Archives for August 2023

Happy Wednesday! What happened to the comedian on National Tell A Joke Day? Everyone stole his punchlines! All jokes aside, get out there and laugh a little and tell some funny ones. 🃏

In This Issue: New Routines & Fun Adventures | Cisco 2960-X Series 48 Port 740W PoE+ Switch | Advantages of Cloud Networking | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – New Routines & Fun Adventures

Good morning & Happy Wednesday!

I hope everyone is having a great week. Today marks two weeks as an official Mom and what a ride it has been! One thing I’ve learned is that as soon as you feel like you have a routine, things change very quickly. As the little guy is growing and becoming more curious, he stays awake longer and sleeps through the night more and more each day and it makes it hard to figure out what the new “”normal”” is going to be. But I guess those are the joys of a newborn!

A few fun things of the week:

1. My parents brought our sweet pup back to our house this weekend. At first he was super skeptical of the baby, but is now enjoying snuggling up with him and protecting him.
2. The first official bath! He didn’t love it, but it was the first. So here’s to hoping he warms up to them and begins to enjoy them.
3. Sweet visits. We’ve enjoyed some super sweet visits from friends and family and it’s been such a joy to show off our new bundle of joy! He’s got such an incredible village around him cheering him on through this sweet life he’s going to experince.3
4. Our first outing! We successfully accomplished getting out of the house and running a few errands. We even made a stop in at the library to pick up a few new books!

Looking forward to all the fun things ahead in this new adventure.

Have a wonderful week!

Ashley

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Cisco 2960-X series is another generation to the already popular 2960 series that will enable the typical small to medium business to function at an enterprise level without the enterprise budget. The 2960-X series switches offer a fixed configuration of Ethernet switches that are not only Gigabit, but also stackable. The 2960-X was specifically designed for easy deployment and operational efficiency. These switches are also energy cautious and have a large range of IOS software features.

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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:

• Markets fell after disappointing economic data from China.
  Disney has been accused of withholding profits from TSG Entertainment, a long-time financing partner of its 20th Century Fox studio.
• The Mediterranean restaurant company reported second-quarter net income of $6.5 million.
• The White House recently challenged thousands of hackers and security researchers to try to outsmart top AI models from the field’s leaders, including OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Meta and Nvidia.
• Tencent on Wednesday reported a surge in profit for the second quarter, but missed expectations.

Happy Tuesday & Happy National Relaxation Day! Today encourages us to slow down, unwind, and take care of ourselves. What’s your favorite way to kick back and relax?

In This Issue: The Surprising Impact of Praise on Motivation & Performance | Adjustable Impact Punch Tool Blade | Choosing the Right Network Card | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – The Surprising Impact of Praise on Motivation & Performance

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone is staying cool out there in the midst of this heatwave that so many of us are experiencing!

I don’t know about you, but I love listening to podcasts when I’m doing “mindless” activities like cleaning, running, or driving. One of my favorites is the “Huberman Lab” podcast which is hosted by Dr. Andrew Huberman and discusses “science and science-based tools for everyday life” as he says in each episode.

I listened to an episode recently that I thought was fascinating and worth sharing here. The overarching theme of the podcast was about growth mindset, but he discussed a research paper with a fairly shocking title, “Praise for Intelligence Can Undermine Children’s Motivation and Performance”.

I would have guessed the exact opposite to be true before learning about this study! Essentially, they took a group of kids and split them into 3 groups prior to conducting the study which involved giving the kids sets of problems/challenges:

– Intelligence Feedback Group – These kids received performance feedback that was “intelligence feedback” meaning they were told that they are smart, talented, good at learning, etc.
– Effort Feedback Group – These kids received “effort feedback” meaning they were told things like “You tried really hard on that problem” or “It was great the way that you applied effort and persisted”.
– Control Group – These kids received no feedback.

