CablesAndKits

Happy Monday & Happy National Puzzle Day! Whether you’re a Sudoku master, crossword connoisseur, or jigsaw genius, take a moment to indulge in the joy of solving puzzles.

In This Issue: INK & Pokemon | Cisco Meraki MX100 Security Appliance | 4K vs 8K HDMI Cables: A Quick Guide 4K vs 8K HDMI Cables: A Quick Guide | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – INK & Pokemon

Happy Monday!

February is right around the corner and hopefully some warmer weather as well! The weekend was a bit cold and dreary, but we made the best of it by taking our kids to a hands-on Children’s Museum. We went to a place called INK (Interactive Neighborhood for Kids) and they had a great time. We celebrated my youngest’s birthday and her cousins came along and it was a bit of a mad house.

It seemed like there were several hundred kids there, but towards lunch, the place cleared out a bit and it was a bit more manageable. I think the heavy rain contributed to all the kids being indoors and parents just wanting an outlet to get all of the kid’s energy out.

Other than that, the weekend was pretty chill. I’ve been getting into the Pokemon Trading Card Game with my oldest daughter and we watched some of the regional tournaments in Liverpool, streamed live on YouTube. Pokemon has come a long way since I watched the show in 1997 and played Pokemon Blue on the original Gameboy (yeah I’m kind of dating myself lol).

I get to enjoy my daughter discovering the fun and I’m amazed at how the industry and the trading card game has grown. Last week there was a huge regional tournament in Charlotte with over 2000 competitors. I don’t know if we’ll get that serious about it, but it’s fun to watch.

Well, I gotta catch ‘em all! Have a great day and a wonderful week!

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Cisco Meraki MX family of devices are multifunctional security & SD-WAN enterprise appliances that feature a wide range of capabilities to address a wide variety of use cases – from an all-in-one device.

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Learning Center Article – 4K vs 8K HDMI Cables: A Quick Guide

Both types of cables are HDMI, and they are used for ultra-high-definition video. 4K is known as HDMI 2.0, and the cables support video at resolutions up to 2150p (3840 X 2160), which comes out to roughly 8 million pixels in an image.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Amazon has reported they will not move forward with a planned acquisition of vacuum-maker iRobot.
• Intel shares slumped 12% on Friday for their steepest drop since July 2020.
• Anyone else have Teams issues on Friday?! We did! Good news! Microsoft’s Teams services were restored on Saturday after a disruption blocked access to the messaging platform.
• Chinese tech giant Baidu will partner Samsung to integrate its Ernie chatbot capabilities into Galaxy S24 smartphones.

Happy Thursday! We hope you are having a great week. The weekend is just around the corner! Do you have any plans?

In This Issue: What the heck happened?! (pt. 5 from Craig) | Cage Nuts | Basics of MPO/MTP Fiber Cables | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – What the heck happened?! (pt. 5 from Craig)

Previously I wrote about the origins of the CK Daily, our work during Covid, and my need to take a sabbatical. Then I wrote about taking a 5 month sabbatical which led to me stepping out of the day to day of CK, and starting Millwood Land Company (EscapeTheHOA). Now, on to part 4.

“Everything is fine … until it isn’t”. – Someone.

2021 and 2022 were great years all around. CK did amazing – 2022 was the best year we ever had, Millwood did great, family was good, and everyone was happy.

As 2023 was marching on we were not seeing the sales we were used to the previous year at CablesAndKits, but we thought it was momentary. We didn’t realize it was going to keep sliding…. and sliding .. and sliding. Then suddenly things were upside down financially. What the heck happened?

I tried leading from the outside for a couple of months but things weren’t changing. I hesitantly and slowly stepped back in and started trying to help uncover what had happened. My wife said to the team “Craig is jumping back in”. I said, “I am not jumping, I am stepping”. A week later I said “Ok, I’ve jumped” lol. It’s really hard for me to do something halfway. I tend to be out or very much in. I was pretty suddenly very much in.

