TURNkey IT - IT's all about technology: March 2014

February 2014

Through the Keyhole

Informative & Interesting... not your everyday company newsletter.


Bring on Spring. Spring can't come fast enough this year as we have hobbled our way through record setting cold and snow. What's next? Daylight Savings Time. St. Patrick's Day. First Day of Spring. Fat Tuesday (late this year). Lent. Hopefully warmer weather and NO MORE SNOW. Last month's winner of the "guess the location" game was Michael Stanard who correctly guessed Positano, Italy but did not include the Path of the Gods descriptor so he does not win the car we planned on giving away. More about the location below... And now for a new picture above- Can you guess where it is by looking through the keyhole? "This location separates East and West and is a major part of the shipping route in this part of the world. Tippy boats serve tasty fish and you definitely will be clean if you care to be but remember to cover up your legs if you visit one of many mosques." 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. As always, send any items you think are newsworthy, interesting or just plain odd to news@turnkey.pro Path of the Gods - Keyhole Answer Italy - "This scenic route is less traveled and takes about 3 hours to complete on foot. It is positively breathtaking passing by 3 peaks, countless private gardens and ending near a little town where you might hear the song "Midnight Rambler". Along the way, there are several places where you narrowly escape a 3000 foot plunge down to the sea." "Midnight Rambler" was written by the Rolling Stones (Keith Richards and Mick Jagger) and released by the band in 1969. "That's a song Keith and I really wrote together. We were on a holiday in Italy. In this very beautiful hill town, Positano, for a few nights." This is one of the most beautiful places in the world and if ever you get the opportunity, it is a definite MUST SEE. The 3 - 4 hour walk is difficult and you have to be fairly fit to take the trip to Nocelle and Positano. Go with a guide and watch your step! Washington Post article YouTube video Qantas Humor After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a 'gripe sheet,' which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by the Qantas' pilots (marked with a “P”), and the solutions recorded by maintenance engineers (marked with an “S”). (By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never, ever, had an accident.) P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement. S: Almost replaced left inside main tire. P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough. S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft. P: Something loose in cockpit. S: Something tightened in cockpit P: Dead bugs on windshield. S: Live bugs on back-order. P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200ft per min descent. S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground. P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear. S: Evidence removed. P: DME volume unbelievably loud. S: DME volume set to more believable level. P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick. S: That's what friction locks are for. P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode. S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode. P: Suspected crack in windshield. S: Suspect you're right. P: Number 3 engine missing. S: Engine found on right wing after brief search. P: Aircraft handles funny. S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious. P: Target radar hums. S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics. P: Mouse in cockpit. S: Cat installed. P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer. S: Took hammer away from midget. Everything is better with Bacon It's officially bacon month according to us and we thought you might like a little bacon knowledge to round out your culinary expertise. Did you know that bacon come from pork belly? Pancetta is the Italian cousin to bacon and Canadian Bacon is our border brother from the North. There is an expression around here that "everything tastes better with bacon. It's really true. An interesting notion is that french cooking has its roots in butter and bacon fat while Italian cooking uses olive oil. How You Guys Talk. Did you know that everyone has a personal dialect? The New York Times has a fun little quiz that takes very little time to complete and pinpoints where you are from based on what words you say to describe everyday things. Go grab a pop from the fridge and have a chuckle... Take the quiz Healthy Gums, Healthy Heart Having healthy gums is good for your heart, a new study says. Researchers found that as people's gum health improved, the buildup of plaque in their arteries slowed. This narrowing of the arteries, called atherosclerosis, is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke and death.... And before you ask what the picture has to do with gums or your heart...nothing. I found her attractive and healthy and don't like pictures of gums or body parts. Complete Article Here Word of the Day Innuendo - 1. An oblique allusion : hint, insinuation; especially : a veiled or equivocal reflection on a character or reputation 2. The use of such allusions <resorting to innuendo> 3. An Italian insult <grin> Poo-Pourri Before you close this edition of our newsletter and dismiss this article as sophomoric and immature, hear this - this product actually works. Being in a small office work environment can be challenging especially when normal body functions are difficult to disguise. This revolutionary product has sold over 4 million pieces and virtually eliminates bathroom odors. Simply spray a couple of squirts in the toilet bowl before you do your business and leave the toilet smelling better than you found it... TURNkey has tested this product and endorses its use. Buy it on Amazon Apple vs. Microsoft, Google and Amazon It is clear that the road is unpaved to the future of technology and the battle of the Internet wages on. In fact, one could say that the future of computing is a free for all. Using some broad generalizations, Apple makes its money on hardware and sells really expensive apps, games and content. Amazon sells its devices nearly at or below cost and