CablesAndKits Blog

Adding value to your IT infrastructure

CK Daily Updates

CK Daily – 08.04.2021

by

In This Issue:  Cisco 3750X Series 48 Port Switch | What is Google Tensor, and Why is Google Making its own Processor? | News to Start Your Day

Today, we owe a big “thank you” to Ruth Graves Wakefield for her creativity and curiosity to mix together cookie dough and chocolate chips in 1937. Because of Ruth, families hover around their ovens savoring the moment the timer dings so they can enjoy a delicious chocolate chip cookie. Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, we hope you enjoy a delicious cookie and think of Ruth while you do! 

The CK Daily – Fear and Uncertainty

Guess what? It’s Wednesday! Wohoo! 

A few weeks ago on my road trip back home from Charlotte, NC my low tire pressure light came on. Once I noticed the light, I thought “no biggie, I’ll stop at a gas station and get air”. My husband and I stopped at the closest gas station, and he filled the tire. Easy Peasy. We hopped back on the interstate, and I could not help but look at my dash every 2 minutes to check to see if the pressure rose. Of course, 15 miles down the road and the tire pressure remained the same. **Insert a sense of fear and uncertainty** Here we are 3 hours away from home with a tire which doesn’t want to keep pressure.

After a few hours of uncertainty, I voiced my feelings to my husband who didn’t seem bothered by the faulty tire at all. After our conversation, I began to think of my ability to self-inflect fear in my mind instead of trusting God and my husband.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding”. This scripture reminds me to get out of my head and learn to put my faith in Him. Many times, I go through life thinking I can control all aspects of it, but in reality I am guided by the Lord and he will never let harm come my way.

I’ve told you this story as I am currently sitting in the tire shop getting a tire replacement. Turns out, there was a huge screw that was lodged in the tire causing a constant release of air. My family and I could have had a huge tire blow out on the interstate or gotten in accident, but instead God decided to “plug” the hole and allow us to get home safely in one piece.

I get it… it’s hard to trust when you feel like you are in control of your own destiny. Even though I may think I am in control of my life, I’m not. As you continue your week, I pray you find peace in knowing that all is well, and God is guiding you! 

Have a great week CK friends!

Shanyce 

Product Spotlights & Updates

We’ve made it to the middle of the week CK Family and today we’re taking a closer look at the Cisco 3750X Series 48 Port Switch.

This Cisco Catalyst 3750X series layer 3 switch comes with (48) 10/100/1000 PoE+ ports, a 435 Watt POE Budget, 64 MB of Flash, and 256 MB of RAM. This switch is stackable, has dual redundant fans, 4,000 VLAN ID’s, a network module slot, and a slot for an additional power supply.

In addition, Cisco 3750 X switches help maximize productivity by giving IT managers the tools needed to support enterprise applications and advanced traffic management. With an array of network modules and redundant power supply options available, these switches can be customized and scaled to support nearly any application!

What is Google Tensor, and Why is Google Making its Own Processor?

Today’s article is from How-To-Geek. You can find the full article here. 

—

If you’ve shopped for a smartphone, you probably know the name “Qualcomm Snapdragon.” The vast majority of Android phones are powered by Qualcomm. But now Google has made its own processor and it’s called “Tensor.”

Google is joining the ranks of Apple—and Samsung, to a lesser extent—as a phone maker that also produces its own processor. Typically, companies such as OnePlus, LG, and even Samsung, manufacture phones that use processors from Qualcomm or Mediatek.

Apple has been making its own processors for iPhones since the very beginning. The company is even transitioning Mac computers to its own chips. This allows Apple to do things with iPhones that simply aren’t possible if they used other chips. It’s a very deep level of integration between hardware and software.

Google has historically been known for its software, but the Pixel phones and devices like the Google Nest Mini were the company’s first steps toward making its own physical devices. Now, it’s following in Apple’s steps and making an important component for those devices.

What Is Google Tensor?

