.

But perhaps more than that, Susan Boyle showed the world that just because one doesn't look like a stereotypical star, doesn't mean they can't shine.

Last week I was asked to speak about women and the media at a Global Women’s Summit in Chile.

As I prepared my speech, I found some disturbing statistics – global surveys showing women are both marginalized in news coverage and underrepresented in top positions. My personal experience did not fit these statistics, most of my bosses have been women. But that didn’t make the problem less important. So what was I going to say? The search for an answer would lead me to question my basic professional values.

According to the Global Monitoring Survey only 21 percent of the news covers issues important to women. Studies show the imbalance can be corrected if there are more women in decision-making positions. But according to the International Federation of Journalists, only 12 percent of executive positions in the media are held by women.

So what should we journalists do? Should we try to correct the imbalance? In other words, should we have an agenda?

I believe the media cannot have an agenda, no matter how noble the cause! Having experienced communist censorship first hand in my native Bulgaria, I’ve seen agendas get corrupted. Communism was sold as a society where all were supposed to be equal, but in George Orwell’s words, some became "more equal." So if the media can’t have an agenda, how do we correct the imbalance?

A few years ago I read a book by one of CNN’s former female executives. Gayle Evans wrote: "Play Like a Man, Win Like a Woman." She used her experience as a CNN executive to chart a roadmap for female success in the corporate world.

As an executive, she found herself in a game where the rules had been set by men, since they were the first to start playing. So she started playing like a man, learning the rules and getting good at it. That enabled her to eventually start winning like a woman, on her own terms. She strongly believes that the more women engage in the game, the more the rules start to change to the benefit of both sets of players.

Some at the conference disagreed with me, saying my way would take too long. But I just can’t accept an agenda for the media. Our role is to inform people, to take every story on its merit. And speaking of merit, that’s where we women journalists can help, by explaining the merits of stories that matter to us as women and more men will understand.

I remember a conversation with my doctor who told me he didn’t quite get the glass ceiling women faced in society, until he had three daughters. He thought he and his three brothers did, but it was not until he was personally exposed to the issues, did he truly understand …

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao for Philippines president? Definitely not now, says the man himself, but he doesn't rule it out in the future. What looks increasingly likely though is that he will run for Congress, perhaps as early as next year.

Manny Pacquiao is ready to launch a political career.

It's a question that is raising passionate debate in the Philippines. Should the fighter known the world over since last Saturday's demolition of Briton Ricky Hatton go into politics? Would this "people's champion" be a good politician?

Pacquiao himself appears serious. He has already formed his People's Champ Movement, a nascent political party which was this week endorsed by the Commission for Elections.

And he obviously has huge popular appeal; that goes a long way in Philippines politics. Look at former president Joseph Estrada – a local movie star who always played the hero parlayed that into a presidency. It ended with him being found guilty of economic "plunder" and given a life sentence.

Take a non-scientific straw poll on the streets of Manila and the answers are surprising. Most Filipinos want Pacquiao to keep the gloves on. They prefer him as world champion boxer.

"I don't think he would be very good. Politics is ugly and he could end up being used by the wrong elements," said one person we spoke to. It was a typical response. Manny is above the political murk; he should stick to what he knows best.

It is by no means universal. Some say he can do both. Why can't you be a politician and an athlete, asked one who described himself as Manny's No.1 fan in the Philippines. (I met at least 20 "No.1 fans").

Incumbent politicians also seem to be lining up with their advice. Perhaps not surprisingly it's negative. And some of the Manila-based newspapers also have their doubts.

But you have to applaud the man at least for thinking of the longer term. Too many champion boxers end up with nothing.

But here's a thought, expressed in the opinion page of the Philippine Enquirer. Why, it asks, did Pacquiao go against the advice of the World Health Organisation, a plea from his own Government and potentially put his young family and countless fans at risk of infection of swine flu by returning to the Philippines?

He would have lost nothing, the paper says, but a few days by staying in quarantine away from his country until he was medically cleared of any infection.

His actions would also have done a huge amount to promote public awareness of the virus.

Did he, as the paper suggests, "demonstrate an appalling incapacity to sacrifice for the common good." That's a damning suggestion for any aspiring politician.

I kept hearing from public figures that they had plans in place for a flu pandemic, but I wanted to see for myself.

I contacted Westminster City Council, which has legal responsibility for emergency planning in central London, and asked what they could show me.

They invited me into their Emergency Control Center which is housed in a rather non-descript public building – the exact location of which I cannot reveal.

I was directed to the back entrance via the trash cans. I was taken up in a lift, past a bank of security cameras and into windowless room that looked a bit like a computer training center.

I waited there until I was asked what I would like to do. Then I realised this WAS the Emergency Control Center. OK.

My guide was the John Barradell, the council's deputy chief executive who is also a former senior police officer and one of the country's most experienced people when it comes to emergency planning.

He explained that planning for a crisis is not nearly as exciting as we are led to believe.

It was also made clear to me that everything you needed to run London in a crisis was in this room, and you could do it all from just one of these computer terminals.

I was shown a list of folders on a monitor which gives you access to every system used to run the capital.

You could tap into the hospital network, the police, social services – health and safety.

If you made a decision in this room you could make it happen on the ground at the click of a mouse.

The control room was located next to the office for Street Services, and that is no accident.

The systems that control parking for example would be crucial in a pandemic.

The parking team have people on the ground throughout the capital in the form of traffic wardens.

They also have one of the world’s most extensive networks of street cameras at their disposal.

If there was a flu pandemic, Street Services becomes the eyes and the ears for emergency co-ordinators in one of the busiest and biggest cities in Europe.

It was a fascinating insight into the preparedness of London for a possible pandemic. The systems are all in place, but not quite in the form you would expect to see in a Hollywood movie.