email: route56@route56.com
I am currently unemployed, having spend t a year and a half at Sprint's Overland Park Campus as a tier II technical support technician, providing technical support and monitoring alarms for their customers' Nortel phone systems. I spent the five years at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Americaas the part-time IT Coordinator, assisting with maintaining the integrity of the telephone and data networks, inventory computer hardware and software, and control the flow of printer toner. I received my Bachelor of science in Computer Sciencefrom The University of Kansas in the Fall of 2001. I am a lifelong resident of the Lawrence, Kansas area and am a 1997 graduate of Lawrence High School.
I am known for taking lots of pictures, particularly of Trains and Roads. During my school days, I also made a few friends amongst local spirit squad members, netting quite a few pictures on that front.
Though I consider myself to be a republican, my interest in politics has waned on the national level recently. I still tend, however, to lean to the right. During my school days, I was critical of the policies of the Kansas State High School Activities Association that I felt unnecesarially stifelled the inherently competitive nature of co-curricular activities under the KSHSAA's juristicition. As part of my interest in roads, I've also supported the completion of the South Lawrence Trafficway.
What is with the highway sign
I always thought that the unusual green and white US-56 signs that appeared in Kansas until the late 80's were cool. Ron Wilbanks noted about the US-56 shields:
The Green US-56 Markers are in reality a throwback to the 1948 MUTCD (Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices) "Oversize" US Route Marker. This design was originated in 1942 by the Ohio State Highway Department, as a better design with larger numbers, where emphasis was needed in junctions or where the route turns in a major city. Kansas as I understand it, used this design as an experiment, to "color code" their routes similar to what Florida did for many years. However, due to the extra costs involved, and a few complaints received by the Feds in Washington the program was halted!
The road stuff may seem silly, but I did get printed in the Kansas City Star on the subject. I also had the 56 sign reproduced by a company that specializes in reflective signs and is also a sign contractor. Unfortunately, the sign didn't turn out as expected, though I've hung it on my wall anyway.