Through the Keyhole
July 2024
Take a break from your day...
Not your typical company OR newsletter
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"In
a City with no shortage of icons and attractions, this fountain is one of the
most visited every year. The facade tells the story of how these
ancient people tamed the water to bring life to their cities. So much
to see here..." Happy 4th! NOW STOP RAINING. Ah, the 4th of July! That glorious day when Americans gather to celebrate their independence by partaking in the most patriotic of activities: trying to blow up a small piece of the country with fireworks, consuming their body weight in barbecue, and pretending they remember more than just the first verse of the national anthem. It’s a day when the red, white, and blue come together in a dazzling display of pyrotechnics and culinary excess, and when the neighborhood's self-appointed firework expert puts on a show that can be described as either "spectacular" or "a visit to the ER waiting to happen." Let's not forget the age-old tradition of donning the loudest, most star-spangled attire imaginable—because nothing says "freedom" quite like a pair of American flag shorts. And as the sun sets and the fireworks start, you'll find yourself pondering the true meaning of liberty, which usually boils down to: “How many hot dogs is too many?” Happy 4th of July, where the stars shine brightly in the sky and on your Uncle Sam hat!
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Ah, fireworks
safety – the fine line between a dazzling display and a trip to the ER. Let's
talk about how to keep all your fingers intact while still enjoying the 4th
of July. Tips with a Twist:
1. Stay Sober, Stay Safe: o Sure, Uncle Bob thinks he’s a pyrotechnics expert after a few
beers, but let’s keep the explosions to the professionals. The only thing
that should be lit this 4th of July are the fireworks, not the person
lighting them. 2. Light One at a Time: o It’s fireworks, not a race. If you light everything at once, you
might as well change your name to “Sparky.” Patience, grasshopper – it’s a
virtue that keeps your eyebrows where they belong. 3. Back Up and Enjoy: o After lighting the fuse, get out of there faster than when you
hear, “We need to talk.” Seriously, the idea is to watch the fireworks, not
become part of them. 4. Water – Your New Best
Friend: o Keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby. It’s not just for
putting out fires; it’s also handy for when your cousin decides to set off
fireworks while wearing his favorite polyester shirt. 5. Duds Aren’t Daring: o If a firework doesn’t go off, don’t be a hero. Wait a good 20
minutes before approaching it. You’re not defusing a bomb in an action movie,
you’re avoiding a surprise that could end with a less-than-pleasant nickname. 6. Sparkler Sense: o Sparklers are fun, but they burn at about 2,000 degrees. That’s
hot enough to melt some metals, so maybe don’t let little Timmy run around
the house with one like it’s a glow stick at a rave. Final Thought:
Remember,
fireworks safety isn’t about taking the fun out of the 4th of July – it’s
about making sure you’re still around to enjoy next year’s festivities. So
light up the sky, not yourself, and have a sparklingly safe Independence Day!
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Be careful with those fireworks ~ 1 minute
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ChatGPT can be very useful...
Here's a concise
list of very useful tasks for using ChatGPT productively: Personal Productivity
1. Learning and Education: o Explain complex topics simply. o Provide summaries of books or articles. 2. Writing Assistance: o Help with drafting emails and essays. o Offer editing and proofreading suggestions. Professional Productivity
1. Research Assistance: o Summarize research papers and articles. o Provide insights on industry trends. 2. Meeting Preparation: o Draft agendas and minutes. o Prepare summaries of key points. 3. Coding and Development: o Help debug code and provide coding solutions. Creative and Leisure Activities
1. Travel Planning: o Suggest travel itineraries and destinations. o Provide tips on local attractions and cuisine. 2. Cooking and Recipes: o Suggest recipes based on available ingredients. o Provide cooking tips and techniques. Enhancing Communication
1. Social Media Management: o Generate content ideas and captions. o Assist with planning and scheduling posts. 2. Customer Support: o Generate responses to common customer inquiries. o Help draft FAQs and support documentation. By focusing on
these tasks, you can effectively enhance productivity, creativity, and
personal development with ChatGPT.
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Guess
the Location Game
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ANSWER:
Austin, TX
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"This building looks out of place as it looks from the Old World... As the capital of its state, this place is known for its music scene, tech industry and as the home of a giant University. All kinds of events like South by Southwest (SXSW) are held here. Some times of the year can be quite BATTY..." OK. HOW DID SOMETHING THIS MAGNIFICENT GET BUILT HERE? Here is the
official story. Historical Background
Early Capital Locations
Before Austin
became the permanent capital of Texas, the capital was moved several times.
When Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836, the government
initially operated out of Washington-on-the-Brazos. Later, the capital was
moved to Harrisburg, Galveston, Velasco, Columbia, and finally to Houston in
1837. Establishing Austin
In 1839,
President Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second president of the Republic of Texas,
chose a site on the Colorado River for the new capital, which was named
Austin in honor of Stephen F. Austin. The first Texas Capitol was a simple,
two-story structure completed in 1853. Construction of the Current Capitol
Initial Planning
By the 1880s, the
original building was deemed insufficient, and plans for a new, larger
capitol were initiated. The Texas Legislature passed a law in 1879 to fund
the construction of a new capitol by selling public lands. Design and Construction
Architect Elijah
E. Myers, who also designed the Michigan and Colorado state capitols, won a
nationwide design competition. His Renaissance Revival design was chosen for
its grandeur and functionality. The building's cornerstone was laid on March
2, 1885, Texas Independence Day. Construction took
six years, with the building completed in 1888. The project's funding came
from a unique arrangement where 3 million acres of public land in the Texas
Panhandle, known as the XIT Ranch, were traded to fund the building’s
construction. Materials and Labor
The exterior of
the Capitol is made of "sunset red" granite from Marble Falls,
Texas. The interior features various types of marble and wood, much of which
was sourced locally. Over 1,000 workers, including many European immigrants,
contributed to the construction. Features and Renovations
Architectural Style
The Texas Capitol
is an outstanding example of Renaissance Revival architecture, characterized
by its grand scale, symmetry, and use of classical details. It stands at 302
feet (92 meters) tall, making it taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington,
D.C. Renovations and Preservation
The Capitol has
undergone several renovations to preserve its structure and update its
facilities. Major restorations took place in 1993, ensuring the building's
historical integrity while incorporating modern amenities. Additionally, a
large underground extension was added to provide more office space and
meeting rooms. Significance
The Texas State
Capitol is a National Historic Landmark and serves as a functioning seat of
government for the state. It houses the offices and chambers of the Texas
Legislature and the Governor of Texas. The building is also a popular tourist
attraction, drawing visitors who come to admire its architecture and learn
about Texas history. Fun Facts
1.
Size: The Texas Capitol is one of the largest state capitols in the
United States, with 360,000 square feet of floor space. 2.
Rotunda: The Capitol's rotunda features portraits of every Texas
governor and president of the Republic of Texas. 3.
Goddess of Liberty: Atop the Capitol dome stands the Goddess of Liberty statue, a
symbol of freedom and democracy. How come all capital buildings look like this all over the world and were built very quickly on all counts? Interesting.
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Bus Tour of the Bars~ 1 minute
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The Food ~ 3 minutes
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The Bat Bridge... ~ 3 minutes
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Well this is Random...
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Over
L.A.
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And I am sure they are not LEGAL there... ~ 2 minutes
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Introverts CAN DANCE
TOO.
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Fun to watch. ~ 2 minutes
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Probably not supposed
to happen.
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Not all of them at the same time... ~ 1 minute
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Funny.
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A kindergarten
class had a homework assignment to find out something exciting and relate it
to the class the next day. When the time
came to present what they'd found, the first little boy the teacher called on
walked up to the front of the class, and with a piece of chalk, made a small
white dot on the blackboard and sat back down. Puzzled, the
teacher asked him what it was. 'It's a
period,' he replied. 'I can see that,'
said the teacher, 'but what is so exciting about a period?' 'Darned if
I know,' chirped the little boy, 'but this morning my sister was missing one,
my mother fainted, my dad had a heart attack, and the boy next door joined
the Navy!'
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Interesting.
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Buy a TINY HOUSE ON
Amazon
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Really? ~1 minute
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Edgy.
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More Edgy Stuff...
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Delicious Oven Baked RIBS
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Ingredients
FOR THE RIBS
·
2 lb.
baby back ribs ·
1/2 c.
packed brown sugar ·
2 tsp.
kosher salt ·
1 Tbsp.
garlic powder ·
1/2 tsp.
freshly ground black pepper ·
1/2 tsp.
paprika ·
1/2 tsp.
ground mustard ·
1/4 tsp.
cayenne FOR THE BARBECUE SAUCE
·
1 1/2 c. ketchup ·
1 c.
packed brown sugar ·
1/2 c.
water ·
1/4 c.
apple cider vinegar ·
1 Tbsp.
Worcestershire sauce ·
1 Tbsp.
molasses ·
1 tsp.
kosher salt ·
1/2 tsp.
garlic powder ·
1/2 tsp.
onion powder ·
1/4 tsp.
ground mustard ·
1/4 tsp.
paprika Directions
Step 1 Preheat oven to 300° and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. If your ribs have a thin membrane over the bones on the backside, remove by carefully sliding a knife under membrane and then peel it away. Step 2 In a small bowl stir together brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, pepper, paprika, mustard powder, and cayenne. Rub mixture all over ribs and place on prepared baking sheet. Cover with foil and bake until very tender, 2 hours. Step 3 Meanwhile make barbecue sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine all sauce ingredients together. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 1 hour. Step 4 Turn oven to broil. Remove foil from ribs and brush both sides with barbecue sauce. Broil until sauce just starts to caramelize, 2 to 4 minutes.
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