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CK Daily – 08.20.2021

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In This Issue: Cisco 2821 Voice Security Bundle | Why would you use shielded Ethernet Cables? | News to Start Your Day

Happy Friday and Happy National Radio Day! Grab your radio and crank up the tunes – what better way to kick off the weekend?! Tell us what station you’re listening to, we’d love to tune in!

The CK Daily – Harvest Time

Happy Friday folks! It’s harvest time in our garden! This is the most exciting time in the entire process (well, maybe eating is more exciting ). Although there is a lot of work invested in the garden before we ever pick the first vegetable, it takes the entire process for us to get a great harvest. We can’t skip a step and hope that the outcome will be great. It takes effort throughout the entire season to get a great harvest! A few times each week, there is time spent removing weeds, adding nutrients, and dealing with pests such as bugs and deer. Oh deer! But the work is always worth it! And I think we did pretty good this year – we have canned over 50 quarts of green beans alone. 

In a lot of ways, life is like a garden. Somedays, I want the results that come with completing a project I’m working on without putting in all the work for the project to be successful. Or we want to get to the destination without the journey. But that is not where we grow the most. We grow the most during the difficult times of the project or in the middle of the journey. Much like working on a hot summer evening to remove weeds from the garden. Those nights aren’t fun, but knowing what’s coming during the harvest allows me to do the necessary work to achieve the results.

Have a great weekend!

Chris

Hot Topic of the Day

In Italy, an elite squadron of 350 specially-trained pups have been successfully patrolling the beaches, working as lifeguards. They have collectively saved on average of 20-30 lives.

Earlier this month, when several families, including eight children, were imperiled by strong wind and wave conditions while 330 feet from shore, three canine lifeguards and their trainers rushed in to save the day. With the help of their human companions, dogs Eros, Mya, and Mira pulled everyone to safety in about 15 minutes.

After 18 months of basic training, only those dogs successfully completing the required steps are deemed ready to move on to the more intensive aspects of lifesaving techniques, such as jumping from helicopters and leaping from speeding boats.

Italy is currently the only country to recognize certified canine lifeguards but training centers are being set up in the U.S., Germany, Switzerland, and various other locations. Would you trust one of these pups to be your lifeguard when you’re in the water? Let us know your thoughts over on the CK Facebook page! 

Product Spotlights & Updates

The Cisco 2821 Voice Security Bundle Router, C2821-VSEC/K9 is a versatile router that features modular architecture (which supports over 90 different modules from HWIC, WIC, VIC, AIM, and NM cards), enhanced security functionality, and IP Telephony support. This is a router that is great for both lab environments (for those studying for a Cisco Certification) as well as office settings where VoIP phone systems need to be managed.

The C2821-VSEC/K9 version comes with an included PVDM2-32 – 32 channel packet fax and voice dsp module, advanced IP services software, and 64MB of Flash and 256MB of DRAM.

Pick one up today for 25% off!

Why would you use shielded Ethernet Cables? – CK Learning Center

Currently, the use of high bandwidth applications has been on the rise, and network systems have started venturing into factory environments which have called for the use of shielded cables. In this new installation sector, the cable is used in areas with high electromagnetic interference (EMI). Even with improved ability to reject noise and handle gigabit Ethernet, these cables will not function properly in areas where there is high EMI if not properly shielded. A shielded cable will help in these high EMI installations ensuring safe and efficient data transfer.

STP and S/STP

These are the two basic types of shielded ethernet cables. STP cables with an overall generic shield whereas S/STP cables have a shield for each pair and an overall outer shield. The Shield of STP cables can either be a foil or a braid, but for additional strength, some cables can comprise of a foil shield and an outer braid shield.

STP and FTP

Cables which have an overall foil are known as FTP, whereas those with a braid are known as STP. STP is the generic name given to all shielded cables. At times, there arises confusion where FTP cables are assumed to be unshielded or that they are significantly different in terms of performance. In practice, the STP and FTP cables can be used interchangeably, and there is no apparent difference in their performance.

S/STP

The second type of cable is one that has each of the individual pair shielded and then there is an overall outer shield. This type of cable is referred to as S/STP. The purpose of having an inner shield is to ensure that there is no internal cross-talk between the pairs. This will help in ensuring that the cables meet the specifications of the Alien Cross Talk parameter which is significantly difficult to achieve with CAT6a and CAT7 systems. However, Alien Cross Talk is not a requirement when it comes to CAT6, CAT5e, and CATS systems.

Proper Ground Connection

It is worth noting that all the shielded Ethernet cables should have a ground connection for their shields. In case your cable has an incorrect ground connection, the chances are there will be ground loop currents and also the associated interference to the Ethernet signal. In the worst case scenario, where the grounding is poor, the shield can end up acting like antennas; broadcasting high-frequency signals from the cable to the outer environment. This will interfere with the delicate co-located electronic equipment and also allow external detection of the Ethernet data.

