Out of the Blue

It was exactly 25 years ago today that Frans joined Blue's News as a news editor and filemaster, after already being a big supporter before that stint. And big supporter doesn't even begin to describe his vital contribution here following the dotcom crash that left the site unable afford to pay me, much less staff. Frans took on the role of administrator and the grueling task of maintaining and improving the site, which would have gone offline years ago without him. His work on the server over the years has included recovering from crashes, a complete restore from a backup that was probably as complicated as rewriting the site from scratch, moving the entire site to new hardware alongside an OS upgrade, and much more. On the software side, his efforts have included a major overhaul of our proprietary CMS Blammo to fix bugs, inconsistencies, and performance issues while constantly adding new features, a vital role in executing the responsive/mobile web project led by Kxmode, programming the supporter program that keeps the lights on here, and more. That's quite a lot, and believe me I could continue on for quite a while longer.

And on top of all that, he's had to deal with someone who is not nearly as organized or detail-oriented as he is, which would be me. This fundamental mismatch must drive him mad, but he just keeps cleaning up my screw-ups without ever losing his cool. A person (or a website) couldn't have a better friend than Frans, and I'm happy to take this occasion to try and express just how grateful I am, though words hardly suffice. Thank you Frans.

Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

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28 Replies. 2 pages. Viewing page 1.
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28.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 29, 2024, 23:51
28.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 29, 2024, 23:51
Oct 29, 2024, 23:51
 
Thanks Frans (and Blue) for all your hard work over the years, I followed from Gone Gold way back in the day and this is still my primary news source for PC games all these years later. Keeping this place up has I'm sure been a labor of love, but the dedicated community you've got here shows how much we all value what you've kept humming, and given us a place to discuss our deep love for this hobby, with boisterous sarcasm and genuine delight. I hope it brings you a similar kind of joy and you can keep doing it for many years to come.
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27.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 29, 2024, 16:50
27.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 29, 2024, 16:50
Oct 29, 2024, 16:50
 
runnerd00d wrote on Oct 29, 2024, 02:35:
Man, Blue and Frans....I've been here since close to day 1. I still come to this site literally every day for the past 25+ years. I wonder how many days I've missed. Can't be many. Frans, thank you so much for helping Blue out, and what about Ant! That dude has been providing us tidbits (well more than that) for how many years now. Cheers to Ant as well.
Hear, hear! Tip of the hat to Mr. Ant—truly, a quality forager. Toff
"Listen, Peter... with great horsepower comes... the sickest drifts..." - source
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26.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 29, 2024, 02:35
26.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 29, 2024, 02:35
Oct 29, 2024, 02:35
 
Man, Blue and Frans....I've been here since close to day 1. I still come to this site literally every day for the past 25+ years. I wonder how many days I've missed. Can't be many. Frans, thank you so much for helping Blue out, and what about Ant! That dude has been providing us tidbits (well more than that) for how many years now. Cheers to Ant as well.
25.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 28, 2024, 16:19
25.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 28, 2024, 16:19
Oct 28, 2024, 16:19
 
I'd also like to give a shout-out to jdreyer, Ant, and one other person (whose handle escapes me at the moment; my sincerest apologies) for their tireless efforts in QA'ing the updated responsive site for weeks before it went live. 👍
"Listen, Peter... with great horsepower comes... the sickest drifts..." - source
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24.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 28, 2024, 12:54
24.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 28, 2024, 12:54
Oct 28, 2024, 12:54
 
Happy Bluesnews anniversary, Frans!
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23.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 28, 2024, 12:14
23.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 28, 2024, 12:14
Oct 28, 2024, 12:14
 
A bit late to this since Frans already responded, but, thanks Frans (and Kxmode)!

Dan =0)
Shameless self-plug(s): http://drdk.bandcamp.com - also on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon, etc.
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22.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 28, 2024, 09:59
22.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 28, 2024, 09:59
Oct 28, 2024, 09:59
 
Thank you Blue and everyone for the kind words. It's been a heck of a ride, and I think neither of us show any signs of ending it any time soon. It was Blue's job offer that allowed me to take a very welcome turn in my career, opening a path where on every major segment I could gravitate into roles with significant contributions and influence (rather than being a small cog in a big organization before all this). For that, I am forever in Blue's debt, although he always says that we've more than evened up by now. Cheers, my friend.

jdreyer wrote on Oct 27, 2024, 16:45:
Thanks Frans! Even the small stuff, like when you delete Chinese spam off the site!
Happy to nuke when I happen to spot it first, in any language (I'm not picky).

Kxmode wrote on Oct 27, 2024, 18:39:
I was privileged to offer my time for the responsive project. If I'm not mistaken, I created a proof-of-concept demo that showed how a responsive version of Bluesnews could look, which helped kick off the site update. For the redesign, we intentionally kept the old-school look—we didn't want to update the design just for the sake of it. We knew many of you would appreciate the classic aesthetic, so our main goal was to ensure it looked good and functioned well on tablets, phones, and desktops. While working on the project, Frans discovers many ways to update and improve the underlying site code. 👍
This was one of the most fulfilling projects in the site's history, and it wouldn't have happened without your very accomplished lead. I remain grateful for everything you taught me about building responsive sites with Bootstrap, which I was able to apply to several other (smaller) sites since. Thank you again. Thumbsup
-- Frans
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21.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 28, 2024, 09:36
Yarlen
 
21.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 28, 2024, 09:36
Oct 28, 2024, 09:36
 Yarlen
 
Thank you, Frans!
20.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 28, 2024, 01:43
Jivaro
 
20.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 28, 2024, 01:43
Oct 28, 2024, 01:43
 Jivaro
 
Thank you Frans!
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19.
 
Yay!
Oct 27, 2024, 21:24
Ant
 
19.
Yay! Oct 27, 2024, 21:24
Oct 27, 2024, 21:24
 Ant
 
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18.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 27, 2024, 21:16
18.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 27, 2024, 21:16
Oct 27, 2024, 21:16
 
If I can still enjoy visiting BN daily it looks like it's because of you Frans so thank you!
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17.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 27, 2024, 20:48
Enahs
 
17.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 27, 2024, 20:48
Oct 27, 2024, 20:48
 Enahs
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oGrE2vL61g
I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally.
- W. C. Fields
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16.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 27, 2024, 19:41
16.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 27, 2024, 19:41
Oct 27, 2024, 19:41
 
Thank you Frans and Blue. I raise my glass of milk in honor of your many years of long service.
"Van Gogh painted alone and in despair and in madness and sold one picture in his entire life. Millions struggled alone, unrecognized, and struggled as heroically as any famous hero. Was it worthless? I knew it wasn't."
15.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 27, 2024, 19:16
15.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 27, 2024, 19:16
Oct 27, 2024, 19:16
 
All hail Frans! IT is the backbone of the world these days, rarely do they get the praise they deserve.
“Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.” -- Carl Sagan
14.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 27, 2024, 19:04
14.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 27, 2024, 19:04
Oct 27, 2024, 19:04
 
Kxmode wrote on Oct 27, 2024, 18:39:
Congrats Blue and Frans!

I was privileged to offer my time for the responsive project. If I'm not mistaken, I created a proof-of-concept demo that showed how a responsive version of Bluesnews could look, which helped kick off the site update. For the redesign, we intentionally kept the old-school look—we didn't want to update the design just for the sake of it. We knew many of you would appreciate the classic aesthetic, so our main goal was to ensure it looked good and functioned well on tablets, phones, and desktops. While working on the project, Frans discovers many ways to update and improve the underlying site code. 👍
It was a great update, and needed. Great work.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
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13.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 27, 2024, 18:39
13.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 27, 2024, 18:39
Oct 27, 2024, 18:39
 
Congrats Blue and Frans!

I was privileged to offer my time for the responsive project. If I'm not mistaken, I created a proof-of-concept demo that showed how a responsive version of Bluesnews could look, which helped kick off the site update. For the redesign, we intentionally kept the old-school look—we didn't want to update the design just for the sake of it. We knew many of you would appreciate the classic aesthetic, so our main goal was to ensure it looked good and functioned well on tablets, phones, and desktops. While working on the project, Frans discovers many ways to update and improve the underlying site code. 👍
"Listen, Peter... with great horsepower comes... the sickest drifts..." - source
Avatar 18786
12.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 27, 2024, 16:45
12.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 27, 2024, 16:45
Oct 27, 2024, 16:45
 
Thanks Frans! Even the small stuff, like when you delete Chinese spam off the site!
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
11.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 27, 2024, 16:40
El Pit
 
11.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 27, 2024, 16:40
Oct 27, 2024, 16:40
 El Pit
 
Frans, to put it with AC/DC: we salute you! Keep on saving Blue for at least another 25 years, please. Thumbsup Salute
"There is no right life in the wrong one." (Theodor W. Adorno, philosopher)
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes." (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi)
Founder, president, and only member of the official "Grumpy Old Gamers Club". Please do not apply.
10.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 27, 2024, 16:21
Prez
 
10.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 27, 2024, 16:21
Oct 27, 2024, 16:21
 Prez
 
ehushagen wrote on Oct 27, 2024, 15:08:
Frans and Blue. Name a more iconic duo.

Peanut Butter and Jelly?
Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese?
Nachos and Salsa?
Oreos and Milk?

Did I mention that I am hungry?
"The assumption that animals are without rights, and the illusion that our treatment of them has no moral significance, is a positively outrageous example of Western crudity and barbarity. Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality."
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9.
 
Re: OotB: Quarter Century!
Oct 27, 2024, 16:11
9.
Re: OotB: Quarter Century! Oct 27, 2024, 16:11
Oct 27, 2024, 16:11
 
Thankyou Frans for keeping this place running so well for so long. Thumbsup
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