Smile: It's a New Week

Grin makers...

Some fun commercials to start off the new week:

-- GEICO: Elmer Fudd:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pBM6qhMnsw

-- GEICO; Pinocchio:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtxPu7B-9TI

-- Progressive: Flo: Deborah from Poughkeepsie:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKBXt0lQfNU

-- Honda: Get In:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0z7N7-ILKs

-- GEICO: Final Countdown:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH1biQdyiQI

Photo: Pinterest.

Musical Moments, Take it Easy

Remembering Glenn Frey...

Jackson Browne.

Jackson Browne sings Take it Easy in memory of Glenn Frey, and he's terrific: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlO7nAQq3fY

Browne wrote Take it Easy with Frey, who died earlier this month. The song was most famously recorded by The Eagles.  It is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.  

I've been through Winslow more than a few times, but I've never seen the girl in the flatbed Ford.  Well, would you look at that. My Lord, here she comes.

Photos: Pinterest

New Listings, Accepted Offers Lead Darien Real Estate

Weekly update...

Late Winter at the Dam, Arthur Shilstone.

Ten new listings of property for sale and seven accepted offers led Darien residential real estate results for the week ending today.

Other results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Four price changes;

-- No properties going under contract, and

-- Two closings.

For more: 

The Amazing Navy Drill Team

Precision...

Safe and sound.

The U.S. Navy Drill Team is precision and beauty in motion.

Watch an amazing performance:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWGU3mpfRoM

Photo: Pinterest.

Aboard the Russian Destroyer Off Syria

Video tour...

1st Rank Stanislav Varik, Russian destroyer commander.

The Russians gave the media a rare look at their armed-to-the-teeth destroyer, the Vice Admiral Kulakov, off the coast of Syria recently.

For an interesting video report by Steven Rosenberg on bbc.com:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35379098

Photo: google/newyahoo.com.

How to Boost Your Home Value

Payback...

Return on investment.

What are the half dozen or so renovation and home improvement ideas that offer the best payback?

Here are some renovation rules, driven by shifts in the current housing market and informed by Consumer Reports’ nationally representative survey of 1,573 millennials, that can inform your decisions on improving your home and its value, Daniel DiCierico reports on consumerreports.org: http://www.consumerreports.org/home-improvement/8-ways-to-boost-your-home-value

Photo: Pinterest.

Home Staging: Making a Difference in Selling

First impressions...

Declutter, define each room's use.

The practice of home staging to help sell a property has long elicited strong reactions, Tim McKeough reports on nytimes.com.

For more, including a before and after slide show:  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/24/realestate/home-staging-new-york.html?_r=0

Photo: Pinterest.

Kick-off the Week With a Smile

Lighten up...

A few fun and interesting videos to kick-off the week:

-- Progressive: Action Flo: : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oImkOYFYUt0

-- Subaru: Tree hugger:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea1O43TxGcM

-- Safelight: Deaf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmQXes6HR2E

-- GEICO: Hump day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LtjzQaFZ3k

-- GEICO: South Pole:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amy3mFmCDSU

Photo: Pinterest.

Musical Moments, The Eagles' Glenn Frey, 67, Dies

Farewell...

Glenn Frey.

Glenn Frey, one of the founding members of The Eagles, died in New York this week.

For a report on the guitarist, singer and songwriter of one of my favorite groups:    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35349025

For the Eagles' famous Hotel California: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrfhf1Gv4Tw

Photo: Pinterest.

New Listings, Closings Lead Latest Darien Real Estate Results

Weekly update...

Take it easy.

Nine new listings and an equal number of closings led Darien residential real estate results for the week ending today.

Other results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Six price changes;

-- Two accepted offers, and

-- No properties going under contract.

For more: 

Oh, Canada: Suddenly Hip

With it...

Justin Trudeau.

The notion that our neighbor to the north is a frozen cultural wasteland populated with hopelessly unstylish citizens is quickly becoming so outdated as to be almost offensive.

No longer is Canada just the country that gave the world ice hockey, the snow blower and Labatt beer, Peter Stevenson reports on nytimes.com.

