CK Daily Updates

Starting the week with a gentle reminder to rest. National Napping Day comes right after the return of daylight saving time and encourages everyone to catch up on a little lost sleep. Do you prefer daylight saving time, or would you rather stick with standard time?

In This Issue: Weekend Highlights and a Time Change Reset | Deal of the Day | AC Power Cord | The Must-Know Tech for Smarter Networking | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Weekend Highlights and a Time Change Reset

Happy Monday!

Anyone else feel like the Monday after Daylight Saving Time is the worst? Where does that hour go? It always feels like the whole day is slightly off.

This weekend was a busy one. After months of practice, my daughter’s Odyssey of the Mind team finally competed in the North Georgia Regionals. They put on a great performance and managed to avoid any penalties, which is always a big accomplishment. Unfortunately they came up a little short on the style points and ended up finishing in 6th place. The top 5 teams advance to the State finals, and they were just 31 points shy of making the cut. It was a tough lesson for the team, but they handled it well and already know what they want to improve next time. They’re still planning to celebrate the months of hard work they put into their project with a team party this Saturday.

At the regional competition, one parent from each team is required to volunteer as a judge. I volunteered and ended up judging 13 teams that were working on a completely different problem. It was really fun watching the teams approach their challenges in creative ways, and honestly it gave me a lot of hope for the future seeing how these kids think and solve problems.

Sunday was mostly a day of recovery and adjusting to the daylight saving time shift.

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

Cris

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

This 10 ft AC power cord features a C14 to C7 connection, ideal for powering laptops, power supplies, and other compatible equipment from a PDU or power source. Built with 18 AWG wiring for reliable performance, it provides a durable and cost-effective solution for both standard and high-density installations.

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Learning Center Article – SFP Modules Demystified: The Must-Know Tech for Smarter Networking

SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) modules are the unsung heroes of modern networking. It enables seamless data transfer across copper and fiber optic connections. SFP modules are small, flexible, and easy to replace, making them important for building efficient and scalable networks. They connect servers and switches and support fast data transfers over long distances, which is why they are widely used in industries like telecommunications, cloud computing, and enterprise networking.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• America’s natural-gas bounty is cushioning US markets from global shocks. 
• The world’s largest battery will actually use rust to power Google’s data center.
• ​GE Aerospace to invest $1 billion to boost US engine production.

We are wrapping up the week and heading into the weekend. It is a great time to reflect on what you accomplished and recharge for what is ahead. What is one thing you are looking forward to this weekend?

In This Issue: The Good Kind of Busy | Deal of the Day | AC Power Cord | Oil & Chemical Resistant Ethernet Cables | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – The Good Kind of Busy

Another week in the books.

This week ran on fumes.

Between long days and even longer drives, it felt like I spent more time behind the wheel than anywhere else, chasing travel softball practices and trying to keep the whole schedule stitched together. Somehow, just barely, I made it in time for my oldest daughter’s soccer game and my youngest daughter’s tennis match, and they absolutely killed it. Moments like that make every mile worth it.

In the middle of all the chaos, I got to spend some time with my boys, which always brings things back to center. I also managed to steal a few quiet moments with the love of my life. Those small pockets of time remind me what all this running around is really for.

Now I’m looking ahead to a full Saturday: all-day softball and soccer tournaments, plus running a wrestling show on top of it. It’ll be another long one, but the good kind of busy.

And then hopefully Sunday brings a slower pace, some time with family, a chance to breathe, unwind, and reset before doing it all over again.

Tired, but grateful.

Matthew

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Heavy-duty 6 ft AC power cord designed to reliably connect equipment with IEC C19 inlets to a NEMA L5-30P twist-lock outlet. Built with 12 AWG, 3-conductor SJT cable, this rugged black cord is ideal for powering high-draw electronics such as servers, UPS units, PDUs, network switches, industrial equipment, and rackmount hardware.

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Learning Center Article – Maintain Maximum Uptime with Oil & Chemical Resistant Ethernet Cables

Network failures in industrial environments rarely begin at the switch. They often start in the cable itself. Issues like dropped camera feeds or unstable PoE sensors frequently trace back to degraded jackets. These jackets slowly deteriorate due to oil mist, chemical vapors, or acidic exposure.

