Musical Moments: Music From The Vietnam War

Classics...

An outstanding series.

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

Like millions of others, I watched The Vietnam War, the new epic on PBS by Ken Burns and his team, this week.

It's an outstanding series that features more than 120 popular songs from the war years.  

 Here's a sampling of some of the classics:

 Procol Harum: A Whiter Shade of Pale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BADDeIQWVQ

Marvin Gaye: What's Going On: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-kA3UtBj4M

Wilson Pickett: Mustang Sally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF1cCdgl4uM

Bob Dylan: Don't Think Twice, It's All Right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp1-CrwAw1M

Joan Baez; Where Have All The Flowers Gone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3ly8cyWvkw

Simon and Garfunkle: Sounds of Silence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=4fWyzwo1xg0

Simon and Garfunkle: Bridge Over Troubled Waters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_a46WJ1viA

Paul McCartney: Let it Be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6T5C-jzSH0

Photo: Pinterest.

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The Latest Real Estate Update.

Darien Ends Busy Real Estate Week

Weekly update...

Quiet time.

Darien ended a busy residential real estate week today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Ten new listings of property for sale;

-- Nine price changes;

-- Six accepted offer;

-- One property going under contract, and

-- Four closings.

For more:  

Next time on The Allen Report:

Musical Moments: Music From The Vietnam War.

Why Hurricane Maria Hit Puerto Rico so Hard

Wide-spread devastation...

Puerto Rico's agriculture and farmers were hammered by Maria.

For a BBC video on the terrible conditions in Puerto Rico in the hurricane's aftermath:  http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-41408570/why-hurricane-maria-hit-puerto-rico-so-hard

For a CNN video on how people are coping: http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/us/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria/index.html

For a series of still photos of damage and recovery efforts underway: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41352620

For an update on U.S. Government efforts in Puerto Rico: http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/26/us/response-harvey-irma-maria/index.html

Breaking news today: President Trump waives shipping law for Puerto Ricans awaiting hurricane aid: http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/28/politics/puerto-rico-governor-white-house-jones-act-waiver/index.html

Photos: Tumblr.

Next time on The Allen Report:

The Latest Darien Weekly Real Estate Update.

Now It's Twitter's Turn With Congress

Russian election meddling...

Russia's election meddling is stirring up some rough air for Twitter.

Facebook might be in the spotlight over its role and impact in last year’s U.S. election, but it’s not the only one facing scrutiny, Selina Wang reports on bloomberg.com.

Twitter’s representatives will be meeting with the Senate Intelligence Panel on Thursday to talk about the spread of misinformation and bots, or automated accounts, on its platform, Wang wrote.

Both social-media companies have been struggling to get in front of the narrative that they have been slow to recognize and address problems of manipulation on their sites, she added.

Mark Zuckerberg at first denied that Facebook could have had any impact on the election, while Twitter has repeatedly said that its open and real-time platform serves as an antidote to fake news, Wang noted.

For more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-27/after-facebook-it-s-twitter-s-turn-to-face-congress

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Next time on The Allen Report:

Why Hurricane Maria Hit Puerto Rico so Hard.

How Russia's Meddling Became Facebook's Problem

Russian election meddling...

The spotlight in the Russian election meddling scandal turns to Facebook.

Facebook finds itself at the red-hot center of the investigation into Russia's clandestine involvement in the 2016 U.S. election, Sarah Frier reports on bloomberg.com.

The social-media giant said it has so far found $100,000 in advertising spending linked to the Internet Research Agency, a Russian troll farm with ties to the Kremlin, Frier wrote.

Facebook turned over details on the ads to Congress and to Robert Mueller, who is leading the criminal investigation into Russia's campaign meddling and possible links to President Donald Trump's associates, she added.

For more, including an excellent Q&A on Facebook's Russian problem: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-26/how-russia-s-meddling-became-facebook-s-problem-quicktake-q-a

Photos: Pinterest.

Next time on The Allen Report.

