Special Occasion: The Eiffel Tower Marks 125th Anniversary

Favorite landmark...

Paris and its world famous tower.

Today marks the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Eiffel Tower, one of the best known landmarks and the most visited paid monuments in the world.

For more on one of my favorite landmarks, including its history, and a virtual tour:  http://www.toureiffel.paris/en/component/content/article/15-autres/268-la-tour-eiffel-celebre-ses-125-ans-en-ligne-.html

For a short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL3vavzHlqw

Paris Mood.

Photo: Paris and its tower, Pinterest; Paris Mood by John Salminen, Batu Nieby, Facebook.

FBI Breaks into San Bernardino Gunman's iPhone

More to come...

An iPhone.

The FBI has managed to unlock the iPhone of the San Bernardino gunman without Apple's help, ending a court case, the US justice department says, according to bbc.com.

A court order issued last month required Apple to write new software to allow officials to access Rizwan Farook's phone, but Apple had resisted, saying it would set a "dangerous precedent", bbc added.

For a video update: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35913892

For more on why the fight will go on: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/03/29/why-the-fight-between-apple-and-the-fbi-is-just-getting-started/

Photo: Pinterest, Apple.

IBM Delivers Brain-Inspired Computer to National Lab

Supercomputing...

The foundation for the new IBM supercomputer.

IBM delivered the foundation of a brain-inspired computer today to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California.

The lab and IBM plan to build a new supercomputer based on the brain-inspired technology, IBM said.

Computer scientists at Livermore plan to begin trying out the $1 million device on Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reports, according to fortune.com.

The neural network-mimicking array consists of 16 computer chips, called IBM TrueNorth, that in total contain a million "programmable neurons," and 256 times as many electronic equivalents of synaptic connections, fortune.com reported.

The technology represents a fundamental departure from the computer design of the past 70 years.  It could be a powerful complement in the development of new supercomputers able to perform at speeds 50 times (or two orders of magnitude) faster than today's systems, IBM said.

For more: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/lawrence-livermore-national-laboratory-ibm-120000661.html

Photo: IBM, fortune.com.

What That Email Really Meant

Hidden zingers...

Hmm.

Ah, email. Everyone hates it, yet most of us use it, Minda Zetlin reports on stumble.com.

Some of the most effective email parries and thrusts are delivered in the form of passive-aggressive phrases -- the kind that can impose an obligation, express ire, or even deliver an insult in such a nice and nonchalant way you won't even know what hit you, Zetlin wrote.

Here's a list of passive-aggressive email phrases and what they're really saying:  http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1lpZyK

For a new report on the decline of email among mobile's youngest users:  http://techcrunch.com/2016/03/24/email-is-dying-among-mobiles-youngest-users/

Photo: Pinterest.  

All About...

Fun piece...

Will Stephen.

After seeing comedian Will Stephen, TED Talks may never be the same for some.

See why more than two million have watched Stephen talk all about...:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S0FDjFBj8o

Many thanks to my old friend Bill Shaffer for letting me know about this fun piece.

Photo: youtube.com.

Musical Moments: A Rachmaninoff Rhapsody

Happy Easter...

 Peter the Great, a Faberge Easter egg for the tsar.

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

To celebrate Easter and the start of spring, here's a beautiful Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgtEUr_n9vM

For more on Faberge's  Easter egg masterpieces: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/11434818/Faberge-eggs-all-you-need-to-know.html and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faberg%C3%A9_egg

Photo: Pinterest.

Darien Ends Busy Real Estate Week

Weekly update...

A spring morning in Holland's Keukenhof Gardens.

Darien ended a busy residential real estate week today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:  

-- Eight new listings of property for sale;

-- Six price changes;

-- Seven accepted offers;

-- No properties going under contract, and

-- One closing.

For more:

Laniakea: Our Huge and Amazing Home

Supercluster...

Laniakea, our celestial neighborhood.

We live on a planet, next to a star that's part of a galaxy that's part of...ah, here comes the recent discovery, nature video reports.

We are part of a galactic "supercluster" called Laniakea, which in Hawaiian means "immeasurable heaven."

Our understanding of the universe and beyond today is stunning.  It is light years ahead of the college astronomy course I took many years ago.  

For a fascinating video about our huge and amazing home: https:/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rENyyRwxpHo

For more on the Laniakea supercluster:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laniakea_Supercluster

Photo: Pinterest, beta.cosmosmagazine.com.

European Tributes to Brussels

In remembrance...

The Eiffel Tower in Belgian colors last night.

Tributes have been paid across Europe for those who were caught up in the attacks in Brussels yesterday, bbc.com reports.

France, Germany and Italy were among the countries to light up monuments in solidarity with Brussels, and Adele offered a moving tribute last night.

For videos of memorials, Adele and more:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35879501

For photos of European landmarks in solidarity with Brussels: http://nypost.com/2016/03/22/european-landmarks-light-up-for-brussels/

For Adele's moving Make You Feel my Love in rememberance of Brussels:  http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/adele-honors-brussels-with-mighty-make-you-feel-my-love-in-london-20160322

Photo: Philippe Woiazer, Reuters.

