Jump into the New Week with a Smile

Fun...

Jump into the new week.

Some fun videos to start the new week:

-- Progressive: Flo; after school:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=556QydhOASc

-- GEICO: The final countdown:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH1biQdyiQI

-- GEICO: Customer satisfaction:  https://www.geico.com/more/geico-community/commercials/oddly-appropriate-segues/

-- GEICO: Cats: Ignore people: https://www.geico.com/more/geico-community/commercials/cats-dont-care-in-latest-geico-commercial/

-- Mercedes: AMG GT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acNcfhwP34o

Musical Moments: Pavarotti, Nessun Dorma

Il Maestro...

Luciano Pavarotti.

A world famous old favorite by a master --  Nessun Dorma by Il Maestro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJbG8abkT4Q

Photo: Pinterest/alhirschfeld.com

Darien Sees Real Estate Uptick

Weekly update...

Connecticut fall.

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;

-- Three price changes;

-- Four accepted offers;

-- One property going under contract, and

-- Eight closings.

For more: 

Great Views From Above

What a sight...

Alaskan landscape from a seaplane.

When I decided to write a book about my job as an airline pilot, I knew one thing for certain. I knew I’d start the book with an invitation for readers to send me their own favorite photographs from the window seat, Mark Vanhoenacker wrote on atlasobscura.com.

This was important to me for a couple of reasons. One of the pleasures of being an airline pilot is the chance to interact with individual travelers. I find myself talking with passengers in airport terminals (people often chat to crew in elevators, I’ve noticed), on rental car shuttles, and of course on the airplane itself, Vanhoenacker added.

For more, including some great views from above: http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/25-incredible-views-from-plane-passengers-windows-collected-by-an-airline-pilot?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=bbctravel

Photo: Edward Applebaum/atlasobscura.com.

New Aston Martin: Different in a Good Way

As fluid as silk...

Aston Martin DB9 GT

The Aston Martin 2016 DB9 GT isn’t all that different from its predecessor except for some very key improvements, Hannah Elliott reports on bloomberg.com.

For Elliott's look at this new $200,000 car and a bloomberg.com video by Adam Wolffbrandt: http://bloom.bg/1Xrxvvb

Photo: Pinterest.

Susan Bennett: The American Siri

Your personal assistant...

Susan Bennett, the American voice of Siri.

Apple users are all familiar with Siri, the company’s voice-activated personal assistant that helps out with everything from speed dialling, scheduling meetings and searching for directions, Hannah Jane Parkinson reports on theguardian.com.

Users of iOS have had the privilege of Siri’s help since its introduction as part of iOS 5 for the iPhone 4S in 2011, and the function was also added to the third-generation iPads a year later, Parkinson wrote.

But, just who is Siri?

We tracked three Siris down. Jon Briggs, who is also the voice of The Weakest Link, was the first British male voice for Siri. Susan Bennett is familiar as the American female Siri – as well as the the voice of Delta Airlines. And Karen Jacobsen is famous in Australia as the “GPS girl” – but her son still finds it strange to talk to a version of her that is trapped in a phone. We find out what it’s like to be in the pockets of millions – and what it’s like to answer the world’s questions, Parkinsonn added.

For more:  http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/12/siri-real-voices-apple-ios-assistant-jon-briggs-susan-bennett-karen-jacobsen

Photo: Susan Bennett/theguardian.com.

The New New York Skyline

Going up...

A growing Manhattan.

Manhattan is in the midst of an unprecedented boom in tall buildings, nationalgeographic.com reports.

Before 2004, Manhattan was home to 28 skyscrapers 700 feet and taller. Since then, an additional 13 have been built, 15 are under construction, and 19 are proposed—47 more in all, according to nationalgeographic.com.

To see how these additions are rapidly—and radically—changing the skyline: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/new-york-city-skyline-tallest-midtown-manhattan/

Photo: nationalgeograhic.com.