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For Americans born in the '40s and '50s, the world experienced enormous changes in their lifetimes. Some of these changes resulted from a sweeping technological revolution. New machines for use in farming, the vast expansion of production of goods by machines, and mechanization replacing highly skilled craftspeople.
Sounds like the beginning of a story about Boomers born in the mid-1900s, but it's not. This is a description of life in the 1800s. A time of great progress and upheaval. Improving lives while turning some upside down. And while we may look back at these times as primitive, for some of us looking to the future in 2023, we feel a lot of the same anxiety.
Artificial Intelligence makes it clear things are about to 'revolutionize' yet again. I opened up one of these new A.I. chatbots to try it out. I told the bot to write a one-paragraph story about travel through the Midwest. After 3 seconds, this was its reply:
"As the sun rose over the Great Plains, Sarah packed her bags and set out on a road trip through the Midwest. She passed through small towns with charming main streets and friendly locals, and marveled at the vast stretches of farmland that seemed to go on forever. Along the way, she stopped at roadside diners for hearty breakfasts and sampled local delicacies like corn on the cob and deep-dish pizza. As she drove further west, the landscape began to change, with rolling hills and towering mountains coming into view. Sarah felt a sense of adventure and freedom as she explored the heartland of America, and she knew that this journey would stay with her for years to come."
It appears technology is out to replace the 'author.' But while it sounds personal, writing about Sarah's adventure, it's downright generic stereotyping. It gives the reader the picture of a flat midwest full of corn-eating breakfast diners with farmland for miles, until suddenly, out of nowhere, rolling hills and towering mountains. Anyone traveling through east Kansas can tell you about rolling hills before the farmland and way before the towering mountains. And how many small-town diners outside of Chicago have you been to that serve deep-dish pizza?
Simply put, the new intelligence is most definitely artificial. While computers rely on speed to sift through information and spit out a response, nothing can replace the human experience of packing a car, hitting the road on a grand adventure, and then telling the story to your friends.
At least not yet.
Dave 'still 100% human' Alexander.
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From Legends' General Store |
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If you love Route 66, enjoy coloring, and like to share with others, this book is for you! The Route 66 Postcard Coloring Book contains 20 postcards of various places along America's Mother Road, each ready for your own artistic touch. Then after you color, remove each and send as a postcard. Complete with stamp placement on the back, and information on each location. Or, keep your finished work as a reminder of fun times traveling Route 66.
Save 20% off with Coupon Code NEWS20!
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Here are just some of the recent additions since our last newsletter |
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Dairy Boy Drive-Ins in Oklahoma - The Dairy Boy Drive-In chain was founded in 1957 by businessmen Harry Atlee and Leonard Hansen, who owned the Hansen-Atlee Dairy in Oklahoma City.
Bidwell-Bartleson Party - Blazing the California Trail - The Bidwell-Bartleson Party, led by Captain John Bartleson and John Bidwell, became the first American emigrants to attempt a wagon crossing from Missouri to California.
Oklahoma Santa Fe Trail Sites - The smallest portion of the Santa Fe Trail was in Oklahoma. Of the two major trail branches, only the Cimarron Route crossed into the state through the western portion of the Oklahoma panhandle in modern Cimarron County.
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Calvin Coolidge - 30th President - The United States 30th President was a man of few words but bold actions.
Martin Van Buren - Eighth President- Martin Van Buren was an attorney, statesman, and eighth President of the United States after serving as Andrew Jackson's Secretary of State and Vice President.
Great Lakes of North America - These five lakes and the St. Lawrence River contain 20% of the world's freshwater and form the world's most extensive surface freshwater system.
We've added 13 new articles since our last newsletter... |
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From Legends' Photo Print Shop |
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From Chicago, Illinois to the Santa Monica Pier in California, and everything in between, you'll find dozens of Route 66 photographs from all eight states!
Save 20% on all Prints - Use Coupon Code NEWS20 |
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A massive dust storm, dubbed “Black Sunday”, struck the nation on April 14, 1935. Famed American singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie lived in Pampa, Texas, at the time, and when the storm rolled in, many in the Texas Panhandle thought it was the end of the world. It inspired Guthrie to write the iconic song “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know Yuh,” considered one of Guthrie’s best and now included in the Library of Congress. |
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On April 16, 1846, nine covered wagons left Springfield, Illinois on the 2,500-mile journey to California, in what would become one of the greatest tragedies in the history of westward migration. |
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Nuwati Herbal Teas at Legends' General Store |
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Nuwati Herbal Teas work with the body in an all-natural way to promote balance and good health. From calming your nerves to providing energy, relieving headaches and stomach problems, strengthening bones, and more, you will find an herbal tea that helps.
The loose herbal blends are bottled in amber jars to protect the herbs and preserve their effectiveness and flavor. Each jar contains between 9 and 34 different herbs.
Buy 3 Or More Of Any Teas And Automatically Get 10% OFF Save an additional 20% when you use coupon code NEWS20! |
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A land of extremes, Death Valley, is one of the hottest, driest, and lowest places on earth. The valley is aptly named, with summer temperatures averaging well over 100 degrees and a long history of human suffering in the vast desert. However, this place of eroded badlands, sand dunes, and golden hills also has a haunting sense of beauty.
From Mining history and ghost towns, to desert legends.. |
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The Deadliest Attack on a School in U.S. History |
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In May of 1927, America was shocked and horrified by the deaths and injuries of dozens of children and adults in the Bath School disaster. Also known as the Bath School Massacre, as of today, it remains the deadliest attack on a school in U.S. History. |
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Popular Stories on Facebook |
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In case you missed it, here are some of the articles that have been popular on our Facebook Fan Pages recently. |
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In the Cerbat Mountains north of Kingman, AZ, several towns sprang up in the 1860s as prospectors headed to the hills. These camps were extremely isolated, and the trip was often fraught with danger.
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The Miwok are members of four linguistically related Native groups in Northern California. Also spelled Miwuk, Mi-Wuk, or Me-Wuk, they traditionally spoke one of the Miwok languages in the Utian family.
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Clyde Chestnut Barrow was born on March 24, 1909. He's best known for teaming up with Bonnie Parker as criminals who captured the attention of the public between 1931 and 1935.
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Our website and newsletter are supported by some mighty fine readers. Yeah, we're talking about YOU Friend! We just can't thank you enough! Be sure to check out our General Store and Photo Print Shop, helping keep our content free of charge since 2003.
In celebration of our 20th anniversary this year, all newsletter readers can enjoy 20% savings. Just use coupon code News20 in 'cart view' at our General Store, or during checkout on our Photo Print Shop. |
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Have a comment about something in this newsletter or any of our stories? Reply to this email or send them to travel@legendsofamerica.com. |
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