How Engagement Rings Evolved Over the Past Century

Will you...

Gorgeous engagement ring and wedding band set.

Terri Pous on buzzfeed.com treats us to a new video chronicling a century's worth of the most popular engagement ring styles by decade.

Pick your favorite from the video and slide show:  http://www.buzzfeed.com/terripous/ring-around-the-century#.ddO01ZgLy

Photo: Pinterest.  

Swinging into the New Week

Smile...

A happy couple, hanging on by his toes.

Swing into your new week with a smile or two from some fun videos:

-- GEICO: Tarzan and Jane squabble over directions:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lmw0d6S6jU

-- GEICO; Renter's insurance:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0fB2o0WJw

-- Ally Bank: Tech grandkids:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UnYPtSnOJY

-- GE: Ambushing Owen:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NlasD8Xh30

-- BMW: Mood swings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6YtYFuKLsM

Photo: Pinterest.  

Second New Bald Eaglet Hatches in Washington

Spring chick...

New eaglet and parents after the chick's hatching this morning.

The second of a pair of new bald eaglets hatched this morning in a nest high above Washington's National Arboretum, according to nydailynews.com.

The tiny chick joined its parents, Mr. President and The First Lady, and its sibling -- which hatched on Thursday, St. Patrick's Day -- in the nest about an hour ago.

For live video from the nest in Washington:  http://www.eagles.org/dceaglecam/

Photo: American Eagle Foundation.

Adele Stops Concert for Surprise Engagement

Their song...

Adele.

As Adele was singing Make You Feel my Love on Tuesday in London, she noticed a couple in audience getting engaged.

See Adele's performance and how she stopped the concert to bring the couple on stage for some fun and congratulations: http://www.buzzfeed.com/elliewoodward/adele-invited-a-couple-who-got-engaged-at-her-show-on-stage#.lbR78g3ZaZ

Photo: Pinterest.

Darien Real Estate's New Listings, Price Changes Jump

Weekly update...

Signs of spring, but snow is in the forecast for this weekend.

Darien's residential real estate market saw a jump in new listings of property for sale and price changes in the week ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- 23 new listings of property for sale;

-- 13 price changes;

-- Six accepted offers;

-- No properties going under contract, and

-- No closings.

For more:

New Bald Eaglet Arrives in Washington

New hatchling...

Mr. President and The First Lady in Washington nest.

A brand new Washingtonian has arrived with the hatching of a baby bald eagle in the National Arboretum.

The new arrival's parents, Mr. President and The First Lady, are carefully tending the little chick this morning, along with a second egg expected to hatch soon.

For live video views from the nest:  http://www.eagles.org/dceaglecam/

Photo: washingtonpost.com, National American Eagle Foundation.

Fun Facts About St. Patrick and the Irish Holiday

Tracing origins...

Wearing of the green.

It may be an Irish holiday, but St. Patrick's Day is celebrated around the world, Morgan Winsor reports on ibtimes.com.

However, today's festivities are dramatically different from the true origins of the Irish holiday, which is named after a man who wasn't even Irish, Winsor wrote.

For 10 fun facts and more about St. Patrick and the March 17 observance:  http://www.ibtimes.com/st-patricks-day-2016-10-fun-facts-about-irelands-patron-saint-irish-holiday-2335007

A new discovery could change the way we know about the Irish:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/17/a-mans-discovery-of-bones-under-his-pub-could-forever-change-what-we-know-about-the-irish/

For Eric Clapton's wonderful Danny Boy:  https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2048262210690389164#editor/target=post;postID=3677991862855489272;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=1;src=link

Photo: ibtimes.com.  

Old Drawing Sparks Social Media Storm About Creativity

Huge reaction...

A rabbit or a duck?

More than 100 years after it was sketched, a drawing has sparked a huge reaction on social media, Chloe Karand reports on stumbleupon.com.

Some see a rabbit and others will see a duck -- but are you able to see both alternatively, Karand asks.

What you see (and how fast you see it) could indicate how quickly your brain works -- and how creative you are, she wrote.

For more of Karand's report: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/3AAVvr

For more on the drawing: http://www.today.com/pets/rabbit-or-duck-124-year-old-drawing-has-both-if-t73606

Photo: stumbleupon.com. 

Lift-off: New Search for Life on Mars

Seven-month trip...

Mating the ExoMars mission's lander and orbiter last month.

Earth's scientists are headed back to Mars, well their machines are anyway, bloomberg.com reports.

The ExoMars mission, successfully launched yesterday, will attempt to discover if Earth has, or once had, neighbors on Mars.

For a video and more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-03-14/searching-for-life-on-mars

For an ESA report: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries

Photo: Pinterest, esa.int.

How to be More Likeable

Tips...

A likeable little fellow, but his piloting needs work.

We all know a few people who win over everyone they meet, Bill Murphy reports on stumbleupon.com.

Their charisma is hard to quantify, and yet it makes others feel at ease and drawn to them, Murphy wrote.

How do they do it?  For some tips:  http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7oCVe7

Photo: Twitter.

A Fun Kick-off for a New Week

Enjoy...

Kick-off the new week with a smile or two:

-- GEICO:  Too tall:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtp_mq2fO24

-- GEICO:  Icky Woods:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m05b83uhGc

-- GEICO;  Bad speller:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nTaIu4jBoQ

-- VW:  Beth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xabn10qf2v4

-- Progressive: Flo, Debra from Poughkeepsie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYi6ZcBxOJs

-- BMW:  Just dropping off my stuff:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ2bDks3bf0

Photo: Pinterest.  

Musical Moments: Eric Clapton, Danny Boy

Marvelous...

 Dingle, Ireland.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day coming up this week, Eric Clapton's marvelous Danny Boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuznaEyzBzs

Photo: Pinterest.

Darien Closes Active Real Estate Week

Weekly update...

Beautiful Ireland.

Fifteen new listings of property for sale and 11 price changes led Darien residential real estate results in the week ending today.

Other results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Ten accepted offers; 

-- One property going under contract, and

-- Two closings.

For more: 

The Dumb Mistake Everyone Makes

Call it...

The bet of a lifetime.

Gamblers, judges and baseball umpires constantly make the same mistake -- believing that things even out, Jeff Guo reports on washingtonpost.com.

What’s unsettling is how this mistake undermines the thinking of important decision makers — seemingly reasonable, intelligent people who wield considerable power over the lives of others, Guo wrote.

For more on this superstition called gambler's fallacy:   https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/09/the-dumb-mistake-that-gamblers-judges-and-baseball-umpires-make/

Photo: Tumblr, No Country For Old Men.

For the chilling coin toss scene from No Country: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLCL6OYbSTw

11 of Nancy Reagan's Glitziest Gowns

Stylish...

Nancy Reagan in red lace.

With the news of Nancy Reagan's death on Sunday came tributes, memorials and conversations about the legacies she left behind, Jamie Feldman reports on huffingtonpost.com.

Along with a fierce loyalty to her husband Ronald Reagan and the polarizing "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign, the former first lady will no doubt remain known for epitomizing White House elegance, Feldman wrote.

Behold, 11 glamorous gowns worn by Reagan in the over-the-top, big-sleeved, super-sparkly era that was the 1980s: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nancy-reagan-style_us_56dd7aa7e4b0000de4051056

Photo: Pinterest.  

Are Designer Babies in Our Future?

Changing DNA...

DNA researcher Jennifer Doudna

Jennifer Doudna discussed a new genome-editing technology that has the potential to eliminate genetic disease and more by making changes to our DNA with Fareed Zakaria on CNN last Sunday.

For a fascinating peek into this new technology that promises much but also raises important ethical questions:  http://www.msn.com/en-sg/video/news/on-gps-are-designer-babies-in-our-future/vi-BBqmeVC?refvid=BBqmeVC

Photo: Pinterest.

New York Opens Most Expensive Train Station Ever

Jaw-dropper...

Exterior of new World Trade Center transportation hub.

New York has an Instagram-ready attraction whose defenders insist no one will remember it is the most expensive train station ever, Michael Kimmelman reports on nytimes.com on the opening last week of the new World Trade Center transportation hub in lower Manhattan.

At first blush, Santago Calatrava's architecture can almost -- almost -- make you forget what an epic boondoggle the whole thing has been.  That virgin view, standing inside the Oculus and gazing up, is a jaw-dropper, Kimmelman wrote.

For more, including two excellent videos:

-- New York Times report: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/03/arts/design/santiago-calatravas-transit-hub-is-a-soaring-symbol-of-a-boondoggle.html

-- A BBC video on the opening: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35730273

-- A usatoday video on construction of the new hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-Wh6Bl-tbA

Night view of the new lower Manhattan transportation hub.

Photos; Above: Hiliary Swift/New York Times; below: Pinterest.

Adele's Fun New Voicemail Greeting for a Friend

Hello...

Selfie time.

Well, hello! When Adele appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last month, the talk show host couldn’t help but ask the British songstress for a small favor: To record a new voicemail for her cell phone, Evan Real reports on usmagazine.com.

“I thought it would be really cool if you would record my outgoing message for my phone," DeGeneres, 58, explained to her Grammy winning guest, 27. Without any hesitation, Adele agreed to grant her wish, Real wrote.

See Adele have some fun recording the message. It's a riot:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjHncnLpV5M

Photo: usmagazine.com.  

Musical Moments: Grieg: Morning Mood

Great...

Dawn in Tuscany.

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

This week's selection is Grieg's great Morning Mood:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rh8gMvzPw0

Photo: Pinterest.  

Darien Real Estate: New Listings, Accepted Offers Jump

Weekly update...

Wild flowers.

Darien's residential real estate saw a jump in new listings and accepted offers in the week ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- 19 new listings of property for sale;

-- Four price changes;

-- Nine accepted offers;

-- Two properties going under contract, and

-- Five closings.

For more: