Technology should make our lives easier and it should be fun! We supply small and medium sized companies with the same technology that the 'big boys' use.
And this blog is not just about us. It's about cool stuff and meant to be entertaining.
We provide complete systems to companies who are serious about doing what they do while leaving the technical stuff to us.
Now go ahead, have some fun.
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JULY 2021 Through the Keyhole Take a break from your day...
Not your typical company OR newsletter
"This oddly shaped mountain is a great place to hike (in the morning) and it takes 30 minutes to get anywhere by car. Plenty of golf and dry heat. Remember your vote counts and the world is watching!"
Can you guess the location?
Happy Birthday America!
Well the first half of the year is officially over and we are looking forward to a summer filled with fun, family and odd events happening all over the world. Is it just me or does something feel off? It feels like we could have an alien invasion at any time and we would all be like. Huh. Okay, that's nice. Maybe it is just me...
Many of us will be travelling out of town or to a family party for the 4th of July. This time of year always makes me smile as I love "Americana". You know - baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet. For those of you old enough to remember that commercial, you are welcome as you will be singing that jingle all day... For those of you who are not familiar with it, click here.
I encourage you to continue getting out there and engaging each other in outdoor activities. Heck, even taking your shoes off and walking in the grass is refreshing. Try it.
Here are some things happening around town this month that you and your family could attend.
Navy Pier Fireworks (every night until Sept. 4)
Grant Park Music Festival - Millennium Park July 2, 3: Independence Day Salute July 7: William Tell Overture July 9, 10: Brahms Symphony No. 3 July 14: Beethoven Symphony No. 1 July 16, 17: Sibelius Symphony No. 5 July 21: Bruckner E Minor Mass July 23, 24: Dvořák New World Symphony July 28: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun July 30, 31: Haydn Symphony No. 8
Tuesdays on the Terrace - Museum of Contemporary Art Terrace Garden After switching to virtual shows for the entirety of 2020, Tuesdays on the Terrace returns to the Museum of Contemporary Art's Anne and John Kern Terrace Garden this summer for free weekly jazz performances. Grab a cocktail or a glass of wine from a bar on the museum's upper terrace and hear tunes from artists like the Victor Garcia Quartet, Junius Paul / Tomeka Reid Duo and Sharel Cassity, plus tons of others from the local jazz community. Tickets must be reserved online in advance; you can also sign up for a wait list in the event of a sold-out show.
This "cloud avalanche" occurred near the Kapuche Glacier Lake in the mountains of Nepal last month. At that time, a group of travel companions were camping by the lake, and they took the risk of taking pictures of this rare visual feast. The white snow clouds rushed down the valley, unstoppable, instantly swallowing the mountains and hitting the lake surface. Against the backdrop of the blue sky and the yellow-brown mountains, they were more distinct, magnificent and shocking.
State of Small Business Survey
We want to hear from you! As we consider how best to serve the small business community, we would like to understand the specific challenges you are facing and get your perspective on the future.
Please click the button below to participate in a brief survey about the “state of small business” and receive a copy of the survey results. And, as an added incentive to participate, we will be giving away a box of gourmet steak burgers from the Chicago Steak Company.
Thanks for your input. We hope you’ll join the conversation.
Last month the winner of the guess the location game was Jen Sandonit who guessed the right answer. I appreciate all of the participation. THANKS FOR PLAYING!
ANSWER: Croatia
"Having a Dalmatian Coast, this country has the oldest inhabited city in Europe (8000 years). Nikola Tesla was born here and this location played Greece in Mamma Mia 2 (missed that one). Stunning." Can you guess the location?
I have to admit that I am a big fan of the Bravo show called "Below Deck". There are many different seasons featuring the crew of these vessels as they entertain charter guests. Last season there were a few episodes that featured Croatia and I was stunned at the blue water and beauty of the Country. I am not sure what cities they travelled to but really want to go there someday.
Some Fun Facts about Croatia:
1. Croatia is home to the world’s smallest town.
In the Northwest of Croatia you’ll find a small town called ‘Hum’ which is said to be in possession of a world record for being the smallest town in the world! According to sources it has a population of between 17 and 23! Hum - the smallest town in the world, Croatia
2. The waterfront in Croatia is known as the Dalmatian coast.
You may think the coast is named after the breed of dogs Dalmatians’, but the region has been known as Dalmatia since the Imperial Roman times. The dog's origins have officially been recognized as Croatian as there are illustrations of the breed dating back to the 17th century.
3. The hit HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’ was filmed on the Dalmatian coast in Split and Dubrovnik.
A major incentive to get yourself there if you’re a huge Game of Thrones fan, you can visit some of the film sites and even go on a GOT tour!
4. A person from Croatia holds the Guinness World Record of the biggest white truffle.
Giancarlo Zigante of Pototoska found a white truffle weighing 1.31 kg (2 lb 8 oz) in a town in Eastern Croatia in 1999.
5. The most famous beach in Croatia is in Bol, which is on the island of Brac.
Zlatni Rat beach is known for changes in shape and color depending on the wind.
6. Croatia is home to the ampitheatre in Pula which was once the home of the bloody Roman gladiator fights.
Istria in Croatia is one of the only 3 conserved in the world. It is also the 6th biggest ampitheatre in existence.
