(Update appears at bottom.)
Most people who have been on the site more than a few months will know Martyb / bytram well. He has filled so many different roles, many simultaneously, and he has been with the site from well before the 'official' opening. He has done as much as anyone, if not more, to create the site we have today. He has worked as an editor, the Editor-in-Chief, bug squasher, QA, coder, and almost anything that he felt he could turn his hand to - and he could do most things.
Marty has always been known for his calm attitude and wisdom in many situations and if anyone needed help or advice Marty could be reliably called upon to assist. Nothing was ever too much trouble. He is a personal friend of mine - even though we have never met face-to-face - and he has also been the friend of every member of staff that he has encountered during the last 9 years or more.
Unfortunately, Marty suffered a severe stroke quite a while back, in fact two major strokes and quite a few 'minor' ones. It has affected his eyesight and his dexterity. If you know anyone who has had a stroke you will know that the recovery is long, slow and at times very disheartening. When Marty had to stand down from his post I stepped in to replace him - a task that I knew I could never really achieve to his standards. I have always told him that I am keeping his seat warm until he can return. He is not quite ready for that yet. However, Marty has achieved an unbelievable number of stories processed from submissions to front page stories - over 11,000 stories. Any editor will tell you that is an enormous amount of effort for anybody.
But Marty had one more objective and aim that has kept him going through much of his recovery to date. He wanted to reach the 11,111 story mark. Because of his current condition he can often only type at a very slow rate, less than 1 character per second and with only 1 hand. That has been furthered hindered by his poor eyesight. He reached that mark in November - and immediately had his milestone snatched away when there was a system crash and several weeks of his work disappeared.
So Marty did what he always does. He gritted his teeth and started again. Yesterday Marty reached the 11,111 story milestone and I am writing this to make sure that as many people as possible are aware of it so that, in the event of another disaster, we will remember what he has achieved. In fact, he has overshot his target and as I type this he stands at 11,112 stories processed, but I can forgive him that.
Marty, I tip my hat to you, and on behalf of this community I offer you our congratulations and best wishes for your continued recovery. Your contribution is unequaled in so many areas, and many of us have learned so much from you. You are also noted for your use of terrible puns - which is not improving at all! That is, I think, a good sign too.
I am still keeping your seat warm...
janrinok
Update:
JR: Thank-you so very much for taking the time and making the effort to commemorate this occasion. That said, I do believe that you do NOT give yourself proper credit for all that YOU have contributed to this site!
You tucked me under your wing and taught me, a newbie, all the vagaries of producing a *proper* story. It is not that it is that difficult, but there ARE many moving parts that need to be checked and verified. You were patient beyond measure with this energetic, fearful, and impatient nerd. In other - less capable hands - I would have given up and called it quits!
But that was far from everything that you did. As of this writing, janrinok has single-handedly posted 7,885 stories. This, in addition to all the other things he has done to keep the sight running smoothly. He single-handedly wrote a tool to automatically deal with with "users" who would like nothing better that to create new accountants and use them to spew crap across the site.
There's more -- much MUCH more -- but that gives a brief look at just some of the things he does to help the community! So, again, I say "Thanks Janrinok!
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 10, @01:34PM (12 children)
Congrats Martyb !! All best wishes for your continued recovery.
There is something about repeated digits, isn't there?
A friend who works at an automotive test track got a fast ride at 222 mph and his co-workers immediately named him "three deuces".
Then there is the ancient 666...
Others? Can we have a good old fashioned usenet cascade?
(Score: 4, Interesting) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @07:12PM (11 children)
Thanks a bunch for the kind words!
Hmm? 222 mph? I got a Porsche up to 142 mph (230 kph) on the autobahn in Germany and I thought THAT was fast! I am impressed!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 2) by Unixnut on Saturday June 10, @07:44PM (8 children)
> Hmm? 222 mph? I got a Porsche up to 142 mph (230 kph) on the autobahn in Germany and I thought THAT was fast! I am impressed!
Wow! How did you manage to go that fast on the autobahn in Germany and not have your teeth rattled out of your skull? XD
On my way to the UK earlier this year I crossed Germany for the first time, hit around 130mph (209km/h) and it felt like I was driving on a Cobblestone road. People always told me autobahns were as smooth as a billiard table. What happened? Or was that always more wishful thinking than anything else?
(Score: 2) by inertnet on Saturday June 10, @08:11PM (4 children)
Maybe your wheel balancing was off. I got to just over 150 mph when the speed limiter kicked in and I was impressed with the smoothness and handling of my car back then. I haven't tried with my current car yet because it needs balancing before I'll try its top speed.
40 years ago the autobahn consisted of concrete plates and driving on them was never smooth. But you could still easily drive faster than 130 mph back then.
(Score: 3, Touché) by kreuzfeld on Saturday June 10, @08:17PM (2 children)
Those of us who are trying to *reduce* our impact on the environment salute you, fast drivers all.
(Score: 3, Touché) by inertnet on Sunday June 11, @12:05AM
Well, so far on average I've driven at top speed less than once per ten years. Out of dozens of times I've driven in Germany, so it's not habitual.
(Score: 2) by Unixnut on Sunday June 11, @05:28PM
Thank you! Always nice to be appreciated :-)
(Score: 3, Informative) by Unixnut on Sunday June 11, @05:25PM
I don't think so, for two main reasons:
(1) when I slowed down,I could actually see the rough tarmac, the filled (and unfilled potholes), and the general poor state of the road. Quite frankly I was surprised. The roads in Germany were one of the worst I had experienced in my travels around Europe. Only place worse was eastern Europe and the Balkans.
(2) That same trip I had driven through Austria, where the motorways were in fact smooth as glass ( I found out that pretty much all the stereotypes I heard about Germany actually refer to Austria, with the exception of speed limits. Austria has them, not that the locals seem to have noticed).
Perhaps certain sections of the Autobahn are in good enough condition for high speed driving, but it looks like not all of them are.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @09:54PM (2 children)
This was over 25 years ago. There was less of a focus on economy back then. Also, it was a rental car with less than 20,000 miles on the odometer. Also, it WAS a Porsche Boxter Convertible. The first time I tried a high-speed run, I ran into a little problem. It was a standard shift. When I reached a point were there were no speed limits I put the accelerator to the floor. Reached 3rd gear, shifted into 4th. Kept accelerating. When I neared the red line, I shifted it into 5th. And then nothing happened?! Looked at the speedometer. It read 200 (kph). Head scratch. I wondered and wondered and then it finally hit me, I was in a convertible with the top down! Aerodynamic drag! Duh! So, I finally pulled over, put the top back up and found a place where I could open it up again. Finally, I was able to go through the gears and in 5th it was still accelerating. Acceleration was slow but progressing. Mind you, I was heading toward Bonn (big city in Germany) and I was approaching rush hour. Traffic was getting heavier and I decided that I had pushed things far enough and called it quits at 230 kph (142 mph).
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 4, Funny) by JoeMerchant on Sunday June 11, @12:00AM
Once upon a time in the previous Millennium I had just installed a taller differential in my turbocharged Miata, outside Miami on US 27 just after sunset I took it up into the neighborhood of 140mph (was monitoring boost, oil pressure and water temperature much more closely than RPM or mph). That was with the top down and headlights up 😁. A state trooper witnessed this from the oncoming lanes (super wide median there) he turned around and followed me in toward town. I had slowed to 90 and saw him gaining, knew this couldn't be good, but ultimately he just gave me a warning, no fine no points, for the 90/55 he could estimate as he came up behind me.
Україна досі не є частиною Росії Слава Україні🌻 https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/06/24/7408365/
(Score: 2) by DadaDoofy on Monday June 12, @09:03PM
They have steadily improved the Boxster over the years, as Porsche is great at doing. My 2005 Boxster (987) S has a top speed of 168 mph. They now top out at 177 mph. I haven't done that, but I did drive a Ferrari 388 GTS up to about 160 mph a couple years ago on a track.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Sunday June 11, @02:15AM (1 child)
You're such an integral part of the site, you're everywhere, and wow, I had no idea there was any drag on your life because you just kept trundling along. 11,111+ stories is just amazing. May there be many more to come.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by martyb on Sunday June 11, @07:35PM
I appreciate the very kind thought and words. I do what I can!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Barenflimski on Saturday June 10, @02:05PM (1 child)
Thanks for everything you've done for us here Always enjoy the conversation.
Cheers MartyB!
(Score: 3, Interesting) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @07:18PM
Thank YOU for the kind thoughts.
Many thanks for all your comments, etc. to the site!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Saturday June 10, @02:17PM (1 child)
Best of luck Martyb you can do it
(Score: 5, Touché) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @07:25PM
I *can* do it? I've already *done* it! ;^)
And many thanks to you for all you have contributed to our site!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by requerdanos on Saturday June 10, @02:24PM (1 child)
Congratulations Martyb, and thanks for everything you have done both for me and for the site. Peace.
(Score: 2) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @07:30PM
Hi requerdanos!
Likewise -- and all the best to you and yours. I treasure our conversations on IRC.
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by canopic jug on Saturday June 10, @02:25PM (1 child)
Congratulations. The stories are well appreciated. The back story is quite something, too.
Money is not free speech. Elections should not be auctions.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @07:34PM
Thank you for your kind complement!
Huh? aww gee!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Saturday June 10, @02:40PM (1 child)
I've had friends who have had strokes. It's no fun for them Wishing him the best.
Carbon, The only element in the known universe to ever gain sentience
(Score: 2) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @07:44PM
Yup; it's no fun at all. Not much I can do now except: stay in shape, keep off the butts, and remain grateful for what I *do* have!
I home that they made a full recovery!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by hubie on Saturday June 10, @03:18PM (1 child)
Thank you for everything you've done for this site and community. After I became an editor, despite the fact that I don't make it over to IRC much at all, you would always reach out to me when I hit various story milestones and I am very happy that I can now return the favor. Early on I didn't really wrap my head around and appreciate the amount of effort you put in until I realized that it would take me another ten years of posting stories at the rate I have been to reach where you are now! Cheers for your continued recovery and I hope to get over to IRC more often in the future (yeah, I know, I say that all the time ...).
:)
(Score: 2) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @07:54PM
I, too, was amazed at all the work it dust to prepares.
Many thanks, too, for stepping in and filling in for me while I was out!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by turgid on Saturday June 10, @03:34PM (1 child)
Thanks for everything, Martyb. Please concentrate on your recovery. Your health is the most important thing. Keep on keeping on. We're thinking of you.
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 3, Informative) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @08:06PM
Thank-you!
Yes, the outpouring of support has been truly amazing!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Snospar on Saturday June 10, @03:53PM (3 children)
Well done Martyb, always good to hit a milestone and that certainly is an impressive one. Thanks for all your hard work and I wish you the very best with your continued recovery - slow and steady wins the race.
Huge thanks to all the Soylent volunteers without whom this community (and this post) would not be possible.
(Score: 3, Funny) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @08:14PM (2 children)
Hitting milestones are great, so long as I don't hit them too hard!
Yes, one of the signs of my getting better is that my puns are getting worse ;^)
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 3, Touché) by coolgopher on Saturday June 10, @11:55PM (1 child)
I for one welcome the return of your punning overlording! ;)
Seriously impressive effort all around, thank you, and continued well wishes!
(Score: 2) by martyb on Sunday June 11, @07:40PM
One of the signposts that I was on the mend was when I started back in with the bad puns. You're stuck with them for a good while, now!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 1) by Runaway1956 on Saturday June 10, @04:31PM (1 child)
Thanks for everything, MartyB!
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @08:19PM
My pleasure! So glad to see so many familiar names!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 5, Funny) by quietus on Saturday June 10, @05:07PM (2 children)
At my minimum rate of 2 hours per submission, that comes down to about 7.6 years of 360 8 hours working days, for a site that's really 9 years old.
Call me heartless, martyb, but we really need to talk about your productivity figures in relation to the Manhattan penthouse and your use of the company's private jet.
(Score: 2) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @08:46PM (1 child)
I *like* that! It's better than what I came up with.
Start at midnight early on Sunday. Ever minute push out another story. Keep that up, hour after hour. You will reach 11,111 stories well after you reach the NEXT WEEK. No breaks, naps, or anything. Just posting a new story every minute, nonstop!
