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KEYSTROKE MONTHLY THE
AUGUST 2019 Come Back to Work Refreshed With Memories That Last for Life I n 2017, a study showed that 52% of employees don’t use all their allotted vacation days for the year. As for why a majority of Americans don’t take as much of a break as they could, 61% said they feared looking replaceable and 56% said their workload was too heavy. Those were the most popular reasons. While I think it’s good to strive for a great work ethic, I think there’s some reprioritization that needs to happen. Other studies have shown that employees are more likely to be productive, innovative, relaxed, engaged, and balanced after taking time off. You can’t run on fumes and expect to complete your work to the best of your ability. It’s important to take time off to relax and give yourself time to create memories. Most employers in the United States realize this. Approximately 76% of private businesses offer their employees some sort of paid vacation time, despite there being no law that says they have to do so. At Pop- A-Lock, our employees get a certain amount of vacation time based on their time employed, and we require that they take it. We want our people to get away from their work, relax a little bit, do something they enjoy, and come back to us refreshed. But that’s not the only reason taking a vacation is important. About 54% of participants in the 2017 survey said that the logistics of travel and concerns about security while traveling were hindering them from using their time off. Many people think they’re wasting their time off if they don’t go on some grand, elaborate vacation, but you don’t have to go to Disney World to create memories with your family and friends. It could be as simple as a camping trip or even just spending time at home. Some of my fondest memories growing up are the trips I took with my parents to my extended family’s farms. I really treasure the opportunities I had to spend more time with my parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. One of the most memorable vacation experiences I had was getting to see the Yankees play the A’s in Kansas City when I was 10 years old. I was a huge Mickey Mantle fan. He was from Oklahoma like me, and, on top of that, he was at the height of his career at the time. At one point, I was 10 feet away from him, and I was going to ask for his
autograph, like a lot of others were doing, but I chickened out. Luckily, I got to meet him about 35 years later at a sporting goods show during my Pop-A-Shot days. I enjoyed visiting with him and even got a photo with him, That baseball game was over 60 years ago, and I can still remember it like it was yesterday. I’m so grateful my parents took the time to give me that experience, and I never would have gotten it if they didn’t take time off from work to take me to the game. Using your time off will absolutely leave you more refreshed and productive for the workdays to follow, but the memories you create on those vacations can last a lifetime. -Doug Barnes
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RIDE INTO THE SUNSET
4 Tips to Maintain Your Bicycle
Hopping on your bicycle for a family bike ride through the neighborhood is a great activity for beautiful summer weather, but nothing spoils a fun day of riding more than a flat tire or dislodged chain. That’s why it’s important to keep up with bike maintenance, even if you typically stay close to home. By following these four tips, you and your family can enjoy a smooth ride all summer long. GIVE YOUR BIKE A ONCE-OVER. The best way to avoid any problems with your bike while riding is to inspect it thoroughly before you head out. Check each component and make sure everything is in working order. If you notice your handlebars are loose or your brake pads are worn, you’ll be able to make adjustments or repairs before hopping on.
FILL YOUR TIRES PROPERLY. Proper bike tire pressure can seem
ambiguous; many people just inflate the tires until they seem plump enough to ride on. But a bike tire will typically have the recommended air pressure in psi (pound- force per square inch) stamped into the side of the tire. For example, your tire might say Min. 85–Max. 135 psi . This may seem like a broad range, but it all depends on what you’re looking for: A higher psi will increase speed while a lower psi will give you a smoother ride. KEEP IT CLEAN. Cleaning your bike regularly is essential in preventing premature wear and tear. When cleaning the body of the bike, use a damp rag with window cleaner or diluted dish soap to wipe it down, and take extra care not to get any of it on the chain. If the chain is dry to the touch, remove any debris that
may be caught in it with a small brush or old toothbrush before applying a good bicycle chain lube. INVOLVE YOUR KIDS. Encouraging your kids to maintain their own bikes will help them understand the importance of taking care of their possessions. Teach them to inspect their bike, clean and lubricate their chains, and regularly check their tire pressure. This summer, set yourself up for cycling success and make bike maintenance a priority.
TRICKLE BY TRICKLE
How Vivid Roots Gets Clean Water to Those Who Need It
Started by four University of Idaho students in 2014, Vivid Roots donates portions of their proceeds from apparel sales and trip funds to supply clean water and sanitation to these communities. The same students also founded Water for Life, a branch of Vivid Roots that devotes its resources to creating sustainable water systems in Guatemala and Ecuador. Where Vivid Roots focuses on creating service opportunities for those bitten by the travel bug, Water for Life’s entire focus is to provide safe water resources. To date, Vivid Roots has completed two water projects and renovated eight schools and two hospitals, impacting around 1,500 people. Many impoverished regions of the world use the same water for bathing, laundry, fishing, waste disposal, and drinking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, universal access to clean water could prevent 9% of global diseases and improve the economies of impacted communities. That’s why the efforts of Vivid Roots, and other organizations like it, are so important. Through service trips and funds from apparel sales, they empower communities to thrive, one glass of clean water at a time.
