Archives for September 2023

Happy Friday! The weekend is here. Do you have any plans? We hope it’s a great one!

In This Issue: A Stay at the Swamp | Rack Screws | Is Third-Party Maintenance Right for Me? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – A Stay at the Swamp

Happy Friday, folks! Fall break is coming up for our kids in a few weeks, and we’re all ready for a short break! We’re leaving town for a few days while they’re off. Over the last couple of years, we’ve been exploring more unique places to stay on Airbnb. We’re currently on a tiny home kick and have plans to stay in our second tiny home soon. My kids think that tiny homes are incredible places to stay!

So I saw this new article on Airbnb today that you can now stay in Shrek’s swamp. 😲 Would you stay here?

What are some of the most exciting or interesting places you’ve stayed? We’re looking to explore some new places, so I’d love to hear about your experiences.

Have a great weekend!

Chris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Used to mount network and telecom equipment into standard equipment racks. There are two main types of screws. 10-32 or 12-24. The 12-24 screws account for most applications in the field today. These particular screws have an E-Z start shank. This type of shank is void of threads for the first few “rounds” at the bottom. This allows easy insertion of the screw without having to get it “started” first.

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Learning Center Article – What Is BIMMF?

Every business has tech hardware that they depend on for daily operations. That could be something as simple as a printer or something as complicated as a dedicated cellular network that spans a 15-mile service area.

Since you rely on this hardware, you need the means to take care of it when things go wrong. You can do some of that with in-house IT, but sometimes, you need outside help. When that time comes, you can consider third party maintenance.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Epic Games announced plans to eliminate 16% of its workforce, sell Bandcamp and spin off most of its SuperAwesome services.
• Congress has little time left to avoid a shutdown, and it still doesn’t have a plan. The Senate has been working in a bipartisan manner and has a bill to fund the government through Nov. 17, which should pass in the coming days, though perhaps not before the weekend deadline.
• The popular delivery apps Uber, DoorDash and GrubHub on Thursday lost their bid to block New York City’s minimum wage mandate for app-based delivery workers.
• Costco is selling 1 ounce gold PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan bars. Costco Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti said the bars are in hot demand and don’t last long when in stock.

Happy Thursday & Happy Good Neighbor Day! When you get home today, head on over to your neighbor’s house to let them know how much you appreciate them!

In This Issue: Football, Barbecue, and Nuggets of Wisdom | HPE Aruba 2530 Series Switch | What Is BIMMF? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Football, Barbecue, and Nuggets of Wisdom

Happy Thursday!

Last weekend, my extended family gathered to watch football, savor delicious barbecue, and celebrate the birthday of my soon-to-be father-in-law. It was an unforgettable day, filled with fun trash talk about the games, laughter, and moments that will be cherished for years to come.

What makes these gatherings so special to me is the opportunity they provide for us to reconnect. Life can be so hectic, with each of us caught up in our daily routines and responsibilities. But when we come together like this, we get a chance to catch up, share stories, and simply enjoy each other’s company.

One of the highlights for me is engaging in deep conversations about life. There’s something soothing about exchanging thoughts and ideas with people who have a wealth of knowledge and life experience to share. These discussions seem to always open up new perspectives that I may not have considered before. I walk away from these interactions with what I like to call “nuggets” of wisdom—small but valuable pieces of insight and understanding that I didn’t even realize I needed.

I hope you’re also finding time to nurture your own connections and collect your own “nuggets” of wisdom along the way. Please share your own stories and experiences with me when you can. I always look forward to our conversations.
Wishing you a wonderful rest of your week.

Joi

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Aruba 2530 Series of switches was designed to offer cost-effective, reliable, and secure access layer connectivity for a wide range of uses from enterprise, to branch offices and small to mid-sized businesses. These easy-to-deploy switches feature an energy-efficient design which lowers power consumption for greater energy savings.

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Learning Center Article – What Is BIMMF?

Designing and deploying fiber optic networks is always a challenge. No matter the plan, you will need unique design elements and customized solutions for some of your problems.

Interestingly enough, one of the most common issues with fiber optics is figuring out how to get the cables to run the path that you want and still perform well. Fiber optic lines are notoriously bad at handling bends and corners.

How do you account for that? One of your best options is to invest in BIMMF cables.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The Pentagon has awarded Elon Musk’s SpaceX its first confirmed contract for the Starshield network it’s developing.
• The Federal Aviation Administration closed its investigation into last year’s failed flight of a cargo mission by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Blue Origin will not be clear to launch New Shepard until after Blue Origin implements “all corrective actions that impact public safety” and receives an updated launch license, the FAA noted.
• AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb and Boehringer Ingelheim reported that they have agreed to participate in the first round of Medicare drug price negotiations.
• Meta announced Quest 3, a sequel to the bestselling VR headset of all time, starting at $499. The defining feature of the Quest 3 headset is the ability to quickly see the world outside the headset, which will make the device less isolating and thus more comfortable to use for long periods.

Happy Wednesday! We’re halfway through the week and we hope your to-do list is getting shorter and shorter. If we can be praying for you this week, please let us know!

