Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Through the Keyhole - January 2017



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     JANUARY 2017 turnkey-color-logo-white 7
Through the Keyhole

Informative & Interesting... not your everyday company newsletter.
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Happy New Year!
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Another year has come and most of us hoping that this new year will bring good things.

This is also the time of year when people are making resolutions. 

I could lay out a litany of cliché's pertaining to making 2017 great but I will dispense that thought as it's just a bunch of words...  What I will say is that I am very hopeful that this year will be a good year for small businesses (yours and mine) if just a few things promised become reality.  Lower taxes, pride in America and people spending money will always make for a better year.

I, for one, will admit that business has been a grind since oh, the twin towers fell.  It's been livable but a grind. Many of the people I talk to agree that we haven't seemed to get things moving for a long time. I hope this year may be the year we really move the needle.

It's hard to put into words but a good economy is really just a good feeling collectively.  If we all feel good, we spend money and everything is positive.  I may be overstating the obvious but I really think it could be just that simple. 

So if there is one thing I hope for besides love, health, wealth and happiness - it would be a new, prosperous economy where everyone benefits.  I know it's a longshot but wouldn't it be great if a rising tide lifted all boats and there was a renewed sense of America where we all stood as one.  I know we could use a big dose of unity.  And it wouldn't hurt if everyone had a little more in their wallets...

Cheers to a Happy New Year!


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And now for a new picture above- Can you guess where it is by looking through the keyhole?  "Home to many Cuban defectors, this city boasts the most Art Deco buildings in the world.  It's mostly man made beaches are frequently restocked with sand and you can see a cruise ship depart about every 20 minutes on the weekends." Can you guess the location?

Correct answers will be given recognition but half the fun is trying to figure it out.  The correct answer will be revealed in the subsequent issue.  Good luck and have fun.

If you like this newsletter, forward it to someone else or sign them up HERE.

As always, send any items you think are newsworthy, interesting or just plain odd to news@turnkey.pro

London, England - Keyhole Answer


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"Made famous by it's many landmarks, this City is really the gateway to Europe and a gem to visit any time of the year.  Christmas shopping is always an adventure at Harrod's."

Last month, Jason Ross won the location by guessing correctly.  Although Big Ben isn't a tough landmark to spot...

Although you needn't immerse yourself in a lot of homework before your first trip to London, it's important to understand that driving on the opposite side of the road isn't the only thing locals do differently from Americans. In addition to their own unique vocabulary for everyday words, there's that British sense of humor marked by BBC exports such as Monty Python, Black Adder and Jeeves and Wooster. If pageantry, palaces and serene parks are your cup of tea, London is a year-round adventure.

Currency

It is expensive to visit London.  Period.  1 British Pound = 1.23 USD

Domestic Beer ~£ 5
Gallon of Milk ~£ 3.5
Dozen Eggs ~£ 2.17

Etiquette

When dining out, your napkin should always be placed in your lap, not tucked under your chin. It's also important to remember that--unlike in the United States--you don't put your knife down to eat with your fork; meals are very much a two-handed affair throughout. Unless you're attending a dinner party--where it's acceptable to arrive 15 minutes late--strict punctuality is the British norm. Although it's common in American conversations with strangers to directly ask what someone does for a living, it's considered a bit invasive by the English. The better course is to engage in casual small talk that may or may not lead them to reveal their line of work. Speaking of conversations, the British rarely strike up any chatter with strangers when riding London's public transportation or waiting in line at a shop.

Transportation

Use a Black Cab or take the Tube.

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Food

Contrary to what I was told, the food is actually excellent in London.  I especially like the breakfasts which are served with beans (yes, beans).

10 Things to know about London

1. London is one of Europe’s largest cities

London has a population of 7.5 million people and covers 600 square miles which makes it one of Europe’s largest cities. Over 270 nationalities live there and between them they speak over 250 languages, more than any other city in the world.

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2. For travelling the ‘Tube’ buy a ‘travel card’ or an ‘Oyster Card’

London’s underground, better known as the ‘Tube’ transports over 1 billion people around the English capital every year. There are 12 lines in operation and because many of the city’s top attractions have their own stops, you’ll definitely use it at some stage.For buying tickets you should buy one of these two:
1.      Off-peak travelcard for zones 1 and 2: Costing just over £5, this will permit you unlimited travel on the tube within zones 1 and 2, which should be enough for any visitor to the city

2.      Oyster Card: These can be picked up at tube stations. They cost £3 and work on a pay as you go basis. Each journey then costs £1.50, but there is a ‘capping’ scheme where once you use a certain amount, it will stop taking money off your card. They make travelling on the tube cheaper, easier and quicker.

3. Many of the world’s most instantly recognisable landmarks are here

Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Buckinham Palace, Tower Bridge and more landmarks can be found in London. A great way to see lots of them in a short space of time is by going on a walk up the Thames from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge. First you’ll see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, then the London Eye, while further down the river you’ll see St Paul’s Cathedral, the Gherkin Building, Tate Modern, Tower of London and, of course, Tower Bridge .

4. The city’s top museums and galleries are free

Many of London’s top museums and galleries are free. This includes the Natural History Museum and Science Museum on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, and the Victoria and Albert Museum around the corner from here on Cromwell Road. Closer to the West End are the National Portrait Gallery on St Martin’s Place behind Trafalgar Square, along with the National Gallery which is actually on Trafalgar Square. The famous Tate Modern is also free, while the most popular of all is the British Museum on Great Russell Street which has over 7 million artefacts.

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5. There are lots of parks to chill out in

As London is such a busy city, it’s good to know there are lots of parks to chill out in. The biggest and best known is Hyde Park which is full of lakes and fountains, and is where you will find the famous ‘Speakers Corner’ where people come to speak their mind on all subjects every Sunday morning. Other parks worth checking out are St James’s Park and Green Park in front of Buckingham Palace, and Regents Park and Primrose Hill up in North London.

6. This is one of the best cities in the world for shopping

Some of the best known streets for shopping in London are Carnaby Street, Regent Street and Oxford Street. The famous department store Harrods can be found in Knightsbridge, while bargains can be found at the markets in Camden Town.

7. It’s got some really cool neighborhoods

Suburbs mentioned in the video are:

1.      Covent Garden: Home to lots of trendy clothes shops and restaurants. (Tube: Covent Garden)

2.      Soho: Full of bars and restaurants, and the city’s gay quarter. (Tubes: Piccadilly Circus / Tottenham Court Road)

3.      Camden Town: More like a big town than a big city due to its lock, markets, eclectic clothes shops and tattoo parlours. (Tube: Camden Town)

4.      Notting Hill: Extremely popular since the 1999 movie of the same name. Its main thoroughfare is Portobello Road which is lined with cafes and antique shops. You can even visit the shop where Hugh Grant’s character worked in the film. (Tubes: Notting Hill Gate, Ladbroke Grove)

8. You have to try some local specialties when eating out

Two famous local specialties are:
1.      Fish and chips: This speaks for itself! There all sorts of fish to try, but for authentic ‘fish and chips’ try cod. A great place to try it is The Golden Hind (73 Marylebone Lane; Tube: Bond St) off the top of Oxford Street

2.      Sausage and mash: This is sausage and mashed potatoes. Sausages are generally made from pork although there are lots of variations. To try this visit the S & M Cafe (48 Brushfield Street; Tube: Liverpool Street) in the east end of the city centre

9. Shop around when looking for discounted theatre tickets

Along with New York’s Broadway, London’s West End is the most famous theatre district in the world. The best known place to get discounted tickets is the TKTS Booth in Leicester Square but shop around other booths, also around Leicester Square, along with ones around Piccadilly Circus.

10. Go east rather than west for nightlife

Even though there are loads of bars around Piccadilly Circus and Soho in the West End, you should check out some of areas east of the city for bars like Shoreditch and Hoxton. Bars mentioned in the video are:
1.      Big Chill Bar (Dray Walk, off Brick Lane; Tube Liverpool Street, Aldgate East): One of London’s coolest bars and has different DJs every night of the week.

2.      Jam and Kick Near the corner of Shoreditch High Street and Old Street and always busy on weekends.

3.      Bluu (1 Hoxton Square; Tube: Old St): On the site of the old Blue Note jazz club and the best bar around Hoxton Square.


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Tell the Truth

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Denzel Washington
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Remember this next time you walk up to the ticket window of your local movie theater with $10 in your hand.

Don't know whether you heard about this but Denzel Washington and his family visited the troops at Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas,(BAMC) the other day.  This is where soldiers who have been evacuated from Germany come to be hospitalized in the United States, especially burn victims.

There are some buildings there called Fisher Houses.

The Fisher House is a hotel where soldiers' families can stay, for little or no charge, while their soldier is in the hospital.  BAMC has quite a few of these houses on base, but as you can imagine, they are almost filled most of the time.

While Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC, they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses.  He asked how much one of them would cost to build. He took his checkbook out and wrote a check for the full amount right there on the spot.

The soldiers overseas were amazed to hear this story and want to get the word out to the American public, because it warmed their hearts to hear it.


Apology Letters - Spouses
Hi Sweetheart,
I am sorry about getting into an argument about putting up the Christmas lights.  I guess that sometimes I feel like you are pushing me too hard when you want something.  I realize that I was wrong and I am apologizing for being such a hard-headed guy.  All I want is for you to be happy and be able to enjoy the holiday season.  Nothing brightens the Christmas spirit like Christmas lights!  I took the time to hang the lights for you today; and now I will be off to play some golf...
Again, I am very sorry for the way I acted yesterday.  I'll be home late.

Hi Honey,

Thank you for that heart-felt apology. I don't often get an apology from you, and I truly appreciate it. I, too, felt bad about the argument and wanted to apologize. I realize that I can sometimes be a little pushy.  I will try to respect your feelings from now on.  Thank you for taking the time to hang the Christmas lights for me. It really means a lot. In the spirit of giving, I washed your truck for you; and now I am off to the mall.
I love you too!

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Only in Texas
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Move over Tesla
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Former Tesla employee starts a new company - reserve one today.





Driving Dogs

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watch video here

Steak Aging
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If you have ever tasted dry aged beef then you know what a treat it is. This device goes into your fridge and helps to age your beef perfectly - all for $249.  check it out herevideo here

Big Balloon
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These are not brownies

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Wombats mark their territory by their excrement.  Really.  Wombats poop squares.  Really.
click for video

Joke of the Day

Anton, do you think I’m a bad mother?

My name is Paul.

Postcard from Summer

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Creative Christmas Lighting

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Quotable

"The most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears."

- General James "Mad Dog" Mattis


TURNkey Hall of Fame

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“I don’t quite see how this is going to work.”


Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie
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Ingredients

1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
1/2 cup Original Bisquick™ mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs

Instructions
Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray.
In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in salt. Spread in pie plate. Sprinkle with cheese.
In small bowl, stir remaining ingredients with fork or wire whisk until blended. Pour into pie plate.
Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Good and hearty for a cold day...

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