What's Your Commuting Time Worth?

Travel time...

Grand Central: A familiar place for many a Connecticut commuter.

What’s a minute spent commuting worth to home buyers, Michael Kolomatsky asks on nytimes.com.

To find out, he wrote, we mapped recent median sales prices for single-family homes in suburban areas along Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven line.

See the results, starting in Stamford:  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/30/realestate/whats-your-commute-time-worth.html?_r=0

Photo: Giphy.

Scary Week Ahead? Fix it With a Smile

Laugh a little...

Sometimes he gets a little carried away.

Start your scary week with a smile:

-- GEICO:  Sleeping Beauty:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp3hud-jZYc

-- Allstate: Snow:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tycwkd6_XAA

-- Allstate: Trash bag:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orWiS4Rmefo

-- Allstate: Lawn mowing:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuUWJBmI920

-- Allstate;  Downpour:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTVy7sNPg0k

Photo: Pinterest.

Musical Moments: Bocelli, Autumn Leaves

Leaf season...

Looks like Connecticut right now.

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

Today's selection is Autumn Leaves with Andrea Bocelli and his fiancee:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNKhpG3apQU

Photo: Pinterest.

Darien Sees an Uptick in Real Estate Activity

Weekly update...

Darien saw an uptick in residential real estate activity in the week ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Six new listings of property for sale;

-- Seven price changes;

-- Five accepted offers;

-- One property going under contract, and

-- Seven closings.

For more:

How IBM Watson Stacks up to the Competition

Growing business...

Ginni Rometty, IBM chair and CEO.

Ginni Rometty, IBM chair and chief executive officer, discussed how Watson stacks up against the competition with Bloomberg's Emily Chang yesterday.

See Rometty describe how IBM's growing Watson business, which helps hundreds of millions, is on a path to touch a billion people by the end of next year:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-10-26/ibm-chair-rometty-how-watson-stacks-up-against-the-competition

Photo: Pinterest.  

Baseball Favorites From the National Geographic

World Series season...

Wow!

From a bat factory to Amish Country to the World Series, see 15 favorite baseball photos from the National Geographic archives.

For slide show:  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/150328-baseball-sports-history-opening-day/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_twp20161025news-baseballarchives&utm_campaign=Content&sf39909036=1

Photo: Giphy.

Saved: Dorothy's Fading Red Slippers From the Wizard of Oz

Somewhere over the rainbow...

"The dreams that you dream dare to become true."

The ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in the beloved 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" are set to undergo a major conservation effort following a successful crowdfunding campaign, Alanna Petroff reports on cnn.com.

The Smithsonian, which has displayed the iconic slippers at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. for more than 30 years, confirmed Monday that it has reached its $300,000 fundraising target, Petroff wrote.

More than 5,300 donors contributed to the fundraising effort on Kickstarter, which launched last week. Most donations were relatively small, but one individual made a $10,000 contribution, she added.

For more: http://money.cnn.com/2016/10/24/media/dorothy-red-slippers-smithsonian-wizard-of-oz/index.html?sr=twCNN102416dorothy-red-slippers-smithsonian-wizard-of-oz0155PMVODtopVideo&linkId=30275513

Photo: Tumblr.

The GW Bridge Marks Its 85th Anniversary

Beautiful span...

On the move.

The George Washington Bridge, stretching across the Hudson River to connect New and New Jersey, opened 85 years ago today, nytimes.com reported today.

The span I've used many times over the years was the longest suspension bridge at it debut in 1931.

The day after the George Washington Bridge opened 56,312 cars and 100,000 pedestrians crossed by "pleasure car, and service car, on foot, motorcycle and roller skates, and one citizen was on a horse," The New York Tines reported.

Photos:  Tumblr, nytimes.com.

A Fun Way to Start Your New Week

Have a good one...

Practicing for leaf blowing season.

Start your new week with a little fun: 

-- Progressive: Famous people:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33YiI_tXjiw

-- Progressive: Ghost busters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOVQIBCLjao

-- Allstate: Warm spring breeze: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6WcVEH4WQM

-- BMW: Walls:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEvpnKRLDO4

-- BMW: Bullet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDuxWGHA-Z4

-- Apple: Balloons:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE_M8A5yxnLfW0KghEeajjw?v=XR6JtMIdMuU

Photo: Pinterest.

Musical Moments: Gershwin, Strike Up the Band

Bruin triumphs...

TD.

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

In 1936, George Gershwin dedicated Strike Up the Band to UCLA.  The song has been an inspiration for many a Bruin and lifted their spirits over the years.

Here's Strike Up the Band by the Bruin marching band:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGiGPloz7uc

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Darien Ends Quieter Real Estate Week

Weekly update...

 An evening to remember.

Darien saw a quieter residential real estate market in the week ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Five new listings of property for sale;

-- Nine price changes;

-- Three accepted offers;

-- One property going under contract, and

-- Two closings.