In the most basic definition, Google Tensor is simply a “system-on-chip” (SoC) or what is commonly referred to as a “processor.” It’s the same thing as a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or an Apple A14 Bionic. These are all chips that power their respective devices.

“Power” is a very simplified purpose of a processor. The Google Tensor chip also contributes to photo and video processing, voice-to-speech translation, and much more. Tensor will allow devices to run more machine learning and AI tasks without burning up.

If you’re interested in the nitty-gritty specifications of the Google Tensor chip, we don’t know all the details at the time of writing. The chip is alleged to be 8-core, five-nanometer, and ARM-based. According to 9to5Google, it was co-developed with Samsung.

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • More countries are pushing to produce their own semiconductor chips, which are in short supply globally. Memory chips are crucial for making a wide range of products. They are in smartphones, gaming consoles like PlayStation 5s, household appliances like fridges and washing machines, alarm clocks, and even cars. Some reports say the chip shortage may last until 2023.
  • The CDC issued a new federal eviction moratorium on Tuesday. The eviction ban will be targeted at areas of the country experiencing high levels of coronavirus infections and will last for 60 days until Oct. 3. The protection could cover around 90% of renters.
  • New York City will require proof of vaccination to dine inside restaurants, go to gyms, and participate in other public indoor activities.
  • Microsoft Teams is working on rolling out a live transcription of every meeting held in Teams. Teams users will have a full transcript as well as a full recording of all of their meetings so they won’t miss anything.
  • Amazon and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos is no longer the richest man in the world. His net worth tumbled $13.9 billion in one day when Amazon’s stock price fell 7% last week after the company reported second-quarter growth that was below forecasts.

CK Daily – 08.03.2021

by

In This Issue:  Keystone Wall Plate, 1 Port, White | Do you Need the Latest Server? | News to Start Your Day

Happy Tuesday & Happy Watermelon Day! It’s been pretty hot out lately and since watermelon is 92% water, it’s pretty satisfying in the summer heat. Is anyone else reminded of fun summer picnics and fairs when they take a bite of some delicious watermelon? 

The CK Daily – Bring on the Fall Weather

Good morning and happy Tuesday! Can you believe we have already made it to August?!

It’s wild how fast time moves these days. It was oppressively hot here last week and I think that has just pushed me over the edge from enjoying Summer to wishing it was Fall! Although we are still very much in the dog days of summer around here, I am certainly excited that we’ve made it to August! We are now officially 1 month away from college football (Go Dawgs!) and hopefully about a month away from a little relief in the temperatures!

It does tend to stay pretty warm here even late into the Summer, but I’d be thrilled to at least get some cool mornings! I love living in a part of the country where we get a change of seasons. What about you? Are you looking forward to Fall as well?

Rebecca

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Tuesday! Today we’re taking a look at one of our Keystone Wall Plates, KEYPLT-1-WH! If you’re looking to create permanent video, voice or data outlets using F, BNC, RCA, S-Video and fiber connections this is perfect for just that!

Keystone plates offer maximum versatility because you can add, reduce or simply change the connections needed on the plate. They offer the best way to install the variety of today’s wiring and cabling. This is the perfect solution for terminating your in-wall wiring.

Grab one this week for 25% off!

Do you Need the Latest Server? – CK Learning Center

Data centers aren’t cheap. Just the cost of power requirements for keeping your equipment running can be staggering. Adding the cost of new servers can often feel like too much. If you have high demands and a tight budget, you need a way to get more power and performance for every dollar spent. For most applications, the easiest way to do this is to look at refurbished servers and parts.

The Iterative Cycle of Technology

Computer hardware is an interesting market. Over time, consumers tend to get more value for each dollar spent, but used goods still drop in price like a used car. It all boils down to the iterative process of developing technology. Every year, newer and better parts are released, but they rarely provide dramatic improvements over the previous generation. Here’s an easy example. The first 3.0 GHz processor was the Pentium 4 released in 2003. Today, many servers are running 3.0 GHz processors. Even at the highest end, you’re looking at 5.0 GHz clock speeds. That’s an improvement of 67 percent in 15 years. That means on average, computer components are gaining less than five-percent performance every year.