You shower in it. You cook with it. You drink it. And every year more than 3.5 million people die because of it. That’s how many people die per year from drinking contaminated water. Over 2 million of these casualties are children, and unclean water is one of the top killers of children under the age of 5. Unprecedented population growth and looming climate disasters continue to threaten more than 785 million people who lack access to safe drinking water. But an Idaho business is hoping to do its part in solving the water crisis. Vivid Roots is an apparel and travel company with a twist. In addition to the adventure, culture, and food of their planned trips to Guatemala and Ecuador, they give trip participants the opportunity to help communities build schools, hospitals, and infrastructure to deliver clean water. Service projects like repairing roofs, constructing health centers, and building playgrounds intermingle with beach tours, cooking classes, and dancing for a travel experience unlike any other, one where participants can have fun while giving back.
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MORE VALUABLE THAN MOST CARS 3 of the Most Expensive Car Keys in the World
Have you ever thought to yourself, “You know what I need? A car key that’s worth more than the cars most people drive.” Probably not, but somebody must have thought it because some very expensive keys do exist. Behind every luxury car is an equally luxurious key to turn the ignition — sometimes only figuratively. Here are three of the coolest and most expensive keys on the market. BESPOKE FERRARI KEY It may look and operate like a normal key, but the Bespoke Ferrari Key is far from normal. The addition of 1,160 diamonds to the key’s bow adds a degree of opulence befitting a Ferrari owner. But what’s the fun of having a jewel-encrusted car key if you can’t customize it a little? If you’ve got just over $18,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you can spring for any precious metal or gemstone you want to adorn the key of your new Ferrari. ASTON MARTIN’S JAEGER LECOULTRE AMVOX 2 TRANSPONDER WATCH Of all the car keys that exist, this one looks the most like a watch — because it is a watch. For this key, Aston Martin collaborated with Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre to create a watch with an electronic transponder. The buttons to lock and unlock the car remotely are sapphire crystals in case you find regular buttons just too pedestrian. All in all, the watch costs about $34,000, so, on top of its functionality as a car key, it’s probably also a pretty nice watch.
KOENIGSEGG REGERA KEY Forget buying a car key as expensive as a car — you’re
recipe title buying a Koenigsegg Regera, one of the premiere mega cars on the market. You can afford a car key that’s as expensive as a house. While the keys that normally accompany the Regera — which goes for $2.8 million — are made of common silver, they make a limited-edition key fob of diamond-encrusted platinum worth close to $250,000. So, if you’re looking for the ultimate shiny thing to show off at the yacht club, you found it with your new Koenigsegg Regera. In all seriousness, even if you don’t drive the latest Ferrari, Aston Martin, or Koenigsegg, Pop-A-Lock’s trained professionals can repair and replace your lost key fobs and car keys. Give one of our offices a call today.
TAKE A BREAK
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
On Ron Gunnell
The night shift definitely isn’t easy, and taking it on requires someone who is dedicated to doing their job well. Ron Gunnell has worked here at Pop-A-Lock as a car door unlocking technician during midnight and late- night shifts, and we couldn’t have a better man for the job. Ron has been with Pop-A-Lock for 12 years now, coming on board after a friend from his previous work was hired here. In his own words, Ron said his experience here has been interesting, fun, sometimes sad, but never boring. Every day is different, and day after day, Ron reminds us all what it means to be loyal and trustworthy.
When he’s not a work, Ron spends time with his wife Anna, and two kids, Eli, who is 6, and Ella, who is 3. He enjoys astronomy and comic books, and his favorite comic book artist is Todd McFarlane, who created Image Comics.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
WHY YOU SHOULD USE ALL YOUR VACATION TIME PAGE 1 A BIKING ADVENTURE VIVID ROOTS: COMBINING TOURISM WITH SERVICE PAGE 2 THE MOST EXPENSIVE CAR KEYS IN THE WORLD SPOTLIGHTING RON GUNNELL PAGE 3
NOT YOUR AVERAGE VACATION LODGINGS PAGE 4
AMERICA’S WEIRDEST AIRBNBS
This Ain’t Motel 6!
When Airbnb was founded a little over a decade ago, the developers hoped to provide an alternative to traditional travel accommodations. Today, with annual revenue in the billions, the service is an industry unto itself. While most people use Airbnb to “live like a local” while traveling, you can
MANCAVE APARTMENT/AIRPLANE HANGAR GENEVA, FLORIDA Airbnb super hosts Dan and Deborah have no shortage of quirky properties for rent — including yurts and treehouses — but their apartment fashioned out of an airplane hangar surely takes the cake. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was a theme restaurant featuring eclectic aviation. Memorabilia lines the walls with a bar front and center, and the bed is in a loft high above the ground.
find some truly wacky lodging options if you spend some time searching the platform. Here are just a few of the many contenders for the title of “Weirdest Airbnb in the U.S.” For ease of searching, the listings here have the same titles as they do on Airbnb.
DOG BARK PARK INN B&B COTTONWOOD, IDAHO As you approach the Dog Bark Park Inn, you won’t have to
BRAND NEW STUDIO EARTHSHIP TAOS, NEW MEXICO Earthships, houses run by clean energy and featuring reused materials, are a fixture of the Taos area. This one, which looks almost like a crashing wave with a living space in its undertow, combines the rustic charm of truly getting away from it all with modern amenities like Wi-Fi and in-home laundry. It’s a truly unique living space surrounded by pristine nature and not far from the historic Taos Pueblo.
guess if you’re in the right place. After all, how many buildings are shaped like beagles? When describing the space on Airbnb, the hosts make no bones about who this rental is aimed for. “Stay in a giant dog!” they say. In addition to being inside a massive wooden dog, you’ll find canine-themed games,
books, and more. Talk about ruffing it.
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