Rowayton 1Q Real Estate Results Drop

Quarterly update...

Towing Out of South Norwalk, Christopher Blossom.

Rowayton residential real estate results for the first quarter of 2017 dropped, according to the Darien MLS.

For the latest Rowayton update as of today:  

Photo: jrusselljinishian.com.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report:  Smile: Your New Week's Here.

Darien Sees 1Q Mixed Real Estate Results

Quarterly update...

Encounter at The Horn, Charles Peterson.

Darien saw mixed residential real estate results at the end of the first quarter of 2017, according to the Darien MLS.

For the latest Darien update as of today: 

Photo: jrusselljinishian.com.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Smile: Your New Week is Here.

Darien Wraps up Active Real Estate Week

Weekly update...

Signs of spring.

Darien wrapped up an active residential real estate market in the week ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- 11 new listings of property for sale;

-- 12 price changes;

-- Seven accepted offers;

-- No properties going under contract, and

-- Five closings.

For more:

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Darien and Rowayton 1Q real estate updates.

What it Costs to Make Money

Adding it up...

Examples of American bills, except for one.

What does it cost to make money?

For a video with production costs ranging from a penny to a $1,000 bill:  https://twitter.com/businessinsider/status/838790550790643712/video/1 (If audio doesn't play, stop and restart the video.)

A $10 bill costs 9.9 cents to produce.

For a list of famous Americans on U.S. bills, including the correct likeness on the bill in the slide show above with the wrong illustration: http://www.marshu.com/articles/presidents-on-us-united-states-paper-bills-currency.php

Did you find the odd bill?

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: The latest Darien real estate update.

New Study Underscores the Benefits of Walking

Health tip...

The Beatles out for a stroll.

Taking 10,000 steps per day is often suggested as a desirable exercise goal for people who wish to improve their health. But a new study of postal workers in Scotland suggests that that number could be too conservative and that, to best protect our hearts, many of us might want to start moving quite a bit more, Gretchen Reynolds reports on nytimes.com.

The findings imply that there are good reasons to get up from our desk chairs and move, even more than many of us may already be trying to do, says Dr. William Tigbe, a physician and public health researcher at the University of Warwick who led the study, according to Reynolds.

“It takes effort,” he says, but we can accumulate 15,000 steps a day by walking briskly for two hours at about a four-mile-per-hour pace, Tigbe says, according to Reynolds.

For more:  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/22/well/move/should-15000-steps-a-day-be-our-new-exercise-target.html?smid=nytcore-iphone-share&smprod=nytcore-iphone&_r=0

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: What it Costs to Make Money.

Bizarre Places to Stash Old Lenin Statues

Looking for Lenin...

Lenin.

“I’d say on average it’s one week of work for one Lenin,” says photographer Niels Ackermannn of the project, “Looking for Lenin,” Sara Stacke reports on nationalgeographic.com.

Jointly produced with French journalist Sebastien Gobert, the series currently includes images of 70 different statues of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin that were toppled in Ukraine’s quest to rid the landscape of Soviet symbols, Stacke wrote.

That’s about 490 days that Ackermann and Gobert have dedicated to tracking down and photographing Lenin in places like storage units, dumpsters, car trunks, closets, fields, artist studios, and museums. 

For more on the odd quest about the early Soviet leader: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2017/02/vladimir-lenin-heads-statue-destroyed-monument-ukraine/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_tw20170225proof-leninstatues&utm_campaign=Content&sf58460198=1#close

Lenin speaking during the Russian Revolution, 1917,

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: New Study Underscores Benefits of Walking.

Building Inspectors' Weird Discoveries

Oddities...

Do-it-yourself projects can come back to haunt buyers and sellers.

When a home is sold, its many secrets can come out of the closet.  Brokers, potential buyers and home inspectors step inside properties that may have been completely private for years, Ronda Kaysen reports on nytimes. com.

They peer into basements, attics and electrical panels and find a home's shortcomings. Such moments offer a rare glimpse inside the workings of a place, and can uncover shoddy renovations, failed do-it-yourself projects, neglect and...baffling remnants of the lives of former occupants, Kaysen wrote.

For more of Kaysen's recent report: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/24/realestate/home-inspectors-on-their-weirdest-discoveries.html?_r=0

What were they thinking?

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Bizarre Places for old Lenin statutes.

Musical Moments: A Man and a Woman

Classic...

A poster from the 1966 French film.

