Through the Keyhole

August 2025

Take a break from your day...

Not your typical company OR newsletter

"This Island, famous for its blue grotto and once the retreat of Emperor Tiberius is nestled just a short boat ride off the coast of this beautiful country. They even have a chair lift that will take you to the highest elevation on the island."

Can you guess the location?

August is here and it's still HOT.

Well right about now we get to see if the Cubs collapse or if they find their mojo again. In fact, there are a lot of baseball teams right now deciding if they want to go for it or not. I remember many a trade deadline just hoping to pick up that missing piece to take us back to the World Series. I mean, it was good for a long time to just be .500 this time of year. And the Cubs are WAY better than that record wise right now. Let's see what happens.

In the meantime, it is now August. The month of August is named after Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor. Where as July was named after Julius Caesar. The idea that August was made 31 days long to match July (so that Augustus wouldn't have a "shorter" month than Julius Caesar) is a popular myth. The lengths of months had already been adjusted earlier with the Julian calendar reform. Interesting.

August in the Midwest is classic late summer—hot, humid, and buzzing with activity. Temperatures usually hang out in the 80s or 90s, and the humidity can make it feel even warmer, especially in places like Missouri, Indiana, or Illinois. Thunderstorms are pretty common too, sometimes rolling in fast and loud with lightning and heavy rain. Nature is in full swing: cornfields are tall and green, soybeans are maturing, and the cicadas are loud in the trees. You'll also see wildflowers blooming along country roads and plenty of bugs—mosquitoes included.

It's also one of the busiest months for community events. County fairs and state fairs are everywhere, full of rides, fried food, livestock shows, and 4-H exhibits. The Iowa and Minnesota state fairs are especially big deals. Around mid to late August, back-to-school energy kicks in—stores are stocked with school supplies, and families start winding down summer vacations. People spend a lot of time outside while they can, going camping, boating, fishing, hitting up outdoor concerts, or just enjoying a backyard barbecue. It’s a month where everything feels alive, a little sweaty, and packed with that end-of-summer urgency.

And the kids go back to school... Enjoy the dog days while they are still here.

Some notable events that took place in August:

August 1, 1981 – MTV Launches
The world changed forever when MTV hit the airwaves, playing Video Killed the Radio Star as its first video. And thus began the era of music videos, questionable fashion choices, and teenagers ignoring their homework for the next four decades. Little did we know, this was the gateway drug to reality TV and people yelling at each other in hot tubs.

August 2, 1776 – Most of the Founding Fathers Actually Signed the Declaration of Independence
Yep, not July 4th. Most of them were fashionably late, like that one guy who shows up to a BBQ after all the hot dogs are gone. So while we party on the 4th, they were still passing the pen around on August 2. Founding Fathers: bold enough to start a country, but not great with deadlines.

August 6 & 9, 1945 – Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings
Not funny at all—but historically massive. The atomic bombs dropped on Japan marked the beginning of the end of WWII and the start of the nuclear age. Humanity collectively said, "Maybe we took science a little too far this time."

August 9, 1974 – Nixon Resigns
President Richard Nixon quit before he could be fired—basically the world's most dramatic “you can’t fire me, I quit!” moment. He left the White House doing the peace signs thing with both hands like he was at Coachella. Watergate: the scandal that launched a thousand political metaphors.

August 13, 1521 – The Aztec Empire Falls to Hernán Cortés
Cortés rolled into Tenochtitlan with some soldiers, germs, and zero chill, and by August, the Aztec Empire was no more. It was history’s version of someone showing up uninvited to a party and wrecking everything, then acting like they were doing everyone a favor.

August 16, 1977 – Elvis Presley Dies
The King of Rock 'n' Roll left the building—permanently. He died in his Graceland bathroom, which is not exactly how a king should go out, but hey, at least he did it in velvet. Conspiracy theorists have kept him alive ever since, probably hiding out with Bigfoot and Tupac.

August 21, 1911 – The Mona Lisa Gets Stolen
Some guy literally walked out of the Louvre with the Mona Lisa under his coat. No Mission: Impossible music, no lasers—just vibes. It took them two years to find it. Honestly, that’s impressive incompetence or a masterclass in “act like you belong.”

Time is running out on Windows 10

1. No More Security Updates

After Windows 10 reaches end of life, Microsoft will stop releasing security patches. That means:

New viruses, ransomware, or hacking methods that emerge won't be blocked.
If a vulnerability is discovered, your system won’t get any fixes.
Hackers often target outdated systems because they know the weaknesses won't be patched.

In short: you're more exposed to threats the longer you keep using it.

2. Internet Risks Increase

Web browsers, antivirus programs, and cloud services will eventually drop support for Windows 10. As a result:

Websites may not display or function properly.
Using online banking or shopping becomes riskier.
Just visiting a compromised site could infect your system.

Outdated systems and browsers are prime targets for cybercriminals.

