Royal Manor units are selling. BrightStar President John Blackburn and Mayor Francis Richardson look over a map of Meaford at the official opening of the sales office for the Royal Manor project on Saturday. Chris Fell Photo

By Chris Fell -

Units at the joint BrightStar and Royal Canadian Legion Royal Manor project are already proving to be in demand. BrightStar opened its Meaford sales office on Saturday, February 4 and the project is approximately 25 per cent sold.The new office is located in the upstairs part of the Meaford Express/Kopperud Hamilton Law Office in downtown Meaford. The focus of the sales office in Meaford will be to sell the 50 Life Lease units that make up the Royal Manor project. It is anticipated that construction on the project will begin in the spring.BrightStar President John Blackburn was on hand for the opening of the new office on Saturday."Were really excited. The response has been amazing. We havent done any promotion until today and we already have 12 spoken for," said Blackburn. "Without opening our door 25 per cent of our units are spoken for," he said.Shortly after the new sales office officially opened on Saturday BrightStar Director of Sales Valerie Rasmussen placed small stickies on the units that have already been reserved by customers. In the sales office there is an outline of each floor of the project that details the location of each unit."It really shows the need for this kind of housing in Meaford," said Blackburn.The Royal Manor project is one of the largest development projects in Meaford in recent years. The project will incorporate a brand new clubhouse facility for Branch 32 of the Royal Canadian Legion and will ensure that organizations long-term survival. The local Legion has been in limbo for two years. The Legions old building had to be shut down due to the high cost of maintaining the aging facility.The Royal Manor units are being sold as part of a life lease concept. The units are similar to condominiums, however, the title to the life lease units remains with the Legion. Branch 32 of the Legion owns the land, the Royal Manor facility and will operate the facility as a non-profit entity. With no land costs factored into the price of the units – they will sell for less than a for-profit condominium development unit would sell for.Prices of the units range from $150,000 – $310,000, Blackburn said on Saturday. Blackburn said construction on the project would start once half of the units – approximately 25 – are sold. He anticipates that happening quickly.The units are geared towards the 55 plus age group and will feature all kinds of amenities for senior citizens.The building will include: a media room, library and a heritage room. Residents will also have access to the Legions bistro-style restaurant on site and the Legion hall on the main floor. When a resident wishes to move or sell their life lease the Legion will act as their agent and will sell the unit at market value – charging a five per cent fee.

via Simcoe Article: Royal Manor units are selling.

I was in a terrible hurry, running late for a business meeting in Philadelphia. I'd spent more than $100 for my train ticket from a vending machine at New York's Penn Station—but in my haste had grabbed only the receipt, which I now presented to the conductor.

"You need the ticket," he said.

I apologized and explained that the receipt was all I had.

"The rules are the rules," said the conductor. "Either you pay the fare or you leave the train."

I'm constitutionally opposed to following rules for their own sake; plus, this man was treating me rudely. But I'm not confrontational, so I wasn't going to let my annoyance show. Instead, in my most neutral voice, I asked a question (like many introverts, I'm forever asking questions): "Is there any way you could bend the rules just this once?"

"Why would I do that?" the conductor snapped. "How do I know you're not cheating me? You could have picked that receipt up off the floor!"

That's when I realized it wasn't the rules he was worried about; he feared I was making a fool of him. Suddenly I saw the man not as belligerent and officious but as human and vulnerable, and my focus shifted to How can I reassure him that I'm not trying to take advantage?

I pointed out my credit card number on the receipt and showed him my card so he could see that the digits matched. Instantly his posture softened. He mumbled an apology and proceeded down the aisle. And I made it to my meeting on time.

Encounters like this one happen to me a lot. When I graduated from Harvard Law School almost 20 years ago, I believed that success belonged to the table pounders of the world, and that my soft-spokenness was a liability. But over the course of my career—first as a Wall Street lawyer, later a negotiations consultant—I have learned that introverts, thanks to their tendency to speak quietly and reasonably, to ask questions, and to listen to the answers, can make unusually strong negotiators. My introverted talents have helped in a range of tricky situations, from navigating mergers for corporate clients to convincing my kids to eat their broccoli.