Choosing the right Oil & Chemical Resistant Ethernet Cable is not a minor decision. It plays a critical role in preventing downtime and protecting infrastructure.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Asia struggles to find fuel oil as Middle East exports plummet. 
• Amazon makes a new bet on healthcare AI, rivaling Microsoft in the doctor’s office.
• ​Sight of ‘space jellyfish’ in the sky shocks Florida residents.

Today brings a playful snack celebration. National Cheese Doodle Day honors the cheddar-coated treat that leaves fingers bright orange and smiles just as bold. Are you team puffed or team crunchy?

In This Issue: First Half Done | Deal of the Day | Cat6 Ethernet Patch Cable | The Difference Between Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – First Half Done

Good morning!

This week marked yet another midterm season here at UGA, so I can’t say I had quite as exciting a weekend as everyone else, but it was still a good one. I spent a lot of time on my computer reviewing material, rewriting notes, and getting everything organized for a very busy week ahead.

After today, I’ll officially be done with midterms, and I’m so grateful that spring break begins right away. It will still be a full week because I love to stay busy, but not one spent focusing on classes and exams. Instead, I will get to spend time with all my favorite people, some old and some new, and hopefully cut down my screen time significantly with no classes to go to.

I’m thankful knowing that the hard work I’ve put into the first half of the semester will pay off. However, I can’t lie, I’m excited to see the grades roll in for some extra validation too.

Here’s to finishing this week strong and shifting into a still productive but fun week ahead. I hope you have a wonderful wrap-up to your week as well!

Rachel

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

This Cat6 non-booted Ethernet patch cable delivers reliable high-speed performance with up to 10 Gbps speeds at 55 meters and 550 MHz bandwidth. Made with pure copper conductors for superior conductivity, it is fully compatible with PoE applications and backwards compatible with Cat5 and Cat5e networks.

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Learning Center Article – The Difference Between Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a

Cabling and other infrastructure choices are in a precarious position, with many low IT budgets or simply cheap options tempting the cost-conscious planner. At the same time, the newest and faster technology is always a temptation, but can you be sure that your project will use the investment to the highest potential before it fails or becomes obsolete?

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• ​Gold rises as Middle East conflict escalates, dollar rally pauses. 
• ​Amazon cuts more jobs; this time in robotics unit.
• ​United Airlines can now ban passengers who don’t wear headphones.

Midweek is here, offering a good moment to pause and check your pace. Whether your week has been productive or pleasantly steady, today is a chance to reset before heading toward the weekend. How is your week going so far?

In This Issue: Cloudy Skies, Clear Blessings | Deal of the Day | Cisco Meraki 1000Base-SX SFP Transceiver | Cisco Catalyst Switches | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Cloudy Skies, Clear Blessings

Happy Wins-day, everyone! We are officially halfway through the week again.

Yesterday, we witnessed a lunar eclipse here in the Philippines. The last time I saw one was when I was in fourth grade, so I was genuinely excited to experience it again. In our area, we were able to see the initial phase, but unfortunately, the full eclipse was covered by clouds. I tried taking a photo of it, but let’s just say it turned into an “expectation versus reality” situation. In person, it looked beautiful and magical. On my phone? Not so much. Thankfully, a family friend from a nearby town was able to capture a clear and majestic view of the eclipse. Lucky him. The image below was taken by him.

Aside from the lunar eclipse, we also celebrated my brother’s birthday. It was a simple celebration since he was not able to come home. We had a video call instead, and he introduced us to his girlfriend. It was nice to finally put a face to the stories he shared when he was here last January.

So many special moments happened, and it is only the first week of March. I am hoping the rest of the month brings even more luck, happiness, and good health for all of us.

Any wins you would like to share?

Kat

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Meraki MA-SFP-1GB-SX is a hot-swappable 1000Base-SX SFP transceiver designed for reliable 1 Gigabit connectivity over multimode fiber. Featuring an LC duplex interface and operating at 850 nm, it supports distances up to 1 km on OM1 fiber.

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Learning Center Article – Your Guide to Cisco Catalyst Switches

A network is only as effective as its weakest link. When you have heavy demands, you need good options to meet and exceed those demands. Cisco has been providing top-quality options for every network design for decades. This overview will introduce you to some of the most common, versatile and widely-used switches Cisco has to offer.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• ​Oil prices rise 1% as Iran crisis disrupts Middle East supply.
• ​Meta starts testing its AI shopping assistant.
• US FDA warns Novo again about misleading drug advertising.