What is the Drain Wire in Shielded Cables?

Every shielded Ethernet cable should have a wire that stretches from the insulated wires to the shield. This is commonly known as the drain wire. Normally, the shield is connected to a specific pin in one end, which can even be the chassis. The connector shells are not connected anywhere and consequently, connecting the drain wire to pin 1 puts the entire cable at the potential of that pin. No current will be flowing, but the cable screening will be effective.

Bottom line on Shielded Patch Cables

Ethernet cables should be shielded which helps increase the cables resilience and also makes it stronger. As such, when going for Ethernet cables, consider going for ones which are shielded to ensure safety and longevity.

Find this article on the CK Learning Center here. 

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • With Project Exo, Disney’s research and development team is trying to bring the company’s biggest characters to life at its theme parks. The R&D team is creating a full-body exoskeleton system piece by piece in the hope that one day these characters could walk around Disney’s theme parks and interact with guests.
  • The U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday that it will cancel $5.8 billion in student debt for more than 320,000 borrowers. The debt forgiveness, which will go to borrowers with a total and permanent disability, will be automatically granted using data already available to the Social Security Administration.
  • United Wholesale Mortgage announced plans this week to accept cryptocurrency for home loans, in an apparent first for the national mortgage industry. 
  • Facebook on Thursday announced new measures to protect vulnerable users in Afghanistan. They are rolling out a tool that lets users lock down their profiles with one click, so people who aren’t in their network can’t download their profile pictures or see their posts.
  • Rain fell for several hours at the highest point on the Greenland ice sheet last week — the first rainfall event in recorded history at a location that rarely creeps above freezing temperatures.

CK Daily – 08.19.2021

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In This Issue: Cisco Catalyst 2960X FlexStack-Plus Module | 7 Ways to Build Greatness | News to Start Your Day

Happy Thursday CK Family! We hope you’ve had a great week! Today we’re celebrating World Photo Day! Check out our Hot Topic of the day to see how you can win a $100 CK Gift Card! 

The CK Daily – Finding Fulfillment in Our Busy Lives

Things in our lives can be a drain on us or they can add that extra excitement and a “spring in or step.” Whether it’s traveling, cooking, watching our favorite shows, working out, or spending time with friends & family, there is always something that adds to us more than takes away from us. The same thing can be said about our work lives. We all have parts of our jobs that we just absolutely love to do. (I know sometimes it can be hard to find those things at work.) It can even be more challenging to work those into our already busy schedules, whether they are personal or professional.

Personally, I love hanging out spending time with family and friends. It’s one of those things that energizes me and helps me through the week. I have one buddy that moved up to Ohio a while back, so one of the things that we do is he, his wife (and sometimes the kids), and I hop on a Facetime call at least once a week for a few hours to catch up, chat, and hang out. This is important to all of us to stay connected and still “do life” together even though we all live 3 states away from each other.

Professionally, one part of my job that I am absolutely passionate about is SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and building relevant content for our visitors and customers – like in our CK Learning Center. While this might not sound exciting to you, or you might even be saying “That doesn’t sound exciting.” I get it. It wouldn’t sound exciting to everyone, but for me, I get super excited about it, and it totally gets my wheels turning. I know for me to find fulfillment in one of my passions at work I must carve out time to focus on it. This can be difficult for some weeks, but it is important for me personally. One of the ways I have started doing this is by blocking out time on my calendar. I have started blocking out 2 chunks of my week, one at the beginning of the week and one at the end of the week, to focus on analyzing, researching, and structuring SEO & content for our site. This helps me make sure I have the time to devote to what I love doing and that energizes me.

I have learned over the years, especially the past two years, that as with anything important we have to make time for it. It is important for us, personally, to have time to do or spend time on what we love, we need, we are passionate about, or that energizes us. It is a form of self-care. No one else is going to do it for you. We have to do it for ourselves.

What types of things do you love to do, that you are passionate about, or that energizes you, personally or professionally? How do you make sure that you are doing those things daily or weekly for yourself?

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

Jason

Hot Topic of the Day

Happy World Photo Day! Today we are celebrating the joy of all that goes into capturing a photo. To celebrate we’d like to invite you to share an image of your Server/Data Center set-up with us via email or through social media! Bonus point for if your CK sticker is in the shot! If you post your photo on social media, be sure to add the hashtag #CKWPD and tag us so we can see it!

Just for participating you’ll be entered into a giveaway for a $100 CK Gift Card! Pretty sweet, right?

Just in case you’d don’t have our social media info, find them linked here – Facebook, Instagram, and/or LinkedIn! We can’t wait to see the photos of your setup!