To be honest, I was a little nervous. I had been out of the business for nearly 3 years and wasn’t sure how those who had grown accustomed to not having a wild entrepreneur around would feel. To my pleasant surprise, many said “We need the entrepreneur right now”. It’s always nice to be wanted and needed. 🙂

So I’m back …. and things have been nuts … good nuts, but nuts nonetheless. We are uncovering issues and solving them. On to the next, on to the next, on to the next.

The goals were to:

1. Figure out what the heck happened
2. Fix it
3. Prevent it from happening again.

Simple, right? Not exactly …

More to come in part 5!

Craig

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Cage Nuts for use in equipment racks that have square mounting holes and use snap-in style rack clips. The cage nuts allow users to populate the rack (with square holes) with any of these screw types, or a combination of them, by using the correct nut. In addition, cage nuts eliminate the hassle caused by stripped threads in a drilled rack or enclosure. If the threads somehow strip, simply replace the nut with another nut.

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Learning Center Article – Basics of MPO / MTP Fiber Cables

Fiber optic cables drive modern communication. They are the only viable means for arranging the ultra-high-speed systems that run the backbones of digital communication. Long-range internet connectivity is dominated by fiber optic cables. Perhaps more importantly, the massive data processing that goes on at data centers does the majority of the workload for internet communications and digital information handling.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Amazon’s Ring said it will no longer allow police to request user footage in its neighborhood watch app called Neighbors.
• Meta’s market cap surpassed $1 trillion Wednesday. It’s the first time the company hit the milestone since 2021.
• Apple for the first time became the largest smartphone vendor in China by shipments.
• A Hamptons estate that was once listed for $150 million before falling into bankruptcy was sold at auction Wednesday for $88.5 million. The compound includes 23 bedrooms, two pools, a sunken tennis court, a home theater, spa, sauna and two gyms.

Happy Wednesday & Happy National Compliment Day! Take a moment to spread positivity and brighten someone’s day with a kind word. Wishing you a day filled with smiles, warmth, and the joy of making others feel appreciated.

In This Issue: Midweek Motivation | Cisco 3560X/3750X Four-Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Module | How to Use DAC Cables | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Midweek Motivation

Good morning & Happy Wednesday!

I hope everyone is having a great week. To be honest, the start of the year hasn’t been all that I hoped and dreamed it would be. I didn’t really kick off 2024 with big goals or resolutions, but I did have a lot of hope for what it would look like. It seems like the curve balls keep coming, turning this year into something I truly didn’t expect it would be. With that – I find myself trying to stay encouraged that the best is yet to come. Today I thought I’d share some quotes/verses of motivation. Enjoy!

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” — Michael Altshuler

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6

“When you are in your rocking chair talking to your grandchildren many years from now, be sure you have a good story to tell.” — Amal Clooney

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — Malala Yousafzai

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” — Isaiah 41:10

What quotes/verses do you read that keep you encouraged and hopeful? Send them my way and I’ll be sure to share them with everyone.

Have a great rest of the week!

Ashley

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Product Spotlights & Updates

When it comes to distributing fast signals across long distances, Cisco has several technology options available. One of them is the Cisco 3560x/3750x four-port Gigabit Ethernet module.

It is energy-efficient, secure, and scalable. It’s easy to use and reliable. You can easily connect your Ethernet switches to fiber via SFP connectors with this simplified module.

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Learning Center Article – How to Use DAC Cables

Fiber optic networking runs the world, but designing and maintaining a network is not a simple task. You’ll have to compare a lot of different equipment choices, and considering the power and equipment demands, it can be easy to go over your budget.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Swedish fintech firm Klarna is launching a monthly subscription plan in the U.S. to lock in its heaviest users ahead of an initial public offering this year. Klarna plans to roll out a high-yield savings account next, and subscription customers would likely earn a higher rate on savings.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill wants to hire 19,000 new workers ahead of its busiest time of the year.
• Johnson & Johnson has reached a tentative settlement to resolve investigations by more than 40 states into whether the company misled patients about the safety of its talc baby powder and other talc-based products.
• Spotify said it will update its iPhone app in Europe to allow users to buy subscriptions and audiobooks within the app.