In This Issue: Going with the Flow | Cisco Compatible Console Cable | How Temperature Affects Ethernet | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Going with the Flow

Good Morning & Happy Wednesday!

What a weekend and what a week so far this week. This weekend, we had some plans to go to Ikea and visit a few other areas in Charlotte but none of that happened. Before I had a baby, I probably would have ended up having a not-so-great weekend with the plans changing but nowadays – I’m learning how to go with the flow.

Instead of running around Ikea, we enjoyed a chill weekend at home and it ended up being exactly what we needed. We were able to give our house a good clean and even deep clean our garage, and our garage needed it!

As a fellow Swiftie, I can’t fail to mention all the rage that was happening on Sunday night when Taylor Swift made a grand, highly anticipated appearance at the Chiefs vs. Bears game. While I was watching the Panthers game with my husband, several of my friends, colleagues and I were messaging back and forth in disbelief. What a night!

This week has been quite the week so far and we’re only halfway through! Cheers to a great rest of the week for all.

Ashley

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Upgrade your network with our 10-foot, Cisco-compatible Light Blue USB A to RJ45 Rollover Console Cable. These cables will console your IT network by helping you communicate and configure a networking device. The console cable utilizes USB 2.0 to facilitate the console function. This newer type of console cable is compatible with most Cisco equipment. And as always, this particular cable comes new in original packaging. Mac and Linux users please contact us for support.

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Learning Center Article – How Temperature Affects Ethernet

No one ever said that networking is easy. There’s a lot to learn and consider in order to make a great and robust network.

A lot of times, people stick with Ethernet because it is powerful, simple, and very cost-effective. If you’re using Ethernet, there’s a lot to gain, but there are still some issues you need to know about, and one of them is temperatures.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances increased last week to 7.41%, from 7.31%. Applications for a mortgage to purchase a home fell 2% for the week and were 27% lower than the same week one year ago.
• Target reported that they will close nine stores across the country after struggling with crime and safety threats at those locations.
• Amazon is facing its first set of antitrust charges from the U.S. federal government after the Federal Trade Commission filed its long-anticipated lawsuit against the e-commerce and cloud giant. The complaint accuses Amazon of wielding its “monopoly power” to artificially raise prices, degrade quality for shoppers, and stifle competition.
• Rite Aid, the third-largest U.S. drugstore chain, is reportedly preparing to seek bankruptcy protection and is planning to close 400 to 500 stores.

Happy Tuesday & Happy National Pancake Day! Whip yourself up a tall stack of syrupy goodness and enjoy! 🥞

In This Issue: Birthday Fun & Inspiring Progress | CK 3 in 1 Charging Cable | OEM vs Third Party Maintenance | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Birthday Fun & Inspiring Progress

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

We got to celebrate my mom’s birthday over the weekend which was a lot of fun! We went out to a steakhouse in Athens which was a nice treat for everyone and we had a great time!

My mom actually shares a birthday with my cousin, David, who was in a horrible car accident back in April. I’ve written about him before, but figured I’d give a quick update. He got to leave the Shepherd Center a couple of weeks ago and is now living with his parents. They purchased a wheelchair van for transportation and he goes back to Shepherd every weekday for the day program. It’s a lot of driving and he’s putting in a lot of work in the program which is pretty exhausting! He’s made some great progress over the past few months and has regained some function in his arms and fingers. Every small win feels so encouraging… we are praying for continued healing for him!

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Tired of looking for the right charging cable for your devices or tired of packing 3 different types of cables when traveling? Well, look no further! This 3 in 1 charging cable eliminates the need to carry separate USB-C, Micro-USB, and Lightning cables.

This convenient and compact charging cable is a lifesaver for all your devices. Use it in your car, use it while you’re on your couch, connect it to your laptop, and charge your phone, there are so many different possibilities!

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Learning Center Article – OEM vs Third Party Maintenance

When you have a lot of technology assets, they need regular care. You rely on the devices for many functions, and in many cases, they are critical to the operations of your business.

How do you take care of them?

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• NASA is involved in sustainable aviation research, and may have cracked the code to creating a lighter, safer battery back with multiple times more discharge power than lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries, the current industry standard for electric vehicles, contain liquids that make them vulnerable to overheating, fire, and loss of charge over time. By contrast, NASA’s SABERS project is developing experimental solid-state battery packs that do not suffer from these drawbacks
• America’s fastest-growing sport is looking to be … quieter? The governing body of the sport, USA Pickleball, announced on Monday a new initiative to get pickleball to pipe down by investing in changes to the acoustics of the sport. The organization will work with manufacturers and facilities to come up with solutions that will allow the sport to continue its rapid growth.
• Nissan has announced that all new models it launches in Europe will be fully electric.
• AMC, Cinemark and IMAX shares were up Monday following news of a tentative deal between Hollywood writers and studios.

Happy Monday & Happy National Comic Book Day! Today honors the art, artists, and stories of all the comic books we enjoy reading. What’s your favorite comic book to kick back and enjoy?

In This Issue: Fall Festivals and Tacos | Cisco Stackwise-480 Stacking Cable | Understanding Server CPU Specs | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Fall Festivals and Tacos

Happy Monday!