7. Wine is made in Croatia thanks to the Greeks' influence from two and a half thousand years ago.
Making it a great destination for foodies and winos.
8. At least 10% of the land in Croatia is made up of 8 national parks, 11 nature parks and two nature reserves.
So it's pretty stunning for those who love the great outdoors.
9. The lucky people in Croatia enjoy 2,715 hours of sunshine a year.
That’s more than people living in Sydney, Australia get.
10. According to Alfred Hitchcock, the seaside city of Zadar in Dalmatia holds the title of the best sunset in the world.
Quoted as saying ‘Zadar has the most beautiful sunset in the world, more beautiful than the one in Key West, Florida’.
Bonus fact #11: Nikola Telsa was born in Lika, mountain region in Croatia.
This is the show I was talking about. It is not for the faint of heart. ~ 3 min.
A well done vlog from a couple on a sailboat in Croatia ~20 min.
Time...
Iconic Photo Story
Amazing Brave Men. ~ 5 minutes
Deiselgate...
Really interesting story about how Volkswagon LIED about diesel emmisions and got caught ~1 hour 15 minutes
Where have all the celebrities gone?
Anna Kendrick is hilarious and cute. ~ 2 minutes
Oh the places you'll go...
US RETIREMENT LOCATIONS
You can retire to Phoenix, Arizona where…
1. You are willing to park three blocks away from your house because you found shade.
2. You've experienced condensation on your rear-end from the hot water in the toilet bowl.
3. You can drive for four hours in one direction and never leave town.
4. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food.
5. You know that "dry heat" is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door at 500 degrees.
6. The four seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??
OR
You can retire to California where...
1. You make over $450,000 and you still can't afford to buy a house.
2. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway.
3. You know how to eat an artichoke.
4. When someone asks you how far something is, you tell them how long it will take to get there rather than how many miles away it is.
5. The four seasons are: Fire, Flood, Mud and Drought.
OR
You can retire to New York City where...
1. You say, "the city" and expect everyone to know you mean Manhattan.
2. You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park, but can't find Wisconsin on a map.
3. You think Central Park is "nature."
4. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multilingual.
5. You've worn out a car horn. (IF you have a car.)
6. You think eye contact is an act of aggression
OR
You can retire to Minnesota where...
1. You only have three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup
2. Halloween costumes have to fit over parkas.
3. You have seventeen recipes for casserole.
4. Sexy lingerie is anything flannel with less than eight buttons.
5. The four seasons are: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road repair.
6. The highest level of criticism is "He is different," "She is different," or "It was different!"
OR
You can retire to The Deep South where...
1. You can rent a movie and buy bait in the same store.
2. "Y'all" is singular and "all y'all" is plural.
3. "He needed killin" is a valid defense.
4. Everyone has two first names: Billy Bob, Jimmy Bob, Joe Bob, Betty Jean, Mary Beth, etc.
5. Everything is either: "in yonder," "over yonder" or "out yonder. ”
6. You can say anything about anyone, as long as you say "Bless his heart” at the end!
OR
You can move to Colorado where...
1. You carry your $3,000 mountain bike atop your $500 car.
2. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home, so he stops at the day care center.
3. A pass does not involve a football or dating.
OR
You can retire to Nebraska or Kansas where...
1. You've never met any celebrities, but the mayor knows your name.
2. Your idea of a traffic jam is three cars waiting to pass a tractor.
3. You have had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" on the same day.
4. You end sentences with a preposition; "Where's my coat at?"
OR
FINALLY, you can retire to Florida where...
1. You eat dinner at 3:15 in the afternoon
2. All purchases include a coupon of some kind - even houses and cars.
3. Everyone can recommend an excellent cardiologist, dermatologist, proctologist, podiatrist, or orthopedist.
4. Road construction never ends anywhere in the state.
5. Cars in front of you often appear to be driven by headless people.
Randomness...
Pop Goes the Boat
I was pretty much a toddler at the time. My parents had bought a brand new inflatable boat for a few hundred dollars. They had fully inflated the boat and were testing it out in the backyard. While they were sitting in it, I went to the kitchen, grabbed a knife, went back into the backyard and stabbed the boat, right in front of them. My dad went berserk. ~Anonymous
Beer Fail Compilation
These are pretty funny ~ 3 minutes
Be Careful.
~4 minutes.
Sports can be cool.
One in a Million Moments in Sports history ~ 8 min.
These are good...
Bait Bike Prank
Don't steal ~ 2 minutes
More Memes...
Meanwhile in Texas...
Easy Potato Salad for the 4th (make it the 3rd)
Ingredients
Ingredient Checklist
5 pounds red potatoes, chopped
3 cups mayonnaise
2 cups finely chopped pickles
5 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
½ cup chopped red onion
½ cup chopped celery
3 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
Instructions Checklist
Step 1
Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain. Return potatoes to empty pot to dry while you mix the dressing. Sprinkle with salt.
Step 2
Stir mayonnaise, pickles, hard-cooked eggs, red onion, celery, mustard, cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper together in a large bowl. Fold potatoes into the mayonnaise mixture. Allow to chill at least six hours, or overnight, before serving.
