Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

If you're trying to sell your home, a run-down or messy house nearby can cost you some serious money. 

Turns out some nursery-school cliches are actually true: An apple a day reallydoes keep the doctor away, according to a new study in the Journal of Functional Foods.

Researchers had a small group of 16 people eat either an actual apple, capsules packed with the same amount of polyphenols (plant compounds) in apples, or a placebo every day for 4 weeks.

The results? Those who followed the old adage lowered their blood levels of oxidized LDL—“bad” cholesterol linked to hardening of the arteries and cardiovascular disease—by 40 percent. Those who popped the capsules saw a decrease too—but not as dramatic. Researchers suspect that our bodies absorb polyphenols more effectively when they’re in foods.

And sure, that seems like a helluva lot of healing power for one little fruit—and the study was small—but the ability to reduce oxidized LDL is always encouraging, saysMen’s Health cardiology advisor Eric Topol, M.D., director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute.

“This opens up a new mechanism that has not been reported before,” he adds. “Now we just have to see if it holds up against larger studies.”

In addition to protecting your ticker, an apple a day also reduces swelling of all kinds, thanks to quercetin, a flavonoid also found in the skin of red onions. Quercetin reduces the risk of allergies, heart attack, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and prostate and lung cancers. If given the choice, opt for Red Delicious. They contain the most inflammation-fighting antioxidants. (Discover even more ways to keep your heart pumping strong with The Lean Belly Prescription, your no-diet, no-workout plan that’s better than running 5 miles a day!)

http://news.menshealth.com/apple-a-day/2012/10/08/

Maybe Toronto is a hockey town after all.

The Marlies, the American Hockey League farm team of the locked-out Leafs, have seen a surge in season-ticket sales and are expecting a 15 per cent increase in attendance this season, which opens at home on Oct. 13.

“The growth of our ticket base hasn’t slowed down since our playoff run,” said Mike Cosentino, director of business operations for the Marlies.

Season-ticket sales are up 74 per cent from last year, he said, when the Marlies won the AHL North Division with an impressive 44-24-5-3 record and reached the Calder Cup final, getting swept by the Norfolk Admirals.

The Marlies, who drew an average of 5,480 fans to home games last season, forecast at least a 15 per cent increase at the Ricoh Centre this year, Cosentino said.

But before chalking up the growth in attendance to NHL-starved fans looking for a fix of games by current and future Leafs, Cosentino said he “can’t say one way or the other” whether the lockout is having any impact because the interest in Marlies’ tickets hasn’t slowed since late last spring.

“Last year’s performance helped us out so much in terms of awareness of the Marlies and getting the stories of our players out there,” Cosentino said.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/article/1265172--toronto-marlies-enjoying-surge-in-ticket-sales

Facebook users around the world freaked out this week when rumors spread that some of their private messages now appeared to be public. (We don’t blame them for being upset—you certainly don’t want your dad seeing late-night messages to your hookup buddy.) But after reviewing the reports, the social network stated there was no evidence of previously private content being publicized, and lots of people backtracked on their claims.

What happened? Facebook networks were more intimate back then, so some people were incorrectly remembering how loose they once were with sharing personal details. In other words: People’s memories were being recalled in a much different context than when they were first ‘saved.’ A new study in The Journal of Neuroscience could explain why.

During three days of experiments, researchers at Northwestern University asked people to learn the locations of objects on a computer screen, then recall them the following day, and a third day.

All of the people incorrectly placed the objects on the second day and during the third day, 70 percent of placements were closer to day two placements—not the starting point. The wild part? People gave off neural signals that suggested a new memory was being laid in the brain—even if it was wrong.

When you recall a memory, there’s a possibility that your brain creates another memory of that retrieval, says Donna J. Bridge, Ph.D., the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine. When the details are confusing (like remembering something in a different environment, mood, or time), an incorrect recollection could become part of that original memory.

So the next time you need to remember something correctly, try one of these three tips. 