For more:  

Giants Vie for the Smart Home

Duking it out...

Making life easier.

As tech behemoths duke it out for market share in the fast-growing Internet of Things industry, the smart home has attracted incredibly intense competition, Chris Nolter and Jaewon Kang report on thestreet.com.

Amazon has so far been leading the pack with its line of Echo devices, but Alphabet's Google is slated to introduce its Google Home device this month, seemingly leaving Apple to play catch-up, thestreet reporters wrote.

For more on this hotly contested field:  https://www.thestreet.com/story/13856156/1/crowded-house-a-guide-to-who-s-trying-to-do-what-with-the-smart-home.html

Photo: Pinterest.

Look Who's Driving the U.S. Home Market

They're back...

Hunting for the right one.

Not very long ago, it was fashionable to ask if millennials would ever crawl out of their parents’ basements and into a realtor’s office, Patricia Clark reports on bloomberg.com.

Enthusiasm for that view, which had gained wide exposure by 2012, lost steam as mortgages got easier to come by and millennials kept insisting that no, actually, they do want to own a home, Clark wrote.

A flurry of reports released yesterday should further dispel the notion that millennials are allergic to homeownership.

For more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-19/look-who-s-driving-the-u-s-housing-market?utm_content=business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-business

Photo: Pinterest.

SOS: Donors Needed to Save Dorothy's Slippers

Face lift needed...

Dorothy's famous ruby red slippers.

The most famous shoes in the world are in need of a $300,000 face lift, Alanna Petroff reports on cnn.com.

The Smithsonian has launched a campaign on Kickstarter aimed a preserving the ruby red slippers worm by Judy Garland in the beloved 1939 film, "The Wizard of Oz," Petroff wrote.

The campaign, which began Monday, has already raised more than 10 percent of its goal. It has until mid-November to raise the rest of the funds from the public, she added.

For more:  http://money.cnn.com/2016/10/18/news/smithsonian-dorothy-red-slippers-wizard-of-oz/index.html?section=money_topstories&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fmoney_topstories+%28CNNMoney%3A+Top+Stories%29

Photo: Pinterest.

Quirky Things About the White House

Odd...

One president was afraid of the light switches.

Recently, there's been quite a bit of chatter about just how much the White House is worth (you know, just in case you're holding up for a "for sale" sign to pop up in front, though we imagine that's pretty unlikely). Still, the figures are fascinating: Time reports that the estimates range from $90 million all the way to $250 million, Devin Alessio reports on elledecor.com.

This got us thinking — while many people know plenty about celebrity homes and other famous houses in America, what else is unknown about the White House, Alessio wrote.

For some odd things about the People's House you never knew: http://www.elledecor.com/life-culture/fun-at-home/g3231/white-house-history/?src=TrueAnth_ELLEDECOR_TW&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_content=5804320a04d3017b0682dd3a&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Photo: Tumblr.

Three Brothers Moving

Moving days...

We're just two cul-de-sacs away.

Something old and something new from Optimum's fun Three Brothers Movers series.

Remember your moving days?

-- Three Brothers Moving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLrXr6tbhOU

-- What is a cul-de-sac?:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0q4aE3yAII

-- The Unmovers season two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J25bL77WmJ8

-- Move it, move it:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW5t0JxvC60

-- I'm going to Pluto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H456iBibTpQ

Photo: YouTube.

Musical Moments: Dylan, Blowin' in the Wind

Nobel winner...

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature this week for "having created new poetic expression within the great American song tradition."

Dylan is the first musician of any nationality to win the prize, according to newyorker.com.

Here's Dylan's famous Blowin' in the Wind:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psWMeUqDFiM&feature=youtu.be

For more on Dylan, his life, career and awards: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan

Photo: Pinterest.

Darien Closes Busy Real Estate Week

Weekly update...

Fall finery.

Darien closed a busy residential real estate week today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- 18 new listings of property for sale;
-- Six price changes;
-- Four accepted offers;
-- One property going under contract, and
-- Seven closings.

For more:  

Times Square Overcomes a Seedy Period

Iconic district...

The Great White Way.

Times Square, the world-famous intersection at 42nd Street, is synonymous with bright lights, Justin Gmoser reports on businessinsider.com.

For a fascinating video on how New Yorkers have worked on the redevelopment and revitalization of the iconic midtown district:  http://www.businessinsider.com/bright-lights-times-square-actually-relics-from-secret-seedy-past-2016-3

Photo: Tumblr.com. 

The U.S. Navy: The World's Best Marks Its Founding

Happy anniversary...

Celebrating the christening of the USS Gerald Ford, the world's mightiest aircraft carrier.

Tomorrow marks the founding of the U.S. Navy by the Continental Congress 241 years ago.