makes its money on content. Google makes its money on advertising. Microsoft uses every possible measure to make its donuts. One thing is for sure and that is how these big companies are making big bets in all kinds of directions. It is clear that there are some trends- desktops and notebooks are losing market share while tablets and mobile devices are gaining popularity. The truth is that where ever technology goes, TURNkey IT will be there to support you in your time of need. That is how we stay relevant, broad based and ready to answer your questions. Article Quotable If I would have asked people what they wanted, they would have told me faster horses. - Henry Ford The Truffle Short Season, Big Price. The Black Truffle of Perigord, France is the highest price followed by the white truffle of Umbria and Piedmont, Italy. Unique conditions that exist in these regions make it difficult to farm these wild delicacies. Harvesting truffles is not like picking apples. Truffles are tubers and develop thanks to the symbiotic relationship with the trees to whose roots they cling. People use specially trained dogs and in some cases, female pigs who are naturally attracted by the scent of a truffle.There are few culinary experiences that can match the taste of a fresh white or black truffle. They are very versatile and can be used in many dishes, though they are at their best when allowed to shine without being smothered by other flavors. Enjoy these locally at Spiaggia, Prosecco, or Mastro's Steakhouse. Article Tip of the Month Take a picture of friends or family holding items you've lent them with your cell phone. That way, you won't forget and you'll have a timestamped bit of proof... Travel Simple Tips when going on any trip Don’t forget your camera charger. You will go through that battery in a second, esp. when your friends insist on flipping through all of the photos that you just took in order to relive something that happened 5 minutes ago. Never pack something that you haven’t worn before. Otherwise you’ll find your new shoes too uncomfortable, your new jacket too flimsy, your new underwear too wedgie-prone. Buy that delightfully grotesque souvenir, even if you don’t know who to give it to. Odds are, you will think of someone for whom it would be perfect. Worst-case scenario, you’ll keep it for yourself. Which is a really great worst-case scenario. Do not go into a McDonald’s. I don’t care if you are scared and starving – McNuggets are NEVER a viable option. If you need fast food, at least hit up a regional chain. If you have an inkling that you should be taking photos of something, take them. If you have an inkling that you should not be taking photos of something, don’t take them. Make photocopies of your passport and leave one with friends and another tucked into your bag. No one will judge you for watching a dumb movie while on a plane. That’s what you’re supposed to do on planes. Dryer sheets remove static from your hair and clothing and make your suitcase smell awesome while taking up virtually no room. If you are starting a brand-new book on your flight, bring at least one other form of entertainment with you, because that brand-new book might suck.Rolling non-wrinkle-able items before shoving them into your suitcase really does save space. Budget hotels almost always offer free wi-fi. Luxury hotels will charge you for it. This is almost always the case. Google Glass? A woman claims she was assaulted and robbed in a San Francisco bar — for wearing Google Glass. Watch where you go with this gadget. You just might get your ass kicked. In other news, a developer claims that he built the first Google Glass app designed for sex. No, not porn — sex. Sex With Glass is designed to let partners share their point of view with each other to "experience sex like never before." The idea is that both parties will don Glass for the encounter, and the app will send a live video stream to the other person's display upon the command, "OK, Glass, it's time," letting them see what they see in real time. You stop the stream with the words, "OK, Glass, pull out," according to the app's website. I am not sure that would be something appealing.Representatives for Google had no comment about the forthcoming app. Personally, I have so many privacy concerns about this new product, it's alarming. Where do all of those images go and how incredibly distracting would it be to have a little tv screen in your periphery all day long? Ugh. Try these spy video camera sunglasses for some added fun... Chili Relleno Casserole If you have ever eaten a Chili Relleno, it is a work of art and too difficult for this Gringo to make. Therefore, I created this recipe to have all of the flavors of the dish in a format that anyone can make. This is not spicy if you don't want it to be and is delicious over cilantro rice (also below). Pictured above is what a real chili relleno looks like. Your casserole will not turn out like this but it will taste just as delicious. Ingredients 10 Pablano Peppers 1/2 lb Chihuahua cheese 1 – 1.5 lbs of thin chicken breast 5 eggs (only use 2 yolks) 1/3 cup milk 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder seasonings to taste (chihouli hot sauce, cumin, cayenne pepper) 1 can Mild Enchilada sauce Roast chiles under the broiler or over gas flame until skin is charred (turn half way through). While chiles are roasting, Beat eggs with whisk until thick and foamy. Add milk, flour, and baking powder and beat until smooth. In a separate pan saute chicken with garlic, salt and pepper until cooked. Set aside. When chiles are charred, place chiles in a paper bag and seal. Let stand 20 minutes. Remove skins from chiles, remove stems and seeds. Coat an 11x7 baking dish with nonstick spray. Make chilis like lasagna noodles (no seeds or skin). Put down a layer of chilis and cover with cheese and chicken. Spread seasonings to taste (cumin, hot sauce, cayenne pepper). Cover the mixture with another layer of chilis. Pour egg mixture over top with can of enchilada sauce. Bake, uncovered, in a 375F oven for about 30 minutes or until casserole is puffed and appears set when gently shaken. Cilantro Rice 2 cups of cooked white rice Olive oil Salt Pepper Lime Juice Chopped Cilantro Toss rice with all ingredients to taste.