Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

In September 2013, the University of Toronto is launching a major new event on Toronto’s cultural scene. The Toronto Science Festival will be a weekend-long, public celebration of science, spotlighting researchers from the university, and from around Canada and the U.S.

The festival will include engaging keynote talks, lively panel discussions, film screenings, live music and dance performances, as well as a Café Scientifique “brunch-with-a-scientist” event. It will take place over the weekend of September 27th, 28th and 29th at various venues on the U of T’s downtown St. George campus.

The theme of the festival is Life in the Universe. Speakers and panelists will explore and debate such topics as the origin and evolution of life, extreme forms of life, even the search for intelligent life beyond our planet.

In addition to talks and panel discussions, festival-goers will experience the joy of scientific discovery first-hand, by viewing extreme life-forms through microscopes and by scanning the skies during telescope observing sessions. And for those who prefer a virtual sky, there will be planetarium shows.

The festival is organized by U of T Science Engagement through the Senior Advisor to the President on Science Engagement and by the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics, together with Faculty of Arts & Science academic units and administrative offices. Partners outside the university include the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and the Algonquin Radio Observatory.

Festival organizers invite everyone to visit tsf.utoronto.ca for more details and to enroll for festival updates as plans are revealed. The public is also invited to get updates and join the conversation by following the festival on Twitter: @tosciencefest.

“Today, the greatest single source of wealth is between your ears. Today, wealth is contained in brainpower, not brutepower.” -Brian Tracy

Reading time: 10-15 minutes

Do you ever wish you could be just a bit smarter? That you could think a bit faster, be wittier, and solve complex problems with ease?

Me too. In fact, it happens often.

Why? Because even though I’ve always been fairly smart, I didn’t hit the intellectual genetic jackpot.

Getting good grades and holding my own in intellectual conversations was never particularly hard, but there’s always been a few people a step ahead of me.

And to be honest, I was a bit jealous. I wish I was born with their mental superpowers. Deep down, I thought if I could somehow increase my brainpower, then I could really achieve anything I want.

But I’ve always figured there wasn’t too much I could do about it. Some people are super smart, some people aren’t quite so lucky…  that’s just the way it is.

Today, I’m going to share with you something extremely powerful, something I’ve discovered recently and haven’t shared with anyone yet:

Intelligence is not a set thing. The level of intelligence we are born with is only a starting point, and regardless of our genetic make-up, it is absolutely possible to get smarter, increase our IQ, and maybe even become… Limitless.

***

How It All Started: Watching Limitless

This whole adventure started a few months ago, when I decided to watch the movieLimitless. I very rarely watch movies, but this one intrigued me. I popped it on, laid on the couch and… I was soon captivated by Bradley Cooper’s character rise from Average Joe to Intellectual Jedi, thanks to a “magic” pill he started taking.

These new-found cognitive powers opened up a whole new world of possibilities for him: his unremarkable existence transformed into a life in the fast-lane, as he started achieving exceptional results in everything, and surpassed his wildest dreams along the way.

“You know they say we can only access 20% of our brain? This lets you access all of it.” ~Limitless

As I watched that movie, something switched on inside me.

I couldn’t stop thinking “Is it somehow possible to supercharge our mental powers, become smarter, and start achieving more than we’ve ever dreamed?”

I decided right there & then that I had to find a way to make this happen in real-life.

So I got busy. Over the ensuing months, I spent countless hours researching, learning, and experimenting, with the goal of making myself smarter & putting my own life in the fast-lane.

***

Discovering Neuroscience

“There’s a revolution going on. There used to be two systems of knowledge: hard science- chemistry, physics, biophysics- on the hand, and, on the other, a system of knowledge that included ethology, psychology, and psychiatry. And now it’s as if a lightning bolt had connected the two. It’s all one system: neuroscience.” ~Candace Pert, Neurochemist at the American National Institute of Mental Health

4 months ago, I had never studied, or even thought about, the field of neuroscience.  But as soon I started learning about neuroplasticity, neurotransmitters & synaptic connection,  binaural beats & brainwave frequencies, and brain-derived neurotrophic factors, I was absolutely enthralled. I knew I had stumbled into something that would forever change my life.