On Friday, Chris mentioned it’s the season for fall festivals. It just happened that Flowery Branch had its fall festival on Saturday and though the temperatures still were a little high, it felt like we were kicking off the PSL season (Pumpkin Spice Latte for those unfamiliar). The kids had a great time running around playing games and jumping in bounce houses, while I went around sampling food from the food trucks. There was a lemonade stand that made the freshest lemonade, that was the real winner on this hot day.

One thing I noticed was some of the product marketing on the food trucks, and while I try to disconnect from work, it’s like something that I can’t really fully turn off. There was one example that was pretty extreme, there were two taco trucks that were relatively close together, and one had a long line, and one didn’t, but there was a major difference between the two. The one that was doing quite well had their food truck branding with bright red colors set up and had pictures and details of each food items (and I think this was the key here), while the other was serving food out of a plain box truck (with no branding), no pictures of food, just an a-frame sign out in front that literally said “tacos $3” and “quesadillas $12” and no other details. I’m sure their tacos may have been delicious, but I think myself and others avoided that plain truck, because there weren’t any easily accessible details or any type of branding on the truck. What’s your restaurant’s name? What type of tacos? What kind of quesadillas? Is that all you serve?

Branding is super important, but so is easily letting your customers know what you have and what they are going to get. That’s why at CK I strive to give as much information about our products to our customers as possible so that they aren’t stuck in a plain box truck situation. I hope you have a great Monday and a great last week of September!

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Stack it up with CablesAndKits. Cisco Stackwise-480 stacking cables can connect a combination of Catalyst 3850 stackable switches to form a single switching unit. Our Cisco data cables are specifically intended to work with Gigabit Ethernet, making it easy to allow switch additions, deletions, and redeployment without interruption.

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Learning Center Article – Understanding Server CPU Specs

Servers are essential for so many business applications these days. If you rely on your servers for anything, then you tend to rely on them for everything.

When you’re shopping for servers (or looking to upgrade your hardware), you’re going to have to compare a lot of different specifications, and one of the most important components to analyze is the central processing unit (CPU).

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Hollywood scribes initiated a work stoppage in early May as negotiations broke down with studios including Disney, Paramount, Universal and Warner Bros. Discovery. Talks between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers resumed last week after months of starts and stops.The WGA and AMPTP are still drafting the final contract language.
• Bird has reported that its stock is being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange because of its inability to lift its market cap to $15 million. The scooter company was once valued at $2.5 billion by private investors.
• Amazon reported it will invest up to $4 billion in artificial intelligence firm Anthropic and take a minority ownership position in the company. The move underscores Amazon’s aggressive AI push as it looks to keep pace with rivals such as Microsoft and Alphabet’s Google.
• WWE’s “Friday Night SmackDown” will return to NBCUniversal’s USA Network in October 2024. The deal comes out to an average of $287 million per year, a total value of over $1.4 billion.

Happy Thursday! We’re inching closer and closer to the weekend. Do you have any exciting plans? We hope you enjoy the rest of the week!

In This Issue: New Fall Recipes | Cisco B200 M5 Server Blade | What Is Backhaul (FAQ) | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – New Fall Recipes

Happy Thursday!

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of trying out a delightful chili recipe that I found on Instagram. As we gear up for the cozy season of fall, I’ve been on a culinary adventure, experimenting with different recipes to celebrate the change in weather. This chili was a remarkable start, filled with the warm and comforting flavors of fall, and I can’t wait to explore more recipes in the coming weeks.

Speaking of fall recipes, I’d love to hear about some of your favorites! If you have any go-to dishes or seasonal specialties you enjoy making during this time of year, please do share. It would be fantastic to exchange recipe ideas and create a delicious autumn-inspired menu together. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Here is a link to the recipe, if you would like to try it out!

-Joi

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Looking for a blade server that gives you all the traditional benefits such as space efficiency and improved power and cooling efficiency, as well as all the power and performance you need for your network? Take a look at the Cisco B200M5 USC Blade Server! This cutting-edge server will help to revolutionize your network with innovative features that help it deliver performance that can’t be beat!

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Learning Center Article – What Is Backhaul (FAQ)

We all use the internet all the time, but how much do you know about the infrastructure? How does your device actually communicate with other devices around the world?

The full answer to that question is long and complicated, but you can understand a major portion of the internet and networking by learning about backhaul.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Cisco is acquiring cybersecurity firm Splunk for $157 per share in an all-cash deal. Cisco will finance the deal using a combination of cash and debt. The acquisition is one of Cisco’s largest and continues a streak of acquisitions this year.
• The Biden administration said it will resume offering free at-home Covid tests to American households Monday as the virus gains a stronger foothold nationwide. Americans will soon be able to use COVIDtests.gov to request four free tests.
• Anheuser-Busch is ending the controversial practice of cutting off the tails of its Clydesdale horses for cosmetic purposes. Animal rights groups including PETA have decried the practice as “crude mutilation”.
• Walmart is opening its first pet services center, outside Atlanta, with plans to open more locations. The pilot location will offer vet care and grooming services.