Computing Across America, chapter 38 by Steven K. Roberts Creede, Colorado August 18, 1984 I’ve always got a home in Colorado, no matter where I am or what changes I go through. If passing time leaves me troubled, wond’ring where to go, I know I’ve got a friend in Colorado. Nancy Johnson, Mellow Lady LP…

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Computing Across America, chapter 37 by Steven K. Roberts Santa Fe, New Mexico August 10, 1984 You came saying “show me who you are”; the tourists came saying “show us what you got.” Steve Northup, Time Magazine The shape of the northern horizon kept changing, the storms and mountains sparring with lightning punches as I…

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Computing Across America, chapter 36 by Steven K. Roberts Villanueva, New Mexico July 15, 1984 Wilderness. The word itself is music. Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire We did a little dance, the three of us, a sort of farewell boogie to Texas. I had just passed the 6,000-mile mark, and Jürgen and I were getting along…

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Computing Across America, chapter 35 by Steven K. Roberts Lubbock, Texas July 11, 1984 You’re crazy . . . It’s uphill all the damn way! Oh sure, you’ll go downhill sometimes, but even when you do, you’re gaining elevation. —Advice about West Texas from a fellow in East Texas She woke beside me and stretched,…

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Computing Across America, chapter 34 by Steven K. Roberts Austin, Texas June 27, 1984 Austinfornia: where hippies and capitalism peacefully merge into oneness and bliss. Caron DuFrane Transitions are usually only recognized as such in retrospect, and I was due for one despite having just emerged from my action-packed New Orleans Sabbatical. A phase shift…

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Computing Across America, chapter 33 by Steven K. Roberts Lake Livingston, Texas May 23, 1984 Thanks for all the excitement! The owner of the Cafe Texan in Huntsville, after I ate lunch there Amazing what a book contract can do to you. In tiny Toomey, on the edge of Texas, I hung up the pay…

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Computing Across America, chapter 32 by Steven K. Roberts Lake Charles, Louisiana May 16, 1984 This chapter captures the moment I first met a Mac. I had seen the Dolphin and Dorado at Xerox PARC during an Artificial Intelligence conference in 1981… as well as the Star for business on display at NCC ’81… but…

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Computing Across America, chapter 31 by Steven K. Roberts Baton Rouge, Louisiana April 30, 1984 Where it is a duty to worship the sun it is pretty sure to be a crime to examine the laws of heat— John Morley Snapshots of God. To label an empty canvas thus is perhaps a bit ambitious, for…

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Computing Across America, chapter 30 by Steven K. Roberts Hammond, Louisiana April 26, 1984 If you go down to Hammond, you’ll never come back…— The Roches It was to be a basic one-night college-town layover, nothing more. On the way to SLU I stopped at a bike shop and was advised to get in touch…

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Computing Across America, chapter 29 by Steven K. Roberts Slidell, Louisiana April 10, 1984 Science is spectrum analysis; art is photosynthesis Karl Kraus When you live on a bicycle, certain things take on larger-than-life significance. Hills, for example, never mattered much when I drove a car, and back roads were just that: back roads. And…

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