Through the Keyhole
January 2024
Take a break from your day...
Not your typical
company OR newsletter
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"Located between two countries, this is not just one
waterfall but rather 3 distinct, rather impressive waterfalls. With over 12
million visitors per year, this is a well known destination for travelers
around the world."
Can you guess the
location?
Happy New Year...2024
Well,
2023 went by in a blink....
As
the sun sets on the past and rises on the horizon of 2024, it brings with
it the promise of new beginnings, untold adventures, and limitless
possibilities. The canvas of the new year awaits the strokes of our dreams
and aspirations, inviting us to paint a masterpiece of resilience, growth,
and joy.
May
the challenges that come our way be stepping stones to strength, and may
the victories be markers of our perseverance. As we stand on the threshold
of the unknown, let courage be our compass, guiding us through uncharted
territories with unwavering determination. We are probably going to
need it.
In
the symphony of 2024, let laughter be the melody that resonates in our
hearts, and let love be the rhythm that binds us together. Embrace the
opportunities that arise, for they are the seeds of transformation waiting
to bloom into beautiful stories of success and fulfillment.
This
new year is not merely a page turning on the calendar; it is an invitation
to redefine ourselves, to rediscover our passions, and to reimagine the
world we want to create. Let us be architects of positive change, building
bridges of connection and tearing down walls of division.
As
we embark on this journey into 2024, let hope be our constant companion,
lighting the path even in the darkest hours. May the lessons of yesterday
be the stepping stones for a brighter tomorrow.
Embrace
the gift of each day, for within its 24 hours lies the potential for
growth, joy, and the fulfillment of dreams.
Cheers
to the new year, a blank canvas awaiting the strokes of our collective
story. May it be a year of boundless possibilities, personal triumphs, and
shared victories. Happy New Year 2024!
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Silly New Years Traditions...
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Silly
New Year's Eve traditions can add a delightful and lighthearted touch to
the festivities as people bid farewell to the old year and welcome in the
new one. Here are a few amusing traditions that some individuals or groups
might adopt:
1. Wearing
Goofy Outfits: Embrace the spirit of silliness by donning
quirky and mismatched outfits or costumes. Whether it's oversized glasses,
funny hats, or glittery wigs, the goal is to ring in the new year with
laughter and a touch of absurdity.
2. Resolution
Piñata: Instead of making resolutions for the new year, write them
down on pieces of paper and stuff them into a piñata. At the stroke of
midnight, take turns trying to break open the piñata to release your
resolutions, symbolizing the start of a year filled with goals and
aspirations.
3. Dance-Off
Countdown: Instead of a traditional countdown, organize a dance-off.
Start a lively dance party, and as the clock ticks down to midnight,
everyone can showcase their best dance moves. When the clock strikes 12,
the person with the most entertaining dance might be crowned the New Year's
Dance Champion.
4. Midnight
Snack Buffet: Create a buffet of unconventional snacks
that represent good luck or positive vibes for the new year. From gummy
bears for sweetness to pretzels for twists and turns, let the snacks add a
whimsical element to your celebration.
5. Goodbye
2023 Time Capsule: Have each person contribute a small item
or note that represents their experiences or wishes for the year. Seal them
in a time capsule and bury it (if possible) or simply stow it away. Open it
the next New Year's Eve and reminisce about the past year's contributions.
6. Balloon
Pop Countdown: Write down funny or silly tasks on small
pieces of paper and insert them into balloons. Inflate the balloons and tie
them off. Every hour leading up to midnight, pop a balloon and have
everyone complete the task inside. It could be anything from doing a silly
dance to telling a joke.
Remember,
the most important aspect of these traditions is to have fun and create
memorable moments with friends and family as you welcome the possibilities
of the upcoming year.
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Gartner Group Forecasts Tech Trends
Each
of the trends relates to one or more key themes for business: protecting
and preserving past and future investments, building the right solutions
for the right stakeholders at the right time, and delivering value for the
changing environment of both internal and external customers.
1. AI
Trust, Risk and Security Management (AI TRiSM)
2. Continuous
Threat Exposure Management (CTEM)
3. Sustainable
Technology
4. Platform
Engineering
5. AI-Augmented
Development
6. Industry
Cloud Platforms
7. Intelligent
Applications
8. Democratized
Generative AI
9. Augmented
Connected Workforce
10.
Machine Customers
Read
the FULL ARTICLE HERE.
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Guess
the Location Game
Last month the winner of the guess the location game was John Sanderson who guessed
the right answer. I appreciate all of the participation. THANKS
FOR PLAYING!
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ANSWER:
Chichen Itza (near Cancun) Mexico
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"Located close to a major tourist destination, the name
of this place literally means, "at the mouth of the well of the
Itza." Occupied between 750 and 900 AD, this ancient city covers
an area of about 6.5 square kilometers. Some of the structures range
from Temples to Observatories. Next time you stop in from your cruise
ship, you should check this place out."
Chichén
Itzá, a magnificent archaeological site nestled in the heart of the Yucatán
Peninsula in Mexico, stands as a testament to the advanced civilization of
the ancient Maya. This UNESCO World Heritage site is renowned for its
awe-inspiring structures, intricate carvings, and celestial alignments that
reflect the profound knowledge and sophistication of its creators.
