From the desk of: Cathy Coloff
Subject: Don't you love a good mystery?
What’s your favorite cartoon? Growing up as a kid, I loved Scooby-Doo and watched every show at least three to four times. So, when Alex started watching them, I was happy to enjoy a few moments reliving my childhood, trying to figure out whodunnit with the lovable Scooby and gang. My love of mysteries continued as I grew up. I especially enjoyed the challenge of trying to solve the case early in the story and then ultimately finding out if I was correct. In my youth, I devoured the Nancy Drew series; and as I matured, I moved up to Dr. Kay Scarpetta and more complex stuff. As I’ve grown up, I’ve read a variety of other genres; but I still enjoy a mystery novel—simple or complex. One summer at the Jersey shore, I stumbled on the “alphabet mysteries” featuring Kinsey Millhone by Sue Grafton and the “Stephanie Plum” series on the bookshelves of our rental house. The former was a more serious look at the world of suspense and misadventure whereas the latter is a light-hearted, bumbling approach to getting her “man” that makes you laugh out loud—Stephanie is a Jersey-girl version of Inspector Clouseau. Recently, I was sad to learn that Sue Grafton passed away before she was able to finish her “alphabet mystery” series, leaving us to wonder what would become of Kinsey in the book titled after the letter “Z.”
What does this have to do with IT, you may ask? Well, I think my love of computers and problem solving developed some of its roots in these cartoons and books. Solving computer problems and now, more often, business problems with technology solutions requires a look at not only the big picture but also the little details that could reveal the answer to the problem or mystery. Not mysteries in the literary sense, but challenging and interesting nonetheless. That’s one of the many reasons I love my “job.”
I invite you to check our staff’s favorite cartoons at www.it-radix.com/cartoons. Perhaps you’ll discover some insights into what makes each of them special and unique. As for me, I’m off to watch an episode of Scooby-Doo.
First published in our February 2019 IT Radix Resource newsletter