Now It's Twitter's Turn With Congress.

Building Resilience in Midlife

Tips...

Enjoy stress breaks.

Much of the scientific research on resilience — our ability to bounce back from adversity — has focused on how to build resilience in children, Tara Parker-Pope reports on nytimes.com.

But what about the grown-ups?

The good news is that some of the qualities of middle age — a better ability to regulate emotions, perspective gained from life experiences and concern for future generations — may give older people an advantage over the young when it comes to developing resilience, said Adam Grant, a management and psychology professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

For some tips: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/well/mind/how-to-boost-resilience-in-midlife.html

Photos: Pinterest.

Next time on The Allen Report: 
How Russia's Meddling Became Facebook's Problem.

The Suburb of the Future, Almost Here

Making suburbs better...

Using a smartphone to call for a self-parking car.

The suburbanization of America marches on. That movement includes millennials, who, as it turns out, are not a monolithic generation of suburb-hating city dwellers, Alan Berger reports on nytimes.com.

Most of that generation represents a powerful global trend. They may like the city, but they love the suburbs even more, Berger wrote.

They are continuing to migrate to suburbs. According to the latest Census Bureau statistics, 25- to 29-year-olds are about a quarter more likely to move from the city to the suburbs as vice versa; older millennials are more than twice as likely, he added.

But those wanting to live in the suburbs also want changes.  For a look at how suburbs may evolve:  https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/09/15/sunday-review/future-suburb-millennials.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&referer=http://m.facebook.com

Photos: K. Allen, nytimes.com.

Next time on The Allen Report:
Building Resilience in Midlife.

Smile: Enjoy Your Brand New Week

Fun...

Tricky lies will get you every time.

For fun videos:  

-- Progressive, Heightened security: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnoqpafXJb0

-- GEICO: Runway models:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whBsebj74hU

-- AT&T: Unlimited feat:  https://www.ispot.tv/ad/w7n_/at-and-t-unlimited-plus-unlimited-feat-mark-wahlberg-james-marsden

-- Purina: Beneful: https://www.ispot.tv/ad/wd5w/purina-beneful-grain-free-superfoods

-- VW: Look for America: http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/volkswagen-looks-for-america-with-help-from-simon-garfunkel-in-this-poetic-cross-country-trip/

-- Honda: Keep the peace: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/06/2018-honda-odyssey-commercial-kids-awful-honda-solution/

Photos Pinterest.

Next time on The Allen Report: 

The Suburb of the Future, Almost Here.

Musical Moments: The Air Force Hymn

Happy anniversary...

An Air Force Thunderbird.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force.

Wishing all who serve and have served a happy anniversary with the Air Force hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTpCrGm5lFA

For a special video: What it's like to fly with the elite Air Force Thunderbirds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTVV7zHJ8Ek&feature=youtu.be

A graduation day at the Air Force Academy.

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Next time on The Allen Report: 

Smile: Enjoy Your Brand New Week,

New Listings, Price Changes Top Darien Real Estate Results

Weekly update...

Fall is on the way.

New listings and price adjustments topped Darien residential real estate results in the week ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- 15 new listings of property for sale;

-- 16 price changes;

-- Five accepted offers;

-- No properties going under contract, and

-- Three closings.

For more:  

Photos: Pinterest.

Next time on The Allen Report:

Musical Moments: The Air Force Hymn.

Why is American Medical Care So Expensive?

Congress tackles yet another health bill...

Why is medical care in the U.S. so costly?

As Congress debates a new bill, Dr. Sanjay Gupta asks: Why is health care in the U.S. so expensive?

For a timely video:  http://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2017/09/19/why-us-health-care-so-expensive-orig.cnn/video/playlists/health-care-fight/ (If audio doesn't play, stop and restart video.)

For Jimmy Kimmel on Sen. Bill Cassidy's health care bill:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOlibbx5sx0

To call your senators about health care: 202-224-3121.

Photos: Pinterest.

