Archives for February 2023

Happy Tuesday & Happy National Pancake Day! Also known as Johnnycakes, griddle cakes, or hotcakes, this batter-made breakfast item dates back years. Today is the perfect day to enjoy some delicious pancakes with your favorite toppings!

In This Issue: Sweet Memories in Blue Ridge | Cisco 6500 8-Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet Module | Best Way to Connect Multiple Switches | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Sweet Memories in Blue Ridge

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone is having a great week so far!

Over the weekend I was able to get away to Blue Ridge, GA for some time with the family which was a lot of fun! My Grandpa was born in the area and many of his family members remained there for their entire lives. One of his brothers built a home across the street from the family farm back in the late 60s early 70s. He passed away in the 90s but left the home to my Grandpa who graciously allowed it to be used as somewhat of a family “vacation” home.

When I was a kid I absolutely LOVED when my parents would take us there for a weekend. The home felt like stepping back in time (it’s still a time capsule to the 70s!) and there was something so charming about how simple it was. There was a big Kubota tractor in the basement that we loved to play on, and the woods outside were simply magical and a great “playground” for us kids with big imaginations! It’s so much fun to see how my nieces and nephew feel the exact same way about going there. Literally, nothing has changed about the house since we were kids (if you guessed that it has an avocado-green bathroom, you guessed right!). They love the simplicity of it and they’ve spent countless hours playing outside, building trails and “forts” in the woods, etc.

With the way so much has changed since we were kids, it’s really special to watch my nieces and nephew experience something that is almost exactly the same as what we experienced as kids. It was a great weekend!

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

With a lifetime warranty, remarkable prices, and hassle-free return policy, you can network confidently, conveniently, and affordably stay on top of your intensive networking demands with the Cisco 6500 8-Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet Module, WS-X6708-10G-3C. Connect up to eight networking devices with 10 Gbps capacity per port, boosting your network speed and capacity for superior and reliable performance.

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Learning Center Article – Best Way to Connect Multiple Switches

It’s why many modern switches come pre-designed to work in a stack, cluster, or other configuration. The goal is to connect multiple switches together in order to improve the network.

What is the purpose of connecting multiple switches? In most cases, the goal is to expand network access. When you connect switches, you get more ports that can be used, and that means more devices can utilize the network.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Meta announced it will create a new product group inside the company focused on generative AI, a new set of machine learning techniques that allow computers to generate text, draw pictures, and create other media that resemble human output.
• Motorola is showing off a concept smartphone that rolls out as a user slides it up. The phone, which is being featured at the Mobile World Congress tech conference in Barcelona, has a flexible five-inch display that extends to 6.5 inches when pushed upward. Read more here.
• NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Monday Dr. Nicola Fox will serve as the associate administrator for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, effective immediately.
• A new coast-to-coast winter storm is forecast to pummel parts of California, the Midwest and US north-east this week. Parts of the north-east could see up to 8in (20cm) of snow, the National Weather Service (NWS) said, with New York City getting 2-6in. Further heavy snow is forecast on the other side of the country for California’s mountainous areas.

Happy Monday! We hope you had a wonderful weekend and are looking forward to the week ahead. If we can be praying for you in any way, let us know!

In This Issue: Southern Style Food | Kendall Howard 12U SOHO Server Rack with Doors | Advantages of Cloud Networking | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Southern Style Food

Happy Monday!

I thought I’d share something quite hilarious that I watched over the weekend. This video shows British high schoolers eating a southern staple, biscuits, gravy, and fried chicken for the first time. They even try sweet tea at the end. I didn’t realize that in the UK there isn’t a concept of a southern style of biscuits, something that I’ve grown accustomed to living in the South. The closest facsimile they have across the pond is a scone and it’s funny that they refer to our biscuits as fake scones. I believe that their concept of a biscuit is more akin to our concept of a cracker or a cookie. One kid called sausage gravy looking like a “chopped up ferret”! :D. I thought this would be nice to share to start your week off on a high! This is also the last week of February! Spring is on the horizon, have a great week!

Here’s the video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzdbFnv4yWQ

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Kendall Howard SOHO server racks are designed for small businesses, home offices, or IT professionals who want better than just “good enough”. The low-profile Compact Series SOHO Server Racks are perfect with locking removable front and back doors, casters, adjustable rails (with universal mounting holes), mesh front and rear doors, and plenty of venting for those small, tight environments.

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Learning Center Article – Advantages of Cloud Networking

You have heard plenty about the cloud over the years. It went from being a vague mystery to a modern expectation. Most apps these days include cloud support, and we all plan around cloud resources on a regular basis.

What you might not have heard is that cloud technology is expanding and providing new opportunities beyond accessing software and applications. There are things like cloud networking that provide a whole new way to approach digital communication.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day

• Xiaomi has unveiled its Wireless AR Glass Discovery Edition, a compact AR headset using the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 found in the Quest Pro. The company says these oversized sunglasses offer an elegant way to blend the digital and real worlds while, most crucially, not requiring a physical tether to a smartphone. Read more here. 
• Google has announced a slew of new features for Android, Chromebook and Wear OS that are designed to improve connectivity, productivity and accessibility.
• Electric vehicle startup Fisker said Monday it remains on track to begin deliveries of its Ocean SUV this spring and to build more than 40,000 vehicles in 2023.
• The U.S. military is preparing to buy another round of rocket launches from companies next year, and Space Force leadership says they’re taking a new “mutual fund approach” to the acquisition strategy.

Happy Friday! Today we celebrate the chip that provides a multitude of ways to enjoy it! It’s National Tortilla Chip day! Most commonly served with salsa, quest, guacamole, and other various dips – you could say this chip is pretty popular!

In This Issue: Out of Office Messages | Cisco Aironet AIR-ANT4941 2.4GHz Articulated Dipole Antenna | Does Copper Cabling Still Have a Place in Data Centers? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Out of Office Messages

Happy Friday, folks! It’s my last working day before I’m gone for a week on vacation. One of those tasks I do before signing off for the day is to write up an out-of-office message. Out-of-office messages can be incredibly dull, or they can leave a smile on someone’s face. I prefer the latter! So, what is the funniest out-of-office message you’ve received?

Here is one that I used in the past and may use again!

Since I’m out of the office for the next week enjoying a vacation, I’ll respond to your email with a list of things that I’m thankful for:

1. Copiers that collate
2. Co-workers that brew more coffee when they empty the pot
3. Donuts on Mondays AND Fridays
4. When IT surprised me with a new laptop AND remembered to transfer my files
5. When you-know-who finally ran out of perfume
6. Dry-erase boards that actually erase
7. The brave soul who cleaned out the refrigerator
8. When I’m early to an all-staff meeting and get to select the best donut (see #3)
9. HR finally sent out a memo telling people to STOP clipping their toenails at their desk
10. OOO auto-responders

Have a great weekend!

Chris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The AIR-ANT4941 can be used with all Cisco access points equipped with a RP-TNC connector. Designed for indoor use, at 54Mbps this antenna gives approximately 90 ft of coverage.

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Learning Center Article – Does Copper Cabling Still Have a Place in Data Centers?

More than 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are produced every day. That’s a mind-boggling number. Equally impressive is that roughly 90 percent of all data in the world was produced in the last two years. That second statistic will likely hold true even as years pass. That’s because the rate at which we create new data continues to accelerate.

In the face of such overwhelming numbers, it often feels like the entire future of networking rests on the shoulders of fiber optics. Let’s take a look at exactly why Ethernet is still important and how we can expect it to function in the near future.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Consumer debt across all categories totaled $16.9 trillion, up about $1.3 trillion from a year ago as balances rose across all major categories.
• Inflation rose in January by 0.5% following a 0.1% increase in December, according to the consumer price index report released Tuesday. The CPI was up 6.4% from the same period in 2022. Both numbers were higher than expected.
• Companies like Microsoft and Google are fighting to integrate cutting-edge AI into their search engines, as billion-dollar competitors such as OpenAI and Stable Diffusion race ahead and release their software to the public. Powering many of these applications is a roughly $10,000 chip that’s become one of the most critical tools in the artificial intelligence industry: The Nvidia A100.
• Jeanne Calment, a French woman, achieved the incredible feat of living to age 122, thus earning the honor of being the world’s oldest person on record. But before her passing, Calment met and discussed her life with Jean-Marie Robine, an expert demographer who studies the links between health and longevity. Read more about her story here. 

Happy Thrusday! Is anyone else feeling like today is Friday?! Today is National Banana Bread Day, so be sure to bake up your best recipe and enjoy!

In This Issue: Honoring Black History Month | Webcam 1080p Full-HD Streaming with Noise Reduction Microphone | Aruba Switches vs Cisco Switches | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Honoring Black History Month

Good Morning Everyone! Happy Thursday and Happy Black History Month!

As this month comes to an end, I want to take some time to recognize a very special African American woman in the tech community, Dr. Shirley Johnson. Dr. Johnson is best known for her many advances in science including her research contributions that influenced many inventions we use every day!

Growing up as a black woman in the 1940’s she endured many hardships while trying to gain an education. She talks about the experiences that she had while attending her Alma Mater MIT. She often felt socially exiled and struggled with making essential connections during her time there but, she persevered. Not only did Dr. Shirley Johnson go on to become the first African-American woman to earn a Doctoral of Philosophy degree at MIT but she became the second African-American in the United States to earn a doctoral degree in Physics! She excelled in many areas and was able to make our lives easier with her research, contributing to the invention of fiber optic cables, touch-tone telephones, caller ID, and many more.

Because of Dr. Johnson’s dedication, she opened the door for many other women of color to continue in tech and reach higher heights. She paved the way for black women leaders in tech such as Dr. Valerie Taylor, Shellye Archambeau, and Ursula Burns.

I personally am grateful for Dr. Johnson’s contributions to the tech community. I admire her sacrifice, intelligence, and tenacity. As a black woman in tech, I am honored to be able to acknowledge her success for Black History Month at CK! Thank you, Dr. Shirley Johnson!

Joi

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The perfect plug-and-play webcam! Our 1080p HD webcam provides realistic, crisp, crystal-clear video and features a built-in microphone. Specially designed and optimized for professional quality video this webcam is perfect for meetings as well as for streaming on social and entertainment websites. This HD webcam is compatible with YouTube, Skype, Facetime, Zoom, and more. It can be used for online teaching, video calling, recording, and conferencing.

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Learning Center Article – Aruba Switches vs Cisco Switches

When it comes to network switches, the variety of options can be overwhelming. There’s a specific switch for every niche networking role, and there are a dozen different brands making that one class of switch.

Out of all of those options, two leading brands are preferred in many professional networks: Aruba and Cisco. They are industry giants and leaders in many respects. When comparing them directly, it’s clear that you are getting different sets of benefits depending on which you choose.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Elon Musk’s SpaceX rolled out price changes for residential Starlink customers. Prices will rise for residential users of its satellite internet service in “limited capacity” areas but will fall for users in “excess capacity” areas, effective April 24.
• Target said it will spend $100 million to build a larger network of sortation centers that speed up and lower the cost of delivering online orders. The big box retailer is pressing ahead with its e-commerce strategy, even as it anticipates slower sales.
• The Victoria and Albert Museum in London will house more than 80,000 items from Bowie’s career at a new David Bowie Center for the Study of Performing Arts. Read more here. 
• Mt. Baldy could get up to 8 feet of snow or more this week from the likely historic winter storm expected to dump rain and snow and bring strong winds across Southern California.

Happy Ash Wednesday! Today marks the beginning of Lent, which is 46 days before the Easter holiday.

In This Issue: Relaxation & Registries | CAB-AC AC Power Cord | Understanding the basics of network switches | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Relaxation & Registries

Good morning & Happy Wednesday!

I hope you’re having a great week! This week has been incredibly busy but I’m looking forward to next week as I’ll be spending some town down in the Florida Keys with my husband. I’m hoping to be able to take advantage of some true relaxation time and catch up on my reading goal for the year.

One thing I can say that I successfully did this week, was semi-wrapping up putting together our baby registry. No one told us how much of a marathon that would be, but we did it! All that to say, any recommendations of must-haves or things to add? We’d appreciate the suggestions!

Hope you have a great week!

Ashley

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Cisco-compatible CAB-AC power cord is commonly used to connect a piece of equipment to a power distribution unit and for many other uses. Whether the cords are used in a basic or dense installation, these heavy-duty power cords save time and money.

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Learning Center Article – Understanding the basics of network switches

Networking is a big topic. In fact, it’s too big for a single conversation. In order to distill such a massive concept into manageable bites, it’s best to look at one component of a network at a time. This time around, that bite is network switches. They come in many shapes and sizes, but you can navigate through the field of options pretty easily when you break switch features into three categories.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• President Joe Biden on Tuesday challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to “end the war” against Ukraine and warned that the U.S. and its allies around the world will continue to support Ukraine and push for new sanctions on the Kremlin.
• Major League Soccer and Adidas have renewed their partnership. Adidas will also work with MLS on expanding the U.S. audience for soccer.
• Nikola will begin offering an advanced driver-assist system on its electric heavy trucks starting late next year. The system, made by Plus and called PlusDrive, is similar to the hands-free highway driving systems offered by automakers including Tesla, General Motors and Ford Motor.
• Starbucks is launching olive oil-infused coffee in Italy, with plans for a U.S. launch this spring.

Happy Fat Tuesday! Fat Tuesday dates back to an ancient Roman festival. Will you be enjoying your own Fat Tuesday feast?!

In This Issue: True Friendship | Meraki Access Point | How to Choose Ethernet Cables for Gaming | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – True Friendship

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday!

Hope everyone is having a great start to the week! I don’t believe I’ve mentioned this before, but the mother of two of my best friends is currently battling cancer. She recently received a prognosis that was certainly not what any of us were hoping for. It’s been quite upsetting a lot for everyone to process as she has been an absolute rock in the lives of her family (and those of us lucky enough to be friends!) for so many years.

She’s not taking a single moment for granted these days and invited quite a few of us over for dinner last night. She made spaghetti and meatballs and we sat around for hours eating, talking, laughing, and shedding just one or two tears! It was such a sweet night and made me so thankful for the friendship and love that filled the room.

I’m a big believer that life is all about relationships. Not the superficial surface-level ones, but rather the deep, meaningful ones. Life is tough and people are messy, but I can’t imagine walking through life without true friends! Thankful for the time we had last night and praying for many more nights just like it!

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Meraki MR46-HW raises the bar to new heights when it comes to wireless performance and efficiency. This cloud-managed access point features 4×4:4 MU-MIMO and 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 making it perfect for next-generation deployments in everything from offices and schools to shops and hotels. It offers the best of all worlds with high throughput, enterprise-grade security, and simple management through the Meraki dashboard.

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Learning Center Article – How to Choose Ethernet Cables for Gaming

It’s good that you are looking at Ethernet internet options. As a gamer, you likely understand the horror of laggy games. When it comes to home networks and gaming, latency is a huge deal and can make or break your whole experience – and in the game, whether you live, die, or succeed.

Ethernet has a lot of options for you these days. From Cat5 to Cat8 cables, there is an option out there that matches the performance you want without committing you to too much money out of your pocket.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Home Depot will spend an additional $1 billion to give its hourly employees a raise, as retailers and restaurants compete for workers.
• United Airlines and five corporate partners are investing $100 million to launch a fund backing sustainable aviation fuel.
• United says it is opening up more seats on aircraft to families traveling with children younger than 12. The airline will give access at the time of booking to “preferred” location seats to those travelers.
• Turkey has been hit with another 6.4 magnitude earthquake just two weeks after a 7.8 quake devastated the area.