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JULY 2021
Thoughts on the Olympics Ahead of Tokyo’s Summer Games What Do You Think?
After being suspended for one year due to the pandemic, the Summer Olympics are back this year in Tokyo, and while I tend to prefer the Winter Olympics, I’m looking forward to watching the competition. I don’t go out of my way to watch the Olympics, but I do enjoy watching when I can. I believe some of the best events of the games are sports that involve a distance or a time. Those seem to be sports where it is difficult for the politics of who is who or a coach’s favorite. When a distance or a time are involved, it is pretty clear who the best athlete is. Not to mention, it’s also very difficult for a referee to have an influence on the outcome. Those types of events seem to have a better sense of pure competition for me. A close second would be an individual sport where two competitors face off. While these sports tend to have referees who can potentially influence the outcome, it is still great to watch and really see the talent of the athletes.
have weakened. At least from what I’ve noticed, our country appears to win more medals than we used to. It’s not that same feeling of pride as it used to be. Furthermore, I wonder if athletes who play both in major leagues and in the Olympics value one championship over the other. Do basketball players want to win the NBA championship, or would they prefer an Olympic gold medal (if they had to choose)? I think there’s a different kind of glory to both! And you have to wonder about the athletes who always perform at a global level. For example, soccer has the World Cup, but it’s also an Olympic sport. Again, which do you think would be more coveted? I’m inclined to say that the Olympics are a showcase of the best of the best — especially since we only get to watch this world stage every four years. Yet, is winning multiple professional championships in the years between the Olympics better than winning one gold medal?
I would also hope that the Olympics are the pinnacle of any athlete’s career, but I’m not sure if that’s true anymore.
Frankly, I’m sure winning is great no matter what it is.
Years ago, it was always a source of pride when the U.S. won a gold medal. It was a feat that brought the whole country together in a way few things can. But as our athletes have improved and the records continue to break, the competition for the U.S. Olympic team seems to
Of course, all of this speculation hinges on the games actually happening this year. At the time of writing this cover article, Japan’s vaccination rate was really low — like, 2%–5% of its population. Plenty of people object to the games happening in Japan due to this low vaccination rate, but the Olympic committee and Japan seem adamant to make the games happen. Regardless of what happens and the speculation behind the games, if the games do go on, I’m sure we are in for a good showing of athleticism. It’s still fun to watch athletes from across the world duke it out. We really do get to see some of the best athletes, and I’m sure we will have some fun stories from this year’s games.
Good luck to your favorite athletes!
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3 Business Tricks That Will Improve Your Personal Life
When you’re constantly in the “zone” at work, you’re not always thinking about what’s best for your personal life. While many business owners prioritize balance, what will truly benefit both your home and work life? Check out these three tricks. 1: Start your day with a plan. We know what you’re thinking: Writing out your plan is more work than just doing it. The key is to plan whenever you can. If you jot down things you want to accomplish the following day as they come up, all you’ll need to do is spend a few minutes organizing your list the next morning.
actually a straightforward method. According to “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, every new habit has a simple formula behind it: motivation, ability, and prompt. Whether your reminder is an alarm at the same time every day or even another habit (“I’ll exercise before I take my morning shower”), make sure it’s part of any new process you implement. 3: Remember, work is flexible — your personal life isn’t. Bryan G. Dyson, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, once told his staff, “Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them — work, family, health, friends, and spirit — and you are keeping all of these in the air.”
Pro Tip: Remember to include time to unwind and relax!
2: Develop new and improved processes. While certain activities can’t be replaced with shortcuts (like spending time with family), consider ways to make your current processes more efficient and beneficial. For example, you can’t lose weight if you don’t change your diet and exercise.
In his metaphor, work is a rubber ball. “If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same.”
Adjusting your habits might seem difficult, but there’s
We hope these tips help you protect the “glass balls” in your life!
“Microtech did a great job of jumping in and getting us through an IT disaster that our previous service provider wasn’t able to help with. Going forward, they have been responsive and overall are a pleasure to work worth with.” – Kelly K. “Our company has been using MicroTech’s services for years. They have supported our practice through many changes and growth. All the while maintaining professionalism and eagerness to help. We look forward to working with them for many years to come.” – Michelle A. See What Our Customers Are Saying
5-STAR RECOGNITION!
It takes every member of our 5-Star IT Service Team to ensure our clients’ needs are met — and we love to celebrate them! This month we have a lot of celebrating to do, so be sure to give these guys well wishes next time you speak to them!