Now, there is more to a processor than just the clock speed, but overall the rate holds true. Last year’s processor can do all of the same work as this year’s. It’s only every several years that a real breakthrough happens.

Server Lifespan

So, buying refurbished lets you save money and have parts that are comparable to something brand new, but performance isn’t the only consideration. Servers work hard, and you need something that will last. Well, there’s good news on that front too. Most high-end servers are built to last 5 to 10 years. Despite that, elite data centers (like Google) like to rotate their equipment on a cycle of two to three years. You can buy a refurbished server with seven or more years left on its shelf life that can still hang with brand new equipment.

Modular Technology

If you were just buying refurbished servers as is, you could save a lot of money without sacrificing performance, but the modular nature of servers gives you a lot more opportunity. Data centers have to adapt and adjust hardware on a daily basis. This has led to server design that is easily tweaked and customized. This gives you the freedom to upgrade components instead of entire servers. That can extend the life, value and performance of your refurbished equipment. Best of all, those modular parts can also be refurbished.

In truth, there are few applications that require a brand-new server. Even the most stressed and taxed data centers on the planet are running equipment that is an average of two to three years old. If your demands are any less than this, you can maximize your return on investment by purchasing refurbished.

You can read this article from the CK Learning Center here.

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Google announced it will build its own smartphone processor, called Google Tensor, that will power its new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro phones this fall. Google will no longer use Qualcomm. 
  • Amazon launched a smart soap dispenser on its site that has lights on the top that slowly count down 20 seconds, so you know if you’ve washed your hands for the CDC-recommended minimum amount of time.
  • The United States has hit the Biden administration’s goal of administering at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose to 70 percent of American adults. 
  • Western Europe and China’s Henan province — a key transport hub and home to several major businesses — are grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods. The disasters have damaged railways used for the delivery of goods and raw materials in both regions. This may result in fewer discounts for the peak upcoming online shopping season.
  • Legacy beer brands like Bud Light and Corona are trying to position their hard seltzer to edge out the category’s first movers, White Claw and Truly. Both brewers launched hard seltzers in early 2020. By splashing their seltzer cans with the familiar Corona and Bud Light names, Constellation and AB InBev are appealing to consumers who have an established relationship — or at least knowledge of — their products, building on years of marketing their beers.

CK Daily – 08.02.2021

by

In This Issue:  Cisco Original 1000BASE-T SFP Module, GLC-T | Dealing with the Ups and Downs of Life | News to Start Your Day

Happy Monday! Can you even believe it’s already August? We only have 4 months remaining in 2021 and that seems unbelievable!! What goals are you still working to accomplish this year? We’d love to pray for you and cheer you on as you work to achieve them. 

The CK Daily – USWNT – Loss on a Deeper Level

If you have a daughter who plays or enjoys soccer or just grew up a fan of the USWNT watching the legends of Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain win World Cups and Olympic Golds, then you know the last 5 years of USWNT has not hit the mark very well recently.

No medal in the 2016 Olympics, then they did win the 2019 Women’s World Cup in a series of close games, and now, at best a bronze medal after a loss this morning to Canada (the first in 20 years).

With the next generation of stars getting a little older, a little slower, it’s a good reminder that all good worldly things come to an end. Father Time remains the constant. While we love our Nation’s team in a fun and enjoyable sport – when we put too many eggs in one basket that leads to disappointment, it is nice to fall back on the fact that it is just a game. Life will indeed move on. A good reminder that putting a little more faith and energy in eternity, helping others, and being a good part of your family legacy can be a more constant and reliable source of positivity and love.

Still a huge USWNT fan,

Corey

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Monday! We hope you had a great weekend! We’re kicking off the week highlighting the Cisco Original 1000BASE-T SFP Module.

The Cisco SFP modules provide full-duplex Gigabit Ethernet connectivity to high-end workstations and between wiring closets over existing copper network infrastructure. These hot-swappable 1000BASE-T SFP gigabit interface converters (GBIC) plug directly into a Gigabit Ethernet port or slot, linking the port with the network and delivering high-performance Ethernet networking.