Look, Snap, Connect
This three-step method helps you create meaning, which leads to faster and more accurate remembrance, says Gary Small, M.D., a psychiatry professor at UCLA’s Semel Institute and co-author of The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program. ‘Look’ is a reminder to focus your attention; ‘snap’ is when you create images in your mind of what you want to recall later on, and ‘connect’ is a way to link up the mind pictures and make them more meaningful. Take Small’s example: If you have to buy eggs, stamps, and shoes in one trip and want to make sure you hit all three, imagine yourself holding a large egg with a stamp on it, and then watch the egg slip from your hands and break all over your shoe. He says the image of the wet stamp and eggshell on your shoe should be memorable enough. (Pro tip: If your errands include buying porn, picking up your stuff from your ex’s place, and finding an anniversary card for your parents . . . try something else.)

Tip of the Tongue
You know who’s jamming on the radio, but it’s escaping you. Grab your smartphone or a piece of paper and jot down all the clues you’re using to figure out the name (including a specific lyric from the song, the year you think it was released, or the name of the radio station). Tip-of-the-tongue experiences are from a memory that’s in there—you just haven’t retrieved it in a while, Small says. Your neurons are rusty, but you can reunite the pathways by using these triggers to jog your memory.

Use a Phrase for Passwords
In a way, the rise of the smartphone has meant that we store less information in our brains as long as we know how to retrieve it. (It’s Why Google Is Making You Stupid.) Small says the trick here is to how to choose your passwords wisely, no matter how many you have, by assigning a meaning to each of them. This way they’ll be easier to remember. A non-intuitive pattern like “My dog Rocky always makes me laugh” (the password would be: MdRamml) that alternates capitals or is made around the first letters of a phrase should suffice. 

http://news.menshealth.com/3-ways-to-remember-anything/2012/09/26/

Bittersweet Pumpkin Centerpiece

White pumpkins and twisted vines of bittersweet put on an unrivaled display. Wrap long berry-laden vines two or three times around medium-size pumpkins, and secure the ends with florist's wire. Parade the wrapped pumpkins down the center of the table. Add to the warm autumn mood with glass votives partially filled with bittersweet berries. Bittersweet vines are also lovely tucked into a colored glass bottle, swirled inside a clear hurricane, or used as an accent with other fallplants.

Editor's Tip: To better preserve the color of bittersweet berries, keep the cut ends of the stems in about an inch of water while the berries dry out over a few days. Bittersweet berries hold their color for several weeks, making them a long-lasting seasonal accent.

Corks and Candles Centerpiece

Play the rustic, uneven colors and natural textures of wine corks against the smooth shimmer of clear glass for a simple and elegantfall centerpiece. A large footed glass candleholder lifts the scene above the table setting, while a white votive shimmers in the center of the medley of corks. Set the sophisticated neutral centerpiece on a brighttable runner to set the scene with fall color. 

Editor's Tip: For more fall flavor, tuck brightly colored leaves or berries amid the corks. Make sure any flammable elements are protected from the candle flame.

Painted Acorns Centerpiece

Oak trees drop beautiful elements perfect for afall centerpiece. Acorns become easy ornaments with a coat of acrylic paint on the seeds and loops of twine glued to the caps. Drape the acorn ornaments on a branch slipped inside a shapely vase. Place the vase in a silver tray filled with unpainted acorns. Bright red accents -- vase, napkins, and place mats -- add vibrant appeal. 

Editor's Tip: Choose an accent that suits your tableware palette. The hues of fall -- red, orange, gold, and yellow -- are particularly lovely in accessories, but blue, purple, and green shades also add an unexpected burst ofcolor to the nut-brown vignette.

Flowers Under Glass

Flip your thinking -- this creative centerpiece turns wine and champagne glasses on their heads for a fancy, no-fuss eye-catcher. Trim full-bloom florals at their stem, then tuck them under glasses. A charger helps bump it up a notch.

Editor's Tip: Fake flowers work just as well and last through the entire season.

Milkweed Seeds in Glass Display

Nestled with gourds in a natural woven tray, a glass vase filled with downy milkweed seeds captures the essence of fall's fleeting finish. White gourds -- with hints of yellow -- and wispy ginkgo leaves accentuate the pale scheme, while the rough texture of the basket provides a contrasting foundation for the centerpiece.

