Historic Route 66 - Yahoo! Picks Profiles

Only on the Internet could a man from Belgium become one of the foremost authorities on an American icon. Route 66 is the definition of pure Americana and is immortalized in a tune that extols the virtues of the open road.

Swa Franzen heard the siren call of the legendary route in the early '90s and compiled information on his Route 66 site way back in 1994. Since then, the intrepid Belgian has kept the motor runnin' on this labor of love...

Hey Swa, what was the impetus behind the Route 66 site?

The site got started in 1994 while I was working at the University (KULeuven) in Leuven, Belgium. I was working for the computer science department and had to install and test web servers and web browsers for our users. Of course, I needed content to test the servers.

At the time, I was also researching where Route 66 ran. I was getting fragments of information from other early Internet users on Route 66 and where it ran in their home town.

I was sifting through the information, but I wanted to share what I had already learned in order to move things ahead.

What was the initial response?

When I announced the site on usenet's rec.travel group in June 1994, I had 600 page views the first week. Today, the site gets more than 700,000 page views a month

How have you kept up the desire to run the site since 1994?

After traveling Route 66 in the fall of 1994, my initial reason to keep the site going was an old usenet tradition€"those asking questions provide answers to those asking for the same thing after them.

I also felt I could help the struggling businesses and towns along Route 66 by sending them more and better informed tourists.

What was the Internet like back in 1994? Did you have a feeling it would be as big as its become?

In 1994 the Internet was very young and the future of the "world wide web" was far from a certain thing. The previous protocols like gopher were clearly not doing all that great.

It was also before the creation of ISPs catering to home users. Most users were academics or large corporations.

Spam was totally unheard of in those days. And that made things like usenet and email much more usable and effective than they are today.

What sparked your initial interest in Route 66?

It's hard to say where I actually picked up on the legend of Route 66. It was merely a destination I heard about and couldn't find on maps. It was hard to find even the most basic things about it like from where to where it ran. But the legend itself was enough to spark our interest to want to travel it.

Have you driven the length of Route 66?

I've driven it end-to-end two times and have driven many sections of it over the years. I drove it for the first time in the fall of 1994 and revisited that trip in 2004. Since 2004, I also visit the International Route 66 festival every year. The festival moves from city to city along Route 66 each year and it's always a good opportunity to travel a decent stretch of the mother road. I drove Route 66 from Chicago to Clinton, OK last June to attend the 2007 festival. Historic Route 66 signs have improved over the years, so it's becoming easier to travel.

What's been the most gratifying thing about running the site?

Helping people with what I struggled with back in 1993 and 1994â€"not knowing a thing about Route 66. Helping them with the information they need to travel the old road and get their kicks is definitely number one.

Besides that, being nominated for the very first Webby Awards was probably the most prestigious award the site ever had. Seeing that ceremony on TV gave me a very special feeling. I couldn't make it to San Francisco for the ceremony.

How often do you update the site?

I normally touch the site once a day, if only to moderate the forum. I have a bunch of projects I'd love to have more time for. I'm a strong believer that a site is never "done," that there's always something to improve. I'm currently working on improving the turn-by-turn directions

What other projects occupy your time?

We have our own consulting business and I mainly do information security consulting. I'm also working as a contractor for NET2S Benelux as lead security engineer.

Since 2002, I've been one of the 40 or so volunteer handlers at SANS Internet Storm Center. We write a diary and help people with security problems as well as issue warnings and explanations on security incidents.

Swa, you're one busy dude. We'd expect nothing less from an Internet pioneer.

OICH!!!!

The worst papsmare that I've ever had.

The man didn't have clue when he heard me cry out in pain, or from the other noises I made when he was poking around down there.

If I could have avoided that, I would have.

It didn't help that I sat in there freezing by but off for I don't know how long while I waited for him. It's like there are alot of aids, but one real nurse and maybe two doctors.

I was suppose to be there at 12:30, but I got there 10 mins late. By the time I walking out it was after 4 I'm sure. I just came for a shot, but since I'm new I had to get a whole work up. Urine test, blood test, papsmare, breast exam, and then there was all the paper work to see about "floating" my fee since this wasn't a free clinic like I was told, and to start a chart for me.

To top it off I almost felt like they forgot to give me my shot. The only thing I came there for, but it turned out to be the very last thing I got. I was almost given it in my butt. I told her I always got it in my arm. So she let me get it that way, and I got another ban aid to on that arm to go with the one that I got from the blood test.

When I was leaving, I was reminded that I had to bring back a few things for the next time I came to help determine how they were going to be paid. So I have to bring back my SSN, a letter to verify my address, and my mom's pay slip.

Well I'm outside the building now, and I think that I'll see how far from Fulton Mall I was since it wasn't as far in the other direction as I thought it was. At the end of the block before I even crossed the street, I see a subway entrance. It couldn't have been that close. I walked 4 blocks to get here from the subway I found the other day to find out that I passed the stop?!?! I walked on, and what? The main subway entrance/exit was just a block away. And the block away was Dekab, and that was a block from the start of Fulton Mall. I did all that walking around for nothing. I could have had all this done yesterday.

The only good thing is that I might have found my college.

I came home, and mom told me that someone called for me. At first I wondered who it could have been, then I asked her if was Tanzi. We kind of went to school together. Either which way, she couldn't remember, and when we called back the number that she thought she called from, no one answered and we didn't leave a message.

AAAHHhhhhh..... (yawn)

I think that I'll go back to bed for a bit. I'm only up because my mom woke me up while she was getting ready, then I had to use the bathroom. Then I folded up the air bed for my brother. Yea, my brother. He showed up last night. He's staying for 10 days.

He went to get ready, and I wasn't going to church or out, so I did it. Then Mom asked me to iron her outfit for her. Then I was suppose to finish get Nika ready. Phillys was doing her hair because Jhodie wasn't feeling well and still asleep.

The girl took forever doing her hair. She said that she started at 9am, it was 10:16 when she finished. We all expected her to do a quick pony tail thing. Oh no. She had to make it fancy. I'm surprised that Nika didn't go back to sleep on her.

I did a quick wipe and get dressed of her while she ate breakfast. She didn't eat that much, and I got mom to take some crackers for her for when she gets hungry later.

Well I think I'll go back to bed now and watch a bit of tv.

See ya.

ComingSoon.net News Story - Rainmaker to Reboot ReBoot

Check out what they are trying to bring back. I loved this show.



Rainmaker to Reboot ReBoot

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=22558

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http://www.comingsoon.net

Walking, walking, walking

Let's see.

I don't remember what we did on Monday, but I think I covered that day already.

On Tuesday, we went to get our SSNs, but forgot our passports, so we just picked up a few forms and walked around. We went by a 99cent store that we had seen last week I think, and got a few things. One being a family of rubber duckies for Nika and I got some rice cakes that turned out to be sweet. Nika took one that night and Phillys walked off with a few the next morning.

That girl would knock you down if she doesn't cause you to loose your hearing first over touching her things, but she has every right to take and use anyone else's stuff. I didn't really mind that much. I got them to be eaten, and with my Metro Week Pass, I can go spend another $1.08 or what every they cost and get another one before the week is out.

The next day we went back to get our SSNs and we expected to wait forever. We had like 4 newspapers, a pile of coupons and even a coloring book for Nika. Heck, I didn't get though the first newspaper before we were allowed upstairs. We had to ditch all food. We were allowed to keep the water, but he nail clippers had to go, I hid them on the top of a bookcase in the lobby.

I don't know how much more to tell. No cams were allowed and there were other rules. I can say this. The wait wasn't that long before we were seen, the place was clean, and Jhodie took longer then I did, and we will get our SSNs in two weeks.

When we came out, it was still early, so we went to find the clinic so I could get an appointment to get my shot. I would have done it sooner, but I didn't get the week pass until Tuesday. The day after I was set to get my next shot, and I had to SSN thing to do.

Well we went the wrong way. We walked about 12 blocks in the wrong direction. The only things that came out of it was that we got Nika tired, but she she went to sleep too early and woke up at 10pm, just as Jhodie got back from the gym. We also found a nice pizza place and we looked around a thrift store.

We then tried to go to NYU and failed. We got to Manhattan and came out at China Town, but then we just walked in all the wrong directions once we left the first street we took to go towards Washington Square. When we gave up and took a bus to go home. We found out we had gotten turned around and were walking back to China Town. We took the M1 down to Bowling Green and took the D to Atlantic and then took the 4 home.

Today we were on our own. Jhodie was going to take Nika to the library and I had to find the clinic. So we left together at mins to 2 and we got to the library at about 17 past. Nika had already missed the story part of her time at the library and just did the craft part I heard later. I went and caught the B41 and stayed on it until it ended. I then walked, what could be called, east from there, and aimed for Flatbush. I had a small detour thanks to a police block aid. I ended up having to walk though Metro Tech. I stopped to read their map, but it was just making me dizzy. So I gave up and just went the way I knew would get me back to where I was going.

As I walked thought I wondered if I would be able to fit in here. Once I got back to where I should be I started to walk away from Fulton Mall thinking that down there was 1 so I had to walk this way to get to 295.

I walked past a 6 lane street and read 61, I then read 40. Ha?? Great!  Who counts like this? It didn't help that a whole bunch of other streets crossed this one and I wasn't even sure where Flatbush was until I had walked 3 blocks in the wrong direction it turned out. Great. I started to walk back but before I found out that the street does something else to me, I asked a traffic cop where 295 was. He said that it was back that way and on the other side. I said thanks and ran across a few lanes.

I think I found the building. The doors were boarded up and there was "do not enter" tape across what looked like new walkways. Then someone in a car passing by asked if I wanted to go inside. I said yes and she told me that I had to go around to the back. I went around back and there I saw 295.

They had a list of what was one each floor, but I wasn't sure about two of them, so I went by one and they said that the floor I wanted was on the 3 floor. I said thanks and went there, but I couldn't get in from the stair well, so I had to go back to the other floor and use the elevator.

Once I got to the floor things went by ok and quickly. Just one, more or less, snag. I was only suppose to be on the drug for 2 years. Ha? Heath reasons. Ok... I've been on for like 6 years now. They may try to get me go on another form of birth control. I may not take it if it doesn't stop my cycle.

Now I just have to go back with a letter saying that my mom is supporting  me and I get my shot tomorrow at 12:30pm.

When I was heading to the subway, that I didn't even know was there until I checked the map when I was leaving, I came across IDC. Institute of Design and Construction. They say that I can take single courses, but I said I was going for a degree. So it will be 2 1/2 years and I get an associate degree when I'm done. http://www.idc.edu

So far, it hasn't freak me out that I was getting in over my head like in other colleges and universities. I think I could do this and come out rather well at the other side. And it's not a whole 4 years like I thought before, and I could take courses at other college that I wanted without doing the whole degree like I thought I had to.

I know I was suppose to take English also, but I don't want to teach kids, but then who said I had to? I'll see.

They gave me a FinAid form to fill out, and the guy said that I could get approved in 1 week if I meet what ever they need me to meet. Class doesn't start until the 10th of September the guy said, and technically I could apply on the 9-10th of September and still start classes on time. I'm thinking of doing this one.

I then walked to the subway. I like the place and I helped a guy get into the subway. He had two cards, but they were empty.

I felt like going to Manhattan, but I went on a rid to Conny Island instead. There I saw the new look of the station, and went to a store to get a drink and some muffins. Then when I was leaving, one of the guys that was hanging round the place, I think he worked there, tried to talk to me. I smiled but kept on walking. I half didn't stop because of his age. Then it hit me when I was going back into the station. I'm not that young anymore. As sad as it may be. But no great loss, and I'm not looking for anyone anyway. G has to say that he doesn't want me when he sees me next year before I start looking for anyone new.

Well I got home and my thighs hurt. I should have worn pants. Oh well.

I start my two weeks trial at Ballys on Monday. I was going to start today, but I'm not going to add more pain to what I'm feeling right now. Jhodie wants me to try the sauna.

We'll see.

Dinner was left overs from yesterday. Jhodie just made come gravy to go with it. Mom cooked yesterday. We came home and she was finishing up. A lot of veggies, grilled chicken, and wheat pasta with a cheese sauce. I know, I shouldn't have eaten the cheese, but it was good. Besides, I'm fine, I guess something got balanced or it wasn't that much cheese, or it was a low fat cheese.

Night.



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http://jhoye.blogspot.com

- There I share my life.

- There I have links to what use to be my life.

- There you can find out what I might want out of life.

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Just went walking - ended up at a birthday party

We were suppose to go out and walk around today, but we left kinda late.

When we did leave, Jhodie had done some washing and we had gotten an invite from my Aunt Phillys. I have an Aunt Phillys and a sister Phillys. but I think that the names are spelled a bit different. Like the "i" and the "y" are switched.

Well we went to three super markets. One 99cents store, two eats, Prospect Park and a Merry Go-round and we went to the Prospect Park Zoo. That was the most expensive part.

We got kicked out at closing time which was just over an hour after we got there. We liked it. We have to go back so Nika could walk around the "Bran" more.

Nika then sat down to have the rest of the lunch we got her, then we walked over to our Aunt's house for the birthday party. The kid was her grandson who was having the birthday. It seems that Calvin, her son, has decided to have kids without marring the mother. Ofcourse I asked him why, and he seemed like "Ha?" Guess no had asked him, or no one has asked him in a while, and I don't think that he expected me to ask him that.

We didn't stay that long. I knew no one there other than Anuty Phillys and her two kids, and there were like 12 other people there. Most of who couldn't fit into the apt, and were hanging out, out side.

I tried to make a run for it, but we were called back to sing happy birthday, and we got out share of the food, and we caused a small verbal fight between our aunt and K, her daughter. I think I know her name, but a long time ago, I'm sure I was told to call her K.

By the time we left, it was about sun set.

Phillys wasn't in a good mood since we left on our walk earlier in the afternoon, and when she showed up at Aunty Phillys' house, I thought that she was over it. But something was bugging her when were trying to leave. I didn't know if it was something new, or the old argument that she had with Jhodie that day.

Either which way, after we got home she went to talk to mommy all private like when she didn't like something I said. Then she completely flew off her handle when I asked for something off of mommy's plate that she was going to throw away. She screamed at me and then pounded the plate into the trash can a number to times, insisting that she was told to throw it away. The girl is mad. Ofcourse it didn't end there.

Nika had to go to bed in this room because she didn't want to turn off the lights and the tv so that Nika could go to sleep. Jhodie came and got her after midnight when Phillys had fallen asleep. I was playing a game that I hadn't seen but liked because they used the same thing in a other game that they made that I liked. This game is called "The Treasures Of Montezuma". I like it. The explosion sounds and the fast chain reactions are great. I had to play it with the sound off because of Nika, but it was ok.

Now that my eyes hurt, I'm off to bed.

Oh, the other game from them that I liked and played first was "Sky Bubbles Deluxe" .

NIght.


=======================

http://jhoye.blogspot.com

- There I share my life.

- There I have links to what use to be my life.

- There you can find out what I might want out of life.

---

Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us.