Cisco’s GLC-T is a convenient and economical solution for your networking needs as they allow you to achieve Gigabit Ethernet speeds using your existing infrastructure! These 1000BASE-T SFP transceivers can also be used in combination with other modules on a port-by-port basis, including 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX/LH, and 1000BASE-EX. These are Cisco Original modules, brand new and factory sealed.

You’re also covered by our Lifetime Advance Replacement Warranty in event of product malfunctions and our 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

Snag one of these for 20% off this week!

Dealing with the Ups and Downs of Life – John Gordon

If you have ever been on a roller coaster you know it’s filled with twists and turns, highs and lows, excitement, anticipation, fear, and relief. Once the ride starts, there’s no turning back. You are along for the ride and how you handle it determines whether it’s an enjoyable or miserable experience.

When I talk to people who are struggling in life and wanting to escape, I explain to them that if they were on a roller coaster for the first time and didn’t know the roller coaster continued on an upward trajectory after racing towards the ground they would want to jump off and escape to avoid a crash.

Unfortunately, that’s how a lot of people feel when they are experiencing fear, anxiety, and stress and riding an emotional roller coaster. They try to escape because they feel like they are about to crash.

The key, however, is to not to escape but to keep going, knowing that even though you feel like you are going to crash, you won’t, and if you hold on, you’ll ride back to the top.

When you remind yourself that ups and downs are a part of life and your current emotional state is just a temporary part of the journey, you won’t resist the tough part of the ride. Instead, you will flow with it, your emotional state will rise and you’ll be on the upswing before you know it.

On the other hand, some of us don’t choose to escape. When we feel pressure and stress, some of us hold on for dear life and are miserable the entire time. We hold on so tight that we don’t enjoy the ride. I know this well because at times I have found myself resisting rather than enjoying the ride.

That’s no way to live. So then, how should we ride the roller coaster of life?

If you’ve ever seen someone who loves roller coasters riding one, you know what enjoying the ride looks like and they give us a picture of how we should embrace the roller coaster of life. Scream, laugh, smile, cry and feel all the emotions the ups and downs and twists and turns bring.

And most of all…

Put your hands in the air and enjoy the ride!

If you enjoyed this blog post, you can find more from Jon Gordon here. 

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • The average transaction price for a used car was $25,410 in the second quarter of 2021, up 21% year-over-year, the highest average price for a pre-owned vehicle that Edmunds has ever tracked. Several automakers, including General Motors and Ford, have cut new vehicle production due to semiconductor chip shortages, putting further constraints on inventory and driving up prices. New car inventory is improving and the chip issues should alleviate in the months ahead.
  • Disney is requiring all salaried and non-union hourly workers in the U.S. to be fully vaccinated in the next 60 days.
  • Simone Biles is set to compete on the balance beam after pulling out of three individual finals at the Tokyo Olympics.
  • Nreal, a Chinese company making glasses for so-called augmented reality experiences, is looking to go public within five years. The company’s flagship product is a pair of lightweight glasses called Nreal Light, which has been released in a handful of markets including South Korea and Japan.
  • A rehabilitated mountain lion was released back into the wild in California after being treated for two weeks by the Project Wildlife veterinary team. Check out the video here. 

CK Daily – 07.29.2021

by

In This Issue:  1U Vertical Hanging Wall Mount Bracket | Navigating Power Cord Attributes and Terminology | News to Start Your Day

Happy Thursday and Happy National Chicken Wing Day! Today encourages a frenzy of dipping and sauce tasting. With so many choices, be sure to pace yourself! 

The CK Daily – Coffee is Life

So, this week has been an unusual week for me. It seems anything that could go on “out of the norm” has. It all started last Thursday when I went in for my annual physical and got some abnormal test results on my labs. It was from that moment everything has seemed “off.” I tend to overthink and freak out over stuff like this anyway, this past weekend and week, it seemed to be worse.