Next time on The Allen Report:

The Latest Darien Real Estate Update.

Pilots' Tips for Dealing With Stress

Self-care...

Inside the cockpit of a 747 on final approach to landing in Hong Kong.

Most of us are not airline pilots, and we might not have their unpredictable work schedules, but we can all learn something from their self-care routines about reducing stress, Simone Scully reports on upworthy.com.

The important thing -- whether you work around the clock, have a sedentary desk job, or just feel a lot of stress in your day-to-day life -- is to remember to take time for yourself, Scully wrote.

For some self-care tips: http://www.upworthy.com/how-pilots-deal-with-stress-can-teach-us-all-something-about-the-importance-of-self-care?c=sr1&s=p&sr_source=lift_facebook

Pilots on the flight deck of a 737.

Photos: Gizmodo, Pinterest

Next time on The Allen Report: 

Why is American Medical Care so Expensive?

How's the Real Estate Market?

"The Goldilocks Market: Just right"...

The housing market: "Not too hot, not too cold," an expert reports.

Giving his perspective on the national residential real estate market, Ron Peltier, HomeServices of America chairman, referred to the first 8.5 months of 2017 as a “Goldilocks” market, according to rismedia.com.

“It’s not too hot, it’s not too cold…it’s just right,” he explained. “Although it’s very hot in unit-driven markets or entry-level markets where there is no inventory.” 

In fact, keeping with his movie-title theme, Peltier referred to the entry-level homebuyer market as “gone in 30 seconds. Conversely, we’re seeing a very slow marketplace in the luxury market as it relates to units,” he added.

For more on Peltier's comments at RISMedia's 2017 Real Estate CEO Exchange last week at the Harvard Club in New York: http://rismedia.com/2017/09/17/state-real-estate-good-bad-ugly/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=eNews#close

Photos: Giphy.

Next time on The Allen Report: 

Pilots' Tips for Dealing With Stress.

RT, Sputnik and Russia's New War on the West

Fake news, hacking and more...

RT International's newsroom in Moscow.

Jim Ruttenberg, a New York Times reporter, traced a false story about Lisa, a German teenager and how it morphed into an early strike with diplomatic consequences in a new Russian war on the West.

Ruttenberg's report is the cover story of Sunday's New York Times Magazine.

For an indepth look at the Kremlin's "hybrid war" and its effects, including those in the U.S.: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/13/magazine/rt-sputnik-and-russias-new-theory-of-war.html?mcubz=0

Putin talking to RT journalists in Moscow, 2013.

Photos: nytimes.com.

Next time on The Allen Report:

How's the Real Estate Market?

Smile: Kickoff Your New Week With Some Fun

Fun...

Whoa! Curse you, Red Baron.  

For fun videos to start your new week:

-- Nature Valley: Be a Powerful Force:  https://www.ispot.tv/ad/wnoT/nature-valley-be-a-powerful-force

-- Thumbtack: Life is a Project: https://www.ispot.tv/ad/w5X1/thumbtack-life-is-a-project

-- Thumbtack: From Plans to Plumber: https://www.ispot.tv/ad/wbi2/thumbtack-from-plans-to-plumber

-- Thumbtack: To Do: https://www.ispot.tv/ad/ALXb/thumbtack-to-do

-- Progressive: Existential Crisis: https://www.ispot.tv/ad/w5K4/progressive-existential-crisis

-- Progressive: Theory: https://www.ispot.tv/ad/Az_P/progressive-theory

Photos: Pinterest, ispot.tv.

Next time on The Allen Report:

RT, Sputnik and Russia's New War on the West.

Musical Moments: Nelson, September Song

A classic...

And these few precious days I'll spend with you.

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

Today's selection is a classic -- Willie Nelson's September Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7810J78TmbU

Photos: Pinterest.

Next time on The Allen Report:

Smile: Kickoff Your New Week With Some Fun.

Darien Ends Active Real Estate Week

Weekly update...

Terrific.