Last fall, Justin Trudeau, the muscular, blue-eyed, social-media-savvy son of the former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, was swept into power with a surprise win, he added.

For more about what's happening up north:  http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/15/style/canada-justin-trudeau-cool.html?_r=0

Photo: Pinterest.

A Rare Look Inside Buckingham Palace

Splendid...

Buckingham Palace and The Mall.

Buckingham Palace has teamed up with Google to produce a 3D tour of parts of the Queen's home in London, bbc.com reports.

The BBC's Katty Kay showed a video of the new tour this evening, noting the palace makes Downton Abbey look downright shabby.

For the video:  http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35363669

Photo: Pinterest.

100 Years of German Beauty Trends in a Minute

Fast forward...

East meets West.

See a woman demonstrate 100 years of German beauty trends in one minute, Rebecca Rose reports on cosmopolitan.com:  http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/news/a44000/watch-this-woman-capture-100-years-of-beauty-in-german-in-1-minute/

Photos: cosmopolitan.com/Pinterest.

Russia's Eternal Cold War Battles

Snow season...

Here it comes, again.

Our light snow storm last night brought to mind a recent report about Russia's eternal cold war battles in winter:

Snow storms hit central Russia this month, including the capital Moscow, where nearly half the January norm fell in just one day.

The BBC's Moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg braved the cold to see how the authorities have been coping with all that snow: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35304216

Gif: Pinterest.

Start Your Week With a Smile

Fun...

Underneath it all, Cary's smiling, too.

Some fun to start off the new week:  

-- GEICO: Tiny valet:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS7-18kubUU

-- Ally Bank: Pinot Noir:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKP5e5HZeBc

-- Interstate Battery:  Just doesn't quit:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBinMgXDF3w

-- Ally Bank:  Hidden Things:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWEJhaSMFwk

-- Progressive:  A great pair:  http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7dAF/progressive-best-day

Gif: Pinterest.

Musical Moments: Mozart, A Little Night Music

Superb...

Night music.

Musical Moments features music and artists I've enjoyed over the years.

Today, one of the world's most popular classical pieces, Mozart's A Little Night Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb_jQBgzU-I

Photo: Pinterest.

Darien Real Estate Active for Week

Weekly update...

Forest falls in winter.

Darien's residential real estate market was active in the week ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Seven new listings of property for sale;

-- Seven price changes;

-- Three accepted offers;

-- No properties going under contract, and

-- Four closings.

For more:  

U.S. to Track Secret Real Estate Buyers

Hidden buyers...

Secret owners in Manhattan's Time Warner condos.

Concerned about illicit money flowing into luxury real estate, the Treasury Department said Wednesday that it would begin identifying and tracking secret buyers of high-end properties, Louise Story reports on nytimes.com.

It is the first time the federal government has required real estate companies to disclose names behind cash transactions, and it is likely to send shudders through the real estate industry, which has benefited enormously in recent years from a building boom increasingly dependent on wealthy, secretive buyers, she wrote.

For two excellent videos on hidden buyers in Manhattan, Connecticut and more:  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/us/us-will-track-secret-buyers-of-luxury-real-estate.html?_r=0

Photo: nytimes.com.

Dream Cars in Detroit

What's new...

2016 Acura NSX.

Car enthusiasts and industry leaders are gathered in Detroit for the annual Northern American International Auto Show this week.

The BBC's Michelle Fleury gives a tour of her favorite vehicles from the show floor: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35299423

For a look at how the show is set up:  http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35293580

Photo: Pinterest.

The Most Difficult Expedition

Daunting...

Exploring frozen worlds.

The arctic expedition to the North Pole is a daunting, freezing trek that only 48 people have successfully completed, greatbigstories.com reports.

A warming climate means the world may not have too many more chances to try. Explorer Eric Larsen takes us on a frigid journey to the desolate, mesmerizing landscapes of the frozen north, the service added.

For an intriguing video:  http://www.greatbigstory.com/stories/this-is-the-most-difficult-expedition-on-the-planet

Photo: Eric Larsen/Pinterest.

Honda Civic: 2016 Car of the Year

Sporty...