All of this led to me needing to have a retest and more lab work yesterday morning. If you are like me, when you can’t have something (like fasting before labs) you want it even more. That was me yesterday morning. I woke up craving my coffee. When I went downstairs to let the dog out, it was like my Kuerig coffee maker in the kitchen was mocking me. It even smelled like coffee downstairs when I went down, but I know that was just in my head. I ran and got the labs done early in the morning and booked it back home to get my coffee. When that first sip hit my lips I felt all was right in the world. My day got much better after that.

Are you like that? Do you need coffee first thing in the morning to function or at least be cordial to people? haha! What’s your go-to thing to help wake you up or

(Oh, I got a message this morning while writing this that the tests and lab work came back normal this time. Thank God!)

Have a great Thursday! I am going to finish my coffee now.

Remember a yawn is a silent scream for coffee…

Jason

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Thursday! Today we’re showcasing the 1U Vertical Hanging Wall Mount Bracket. This tool is perfect for use with networking, server room and for data center devices and equipment.

This sturdy, universal wall mount solution will take nearly any 1RU (1.75″”) device and safely secure it to the wall. With the 10 gauge steel construction and the included heavy-duty wall anchors, this device will handle just about anything you can throw at it or put on it. This 1U mounting unit is perfect for keeping network switches, power strips, patch panels, and other network devices safe from heat and damage, as well as helping you save space with its flush mount design.

Grab one for 20% off this week!

Navigating Power Cord Attributes and Terminology – CK Learning Center

Navigating the jungle of terminology, acronyms, and part numbers can be daunting in the field of telecommunications. Anyone attempting to determine and buy cabling can attest to this. Improper data cabling will cause a logical error. With power cables, using the wrong type can cause physical failure such as fires and electrical shock. The stakes are higher. Luckily the abundance of documentation and regulation assure that anyone seeking direction to deploy the correct cord can find the information they need to choose the right cord and avoid common pitfalls, damage, and injury that comes with electrical failure.

Common Terminology:

Amperage (amp): This term refers to the number of electrons that are moving in the circuit. This is also “how much” electricity there is.

Voltage: This refers to how much force is behind the electrons, or how fast the electrons are moving.

Attributes:

When choosing a power cord there are (3) main attributes to be aware of: Connectors, Length, & Gauge

Connectors:

There are two basic entities that regulate power cord connections in North America:

IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission):This body publishes international standards that regulate interconnection between equipment. The standards you see below will overlap that of the NEMA specifications. This body simply makes sure that global compliance translates to compatibility. 

Gauge/Length:

Another factor to take into consideration when choosing power cabling is the gauge. The gauge refers to the diameter of the cable and determines its current carrying capacity and resistance. The AWG, or American Wire Gauge, is the common unit of thickness measurement for electrical wire in America. The smaller the number, the thicker the wire. Below you will find two charts. The one on the left contains the AWG number and actual thickness in millimeters and inches, as well as the resistance in ohms for the appropriate thickness. The chart on the right contains the amperage needed with the appropriate length of cable each respective gauge can carry without loss.

Read the full article on the CK Learning Center here. 

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Smartphones have so far been mostly shielded from the chip shortage, as large manufacturers stockpiled critical components. Recently, Apple CEO Tim Cook warned silicon supply constraints would affect sales of the iPhone as well as other products like the iPad.
  • Wingstop has laid out plans to expand its presence in Manhattan with dozens of new locations set to open in the market. Many of those locations will come in the form of ghost kitchens where the company will lean on digital orders and delivery services in the highly dense market. 
  • Netflix is instituting a vaccination mandate for the cast and crew of all of its U.S. productions. 
  • With the news that Simone Biles was out of the women’s all-around competition, all eyes were on Sunisa Lee as the American gymnast who was most likely to become Olympic champion by the end of the day. Lee was up for the challenge. The 18-year-old put together a string of masterful performances to edge Brazilian Rebeca Andrade (57.298) for the gold medal with a total score of 57.433. 
  • Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz made history becoming the first athlete from the Philippines to win gold at the Olympics. The 30-year-old set an Olympic record, lifting a combined weight of 224 kilograms, to clinch the top spot in the women’s 55-kg class in Tokyo.

