This cartoon is a good example of how technology has changed. When I first drew this, smartphones were just beginning to replace standalone GPS units. Who would have thought that today, there is such a thing as GPS sheep tracking?
Today, we can track anything, including livestock. Radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology is small enough, we can keep track of and identify an entire flock without leaving the house.
When I drew this cartoon, salmonella was in the news. It was the evil microbe of the day. It was a little, unseen bug that caused some big problems. But it was nothing compared to what the world is dealing with today.
Today, we have a menace that has closed schools, businesses, and entire countries. It’s the little things that can cause big disruptions. I am looking forward to a time in the near-future where we will be more concerned about little menaces such as salmonella and E. coli. Until then, let’s take today’s menace seriously and do what we can to prevent it from spreading further. At the same time, don’t be a chicken!
You have to wonder how animals would fare if they had similar technology to what humans have. There are some critters like raccoons, coyotes, and moles that are so persistent, they have learned to thrive in spite of human intervention.
They also thrive despite their lack of technology.
I tend to rely on technology a lot. Email is the primary form of communication at work. It’s necessary when I communicate with people across the country. But we use it a lot internally, even though we may be within walking distance of visiting a coworker and clarifying a confusing conundrum.
At the end of a busy day, I’ve found it is persistence, creativity and a good attitude that keeps me going. I have learned to use technology when it is helpful and pull back when it is not. Relying too much on one type of tool can become a crutch, and even a hindrance if I am not careful.
Even so, I have always loved periscopes. Perhaps I should get one of those whenever I am searching for someone in a cubicle. Maybe I can find one with a HUD (Heads Up Display) and night vision! Wouldn’t that be cool? Now here I go, geeking out on technology again!
Has there been a time when you found technology wasn’t helping and you had to find another way? Let me know in the comments.
If fish celebrated Christmas, they would need a Christmas tree that worked in their environment. They would need to adapt to the holiday traditions that could work underwater. Whining about traditions and customs that don’t work doesn’t help much.
If a Christmas tree floats, find one that doesn’t!
Yet, how many times are people like the fish in this cartoon? We complain about things that we feel are out of our control instead of doing something about it.
Finding a problem is easy. Finding a solution and doing something about it is powerful.
I feel for my mom. With four kids to feed, she probably felt there were many a time when she was slopping the hogs. It didn’t matter if it was the finest cuisine or leftovers. We ate like little piggies and barely grunted a thank you without Dad’s direction.
Now I realize how well she took care of us. I couldn’t have been easy to keep four kids fed, clean and out of trouble while holding a job. But Mom and Dad did it well and with style. Today, I see how much I had to be thankful for.
You may be a Mom or Dad that is tired of slopping your little piggies. But you can know that one day, the kids will realize how well you really took care of them. The realization happens about the time they have to take care of little piggies of their own.
