Archives for July 2026

Summer is the perfect time to make a splash! National Waterpark Day celebrates the fun and excitement of waterparks, where everyone from kids to grandparents can cool off and create lasting memories. Whether you enjoy thrilling water slides or relaxing in a lazy river, there is something for everyone. What is your favorite waterpark attraction?

In This Issue: Where Did Summer Go? | Deal of the Week | DisplayPort Cable | Data Center Server Rack Sizing Guide | News to Start Your Week

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The CK Weekly – Where Did Summer Go?

Good morning, and happy Tuesday, everyone!

How is summer almost over already?

The kids go back to school next Friday, which is crazy to me! I feel like summer passes by faster every year. We had a great one, though, filled with church, school, and 4-H camps. We also took a family trip to Tennessee. It was our first time there, so we got to see a lot of cool places, and we’re already excited to go back and explore even more.

We’ll finish up our school shopping this weekend, and then it’s time for open houses next week. Summer is my favorite time of year, so I hate to see it end, but I’m also excited to see what new adventures this school year brings for the kids.

Here’s to wrapping up summer and welcoming a great fall!

Brooke

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Deal of the Week

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Product Spotlights & Updates

This 10 ft DisplayPort cable delivers reliable, high-quality audio and video transmission between compatible devices. Featuring male DisplayPort connectors on both ends, it provides a dependable connection for monitors, desktops, laptops, and other DisplayPort-enabled equipment.

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Learning Center Article – Data Center Server Rack Sizing Guide

Data centers run on server stacks, and they are usually stored in server racks. So, if you need a lot of processing power and/or data storage, then you’ll need to understand rack sizes in order to strategize.
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Unfortunately, server racks are not measured according to specific official dimensions. Fortunately, they are standardized, and you can read those standards when you understand the measuring unit utilized across the industry.

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Today’s News to Start Your Week:

• Meta, BlackRock partner on $14 billion El Paso data center.
• Bezos to launch 5,000 satellites to tackle smartphone not-spots.
• Microsoft launches its first cybersecurity model, plus a new agentic cybersecurity system.

Happy Tuesday! Today is your excuse to indulge! National Junk Food Day celebrates all the delicious treats we usually try to avoid. Sometimes, a little cheat day is exactly what we need. If calories didn’t count today, what junk food would you choose?

In This Issue: The Last Long Day | Deal of the Week | Display Port to HDMI Converter | Meraki Network Products | News to Start Your Week

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The CK Weekly – The Last Long Day

There is something bittersweet about the end of summer.

The sun still hangs high for a little while longer, but you can feel the season quietly packing its bags. The long evenings that never seemed to end are suddenly measured by school calendars instead of sunsets. The spontaneous adventures become scheduled practices. The house that echoed with late-night laughter slowly returns to alarms, lunches, homework, and bedtimes.

For a few months, life feels wonderfully untethered.

There are no clocks to race. No backpacks waiting by the door. No nightly reminders about unfinished assignments. Just long days with my wife and our kids; days that seem ordinary while they’re happening but somehow become extraordinary the moment you realize they’re coming to an end.

I’ll miss that.

I’ll miss hearing, “Can we stay out a little longer?” knowing there wasn’t really a reason to say no. I’ll miss the movies that started too late, the dinners that stretched into conversations, and the feeling that tomorrow could be whatever we wanted it to be.

But seasons are meant to change.

As one chapter closes, another begins. Summer fades, and with it comes a different kind of beautiful chaos.

Football cleats will dig into the turf. Soccer balls will roll across the pitch. Softballs will crack off the bat and soar over the diamond. Calendars will fill with practices, games, meetings, and school events until there doesn’t seem to be a blank square left.

It will be busy.

It will be loud.

It will probably be exhausting.

And somehow, in all of that chaos, we’ll find ourselves together in new ways.

We’ll trade lazy afternoons for sideline conversations. We’ll exchange backyard evenings for folding chairs under stadium lights. Our family dinners may happen between practices instead of around a table, but they’ll still happen. The togetherness doesn’t disappear; it simply changes shape.

I’ve learned that every season asks something different of us. Summer asks us to slow down. Autumn asks us to show up. Both are gifts.

As this new season begins, I’m trying to hold onto one simple truth: I don’t have to have everything figured out.

Not because life will unfold exactly the way I imagine it, but because I believe there is peace in trusting the One who already knows the road ahead. Faith isn’t believing every game will end in a win or every day will go according to plan. Faith is trusting that even the unexpected has purpose.

So instead of trying to control every outcome, I’m learning to simply be present. Present for the early mornings, the late-night homework, the victories worth celebrating, the disappointments worth talking through, and every ride home after practice.

When I look at my children, I don’t just see the athletes they’re becoming. I see young people growing into the best versions of themselves. Every sprint across the football field, every run down the soccer pitch, and every inning on the softball diamond teaches resilience, teamwork, humility, and perseverance. Years from now, I probably won’t remember every final score or championship, but I’ll remember who they became in the process.

That’s what really matters.

So as summer quietly slips away, I won’t try to hold onto it too tightly. I’ll be grateful for what it gave us, and I’ll welcome what’s coming next.

Because every ending carries the promise of a beginning. Every season has its own beauty. And every step forward, no matter how chaotic it may seem, is another opportunity to grow together, to love each other well, and to trust that we’re exactly where we’re meant to be.

Here’s to the end of summer.

And here’s to the beautiful, busy season waiting just around the corner.

Thanks for listening to my TED Talk!