CK Daily – 07.28.2021

by

In This Issue:  Cisco 2821 Voice Security Bundle | What is the difference between LSZH and OFNR? | News to Start Your Day

Happy Hump-Day! Today is National Milk Chocolate Day and when it comes to chocolate, this sweet easily pleases. Take some time to enjoy your favorite milk chocolate candy bar or since the days are heating up, melt it down and enjoy it drizzled over some delicious ice cream or popcorn! 

The CK Daily – Time to Declutter!

Happy Wednesday!

This week is flying by for me, but I am not complaining! This past week I have been dedicating time to schedule out my days and being more intentional on what I spend my days doing. I’ve talked about this before, but just like seasons, things are always changing.

As July is ending, I’ve decided to dedicate the month of August to decluttering my home. I’m the type of gal who loves to snuggle on the couch and watch HGTV and dream of my home to be immaculate as the ones I see on TV. Let’s face it, I have a toddler and husband who does not believe in a perfectly clean house, so I must keep my expectations down to a minimum. 

So far, I have chosen 2 areas of my home that I want to declutter for each week in the month of August. I hope that scaling down my cleaning area will greatly increase my chances of being successful without feeling overwhelmed.

Decluttering can be applied to all aspects of your home and work life. For the month of September, I will focus on decluttering my work life, from cleaning up the never-ending marketing emails in my inbox to clearing up the fluff. I want to go bare-bones on what is important and necessary to run and maintain a great customer service department.

What aspects of your life have you been decluttering? I would love to hear and be inspired by each of you! 

Shanyce

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Hump Day! We are halfway through the week, anyone else feel like the week is flying by? Let’s hope that momentum keeps going. Today we’re highlighting the Cisco 2821 router with the voice and security bundle.

This Cisco router offers a wide range of Unified Communication security features that are tailored for small to medium-sized businesses. This includes robust authentication and encryption features including media authentication and encryption. Routers with embedded security are a must-have these days. The additional layers of security that the Cisco 2821 router provides will ensure that your network is protected, especially when coupled with Cisco Unified IP phones. When deployed with Cisco IP phones the router offers protection from eavesdropping, information theft, media tampering, toll fraud, denial of service as well as other attacks and threats within the LAN and WAN using standards-based encryption.

The Cisco 2821 Voice Security Bundle comes with a PVDM2-32 (voice/fax DSP) module, Advanced IP Services software along with 64 Flash and 256 DRAM. The C2821-VSEC/K9 router is also on sale this week for 25% off!

How to Create a Family Budget – Ramsey Solutions

With the many types of fiber cables and then the components that make each of them up, it can be very confusing to know what fiber cable is the best overall for your business. One of the biggest questions we get is what is the difference between OFNR fiber cablesand LSZH fiber cables. While they seem like the same thing, they are really two very different and very important attributes of fiber cables, and the same fiber cable can be both. To understand these attributes better, we have to understand the construction of fiber cables and the different rating levels associated with fiber optic cabling.

Optical Fiber Construction

There are several parts that made up the fiber cable. Each part starting from the cladding, then the coating, strength member and lastly the outer jacket is covered at the top of each other to give protection and shielding especially the conductors and the fiber core. Above all of these, the outer jacket is the first layer of protection and adds strength to the fiber to withstand different conditions such as fire, moisture, chemical, and stress during installations and operations.

Fiber Cable Outer Jacket Material Types

Fiber cable outer jackets can be classified into several types in terms of different materials. These materials have different characteristics and use that depends on the application’s setting.

What is the Plenum Area?

A plenum area is a space used to move air to workspaces for the purpose of ventilation or to form air flow for an air distribution system.

What is the Riser Area?

Examples of riser areas are floor openings, tubes, or channels that run upwards over one or more floors. Riser cable is planned for use in upright shafts that run between floors.

What is the General-Purpose Area?

