TURNkey IT - IT's all about technology: Through the Keyhole

FEBRUARY 2015

Through the Keyhole

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


It's Groundhog Day! Bill Murray makes me laugh in one of my favorite movies, of the same name. In the movie, Punxsutawney Phil (the groundhog) is the target of Bill Murray's frustrations and it gets pretty slapstick - a must watch. The truth is that the groundhog doesn't have to see his shadow but simply cast one to make his prophecy for more winter. Throughout the years Phil has predicted 99 forecasts of more winter and only 15 early springs. As it turns out, he has been correct 39% of the time. If Phil played baseball and hit the ball 39% of the time, he'd be in the Hall of Fame. However, he is a prognosticating rodent that is wrong much more than he is right and should be punished. This month we celebrate the Groundhog, St. Valentine, Presidents, Cherries, Chinese New Years, Black History and Leap Day (not this year). It is a short month but a lot gets packed in. Some cool, odd things to observe (a little edgy): February 4th: Ice Cream for Breakfast Day February 5th: World Nutella Day February 9th: National Read in the Bath Tub Day February 14th: Ferris Wheel Day February 22nd: National Margarita Day February 25th: International Sword Swallowers Day & National Pistol Patent Day >>>> Last month's winner of the "guess the location" game was Dan O'Brien who guessed the High Line in NYC... He should have gotten it because we took a trip together with our wives a couple years ago. And now for a new picture above- Can you guess where it is by looking through the keyhole? "The place just became much more accessible." 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 TURNkey IT Commercial Spots This past month, TURNkey shot its first 3 television commercials and they turned out really great. These commercials will be used in a few ways to attract new customers and continue to build our brand. They will be on our site, on the web, over Comcast and in special promotional video greeting cards. Thank you to Dean Argiris, Wheeling's Village President for starring in one of the spots. Also a big thanks (literally) to Big John Howell of WLS Radio for doing the voice over work! We have been working hard to establish a creative campaign that is informative but entertaining and comical all at the same time. Take a minute and look at these two 30 second spots (and one 46 second one)...and feel free to share them with your friends... Enjoy! "Relax" "It's Time" "Solutions" Jay Cutler's Parenting (a.k.a. something that will make you actually like Jay Cutler for the first time) High Line NYC- Keyhole Answer "The 'high line' pictured above is an example of repurposing in a great City. Inspired by a similar project in Paris, this old railway elevated bed, re-built in 1993, is located in a place you might find meatpackers (or used to find meatpackers). Although there are many great sights in this City, an obscure one with an obvious foreground just might be the easiest clue yet." The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues. New York City If you have never been to NYC or it has been a while, there is a reason why there is so much going on there. The sheer scale of this bustling metropolis is mind boggling. With no alleys and narrow streets, there is a feel to it that cannot be compared to Chicago. New York City has a feeling that is almost indescribable. There is so much going on around you that it is easy just to grab a seat in a park or restaurant and watch the world go by. New Yorkers, contrary to popular belief can actually be very nice people. I think if you act like a moron, you will be treated like a moron no matter where you go. This holds true in NYC. New Yorkers are proud of their City and believe that they are the most important people in the entire world. Once you travel there, you can see how people can get caught up in this notion and never leave the island of Manhattan. Things that make NYC one of the greatest cities in the world: 1) The Iconic Skyline 2) Manhattan's Grid of Avenues and Streets 3) The Public Transportation System that NEVER shuts down (24/7) 4) Late night Bars and Restaurants 5) Broadway - Home of the Musical 6) Access to world class music and performance art (in summer) for FREE 7) Pizza (don't give me the Chicago is better garbage - the Pizza in NY is AMAZING) 8) Food pretty much any time of the day or night (8,000 restaurants) 9) Sesame Street invented and staged here 10) There is room for Innovation and Tradition to coexist in NY 11) New Yorkers come together after crises 12) Public spaces: The High Line, Central Park to name just 2 13) Great Tasting Tap Water 14) You can travel the world without ever leaving the boroughs 15) NYC is the media epicenter of the world 50 reasons why NYC is the greatest city in the world (article) Megacities Documentary about NYC (National Geographic) VIDEO Ride from a Heliport in Manhattan (VIDEO) The highline.org (website) I forgot to mention the pretty girls in NYC... They are everywhere. Real Tours of NYC (a repeat from last month) Let's face it, tours are only as good as their tour guides. A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of experiencing a tour that really knocked my socks off. It was a private tour for my small group of 4 and a 7 hour journey through what felt like all of Manhattan. From riding the subway to walking from Battery Park through the Financial District, Chinatown, SoHo, NoHo and finishing up in the meatpacking district...we sampled food (had a slice), learned so much about the City and had a blast! Real New York Tours gives people the opportunity to see the city through the eyes of real New Yorkers. Real New York Tours explores the history, the cracks and crevices, the side streets, and culture of real New York City neighborhoods. We rode the New York subway (and learned how to understand it), pounded the pavement, and met the people who have become the fabric of that great city. You really get a feel for NYC and understand why the people there are so arrogant about their city... Take a look and maybe the Big Apple might just surprise you. I know it did me. Trip Advisor Comments Website Amazon ECHO What is Amazon Echo? Amazon Echo is designed around your voice. It's always on—just ask for information, music, news, weather, and more. Echo begins working as soon as it detects the wake word. You can pick Alexa or Amazon as your wake word. Echo is also an expertly tuned speaker that can fill any room with immersive sound. We have got one on order if you care to come by and check it out. Only $99 Learn and Purchase Here Clever Bar Owners... Move over Google Glass... Watch The Official Video Of Microsoft HoloLens, Transform Your World With Holograms If this comes out and is anywhere REMOTELY close to these videos, my mind will be blown. Video 1 Video 2 Wired Article Life Hack Dilbert. Things you learn when flying next to a Pilot... 