from the a-little-R&R-is-good-for-the-soul dept.
Reflections:
Another year has passed. It has been a privilege to work as a volunteer on this site and it is my sincere hope that the staff at SoylentNews have held true to our founding principles of providing a site for people to engage in discussion on topics that interest the community. I know I have learned much from the stories and comments posted here; thanks to you all.
In a nutshell, over the past year we have:
- Journal entries: 717
- Users registered: 1048
- Stories published: 5029
- Stories submitted: 5998
- Comments posted: 152096
- Story hits: 13789650
In addition, there were site upgrades to provide new functionality. Some fine-tuning of comment moderations.
For other data nuggets, check out The Hall of Fame page.
It's all about teamwork, not just milestones. Without all the contributions of every staff member, and the community, this site would not be what it is today. Be aware that this is accomplished entirely with volunteers. So, here's a special shout out to those who keep the site up and functioning, maintain the Wiki, handle the mail system, keep our IRC running, and all the other big and small things that make things work.
Resolutions:
There is a tradition to start the new year with resolutions for the year to come. I'm curious what resolutions my fellow Soylentils have made for the coming year. Lose weight? Learn a new language (programming and/or natural)? Exercise more? Perform more community service? Submit more stories (hint hint ;) to SoylentNews?
I have found that my resolutions have a greater chance of success when I discover others are attempting to make the same changes — it no longer feels like I am alone in the attempt. There is strength in numbers. Also, when I decide to make a change, that's one thing. It's another thing entirely when I tell someone else of my plans — it helps me follow through and not give up. So I encourage you to post your new year's resolutions here.
[Updated to include count of journal entries made and number of times stories were viewed. -Ed.]
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @05:19AM
In the immortal words of Ian Murdock:
Maybe my suicide at this, you now, a successful business man, not a NIGGER, will finally bring some attention to this very serious issue.
(Score: -1, Spam) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @05:24AM
In the immortal words of Ian Murdock:
Maybe my suicide at this, you now, a successful business man, not a NIGGER, will finally bring some attention to this very serious issue.
(Score: 2) by dyingtolive on Thursday December 31 2015, @05:46AM
Almost a sixth of the stories that got submitted didn't get published? Do we know why each one was?
If not, I propose a feature request: If a story doesn't get published, then a drop down list of reasons why not for staff to choose why. Then we can publish that at year's end too. I'd be interested to know if those were spam, off-topic, dupes, etc.
I wouldn't want to suggest all the negative mods would be appropriate reasons, and there are some reasons that might not be on the regular mod list, but something could probably be worked out. Even a catchall 'other' would probably be fine for this also for things that don't somehow fit the bill otherwise, long as it got used sparingly. I'm not looking for any sort of inquisition; I'm just genuinely curious about all the rest.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 2) by dyingtolive on Thursday December 31 2015, @05:48AM
Also, are we looking for news specifically? I subscribe to Make on G+ and could probably post a neat project idea or a Arduino/RPi product review every day or two, but generally reviews get screamed at for being advertisements, so I haven't yet.
That could be a category of interest all in itself, though I wouldn't want to be the only one responsible for it.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday December 31 2015, @05:59AM
Sure do:
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=site:soylentnews.org+raspberry [google.com] pi
It's probably one we would run on the weekend.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by dyingtolive on Thursday December 31 2015, @06:01AM
Oh sure, I just didn't know if I should inundate you with that or keep it to major items.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday December 31 2015, @11:53AM
Do it. I love that kinda crap. Built myself an arcade emulator, complete with proper arcade joysticks n buttons in a wooden controller box out of a rpi a couple years ago.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Thursday December 31 2015, @02:17PM
Retropie? Controller configuration used to be "fun" I'll have to try version 3.0 which was only released 6 months ago.
I have a nice little aluminum box'd pi plugged into my TV and I've intermittently fooled with wired USB controllers and PS4 bluetooth controllers.
Its interesting watching "normies" play games, some they simply won't tolerate, some are cool today like pacman and the bazillion chopperlifter clones.
(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Thursday December 31 2015, @02:52PM
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings
(Score: 2) by fliptop on Thursday December 31 2015, @01:53PM
Please post them, my daughter isn't allowed to have heated blankets at college so i made her a heated teddy bear that was featured on instructables. Can't remember which story led me there but it was from here.
Thicker skin will help w/ this.
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Thursday December 31 2015, @05:22PM
Is this the project [makezine.com]? I'd like to build one for my 6-yr old daughter.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by fliptop on Thursday December 31 2015, @06:21PM
Yes, that's it. I found that 2 3.7v batteries are not enough and made it w/ 4 connected in series. If I build another one I'm going to try it w/ 3 batteries.
Today I took it to the ladies at the local sewing shop who helped me get started w/ some of the stuff I needed. They were impressed, especially at how it's got the remote. One of them said she was expecting to see an on/off switch of some kind in the bear's ear or someplace.