A general-purpose area is all other areas that are not plenum or riser on the same space or floor.

Fire Rating Levels

There are four levels of fire resistance for fiber cables and each level has two divisions which are the conductive and non-conductive cables. The higher rating cable is backward compatible to the lower rating cable and can be substituted while the lower rating cables can’t be used in place for the higher ratings.

-OFNP and OFCP Fiber Cable Optical Fiber Nonconductive Plenum Cable and Optical Fiber Conductive Plenum Cable. OFNP and OFCP cables as the name implies are used for plenum areas and have resistance to fire and smoke.

-OFNR and OFCR Fiber Cable Optical Fiber Nonconductive Riser Cables and Optical Fiber Conductive Riser Cables are used for the riser areas. These cables must prevent the fire from one floor to another.

-OFNG and OFCG Fiber Cable Optical Fiber Nonconductive General-Purpose Cable and Optical Fiber Conductive General-Purpose Cable. These cables must not spread the fire for more than 4 feet, 11 inches.

-OFN and OFC Fiber Cable Optical Fiber Nonconductive and Optical Fiber Conductive. To get this cable rating, the flame shall not infiltrate floors or ceilings and the cables are also used for general purpose areas.

Continue reading more about the comparison between OFNT and LSZH Cables on the CK Learning Center here!

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky claimed gold in the Olympic debut of the women’s 1500-meter freestyle race.
  • Walmart, the largest U.S. private employer, unveiled new terms to its educational assistance program on Tuesday. Effective Aug. 16, associates of Walmart and Sam’s Club will no longer have to pay a $1-per-day fee to participate in the program. The company will pay 100% of college tuition and book costs.
  • McDonald’s topped Wall Street’s estimates for its second-quarter earnings and revenue. This seemed to be driven by the strong demand for its BTS meal promotion and the new chicken sandwich.
  • The CDC recommended that fully vaccinated people begin wearing masks indoors again in places with high Covid transmission rates.
  • The typical interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 3.01% from 3.11% last week and applications to refinance a home loan jumped 9% last week from the previous week.

CK Daily – 07.27.2021

by

In This Issue:  Cisco 3750X Series 48 Port Switch | How to Create a Family Budget | News to Start Your Day

Happy Tuesday! We hope the start of your week is off to a great start! We’re slowly gearing up for the back to school season as it is right around the corner for many! Are you looking forward to the back to school routine?

The CK Daily – Olympics Talk Continued!

Well, we’ve made it to another Tuesday! I hope you are all having a wonderful start to the week! As Corey mentioned yesterday, the Olympics are in full swing and, just like him, I’m really enjoying watching the games! I know the circumstances of holding the Olympics during a pandemic and not having fans or even family there is a huge bummer, but I’m so glad they were still able to go forward with the games and give people something positive to get behind and cheer for!

Watching these athletes who have poured years of blood, sweat, and tears into their sport is so inspiring. I am in absolute awe of them! Personally, I’m the farthest thing from an athlete, but I do enjoy running recreationally and am a fan of the sport. As such, I follow a lot of runners on Instagram, including quite a few who will be running at the Olympics. A couple of my favorites are Cory McGee and Emma Coburn. They both have shared a good bit of their lives along the journey. From training, to qualifying, getting their USA uniforms, to traveling to Tokyo, they have definitely given a glimpse “behind the scenes” that I don’t think existed prior to social media. I’m really looking forward to watching both of them race! I’m also excited to watch Javianne Oliver. She is from my small town and we are super proud of her! There are watch parties scheduled all over town that I’m sure will be packed. Lots to look forward to! Hope you are enjoying watching the games as well!

Rebecca

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Tuesday! Today’s spotlight is the Cisco Catalyst 3750X series layer 3 switch comes with (48) 10/100/1000 PoE+ ports, a 435 Watt POE Budget, 64 MB of Flash, and 256 MB of RAM. This switch is also stackable, has dual redundant fans, 4,000 VLAN ID’s, a network module slot, and a slot for an additional power supply. Pretty sweet, right?!