Here is what they found:
– The kids who received intelligence feedback, when later offered a new set of challenges/problems, tended to pick the problems that they knew they could perform well on whereas the kids in the effort feedback group tended to pick challenges/problems that were more difficult and stood to actually teach them more. So, the kids in the intelligence feedback group went for the least amount of challenge in order to continue getting the praise they were used to and the kids in the effort feedback group chose the more challenging problems that allowed them to exert effort to keep getting the effort praise that they were used to. Essentially, both groups were attached to the praise, but each type of praise encouraged a different set of behaviors.
– When all the kids in the study were given the same set of raw cognitive problems (prior to receiving any feedback at all), all 3 groups tended to perform about the same. They were then given praise after completing the problems (either effort or intelligence feedback). They were then given another set of problems and the kids who received intelligence feedback actually saw a significant decrease in performance on the second set of problems while the kids who received effort feedback saw a significant increase in performance. The kids in the control group performed about the same.
– When offered more sets of problems, the kids in the effort group tended to take on more challenges than those in the intelligence group.

To summarize, the kids in the effort feedback group not only opted for harder challenges, but performed better and chose to take on many more challenges.

This is all so fascinating to me as I find myself naturally inclined to give intelligence feedback, but this is making me re-think my choice of words! While this study is particularly helpful for those who are raising kids, it’s also applicable to our own personal lives and re-thinking our inner dialogue!
Hope you found this as interesting (and helpful!) as I did!

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Handheld punch tools are an installers best friend when “punching down” copper leads into a block. Most commonly, these blocks will be on the back of a patch panel or on the front of telco terminal strips. Often called quick connect blocks, terminating blocks or connecting blocks, these points of termination contain banks of IDC’s, or insulation displacement connectors. When “punching down”, the tool forces the copper lead inside of the IDC which exposes the copper core, making a connection.

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Learning Center Article – Choosing the Right Network Card

When you think about networking, there’s a lot of focus on switches, panels, racks, cables, and the backbone infrastructure that makes it all work.

It’s easy to forget about devices that enable individual networking components to function. One such case is a network interface card (NIC). They allow your computerized devices to connect to the network, so they’re absolutely essential. Many devices have NICs built into them, which is why they are easy to overlook. But, there are times when you need to purchase NICs. When that happens, this guide will help you choose the right option.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Stock futures were higher to start the week.
• Home Depot, Walmart and Target will report quarterly earnings this week.
• Former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein pushed back on a report saying he had offered to return to the firm to help current CEO David Solomon.
• Tesla rolled out cheaper versions of its Model S and Model X vehicles in the U.S. as competition in the electric vehicle space continues to ramp up.

Happy Monday, folks! May your coffee be strong and your motivation be high as we conquer the week ahead. In attempt to kick-off your week with a smile, here’s a cheesy joke: Why was the mobile phone wearing glasses? Because it lost its contacts. ☕📱

In This Issue: Reflecting on the Tragedy in Maui | Cisco Blue USB Console Cable | Useful Tips for Selecting PoE Cables | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Reflecting on the Tragedy in Maui

As the new week starts, my thoughts are with the people of Maui in both Lāhainā and Kula and the destructive impact the wildfires have had. Looking at the images of the devastation is a stark reminder that tragedy can happen anywhere, even in a “paradise”. I’m writing this a bit earlier than usual, at this time there have been 55 lives lost and many many others injured. The people of Hawai’i are resilient, and I know they’ll come through this tragedy stronger, but it’s definitely painful to witness.

I have a personal connection with Hawai’i as my father was born and raised in Hawaii and most of my family on my paternal side live in Oahu and the Big Island. I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like if my family members were directly impacted. It’s a bit overwhelming to think about.

In times like these it’s helpful to lean into the Lord and as Brandon Lake says poignantly “remind yourself to command your own soul to bless the Lord and say thank you when it’s not easy.” This song speaks to my soul at the moment – https://youtu.be/PzH8d4PIQsc Thank you Lord for allowing me to write about this, thank you for this day, and thank you for loving us.

If you have the means and feel compelled to help the people of Maui, this is a legitimate organization that I’ve donated to – https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong

As you go through your week please keep the families and people of Maui in your thoughts and prayers. I hope you have a blessed and great week.

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Upgrade your network with our brand new 6 foot, Cisco Compatible Light Blue USB A to USB mini-B Rollover Console Cable. These cables will console your IT network by helping you communicate and configure a networking device. Console cable utilizes USB 2.0 to facilitate the console function. The USB A portion attaches to the USB port or your computer or laptop and the USB mini-B attaches to the device. This type of one piece cable replaces older “”kits”” that contained multiple cables and adapters.

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Learning Center Article – Useful Tips for Selecting PoE Cables

PoE is an amazing way to make networks more efficient. By cutting power cables and the infrastructure needed to run them, you can really save a lot of money on parts of your network.

On top of that, modern PoE equipment is powerful, easy to manage (if that’s your preference), and full of potential. With a little bit of planning, you can use PoE to improve what your network can handle while saving money at the same time.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Retailers are threatening to shut down stores and raise prices if organized retail theft isn’t addressed.
  $14 billion in revenue has gone to over 625 Black-owned businesses and brands since May 2020 through an initiative to support Black entrepreneurs.
• The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Illumina over its controversial $7.1 billion acquisition of cancer test developer Grail.
• Nvidia’s surge past $1 trillion market cap puts it alongside household names Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Alphabet.
• Amazon is eliminating some private label brands as part of broader efforts to rein in costs across the company.

Cheers to Friday, the gateway to the weekend! We hope you find some time to soak up the sunshine, explore a new place, or simply unwind with your favorite activities. Wishing you a joyful Friday and a wonderful weekend!

In This Issue: No-Code Applications | Cisco Meraki MX68 Security Appliance | Fast Ethernet Switches vs Gigabit Switches | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – No-Code Applications

Happy Friday, folks! I was scanning technology news topics and ran across a fascinating article on Spiceworks, The Low-down on Low-code: CIOs See A Paradigm Shift.

Here is a simple definition of low-code from Zapier, “”Low-code development requires some coding skills—but it’s a massive shift away from full-code development. With low-code programming, software engineers can build and change applications faster using APIs, drag-and-drop capabilities, code templates, process flows, and more. This makes it easier and quicker for businesses to deliver new processes and app functionalities than if they were to build with code alone.””

Here at CablesAndKits, we’ve experimented with a few no-code options. Our primary goals have been speed and accuracy. When specific actions happen on our site, we need that information to be instantly available in other systems for our team to quickly solve customer needs. Our current tool of choice to handle integrating multiple systems is Zapier, which makes connecting systems fast.

Have you experimented with or rolled out no-code or low-code applications in your organization?

Have a great weekend!

Chris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Cisco Meraki MX family of devices are multifunctional security & SD-WAN etnerprise appliances that feature a wide range of capabilities to address a wide variety of use cases – from an all-in-one device. The MX is 100% cloud-managed, so installation and remote management is truly zero touch, making it ideal for distributed branches, campuses, and data center locations.

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Learning Center Article – Fast Ethernet Switches vs Gigabit Switches

When it comes to networking, you have a lot of choices. Most devices are connected wirelessly when they can be, but there are still plenty of occasions where it makes sense to run Ethernet cables.

You have some level of freedom in how you design Ethernet networks, and a lot of it boils down to the switches you select. In general, you can choose between fast Ethernet and Gigabit switches. Which is right for you? Let’s really explore the potential answers to that question.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Representatives of the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball have questioned the logic of taking a minority stake in ESPN if Disney’s goal is to replace cash payments for league rights with equity, sources said.
  Shares of Canadian telecommunications satellite operator Telesat surged on Friday after the company announced announced it would swap suppliers for its planned Lightspeed global internet network.
• Broadcast station owners including Scripps, Nexstar, Sinclair and Gray are interested in obtaining rights to local NBA, NHL and MLB games, according to people familiar with the matter.
• A Tesla Model X totaled in the U.S. late last year suddenly came back online and started sending notifications to the phone of its former owner, CNBC Executive Editor Jay Yarow, months later.
• Starling, which is backed by Goldman Sachs, is in talks with an Asian bank about launching its Engine banking-as-a-service platform in the Asia-Pacific market.

Happy Thursday & Happy National S’mores Day! S’mores are the most popular campfire treat. The real question through: Slow and steady toasting of the marshmallow or catch your marshmallow on fire?

In This Issue: Settling Down | Keystone Surface Mount Box | What Is SASE (Secure Access Service Edge)? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Settling Down

Good Morning!

A few weeks ago, my fiancé and I made another move. Thankfully this time, we’re here to stay for a while! After a rollercoaster of a few years, we’ve finally found a place to truly call home.

The part I am looking forward to the most is making this place our own. I’m practically over the moon about diving into the world of interior design. I’ve spent hours glued to interior design videos and shows, trying to find as much inspiration as possible. I have been having a blast trying to get my color schemes together and sketching out the layouts for each room. My main goal is to have a balanced space that wraps us in comfort and good vibes.

I spent the last few weeks scouring the internet, thrift stores, and holding up traffic while slowly passing yard sales just to find the perfect pieces. As my search continues, I would love to hear from you. Do you have a favorite place to shop for home decor?

Joi

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Give your network a makeover. These attractive boxes will perfectly blend into your home or office decor, and can hold a multitude of jacks. Unloaded 1-Position Keystone Surface Mount Box, the easiest way to install a network outlet, is perfect for office cubicles or installations where the cable is run along a baseboard. Protects and hides your network connections, mounts with 2-sided tape or screws, unloaded single position keystone mount box.

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Learning Center Article – What Is SASE (Secure Access Service Edge)?

As a business operator, what is your greatest fear? For some, it might be losing clients or failing. For others, specific things come to mind. New regulatory oversight that makes your business model impossible, natural disasters, and even digital attacks all come to mind.

Today, you can learn about SASE as a solution to this problem and a way to protect your business while improving operational elements within your IT infrastructure.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Subscriber losses continued over the last three months, with the company reporting 146.1 million Disney+ subscribers during the most recent quarter, a 7.4% decline.
  Disney is increasing the price of Disney+ and Hulu without commercials, but is leaving the price stable for the products with ads.
• Disney said Wednesday it is actively exploring methods to stop account sharing on its streaming services.
• Shares of Roblox fell Wednesday after the company reported second-quarter results that missed analysts’ expectations on top and bottom lines.
• Your Uber app can show you how your Uber score breaks down.

Happy Wednesday & Happy National Book Lovers Day! It’s a great day to find your favorite reading place, grab your favorite book, and read the day away. While you’re at it, share your favorite book titles. We’d love to give some of them a read! 📖

In This Issue: Welcome Baby Carter! | Keystone Jack Termination Fixture | Basics of GPU Servers | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Welcome Baby Carter!

Good morning and Happy Wednesday CK Family!

I am thrilled to share with you that I’ve officially welcomed my sweet bundle of joy into the world. Carter made his grand arrival last week weighing a solid 9lbs even.

Today he’s officially a week old and I’m not sure where the time has gone already! My husband and I have been enjoying all the sweet snuggles and coos that come with the newborn stage of life and feel so blessed to have a happy and healthy baby boy to enjoy life with.

It’s been such a fun experience sharing his name with our family and friends as we kept it a secret until his arrival. I look forward to sharing with you the meaning behind his name but for now, back to enjoy some snuggles and catch up on some sleep.

Have a wonderful week!

Ashley

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Product Spotlights & Updates

This premise wiring tool holds the wire in place and facilitates proper lacing when working with keystone jacks.

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Learning Center Article – Basics of GPU Servers

Servers are essential in the modern world. They do the heavy lifting that allows all of us to enjoy the many perks of a digitally connected life. Whether browsing the internet, using a favorite app, or even talking on the phone, servers are playing critical roles at every juncture.

With so much depending on servers, it’s not surprising to see that they continually experience serious innovation. Today’s servers can run laps around those used even five years ago, and there are a few key reasons for that.
One of those reasons is the use of GPUs

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• A new issue highlighted by Moody’s may cast a pall over banks: They’ve been forced to pay customers more for deposits at a pace that outstrips growth in what they earn from loans.
  President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law one year ago, and semiconductor companies across the United States have promised to spend $231 billion on building chip manufacturing hubs on American soil.
• Penn Entertainment is partnering with Disney’s ESPN to rebrand and relaunch its sportsbook as ESPN Bet.
• Amazon has lost two executives key to the company’s drone delivery operations, CNBC has learned.
• Shares of Roblox fell Wednesday after the company reported second-quarter results that missed analysts’ expectations on top and bottom lines.