And striking deals isn't the only thing introverts do well. Some of our most transformative leaders have been shy or introverted: Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks. All of them were more focused on their causes than on their egos. In fact, many of the most spectacularly creative people across a broad variety of fields have been quiet types who enjoyed solitude, from Frédéric Chopin to Charles Darwin.

Instead of worrying that I'm too introverted, I now worry that our culture is not introverted enough. In today's overscheduled, hyperactive society, we celebrate the alpha approach (consider the rise of reality TV stars, for example) and dramatically undervalue the quieter aspects of our natures—which, by the way, even the most gregarious of us possess. If you're ready to empower your inner introvert, read on. Based on research in personality psychology and dozens of interviews, I've identified six strategies for nourishing the unique strengths that come from your quieter reaches.

Continued at …  Successful Introverts – Being Soft-Spoken Isn't a Bad Thing – Oprah.com.

Johnny Cash: The Official Memphis Tribute

Friday January 27, 8pm     $30

The legendary music of Johnny Cash,  as sung by Jim Yorfido, from his early days in Tennessee right through his illustrious career as the Man in Black.  When Johnny Cash tribute artist Jim Yorfido sings, it seems he is channelling the spirit of the late Johnny Cash. He has that same rich baritone voice that was a signature of the Arkansas-born country music legend. If you’re a Johnny Cash fan you’re going to love this show! Complete with Pam Yorfido as June Carter Cash, this duo will have you applauding for more!   Presented by Meaford Hall

And Don’t Miss:

The Caverners Beatles Tribute, Friday February 3, 8pm

Audiences have been raving about this all Canadian tribute to the Beatles! These boys have yet to perform without their crowds screaming, stamping their feet and yelling for more. Every part of the show is done with the utmost authenticity, right down to the Liverpool accents, costumes, and Beatle authentic equipment including the British Vox amplifiers and the classic Ludwig Ringo drum kit. See it for yourself! The Caverners will hold your hand back to The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, then drive your car and take you on a yellow submarine to meet nowhere men, taxmen, and people named Jude, Lady Madonna and John and Yoko. It’s a ride you won’t want to miss. www.caverners.com Presented by Meaford Hall

Ron Sexsmith DUO, Saturday February 11, 8pm       $40

Ron  Sexsmith is a multiple Juno Award winning Canadian singer-songwriter.  He started his own band when he was fourteen years old, and released the first recordings of his own material seven years later, in 1985. Some of the same artists who inspired Sexsmith—Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Ray Davies and John Hiatt—are now people whose praise he has won. To paraphrase admirer Elvis Costello, “Sexsmith’s music has been unheard since the heyday of Paul McCartney.  You’ll find him straight after the Sex Pistols in any self-respecting encyclopedia of modern music”. Bring your sweetheart for this special Valentine’s event at Meaford Hall.  www.ronsexsmith.com Presented by Meaford Hall

My Sweet Patootie, Friday February 17, 8pm             $20adults $10students

Hailing from Owen Sound, My Sweet Patootie is comprised of Sandra Swannell and Terry Young.  Formerly of Tanglefoot these performers have been dazzling audiences since 1999.  Today as My Sweet Patootie, Terry Young and Sandra Swannell embrace a forgotten brand of showmanship that’s “two parts exemplary musicianship and one part vaudeville comedy.” (Driftwood Magazine)  Their clever, off-center original songs have “elements of western swing and old-timey music that updates the flapper feel and gives it a real twenty first century pizzazz… a delightful sound with a hundred years in its soul.” (FATEA Magazine)  This Family Day Weekend concert features discounted rates for students.  www.mysweetpatootie.com Presented by Meaford Hall

The first of Thursday Flicks:

The Help, Thursday January 19, 4pm              $10

The #1 New York Times best seller by Kathryn Stockett comes to vivid life through the powerful performances of a phenomenal ensemble cast. Led by Emma Stone, Academy Award-nominated Viola Davis (Best Supporting Actress, Doubt, 2008), Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard, The Help is an inspirational, courageous and empowering story about very different, extraordinary women in the 1960s South who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project  – one that breaks society’s rules and puts them all at risk. Filled with poignancy, humor and hope – The Help is a timeless, universal and triumphant story about the ability to create change. Running time 146min, rated PG-13 for thematic material thehelpmovie.com