I'm also going to make a vest that has 3' of tape and holds 8 batteries, along w/ plugs for gloves and a hat.
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Thursday December 31 2015, @05:18PM
I for one would be interested in those kinds of stories. I visit Maker Faire every year to recharge my creative batteries and love the DIY scene.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday December 31 2015, @11:49AM
We've got "reason for not accepting a story" messages coming as a feature but as of now they're not stored in the db except as the message to the submitting user if the user isn't AC. Right now the reason is entirely up to the editor. They could reject something for the reason 💩 if they wanted to. Might set up a standard set of reasons with them later (and start storing the reason) though for bookkeeping purposes.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Thursday December 31 2015, @02:53PM
They could reject something for the reason 💩 if they wanted to.
💩 needs to become a new option in every poll.
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings
(Score: 2) by martyb on Thursday December 31 2015, @04:04PM
Your comment piqued my curiosity. Seems like it would be a simple enough thing. Yet, I spent a few hours trying to do an analysis and there are no foreign keys in the database mapping stories to their source submission(s) (Or, for that matter, from submissions to resulting stories.) NOTE: as two or more submissions can be merged into a single story, I suspect that may be part of the reason. There *may* be a way to do so programmatically within the rehash code, but that is beyond my abilities at this time.
As TheMightyBuzzard noted, submission non-acceptance feedback is on our list of things to implement.
Thanks for the feedback — it is much appreciated!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday December 31 2015, @08:34PM
Sometimes if I see a dupe submission and there is an email attached, I email the submitter.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @06:56AM
"I like it here!"
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Thursday December 31 2015, @08:32AM
I can't believe I kissed you.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @06:21PM
Must've been your lifelong ambition
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @07:05AM
Baring any misguided attempts to proof me wrong, i would like to say
that the "soylentnews" website is TOP-notch.
I don't mean the design and graphics and whatnot but the technical
software (and hardware?) back-end.
it is the only site that just snaps onto the screen after entering the domain.
it's the only site that loads even after extensive "about:config" tweaks
in firefox.
and should all global centralized domain resolution fail, then you can be sure that
the fact will be posted on "http://7rmath4ro2of2a42.onion" first ^_^
In true monkey island parlance:
If you look up "websites how they are meant to work" on wikipedia, you will see a screenshot of soylentnews ^_^
Many Happy new years!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @08:26AM
Except that the font is to small on mobile. Firefox renders the fonts on the comments in such a small font I can't read them even on a 5.2" screen.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday December 31 2015, @11:57AM
I'll see what I can do about getting a theme created for mobile users. It'll likely be for logged in people only at first but you gotta start somewhere. Probably won't make the upcoming release but should be in sometime this spring.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 3, Funny) by hemocyanin on Thursday December 31 2015, @02:15PM
May I suggest a beta? /sarc
(Score: 3, Funny) by The Mighty Buzzard on Wednesday January 06 2016, @02:59PM
Beta, schmeta. We go straight from alpha (with one alpha tester) to production round these parts, baby.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 3, Informative) by slinches on Thursday December 31 2015, @03:24PM
One more thing to consider for a mobile theme: the expand/collapse comment buttons are a bit difficult to use for me on my phone. They're close enough together that I mis-tap them about half of the time. A little extra separation between them would help prevent that.
(Score: 2) by martyb on Thursday December 31 2015, @08:37PM
I'm a long-time Firefox user (started when it first came out as Phoenix back in 2004) who switched over to pale Moon about a year or so ago. Unless they really changed up the UI recently, there should be someplace under your preferences to specify a minimum font size. At least I've found such settings on older versions of desktop Firefox and current desktop versions of Pale Moon. I seem to recall seeing similar settings available on Internet Explorer for many years, as well.
Disclaimer: I don't personally use FF on a mobile.
Best of luck; please let us know how it works out for you!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 1) by kazzie on Thursday December 31 2015, @09:27AM
I can't say I've ever been much of one for resolutions. I may have made one or two in my teen years, but they were rather generic and not really kept.
This coming year's going to be interesting enough as it is. During the past year I became a father, and finished retraining for a new career. I don't feel the need to mark out specific goals, but I'm going to try to do my best at life regardless.
(Score: 1) by rigrig on Thursday December 31 2015, @02:07PM
I alternate between not making any new years resolutions, and resolving not to make any the next year.
I think having a fixed yearly date for making resolutions is not a great idea anyway: If you come up with a goal somewhere along the year, but start by putting it off until the next year, that'll lower the chances of actually sticking to it. Or in the last week of December you make up something you aren't really committed to, because you feel you should have resolutions, and you end up feeling bad about not keeping your resolution, or achieving something you didn't really care that much about.