White Pumpkin Wreath Centerpiece

Orange and gold may be the traditional colorsof fall, but the ghostly hues of white pumpkins and pale pistachios have their own appeal. Design an intriguing centerpiece by gluing miniature white pumpkins to a straw wreath. Glue pistachios in the open spaces to cover the wreath. A white pillar candle set in the center completes the nature-focused tone-on-tone look.

Editor's Tip: If you prefer orange pumpkins, create a similar monochromatic look with miniature orange pumpkins, bittersweet sprigs, and an orange pillar candle.

Cattails Centerpiece

Create simple but striking arrangements with autumn beauties. A single cattail stalk with its fuzzy brown head and slender green stalk is lovely on its own. Grouped in individual green glass cylinder vases, the cattail stems' simplicity takes on dramatic elegance. Nest the stalks in a base of dried nuts, beans, or stones to echo the brown heads. You also can create a grouping of single stems using ornamental grasses, coneflower seed heads, or dried hydrangea blooms

Get more tips on : http://www.bhg.com/halloween/decorating/creative-fall-centerpieces-featuring-natural-elements/

REGISTER NOW: TORONTO October 11th MISSISSAUGA October 10th

In a recent article, we addressed the fact that analysts and mortgage pros are a bit concerned by the state of Canada's housing market and likened it to a "slow-motion version of what happened in the U.S." Remember that?

The good news for Americans is that the U.S. housing market is improving – maybe not by leaps and bounds, vast improvements nonetheless. The even better news is that U.S. housing market gains can be a really great thing for the Canadian economy and even stimulate economic growth in many different ways.

According to a recent article in the Winnipeg Free Press, the increased American housing activity and positive change for U.S. homeowners and prospective buyers marks the possible end of the four-year recession and plenty of economic woes. Unemployment rates are still soaring and improving at a snail's pace – if that. However, economic recovery is on the horizon, despite its recovery rate hovering near 1.7 percent annually.

Houses are increasing in value! New homes are being built! That has to mean something, right?

Sure it does. Canadian business owners and residents who work with or sell products to Americans will likely note sales gains as a result, which will then funnel into Canada's economy and potentially reverse all the negative predictions those industry analysts have given.

How American housing affects Canadian residents
Actually, the increasing number of home starts in America has a major impact on Canadians and a key industry: Lumber and wood product manufacturing. According to CBC News, America's improving housing market is actually spurring a rebound for New Brunswick wood products manufacturers. The province reportedly exports 80 percent of its finished wood products to America, and similar companies are preparing themselves for a business boom.

"We've had seven years of poor markets," David Palmer, manager of the York Sunbury Charlotte Forest Products Marketing Board, told CBC. "We purchased [the old M.L. Wilkins and Son Ltd. Sawmill] four years ago, and all during that time period, the markets have been too low to really run the mill profitably. It's only been in the last six to 12 months or so that the prices have come back enough to make it feasible to operate the mill."

Mark Arsenault, president of the New Brunswick Forest Products Association, says that as long as other countries and the U.S. continue buying lumber, wood fibre, wood cabinetry, doors and windows from Canadian companies, Canada and its residents will benefit from the business. The upswing in product demand may even play a small role in increasing employment numbers for Canadian manufacturing plants.

Will this have any effect on the Canadian housing market?
It's a good question, especially because many experts believe that any small shift or downswing in Canada's economy could effectively burst what many believe is a precarious housing industry bubble. However, despite the fragility of the Canadian market thanks to the low interest rates, high home prices and seemingly out-of-control household debt, the American housing market isn't likely to have any effect on Canada's housing market in regard to supply and average home cost.

However, this should not lessen what is really great news for our country – America is the largest consumer of Canadian exports, and prices of exported commodities are expected to continue increasing with time. Not only will this give residents more resources to buy a home, invest in property, save for a rainy day and pay down their increasing debt, but do their part in strengthening the Canadian economy, one Loonie at a time.

http://www.canequity.com/blog/2012-09-positive-housing-market-canada/

Preventing the most common chronic childhood disease takes less than 5 minutes a day—and it could be something you regularly remind your kids to do already.

This pervasive threat to children’s health is tooth decay, and the numbers are rising—even though cavities are largely preventable. In fact, a shocking new survey just released by the Ad Council shows that only 44 percent of American kids brush their teeth two or more times per day, leaving the majority of kids at high risk for costly and painful dental problems.

No time?

The survey finds that many children spend more than eight hours a day on unnecessary activities, like playing video games (1.9 hours), texting (2.2 hours), watching television (2.6 hours a day), playing games around the house or playing on their computers. Parents surveyed also reported that their kids spend more than two hours a day on activities that are “silly or unnecessary.” A tiny fraction of this time could be spent on brushing and flossing.

How bad is the problem?

“Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease with more than 16 million kids suffering from untreated tooth decay in the U.S.,” Dental Trade Alliance Foundation CEO Gary Price said in a press release. He further added that kids miss more than 50 million hours of school (and parents lose 25 million hours of work) each week.

Decay can lead to complications including tooth loss, severe pain, chewing problems and tooth abscesses. Bacteria from gum disease can also enter the bloodstream, sometimes causing infections in other parts of the body, such as the heart. In rare cases, untreated cavities can actually be fatal in kids. Twelve-year-oldDeamonte Driver died in 2007 from an infection that began with an abscessed tooth, but then spread to his brain.

Although the majority of parents surveyed realized that kids who don’t take care of their teeth properly are at greater risk of oral pain, fewer understood the link between poor oral health and overall health. But tooth decay can be associated with other diseases such as diabetes, obesity and even heart disease. In addition, tooth loss before the age of 35 may be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

Some Children More at Risk

Low-income children suffer from decayed teeth almost two times as often as those with higher income, which may have to do with how quickly they receive treatment for tooth decay, and how often they brush their teeth. Only 40 percent of lower-income parents report that their kids brush their teeth twice or more daily, compared to 51 percent of parents with higher income. And about half of all children—and two-thirds of adolescents from lower income families—suffer from tooth decay.

But cavities have been on the rise in all income groups, as I’ve reported previously. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that tooth decay affects over one-fourth of two to five year-old children, and half of kids age 12 to 15.

Prevention is Simple

Only 40 percent of parents surveyed—and 62 percent of parents with kids age 5 or younger—said they regularly help their kids brush their teeth or check to make sure they’ve done a good job. But the simplest way to prevent oral disease is by making sure kids brush their teeth twice a day—and since most kids can’t handle the toothbrush by themselves until they are 4 or 5, parents need to help them until they develop the skill necessary to brush by themselves. After that time, supervising your children to make sure they’re doing a thorough job is advised.

The CDC recommends kids begin using toothpaste with fluoride when they’re two years old—but just a pea-sized dab is fine. (If kids under six swallow too much fluoride, they may develop white spots in their teeth.)

In addition to brushing, flossing daily helps remove food particles that toothbrushes can’t get to. Limiting sugary snacks is also important, especially in small children. Sending your baby to bed with a bottle is a mistake, as the sugar from the liquid can pool around their teeth, attracting bacteria which produces acids that damage teeth and lead to tooth decay.

If your kids are under the age of two, you can actually help prevent tooth decay before they even have teeth. Dentists recommend removing cavity-causing bacteria by wiping your baby’s gum with a damp washcloth.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children see a dentist when they get their first tooth, or on their first birthday—whichever comes first.

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/no-1-threat-kids-health

Investing in a bathroom renovation is a smart move, improving your living space and increasing the value of your home. In order to ensure your new bathroom meets, and exceeds, all of your expectations you’ll need to plan ahead and follow these five essential steps.

Step 1 – Determine Your Goal

Think about the look and feel of the space you envision. Are you dreaming about a luxurious spa bathroom with space to indulge and relax? Or will your new bathroom need to be built for function, allowing the whole family to make good use of the room daily? Do your goals fall somewhere in between, with certain elements of luxury and a functional flare? Nail down the vision first.