A stunning display of quilts:

Quilt Exhibit Friendship Circle Quilters, until February 4

The Meaford Hall Galleries present the perfect backdrop this stunning display of quilts. The display consists of almost 40 quilts both large and small available for viewing until February 5. In the collection are works by each individual artist in the group of about 20 quilters. Included in the exhibit will be hand-quilted, pieced, appliquéd, and machine quilted works from artisans aged 50 to 90 who reside in Meaford and the surrounding countryside. All quilts are brand new, with most being available for sale.

Please also visit our website www.meafordhall.ca to see the many new shows coming in 2012 including Aaron Lines, Danny Michel and more.  For more information please contact the Meaford Hall Box Office at            1.877.538.0463       or ticket@meaford.ca.

Think of how Einstein changed our understanding of time and space by imagining people going to the center of time in order to freeze their lovers or their children in century-long embraces. This space he imagined is clearly reminiscent of a black hole, where, theoretically, gravity would stop time. Einstein also imagined a woman’s heart leaping and falling in love two weeks before she has met the man she loves, which lead him to the understanding of acausality, a feature of quantum mechanics. And still another time he imagined a blind beetle crawling around a sphere thinking it was crawling in a straight line.

Try to solve the following thought experiment before you read the paragraph that follows it.

Thought Experiment: One morning, exactly at sunrise, a Buddhist monk began to climb a tall mountain. The narrow path, no more than a foot or two wide, spiraled around the mountain to a glittering temple at the summit. The monk ascended the path at a varying rate of speed, stopping many times along the way to rest and to eat the dried fruit he carried with him. He reached the temple shortly before sunset. After several days of fasting and meditation, he began his journey back along the same path, starting at sunrise and again walking at a varying speed with many stops along the way. His average speed descending was, of course, greater than his average climbing speed. Is there a spot along the path that the monk will occupy on both trips at precisely the same time of day?

If you try to logically reason this out or use a mathematical approach, you will conclude that it is unlikely for the monk to find himself on the same spot at the same time of day on two different occasions. Instead, visualize the monk walking up the hill, and at the same time imagine the same monk walking down the hill. The two figures must meet at some point in time regardless of their walking speed  or how often they stop. Whether the monk descends in two days or three days makes no difference; it all comes out to the same thing.

Now it is, of course, impossible for the monk to duplicate himself and walk up the mountain and down the mountain at the same time. But in the visual image he does; and it is precisely this indifference to logic, this superimposition of one image over the other, that leads to the solution.

The imaginative conception of the monk meeting himself blends the journeys up and down the mountain and superimposes one monk on the other at the meeting place. The ancient Greeks called this kind of thinking homoioswhich means “same.” They sensed that this was really a kind of  mirror image of the dream process, and it led to art and scientific revelations.

Imagination gives us the impertinence to imagine making the impossible possible. Einstein, for example, was able to imagine alternatives to the sacred Newtonian notion of absolute time, and discovered that time is relative to your state of motion. Think of the thousands of scientists who must have come close to Einstein’s insight but lacked the imagination to see it because of the accepted dogma that time is absolute, and who must have considered it impossible to contemplate any theory.

Thought Experiment: Think of something in your business that is impossible to do, but that would, if it were possible to do, change the nature of your business forever.

via Can You Imagine the Impossible? | Psychology Today.

Although I know many people do, I generally don’t plan out a week’s worth of dinners in advance. Which means that sometimes eating gets a bit ad hoc around here. Like last week for instance. Somehow it didn’t occur to me until Thursday that I’d made something with rice every single night. On Sunday, we had miso-glazed tofu with edamame on Japanese sticky rice. On Monday it was curried cauliflower and chickpeas on Indian basmati rice. On Tuesday, I had a sudden hankering for arroz con pollo (Spanish for chicken with rice). Wednesday saw me stirring up some arborio rice into a pot of my favorite risotto with wild mushrooms. By the time Thursday came around, I took the cold sticky rice that had been waiting around all week in the fridge and stir-fried it with whatever vegetables and bits of tofu I could find and ended the week with—you guessed it—fried rice. I’m almost embarrassed to tell you what we went out for on Friday night. Sushi.

