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KEYSTROKE MONTHLY THE
JULY 2020 BUSING TABLES AT A LAKE TAHOE CASINO
One of the Wildest Summers of My Life
In last year’s June newsletter, I talked a little bit about the first summer job I had while I was in college, loading barrels of oil onto freight cars in a hot warehouse in Tulsa, Oklahoma. That was between my freshman and sophomore years. Toward the end of my sophomore year, I decided I for sure didn’t want to do that kind of work again if I could avoid it. So, I kept an ear out for any opportunities for other summer work. Finally, I heard from my fraternity brothers about some summer jobs they planned on working — at a casino called Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Every year, Harrah’s would recruit about 100 college students from OSU to come work at the casino as dealers for the summer. The only catch was that you had to be 21 to work in the casino. I was only 20 at the time, so, at first, I didn’t think I’d be able to work there. My friends encouraged me to fly out with them anyway, without any assurance of a job, and see what happened. I must have really trusted them because that’s exactly what I did. That summer was a summer of firsts for me. Flying from Oklahoma City to San Francisco and then to Reno was my first time ever flying on an airplane. It was also my first time in Nevada and California. All that is to say, I really started out that summer as the proverbial fish out of water. When I landed in Reno, I realized that Lake Tahoe was actually still 45 minutes away by car, and I had no idea how to get there from the Reno airport. Luckily, I had befriended a couple on the plane who were headed to Lake Tahoe as well, and they were kind enough to give me a ride. When I got to Lake Tahoe, it was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. I recommend that anyone who hasn’t visited before go check it out. Anyway, I ended up finding work there as a busboy in the casino’s restaurant where you didn’t have to be 21 to work, so I was set. I had a summer job, and it wasn’t at an oil refinery. Instead, it was in food service at one of the most beautiful spots in America. I have so many stories from working at that restaurant I could share. I watched seasoned waitresses console down-on-their-luck gamblers with the tact and finesse of trained psychologists. I bumped into
Jim Nabors (whom you might know as Gomer Pyle from “The Andy Griffith Show”) and plenty of other showbiz types who frequented the casino. I almost got fired at one point for throwing away stale rolls that I didn’t know were to be turned into dressing later on. The job alone could have made that summer stand out in my mind, but it didn’t end there. My fraternity brother and I quit our jobs a few weeks early so we could do some sightseeing before we had to head back to Oklahoma. We took his 1965 Mustang from Lake Tahoe down to Yosemite National Park and then over to San Francisco. We stayed with my aunt, who lived there, for a little while before heading down Highway 1 along the coast. Eventually, we got to Los Angeles, where we met up with some other friends and spent a few days at Disneyland. Then we met up with some more of our fraternity brothers who had formed a band and were living in Los Angeles while trying to become the next Beatles. By the way, one of them, whom you might know as Gary Busey, eventually became a star 14 years later when he starred in “The Buddy Holly Story.” After my friend and I headed back to Oklahoma, we finished our trip with barely $50 between the two of us. I never had another summer quite like that, and I never would have had that experience to begin with if I had played it safe and gone home for work. To this day, I’m glad I took a chance on finding work somewhere I had never been before, and I’m grateful that opportunity worked out so well. -Doug Barnes
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KNOCK KNOCK! WHO’S THERE?
Well, according to NPR, knock-knock jokes have had a roller coaster of a history. Near as we can tell, they actually evolved from another kind of joke: the “Do You Know” joke. This style of joke was popular in the early 1900s, and according to an Oakland Tribune article NPR dug up, this was a typical one:
whose name made “knock knock” irresistible wordplay for the radio.
Whatever the reason, knock knocks were all the rage in the 1930s, to the extent that people formed knock-knock clubs, businesses held knock-knock contests, and orchestras set them to music. However, the heyday was short-lived. In the following years, people started getting sick of knock knocks, and even psychologists turned against them. According to NPR, “people who loved knock-knock jokes were said to have social problems.” Today, knock-knock jokes are still around, but they’re mostly considered a game for kids or demoted to the realm of “bad dad jokes.” Maybe you think that’s warranted, maybe you think it’s tragic — either way, odds are the format will continue to evolve and probably outlive us all!
Knock knock! Who’s there? Theresa. Theresa who? Theresa crowd!
Do you know Arthur? Arthur who? Arthurmometer!
Unless you’re living under a rock, odds are you’ve laughed, grumbled, or groaned in response to a knock-knock joke. You may have even told a few yourself before you realized knock-knock jokes had gone out of style in favor of sarcasm and memes. That’s because at their core, knock-knock jokes are a quintessential American experience — and the perfect homegrown fodder for International Joke Day, which falls on July 1. But where did they come from, and why do so many people knock the knock-knock joke today?