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

Today's selection is music from the classic French film, A Man and a Woman:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izotHO8p8h4

For a full orchestra rendition of the film's score:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt8VL4q40h8

Photo: Pinterest

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: 

Smile: We're Off to a New Week.

Musical Moments: Rogers, The Gambler

Know when to hold 'em...

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

Today's selection is Kenny Rogers' famous The Gambler:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj4nJ1YEAp4

Photo: Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Smile: A Whole New Week's Ahead.

Darien Real Estate Activity Rises

Weeekly update...

Late Winter at the Dam.

Darien residential real estate activity rose in the week ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- 16 new listings of property for sale;

-- 13 price changes;

-- 10 accepted offers;

-- No properties going under contract, and

-- One closing.

For more:

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Kenny Rogers, The Gambler.

Smile: A Whole New Week's Ahead

Fun...

Oh, and once it's moved, you can walk to train.

For some fun to start your new week:

-- VW: Zit:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLaW9iHWoQY

-- VW: Mountain Bike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWkZgZqB3OA

-- Charles Schwab; Not Again:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dva608hGVO0

-- Les Schwab: Thanks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoAxr3sQYqw

-- GEICO; Racquetball Crushed:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At2LgjCEsSA

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest, Tumblr.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Building Inspectors' Weird Discoveries.

Astronauts Are Spacewalking Underwater

Training in the deep...

An astronaut in training under the sea,

At NASA's Aquaris habitat, astronauts live and work underwater to prepare for long-term space missions.

For an excellent video on undersea training for astronauts in the Florida Keys:  http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2017/02/22/astronauts-are-spacewalking-underwater.cnnmoney/index.html?sr=twCNN022417astronauts-are-spacewalking-underwater.cnnmoney0610AMStoryLink&linkId=34826544

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: The latest Darien real estate update.

Why Brexit is Such a Royal Pain for the Brits

Complicating life...

Out, out, out.

For a quick, excellent, bloomberg video on why Brexit is such a royal pain for the Brits:https://twitter.com/business/status/835394844654592000/video/1  (If audio doesn't play, stop and restart video.)

Sure about this, old chap?

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Astronauts Are Spacewalking Under Water.

Good Heart-Healthy Foods

Live longer...

For a video on foods that are good for you: https://twitter.com/businessinsider/status/840261996062826496/video/1  If audio doesn't play, stop and restart video.

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Why Brexit is Such a Royal Pain for the Brits.

America's Most Expensive Zip Codes

Living high...

Zip codes across the U.S.

For a new video with the 15 most expensive zip codes in America: https://twitter.com/businessinsider/status/841303855279235072/video/1

If audio doesn't play, stop and restart video.

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Good heart-healthy foods.

A Playful Elephant vs. a Tense Rhino

Let's play...

Fun on the playground.

Elephants can be difficult to read, 

Recently, footage of an elephant approaching a rhino was seen as aggressive behavior, Sara Gibbons reports on nationalgeographic.com.

But an expert on elephant behavior called it: It was an invitation to play.

For a video of an encounter between a playful elephant and a tense rhino: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtYqyym-0Q0

For more on Gibbons' report:  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/02/rhino-african-elephant-animal-behavior/

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: America's most expensive zip codes.

Musical Moments: Clapton, Danny Boy

An old favorite...

A cloudy day in Ireland.

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

Here's an old favorite: Eric Clapton's wonderful Danny Boy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP-VCRyNIC4 and just song with still of Clapton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuznaEyzBzs

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: A playful elephant.

Darien Ends an Active Real Estate Week

Weekly update...

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Darien ended an active residential real estate week today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- 10 new listings of property for sale;

-- Five price changes;

-- Seven accepted offers;

-- No properties going under contract, and

-- Eight closings.

For more:

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Eric Clapton, Danny Boy.

Tipping Tips

Suggestions...

We recently released a cheat sheet for holiday tipping. Still, you may be wondering how much to tip the rest of the year, Jennifer Saranow Schultz reports on nytimes.com.

To help you, here’s a rundown of some suggestions for everyday tipping at hotels, restaurants, salons and elsewhere:https://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/13/a-guide-for-everyday-tipping/?_r=0

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: The latest Darien real estate update.

Food Fights and Culture Wars

Culinary fads...

Making an epic sandwich.

Not long ago an editor asked me for one of those end-of-the-year pieces predicting “the kale of 2017,”  Lisa Abend reports on nytimes.com. 

That I knew exactly what she was talking about is less a comment on my clairvoyance than on the current ubiquity of food trends, Abend wrote

 And just as our infatuation with kale salads was born of phenomena like the farm-to-table movement and the elevation of the chef to social arbiter, the culinary fads and innovations of previous eras reflected their own concerns and conflicts, she added.

