Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Through the Keyhole - July 2015




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     JULY 2015 turnkey-color-logo-white 7
Through the Keyhole


Informative & Interesting... not your everyday company newsletter.
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Happy Birthday AMERICA!
Probably the biggest American Holiday is the 4th of July.  We look forward to fireworks, hot dogs, baseball, apple pie and Chevrolet... It is perhaps the week that defines our national pride and gives reason to celebrate our freedom as Americans. 

Sparkler
Things I remember about the 4th of July as a kid:
1) Flag T-shirts
2) Sparklers
3) Snakes (those ash things that grew when you lit them)
4) M-80s
5) Parades in the extreme heat waving tiny paper flags
6) The song, "Proud to be an American"
7) Popsicles that melt all over your flag t-shirt
8) Red, White and Blue EVERYTHING

And now for a new keyhole picture above- Can you guess where it is by looking through the keyhole? "This place will change your life, said a friend of mine some 8 years ago. Located on a "point", this location was once a bustling fishing village that was moved to create this world class resort."

Last month, NOBODY guessed correctly. 

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

Petra, Jordan - Keyhole Answer

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"Indiana Jones filmed in this wonder of the world that rarely sees tourists any longer.  It is dangerous and there are many reasons to stay away.  However, this place is mysterious and petrified."

Pictured here is one of the many amazing structures of the ancient city of Petra (aka the Rose City) famous for its rock architecture and water conduit system.  Established around 300 BC, this place is the most visited tourist attraction in Jordan (I wonder if anyone visits anyplace in Jordan at all?).  Petra was named amongst the New 7 wonders of the world and chosen by Smithsonian magazine as one of the "28 places to see before you die".  The population was said to be about 30,000 when it was inhabited.
The site is featured in films such as: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Arabian Nights, Passion in the Desert, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, The Mummy Returns and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Petra is the treasure of ancient world, hidden behind an almost impenetrable barrier of rugged mountains, boasting incomparable scenes that make it the most majestic and imposing ancient site still-standing nowadays.. It has been said "perhaps there is nothing in the world that resembles it", actually, for sure, there is nothing in the world that resembles it. The rock-carved rose-red city of Petra is full of mysterious charm, it was "designed to strike wonder into all who entered it".

It is a little daunting to get there so maybe these videos will suffice...


Indiana Jones Clip

HD Video (25 min.)

Petra Story (the city was built by really smart people - VERY INTERESTING)





When to THROW IT AWAY.



1. When was the last time you used it?
If you can’t even remember, let it go. If you’ve used it recently, obviously it’s a keeper. The more infrequently used, the more to consider letting go.

2. If you were planning to move next month, would you bring it along?
Imagine moving soon. What would you pack up and bring? If you wouldn’t move it, no sense in keeping it now.

3. What’s it worth?
Nobody wants to just toss something of value. But beware that reselling means letting it go on the cheap and it takes a lot to manage. Also remember, keeping many lower value items will not help the clutter problem!

4. What is it costing you to keep?
Even if you’re not paying for storage, you pay for living space. If you want to free up the valuable space in your home, consider letting go of items you don’t love.

5. Do you know someone else who would like to have it?
Knowing someone who would enjoy an item that you don’t use can be great motivation for elimination. Consider friends and family when you’re on the decision making fence.

6. What is its sentimental value?
Do you save every piece of artwork your 5 year old created? What about all the boxes from Grandmother’s house? Keeping a few precious items as memories may be important, but beware—if you keep too much, you can’t find what’s truly important!

A new way to stream TV - SLING TV
Sling TV is an American over-the-top internet protocol television service that is owned by the Sling TV LLC subsidiary of Dish Network. Unveiled on January 5, 2015 at the Consumer Electronics Show, the service aims to complement subscription video on demand services for cord cutters, offering a selection of major cable channels that can be streamed through smart TVs, digital media players and apps.

It runs on just about any device, starts at $20/mo. and is the first real entrant to getting your tv without a set top box...

Check it out here

Life 360


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Life 360 is an app that allows groups of people (mainly families) to know the location of each other at all times.  It puts an icon on a map for each family member and shows popular check in points like school, work, gym, grandma's house.  Using GPS technology and your cell phone, it's easier than ever to know where everyone is at and have private chat sessions within the group or with just one person in that group.

What people are saying:

“We use Life360 to let each other know where we are and that we are safe, especially when we go into the backcountry.”

“It’s so easy to use for my family! When any or all of us go away on adventures, my family can still stay connected and safe.”

“My little brother loves riding his scooter around the neighborhood. While riding one day, he dropped his phone and didn’t realize it was missing until much later that night. As soon as I found out, I checked Life360 and found that it had been at a local residence since 7:23 pm. I was able go directly to the house, ask for the phone and it was back in my possession within 30 minutes. The look on their faces when I came directly to the house where the phone was at was priceless!!!”

Check it out here

Confessions of a Cruise Ship Chef - Jorg Becker, Oceania Cruises
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It’s hard to be away at sea.
My least favorite thing about my job is being away from my family. Three years ago, I became a dad. I took a year and a half off to focus on diapers and formula. On ships, you get two months a year of vacation, which gives you some quality time. But for the majority of the year you are separated from your family. The usual operational challenges I can deal with — but compared to being away from loved ones for a long time, it’s minor.

Working on a cruise ship is an addiction.
I started in the hotel industry when I was 18. In the hotel industry, you’re like a tramp, everybody is moving. I started working on ships when I was 30. I have taken some breaks, but it is an addiction. You get around; the people you work with have the same craziness.

But I’d never take my own family on vacation on a cruise.
No, never. Anything but cruising, if you spend the majority of your time on a ship to make your living. I don’t even like to see open kitchens. If I go to a restaurant and they have one, I face the other way. I like little resorts where the beach is 10 meters from the hut and I can have peace and quiet. No noise, no big crowds.


So True.

hahaha, so true!

July is Redneck month...
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George Clooney Age 15
Helen Mirren Age 25
Martha Stewart Age 20

Ryan Seacrest Age 13


How is this possible?











Aphorisms for the times...

 It's not whether you win or lose, But how you place the blame.

  
We have enough "youth".
How about a fountain of smart"?
  
  
A Fool and his
money can throw one heck of a party.
  
When blondes have
more fun
do they know it?
  
  

Money isn't everything,
But it sure keeps the kids in touch.
  
  
If at first you don't succeed,
Skydiving is not for you.
  
  
We are born naked, wet and hungry.
Then things get worse.
  
Red meat is not bad for you 
Fuzzy green meat is bad for you.
  
Ninety-nine percent of all lawyers
Give the rest a bad name.
  
Xerox and Wurlitzer will merge
To produce reproductive organs.
  
Alabama state motto: 
At least we're not Mississippi
  
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS NO
MATCH FOR NATURAL STUPIDITY.
  
The latest survey shows that
three out of four people make up 75% of the population.


People Hate Humble Braggers        

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A team of Harvard Business School professors have scientifically proven what you probably already knew: People loathe and despise the humblebrag.

The humblebrag is a self-compliment wrapped in a complaint, the authors say in their new Harvard Business School paper.

In the humblebragger’s attempt to come off as sincere and authentic, they appear immodest and frankly, less attractive, the authors suggest in their report.


In the paper, Harvard Business School professors Francesca Gino, Michael I. Norton and Ovul Sezer, performed a series of experiments to test people’s perceptions of the humblebrag.

In one test they asked their subjects to imagine the person who said one of three statements. One statement was a flat out boast (People mistake me for a model.) One was a whiney complaint (I’m so bored.) And the last was the hybrid humblebrag (I’m so bored of people mistaking me for a model.)
When the team asked more than 300 subjects to judge a person based on each statement, they liked the complainers the best and the humblebraggers the least. Complainers were also perceived as the most sincere, while humblebraggers as inauthentic and obnoxious.

In another experiment, people either read a brag (“I get hit on all the time”) or a humblebrag (“Just rolled out of bed and still get hit on all the time, so annoying.”) More than 200 subjects rated the humblebraggers as less attractive than the braggarts -- 4.34 on a scale of 7 compared to 4.91.

The act of humblebragging has undoubtedly been with us since the dawn of time but the term was only coined in 2012 by "Parks and Recreation" writer Harris Wittles who died earlier this year. Wittles’ @humblebrag Twitter account lives on with 245,000 followers.

It’s loaded with gems like this classic from actress Olivia Munn: “Why can't I look cool when I meet @TomHanks & he hands me his Emmy? Instead I get so excited & look like a goober…”

And this one from country singer Cody Alan: "I just won an ACM, but don't worry I'm still stuck like everyone else in a Taco Bell drive-thru right now. @ACMAwards #ACMs”

The moral? If you’re fishing for a compliment, trying to disguise it will only backfire, the Harvard paper concluded. Let your swagger shine though.


These are flowers (really).

flowers that                                                            look like                                                            something                                                            else

flowers                                                            that look like                                                            something                                                            else

flowers                                                            that look like                                                            something                                                            else

flowers                                                            that look like                                                            something                                                            else

flowers                                                            that look like                                                            something                                                            else

flowers                                                            that look like                                                            something                                                            else

flowers                                                            that look like                                                            something                                                            else

flowers                                                            that look like                                                            something                                                            else


Hey Gordon, what do you say?

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YELP Threatening Customers Publicly SHAMED


Boston Restaurant Publicly Shames Horrible Yelp-Threatening Customers


A pair of horror show customers showed up at Michael Scelfo's restaurant Alden & Harlow recently with no reservation, sat themselves, "insulted and berated" the staff, and then refused to leave (one eyewitness also claims that before they sat themselves, they loudly told a bartender they weren't tipping because they couldn't get a table quickly enough), all while threatening to leave Alden & Harlow a bad Yelp review.

So far, this sounds pretty normal — restaurants have to deal with self-aggrandizing jackasses like these all the time.

Where it gets fun is Scelfo's response: he posted a picture of the customers on Instagram, along with a description of their terrible behavior that included the hashtag #wedontnegotiatewithyelpers.

So much for getting a free meal for being a jerk. Good for that guy.

Quotable

"A politician will do anything to keep his job - even become a patriot."

-William Randolph Hearst


How to Dry-Age Beef at Home



One: Buy a prime or choice boneless beef rib or loin roast from the best meat source in your area.

Two: Unwrap the beef, rinse it well, and pat it dry with paper towels. Do not trim. Wrap the roast loosely in a triple layer of cheesecloth and set it on a rack over a rimmed baking sheet or other tray.

Three: Refrigerate for three to seven days; the longer the beef ages, the tastier it gets. After the first day, carefully unwrap and then rewrap with the same cheesecloth to keep the cloth fibers from sticking to the meat.

Four: When ready to roast, unwrap the meat and, with a sharp knife, shave off and discard the hard, dried outer layer of the meat. Shave away any dried areas of fat, too, but leave behind as much of the good fat as possible. Roast whole or cut into steaks.

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Tel: (847) 808-3990
Toll Free: 866 928 8208

Email: info@turnkey.pro

Monday, May 4, 2015

Through the Keyhole - May 2015


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     MAY 2015 turnkey-color-logo-white 7
Through the Keyhole


Informative & Interesting... not your everyday company newsletter.
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C'mon. May Already?
That's right folks- It's May Day! It is also the month where we think the weather should be good but usually isn't and that we thank our Mothers for having us.  Thanks Mom!  In the US, Mother's Day is May 10th (second Sunday of May as always) but in Mexico it is ALWAYS on May 10th and it is a BIG DEAL. (how'd you like my segue to Mexico?)   I have been in Mexico for a Mother's Day that fell on a Tuesday and the entire country shuts down.  I think that is pretty cool and a great way to express your respect and affection for your Mom.

Some other notable things that you may or may not care to know:

Cinco de Mayo - (May 5) is an Americanized Holiday that gives people another reason to have a party.  I repeat, this day is not important to Mexicans as it simply marks the day the Mexican Army defeated the French Army at the battle of Puebla in 1862. And everyone knows that the French are a bunch of pandering snobs that deserved it. 

Friday, May 15th  MAD MAX: Fury Road opens as well as Pitch Perfect 2 (I loved the first one).  We also have Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation to look forward to later this year.

Speaking of the French- Napoleon was born in Corsica (I actually was in his home which is now a museum- really interesting) and was only 51 when he died.  Throughout his life he did some really powerful and strategic things that are still studied today in universities throughout the world.  That guy was smart, tough and had a napoleon complex (go figure). And another thing, Napoleon was 5 feet 7 inches tall which is short by modern American standards. However, the average European male in Napoleon's day was 5' 5" making him quite tall.

>>>>

Last month's winner of the "guess the location" game was Julie Kabelitz who guessed
"Circular Quay, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Australia. Loved visiting there and would go back in a heartbeat!" ...Way to go Julie very detailed response.

And now for a new picture above- Can you guess where it is by looking through the keyhole? "The hotel rooms in this city rank #2 of the highest in the world yet for years they had major infrastructure problems.  This city grew so fast no one could keep up."

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


Sydney, Australia - Keyhole Answer

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"The iconic symbol of this city is a place where the fat lady has sung (literally) and home to crazy accents, legions of criminal forefathers and interesting animal species."

Sydney offers plenty of historical and contemporary Australian flavor. The marvelous Sydney Opera House looks like a great origami sailboat, floating peacefully in a harbor. Wander the narrow cobblestone streets of The Rocks and then take in a street performance on the Circular Quay before heading into the Museum of Contemporary Art. The views from the Sydney Tower Eye observatory are epic – use this chance to get to know the layout of the city from high above.

Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia.  It is located on the east coast and surrounds one of the world's largest natural harbors. Residents are known as "Sydneysiders".  The first British settlers arrived in 1788 with Captain Arthur Phillip and founded Sydney as a penal colony.  That's right - a place to put criminals.

Sydney has a large economy with footholds in finance, manufacturing, and tourism.  Its economy is larger than Denmark, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Sydney hosted the 2000 Olympics (was it that long ago already?).

There are some amazing landmarks in Sydney including Sydney Harbor, the Royal National Park,  Bondi Beach, the Royal Botanic Gardens, The Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge.



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bridge

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Punchbowl Cemetery

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My father LOVED this cemetery and said it was the best of any he had ever seen. Sadly, Lou passed away last month and although slightly weird to publish a snippet on a cemetery, I am going to do it.  Dad would have appreciated it.In ancient times, the extinct volcanic Punchbowl Crater was known as Puowaina, which means "Consecrated Hill" or "Hill of Sacrifice". It was the site of many secret Ali'i (royal) burials and a place where offenders of certain Kapus (taboos) were sacrificed. Today, the Hill of Sacrifice is the location of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific where 33,230 service men and women from four wars are buried. In other words, it is full.

If you are ever in Honolulu, make the short drive to this cemetery and see for yourself. This cemetery is something to behold and although not on the mainstream tours, it is worth your time.  My wife and I took in the view in 2001. If there is one thing I know is that as a funeral director for over 55 years my dad knew cemeteries...

So long Dad, you will be missed. 

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Britney Spears
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“I never really wanted to go to Japan simply because I do not like eating fish. And I know that's very popular out there in Africa.”


Batteries of the Future...NOW

Future batteries, coming soon: charge in seconds, last months and power over the airNext year is starting to shape up as the year batteries change. This article has collected all the best battery discoveries that could be with us soon. From over the air charging to superfast 30-second re-charging, you could be seeing this tech in your gadgets sooner than you think.

An Alfa (aluminum graphite) battery lasts 14 days and runs on water.

Using the power of friction, a device has been created that can harness electricity from a person's skin.

A Foldable battery is paper-like but tough. Imagine a battery built into the strap of a smartwatch, finally battery life on wearables won't be such an issue while allowing the size of the devices to be shrunk down.

A StoreDot charges mobiles in 30 seconds. The superfast charging time was achieved using technology StoreDot has been developing. This includes biological semiconductors made from naturally occurring organic compounds known as peptides – short chains of amino acids - which are the building blocks of proteins.

Transparent solar chargers will soon be over the screens of cell phones...

And Nanobatteries are 80,000 times smaller than a human hair and can offer 3X the capacity of current efforts while charging in just 12 minutes and working for thousands of cycles.

Read More

Tesla gearing up to release batteries that will power your home


Blonde Jokes


DISNEYLAND:   Two blondes were going to Disneyland. They were driving on the Interstate when they saw the sign that said Disneyland LEFT. They started crying and turned around and went home.

FLORIDA OR MOON:   Two blondes living in Oklahoma were sitting on a bench talking, and one blonde says to the other, 'Which do you think is farther away, Florida or the moon?' The other blonde turns and says 'Helloooooo, can you see Florida?'

CAR TROUBLE:   A blonde pushes her BMW into a gas station. She tells the mechanic it died. After he works on it for a few minutes, it is idling smoothly. She says, 'What's the story?' He replies, 'Just crap in  the carburetor' She asks, 'How often do I have to do that?'

BLONDE ON TIME:   A girl was visiting her blonde friend, who had acquired two new dogs, and asked her what their names were.   The blonde responded by saying that one was named Rolex and one was named Timex.   Her friend said, 'Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?'     'Helllooooo. . . ,' answered the blonde.  'They're watch dogs'

IN A VACUUM:   A blonde was playing Trivial Pursuit one night.   It was her turn. She rolled the dice and she landed on Science & Nature. Her question was, 'If you are in a vacuum and someone calls your name, can you hear it?' She thought for a time and then asked, 'Is it on or off?' 


Windows 10 Expectations...

Windows Product Family

From the early
looks of Windows 10, it’s a long-overdue concession to the fact that Windows users prefer the way things used to be.

Windows 10 will be more like Windows 7 than 8.  Businesses are likely to be ecstatic.  Although this may seem like a step back it is a giant leap forward.  What Microsoft is trying to do is get more people to upgrade, attract more developers and elevate its mobile OS adoption.

This is very un-apple-esque as MS is creating a multi-device platform rather than several platforms that integrate well together.  Think the opposite of a Mac OS / iPad / iPhone relationship.  One simple operating system for phones, tablets, pc's, and xbox (gaming / entertainment) systems.

Read On


Animals That Accidentally Saw You Naked....
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Everyone has heard of Skype.  Ok maybe not everyone.  Skype allows you to use your cell phone, tablet or pc to tele / video conference nearly for free. Skype is owned by Microsoft and has recently been upgraded in an offering called Skype for Business.  Recently, all of our pc's were outfitted with cameras and microphones to allow us to use this service better.

Here are some of the cool things you can do by using Skype:

1) Messaging
2) Audio Calls
3) Video Calls
4) Screen Sharing
5) File Transfer
6) Conferencing

You get everything you need for conversations in one app—IM, audio and video calls, online meetings and sharing. And because Skype for Business and Office work together, it’s simple to collaborate right from your Office apps. You’ll see the contact card of everyone working in the same app as you so you can quickly send them an IM or email, or start a call. You can also schedule meetings and see IM history in Outlook, and start meetings from apps like Word and PowerPoint to present whatever you’re working on.

I wouldn't mention it if it weren't a cool offering.  Let one of us know if you think you might be able to use this service.  We would be happy to help.


Famous Songs Charted and Graphed















How Did We Survive?







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A Running List of Places You Can't Use a SELFIE STICK         

A Running List of Places That Have Banned Selfie Sticks

This is a list of locations around the world that have banned the use of selfie sticks. It will be updated as selfie sticks are further disallowed. 

- The National Gallery, London
- The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Pointe-à-Callière Archaeology Museum
- The Colosseum in Rome
- The Palace of Versailles, Paris
- 19 Smithsonian museums and galleries
- The Museum of Modern Art, New York
- The Cooper Hewitt Museum, New York
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
- The Guggenheim Museum, New York
- The Frick Museum, New York
- The Brooklyn Museum
- The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- The Detroit Institute of the Arts
- The Albertina museum in Vienna, Austria
- Brazilian soccer stadiums
- Soccer stadiums for Arsenal and Tottenham in England
- The Seattle Art Museum
- The Getty Center, Los Angeles
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- Wembley Stadium, London
- The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
- The Frick Pittsburgh
- Music venues O2 Academy Brixton and O2 Arena, England
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas
- The Dallas Museum of Art
- Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, Texas
- The MTS Centre, a sports arena in Winnipeg
The National Gallery of Victoria, Australia
- The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra
- The National Portrait Gallery, Australia
- The Canadian Museum for Human Rights
- The Sugarmill nightclub, England
- The 2015 Ultra Music Festival, Miami, Florida
- The Soundwave Music Festival, Australia
- The Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney
Etihad Stadium in Melbourne
Domain Stadium in Western Australia
Perth Arena 
Suncorp stadium in Brisbane
The Hermitage in Amsterdam
- The National Gallery, London
- Lollapalooza Music Festival
Coachella Music Festival
My House
My Office
My Car
My Wife's Car


Movie Misquote - Field of Dreams

Photo credit: Gordon Company

In Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner plays a farmer who is driven by voices to build a stadium in his field. And the voices that drive him to it have a lot to answer for, as they deliver one of the most badly misquoted lines in movie history. While most people inspire hope, courage and inspiration with the phrase “if you build it, they will come”, when in fact the voices are consistently saying, “if you build it, he will come”.


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The US Patent and Trade Office has denied a Norwegian underwear company called Comfyballs the right to register their patent.

Comfyballs are popular across Europe due to their PackageFront technology, which basically puts your "boys" on a shelf in front of your body so they stay dry. The Trade Office has allowed all kinds of ‘balls’ puns to be issued in the past, but felt this one was not clever enough:

“The mark does not create a double entendre or other idiomatic expression. When used in this way, the word, ‘balls’ has an offensive meaning.” 

Take that Norway!



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Quotable

"You'll learn just as much from your professors as you will from a guy from Kokomo over a six pack and pizza at 2 in the morning."

-Lou Kolssak circa 1987


Delicious Things you can do with Vegetables

Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan Cheese

Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan Cheese

Spicy Roasted Bok Choy

Spicy Roasted Bok Choy

Buffalo Cauliflower with Blue Cheese Sauce

Buffalo Cauliflower with Blue Cheese Sauce

Baked Parmesan Zucchini “Fries”

Baked Parmesan Zucchini "Fries"

Creamed Peas and Onions

Creamed Peas and Onions

Maple-Glazed Carrots

Maple-Glazed Carrots


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Tel: (847) 808-3990
Toll Free: 866 928 8208

Email: info@turnkey.pro