1. Pilots get sick of each other, just like the rest of us. 2. Flying is so uncomfortable, even pilots have to use travel hacks. 3. Pilots hate screaming kids on a plane just like we do. 4. Use anti-bacterial wipes on your armrests, tray table and the back of the seat directly in front of you. 5. NEVER TOUCH the faucets in the bathroom on a plane. More Famous Locals you just might know... Vince Vaughn grew up in Buffalo Grove (right next to Wheeling) Brian McBride also went to BG and lives right here in Arlington Heights. Bill Murray based Caddyshack off his experiences as a caddy at Indian Hill Country Club in Winnetka. John Cusack grew up in Evanston. The Future of USB- Type C It's the same on both sides (no more flipping it over to fit it in), transfers lightening fast and is cool. It is one of the things at the Consumer Electronics Show that will be widely used. Article 1 Article 2 Whoever heard of any of this $#! ? Chefs Predict the Biggest Food Trends of 2015 More restaurants will have in-house foragers.* Chef Jonathon Sawyer employs his own in-house forager at his smart, northern Italian-inspired restaurant, Trentina, which opened this summer. And he thinks we’ll see an increasing number of chefs doing the same. “That’s where you get real individualism,” Bang Bang is the new Sriracha. Sriracha, aka cock sauce, isn’t going anywhere. But Phet Schwader, chef and co-owner of New York’s Khe-Yo, says bang bang, a combination of chilies, garlic, fish sauce, lime juice, and cilantro, is on the rise: “Bang bang is a platform of sweet-sour-salty with a significant kick that brightens flavors for a lot of different types of proteins and vegetables. We use it for dipping, marinating, grilling, poaching, and glazing.” Charcuterie: Not just for pork. Brad Farmerie, executive chef at New York’s Michelin-starred PUBLIC, predicts a broader spectrum for charcuterie platters. Think lamb bacon and turkey jerky, but also bottarga, octopus salami, and dried scallop shavings. Fermented foods are the next charcuterie. Not only does every culture have some version of fermentation, fermented foods—like vinegars, shrubs, kimchi, and sauerkraut—have live cultures that are good for gut health. Small fish are the big new fish. Underbelly's Chris Shepherd has become one of Houston’s most vocal advocates of bycatch—essentially the stuff you catch when you’re trying to hook something else. Next year, the James Beard-award winning chef predicts we’ll continue to move from a “big fish” culture to a more everything-goes approach. “Smaller fish are so delicious and versatile—there are so many applications for them,” he says. For example? “Needlefish and belt fish that are caught in shrimp nets can be used for house-made fish sauce, bouillabaisse, dried fish chips, etc.” Abalone is the next Uni. Michael Tusk (chef-owner of Quince and Cotogna in the Bay Area) noticed an increase of abalone on restaurant menus, a trend he expects to continue into 2015. “California, especially, is benefitting from amazing new companies sourcing pristine abalone,” Rabbit will become the other other white meat. "I think 2015 will be the year of the rabbit," predicts Giuseppe Tentori, executive chef of Chicago’s GT Fish & Oyster. Ramen will go mainstream. From agedashi tofu to whiskey, coffee siphons to samurai sword-quality cutlery, it’s safe to say all things Japanese are already very much in vogue. And when it comes to ramen, there’s no shortage of noodle-centric spots, from boite-like dives to upscale spots helmed by Michelin star chefs. Complete Article Innovations Things that will get cheaper in 2015 1) Gold is predicted to go to $950 per oz. 2) Milk 3) New Homes 4) Smartwatches 5) Airfare (it is about time - GEEZ) 6) Chicken but just by about 5% 7) Gas 8) Bacon Article Cool Custom Car built in Pilsen, IL. Watch the video How about some Dogs? Quotable The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you can't always be sure of their authenticity. -Abraham Lincoln Now that it's over, here are some recipes... Jalapeno Popper Dip Ingredients 1 ( 8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 2 Tbsp. Spicy Brown Mustard 1 (4 oz.) can diced jalapenos, drained or 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced 2 Tbsp. Panko bread crumbs, toasted (optional) Directions COMBINE all ingredients except bread crumbs in medium bowl. For a hot dip, turn into 1-quart ovenproof dish; top with bread crumbs. Bake at 375° F for 20 minutes or until hot. SPRINKLE bread crumbs over dip just before serving. SERVE with tortilla chips. BLT Dip Ingredients 2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream 2 cups mayonnaise 2 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled 6 plum tomatoes, chopped 3 green onions, chopped Crumbled cooked bacon or thinly sliced green onions, optional Assorted crackers, fresh bread or chips In a large bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, bacon, tomatoes and onions. Refrigerate until serving. Garnish with bacon and green onions if desired. Serve with crackers or chips. Yield: 6 cups. Cookie Dough Dip (this one is HEALTHY...seriously) Ingredients 1 1/2 cups chickpeas or white beans (1 can, drained and rinsed very well) (250g after draining) 1/8 tsp plus 1/16 tsp salt just over 1/8 tsp baking soda 2 tsp pure vanilla extract 1/4 cup peanut butter up to 1/4 cup milk of choice, only if needed 2/3 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup chocolate chips 2 to 3 tbsp oats Instructions Add all ingredients (except for chocolate chips) to a good food processor, and process until very smooth. Then mix in the chocolate chips by hand. If made correctly and blended long enough, this should have the exact texture of real cookie dough! Serve with Graham cracker sticks or animal crackers. Try it. It is weird but strangely good.