Tom Nealon brings several of these synergies to glorious light in the eclectic, free-ranging “Food Fights and Culture Wars.” An antiquarian bookseller and food history blogger, he unites his two passions in an engaging work that explores moments when the taste for a new food sprang from or collided with larger forces, Abend wrote.

For more about Nealon's new book: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/03/01/books/review/food-fights-and-culture-wars-tom-nealon.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&smvar=wkndbau&referer=http://m.facebook.com

Photos; Pinterest, Google.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Tipping Tips.

Home Renovations That Help/Hurt Value

Be careful...

A kitchen renovation that adds value.

If you’re into renovation projects, updating and revamping your home can be a lot of fun. But before you get too excited about knocking down walls and setting up a custom movie room, you might want to consider resale value, Brook Nally reports on rismedia.com.

Flashy renovations don’t always yield the best returns, so you’ll need to take care when picking projects, Nally added.

To make things easier for you, here are four remodels to avoid and four to invest in, according to Nally: http://blog.rismedia.com/2017/home-renovations-hurt-property-value/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email

Photos: Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Food Fights and Culture Wars.

Caution: New File System in Next Apple iOS Update

Back up your files...

iPhone models over the years..

If you're the type person who immediately updates their iPhone to the latest version of iOS every time new software drops, here's a friendly warning: Hold off a moment and back up the files on your device before installing the new version, Brett Williams reports on mashable.com.

While it's generally good advice to update, you'll want to be extra sure to secure your files before blindly pulling the trigger on iOS 10.3.

For more on the new Apple release expected at the end of this month and why you should be cautious before upgrading: http://mashable.com/2017/03/10/update-apple-file-system-ios-103/#Xp.3Okt0hSq6

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Home Renovations That Help/Hurt Value.

Drive a Tank, Shoot 'Em up With a Machine Gun in Texas

"I think I killed a hill.."

Tanks also make good crushers.

Looking for something different to do?

Here's a fun video on how you can drive a tank in Texas and fire a real gun: http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/02/travel/driving-tanks-for-fun/index.html?sr=twCNN030217driving-tanks-for-fun0221PMVODtopLink&linkId=35045539

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Caution: New File System in Next Apple iOS Update

Musical Moments: Attenborough, What a Wonderful World

Terrific...

Mom playing with her new pups.

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

Today's selection is a terrific video of  David Attenborough with a What a Wonderful World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8WHKRzkCOY

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Drive a Tank, Shoot 'Em up in Texas.

Buyers Active in Darien Real Estate Market

Weekly update...

Darien's Ring's End Bridge after a storm.

Buyers were busy in Darien's residential real estate market during the week ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- 20 new listings of property for sale;
-- Eight price changes;
-- 12 accepted offers;
-- One property going under contract, and
-- Four closings.

For more:

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: What a Wonderful World.

How to Make Your Smartphone More Secure

Self-defense...

Is your phone really secure enough to use on the Internet?

Your phone is designed to invisibly communicate everywhere, all the time, with a number of different infrastructures, and it's this functionality that enables you to make calls, send messages, and use the Internet while on the move, Fieke Jansen and Helen Kilbey report on slate.com.

It's also what makes your phone a fundamentally insecure device, they wrote.

Still, there are a number of things you can do to make your phone more secure.  

For some self-defense tips: http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2017/02/cybersecurity_self_defense_how_to_increase_security_on_your_smartphone.html

Photos: Pinterest, Google.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: The latest Darien real estate update.

WikiLeaks: The CIA Targeted Phones, Computers, TVs

Protect yourself...

You can help to avoid hacking by updating your devices.

The trove of information on alleged hacking tools released by WikiLeaks, which reveals the CIA has the capability to hack consumer devices, will raise questions for users and technology companies alike, Alex Hern reports on theguardian.com.

Everyday consumer devices, including smartphones running iOS and Android operating systems, Windows and Mac computers, and even smart TVs made by manufacturers such as Samsung, have all been targeted by the CIA, Hern wrote.

But many of the hacking tools detailed by the leak, which appears to date to mid-2016, have since been patched by the vendors, meaning that a user with a fully up-to-date device would be safe from those avenues of attack, he added.

For more:https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/07/cia-targeting-devices-smartphones-pc-tv-wikileaks?CMP=twt_gu

Photos: Pinterest.

Tomorrow on The Allen Report: Making Your Smartphone More Secure.