Through the Keyhole - September 2022

 

IT Services - Business Consulting - Digital Marketing SEPT 2022 Through the Keyhole Take a break from your day... Not your typical company OR newsletter

"Once a fort, then a prison, this 1.25 square miles of island is surrounded by some dangerous waters.  At one point, Indians occupied this land for nearly 2 years to protest the way the US was stripping them of their land and traditions." Can you guess the location? September is GREAT. With the official end of summer in sight, we usher in September with bittersweet emotions.  Kids are back in school (even in Wisconsin), nights are beginning to cool down and the bees are active.  This month we remember those who needlessly died on 9/11.  We will never forget them.  College football is now starting so there are a lot of games to watch these days. As the ninth month of the year, September marks the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere (and the start of spring in the southern). Traditionally considered the month that marks transitions between seasons, it is often one of the most temperate weather-wise. The name September comes from the Latin septem, meaning seven, since it was the seventh month of the Roman calendar, which began with March. There are 30 days in the month of September, which starts on the same day of the week as December each year but does not end on the same day of the week as any other month in the year.   Labor Day is the most well known holiday in September. It is observed every year on the first Monday in September. Native American Day is always celebrated on the 4th Friday of September. Grandparent's Day is observed in the United States on the first Sunday after Labor Day. Constitution Day, celebrating the ratification of the governing document of the United States, is observed on the 17th. The autumn equinox, which is the traditional transition from summer into fall, takes place on or around September 22nd, depending on the year. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which ended slavery in the territories held by the Confederacy, effective January 1, 1863. In spite of the ruling, the Civil War would not end for another year and a half after that. President William McKinley was shot on September 6, 1901 while attending the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition in New York. He passed away eight days later.  With warm days and cool nights, this month is very comfortable weather wise and leads us into the fall where we begin to watch the days grow shorter.  It's a great month with lots to enjoy. Oh and pumpkin drinks of all kinds are just around the corner...I don't like them but plenty of people do. Don Oeste and Calvin Lindstrom have received their Gourmet Burgers from Second City Prime.  They are pictured here...nice.  Thanks guys for sending in the action photos!  Well Done. DOWNLOAD State of Small Business 2022 Report here. Guess the Location Game Last month the winner of the guess the location game was Cindi Bechtel who guessed the right answer.  I appreciate all of the participation.  THANKS FOR PLAYING! ANSWER: Des Moines, Iowa "Ashton Kutcher was born here.  Ronald Reagan held one of his first entertainment jobs for the minor league baseball team here.  Hint: the team has a connection to Chicago... and there's lots of corn." Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is situated on the Des Moines River at its juncture with the Raccoon River in the south-central part of the state. As of February 2021, the population of Des Moines is about 215,000 people. It is the 105th most populous city in the United States. The city covers a total area of 235 square kilometers (91 square miles). The average altitude is 291 metres (955 feet) above sea level. Based on archeological evidence, the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers has attracted humans for at least 7,000 years. Several prehistoric occupation areas have been identified by archeologists in downtown Des Moines. The city traces its origins to May 1843, when Captain James Allen supervised the construction of a fort on the site where the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers merge. Allen wanted to use the name Fort Raccoon – however, the US War Department preferred Fort Des Moines. The fort was built to control the Sauk and Meskwaki tribes, whom the government had moved to the area from their traditional lands in eastern Iowa. The fort was abandoned in 1846 after the Sauk and Meskwaki were removed from the state and shifted to the Indian Territory. On September 22, 1851, Des Moines was incorporated as a city – the charter was approved by voters on October 18. In 1857, the name “Fort Des Moines” was shortened to “Des Moines”, and it was designated as the second state capital, previously at Iowa City. Growth was slow during the Civil War period, but the city exploded in size and importance after a railroad link was completed in 1866. From 1910 to 1920 Des Moines expanded rapidly as local coal deposits were developed. 1. Between the years of 1942 and 2009, a city ordinance made dancing illegal between the hours of 2 and 6 a.m. 2. The Des Moines Blank Park Zoo became home to a third red panda, Razz, in 2012. It is estimated that there are only about 2,500 to 20,000 red pandas left in the wild. 3. The Iowa State Capitol’s dome contains roughly 100 ounces of gold. 4. Ronald Reagan held one of his first entertainment jobs as an announcer of Chicago Cubs games for WHO radio in Des Moines. 5. In 2012, famed Iowa native Ashton Kutcher was part of a $5 million funding round for Dwolla, a Des Moines-based startup looking to provide an alternative to credit cards. 6. Opened in 1901, Des Moines’ Waveland Golf Course is the oldest municipal golf course in the country west of the Mississippi river. 7. The guy who played Superman in “Superman Returns,” (Brandon Routh) was born in the Des Moines area. 8. Des Moines was originally named Fort Raccoon. It then became Fort Des Moines, and finally, in 1857, was shortened to Des Moines.   ~4 minutes IOWA STATE FAIR ~ 18 minutes Diners Drive ins and Dives in IOWA ~5 minutes Old School. My How Time Flies... And this Mom just won the Amazing Race too...~5 minutes Expensive Fails. ~8 minutes Not as Green as You Think.  Going Green Anyone? ~ 5 minutes Facts... A mother and her young son are on a Southwest Airlines flight. The little boy asks, "Mommy, if big dogs have baby dogs, and big cats have baby cats, why don't big planes have baby planes?" The mother stumbled and didn't have an answer for that one so she looks around and replies, "I don't know sweetie, why don't you go ask that nice flight attendant, I'm sure she'll have an answer." So the little boy walks down the aisle to the flight attendant and asks, "If big dogs have baby dogs & big cats have baby cats, then why don't big planes have baby planes?" Immediately the flight attendant is suspicious.  "Did your mother tell you to come over here and ask me that?"... "Yep" answers the little boy. So the flight attendant thinks on it for a few seconds then says "There are no baby planes because Southwest Airlines always pulls out on time.  Now go have your mother explain that."   More Randomness... Family Feud Fails ~3 minutes Edgy. More Stuff... Cheeseburger Soup Ingredients 1/2 pound ground beef 4 tablespoons butter, divided 3/4 cup chopped onion 3/4 cup shredded carrots 3/4 cup diced celery 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 1-3/4 pounds (about 4 cups) cubed peeled potatoes 3 cups chicken broth 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 to 4 cups shredded Velveeta 1-1/2 cups whole milk 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/4 cup sour cream Directions   1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook and crumble beef until no longer pink, 6-8 minutes; drain and set aside. In same saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Saute onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add potatoes, ground beef and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, 10-12 minutes.   2. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt remaining butter. Add flour; cook and stir until bubbly, 3-5 minutes. Add to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheese, milk, salt and pepper; cook until cheese melts. Remove from heat; blend in sour cream.  All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 210 S. Milwaukee Ave. Wheeling, IL 60090 USA