Sharp.

In a big comeback for a beleaguered classic, the Honda Civic has been named the 2016 North American car of the Year, Peter Valdes-Dapena and David Goldman report on cnn.com.

For more: http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/11/autos/honda-civic-car-of-the-year/index.html

Gif: Pinterest.

Smile: It's a New Week

Fun ahead...

Mr. Cool, from a bygone era.

Start off the week with a smile:

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.

I hate vanilla.

Sarkozy gets a little help.

Yikes! It's alive!

Just...stop.

Musical Moments: Windows Waltz

Who knew..

Hmmm...

Musical Moments features music and artists I've enjoyed over the years.

A change of pace today:  A talented orchestra treats us to some Windows surprises, and then its members turn some Windows sounds into, of all things, a waltz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGKwx-BFO0E

Photo: Pinterest.

Darien Sees Real Estate Uptick at Start of 2016

Weekly update...

Bright winter morning.

Darien saw an uptick in residential real estate activity in the first full week of 2016,  ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

--   Nine new listings of property for sale;

--   Three price changes;

--   Two accepted offers;

--   One property going under contract and,

--   Seven closings.

For more:  

Just Roll-up the TV and Tuck it Away

Flexible display...

A snap to move it or store it.

LG Display offers a first look at its flexible display that can be rolled up and put away when you've finished watching it.

For more:  http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35229821

Photo: Tumblr.

Wake Up and Smell the...

Your choice...

Syrup over croissant sticks.

Imagine waking up to the smell of fresh croissants or coffee every morning, bloomberg.com reports.

Sensorwake has built an alarm clock which will do just that.  It plans to ship its first olfactory alarm clock in May for $109, the news service added.

For a neat video about the new clock: http://bloom.bg/1mCYXFq  

Gif: Pinterest. 

An Insane 1,000 Horsepower Batmobile

Also ran?

Faraday concept car unveiling.

The highly secretive Faraday Future finally unveiled its super-powered electric concept car at the CES tech showcase in Las Vegas Monday night, bloomberg.com reports.

Faraday poached engineers from Tesla and SpaceX and built up a hype machine worthy of an Apple event, according to the news service.

For a video about the new car and its prospects: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-05/faraday-throws-it-in-reverse-with-1-000-horsepower-batmobile

Photo: Tumbr.

Dealing With the Impostor Syndrome

About you...

A fear you can overcome.

On paper, your investments in stocks, real estate or even cash may look like your greatest assets, Carl Richards reports on nytimes.com.

While all those things are super-important, you have something else that’s even more valuable. It’s the investment called you, Richards wrote. 

Finding ways to increase your value while doing the things you love may be the most important thing you do, he added.

They all involve doing something new for you, but when you head down this path, you are probably going to run into this thing, this fear that you’re bumping up against the limits of your ability.

For more: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/10/26/your-money/learning-to-deal-with-the-impostor-syndrome.html?WT.mc_id=2015-DECEMBER-FB-MOBILE-MC7-AUD_DEV-1201-1231&WT.mc_ev=click&ad-keywords=MOBILEFULLPAGE&referer=http://m.facebook.com

Photo: nytimes.com.

Making Their Day

A keeper...

Something special's in store today.

A wonderful story about how an ordinary day at the bank became a special day for some fortunate folks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUkN7g_bEAI

Photo: Pinterest.

Musical Moments: Joy to the World

Best wishes...

Musical Moments features music and artists I've enjoyed over the years.

Here's a special performance of a Bach favorite to bring the holiday season to a close and usher in the new year: The U.S. Air Force Band at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington with Joy to the World:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cKE8pyfcZc&feature=youtu.be

I hope you'll enjoy it.

Gif: Pinterest.

Rowayton Real Estate Results Mixed for 2015

Annual report...

Central Rowayton.

Rowayton's single family real estate results were mixed for 2015.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, available today were:

-- Total active listings showed no statistical change;

-- The number of units sold declined 15 percent;

-- Sales volume was down 18 percent, and

-- The average sales price off by three percent.

For more: 

Photo: K. Allen