Through the Keyhole
December 2023
Take a break from your day...
Not your
typical company OR newsletter
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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."
Can you guess
the location?
Ah, Christmas – a time when the world seems to soften, and hearts
wrap themselves in the warmth of tradition and togetherness. There's
something magical in the air, an enchanting melody composed of
laughter, the crackling of fireplaces, and the joyous rustling of
wrapping paper.
It's a season where memories, both old and new, gather
around the hearth of our hearts. The twinkle of lights reflects not
just off ornaments but in the eyes of loved ones, creating a tapestry
of shared moments and cherished stories.
In the hustle and bustle, there's a quiet beauty, a
subtle reassurance that, for a moment, we can hit pause on the
fast-forward of life and savor the present. Whether it's the aroma of
freshly baked cookies, the sound of carolers echoing through the neighborhood,
or the simple pleasure of a shared meal, each tradition is a stitch
in the fabric of our lives.
But beyond the twinkling lights and festive decorations,
there's a spirit of generosity that dances through the season. It's
the joy of giving, not just wrapped in shiny paper and bows but in
the kindness shared, the time offered, and the love exchanged.
Christmas is more than a date on the calendar; it's a
feeling, an emotion that unfurls like a well-worn blanket, wrapping
us in a sense of belonging and goodwill. It's a reminder that, no
matter where life takes us, the magic of the season is a timeless thread
that weaves us together, connecting hearts across miles and
generations.
So, here's to the sentimental symphony of Christmas – a
melody of love, a harmony of memories, and a chorus of hope that
resonates far beyond the holiday itself. May your Christmas be merry,
bright, and filled with the sweet warmth of those you hold dear.
Some Major Decorations for Christmas:
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It's Beginning
to Look A LOT Like Christmas...
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So, way back, like ancient Egypt and Rome days, people
were already into decorating their places with greenery during winter
to symbolize life and renewal. Fast forward to 16th-century Germany,
and we've got Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformer, strolling
through a snowy forest and being totally inspired. He chopped down a
tree, brought it home, and decked it out with candles to mimic the
twinkling stars. Legend has it, that's the OG Christmas tree.
The trend caught on in Germany and spread across Europe.
Queen Charlotte, the German-born wife of King George III, introduced
it to England in the 18th century. And guess what? It hopped the pond
to the U.S. thanks to German immigrants in the 1800s, becoming a big
deal during the 19th century.
Then, in the 1840s, a pic of Queen Victoria and Prince
Albert with their decorated tree went viral (well, as viral as things
could go back then). America took the hint, and now, the Christmas
tree is a worldwide holiday superstar.
So, next time you're hanging ornaments on your tree,
just remember, you're part of a tradition that's been spreading joy
for centuries. Cheers to the Christmas tree magic!
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Uh Oh... Looks like AMAZON got into
the AI RACE.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Adam Selipsky announced a
new product called Amazon Q at the AWS re:Invent conference on
Tuesday, which tries to improve upon Microsoft’s Copilot assistant.
Amazon Q is a generative AI-powered assistant that can
help users with various tasks at work, such as chatting, generating
content, and taking actions. And from Selipsky’s description, it does
seem as comprehensive as Microsoft’s assistant. (The announcement was
part of Selipsky’s keynote, where he made several other
announcements. Highlights are here.)
The Q assistant lets employees ask questions using
natural language, and can understand and access the user’s company
systems, data repositories, and operations. Selipsky emphasized the
importance of security and privacy, and said that Amazon Q respects the
user’s existing identities, roles, and permissions. He also said that
Amazon Q does not use the user’s content to train its underlying
models.
Selipsky said Amazon Q will be transformative for
different kinds of people who do different kinds of work, and gave
some examples of how Amazon Q can help developers and IT
professionals with building and managing applications on AWS.
Read the FULL ARTICLE HERE.
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Guess the Location Game
Last month the winner of the guess the location game was PJ Weiland who
guessed the right answer. I appreciate all of the
participation. THANKS FOR PLAYING!
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ANSWER: Jerusalem, Israel
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"This 'dome' and its location are of great
significance to a couple religions. Said to be constructed in the
year 691, it is a place open for prayers and referred to as a
shrine. Two different religions share this sacred place as the
Foundation Stone and where the Prophet ascended to heaven are said to
have taken place. The rock is said to have two footprints, one
belonging to the Prophet and the other to the angel Gabriel."
The correct answer is: "The Dome of the Rock,
located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. The Dome of
the Rock is a significant religious site for both Muslims and
Jews."
Here are some things you may or may not know about
Jerusalem:
1. Jerusalem is a holy site for the
Abrahamic faiths
Jerusalem is a holy site for all three Abrahamic faiths
– Judaism, Christianity and Islam. There are more than 50 Christian
churches, 33 Muslim mosques, and 300 Jewish synagogues in the city.
The three religions coexist in the city and you’ll find important
sites representing all of these faiths, for instance, Temple Mount,
Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall, Via
Dolorosa and the Hurva Synagogue.
2. Walls surround Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a fully walled city. The walls around the
city are roughly 2.5 miles long, 40 feet tall, and 8 feet thick.
There are 34 watchtowers along the walls, and there are seven gates
for traffic. The walls that exist today were built circa 1537–1541 on
the order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire.