Happy Tuesday & Happy National Pie Flavor Day! Treat yourself to a slice of your favorite pie. 🥧 What’s your favorite flavor of pie to enjoy?

In This Issue: Update: Successfully Found Frozen Waterfalls! ❄️ | Yealink CP920 IP Conference Phone | Understanding Server CPU Specs | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Update: Successfully Found Frozen Waterfalls! ❄️

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone is thawing out after the frigid temps last week!

I was able to get outside for a little hiking adventure on Sunday and, while it was FREEZING, it was absolutely worth enduring the arctic blast to get to see some incredible sights! We had a plan to hit several falls throughout the day, with the first one being Holcomb Creek Falls in Rabun County, GA. We’ve hiked it before in warm weather and enjoyed it, but nothing can compare to what we saw on Sunday. It’s a 120-foot fall and much of it was frozen over making it look like an absolute winter wonderland! We were so impressed with the beauty that we saw there and spent a good bit of time soaking it in!

We finally left Holcomb Creek Falls and headed to Mud Creek Falls. It was a bit of an unusual experience as the falls are located within a country club and you literally park, walk 0.1 miles, and then you’re there! It was definitely not a hike, but it was a beautiful fall!

After that we headed up to Highlands, North Carolina to make a quick stop at Bridal Veil Falls before going to check out Dry Falls which was super impressive! We had to deal with a lot of ice getting down close to the falls. Normally you can walk behind them, but with the harsh conditions, the gate was closed so you could get close, but not up to the falls!

I’m including a couple of pictures so you can see how beautiful everything was!

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The CP920 meets business challenges in audio conferencing with its crystal-clear audio quality making it perfect for small to medium conference rooms. Stylish and ergonomically designed, the CP960 puts smooth and easy control at your fingertips.

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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:

• Netflix and TKO Group Holdings reported that they will air the WWE’s flagship program Raw starting next year. Netflix is trying to drive revenue by cutting down on subscription sharing and pushing viewers toward its ad-tier membership.
• Oatly and Carvel will partner to add oat milk-based items at the chain’s ice cream stores nationwide. The oat milk-based products will be available at nearly 300 Carvel stores located in 18 states.
• Yoplait is taking on major Greek yogurt brands like Chobani by launching a new offering that’s higher in protein yet still has the texture and flavors of classic Yoplait.
• Crumbl Cookie has unveiled its new lineup of flavors, and it includes the first non-cookie product the store has ever offered: Cinnamon Squares.

Happy Monday! We hope you had a wonderful and warm weekend. Cheers to full pots of coffee, a completed to-do list each day, and just a great week ahead!

In This Issue: Seasonal Sickness & Celebrating 4 Years of Life 🎉 | Cisco 10GBase-SR SFP+ Module | Enhancing Network Security with Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Seasonal Sickness & Celebrating 4 Years of Life 🎉

Happy Monday!

We’ve been dealing with a lot of seasonal sickness in the family lately and unfortunately, I wasn’t immune this time. This weekend went by with a blur, with my best friend DayQuil (not sponsored) and lots of fluids. It seems like the whole family except our youngest got hit. Other than the sickness it was a relatively relaxing weekend.

This week we’re preparing for my youngest daughter to turn 4 years old! I can’t believe she’s grown so much in what seems like such little time. She already has a full-on personality of her own, which is wholly different than her sister’s. I guess the extrovert gene was skipped this time and what came about was a shy little girl that is a lot like Bingo from the show Bluey. If you have any toddlers or know of any toddlers, then you might be familiar with Bluey, which is an Australian-based show about a family of dogs that go on random adventures.

Anyway, my daughter has a cackling laugh just like Bingo on the show and she tends to act like that character. I’m not sure if she’s been influenced by the show, or if that’s her personality. I find it hilarious. Anyway, I hope you all stayed warm and toasty this weekend, I hear the weather is changing for the warmer across the country. It was definitely quite cold (at least for Georgia) and I had to go out each morning to break up the duck’s multiple watering basins. They froze about 2 -3 inches thick, and ducks must have their water! Being sick and going outside to break up duck water in the morning is nobody’s idea of a good time, haha!

I’m looking forward to the warmer weather! I hope you have a great day and a wonderful week!

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Cisco compatible, the SFP-10G-SR-CK module is an industry-compliant SFP+ transceiver module that is a great choice for your enterprise wiring closet, data center, or other application, giving you a wide variety of 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options. This 10GBASE-SR SFP+ module boasts many features and benefits, including being the industry’s smallest form factor, which results in the greatest density per chassis.

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Learning Center Article – Enhancing Network Security with Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine)

As your networks grow in scale, one of the hardest aspects of managing them is controlling who can access the network and how they are allowed to use it. It’s vitally important, as these networks often house private information in large droves. That’s to say nothing of the many systems you might be able to control from a single network.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• OpenAI announced its first partnership with a higher education institution. Starting in February, Arizona State University will have full access to ChatGPT Enterprise and plans to use it for coursework, tutoring, research and more.
• Grab your favorite bread and sandwich fixings! Kraft just announced the launch of three new Singles flavors, giving fans even more ways to upgrade their cheesy culinary creations. The new cheese slices are available in Jalapeño, Garlic&Herb, and Caramelized Onion. This is the first time Kraft has released new Singles flavors in nearly 10 years.
• Mark Zuckerberg said that by the end of 2024, Meta’s computing infrastructure will include 350,000 H100 graphics cards.
• Want to see the most famous food brands from every state? Check them out here.

Happy Friday & Happy Weekend! Wishing you a wonderful and warm weekend ahead. Have plans? We’d love to hear about them!

In This Issue: Your Chaos-Free Server Room Awaits | AC Power Cord | What is LLDP? | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Your Chaos-Free Server Room Awaits

Happy Friday, folks! We’ve all seen the before and after pictures of a server room that went from chaos to something worthy of posting on Instagram. Just running the cables is one part of the challenge. Another part of the challenge is knowing where the cables go.

Entering the hero of the story: Cable Labeling! Let’s face it, tracing a 1′ or 2′ cable might be a breeze, but when you’re dealing with a 10’+ cable that mysteriously disappears into another rack, things can get a bit out of hand! 😵‍💫

If you’ve visited our site, you know we offer many IT products. But we also provide many services to our customers, and one of those services is cable labeling. Why stress over labels, printers, and debagging when we can handle it all for you? We’ll take the chaos off your hands, leaving you with plenty of time to focus on another project. Just reach out, and we’ll be glad to help!

Here is a Reddit post showcasing some great cabling work! Do you have pics of a satisfying cabling job you’ve completed or seen?

Have a great weekend!

Chris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The C1062072 AC Power Cord is a versatile 6-foot cable with a 1-15P plug for standard power outlets and a C7 connector for various electronics. It’s constructed in a sleek black color with 18 AWG wires for efficient power transmission and durability. This cord is suitable for laptops, printers, gaming consoles, and more, making it a convenient choice for devices compatible with non-polarized 2-slot power cables.

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Learning Center Article – What is LLDP?

Everything runs on your network, but have you ever wondered how devices communicate with each other? How do they even find each other in the first place? This question has an answer that is both simple and complicated.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Preorders for Apple’s Vision Pro headset began Thursday, ahead of its U.S. release on Feb. 2. The virtual reality headset starts at $3,499, and buyers also have the option to pay in 12-month installments.
• Japan became the fifth country to land on the moon with JAXA’s SLIM lunar lander.
• December home sales were 6.2% lower than in the same month a year earlier. Inventory fell 11.5% from November to December, but was up year over year.
• Salad and Go wants to provide a healthier, cheap fast-food option with its $7 salads and wraps. Founded in 2013, the salad chain is now run by former Wingstop CEO Charlie Morrison.