The week reminded me of a dinner party I gave some years back. I served that marvel of Spanish cuisine, a Paella Valenciana with its saffron-scented rice studded with shrimp, clams, mussels, and chorizo. Entirely on his own, my son produced his favorite dessert for the occasion: arroz con leche, the Mexican version of rice pudding into which you stir sweetened caramelized milk known as cajeta.

Obviously I’ve got a fixation with rice. But, to my defense, so does the rest of the world. It’s the staple food for roughly half the earth’s inhabitants (human inhabitants, that is)—which means that about 3 ½ billion people eat rice on a daily basis. The Chinese don’t even have different words for cooked rice and food; they’re both fan. Everything else, whether chicken, pork, vegetables, or tofu, is mere accompaniment, cai.

No surprise that it was the Chinese who first cultivated rice more than 8,500 years ago. Gradually it made its way across Asia and into India, where it was called vrihi in Sanskrit. The Persians brought grains of vrihiwith them to the eastern Mediterranean and the Greeks soon adapted the word to oruza, which lies behind the name in virtually every European language, from Russian ris to Italian riso, French riz, Dutch rijst, Serbo-Croatian riza, and, of course, our English rice. Legend has it that rice cooked in clarified butter was one of Mohammed’s favorite dishes; in due deference to their prophet, Muslims brought rice with them as they spread throughout North and West Africa and into Spain, Sicily, and Turkey.

Columbus might have taken the tomatoes, potatoes, squash, and chocolate from the New World, but in return, he gave the gift of rice. Granted, it took a few centuries for the crop to take off, but by the 1690′s, so-called “Carolina Gold” was flourishing around Charleston, South Carolina. You can still buy boxes of Carolina® Rice in supermarkets today. In those early days of our country, Thomas Jefferson went so far as to defy a threatened death sentence by smuggling unhusked grains of rice out of the Piedmont region of Italy—”as much as my coat and surtout pockets would hold”—in his efforts to promote the sale of American rice in France. Apparently he’d been told that Carolina rice was considered inferior to Italian rice because it wasn’t white enough. No surprise that he also acquired the tool the Italians used to clean their rice.

Gone are the days of death sentences for rice smuggling and gone too are the days when white rice reigned supreme. It’s appropriate, when you think about it, that since it’s eaten by people of so many colors, it should come in so many colors as well: white, yellow, red, brown, and black.

via The United Colors of Rice | Psychology Today.

Friends of the Library Annual Bake Sale

Stock up for your Holiday entertaining!

Thursday, December 8th in the Reference Room

Time: 10 AM to 8 PM

What exactly is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? Is it a single condition? Is it many conditions with similar symptoms? We are slowly beginning to understand that while there may be differences between children with ASD, this condition represents significant social, communication and behavioral challenges for children. In a sense, ASD is a single condition with multiple co-occurring problems. These typically include anxiety, attention disorders, extreme sensory sensitivities and even certain genetic conditions such as Fragile X Syndrome or Tuberous Sclerosis. It is also still the case that most diagnoses take place between four and six years of age. However, the majority of children with ASD demonstrate developmental concerns well before three years of age. Nearly one third of parents report a problem before their child’s first birthday.

The term Spectrum is used to define this condition as this reflects the unique manner in which each child can be affected. The term Spectrum also suggests multiple and varied outcomes based on a combination of different symptoms, qualities within the child and, most importantly, experiences at home and in school. The central problem for children with ASD is their inability to interact with and learn about the social world. ASD is truly a social learning disability. Children with ASD have difficulty reading social intention. They have difficulty taking the perspective of others and solving social problems. As such, the day in and day out interaction parents have with children with ASD—whether their symptoms are mild, moderate or severe—makes a significant difference in that child’s life today and into the future.

via What Exactly Is Autism Spectrum Disorder? | Psychology Today.

