Happy Wednesday! It’s National AI Day—tech continues to evolve, and so do we. What’s one tool or tech that’s made your work easier lately?
In This Issue: A Surprise Smoky Mountains Getaway 🎢✨ | Deal of the Day | Precision Screw Driver Set | 8-Port Gigabit Switch | News to Start Your Day
The CK Daily – A Surprise Smoky Mountains Getaway 🎢✨
Happy Wednesday!
Mid‑last week, friends we hadn’t seen in months invited us to join them at their cabin in Pigeon Forge—right next to Dollywood—for a weekend adventure. Coincidentally, I’d just thought of them the day before—funny how that works!
Our drive through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was breathtaking. We even spotted elk strolling across the roadway. We’d allowed the kids some screen time, but once we entered the park, we told them to turn off their iPads and soak in the incredible scenery. It’s a beautiful part of the country, and we didn’t want them to miss it.
We arrived at Dollywood around 3 PM on Friday and spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying time with our friends, riding rides, and watching shows. That evening, we stayed for the fireworks and the drone show—an amazing blend of lights, sound, and technology. Dollywood debuted its first drone show in 2021, and this year they’ve taken it up a notch with a combination of fireworks and pyro-drones as part of their 40th-anniversary celebration. It’s incredible how far things have come—what used to be a simple fireworks display has become an immersive sky-high performance where hundreds of drones change formation to create words and images in sync with the music.
The cabin we stayed in was nearly at the top of a mountain, and on Saturday night, we were actually above the fireworks in elevation, watching the show from the porch. A totally different experience, but just as magical.
On Monday, we drove back through the park again. We’ve done that drive before in the winter, just before the park closed for the season. That time we saw snow on the ground and icicles hanging from the trees—equally beautiful in a completely different way. If you are ever in the area, you should check it out!
I hope you are having some good vacations and/or short trips this summer as well!
Craig
Deal of the Day
Product Spotlights & Updates
This 35-piece precision screwdriver set is perfect for handling small electronics, computer components, and DIY projects requiring accuracy and control. The set includes a wide variety of driver bits, 5″ needle nose pliers, side cutters, stainless tweezers, and a flexible shaft.
Learning Center Article – Small Size, Big Power: Discover the Best 8-Port Gigabit Switch
Network switches play a crucial role in ensuring seamless communication and efficient data transfer across devices. Among the different types of switches, the 8-port gigabit switch has emerged as a favorite for small-to-medium-sized businesses, IT professionals, and enterprises alike. The 8-port gigabit switch offers the right balance of performance, space efficiency, and scalability, making it an ideal solution for various environments.
Today’s News to Start Your Day:
- Google is expanding its Gemini AI to more Wear OS smartwatches, replacing Google Assistant and offering hands-free convenience for tasks like messaging, navigation, and reminders. You can activate Gemini by saying “Hey Google” or by pressing and holding the side button on compatible devices. This rollout is part of Google’s broader effort to integrate Gemini across its ecosystem, including Android Auto, Chrome, and Nest.
- Amazon is shutting down Freevee, its free ad-supported streaming service, by August 2025. The move comes as part of a broader strategy to simplify the viewing experience and consolidate content under Prime Video. While disappointing for fans of Freevee’s free movies and live TV, Amazon says no content will be lost—just relocated. The decision also reflects Amazon’s focus on boosting ad revenue and streamlining its streaming offerings into a single platform.
- Starlink has confirmed it will begin launching its third-generation satellites in the first half of 2026. These advanced satellites are capable of delivering over 1 terabit per second of downlink capacity and more than 200 Gbps of uplink capacity. While the specs have been known for months, this marks the first official timeline for deployment, signaling a major upgrade to Starlink’s satellite internet capabilities.
- Starting in August, Coffee Mate is adding a magical twist to mornings with two limited-time creamers inspired by the Wizarding World: Cauldron Cake and White Chocolate Peppermint Toad (Zero Sugar). These are the brand’s first-ever official tie-in with the Harry Potter franchise, promising to enchant your daily brew.