Darien ended an active residential real estate week today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- 16 new listings of property for sale;

-- 15 price changes;

-- One accepted offer;

-- One property going under contract, and

--  Seven closings.

For more:  

Next time on The Allen Report: 

Musical Moments: Nelson, September Song.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

New best seller...

Neil deGrasse Tyson demonstrating the predictability of a pendulum.

Time is relative, but some of us still don't have enough of it to fully take in the most salient aspects of such topics as dark matter, exoplanets, the Big Bang, and why so many objects in outer space are spherical, cbsnews.com reports.

Fortunately we have Neil deGrasse, whose latest book, "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry" offers a shortcut to scientific literacy, with entertaining, bite-size chapters that explore cosmic questions.

For more:  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/book-excerpt-neil-degrasse-tyson-astrophysics-for-people-in-a-hurry/

For Tyson talking about his new book with Charlie Rose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKUhYat-qMo&feature=youtu.be

For an excellent video on Tyson and his love of astrophysics: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/neil-degrasse-tyson-our-joyful-guide-to-the-stars/

New hit.

Photos: Google, Pinterest.

Next time on The Allen Report: 

The Latest Darien Real Estate Update.

Inside New York City's Priciest Rentals

Rentals at $20,000 a month and up...

A 2,400 square-foot loft that rents for $22,000 a month.

When Allan Rothstein decided to rent his NoHo loft on Crosby Street a few years ago, the $22,000-a-month price tag wasn’t a major concern, Caroline Biggs reports on nytimes.com.

For Mr. Rothstein, a venture capitalist and a partner of gin-maker Empire Spirits Project, the loft offered more than just 2,400 square feet of light-filled living space — it offered freedom. “Flexibility is important to me,” he said. “As a renter, I have the ability to up and leave if I choose.”

For more on expensive rentals and why people choose them over buying: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/01/realestate/inside-new-york-citys-priciest-rentals.html

The living room of an $80,000 a month rental on Park Ave.

Photos: nytimes.com.

Next time on The Allen Report: 

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.

Apple's Gaggle of New Gadgets

New watches, tv, iPhones...

Apple's top-of-the-line iPhone X introduced today.

Apple announced a gaggle of new products today, ranging from Apple Watches and AppleTV to iPhones.

For an overview of the announcement:  https://www.wired.com/2017/09/everything-apple-announced-at-its-2017-iphone-event/

For a 75 second video on the new products:  https://twitter.com/WIRED/status/907838973229387781/video/1 (If audio doesn't play, stop and restart video.)

For more on the announcements:

-- Introducing iPhone X: http://time.com/4938527/iphone-x-hands-on/?utm_campaign=time&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&xid=time_socialflow_twitter

-- iPhone X: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-features-iphone-x-apple-2017-9

-- Face ID: https://twitter.com/TechCrunch/status/907714572970102784/video/1 (If audio doesn't play, stop and restart video.)

-- Face ID: Oops, watch Face ID fail and presenter's quick recovery:  https://www.theguardian.com/technology/video/2017/sep/12/apple-iphone-x-facial-recognition-face-id-fail-launch-video?CMP=twt_gu

-- Apple TV: https://www.cnet.com/pictures/apple-tv-4k-pictures/?ftag=COS-05-10aaa0b&linkId=42138923

Photos: Giphy, Google.

Next time on The Allen Report:  

Inside New York City's Priciest Rentals.

What a Border Collie Taught a Linguist About Language

The language between man and dog...

Relax, boss.  I've got this.

Border Collies, the elite athletes of the canine universe, are working dogs, Adam Rogers reports on wired.com.

But it turns out they can learn words as well as commands.

For an intriguing report on what research is discovering about the language between man and dog: https://www.wired.com/story/what-a-border-collie-taught-a-linguist-about-language?mbid=social_twitter

Hey, how about one with me and a lamb?

Photos: Pinterest.

Next time on The Allen Report: 

Apple's Gaggle of New Gadgets.