3. Software and App Compatibility Will Decline

As developers move on, they’ll stop making sure their software works on Windows 10. That means:

You’ll be stuck with older versions of apps.
New features won't be available to you.
Some programs may eventually stop working entirely.

This can seriously limit what you can do with your computer over time.

4. No More Official Support

After end of life:

Microsoft won’t offer help for problems, bugs, or crashes.
Tech support (from Microsoft or third parties) will generally tell you to upgrade first.
Businesses may risk being non-compliant with security regulations.

You’re basically on your own.

5. Your Computer Could Put Other Devices at Risk

If your outdated PC is on a shared home or office network, it could:

Spread malware to other connected devices.
Be used in botnets or wider cyberattacks.

Even if you’re careful, an unpatched system is a weak link.

Can You Still Use Windows 10 Offline?

Yes—if your PC is never connected to the internet or a network, the risk is much lower. This setup might be okay for:

Running old software
Playing older games
Using hardware that doesn’t work with newer systems

But you'll need to be very cautious, and you won't be able to update or install anything new that requires an internet connection.

Summary: Is It Worth Keeping?

Generally, no—especially if you use your computer online or for anything sensitive. Better options include:

Upgrading to Windows 11 (if your computer supports it)
Exploring alternatives like Linux
Replacing your device with something newer

Let me know if you want help figuring out if your PC can handle Windows 11 or need upgrade advice.

Time to upgrade if you are still on Windows 10. We are here to help.

www.turnkey.pro

Guess the Location Game

Last month the winner of the guess the location game was Jen Lindor who guessed the right answer. I appreciate all of the participation. THANKS FOR PLAYING!

ANSWER: St. Louis, Missouri

"This Gateway City to the West sounds like a saint that has lost his sense of direction. In fact, they used to have a football team here that moved out west. Oh the irony."

Ah yes—the “portal” of the St. Louis Arch. Sounds like a sci-fi gateway to another dimension, right? In reality, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis is already kind of a portal—just not to an alien world (yet). It's a symbolic one, representing the gateway to the American West, and yes, it has a literal entrance that leads to a very cool underground visitor center and tram ride.

However, St. Louis is really a proud sports town with a long memory and a bit of a breakup problem—mainly because some of its biggest teams packed their bags and left like shady exes. The one team that’s never ghosted them is the St. Louis Cardinals. Baseball is basically a religion here. The Cards have won 11 World Series titles, the fans bleed red (literally and emotionally), and Busch Stadium is always full—whether the team’s hot or just figuring it out. If loyalty were a sport, St. Louis would be undefeated.

Now, football? That’s where things get messy. First, the football Cardinals dipped out to Arizona in the ‘80s, leaving nothing but some empty seats and a few broken hearts. Then the Rams showed up in the '90s, gave the city a glorious Super Bowl win in 2000 (shoutout to the “Greatest Show on Turf”), and then bailed in 2016 to run back to Los Angeles. Their owner, Stan Kroenke, basically said, “This town isn’t big enough for my ego,” and peaced out. St. Louis sued the NFL and got a cool $790 million in the settlement—which didn’t bring the team back, but it was kind of like getting paid alimony after being dumped for someone flashier.

As for basketball, it’s been crickets since the St. Louis Hawks left for Atlanta in 1968. They actually won a championship in 1958 but decided they were too cool to stay. Ever since, the NBA’s been acting like St. Louis doesn’t text first. Still, the city loves basketball—especially at the college level—and you can bet fans would go all in if a team ever came back.

Hockey, though? That’s where the loyalty pays off. The St. Louis Blues stuck around through decades of heartbreak and finally gave the city a Stanley Cup in 2019. The victory parade basically turned into a week-long beer-fueled holiday. Blues fans are loud, loyal, and a little unhinged—in the best way.

So why do teams keep leaving? Mostly money, stadium drama, and owners who think L.A. or Phoenix is more “vibrant,” whatever that means. But through it all, St. Louis never stops loving sports. They might get burned, but they keep showing up. And if you're ever in town, just wear Cardinals red, talk about Yadi like he's your cousin, and never mention Stan Kroenke unless you want an angry lecture with full eye contact.

Guy Fieri visits an Italian / Greek restaurant ~ 3 minutes

~ 1 minute

THE HILL restaurant zone ~ 3 minutes

Well this is Random...

Farewell Ozzy.

Interesting art ~ 1 minute

Simpson Predictions...

~ 3 minutes

Sharks play Family Fued

~ 4 minutes

Dad needs help in the garden...

An elderly Italian man living alone in New Jersey wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was challenging work, since the ground was hard.

His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here, my troubles would be over..

I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, just as you used to in the old days.

Love, Papa

A few days later, he received a letter from his son.

Dear Pop, Don’t dig up that garden. That’s where the bodies are buried.

Love, Vinnie

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.

That same day, the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Pop, Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.

Love you, Vinnie

The Senior - movie trailer