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Thursday CK Family! Today we’re highlighting the Cisco Catalyst 2960X FlexStack-Plus Module, C2821-VSEC/K9.

The C2960X-STACK FlexStack-Plus modules improve over the FlexStack modules by increasing the number of stacking members and bandwidth, which results in maximized scalability and simplified management for you. These plug-and-play modules allow you to connect up to 8 stacked 2960-X or 2960-XR switches! FlexStack Plus modules also support bandwidth of up to 80 Gbps over distances up to 3m (10ft).

Grab one of these this week for 25% off!

7 Ways to Build Greatness

Find today’s full post from Jon Gordon here. 

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1) Design Your Masterpiece – In order to build something, you must first design it. You must know what you want to build. You must have a vision of the masterpiece you are creating. If you can see it, you can create it. If you have a vision you also have the power to make it happen. The key is to be intentional and decide what you truly want to build and create.

2) Work Your Craft – You don’t master your craft or build a masterpiece overnight. It takes a lot of years, hard work, sweat, and tears. It’s why Michelangelo said, “If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.” It’s a process that requires you to continuously work at your craft in order to improve and grow. A great example of this is Pablo Casals, the famous cellist, who was asked at the age of 90 why he continued to practice. He said, “Because I think I’m making progress.” If you want to master your craft, you have to show up each day and do the work that greatness requires. 

3) Build With Optimism – When a craftswoman is building something, she is so focused on creating her vision and masterpiece that she is filled with optimism and belief about what she is building. While there are challenges during the building process the craftswoman uses those challenges as opportunities to innovate and adapt. You must believe in what you are building and find a way to get it done. What you believe determines what you create. So, make sure you maintain your belief and optimism as you build greatness.

4) Love It – The famous opera singer Luciano Pavarotti was asked about his exceptional discipline to continuously work on his craft. He said, “People think it’s discipline but it’s not discipline. It’s devotion.” As a craftsman, it’s your love and devotion that will drive your discipline. Your love for what you do will drive you to build greatness. If you don’t love it you’ll never work to be great at it. This means if you want to become a master of your craft then make sure you choose a craft you love. If you love it you’ll be more likely to invest the time to work your craft and be devoted to it.

5) Care More – The difference between just showing up to build something and intentionally creating a masterpiece is reflected in the heart, soul, passion, and care that you put into what you are building. If you care more you will do more, give more and create more. To build something great you must care more about what you are building than all of the distractions vying for your attention. Distractions are the enemy of greatness and if you care about your craft you won’t let these distractions get in the way of your growth.

6) Create Inside-Out – A craftsman creates from the inside out. From their spirit, heart, soul, and essence inside them, they create the masterpieces we see in the world. It’s the same way with your life or anything you create. What you see in your outer world is a reflection of your inner world. There’s a word called Meraki. It means to do something with love, creativity, and soul; to leave a piece of yourself in your work; to leave something behind. Being a craftsman/craftswoman is all about Meraki. Put your love and soul into it. Leave a piece of yourself in whatever it is you are building. Leave something behind. Create a masterpiece that reflects the essence of your love, energy, effort, and craft.

7) Take on New Challenges – A craftsman always wants to make their next work their best work and they’re willing to take on new challenges in order to grow. I read a piece by Charles Killian where he shares the story of Donatello rejecting a three-ton block of marble stone because it had too many flaws and cracks in it. The haulers decided to bring it to Michelangelo to see if he wanted the stone. Michelangelo inspected the stone and discovered the flaws and cracks in it as well. But he decided to do something with it. He thought it would be a challenge to his craftsmanship. From that flawed block of marble, he would go on to create the statue of David, the greatest art treasure in the world.

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Chipotle Mexican Grill announced Thursday that the burrito chain is testing meat-free chorizo. It would be the company’s first meat-free protein option since it launched sofritas in 2014.
  • Amazon is planning to open large retail locations that resemble department stores.
  • Toys R Us shop-in-shops will roll out to more than 400 Macy’s stores in 2022. A larger assortment of Toys R Us merchandise is now available on Macy’s website, ahead of the holiday season. Toys R Us’ website will also now be powered by Macy’s.
  • Facebook announced a new sustainability goal to restore more water than it consumes by the year 2030. The company intends to focus its efforts on projects in regions where it uses local water resources.
  • Facebook launched a test of a new virtual-reality remote work app where users of the company’s Oculus Quest 2 headsets can hold meetings as avatar versions of themselves. Check out this image to see what it might look like!