I knew things were about to get real interesting.

The Future Has Arrived

25 years ago, David Krech, Ph.D, Psychologist at the University of  California-Berkeley, said: “I foresee the day when we shall have the means, and therefore, inevitably, the temptation, to manipulate the behaviour and intellectual functioning of all people through environmental and biochemical manipulation of the brain.”

This day has arrived my friends.

4 months into this journey, I haven’t fully cracked the code yet, but I can tell you with 100% certainty that I’m smarter than I’ve ever been (as you will see below). I’m sharper, my thoughts are clearer, I can get anything done quicker, and a lot of cool things are starting to happen in my life.

There are times when I really do feel like Bradley Cooper. One move ahead. Or 50.

Limitless.

This is no joke, and I’m not here to brag. My goal is to share my discoveries with you, so you too can start unlocking your brain’s full power, and live life in the fast-lane.

Now I’m about to take you on a journey through the 10 best strategies I’ve discovered so far to enhance mental performance (in no particular order).

You’re about to enter a whole new world of possibilities. 

Enjoy the ride. 

***

1- Brain Training with Lumosity

One of the first thing I discovered was that the human brain is in many ways similar to a muscle. It’s highly trainable, and it adapts & evolves based on the stimuli we give it. This is basically what neuroplasticity is all about.

And just like anyone has the power to reshape his/her body and increase their athletic performance through physical training, cognitive training allows anyone to significantly increase mental performance over time by forming new neurons & creating new neural pathways.

I started training with Lumosity 5 months ago (before this blog was even born), but I didn’t really take it seriously at first. But when I saw Limitless, I got pumped & motivated so I stared training everyday, for 15 minutes (it’s all it takes).

Lumosity is a series of games was designed by leading neuroscientists to challenge certain parts of the brain, and it’s backed by science from Stanford, Cal-Berkeley, and the University of Michigan. But the best part?  The games are enjoyable, and it’s super motivating to beat our best scores as our brain gets more “in shape”.

After training for a couple months, I listened to audio version of the book  The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge MD, and I was astonished by his description of near-miracles achieved through brain training, mostly amongst people who had had cerebral accidents, or suffered from certain cognitive disabilities.

That’s when I realized just how powerful brain training could be. And it got me thinking… “if people with cognitive impairments can get these kinds of results, what would happen a “healthy” person brain-trained properly”?

So I amped up my training, to 30-60 minutes 4-5x a week. I got serious about it. And then things really picked up.

Lumosity’s website is well-designed and lets us  compare our performance with the other members our age group within the 14 million users. It uses a measure called Brain Performance Index (BPI) which is Lumosity’s equivalent of the Intelligence Quotient (IQ). A BPI of 1000 represents the average of all Lumosity “brain athletes” amongst our age group.

When I first started training, I set myself the ambitious goal of reaching the 99th percentile (“shoot for the stars, and even if you miss you’ll land on the moon”).  I’m not there yet, but lo & behold, I’m getting close!!!

TORONTO – Sales of luxury homes will likely gain momentum in the fall, fuelled by demand from international investors, according a new report from real estate sales and marketing company Sotheby’s International Realty Canada.

The report released Tuesday suggests the largest proportion of foreign buyers will be from China, Russia, the Middle East, India and the U.S.

Elli Davis, a sales representative with Royal LePage in Toronto, says many foreigners buy condos for their children to live in while they attend school in Canada.

“I’m seeing a lot of foreign names on showings of all of my listings,” said Davis.

“More foreign names than not.”

The Sotheby’s report says the high-end condo market in the Greater Toronto Area has rebounded after a slower start to the year, a trend that is expected to continue into the fall.

“There were a lot of numbers that were starting to look worrisome in Toronto,” said Sotheby’s president and chief executive Ross McCredie.

However, while some economists are cautioning about an oversupply of condos about to hit the Toronto market, McCredie notes that there are far fewer high-end units available.

“It’s not like the $600,000 shoebox condos where you’d have investors buying them and looking to renting them out,” he said.

“If it’s a well-built building in a good location, people want to live there, so it’s more about lifestyle than pure investment.”

McCredie also notes that those in the market for a luxury home are less likely to be deterred by short-term fluctuations.

“They’re not first-time homebuyers,” he said.

“They’ve seen cycles before. Most of our clients remember what it was like in the early 80s and the early 90s, when you had major corrections, so they’re not going into these markets blindly.”

Sales of luxury homes are also expected to gain traction in Calgary and Vancouver and remain balanced in Montreal, according to Sotheby’s.

Sotheby’s said sales of high-end homes worth at least $1 million were up in major Canadian urban markets in the first half of the year compared with the second half of 2012.

Sales were up 65 per cent in Vancouver, 67 per cent in Calgary, 61 per cent in Toronto and 29 per cent in Montreal.

Condo sales lead the way with 36 per cent surge in sales: TREB

House sales skyrocketed by 29 per cent year over year across the GTA as of mid-September, with the highly watched condo sector leading the way, according to figures released by the Toronto Real Estate Board Tuesday. 

House sales skyrocketed by 29 per cent year over year across the GTA as of mid-September, with the highly watched condo sector leading the way, according to figures released by the Toronto Real Estate Board Tuesday.

Townhome sales climbed almost 30 per cent, while prices were up 9.2 per cent in mid September.

Colour has significant impact on our lives and it is of paramount importance that we ensure we are designing living environments that are conducive to their function. Study the environmental side of Feng Shui and understand the impact colour has on our moods, health, well-being and happiness.

What is Colour?  Our world is made up of a magnetic field of positive and negative charges, constantly vibrating and producing electromagnetic waves. Each has a different wavelength and speed of vibration: together they form the electromagnetic spectrum.

If you asked me to define “processed food” a few weeks ago, I would have invoked Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s response when asked to define hard-core pornography: “I know it when I see it.” Moreover, I generally considered it something that “other people” consumed. (Not terribly unlike how I regard hard-core pornography, incidentally.)

It was therefore quite a wake-up call when I recently compiled the results of my family’s weeklong food diaries for submission to the American Gut project.  After documenting every bite that entered each one of our mouths for a week, I had to complete a questionnaire that required me to analyze the results. One question asked what percentage of our carbohydrate intakes came from “processed foods.” The questionnaire then offered examples of what carbs the researchers considered to be processed. Among them: cereal, bread, pasta. Uh-oh.

Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means for a food to be “processed,” and whether “processed” inherently means “unhealthy.” Does lumping all processed foods into a single, vilified bucket risk throwing out the proverbial baby with the bathwater?

More often than not, the more processed a food, the less nutritious it is. But this is not always the case. The absorbability of lycopene (an antioxidant vitamin) is higher in cooked (canned) tomato products than from fresh ones, for example. Plain yogurt is a form of processed milk (in this case, by bacterial cultures) that retains milk’s protein and calcium content while gaining probiotic benefits as a result of processing. Some processed foods – like canned pumpkin puree or frozen spinach – lose such negligible amounts of nutrients in processing that these convenient pantry items are virtually unimpeachable by the food police.

At the end of the day, all food exists on a spectrum of processing, from completely unprocessed, in which the food we eat is exactly how it existed in nature (eggs, bananas), to completely processed, in which nothing that goes into a product is in its natural state – if it ever even existed in nature to begin with (Twinkies, Cool Whip). 