The Cisco 3750 X switches help maximize productivity by giving IT managers the tools needed to support enterprise applications and advanced traffic management. With an array of network modules and redundant power supply options available, these switches can be customized and scaled to support nearly any application.

Grab one today for 25% off!

How to Create a Family Budget – Ramsey Solutions

If you’re ready to get your family’s money managed once and for all, we’ve got good news—we know exactly where to start.

Budget.

It’s a simple word, but it doesn’t always seem simple to put into practice—especially when you’ve got kids. You’re busy, your money’s tight, and money talks are sometimes super awkward.

But you can create a family budget, no matter your time, income or emotional reservations. We’re here to answer some questions and give you our best tips and tricks to do just that.

What Is a Family Budget?

Before we show you how to budget, let’s define the term. A budget is just a plan for your money—everything that comes in (income) and goes out (expenses). A family budget is when you make that plan for your whole household. And the best family budgets include everyone in the family (at least to some degree).

Why Should You Have a Family Budget?

Budgeting as a family has many perks. Here are three of our favorites: 1) You’ll stop wondering where your money went and start telling it where to go. 2) You can start getting everyone on the same page about money. 3) You’ll show that money isn’t a taboo topic as you open up lines of communication.

How to Set Up Your Family Budget in 3 Steps

Budget Step 1: List your income.

The first step here is listing your income—aka any money you plan to get during that month. Write down each normal paycheck for you and your spouse—and don’t forget any extra money coming your way through a side hustle, garage sale, freelance work, or anything like that.

If you’ve got an irregular income, put the lowest estimate of what you normally make in this spot. (You can adjust later in the month if you make more.)

Budget Step 2: List your expenses.

Now that you’ve planned for the money coming in, you can plan for the money going out. It’s time to list your expenses! (Pro tip: Open up your online bank account or look at your bank statement to help you estimate your expenses.)

Start by covering your Four Walls—aka food, utilities, shelter and transportation. Some of these are called fixed expenses, meaning they stay the same every month (like your mortgage or rent). Others change up, like groceries.

And hey, that grocery budget line is pretty hard to guess at first. Just make a really good estimate, and you’ll learn what you actually need here in the month ahead.

Next, list all other monthly expenses. We’re talking about insurance, debt, savings, entertainment and any personal spending. Start with fixed expenses. Then use your online bank account or those bank statements to estimate planned amounts for everything else based on your spending in the past months.

Budget Step 3: Subtract your income from your expenses.

When you subtract your income from your expenses, it should equal zero. That doesn’t mean your bank account is at zero: It means every bit of your income has a job. (This is called a zero-based budget.)

If you have money left over after you’ve subtracted all your expenses, be sure to put it in the budget too! Otherwise, you’ll end up mindlessly spending it on coffees and those one-click deals of the day. Really. Put anything “extra” toward your current money goal, like saving or paying off debt.

What if you end up with a negative number? You might be thinking, Yikes! But it’s really okay! You just need to cut expenses until your income minus your expenses equals zero. Hint: Start with those restaurant and entertainment lines. (Yes, we went there.) Because hey—you can’t spend more than you make. You got this!

Remember, you work hard for your money. It should work hard for you. Every. Single. Dollar.

Continue reading tips for creating a family budget that work (for everyone) on Ramsey Solutions here. 

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Japan’s Reigning Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles is out of the team finals with what USA Gymnastics described as a medical issue.
  • NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder arena will be called Paycom Center in 15-year deal.
  • American Airlines on Monday said it might have to add stops to certain flights because of fuel delivery delays at some small and midsize airports and asked pilots to save fuel when possible.
  • The Nokia XR20 comes with a tough 6.67-inch Gorilla Glass Victus display, 5G internet and a dual-lens camera. HMD Global, which makes Nokia phones, says the XR20 can be submerged in water for up to an hour and endure extreme temperatures.
  • The final missing victim of the Florida condo-tower disaster was identified after more than a month of recovery efforts. Ninety-eight people were killed in the building’s collapse.