CK Daily – 08.18.2021

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In This Issue: 12U Freestanding Equipment Rack, 19″ | What are the different types of QSFP+ Transceivers? | News to Start Your Day

We’ve made it to the middle of the week! The week has seemed a bit long so far, but we hope you are hanging in there. Today is National Fajita Day! There really is a holiday for everything – but today is the day to enjoy the sizzling deliciousness of the savory Tex-Mex flavor found in fajitas! 

The CK Daily – Change is Good

Happy Midweek! Someone send me some Kleenex! The day has finally come where my husband and I decided to send my toddler back to school and I can’t stop crying. After 17 months of listening to every single ABC song and seeing the movie Trolls over and over again, my house is back to its former self and is completely silent.

I know change is good, but why does it hurt sometimes? I began to realize change was coming when my son told me he wanted to go back to school. Even though he was home with my husband and me every day learning and thriving, we realized that we needed to cover our son in prayer and let him grow in a formal school environment.

Monday morning came faster than ever, and it was time for my son to go to school. We walked through the school doors, said Good Morning, and the teacher came and walked my son to his classroom. To my surprise, he took the teacher’s hand and walked away without saying goodbye or showing any fear.

It was at that point that I realized that this change was not only good for my growing son, but for myself as well. It is imperative that I expose my child to the many wonders of the world and allow him to soak up all the knowledge he can retain. It is also imperative for me to release my fear and sense of uncertainty and allow God to protect him while he is at school. This change now allows me to spend more focused time on work and myself, which is equally as important.

I say all this to say yes changes in life can shake up your world, but sometimes we need a little shaking! How do y’all adjust to change, because this momma has been a bucket of tears!

Shanyce

Hot Topic of the Day

Do you have an old cell phone? Hopefully, you’re able to update the model or version of software you have as YouTube will no longer work on some Android models and smartphones that have version 2.3.7 or lower of an operating system. Beginning September 27th, users who have smartphones with said operating system will no longer be able to log in to the Google suite (YouTube, Maps, Play Store, Gmail, and Google Photos). 

Hopefully, you aren’t impacted by this change, but we feel for you if you are! What we want to know is – Are you a fan of YouTube? What’s your favorite video/channel to watch? Head on over to the CK Facebook page and share your favorite – bonus points sharing a link!

Product Spotlights & Updates

We’ve made it to the middle of the week! Anyone else think the week is flying by? To keep this week moving we’re showcasing the 12U Freestanding Equipment Rack!

Not every installation requires a full 6′-7′ equipment rack. When you are mounting just a few pieces of gear, or space is limited, using a smaller more compact rack is the key to getting the job done with the space you have.

This freestanding 12U mount is perfect for labs and SOHO network installations. The rack is big enough to hold 12 1RU units and strong enough to hold up to 75lbs. The black, powder-coated steel frame is angled back to better support the weight of the mounted gear giving it a better center of gravity. This rack is light, weighing in at only 7lbs, and small enough to fit either on top of, or below a desk or table.

When space is limited and the install is small, this compact racking solution will fit the bill!

What are the different types of QSFP+ Transceivers? – CK Learning Center

There’s been a rapid evolution of gigabit ethernet and a growing demand for equipment that handles this advancement. Data centers are now migrating to blazing-fast 40G, and QSFP+ transceivers as a necessary component in making sure high-speed internet stays high speed.

QSFP+ stands for Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus. A parallel and hot-swappable fiber optical module that provides high-density 40G connectivity options for high-performance computing networks and modern data centers. It has four independent receive and transmits optical channels that can terminate to another 40G QSFP+ transceiver, or can be distributed to four separate 10 Gigabit SFP+ transceivers. The QSFP+ modules, in a nutshell, connect the entire electrical circuitry of your system to an optical external network.

QSFP+ Interface: LC & MPO

There are a variety of 40G transceivers currently available on the market. However, 40G QSFP+ optics follow the QSFP MSA standard which dictates that 40G QSFP+ connectors can be either 12-fiber MPO or duplex LC. Which are the MPO and the LC. What are the differences between these two interfaces?

To put it simply, 40G QSFP+ transceivers that have an LC interface are used in transmitting data over long distances via single-mode fiber (SMF), while transceivers with an MPO interface (except for 40GBase-PLR4 and 40GBase-PLRL4) are deployed for data transmission over short distances via multimode fiber (MMF). In addition to that, MPO interfaced QSFP+ transceivers can be used in 4x10G connectivity using a breakout cable, compared to LC interfaced ones that can’t be divided into 4x10G since they use 4 wavelengths on one pair of SMF.

Let’s delve deeper and understand how 40G QSFP+ transceivers with LC interface work. From the transmitting side, 4 channels of 10G serial data streams that have different wavelengths are sent over to laser drivers. These same laser drivers control the DML or directly modulated lasers using wavelengths. Then the DML outputs are multiplexed optically to a single-mode fiber via a standard LC connector, combining as 40G. On the receiving side, the 40G signal is demultiplexed into four separate 10G streams at different wavelengths. Each single-wavelength light is acquired by a diode and amplified by a TIA and then comes out as electric data.

The working principle of a 40G QSFP+ transceiver with an MPO interface can be explained by starting from the transmitting side when it transmutes parallel electrical input signals into parallel optical signals via a laser array. The optical signals are then sent through the MPO-terminated MMF ribbon. On the other side, the receiver transforms parallel optical input signals into parallel electrical output signals using a photodetector array.

Which QSFP+ Type Is Right For You?

QSFP+ transceivers also come in several ratings. It is important to know which category best suits your network setup. As your partners in IT procurement, we are here to provide a series of cost-effective transceivers to meet your various network demands. 

Check them all out at the CK Learning Center here and find which one is right for you!

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • New Zealand is hearing the Kiwi call once again after 5 years of silence. In the latest audio survey of kiwi bird populations on New Zealand’s North Island, many areas that were silent in 2016 now have airways filled to bursting with kiwi calls.
  • Ford plans to expand its hands-free highway driving system to the automaker’s luxury Lincoln brand beginning next year with the 2022 Navigator SUV.
  • ‘Fast and Furious 10’ is set for an April 2023 release date. Who’s ready?
  • The Twitter-funded company, Bluesky, which is seeking to build a new type of social media has officially announced its first leader. 
  • For Southwest Airlines, staffing shortages have led to hours-long hold times and exacerbated flight disruptions. They have now launched a staff referral bonus program to assist in easing the hiring problem. 

CK Daily – 08.17.2021

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In This Issue: Cisco Original 10GBase-SR SFP+ Module | Best Tips for Having a Successful Garage Sale | News to Start Your Day

Calling are bargain shoppers! Today is your day – it’s National Thrift Shop Day! Nearly every town has a thrift shop or second-hand store, so there’s no excuse not to celebrate! What’s your best thrift store find so far? 

The CK Daily – Uplifted or Drained?

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday! I was in a conversation recently with a friend and we were discussing how spending time with some people can be so uplifting and energizing while spending time with others can be draining and leave you in a bit of a funk. I’m pretty sure everyone has experienced this in life, but sometimes (at least for me) it’s hard to really recognize it in the moment and it can take many interactions with someone before making the connection. I was doing a little reading about this and read that the negative, draining people are sometimes referred to as “energy vampires”. That made me laugh a little, but I guess it gets the point across!

Thinking about this definitely caused me to take a few minutes to stop and self-reflect and ask if I am someone who leaves people feeling uplifted or drained. As humans, we’re all going to have our good moments and our bad (I guess we’re all “energy vampires” at some point!), but the important thing is how we act consistently. At our core, are we someone who looks at the bright side of things and tries to lift ourselves and others up, or are we someone who is constantly being critical and negative, finding fault everywhere we look?

Life is not easy and there are plenty of things that we could be negative about. If we try to shift our perspective a bit, I think we’d find that it makes us happier, and can also have a positive impact on those around us!

Rebecca

Hot Topic of the Day

According to a study published in Scientific Reports, scientists have discovered two new dinosaurs in northwest China, a region where dinosaur fossils had never been found before. They have estimated the Silutitan specimen to be more than 65.6 feet long and the Hamititan specimen to be 55.77 feet long! Read more about the discovery here!

Dinosaurs are pretty mysterious animals and are typically a hit when brought into a conversation! The real question we want to know is what’s your favorite dinosaur? Head on over to the CK Facebook page and share your favorite – bonus points for adding a photo!

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Tuesday! Today we’re highlighting the Cisco Original 10GBase-SR SFP+ Module which is 25% off this week so is a great time to snag one if you’ve been thinking about doing so!

The Cisco SFP-10G-SR module gives you a wide variety of 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options for your data center, enterprise wiring closet, and service provider transport applications. This module boasts a variety of features and benefits, including being the industry’s smallest form factor, which results in the greatest density per chassis. The SFP-10G-SR is hot-swappable and can be switched out with ease, making upgrades and maintenance easy. Cisco 10GBASE-SR SFP+ modules also feature Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) functionality, which allows you to monitor the signal strength, the temperature of the SFP, and the transceiver voltage.

New, factory-sealed Cisco original products, these 10GBASE-SR SFP+ modules support a link length of up to 300 meters on multi-mode fiber. The SFP-10G-SR requires a minimum of OM3 fiber. These SFP+ modules can be deployed in a wide range of networking environments where 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options are needed. 

Best Tips for Having a Successful Garage Sale – Ramsey Solutions

Not sure about you, but it seems to be garage sale season! Need some tips on how to have the best garage sale? Enjoy this article from Ramsey Solutions! You can read the full article here! 

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Looking for some easy ways to make extra money? (Who isn’t?) Maybe you’re trying to ramp up your speed toward that Debt-Free Scream. Or maybe you just want to replace that old nasty couch that’s been Febreezed one too many times.

No matter your reason, one of the tried and true ways to make some quick cash is by having a garage sale. And believe us: There’s nothing better than a garage sale—for the seller and the buyer. You’ve got a well-loved kitchen table that needs to go? There’s someone in the market for that. You’re finally ready to part with those clothes you’ve never worn? Yep—somebody will probably want those too.

If you’re a newbie to the yard sale game, don’t worry. We’ve got all the garage sale tips to help you get organized, price your stuff fairly, and end the day with a handful of cash.

5 Tips for Getting Garage-Sale Ready

1. Clean out your closet.

Sounds simple, but it has to be said. You know that closet in the hallway that you avoid? Yup—the one that you open very slowly in fear that something might fall on you? Yeah . . . it’s time to clean it out. And we mean deep clean. What’s even in there? Decorations from your wedding? Old gifts that you never used or regifted? Clothing that doesn’t fit anymore? Clean it out. And while you’re at it, dig through your garage, basement, attic, other closets, cabinets and under all the beds.

2. Start sorting.

Having a garage sale can be a daunting task, so go ahead and do the major work ahead of time. As you’re unearthing all of those tennis rackets, clothes and old board games, sort them into three basic categories: Keep, Sell and Trash.

3. Get used to the idea.

If you’re not too thrilled about the idea of strangers stopping by your front yard (or if you want to split some of the workload), team up with another family on your block or check with your neighborhood association to see if a community sale is coming up.

4. Set a date.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings are usually the best time to hold your garage sale. Here’s an insider garage sale tip: Consider scheduling it on the first weekend of the month—a lot of paychecks go out at the end of the month, so people will have cash to spend.

5. Stock up on supplies.

You can buy simple pricing stickers and blank labels at the dollar store or any office supply store. Or if you’re wanting to be really budget-friendly, just pick up a permanent marker and masking tape and get to pricing your items. You’ll need to have a table and chairs so you can have a designated area to cash people out (and stay comfortable) on garage sale day.

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Home Depot reported a 5.8% drop in customer transactions from a year earlier, but the average ticket was 11.3% larger. The retailer rang up fewer customers as DIY trends have weakened. 
  • The crowds, who were trying to flee the country a day after Kabul fell to the Taliban, have thinned out. With that, flights have resumed from the airport. 
  • Amazon plans to film the second ‘Lord of the Rings’ series in the U.K. instead of New Zealand. 
  • The Los Angeles Lakers trade Gatorade for BioSteel to fill the team’s bench sponsorship. 
  • The federal government has officially declared the first-ever water shortage in the Colorado River basin, which means mandatory water cuts in some states and Mexico in 2022. The shortage was triggered because water levels in Lake Mead on the Nevada-Arizona border, are projected to drop so low that it can’t meet the water and energy demands of communities in the West.

CK Daily – 08.16.2021

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In This Issue: Cisco 2960-X Series 48 Port 740W PoE+ Switch | What is the difference between OS2, OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5? | News to Start Your Day

Happy Monday and Happy National Tell a Joke Day! Here at CK, we’re a pretty big fan of Dad Jokes! Here are a few to give you a laugh! 

“What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie?” “Sofishticated.”

“What do you call a factory that makes okay products?” “A satisfactory.” 

“What do houses wear?” “An address.”

 Send us your best joke! We’d love to hear them!

The CK Daily – Get To, Not Got To

Good Morning CK Fam!!

Sometimes we really need to put things into perspective to really appreciate what we have and where we are at in life.

The title of this entry is get to, not got to. It’s because we all get to. We get to have coffee this morning. We get to have clean, running water. We get to go to a job to provide for ourselves and our families.

I’m not an Alabama Football fan, but you certainly don’t have to be to enjoy (and share) this five-minute video of Ernie Johnson speaking to them about GET TO.

Don’t forget to remind yourself and your loved ones that you get to today.

Appreciate you all – enjoy getting to embrace Monday,

Corey 

Hot Topic of the Day

Last week we announced that NASA is seeking volunteers to spend a year living on a fake Martian surface. They have further announced that Icon will be 3D-printing the structures where people will spend the year. Take a look at the plan here! 

Could you live here for a full year? Where do you think you’d find yourself spending the most time? Let us know your thoughts over on the CK Facebook Page!

Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Monday CK Family! We hope you had a relaxing weekend and are ready to take on the week! Today we’re kicking off our deals by highlighting the Cisco 2960-X Series 48 Port 740W PoE+ Switch, WS-C2960X-48FPS-L.

Cisco has always done an amazing job with catering to small and medium businesses. The Cisco 2960-X series is another generation of the already popular 2960 series that will enable the typical small to medium business to function at an enterprise level without the enterprise budget. The 2960-X series switches offer a fixed configuration of Ethernet switches that are not only Gigabit, but also stackable. The 2960-X was specifically designed for easy deployment and operational efficiency. These switches are also energy cautious and have a large range of IOS software features.

Switching capacity on the 2960-X series come in twenty-two percent higher than the 2960-S units as they have a total capacity of 216 Gbps. Each switch will offer either two 10 gig uplinks or four 1 gig uplinks and zero-touch configuration as well as IOS software updates when you are deploying the 2960-X switch.

Snag one this week for 20% off!

What is the difference between OS2, OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5? – CK Learning Center

When it comes to fiber-optic networks, there are a lot of options in how a network is designed. Ultimately, the demands of the network will determine which cable is best for any given job, but you need to have a clear understanding of the different fiber cables in order to make that decision. While the complete list of design differences could fill several books, you can understand the key variations in design in a few minutes. This quick guide will highlight the characteristics of OS2, OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5 fiber cables.

OS vs OM Fiber

The first difference to understand is the one that exists between OS and OM cables. The briefest explanation is that OS cables are all single-mode fiber, and OM cables are multimode fiber. If that provides enough clarity, feel free to skip to the next section.

For those who like more details, there are a few key design differences between the cable types. These differences mostly scale to the single- or multi-mode functionality. OS cables have much thinner cores than their OM counterparts. An OS cable, like OS2, will usually have a 9-micron core while OM cables can be over 100 microns. Additionally, OM cables are designed to work across shorter distances and with less expensive transmission parts.

OM Fiber Cables

If multimode fiber is the right build for a network, there are still important decisions to make. For the most part, the cables come in five separate designs (named OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5 respectively). OM1 might be the older, slower guy on the market, but it is no less common in modern applications. It utilizes a 62.5/125-micron core and is known for its cost efficiency for short runs. The other three designs all work with a 50/125-micron core.

The next major difference is in transmission. OM1 and OM2 both use LED transmitters. These are great for their low cost, but the LED transmitters limit bandwidth. OM1 and OM2 cables hit top speeds of around 1Gbps. OM3, OM4, and OM5 cables utilize laser-optimized multimode (LOMMF) transmission. This is more expensive, but it enables higher bandwidths, and these cables can get speeds up to 10Gbps (OM3), to 40Gbps (OM4), and up to 100Gbps (OM5).

Other, subtler differences can be found among these varying cables, but in terms of application, this is the bulk of the story.

OS Fiber Cables

As for OS cables, they come in OS1 or OS2 builds. OS1 is a bit antiquated. It is designed for distances less than 2km, and it hits a top transmission speed of 10Gbps. For jobs in that range, there are usually OM designs that are more cost-effective. OS2 is the standard for long-range networking. The cables can carry signals up to 200 km, and they can achieve transmission rates in excess of 10Gbps.

The purpose of OS2 fiber cabling is to do work that is best suited by single-mode fiber optics. It’s the easy go-to for long-range, high-speed work.

We like to keep things simple and straightforward. In almost every case, the best cable will be the one that meets your distance and speed needs at the lowest possible cost.

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • The ‘Field of Dream’ baseball game was a ratings win for Fox with 5.9 million viewers. 
  • Hamilton, which historically sold out months of performances within minutes, has plenty of opening week availability and only one performance between September and June 2022 is sold out. Some Broadway theater owners and producers say even though it is a notoriously tough industry to make a profit in, the show must go on.
  • New York City will become the first major U.S. city to require proof of vaccination to eat indoors.
  • University of Alabama sorority rush has taken over TikTok. 19.6 million people in the last week have viewed TikTok videos that include the hashtag #AlabamaRush and 55.6 million have seen videos with the hashtag #BamaRush.
  • Firefighters are battling the Dixie Fire in California and a new fire in Parleys Canyon, Utah as searing temperatures continue to bake the western United States. 

CK Daily – 08.12.2021

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In This Issue: Cisco 7962G Six Line Unified VoIP Phone | SFP-10G-SR FAQ | News to Start Your Day

Happy Thursday! Today is the perfect day to go old school and throw on your favorite vinyl record to celebrate National Vinyl Record Day! Spin music lovers all around the world have disagreements on a number of things, but one thing everyone can agree on is that vinyl records are here to stay. Do you have a record you love to throw on and enjoy? We’d love to know your favorites!

The CK Daily – Another Trip Around the Sun

This has been a crazy week. This past Tuesday I turned 45…which still blows my mind that I am that “old.” I actually had several discussions this week about how living on a rock that is floating in space around a huge ball of fire dictating how old we are or how old we might feel. That is a crazy thought when you really think about it.

I will say that I am grateful and very thankful for the amazing 45 years that I have been alive. Many, many ups and downs, but it has all made me the man that I am today. I know for sure that this is not 100% where I saw myself in life at 45 when I was younger, BUT I honestly wouldn’t trade the life I have now compared to the life I “thought” I should have had when I arrived at 45. I think it helps that I don’t look or feel 45. (In my mind, I am still in my mid-30’s…haha!)

I had a great time this past weekend and this week celebrating with family and friends. I have definitely eaten WAY too much and I am not sure that is done yet. The celebration continues into this upcoming weekend. A few buddies and I are heading down to Savannah, on the Georgia coast, for a few days in celebration. This will be the 7th year in a row (last year doesn’t count) I have gone down to Savannah to celebrate my birthday. It really is one of my favorite places to visit and explore. I love the history down there, the entertainment, the people, as well as all the food. It should be an absolute blast and a great way to kick off the next 45 years!

Do you have places that you like to travel to or certain ways you like to celebrate your birthday every year or as often as you can

Have a great Thursday and weekend! I am out of here!

Jason

Hot Topic of the Day

The United States Space Agency (NASA) is seeking to recruit volunteers to participate in the conquest of Mars. They are seeking to simulate what life would be like on the red planet! To apply, you must be in good health, have a master’s degree in science and / or technology , and accept the possibility of dying in the process.

The first of these missions will start in the fall of 2022 and will be made up of four people who will remain isolated for 365 days. We want to know, would you be up for the quest? Do you think you would enjoy simulating life on the red planet? We’d love to hear your thoughts over on the CK Facebook Page. 

Want to learn more about the conquest to Mars? Read more about it here. 

Product Spotlights & Updates

Hope you are having a great Thursday! Today we will be spotlighting a VoIP Phone, the Cisco 7962G.

The Cisco 7962G is a IP phone with speakerphone and handset that’s designed for wideband audio. It has a full-feature set that includes six programmable backlit line/feature buttons, and four interactive soft keys. This phone includes a 4-bit grayscale LCD that will display features such as date and time, caller name, caller number, digits dialed, and presence info.

The phone also comes with a dedicated headset port, volume control, adjustable foot-stand and optional expansion module support. There are 24 defined selectable ring tones and the handset is hearing aid-compatible and meets the FCC loudness requirements for the ADA. You can either power the phone up with a standard CP-PWR-CUBE-3 or 802.3af PoE power.

This is a great phone for managers, administrative assistance, or even front line customer service employees.

SFP-10G-SR FAQ – CK Learning Center

What is the SFP-10G-SR?

The SFP-10G-SR is a 10G Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) transceiver which plugs into a network switch and provides 10 Gigabits of uplink capability. The “SR” in the model number stands for “short range”. These optics use multimode fiber over shorter distances, up to 300m.

Does the SFP-10G-SR include Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM)?

Yes. These do support DOM allowing you to have better visibility by monitoring signal strength, temperature, and transceiver supply voltage.

Which Cisco switches is the SFP-10G-SR compatible with?

This is compatible with approximately 1,500 Cisco devices. Some of the most popular switches that this is compatible with are:

-2960S Series

-2960X Series

-3560 Series

-3560X Series

-3506E Series

-3750X Series

-3750E Series

-3850 Series

What’s the difference between SFP-10G-SR and SFP-10G-LR?

The SFP-10G-SR was designed for short range transmissions, up to 300m. It uses an 850nm wavelength and multimode fiber. The SFP-10G-LR on the other hand was designed for long-range transmissions, up to 10km. It uses a 1310nm wavelength and singlemode fiber.

SFP Transceiver Module Comparison Chart

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Facebook is buying the popular GIF-making and sharing website Giphy for a reported price of $400 million, with plans to integrate the massive GIF library into Instagram and other Facebook apps. 
  • Verizon is offering free AMC+ for 12 months to new and existing customers who buy a new 5G phone with a payment plan or sign up for Fios home internet.
  • Spotify’s updated Wear OS app will be realized soon. It will support offline playback on smartwatches running Wear OS 2.0 and up. 
  • Amazon is no longer trying to stay completely out of the process when people are injured by faulty products sold on its website by third parties. In a change to the company’s return and complaints policy, Amazon said that people who are injured or have their property damaged by defective third-party products should contact Amazon customer service, which will attempt to connect the customer with the seller. 
  • Customers are buying Wendy’s breakfast. And the chain wants to keep it that way. The company announced that it will spend an additional $10 million to advertise breakfast this year, bringing its overall spending on breakfast ads to $25 million in 2021.