Emilie- Claire Barlow & the Unique Boutique

Saturday Dec 3   7pm Silent Auction 8pm Performance   $40

Emilie-Claire Barlow is the featured performance on stage and the Unique Boutique Fundraiser is held in the Galleries.  A few years ago, CBC (Canada Now) called Emilie-Claire “the next best thing in jazz”, but she is hardly a newcomer to the music scene. Barlow’s first album Sings was released in 1998. She has received three nominations for Canada’s Juno Awards and was named “Female Vocalist of the Year” at the 2008 National Jazz Awards. Her 2009 release “Haven’t We Met” follow suit as a number one bestselling jazz album.  Bidding in the Unique Boutique Silent Auction is available from 1-4pm daily from Nov 24- Dec 3 with final bids the evening of Dec 3^rd..   Presented by Meaford Hall & CultureFoundation.   www.mhcfoundation.ca   http://emilieclairebarlow.com/

Alice in Wonderland  Kids in the Meaford Hall

Friday Dec 9  1 pm and 7pm  $15

Kids in the Meaford Hall is pleased to present the wonderful story of Alice in Wonderland, based on Lewis Carroll’s classic fantasies as adapted by Michele L Vacca. Alice, succumbed by a deep dream, falls into a rabbit hole and lands in what we call Wonderland, filled with many weird and wonderful characters experiences and adventures. A zany show with hilarious actions, Alice in Wonderland is sure to entertain both young and old.. Presented by Kids In the Meaford Hall. www.meafordhall.ca

The Nutcracker Fleetwood Dancentre

Saturday Dec 17 2pm & 7pm   $20 adults, $10 children 12 and under

Fleetwood Dancentre of Collingwood will present the holiday classic production of “The Nutcracker” on stage at Meaford Hall.  Presented by Meaford Hall.  www.fleetwooddance.net

TICKET PRICES WILL BE SUBJECT TO HST

On the Screen - all films just $10 and showtime at 4pm

Oranges and Sunshine

Thursday December 1

Oranges and Sunshine tells the story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham, who uncovered one of the most significant social scandals in recent times: the forced migration of children from the United Kingdom. Almost singlehandedly, against overwhelming odds and with little regard for her own well-being, Margaret reunited thousands of families, brought authorities to account and worldwide attention to an extraordinary miscarriage of justice. She discovered a secret that the British government had kept hidden for years: one hundred and thirty thousand children in care had been sent abroad to commonwealth countries, mainly Australia. Children as young as four had been told that their parents were dead, and been sent to children’s homes on the other side of the world. Many were subjected to appalling abuse. They were promised oranges and sunshine, they got hard labour and life in institutions.  Starring Hugo Weaving, David Wenham and Emily Watson.  105 minutes Drama  R

In the Galleries

Hours: Mon-Fri 9-4:30; Sat 1-5 and Sun 10-4. Free Admission

Please note the galleries are closed occasionally for private functions. Please contact Meaford Hall in advance to ensure availability.

Unique Boutique

November 24 – December 3

A silent auction fundraiser for Meaford Hall & Culture Foundation. Bid on such items as a Fairmont stay for two, NHL and Raptor tickets, spa treatments, progressive dinners and more. Daily viewing from 1 – 4 pm. Final bids accepted the evening of December 3rd.

Recent Works – Painting & Photography Kerry Riley & David Johnston

December 6 – January 7

David has returned to painting after a career of teaching at Ryerson University. He studied art & design at Winchester School of Art and Central School of Art in London, England. His images have been rendered in hard edge watercolour as well as silk screen but he now concentrates on acrylic painting with airbrust. David’s paintings combine stylized objective imagery imposted on randomly controlled colour fileds. Kerry has been dabbling in the creative process since studying applied art and design at Ryerson University. History, architecture, and nature inspire her images in drawing, photography and mixed media collages. Both Kerry and David have resided in Meaford for over 20 years. Opening reception Saturday December 10 from 5 to 7pm.