Most food we eat lies somewhere in between - from minimally processed (canned beans, baby carrots) to highly processed (energy bars, chicken nuggets). A diet that contains a few relatively more processed foods here and there can still support optimal health outcomes. But the more heavily weighted toward the processed side of the spectrum a diet is, the less healthy its eater is likely to be.

In assessing the nutritional quality of a diet, then, I’ve found it useful to think about which foods belong in which buckets of “processing,” with the ultimate goal of moving myself, my family and my clients ever closer to the “minimalist” end of the spectrum.

• Minimally processed foods: I consider these to be whole foods that have been trimmed, sliced or diced for convenience; par-cooked, cooked and/or mechanically altered to reduce cooking time; or cultured. They have no more than about two additional natural ingredients to help preserve freshness – like Vitamin C or a minute amount of added salt ( less than 5 percent of the daily value). Some examples include: canned beans, rolled oats, canned tomatoes (low-salt or no added salt) and peanut butter.

• Moderately processed foods: These are foods whose raw ingredients have been transformed into something new and different. Think whole grains ground into flour to produce bread, pasta, cereal or fresh pizza dough; milk cultured or churned into yogurt, cheese or ice cream; cacao beans alchemized into chocolate bars; sweet potatoes peeled, seasoned and crinkle-cut into ready-to-bake fries; and meat trimmed and ground into burger patties.

The degree of processing varies widely for foods in this category, though by and large they are far more processed than they need to be. Compare the label of supermarket whole-wheat bread to a loaf of local bakery bread or a recipe for homemade bread, and you’ll see what I mean. Ditto for reduced-calorie yogurts and desserts, protein- or fiber-enriched grain products and even treats like chocolate, ice cream or snack bars. What are all of those extra ingredients DOING in there?!? 

Moderately processed foods can be perfectly healthy as daily staples – if chosen wisely. Within the categories of bread, cereal, yogurt, pasta, frozen foods and snacks like crackers, bars or popcorn, there are generally a few brands (or better yet, locally-made options) that produce versions with five ingredients or fewer. These are the ones that generally make my short list. If one of those ingredients is sugar, the best choice is the one with the least of it. Among grain-based foods in particular, products that use whole – rather than refined – grains are the best option. If you deem a food to require more sweetness, saltiness, fiber or protein – you’re almost always better off buying a basic version and customizing it to your needs with an appropriate sweetener, condiment, spice, topping or side dish rather than opting for the fully-loaded industrial version.

• Junk food: These are foods we’d do better eating less of. The category can be split into two sub-categories as follows:

a. Organic junk food: These are the boxed dinners, cookies, sweetened cereals, fruity yogurt drinks, chips and gummy snacks that lure you with claims like “100 percent natural” and labels featuring friendly farm animals. Make no mistake: Organic sugar is still sugar, and while it’s admirable that growers aren’t decimating our farmlands with pesticides to grow organic sugar beets for those organic lollipops, your waistline can’t tell the difference one way or another. Organic junk food is likely to be as high in refined carbs, added sugar, fat and/or empty calories as its conventional counterpart.

b. Conventional junk food: Equally fattening and bad-habit-forming as organic junk food, conventional junk food has the dubious distinction of also including artificial colors, sweeteners, preservatives and flavors that are verboten for use in its organic counterparts. Beyond the same genre of cookies, snack cakes and chips that’s available in organic junk, conventional junk offers feats of food engineering such as 90-calorie fiber bars, calorie-free whipped toppings and neon-colored soft drinks and cereals containing dyes that have been linked to attention deficit disorders in children. Interpreting ingredient labels requires an advanced degree in chemistry; indeed, an entire book has been written with the express purpose of decoding the Twinkie label.

As a working mom with two toddlers to feed and no yard in which to grow my own anything, processed food-containing meals like cereal for breakfast or peanut-butter sandwiches aren’t going to be exiting my meal rotation anytime soon. And will I swear under oath that my own pantry has never harbored a bunny-shaped organic boxed macaroni product? I will not.