Anniversaries: Bill Mogensen (2 years) Javier Paredes (2 years) Stuart Mulanix (16 years)
Birthdays: Jorge Suarez Brandon Hunsaker Michael Lynch
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BE PREPARED FOR RANSOMWARE
that pumps fuel to most of the Eastern portion of the U.S., experienced a ransomware attack this spring. The result was surging gas prices and panic-buying, and it cost Coastal Pipeline more than $4 million. Ransomware attacks are one of the biggest threats in cybersecurity. The process is very simple. Hackers and thieves send emails or links to employees, who accidentally click on said link, allowing the hackers to steal or lock data. A company — or, sometimes, a governmental agency — then has to pay the hackers a fee to protect the data or get it back. Unlike in our favorite crime shows, the hackers usually win. The source of the Coastal Pipeline hack has yet to be released, but about 90% of breaches can be attributed to phishing attacks. Human error is usually the main cause. That means the best way to prevent ransomware attacks is to properly train your employees.
Set up guidelines for creating strong passwords and regularly change the passwords, and offer training on how to identify phishing emails. Don’t click on anything unless you know the source is legitimate. Links can be just as detrimental as a response or a weak password. When something suspicious does happen, don’t panic. Notify your IT provider and employees, change your passwords, scan your network for threats, and begin verifying and securing data. In cases of secure, proper backup systems, a ransom may not have to be paid. However, your IT professional will guide you through any attacks. Protection against cyberattacks and ransomware has to be a big priority for your small business. If you would like to learn more about how MicroTech can protect your small business or to learn more about business technology, please visit MicroTechBoise.com/Blog.
Have you ever watched a crime show where a victim is kidnapped, and the only way their family can get them back is to pay a ransom? In these dramatic shows, the detectives are usually able to sleuth out the culprits without forfeiting the family’s money, resulting in a happy ending for everyone (except maybe the criminals).
But in cybersecurity, that’s not always the case. Coastal Pipeline, a gasoline company
THEBESTTEXAS-STYLE SMOKEDBRISKET Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Have a Laugh!
Ingredients
• • • • • • •
Wood chips
1/4 cup paprika
• • • • •
1/4 cup garlic powder 1/4 cup onion powder
1/4 cup white sugar 1/4 cup ground cumin 1/4 cup cayenne pepper 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup chili powder
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup pepper 10 lbs brisket
Directions
1. In a bowl, soak wood chips in water overnight. 2. In a large bowl, mix paprika, white sugar, cumin, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. 3. Rub spice mixture on the brisket and refrigerate for 24 hours. 4. Preheat smoker to 230 F. Drain wood chips and place them in the smoker. 5. Smoke brisket until it has an internal temperature of 165 F. 6. Remove brisket and wrap it in aluminum foil. 7. Smoke brisket further until it reaches an internal temperature of 185 F.
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Inside
Randy Looks to the Olympics
Make Your Work-Life Balance Easy
See What Our Customers Are Saying
What All Small Businesses Need to Know About Ransomware Attacks
The Best Texas-Style Smoked Brisket
How a Joke Became a Multibillion Currency Market
Would you create an actual cryptocurrency to make fun of other cryptocurrencies? That’s exactly what Jackson Palmer and Billy Markus did, and it’s paid off with an over $70 billion currency market. Now, it’s the fourth-largest cryptocurrency in the world. Dogecoin (symbol: Ð) is a cryptocurrency that provides a payment system (like Bitcoin, another digital currency) that is instant, fun, and free from traditional banking fees. Its playful name and Shiba Inu dog mascot caused the currency to start as a meme, but as people began to actually purchase it, it became worth more and more. Before Dogecoin, Palmer was a product manager at Adobe Inc.’s office in Sydney, Australia. As a “skeptic-analytic” observer of crypto, he joked on Twitter about creating Dogecoin as a way of satirizing the hype for cryptocurrencies. Surprisingly, people were totally on board. So, he bought the domain name Dogecoin.com. That’s when Markus, a software developer at IBM, contacted Palmer. He wanted to create a digital currency but had trouble promoting his project and decided to jump on the Dogecoin buzz. How a Joke Became a Multibillion Currency Market The Origins of Dogecoin
He asked Palmer’s permission to build the software to create an actual Dogecoin.
Most cryptocurrencies are fairly serious and sterile in presentation, but Dogecoin was always different. Palmer and Markus decided to market Dogecoin as the “fun” version of Bitcoin. Since Bitcoin had a limited supply while Dogecoin had an unlimited supply, Dogecoin was also faster and more consumer-friendly for new crypto investors. In 2015, Palmer made his departure from Dogecoin, citing the currency’s “toxic community” as a main reason why he left. Dogecoin also had its financial struggles during the 2018 cryptocurrency crash, but today, it’s grown stronger than ever. As of early May 2021, Dogecoin’s price is up more than 13,000% for the year. Even though Dogecoin’s origins are humorous, Palmer and Markus’ business decisions were no joke. If you decide to purchase Dogecoin yourself, whether as a joke or for investing, please do your due diligence to understand the risks of cryptocurrency.
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