For a slide show of some of the ships in the best fleet in the world that continues to help keep America strong and free everyday: http://www.cnet.com/pictures/americas-fighting-ships-from-smallest-to-largest/

For more about the Navy's history: https://www.yahoo.com/news/happy-215th-anniversary-u-navy-department-090057428.html

Photo: Pinterest.

How Much Exercise is Best?

Health notes...

Mixing it up.

Researchers set out to learn exactly how much exercise you need to make a difference in your health, Emmanuel Ocbazghi reports on businessinsider.com.

The results showed that more exercise isn't necessarily better, he wrote.

For an interesting video on the study:  http://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-exercise-you-need-life-study-science-2016-4

Photo: Pinterest.

The Science of Hitting a Fastball

Batter up...

And it's a hit.

Hitters only have 125 milliseconds to gauge the average Major League fastball -- less than the blink of an eye, Alex Kuzoian reports on businessinsider.com.

Which begs the question: how is it humanly possible?

For a video explanation of the science behind hitting a fastball:  http://www.businessinsider.com/science-major-league-fastball-brain-reaction-time-2016-4

Photo: Pinterest.

Start Your New Week With a Chuckle

Fun...

Hmm. Virtual reality has been around longer than we thought.

Start your week with some fun and a chuckle:  

-- Ally:  Wishing well:  https://www.ispot.tv/ad/ANCh/ally-bank-wishing-well

-- Ally: Swimming pool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOoE3l6X8tI

-- Dos Equis: Most interesting man:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM6jK4VI724

-- FedEx: Passive aggressive:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J97knhJQcug

-- Chase: New take: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2xAiDVf7gA

Photo: giphy.com. 

Musical Moments: Beethoven, Moonlight Sonata

Exquisite...

Beethoven.

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

To mark International Observe the Moon Night, here is Beethoven's exquisite Moonlight Sonata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tr0otuiQuU

Photo: Pinterest.

Darien Finishes Busy Real Estate Week

Weekly update...

Half Dome, Yosemite.

Darien finished a busy residential real estate week today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- 14 new listings of property for sale;

-- 15 price changes;

-- Five accepted offers;

-- Two properties going under contract, and

-- Four closings.

For more:  

How to Organize Your Refrigerator

Tips...

  I'm a beer.

Stop putting your milk in your refrigerator door, and stop putting your bread on top of the fridge, Justin Gmoser reports on businessinsider.com.

It turns out that seemingly harmless mistakes such as these can make a big difference in the freshness and safety of your food and drink, Gmoser wrote.

For a video on the right way to organize your refrigerator:  http://www.businessinsider.com/placing-food-fridge-science-2014-10

Photo:  Tumblr.com.

Ferrari Reveals Fastest Ever Convertible

Rapido...

Ferrari's speedy new Aperta convertible.

Ferrari went to extremes when it unveiled two new cars at the Paris Motor Show Thursday, Peter Valdes-Depena reports on cnn.com.

One was a less expensive version of the CTC4Lusso model; the other was a convertible version of the LaFerrari hybrid extreme supercar priced at $2.2 million.

For more, including a video on the speedy new convertible:  http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/29/luxury/ferrari-gtc4-lusso-aperta/

Photo: Pinterest.

Meet Pixel, Google's New iPhone Contender

Debut today...

New Google Pixel phones.

Google is embarking on a wholesale revamp of its mobile phone strategy, debuting a pair of slick and powerful handsets that for the first time will go head-to-head with Apple Inc.'s iconic iPhone, Mark Gurman reports today on bloomberg.com.

Alphabet Inc.'s Google on Tuesday unveiled the Pixel and larger Pixel XL, the first phone that were conceptionalized, designed, engineered and tested in-house, Gurman wrote.

For more, including a video of today's announcement: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-04/behind-the-pixel-google-s-first-real-threat-to-apple-s-iphone

Photo: Google.com.

Albuquerque's Annual Balloon Fiesta Takes-off

Colorful...

Flying high.

Hot air balloons of different shapes and sizes took off for the skies in Albuquerque yesterday for the 45th annual International Balloon Fiesta, nbcnews.com reported.

For a video of the colorful spectacle over the Land of Enchantment this year:  http://www.nbcnews.com/video/watch-majestic-first-day-of-new-mexico-balloon-fest-777318979538

Photo: Pinterest.  

Put on a Smile for Your New Week

Enjoy...

Neat trick.

-- TDAmeritrade: Alerts: https://www.ispot.tv/ad/Ay5W/td-ameritrade-custom-sousaphone-alerts

-- TDAmeritrade: Invest in Your Goals: https://www.ispot.tv/ad/Atbw/td-ameritrade-moments-that-matter-invest-in-your-goals

-- Citi: Load Bearing Wall:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_yJ2jTXoY0

-- Citi: Text:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA0V4P_Qqrc

-- GEICO: No shame:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLsdOoA1Nmk

-- GEICO: Mount Rushmore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDhZTFI5L3I

Photo: Pinterest.