But so long as my daily menus remain weighted heavily toward the fresh fruits, veggies, beans, nuts and cooked whole grains, I forgive myself the occasional lapse into those inner aisles of the supermarket. At the end of the day, it’s the total dietary pattern that matters far more than any individual food.

Toronto Restaurant Openings highlights the latest restaurant openings and closings in Toronto and also gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

OPEN

• Hunters Landing opens today, Thursday, September 19th at 82 Fort York Boulevard in the Cityplace condo block. On the menu are shareable pub standards like wings and sliders, along with salads, pizza and pasta.
• Crave Healthy Habits a new, healthy fast food chain has opened its first location in The Path at 145 King Street West and is now serving serving salads and rice bowls for take away.

OPENING SOON

• Drake One Fifty will start previewing its offerings at 150 York Street in the next couple weeks and could be open by the end of the month.
• 420 Smokehouse at 420 Parliament is under construction now. When the new BBQ destination opens in the coming weeks they'll bring onboard, pit master Ryan Gatner of When the Pig Came Home the pop-up smokehouse and larder, who's a fixture at the Junction and Riverdale farmers.
• Soos, a new Malaysian eatery is slated to open at 94 Ossington Avenue.
• Il Panettone, a new Italian bakery cafe is readying itself on 320 Queen Street East at Parliament.
• Hot and Spicy Asian Fusion is in the works at 226 Queen Street West at the corner of McCaul.
• Brooklyn Tavern is opening this November in place of the now shuttered, Fare Bistro at 1097 Queen Street East.
• Rhum Corner (923 Dundas West) the new Haitian restaurant from Black Hoof's Jen Agg is previewing dishes on Instagram. I have no confirmed opening date for you, but rumblings say end of the month.

CLOSING

• Come And Get It, the semi-permanent, sandwich/poutine/salad pop-up is nearing its final days at Queen and Spadina. The shop has yet to announce a new site, but will close at the current location on October, 25th.

OTHER NEWS

• The Shore Club (155 Wellington Street West) celebrates their two year anniversary this month.
• Valdez (606 King Street) now does lunch on weekdays from 11am to 3pm.
• The Richmond Rogue (284 Richmond Street East) underwent renovations over labour day weekend. Along with the new look, the 15-year old pub is rolling out a new menu featuring thing like prime rib on Fridays.

This Home Is A True Gem Nestled In Oshawa's Desirable Windfield's Community.Detached 4 Bdrm Tribute Home Offers Approx. 2500 Sf Of Pure Elegance!This Bright Sun Filled Home Sits On A Premium 

Corner Lot With Tons Of Wndws & Natural Light.Imported Flooring Thruout Main Floor & Wrought Iron Spindle Staircase.S/S Appliances Featured In The Spacious Kit With A Huge Brkfst Bar!Large 2nd Flr Laundry Rm & Extra Large Bdrms.Beautiful Spa Like Ensuite.A True Must See!

Casa Loma Steps Away! Amazing Location! 3 Bedroom Semi On A Large Lot, Built In Garage.

Hardwood Floors Under Broadloom On Main Level. Well Maintained Home. Breaker Panel With Ample Room. Perfect For Investors Or Young Families.

Extras: Fridge, Stove, Washer, All Light Fixtures, All Window Coverings, Furnace (7 Years Old), Oil Tank (2 Years Old).

Amazing Location! Steps To Subway Makes Having A Car Optional. Spacious Unit With A Large Terrace (2.5Mx2.4M) Off The Living Room - Great For Entertaining. Open Concept Layout. Bright And Spacious Suite. Easy Access To And From Outside. No Need To Wait For The Elevators. Great Amenities In Building. Includes Parking Spot And Locker.

Extras:Fridge, Stone, All Light Fixtures, All Window Coverings, Washer/Dryer. Locker P1#63, Parking Level P5 #48