Matthew

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Deal of the Week

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Product Spotlights & Updates

This adapter will take a dual-mode Display Port signal and convert that signal to standard HDMI v1.3. This converter handles all the switching necessary to accept AC coupled signals and is handled automatically. The lead on this adapter is 6″ making it ideal for compact, tight installations.

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Learning Center Article – Meraki Network Products – Simplify Your Network

When it comes to industrial and enterprise networking, hardware solutions often create as many new problems as they solve. Networks get so complicated that scalable designs often devolve into a jumbled mess. Cisco Meraki offers an incredible solution to this problem. Through the use of powerful automation features and a suite of devices that are designed to work well together, these products might prove to be the best way to manage many business networks.

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Today’s News to Start Your Week:

• Robot cats bring comfort to people with dementia.
• Head of US AI safety agency resigns.
• Novo Nordisk sues Eli Lilly over weight loss drug advertisement.

Summer is all about cookouts, family gatherings, and comfort food favorites. National Mac and Cheese Day celebrates the cheesy classic that has earned a permanent spot on many dinner tables and barbecue spreads. What is your favorite way to enjoy mac and cheese?

In This Issue: Beach Day… With a Twist | Deal of the Week | Cat6A Bulk Ethernet Cable | The Right Ethernet for the Right Network | News to Start Your Week

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The CK Weekly – Beach Day… With a Twist

Howdy, everyone! Happy Tuesday! How’s everyone doing so far?
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Last week, a super typhoon passed through my country. Thankfully, my region wasn’t directly affected, although the sea was far from calm. Since we live just a 5 to 7-minute walk from the beach, we could hear the huge waves crashing all the way from our house.

Since everyone was home and it wasn’t raining, just cloudy and windy, my family decided to head to the beach to unwind and watch the waves. But instead, we ended up looking for sea shells that we could cook for dinner. It turned out to be a lot of fun! Most of the people there were also gathering sea shells, either for their own meals or to sell. Some carried empty rice sacks, others had small pails or fish nets, all searching for the same treasure along the shore.

Afterward, we cooked the sea shells into a hot soup for dinner and grilled some barbecue for a cozy evening since my boyfriend also came home to celebrate his birthday. Looking back, I realized I was still able to enjoy the gloomy weather through good food, simple moments at the beach, the sound of the crashing waves, and a cozy night with my family.

How was your weekend? How’s the weather in your area?

Kat

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Deal of the Week

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Cat6A Bulk Ethernet Cable is designed for high-speed 10 Gigabit Ethernet network installations where flexibility and reliable performance are essential. Featuring 28 AWG stranded bare copper conductors, an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) design, and a slim cable profile, it helps maximize cable density while simplifying routing through tight spaces. The durable PVC jacket provides added protection for structured cabling applications.

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Learning Center Article – The Right Ethernet for the Right Network

An efficient Ethernet cable management plan, especially in high-density and challenging network environments, increases the versatility of network maintenance and operation. It also contributes to the system’s uptime and lowers operation cost, which makes your life a whole lot easier!

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Today’s News to Start Your Week:

• Inflation cools significantly, first time in six years.
• Tesla converts Model S factory line into humanoid robot plant.
• Ebola outbreak is at least double the formal tally, WHO says.

Happy Tuesday! Nothing says summer quite like a cold scoop of ice cream. National Strawberry Sundae Day celebrates the classic combination of ice cream, fresh strawberries, strawberry sauce, and whipped cream. It is the perfect treat for warm, sunny days. What is your favorite way to beat the summer heat?

In This Issue: Family, Fireworks, and Summer Memories | Deal of the Week | F-Type Quick Push-On Adapter | Guide to Troubleshooting Common Ethernet Cable Issues | News to Start Your Week

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The CK Weekly – Family, Fireworks, and Summer Memories

Happy Tuesday!
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We had a great time celebrating America’s 250th birthday this weekend. We headed over to my parents’ house for a cookout where we enjoyed the traditional hotdogs and burgers, and the kids definitely ate their fill. Later that evening we watched Project Hail Mary, which I thought was a fantastic film. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it. After the movie we wrapped up the night by lighting a few fireworks.

We’ve learned over the years that we’d rather avoid the big fireworks shows. Between the crowds, traffic, and especially the summer heat, we’d much rather celebrate at home with family. It’s a little more relaxed, and we get to enjoy the holiday at our own pace.

Summer is definitely in full swing, and I’ll admit I’m already looking forward to fall. It’s been hot! We’ve had the fans running nonstop, we’re constantly drinking water, and the kids have been cooling off in the sprinklers whenever they get the chance.

How do you all beat the heat during the summer?

I hope you have a great day and a wonderful week!

Cris

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Deal of the Week

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Product Spotlights & Updates

This F-Type Quick Push-On Adapter provides fast, tool-free connections for standard coaxial cables. Its nickel-plated construction offers durability and corrosion resistance, while the push-on design makes it ideal for TV, cable modem, and satellite installations.

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Learning Center Article – Guide to Troubleshooting Common Ethernet Cable Issues

Ethernet cables are vital for fast and stable internet connections. They outperform Wi-Fi in speed and reliability. However, issues with Ethernet cables can disrupt your network. Common problems include physical damage and improper wiring. Understanding these issues is crucial for maintaining a seamless connection.

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Today’s News to Start Your Week:

• South Korea’s SK Hynix launches $28 billion US listing to ride global AI wave.
• Big Tech data centers are driving up power bills at America’s Rust Belt factories.
• Toyota’s $3.6B San Antonio expansion is coming and will add 2,000 jobs.