Not very funny, is it? Well, over the years this style of back-and-forth jesting evolved into knock-knock jokes. The popularity of the “knock knock” bit of the joke could harken back to Shakespeare, who BestLife credits with “the first-known occurrence of a knock knock, who’s-there dialogue” in Act 2 of “Macbeth” (though it likely wasn’t intended to be funny), or it could be a reference to 1936 vice presidential hopeful Frank Knox,
Delicious Chicken and Even Better Customer Service
The Rise of Chick-fil-A
When you’re craving the perfect chicken sandwich, few restaurant chains deliver better than Chick-fil-A. Top that off with a side of waffle fries; a sweet, cold, house-made lemonade; and some of Chick-fil-A’s signature sauce, and you’ve got a meal that’s a cut above the rest in the fast food world. The first Chick-fil-A opened in 1967, evolving from Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy’s first restaurant, Dwarf Grill (later renamed Dwarf House). After creating his first chicken sandwich in 1964, he completely rebranded his business. In the decades since, Chick-fil-A has become one of the most successful fast food chains in the country — not because of how it compared to other chains but because of how it stood out in the crowd. Both Cathy’s entrepreneurialism and his faith informed his approach to growing his chicken sandwich empire. Cathy’s faith is why all Chick-fil- As close on Sundays. His unique business view led him to establish five core values, which he and many other entrepreneurs have applied to their businesses with great success:
Along with these values, Cathy also holds several other business principles to be important, such as avoiding personal debt, being kind, and keeping the Chick-fil-A menu consistent. At every Chick- fil-A restaurant, the menu consists of the same favorites, made from high-quality ingredients. Part of their consistency is due to the restaurant almost never letting franchisees control them. Almost every Chick-fil-A is corporate-owned. While that might not be great for any entrepreneurs trying to get a piece of that chicken sandwich, it’s been great for Chick- fil-A’s customers. When you visit one of its restaurants, you can be sure the kindest staff around will get you the best chicken sandwich in no time.
1. Climb with care and confidence. 2. Create a loyalty effect. 3. Never lose a customer. 4. Put principles and people ahead of profits. 5. Close on Sundays.
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HIGH SECURITY LOCKS AND KEYS What Are They, and Are They Right for You?
July is here, and just as temperatures are ramping up outside, the burglary rate is going up nationwide. Homes are more likely to be burglarized during the summer months than any other time of year, so now is the best time to invest in some extra security measures, like high security locks and keys for your doors.
of a normal key because only one locksmith can usually do it. They will be the only ones with the kind of blanks that form your high security keys, and they’ll usually have a process in place to ensure only authorized key holders can make copies. High security locks and keys are obviously just one form of extra security you can implement. However, if other security measures, like home security systems or landscaping designed to deter invasion, aren’t an option, high security locks might be the way to go. If you have any questions about what Pop-A-Lock can do for you in this area, don’t hesitate to give us a call!
WHAT ARE HIGH SECURITY LOCKS?
High security locks differ from standard door locks in a few key ways (no pun intended). Their lock cylinders are more complex, have stronger bolts, better protect against drilling, and provide other ways to prevent forced entries. They usually come equipped with reinforced plates on the door frame, which make kicking in the door a lot harder. All in all, high security locks make it difficult for criminals to enter a home quickly and silently. Since burglaries are crimes of opportunity, high security locks ensure the opportunity for theft just isn’t there.
WHAT ARE HIGH SECURITY KEYS?
With how complex high security locks can be, it stands to reason that they would come with an equally complex key. Making a copy of a high security key is much more difficult than making a copy
TAKE A BREAK
Clay Royse EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
When you’re in the process of learning the ins and outs of a new job, it pays to be a fast learner. When you’re learning about locksmithing, it also helps to have a mind for mechanical systems. That’s what makes Clay Royse, who just started as a commercial, automotive, and residential locksmith with Pop-A-Lock, a perfect fit for his role. As an avid rider of mountain bikes, road bikes, and motorcycles, Clay began honing his skills for troubleshooting problems with mechanical systems long before he started as a locksmith back in January of this year. Again and again, he has exceeded expectations with his customers through his ability to learn quickly and patiently solve problems.
When he’s not locksmithing or riding anything and everything with two wheels, Clay loves camping, backpacking, and hiking with his dogs.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE ONE OF THE WILDEST SUMMERS OF MY LIFE PAGE 1 THE WACKY EVOLUTION OF THE KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE THE RISE OF CHICK-FIL-A PAGE 2 ALL ABOUT HIGH SECURITY LOCKS AND KEYS SPOTLIGHTING CLAY ROYSE PAGE 3 NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY PROMPTS HOMEMADE CREATIONS PAGE 4
CELEBRATE NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY
By Making Your Own Sweet Treat!
Whether you’re a fan of mint chocolate chip or just plain vanilla, nothing cools you down on a hot summer day quite like ice cream. It’s only fitting then that National Ice Cream Day lands on July 19 — right in the middle of the hottest month in the U.S. Ice cream’s history stretches as far back as 500 B.C. when Middle Eastern royalty combined sweet flavors with ice for a cool treat. Ice cream made its way to North America in the 1700s, and it remained a dessert for the wealthy and famous for years. George Washington even spent $200 on ice cream throughout the summer of 1790. (That would be $5,611.20 in today’s dollars!) Thankfully, these days you don’t have to be rich to enjoy ice cream. In fact, you can even save money by making it yourself! Celebrate National Ice Cream Day by creating this everyday treat using these tips.
Dairy-based products like milk are the most common foundation for ice cream. Sugar adds the sweet, scrumptious flavor we all love, and gelatin aids in thickening the mixture. The eggs happen to be one of the most important ingredients because they give ice cream its classic texture while reducing the rate at which it melts. This ensures your ice cream remains in near “mint” condition as you enjoy it. Healthy Alternatives: Use bananas or almond milk for dairy-free ice cream. For vegan ice cream, use agar powder instead of gelatin and eggs. For those looking to avoid sugar, honey is a naturally sweet substitute.
GET TO WORK!
You’ll need to heat your ingredients on the stove prior to churning and cooling your ice cream. An ice-cream churner is the easiest way to create a perfectly smooth texture, but if you’re looking for an activity to wear out the kids, then have them shake their own ice cream! Simply place all your ingredients in a small baggie, close it up, and place that baggie in a larger one with ice cubes. Shake firmly for at least 15 minutes for homemade creamy goodness.
MAKE IT HOW YOU WANT IT.
You can flavor your ice cream however you’d like, but there are a few basic ingredients that are necessary for most batches: milk, sugar, gelatin, and eggs.
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