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Author: James Snyder

Cryptocurrency: What’s All the Hub-Bub?

Cryptocurrency: What’s All the Hub-Bub?

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You can’t watch the news or surf the internet without someone eventually talking about the newest financial buzzword – cryptocurrency.  You’ve probably heard of some of the bigger names (Bitcoin, Etherium, Dogecoin, etc.), but what exactly are they?  How do they work?  Most importantly – should you invest in them? First, let’s take a look at what cryptocurrency actually is.  Well, to put it in the simplest of terms, it’s a form of digital currency (usually tokens) that can be…

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The Colonial Pipeline Hack: How Does A Ransomware Attack Work?

The Colonial Pipeline Hack: How Does A Ransomware Attack Work?

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You’ve seen the headlines.  You may even have panicked and topped off your gas tank this past week (yeah, I saw the lines at Sam’s Club – you freaks) – but what really happened at the Colonial Pipeline Company that caused gasoline to stop flowing in its massive pipeline which traverses the East Coast of the United States (and provides gasoline and other fuel to the entire southeastern corridor)? Let’s start with some definitions here.  First, it’s important to understand…

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Things I’m Getting Tired Of – 2021 Edition

Things I’m Getting Tired Of – 2021 Edition

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I’m a simple man, just trying to make my way in this life.  I’m not looking for trouble and I’m all about letting people go their own way.  If you want to make questionable life decisions – as long as they don’t impact me, I say go for it.  You want to ride a motorcycle without a helmet?  Be my guest.  Want to own forty-five firearms?  As long as you’re not shooting them off in town at 3:00 AM after…

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A Memorable Senior Year?

A Memorable Senior Year?

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June is fast approaching, and that means that thousands of local high school seniors (including my youngest daughter) will soon be completing their studies and walking the stage to receive their hard-earned diplomas.  It’s been quite a journey for these young men and women, but has it been a memorable one – or one that they’d just as soon forget? It’s been a very unique time for the class of 2021 (and for that matter, the class of 2020 as…

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Flying the American Flag: Yes, There Are Some Rules

Flying the American Flag: Yes, There Are Some Rules

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As we are moving into the warmer months of spring and summer, I am beginning to see American flags once again adorn porches, yards, and businesses.  It’s a great way to show one’s patriotism and love of country, but as much as I enjoy seeing a street full of flags on holidays like Memorial Day or Independence Day, many people still don’t seem to realize that there are some rules and guidelines that should be followed when deciding to display…

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Interstate 81: A Daily Commuting Nightmare

Interstate 81: A Daily Commuting Nightmare

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The commuter’s lament – a stretch of highway that is hated, feared, and looked forward to about as much as a roaring case of explosive diarrhea on a coast-to-coast airline flight.  There are plenty of these travel nightmares in the four-state area, the I-270 corridor to Washington D.C. from Frederick, Route 15, I-70 to Baltimore, even the I-95 corridor around the metro Baltimore/Washington areas.  How long will it take to reach the final destination?  30 minutes?  Two hours?  It’s literally…

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My Home Garden 2021: New Year, New Set-Up

My Home Garden 2021: New Year, New Set-Up

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If you’re a frequent reader of this blog, you’ll remember that last year I spent some of my COVID isolation planting a garden, utilizing a plot in my town’s local community garden.  It was a great way to get some exercise, see if I would enjoy digging in the dirt, and also allowed me to undertake a hobby that provided some relevant feedback on success or failure. I have to say that although I’m not a newly converted and rabid…

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The Department of Motor Vehicles: Sixty Minutes in Heaven

The Department of Motor Vehicles: Sixty Minutes in Heaven

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I recently had the good fortune (please read that with intense sarcasm) of having to interact with the Department of Motor Vehicles, an organization who’s very name screams “painful experience” and “test of will”. I was there to obtain historic tags for my 1999 Toyota Camry (nicknamed “Stan”) who – yes – is still on the road after all of these years, but is only driven occasionally by my youngest daughter (this disclaimer is provided to assure the DMV that…

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Travel Outlook 2021: The Future Looks Brighter

Travel Outlook 2021: The Future Looks Brighter

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While every sector of the economy took a hard hit due to the coronavirus, perhaps no industry took it on the chin harder in 2020 than the travel industry.  Airlines, hotels, theme parks, restaurants, and cruise lines were all hanging on for dear life this past year – some didn’t make it.  Hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost and entire geographic areas became ghost towns.  Can you imagine trying to make it in a beach town or in such…

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COVID Update: So What Have We Learned?

COVID Update: So What Have We Learned?

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So after what will probably go down in history as one of the worst years on record (so far), 2020 is well behind us and the 2nd half of 2021 is starting to look better, thanks in large part to the availability and distribution of the three, large-scale COVID vaccines. As we look forward to brighter days, it’s important to look back on what we’ve experienced, analyze it, and see if we’ve learned anything from it.  I won’t say we…

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