At
the center of Chichén Itzá's grandeur is El Castillo, the iconic step
pyramid. This architectural marvel served as a ceremonial structure and a
tribute to the Maya's expertise in astronomy. During the equinoxes, the
play of light and shadow on El Castillo creates the illusion of a serpent
slithering down the pyramid's staircase, a breathtaking testament to the
Maya's celestial precision.
The
Great Ball Court at Chichén Itzá is another remarkable feature, showcasing
the Maya's sporting prowess and ritualistic practices. Carved panels and
imposing stone rings emphasize the cultural significance of the ball game,
a sacred activity believed to hold cosmological and religious meaning for
the Maya people.
The
Observatory, known as El Caracol, exemplifies the Maya's fascination with
the cosmos. Its circular structure and strategic windows aligned with
celestial events suggest its function as an astronomical observatory,
aiding in the Maya's complex calendrical calculations and understanding of
celestial phenomena.
While
Chichén Itzá is renowned for its advanced architecture and astronomical
knowledge, historical evidence and research suggest the presence of
ritualistic practices, including human sacrifice. Woah.
One
of the more controversial aspects of Chichén Itzá's history involves the
possibility of child sacrifices. Archaeological findings, including human
remains and artifacts, suggest that sacrificial rituals were indeed part of
the religious practices of the ancient Maya civilization. It's important to
note that interpretations of these findings can vary, and researchers
continue to study and analyze the evidence.
The
Sacred Cenote, a large natural sinkhole at Chichén Itzá, is believed to
have been a site where sacrificial offerings, including human sacrifices,
may have taken place. Objects such as jade, gold, and pottery, as well as
human remains, have been discovered in the cenote, providing insights into
the ceremonial activities of the Maya.
It's
crucial to approach discussions about historical practices, such as human
sacrifice, with sensitivity and respect for the cultures involved. The
understanding of ancient civilizations is an evolving field, and new
discoveries may lead to revised interpretations of past events and
practices.
Any
way you slice it, Chichen Itza is a mystical place where we may not fully
understand the totality of what went on there many moons ago...
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Diving in a Senote ~ 4
minutes
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Really interesting and
disturbing ~ 4 minutes
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Tartaria
- The Hidden Civilization?
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Great Fakery ~ 60 seconds
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As the holiday season of 1938 came to Chicago, Bob May wasn’t
feeling much comfort or joy. A 34-year-old ad writer for Montgomery Ward,
May was exhausted and nearly broke. His wife, Evelyn, was bedridden, on the
losing end of a two-year battle with cancer. This left Bob to look after
their four-year old-daughter, Barbara.
One night, Barbara asked her father, “Why isn’t my mommy like
everybody else’s mommy?” As he struggled to answer his daughter’s question,
Bob remembered the pain of his own childhood. A small, sickly boy, he was
constantly picked on and called names. But he wanted to give his daughter
hope, and show her that being different was nothing to be ashamed of.
More than that, he wanted her to know that he loved her and
would always take care of her. So he began to spin a tale about a reindeer
with a bright red nose who found a special place on Santa’s team. Barbara
loved the story so much that she made her father tell it every night before
bedtime.
As he did, it grew more elaborate. Because he couldn’t afford
to buy his daughter a gift for Christmas, Bob decided to turn the story
into a homemade picture book.
In early December, Bob’s wife died. Though he was heartbroken,
he kept working on the book for his daughter. A few days before Christmas,
he reluctantly attended a company party at Montgomery Ward. His co-workers
encouraged him to share the story he’d written.
After he read it, there was a standing ovation. Everyone
wanted copies of their own. Montgomery Ward bought the rights to the book
from their debt-ridden employee.
Over the next six years, at Christmas, they gave away six
million copies of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to shoppers. Every major
publishing house in the country was making offers to obtain the book.
In an incredible display of good will, the head of the
department store returned all rights to Bob May. Four years later, Rudolph
had made him into a millionaire.
Now remarried with a growing family, May felt blessed by his
good fortune. But there was more to come. His brother-in-law, a successful
songwriter named Johnny Marks, set the uplifting story to music.
The song was pitched to artists from Bing Crosby on down. They
all passed. Finally, Marks approached Gene Autry. The cowboy star had
scored a holiday hit with “Here Comes Santa Claus” a few years before. Like
the others, Autry wasn’t impressed with the song about the misfit reindeer.
Marks begged him to give it a second listen. Autry played it
for his wife, Ina. She was so touched by the line “They wouldn’t let poor
Rudolph play in any reindeer games” that she insisted her husband record
the tune.
Within a few years, it had become the second best-selling
Christmas song ever, right behind “White Christmas.” Since then, Rudolph
has come to life in TV specials, cartoons, movies, toys, games, coloring
books, greeting cards and even a Ringling Bros. circus act.
The little red-nosed reindeer dreamed up by Bob May and
immortalized in song by Johnny Marks has come to symbolize Christmas as
much as Santa Claus, evergreen trees and presents. As the last line of the
song says, “He’ll go down in history.”
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· 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
· 8 to 16 ounces Velveeta, cubed
· 1-1/2 cups whole milk
· 3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper
· 1/4 cup sour cream
· Optional: Onion rings and thinly sliced
green onions
Preparation
· 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, broth and ground beef; bring
to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, 10-12
minutes.
· Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt
remaining 3 tablespoons 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. If desired,
serve with onion rings and green onions.
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All rights reserved.
Our mailing address
is:
210 S. Milwaukee Ave. Wheeling, IL 60090 USA
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