No one remembers the singer.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @03:43PM
I don't have a reference on-hand but 60 second science covered a study earlier this year about this topic. The chances of success in resolutions is generally really bad but the rate is highest at the beginning of the new year. Presumably, this is due to the larger number of people being aware of the resolution and constant reminders at the early stages.
You are probably right about putting resolutions off. It would be better to have the new year be a time where you reinforce the habit you are building.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Thursday December 31 2015, @02:16PM
Congrats and good luck!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @11:17AM
I'm sorry to disappoint you all, but I am in a creative slump. I will strive to not only submit more serious stories but create better and more informative posts and trolls without resorting to blaming the Mexicans, Blacks, or Jews.
-- Ethanol-fueled
Disregard that, I suck cocks.
-- Ethanol-fueled
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @02:39PM
Shut up gewg.
(Score: 2) by lhsi on Thursday December 31 2015, @11:51AM
Kinda impressed I'm still on the Hall of Fame page after a long period of inactivity. I'll see if I can find some time to submit some stories again in the coming year.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @01:46PM
look forward to hanging out with you guys in irc next year, and posting the odd journal or ac comment
keep up the good work
-- crutchy
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @02:43PM
So why are there UIDs in 5000s?
(Score: 2) by tibman on Thursday December 31 2015, @02:57PM
That 1048 is only the latest wave of ≡migrants≡. Most of the users here seem to be from the original "fuck beta" campaign on XXslashdotXX which was last year (if i remember right).
SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @03:39PM
I get it, thanks.
Users registered, not registered users.
Duh.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Thursday December 31 2015, @06:26PM
Was it only last year? Feels like a lifetime ago.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by cmn32480 on Friday January 01 2016, @12:23AM
We'll be live and in Technicolor for two years come February. And it DOES feel like a lifetime ago.
"It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear" - Norm Peterson
(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Thursday December 31 2015, @03:05PM
Not sure if this is nerdy enough to mention, but I'm trying to work through 12 weeks of the Stronglifts 5x5 strength training program [stronglifts.com]. I'm on week two so far; bought myself a power rack and everything.
I also resolve to continue being a completely nerdy influence on all of my children. I'll keep watching Star Trek with them every Sunday afternoon, and recently I handed them the West End Games Star Wars Role Playing Game and a handful of dice and let them go to town, watching the creativity spark.
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 31 2015, @03:58PM
Just be sure to maintain proper form for deadlift. I've seen way too many people slack on their form and injure themselves. Steadily increase your weight and don't try to max-out too early.
Best of luck.
(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Thursday December 31 2015, @04:09PM
You got it. I'm borderline OCD and when I have lifted weights I have always been very serious about form. I'm not a complete stranger to lifting, but unfortunately I am a stranger to lifting consistently over time. This is my plan to change that.
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings
(Score: 1) by kazzie on Thursday December 31 2015, @04:04PM
and recently I handed them the West End Games Star Wars Role Playing Game and a handful of dice and let them go to town, watching the creativity spark.
I've kept hold of mine too. I look forward to doing something similar in a decade or so when they're old enough.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Thursday December 31 2015, @06:30PM
Haha I downloaded the 2nd Edition AD&D books and some classic modules as PDFs, printed them out, and bound them thinking to introduce my own kids to role playing D&D goodness. Turns out fighting bats and smugglers in an abandoned house on a hill [wikipedia.org] is too intense for 6 year olds :-).
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by darnkitten on Thursday December 31 2015, @10:47PM
RPGNow/DrivethruRPG [rpgnow.com] have a decent selection of RPGs aimed at younger kids. [link goes to search category "Core Rulebooks" with keyword "Kids"].
Fantasy Adventures for Kids, Argyle & Company, Hero Kids, and Fuzzy Heroes are some of the ones I've tried--FAfK is my favorite of those.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by darnkitten on Thursday December 31 2015, @10:29PM
I showed my niece and nephew the Original Star Wars Trilogy (on VHS), a year after introducing them to the Holmes Basic D&D (blue box) and the original Mayfair DC Heroes.
My niece went home and, not realizing there were multiple game systems out there, homebrewed a Star Wars RPG system for her circle of friends. They're now in their third year of gaming using her system.
I am so proud...
(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Friday January 01 2016, @06:30AM
Fantastic! :)
I loved Mayfair DC Heroes. I helped my eight year old play through a solitaire Green Lantern adventure a few months back and they've been fascinated by role playing games ever since.
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings
(Score: 2) by darnkitten on Thursday January 07 2016, @03:47AM
Have you looked at Blood of Heroes? They inherited the Mayfair DC Heroes game system. I must say, the art isn't nearly as good as DC's, but at least the mechanics play just as good.
--------------------
--OSR/homebrew is the right of all sentient gamers :)
(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Thursday January 07 2016, @04:14AM
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings