Thursday, December 28, 2023

Through the Keyhole - January 2024

 

Through the Keyhole

January 2024

Take a break from your day...

Not your typical company OR newsletter

 

 

 

"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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silly New Years Traditions...

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

ANSWER: Chichen Itza (near Cancun) Mexico

 

 

 

 

 

 

"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...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Diving in a Senote ~ 4 minutes

 

 

 

 

 

 Really interesting and disturbing ~ 4 minutes

 

 

 

 

 

An overview ~4 minutes

 

 

 

 

Well this is Random...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tartaria - The Hidden Civilization?

 

 

 

 

Check Swing Home Run?

 

 

 

 

Great Fakery ~ 60 seconds

 

 

BIG Fireworks...

 

 

 

 

 ~ 2 minutes

 

 

What's in a Story?

 

 

 

 

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.”

 

 

 

Funny

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buzzer Beater.

 

 

 

 

~1 minute

 

 

Edgy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Edgy 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

·     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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