I get tired just thinking about it!
Yup, the penthouse sounds MUCH better!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 3, Funny) by quietus on Sunday June 11, @01:20PM
Or 1,555,200 stories in 9 years. I do fear you're not exactly helping your case here, martyb.
Remind me, for how long were you an intern at ChatGPT again?
(Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday June 10, @05:51PM (1 child)
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @08:47PM
Thank-you very much!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 5, Funny) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Saturday June 10, @06:12PM (1 child)
Well done Marty! All the best for your recovery.
As for my suggestion: being an amputee myself, I know it's important to have goals for one's rehab. But perhaps it would be easier to suggest a new attainable high-score to Marty rather than crash the whole damn site and wipe weeks worth of stories so he can reach the same high-score again? It seems a bit drastic :)
(Score: 2) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @08:52PM
I appreciate the kind thoughts.
Wait! I had no idea. Wow! You DO understand!
Hee Hee! I will keep that in mind the next time!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 2) by Unixnut on Saturday June 10, @07:33PM (2 children)
... and three cheers to you Martyb! Thank you so much for being part of the community, and keeping both the site up, and us entertained.
I wish you a speedy recovery, and the best of luck going forward :-)
(Score: 2) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @08:57PM (1 child)
It's been my pleasure!
Entertained? Maybe my puns were not that bad after all!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 2) by Unixnut on Sunday June 11, @05:38PM
Not bad at all! Most entertaining! After all, a life without punnery is a life not well done! :-)
(Score: 2) by AnonTechie on Saturday June 10, @07:58PM (1 child)
My very best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery. I have enjoyed reading most of these 11,112 stories and I hope to see many many more. Grateful thanks for a job well done. Cheers !!
Albert Einstein - "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
(Score: 2) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @09:03PM
I appreciate the very kind wishes! Every day, thing get a little better.
Wait, I think you may have missed a story or two ;^) LOL
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 2) by inertnet on Saturday June 10, @08:03PM (2 children)
Thanks for all the hard work Martyb, and as long as you enjoy it, I want to see you get to 22.222 stories.
(Score: 3, Funny) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @09:07PM (1 child)
You're welcome!
Wait. I think 22,222 is going a bit 2 far. Wink wink! Ask me in another decade!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 3, Funny) by coolgopher on Saturday June 10, @11:58PM
Way before that is the fabulous 12345 milestone - I can already hear the Space Balls references and quotes lining themselves up!
(Score: 3, Informative) by kreuzfeld on Saturday June 10, @08:20PM (1 child)
...and thanks!
(Score: 3, Funny) by martyb on Saturday June 10, @09:12PM
My please!
But fr future reference, I prefer my steaks medium rare - not well done. Wink wimk.
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by oumuamua on Sunday June 11, @01:21AM
congratulations, I haven't even made that many comment posts! Hope you can recover over time , watch the stress levels and exercise.
https://www.genolve.com/design/cards/congratulations/congratulations-i6gbjt [genolve.com]
(Score: 2) by mrpg on Sunday June 11, @02:00AM (1 child)
11.111 ÷ (9 × 365) =
3.382344 per day, most impressive.
Congratulations friend, and thanks for everything.
Me, I have 1416, tha'ts pi! well almost.
(Score: 2) by martyb on Sunday June 11, @08:13PM
It's so nice to see all of there familiar names! It's good to see that you are still posting stories to the site!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 2) by dw861 on Sunday June 11, @05:57AM (1 child)
That we should all be as amazing! And my very best to you on your road to getting well.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by martyb on Sunday June 11, @08:18PM
Thank-you for the wonderful thought and wished -- It's good to be alive and well!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Gaaark on Sunday June 11, @10:43AM (2 children)
Live long and
pun onprosper, Martyb.May the porch be with you? :/
(Or should that be 'May the Porsche be with you'?) XD
Glad you're doing well.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by martyb on Sunday June 11, @08:25PM (1 child)
Gaack! Make him stop!!! But, actually I *do* enjoy the word play -- see my sig ;)
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday June 11, @10:03PM
That's not flying! That's falling.... with style!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Fnord666 on Sunday June 11, @09:32PM