3. One of the world’s oldest
graveyards is in Jerusalem
Home to more than 150,000 Jewish graves, the Mount of
Olives is the largest and most important Jewish cemetery in the
world. The cemetery is over 3,000 years old, making it one of the
oldest known human graveyards in the world. When Jewish pilgrims
reach the Mount of Olives, many take some dirt away with them to
scatter on the graves of their loved ones buried around the world. In
Judaism, it is believed that the resurrection of the dead will begin
on the Mount of Olives.
4. Jerusalem has been captured many
times
The City of Jerusalem’s history is quite a tumultuous
one. So far, sixteen wars have been fought over the city and the city
has been besieged 23 times and attacked 52 times. It has also been
captured and recaptured 44 times. Persians, Romans, the Ottoman
Turks, and the British have each at one time conquered Jerusalem.
Jerusalem has also been destroyed at least twice.
5. Jerusalem is home to the holiest
site for Jewish believers
The Temple Mount is the holiest site for Jewish
believers due to it being the site of the First and Second Temples of
Jerusalem. The Babylonians destroyed the First Temple in 587–586 BCE
and the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE. The Western Wall
in the Old City of Jerusalem is actually the western retaining wall
of the Temple Mount compound. This wall is considered sacred due to
its proximity to the site of the Holy of Holies, which is the inner
sanctuary of the Tabernacle and the most sacred location in the
Temple for the Jewish people. Due to the restrictions on Jewish
people entering the Temple Mount platform, the Western Wall is the
closest they can get to the Holy of Holies.
6. The Western Wall is in Jerusalem
Over 2,000 years old, the Western Wall is a limestone wall in the Old
City of Jerusalem. It is a sacred site to the Jewish people and many
come to the wall to pray on a daily basis. It is a very popular
tourist site, attracting millions of visitors every year who shove
hand-written notes for God into the spaces in the wall.
7. Jerusalem has more than 2,000
active archaeological sites
Jerusalem was founded in 1010 BCE, but there’s evidence
of settlements dating back to 4500 BCE. This means people have
continuously lived in Jerusalem for more than 6,500 years. As a
result of its long history, there are more than 2,000 active
archaeological sites in Jerusalem.
Lots going on in Israel...at the moment.
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Jerusalem
Nightlife ~ 2 minutes
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Chapel of
Ascension ~ 2 minutes
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Jerusalem Temple
at the Time of Jesus ~2 minutes
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Victory Auto Wreckers CLOSING...
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Apparently Kid Interviewed...
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A billion is a difficult number to comprehend,
But one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into
some perspective in one of its releases.
A. A billion seconds ago it was
1959.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was
alive
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors
were living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no-one walked on
the earth on two feet.
E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours
and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.
While this thought is still fresh in our brain...
let's take a look at New Orleans ...
It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.
Louisiana Senator,
Mary Landrieu (D)
was asking Congress for
250 BILLION DOLLARS
To rebuild New Orleans . Interesting number...
What does it mean?
A. Well .. If you are one of the 484,674
residents of New Orleans
(every man, woman and child) You each get $516,528
B. Or... If you have one of the 188,251
homes in
New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.
C. Or... If you are a family of
four...Your family gets $2,066,012.
Washington, D.C.
Are all your calculators broken??
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax (Fed)
Federal Unemployment Tax (FU TA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge Taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
(And to think, we left British Rule to avoid so many taxes)
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago...
And our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt.
We had the largest middle class in the world.
And Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened?
Can you spell POLITICIANS?
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Top Ten Bobby Knight QUOTES.
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French Silk
Pie (remember that?)
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·
1 cup unsalted butter softened
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1 1/2 cups sugar
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2 ounces unsweetened chocolate melted and
cooled COMPLETELY
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2 teaspoons vanilla
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4 large eggs
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8 ounces Whipping cream or 8ounce tub
Cool Whip
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1 tbsp powdered sugar
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6 ounce deep dish frozen pie crust baked
according to package
Preparation
1.
Bake a homemade pie crust or use a Pillsbury
refrigerated crust and make according to package directions for a
fully baked crust. Set aside to cool.
2. Melt the chocolate and set aside to
cool completely.
3. Beat sugar and butter on medium high
until light and fluffy, about 6-7 minutes.
4. Add cooled chocolate and vanilla and
beat until incorporated.
5. Add eggs, two at a time, beating a
full 5 minutes after each addition.
6. Pour filling into cooled pie crust.
7. Beat whipping cream and powdered sugar
with a whisk attachment on medium-high speed until stiff peaks
just begin to form. Add prepared whipped topping to top of pie.
8. You can garnish with shaved
bittersweet chocolate as well.
1.
Notes
o
We highly recommend making this pie a day ahead.
o
The eggs in this recipe are not cooked. If that concerns
you, you can use pasteurized eggs or learn how to
pasteurize the eggs in your fridge.
o
DO NOT use margarine, I have not tested this pie using
margarine. Do NOT melt the butter. The butter should be softened,
which means removing it from the fridge and letting it sit at room
temp about 20-30 minutes.
o
Make your pie crust first. If making a crust from
scratch, follow the instructions for a fully baked pie shell as this
pie will not go in the oven. Let it cool completely.
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All rights
reserved.
Our mailing
address is:
210 S. Milwaukee Ave. Wheeling, IL 60090 USA
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