Sketch out your thoughts on paper and clip pictures from magazines or start an online board of images that capture your vision. This exercise will help you shape the space in your mind, which is an important first step in the bathroom renovation process.

Step 2 – Choose the Basic Fixture Types

Keeping your vision in mind, you now need to opt for the basic style and size of fixtures required to fulfill that overall image. Consider the sink and vanity, toilet or bidet and shower or tub. Browse through your local plumbing supply store or shop online for an extensive selection of quality fixtures. You have more choice in fixtures than first thought. Full vanities provide ample storage space, but pedestals and wall mount sinks help create a more spacious feel – which style will suit your vision best? The old tub and shower combo is one option, but what about opting for a soaker tub and neoangle shower or installing a larger walk in shower and forgoing the tub altogether? Take the time to properly make these decisions and your bathroom renovation will be that much better.

Avoid purchasing anything at this point. You’re simply deciding on the basic styles in preparation for the next step.

Step 3 – Lay Out the Elements on Paper to Gauge the Room

Draw your new bathroom to scale and place representations of the desired fixtures around the sketch. Now is probably the time to hire a contractor and get them involved in the project design. Their expertise and knowledge will be invaluable in terms of plumbing issues (do you know where your drain will need to be, depending on where you place the toilet and tub?) and other considerations.

By laying out the space on paper, you should be able to narrow down the dimensions of your new fixtures and get a good idea of the flow and feel of your renovated bathroom. Think about traffic patterns and envision using the room in your head. Will you be comfortable? Is it spacious enough and is there enough light?

That last question brings us to the next step.

Step 4 – Lighting and Flooring Considerations

Although your bathroom is mainly made up of plumbing fixtures, lighting and flooring play a major role in the overall feel and function of the space. Bathroom lighting is essential, and where you have placed bathroom fixtures will dictate the optimum lighting design.

Remember to incorporate natural light whenever possible, without detracting from the privacy aspect. Allow sunlight in through a window or two, and if wall space is at a premium, consider a skylight for much needed natural light.

The type of lighting installed is also important. Track lighting and bright fixtures work well for bathroom tasks, but you can also install a dimmer switch to allow for mood lighting in the room. Wall sconces work to redirect light and create a gentle glow, while pot lights and vanity strips are perfect for over the sink and in the shower task lights. Be sure to use moisture-resistant light fixtures and install a GFI outlet for safety.

Flooring also connects with the lighting to help create a safer, brighter bathroom. Consider the best type of flooring in terms of durability, bypassing carpet and focusing on either tiles or a high quality vinyl. Hardwood and other types of wood flooring are not well suited for the bathroom, where water is a permanent resident and spills are inevitable.

Look for tiles that create a warm feeling, both physically and visually. Many natural stone tiles actually absorb heat and help to create a more comfortable space. Think about whether or not an under-floor radiant heating system would be appropriate for your space. And always have a professional install your bathroom flooring, to ensure durability and an attractive finish.

Step 5 – Budget for the Bathroom Renovation

It seems strange to leave this step for last, but the reasoning is sound. You want a bathroom renovation that fulfills your vision and creates the space your family can comfortably live in. You also want to be sure that all bathroom fixtures installed are of high quality and well placed in the room, both for function and form. The optimum lighting and flooring choices round out the space and create a bright, inviting bathroom no matter the size. Why skimp on any of these vital steps in the name of a budget?

Once you have decided on all of the first four steps, hired a contractor and hammered out the final design, it’s time to finally tackle the budget. Remember that bathroom remodeling projects increase the value of your home and allow for a more efficient and even hygienic living space. It’s important to value this investment correctly and opt for the very best quality you can afford.

Plan for the ideal bathroom renovation by following these five steps. Begin with a well thought out vision and the right fixtures. Move to hiring a pro and laying out the room on paper. Design lighting and flooring that creates a safe, bright space and finally, do your budget. These steps will help you design and build the bathroom of your dreams, a renovation for life.

Are you considering listing your home for sale? One of the first steps is to enlist the help of a real estate agent.