Where to begin?
How about at the beginning? Would that be https://soylentnews.org/~martyb/journal/60? That was the first journal article I posted to SoylentNews. I am talking still earlier than that. That would be the day I created my account on the site — it was a few days before we went live. I have been active ever since. Well, up until about a couple weeks ago.
That was when I experienced a medical condition that has precluded my continued participation here.
Since that day, janrinok (our former Editor-in-Chief) has ably filled my shoes in my absence. That is until Fnord666 (our Alternate-Editor-in-Chief) could take the reins.
I ask you to extend to them the same kindness and support you have shown me. I've grown creatively and professionally in ways I had never even imagined! Thank You!
janrinok writes:
It is hard to explain just how much of a contribution Marty has made to this site - from its very early days before it even went public Marty was there providing whatever help he could. If there was a job to be done he was there offering to help. There was nothing that he was not prepared to tackle. If he didn't know how to do something he would go and find out and then return to do whatever needed to be done.
Fnord and I have processed far more more stories than either of us had ever expected to do (6570 and 6166 respectively) but we are a long way behind Marty's contribution of 11076 stories at the time of writing. If you conservatively estimate each story at 15 minutes (and I can assure you that many stories can take much longer than that!) the man-hours he has spent keeping the front page full is a huge amount of effort. That would be, and is, worthy of recognition in its own right - but he didn't stop there.
He has also served as our QA specialist and spent many more man-hours testing software and finding ways to bring it to it's knees, and then finding solutions to each of those problems. He ran our donations and looks after the funding 'Beg-o-Meter'. And he still found time to be the Editor-in-Chief for the site since 2018. There are so many jobs that he does - many of them having gone almost unnoticed - that we now find ourselves trying to work out who will pick up which extra tasks for the future.
I am also fortunate to have Marty as a friend. My own life has had a few ups and downs over the last 5 years or so and Marty has been there to provide sound advice, wise counsel, or just a listening ear. I hope I will be able to repay him in kind in the future.
In addition, he has other ways of helping his local community which have nothing to do with this site. He would not wish me to go into details but he takes his caring and helping attitude with him throughout his life.
It is not all bad news - Marty is stepping down from the role of Editor-in-Chief but he is not leaving the community. How much he is able to contribute in the future is still very much unknown but you may still see his name appear from time-to-time alongside a comment or on IRC. He has specifically asked me to pass on his best wishes for the future to the community and the site that we all support.
Marty leaves behind a legacy he can justifiably be proud of, and a very large pair of boots to be filled. We will do our best to maintain the standards he has set. Good luck and best wishes, Marty, and I hope that your recovery is swift and complete.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 24 2022, @04:08PM
Get it fixed with quickness and get yo ass back in here ASAP.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by hubie on Thursday March 24 2022, @04:14PM
It has not gone unnoticed by me the many places I see your name on this site, and I want to sincerely thank you and hope that your medical condition is one that you can overcome and prosper. I would be happy to volunteer to pick up some of the submission editing duties. There are not a lot of places on the 'net I frequent much any more, but this place is one of my regulars.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by PiMuNu on Thursday March 24 2022, @04:18PM
... and good luck for the future.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by canopic jug on Thursday March 24 2022, @04:18PM
Thanks for everything. Good luck and speedy recovery.
Money is not free speech. Elections should not be auctions.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Freeman on Thursday March 24 2022, @04:22PM
and thanks for all the fish!
Err..., well, guess not gone, gone. Hope you get well soon!
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 24 2022, @04:24PM (2 children)
Thank you MartyB.
Since day 0, I have appreciated your willingness to consider opposing positions, your willingness to point out logical flaws or dubious unsourced claims, your willingness to engage in honest and forthright discussion, your commitment to reality over social norms.
Thank you for being a member of this community; your example of 'how to be a person' is a good one, IMO.
Thank you also for your many hours of work behind the scenes.
This community wouldn't have flourished nearly as much without you.
Sincerely,
One of the day-0 ACs
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Thexalon on Thursday March 24 2022, @04:57PM
I'm one of the relatively low UIDs on this forum, and have been here since the moment of "Buck Feta" on the green site, and yes, MartyB has as far as I can tell been a significant part of why it was able to get up and running and why it still exists as a place for mostly-sane discussion. He's always seemed to me to be very reasonable and willing to get to the crux of issues that might be happening.
May the doctors do their jobs well, and may MartyB either recover or be kept as comfortable as is possible.
Vote for Pedro
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 24 2022, @09:25PM
Still the primary source of /this sight should be interested in social political issues!/ submissions, which was the biggest annoyance on here. "Why did we leave /. in the first place.."
(Score: 5, Insightful) by shrewdsheep on Thursday March 24 2022, @04:26PM
for being a bulwark against trolling, ad-hominems, and the flame-baiting this site has to and had to endure. It makes me feel sick to see the sordid bickering about political/gender/whatever issues when others put serious time, effort and personal investment into this site. With you leaving, this site becomes more vulnerable. I wish you, your loved ones, your friends the best of health, luck and harmony for whatever times are ahead.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by pTamok on Thursday March 24 2022, @04:41PM (1 child)
You have left a legacy to be justifiably proud of. Many criticise, few step up to do the job. Well done.
I hope your medical condition allows you to enjoy life; and maybe even be ameliorated. Either way, best wishes for the future, and thank you again.
(Score: 5, Informative) by khallow on Thursday March 24 2022, @05:24PM
SoylentNews has already been very responsive when I've had problems and martyb was a big part of the reason why.
Thank you!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 24 2022, @04:42PM
Get well soon.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by thinkerA0 on Thursday March 24 2022, @05:01PM
Thank you for all your hard work and time (and time and more time).
In addition to your editing and submission work, you have also helped encourage newer members of the community as they worked out how to participate within (and up to) community standards.
Building the bridge from both ends is rarely given the acknowledgement it deserves.
I hope you are able to heal from whatever has beset you, and learn to deal well with any chronic junk that may result.
Just because you aren't in the center ring doesn't mean you can't still visit and enjoy the circus! I hope we still see you around.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Thursday March 24 2022, @05:11PM
I defeated the big C 35 years ago, and after that 35-year remission, I'm in the process of beating it a second time.
So hear this: if a pointless person like me can manage to beat the odds twice and stick around like a bad fart in an elevator, so can you.
So get better and get your ass back here pronto!
(Score: 5, Insightful) by HammeredGlass on Thursday March 24 2022, @05:14PM
and thanks.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by mcgrew on Thursday March 24 2022, @05:27PM
I hope it's nothing like "Kneel" Harriot's exit from Yello There a couple of decades ago. Best wishes.
We not only don't have all the answers, we don't even have all of the questions.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 24 2022, @05:34PM
I've been hanging out here as an AC (mostly reading, rarely commenting) since the beginning, and I think this is a great community. Thanks martyb for everything you have put into this place and I sincerely hope your medical issues are resolved!
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Thursday March 24 2022, @05:38PM
Thank you for all that you have done for the community, martyb. You have built this place with grit and heart. I hope you beat your illness and stay with us for many, many years.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Barenflimski on Thursday March 24 2022, @05:53PM
Sorry to hear you are dealing with some stuff. Thanks for the work you've put in here. You've helped to build a great site. Thanks for everything you've done.
(Score: 3, Informative) by CoolHand on Thursday March 24 2022, @06:02PM
Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job-Douglas Adams
(Score: 3, Funny) by ilsa on Thursday March 24 2022, @06:16PM
https://tenor.com/view/benedict-cumberbatch-salute-lol-funny-gif-5079986 [tenor.com]
I hope things get better soon.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Skwearl on Thursday March 24 2022, @06:19PM
Godspeed in your recovery.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Thursday March 24 2022, @06:21PM
Everybody, put on your taking-off hats. [gfycat.com]
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 5, Informative) by DannyB on Thursday March 24 2022, @06:39PM
Thank you martyb.
There are no doubt many things you've done that go unseen, unheard and unnoticed to keep the site running.
So THANK YOU
Poverty exists not because we cannot feed the poor, but because we cannot satisfy the rich.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by stroucki on Thursday March 24 2022, @07:20PM
Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by acid andy on Thursday March 24 2022, @07:29PM
Marty although I don't know you very well, my interactions with you through this site have always been a pleasure, thank you. Your integrity, fairness and generosity are rarely found to such a degree and set an example that the rest of us Soylentils should all strive to live up to. Your positive philosophy in the face of challenging times has helped me in the past--I really hope such an outlook will endure to help you cope with this medical condition and I hope you're feeling better soon.
Welcome to Edgeways. Words should apply in advance as spaces are highly limite—
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 24 2022, @07:30PM (11 children)
if cancer, you might look into Turkey Tail mushroom powder/capsules.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Thursday March 24 2022, @09:05PM (7 children)
A very intelligent good friend recently told me how, quite a few years ago, his father beat incurable terminal cancer by taking in lots of apricot seed extract that he made himself. I forget what the cancer was, and I'll ask him more about it. The active compound is "amygdalin", but friend says that commercially available amygdalin doesn't work well, if at all. Maybe the commercial extraction process harms it, or maybe there's something else in the seeds. It may be quackery, I have no idea, but AFAIK it's harmless to try (esp. when conventional chemo won't work, or will kill you anyway).
(Score: 4, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 24 2022, @10:52PM (1 child)
Do not take that stuff or its derivatives. I have seen too many people poison themselves on that snake oil. It can cause some serious damage to your body and each dose makes the next more dangerous so by the time you notice problems the damage can be substantial.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 25 2022, @01:16AM
I agree. That chemo stuff is terrible. Killed my best friend's father.
Stick with naturopathic remedies.
(Score: 4, Informative) by Reziac on Friday March 25 2022, @02:25AM (4 children)
Apricot seeds contain cyanide compounds. Quick-and-dirty from Wiki:
"Amygdalin is classified as a cyanogenic glycoside because each amygdalin molecule includes a nitrile group, which can be released as the toxic cyanide anion by the action of a beta-glucosidase. Eating amygdalin will cause it to release cyanide in the human body, and may lead to cyanide poisoning."
This is basically a nonspecific poison. If it ever works at all, it's because like early forms of chemo, it just poisons some particular cancer faster than it poisons you.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amygdalin [wikipedia.org]
On cyanide toxicity:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507796/ [nih.gov]
"Patients who are removed from the exposure and treated immediately tend to have a good outcome. Following intravenous administration, cyanide can result in a fatality within seconds or minutes, compared to a few hours after oral ingestion. Even individuals who survive may have signs of anoxic encephalopathy. Anecdotal reports indicate that movement disorders and neuropsychiatric symptoms are not uncommon."
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 3, Informative) by hendrikboom on Friday March 25 2022, @09:10PM (3 children)
And it can be a matter of trial and error to find out which particular poisons do more harm to your cancer cells than to your non-cancer cells.
Medical establishments have resources to keep you alive while they're poisoning youe cancer cells (and you).
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Reziac on Friday March 25 2022, @10:14PM (2 children)
Yup. And it never fails to amaze how folks suspicious (sometimes rightfully so) of mainstream medicine will nonetheless pursue treatment with something unproven to do good and known to do harm. Apparently being processed through a con artist renders anything into a cure!
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 26 2022, @10:06PM (1 child)
Most con artists abuse an already existing chain of trust. Whether it is a friend, relative, deity, in group, or something else. They are really good at reading people and abusing that trust.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Sunday March 27 2022, @12:31AM
True, but some invert that: You can't trust A, so you can trust Not-A.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by janrinok on Friday March 25 2022, @05:50AM (2 children)
And if it isn't? If Marty had wanted to tell you what the medical problem was he would have probably told you in the story.
I am not interested in knowing who people are or where they live. My interest starts and stops at our servers.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 26 2022, @12:26AM (1 child)
are you senile? i didn't ask him what his medical condition was. I simply told him about one thing that might save his life if the condition meets the criteria. No, you're right. i feel so guilty for breaking your antiquated taboo.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 26 2022, @10:50AM
Or, it might kill him just like Steve Jobs! What is it with the Snake Oil salesmen on SN? Whore-dewormer and Hydroxychloropolybenzoidquineology? These are the kinds of people that just might believe that aristarchus is the enemy, and has doxxed and sockpuppeted! You know what might just save SoylentNews from that? Yes, some patented Censorship! Cures shingles, thyroid conditions, cancer, planter's warts, and sockpuppetry! Permaban! Get yours today!
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Common Joe on Thursday March 24 2022, @07:50PM
Thank You. All of you who have kept and continue to keep Soylent News running.
martyb, I wish you the best. I hope to see you around here again soon. May your recovery go easier and quicker than you expect.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 24 2022, @07:51PM
MartyB has been the heart of SoylentNews. He will be missed. He is already missed.
aristarchus
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 24 2022, @07:59PM
n/t
(Score: 5, Insightful) by maxwell demon on Thursday March 24 2022, @08:11PM
While everyone is busy thanking martyb (and he certainly deserves every bit of it), everyone so far seems to forget to also thank janrinok and Fnord666 for stepping in and making sure SoylentNews stays as good as ever. Thank you both!
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 24 2022, @09:00PM (3 children)
This site is a success because it provides what Slashdot of old did best: Unfettered discussion of geeky topics. Feel proud about; you should.
(Score: -1, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 24 2022, @10:52PM (2 children)
Unfettered discussion of geeky topics? LOL. It's now "managed" discussion of political topics, enforced by mod brigands, automatic posting bans, and a subset of people that see an Aristarchus behind every bush.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 25 2022, @01:58AM
Fair complaint, but not the time nor place.
Guy behind the bushes
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Friday March 25 2022, @09:12PM
It's not hard to ignore that stuff (unless you find it distractingly entertaining) and stay with the tech discussions.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by coolgopher on Thursday March 24 2022, @09:20PM
I'll add my voice to the chorus of others here, and extend my thanks to the power house that is martyb. Huge thanks to both you and the other volunteers here. And if the days seen dark ahead, remember you've got everyone at SN cheering for you.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by inertnet on Thursday March 24 2022, @09:23PM
Get well soon, you deserve an immense amount of positive karma.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Thursday March 24 2022, @09:34PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKu7TYWNxqA [youtube.com]
“I have become friends with many school shooters” - Tampon Tim Walz
(Score: 2) by dx3bydt3 on Thursday March 24 2022, @10:09PM
A big thank you to martyb for keeping this site going. Clearly it requires a great deal of attention.
The efforts of martyb have kept things running smoothly and they are much appreciated.
Regarding the health issues, I'd echo the sentiments of others who've commented before, and wish you a speedy recovery.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Mykl on Thursday March 24 2022, @10:12PM
Although I don't really know anyone on the site (frequent reader, occasional poster), I arrived as a refugee from the Green Site during the Buck Feta exodus. Since then, SN has managed to overcome a huge range of challenges to still be a place where we can all come to learn, be entertained and hopefully contribute to each other in some small way.
I'm still waiting for the internet argument that ends with "You know, I never thought of it that way. You're right!". I doubt it will be found here, but we can still have fun trying!
Best of luck martyb, and thanks to janrinok, Fnord666 and the rest of the team for continuing to keep SN's head above the water!
(Score: 5, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 24 2022, @10:15PM
(That's what she said)
(Score: 4, Insightful) by mrpg on Thursday March 24 2022, @10:28PM
There are no words. Thanks for everything. If you need anything let me know, email me.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Kell on Thursday March 24 2022, @10:55PM
As a fellow Feta Bucker, I remember the period of uncertainty that began after the initial anger wore off. Other sites like Pipe Dot sprang up contemporaneously with Soylent to fill the gap left in our news and left in our hearts after something we cherished showed its true colour was a different shade of green than we'd wanted to believe. The infant mortality for those other sites was high, and to my knowledge all of those fledgling sites is gone - except for Soylent News. You've helped keep this site alive when others have died; you contributed to something with the power to grow.
There is a saying that an average man will cut down trees to build a house, or a boat, or wagon for his family to use, but it is the greater man who plants trees for others to harvest and reap the benefits. You have helped plant a seed and watered it, and now it grows strong. This is an accomplishment of which you, and all those who serve with you, can be rightly proud.
Thank you for your service and I wish you a speedy recovery!
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by istartedi on Thursday March 24 2022, @11:28PM
User 76. 11076 stories. With numbers like that, you can't lose. America. Fuck yeah! Get free soon.
Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.
(Score: 2) by ilPapa on Friday March 25 2022, @12:34AM
Soylent News is essential. I wish you health and good luck and a speedy return.
You are still welcome on my lawn.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Joe Desertrat on Friday March 25 2022, @12:40AM
There have been people working on the site who have contributed above and beyond what we ordinary mortals could be capable of doing. When one of them leaves, it is felt by all of us. martyb was one of these, and even if others step up and produce their extraordinary efforts to help cover for him, they cannot entirely replace him. Thanks for the years of effort and best wishes for a full recovery, and thanks to those stepping up to try to fill your shoes.
(Score: 3, Informative) by optotronic on Friday March 25 2022, @02:11AM
Please accept my wishes for the best possible outcome in your new hardship, and my appreciation for all you have done here. Whatever happens in the future, know that you have made the world a better place. We are grateful.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Reziac on Friday March 25 2022, @02:27AM
Thanks for all you've done over the years. You're awesome.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by nostyle on Friday March 25 2022, @03:49AM
And thanks for all you have done for this site!
(Score: 3, Interesting) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Friday March 25 2022, @03:50AM
You've put a lot into Soylent News; thank you for all your hard work.
Best wishes and sincere hopes this works out well,
Rob
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by fliptop on Friday March 25 2022, @04:42AM
Martyb has been an exemplary example of the adage that cool heads prevail. I hope your health situation is conquered soon and you'll return better than ever. Thank you for all you've done to help SN get legs.
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by The Vocal Minority on Friday March 25 2022, @05:21AM
And good luck with your health problem.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Pslytely Psycho on Friday March 25 2022, @05:45AM
I've been here since the beginning, had my first account wiped when things got reset after the launch.
Your tireless work for this amazing site is very much appreciated and I hope recovery is swift for you.
Best to you Martyb.
Peace out man!
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 25 2022, @06:01AM
Another longterm AC (daily reader with a rarely used account from buck feta days) here to add my heartfelt good wishes for your health and thanks for the monumental effort you and the team put into the site.
SN is a fanastic place to offer opinions and see so many diverse viewpoints on the topics to which we are all interested. Would not be possible without volunteers like you martyb, putting in the long hours to keep the stories(spice) flowing.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by MIRV888 on Friday March 25 2022, @06:10AM
I am a newcomer to this site to be sure, but I have really liked it from day 1.
I am certain a big part of that was you.
I hope your health problem(s) can be treated.
Thank you,
- David
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 25 2022, @07:13AM
plain chinese crackers, sirilanka high mountain tea, green apple, sun burn and salty air should cure it.
it's slow, it's boring and good luck.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Immerman on Friday March 25 2022, @02:03PM
I'm sorry to hear that, you've done a lot of good work and been a positive influence on the community.
Hope whatever you're dealing with gets resolved in the best way possible.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Hyper on Friday March 25 2022, @02:27PM
I hope you recover soon. For everything you have done our community has been greatly enriched.
Numquam Soli. Semper, Sumus Legio (Never Alone. Always, We Are Legion)
(Score: 3, Interesting) by corey on Saturday March 26 2022, @10:51AM
Your username always reminds me of Back To The Future, thanks for that. And so here’s a quote which might or might not be helpful/interesting:
"Marty, the future isn't written. It can be changed...you know that. Anyone can make their future whatever they want it to be."
-Dr. Emmett Brown, 'Back To The Future, Part III'.
Thanks for everything you have done for this community, look at the replies here, that’s the impact you’ve had. All the best.
(Score: 2) by Rich on Saturday March 26 2022, @10:56AM (1 child)
Came for the novelty of a low user ID while they last, stayed for the content. That's been made possible by you behind the scenes (but praise to the others there, too!). All the best, and get well soon.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 26 2022, @12:58PM
Low user ID is overrated. You should try no user ID, it's moar entertaining.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 27 2022, @06:04AM
Proof:
Get well, bastard, you don't want to show again that systemd is buggy.
(Score: 2) by Subsentient on Monday March 28 2022, @06:52PM
Stay on the oncologist's ass. You would think they wouldn't play games with people's lives, but I know from my own family as well as a dead family friend that this is not the case.
Make sure they're giving you enough anti-cancer baldness juice. Don't let them skip out on it. Endure the side effects unless they're life-threatening or limb-threatening.
My 2¢.
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -Jiddu Krishnamurti
(Score: 2) by linkdude64 on Tuesday March 29 2022, @05:34AM
Thank you for your efforts, and God bless!