Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Then and Now - Are We at a Disadvantage?

In our strength in advanced technology, 
have we actually become complacent?

Alfred North Whitehead

Recent weather events have exposed such; dependency on technology left many scared and lost. 
It seems inconceivable that this country, founded, fought for, expanded, and survived without any assistance of current technology. Shall we take a look at the history of a few items and consider that human nature is the strongest technology available.

Life without a SIM card:
Originally, telegraph machines, connected utilizing a series of wires in order to exchange messages. The operator would key a message in the Morse alphabet, and the receiving telegraph machine on the other side would register the message in the form of clicks made by a bar, which struck another bar. By listening to the pattern of clicks, the receiving operator could hear the message and transcribe it before passing it on to the recipient.
In the late 1800s, wireless telegraphy began to emerge, and telegraph messages transmitted over the radio waves. This marked a drastic change in the system, allowing people to rapidly transmit messages in areas without telegraph cables, and enabling things like ship-to-ship communication. Wireless telegraphy or radiotelegraphy also laid the groundwork for later methods of communication.

The first cell phones, eh!
Try to spend a day leaving your cell, tablet and so on sitting at home nowhere near your fingertips.
Could we do it?

How did anyone survive without next day delivery, 
texting and email?
Before the amazing technology of the teletype machine, 
there was the Pony Express.

The Pony Express founders:
Plans for the Pony Express, spurred by the threat of the Civil War and the need for faster communication with the West. The Pony Express consisted of relays of men riding horses carrying saddlebags of mail across a 2000-mile trail. The service opened officially on April 3, 1860, when riders left simultaneously from St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. The first westbound trip took 9 days and 23 hours and the eastbound journey in 11 days and 12 hours. The pony riders covered 250 miles in a 24-hour day.
Eventually, the Pony Express had more than 100 stations, 80 riders, and between 400 and 500 horses. The express route was extremely hazardous, but only one mail delivery was ever lost. The service lasted only 19 months until October 24, 1861, when the completion of the Pacific Telegraph line ended the need for its existence. Although California relied upon news from the Pony Express during the early days of the Civil War, the horse line was never a financial success, leading its founders to bankruptcy. However, the romantic drama surrounding the Pony Express has made it a part of the legend of the American West.

That was just mail, could one imagine? 
“I’m going to town for supplies, boys, you help mother with the chores and I will return by week’s end.”

A trip to home depot was very different.

Who experienced stress because more than two cars were in the drive through and American Idol was about to begin?

It is a legitimate question, in our strength have we become weaker?

I live in the desert, three continuous months of 100+ days, for those of you experiencing your streak of 100-degree days this may come as a shock.

Technology in beverages has not out done simplicity. Coffee, 5-hour shots, Frappuccinos, monsters, and 48 oz. Coke, though they taste great going down and we feel satisfied, it will not sustain you and even accelerate your break down. Water guys, at least a gallon a day.

We are strong; we just need a reminder, eh.

Clive James

Thanks for stopping in!

And now for something totally different!

1 comment:

  1. I agree. The more technology we have/experience, the weaker we become.