It’s Tuesday, and it’s National Cold Cuts Day. Stacked high, layered just right, or served with cheese and crackers, there’s no wrong way to enjoy a good deli favorite. What’s your go-to sandwich combo?

In This Issue: The Easiest Yes of My Life | Deal of the Day | TNC Male to TNC Female | Best Practices for Cable Management in Data Centers | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – The Easiest Yes of My Life

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

I had one of the best weekends of my life this past weekend! On Saturday, I headed up to Highlands, NC with Josh, his son Robert, my nieces and nephew, and my youngest brother and parents. We enjoyed a short hike to Sunset Rock which had some beautiful views and the kids really enjoyed it! Afterwards, we headed back into town for a quick bite of lunch, followed by a visit to Dry Falls. It’s a gorgeous waterfall that is easy to access and you can even walk behind it which the kids thought was the coolest thing ever! We ended our day with a visit to Highlands Outpost which was definitely the highlight of the day! We enjoyed a couple of hours of snow tubing and even rode the mountain coaster which was my favorite part! We were all exhausted by the time we headed back home!

I was thinking the weekend couldn’t get any better, but Josh proved me wrong on Sunday. It was an absolutely gorgeous day (temps in the 70’s!) and we went for a little stroll through downtown Monroe. When we got to the historic courthouse (the place we met up at for our first date over 1 year ago), he got down on one knee and proposed! By far the easiest “YES” of my life! Josh had recruited my best friend, Jami, to be there and film the proposal which I’m super thankful for. I’ve watched it back so many times and will treasure that memory for the rest of my life!

Rebecca

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

This high-performance TNC Male to TNC Female Low Loss 400 UltraFlex coaxial cable is designed for Wi-Fi, antenna, ham radio, and wireless applications. It delivers minimal signal loss while maintaining excellent flexibility for indoor or outdoor installations. Built with a stranded copper conductor and durable Polyethylene (PE) jacket, this 50 Ohm coaxial assembly ensures reliable performance and long-term durability.

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Learning Center Article – Best Practices for Cable Management in Data Centers

Every network administrator in the world has a horror story about cable management. In data centers, those horror stories grow into genuine nightmares. If enough people work on a system for a long enough period of time, the cables will eventually turn into some type of Ethernet vine monster.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• ​Spring is coming in hot as millions across the US face record highs this week. 
• ​SpaceX aims to launch upgraded Starlink satellites in mid-2027.
• ​Xiaomi humanoid robot carries out complex nut assembly task at EV factory.

Starting the week with a fresh perspective. National Old Stuff Day encourages us to break out of old routines and try something new. What is one new thing you would like to try this week?

In This Issue: Catching Wins All Weekend | Deal of the Day | Voice Interface Card | Shielded Industrial Ethernet Cables | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Catching Wins All Weekend

Happy Monday and Happy March!

Friday was Pokémon Day (the 30th anniversary!), and after work I took my oldest daughter to a local tournament to celebrate. She technically won her age bracket… because she was the only kid there haha. A win is a win! I ended up placing 5th overall and had a great time. We walked away with some cool promo cards and packs just for participating, which made the day even better.

On Saturday we kept the celebration going and took the whole family to another card shop that was hosting a raffle. We didn’t hit the jackpot, but we did win a small prize and enjoyed hanging out with friends. It’s always fun seeing the community come together for events like that.

The weather was great all weekend, which made everything even better. After the recent cold snaps, I’m definitely ready for Spring.

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

Cris

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Cisco Foreign Exchange Office (FXO) interface is an RJ-11 connector that allows an analog connection to be directed at the public switched telephone network’s (PSTN’s) central office or to a station interface on a private branch exchange (PBX). The FXO sits on the switch end of the connection. It plugs directly into the line side of the switch so the switch thinks the FXO interface is a telephone.

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Learning Center Article – Shielded Industrial Ethernet Cables That Survive Noise, Heat, and High-Power Loads

Industrial sites now run on Ethernet for automation, safety, and high-power control. One weak cable can take the whole system down. A single missed packet in these zones can stop conveyor belts, disable security systems, or delay production cycles.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• ​Oil prices rise sharply after attacks in Middle East disrupt global energy supply. 
• ​GLP-1s may increase risk of osteoporosis and gout, new research finds.
• ​Above-average warmth across the South breaking records.