About

What is paradox1x?

Welcome to the personal website of Karl Martino.

Who is Karl Martino?

I’m still trying to figure that one out.

So why did you do this?

I’m still not quite sure. Maybe it’s the talk show guest in me. Doesn’t everyone have a website these days?

Anything cool here?

Errr… don’t know really. That’s for you to decide. On my home page, is a weblog, where I post bits on programming, music, Philly, and whatever falls into my head.

On my sidebar are some pieces I’ve written on myself and various topics. Links. A few bad songs even.

How old is this site?

I’ve had a home page since 1996. Check out this query for site review on comp.infosystems.www.authoring.html.

What do you do for a living?

I’m a software engineer for Comcast’s online group. Previously I worked for Knight Ridder Digital (Philly.com). That means I’ve been smack dab in the middle of the new media web thing for some time now.

In my off work time I co-manage Philly Future, started way back in 1999, it helps to connect you with the Philadelphia blogosphere and provides you with a platform to share the joys, wonders, concerns, news, sounds and people of the Philadelphia region.

During my stay at Philly.com I worked on many projects, amongst which being the lead architect of Cofax, Knight Ridder Digital’s content management system previously used by over 17 newspaper sites on the web.

Before this I was the Logistics Senior Database Administrator over at DecisionOne. You probably have not heard of them. In fact, we are the world’s largest independent supplier of computer related services. I could tell you exactly what they did… but I’d have to kill you.

Before that, I got my start in development at Sears Product Services. How I got a career is a great story.

That sounds boring….

Actually, being a software engineer is the only career choice I know that allows me to earn good money, be creative on a regular basis (which is where the fun is at!).

How long have you been programming?

Over seven years. I started with Paradox for Windows 4.5 and up until a stint at Chubb Tehnical Institute, was completely self-taught. I earned a degree in Client/Server development.

How the hell did you learn all that?

It’s a cool story. I’m a lucky guy.

How can I get started?

At the bottom of “How I Got A Career” I give some pointers.

Where do you live?

We just recently purchased our first house. It’s in Philly near Jenkintown.

Where were you born?

Fairview New Jersey and I’ve been living in and around Philly since I was
5 years old.

What was it like for you when you were younger?

You can check out “1989” for an idea, someday I may write more about back then.

What’s my favorite movie?

Empire Strikes Back.

What’s you’re personality like?

Even though I hate being labeled… I’ve taken the Keirsey Temperament test many times to judge it’s accuracy. It tells me, consistently, that I am a ENFJ or a ENFP. Sounds pretty close. An amazing test. Check it out. It’s fun to do with friends.

What’s your favorite color?

I don’t have one.

What’s your favorite book?

“All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”. “Fahrenheit 451”, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy” and “The Hero With A Thousand Faces” all close behind.

Plenty more of my favorites in my blog post “My life in books”.

Your favorite band?

Used to be Metallica. Don’t have one any more.

So…do you write songs? Play an instrument?

I’ve been playing guitar for over 10 years now. My mom wouldn’t let me have one – Devil’s music ya know. So when I was out on my own, I taught myself. I’ve been writing songs for just as long.

Hey, if you’ve made it this far, here’s “Second Chance”, “The Future Knocks”, and “Kensinton”. Someday I need to make a real effort at recording myself.

Are you in a band?

I was in Laughing Mad, a powerful, passionate, catchy, rock band. We broke up due to ‘musical differences’ 🙂 Laughing Mad had potential, but there were too many factors running against it at the time. Including taking the time to get in time 🙂 We had a song played in Jersey on a new rock show. And from my understanding, many people trade some of our songs in the UK. Before that I was in a band called School Daze that briefly created a buzz all over town. People described us as the bastard love child of “KISS and Van Halen”. Ya gotta respect that 🙂

What do you think of kittens or cats?

I’m a dog person. Before you attempt to sing the praises of cats to me – please oh please don’t.

Do you have a girlfriend? Are you married?

I married the love of my life, Richelle, November 27, 1999. We went on a Caribbean cruise for our honeymoon. She has been a force in my life for over 10 years. She stuck by me at my lowest. And always believed in me.

Ten years! What took you so long? I would have dumped ya long ago!

She believed in me. I didn’t believe in myself. I am a blessed man – what can I say ? 🙂

Some Disclaimers

The views expressed on this website/weblog are mine alone and do not reflect the views of my employer.

I help maintain HunterJames.org. It is a memorial to my nephew who passed away September 15th, 2001.

I help maintain SleepingAngels.org. It is a non-profit that Dante and Katie (my brother and sister in-law) manage, in dedication to Hunter, their son. It provides memorials for those that can’t financially afford them.

I help maintain GinRose.com and RichelleMartino.com, which are my mother-in-law’s and my wife’s site’s respectively.

I was employed by Knight Ridder Digital and helped develop Philly.com for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, Dan Gillmor’s eJournal, and other KRD efforts. This includes developing a major content management platform used to manage their newspaper websites. An earlier version of this platfom is called Cofax and it has been released as open source to the public.

I help maintain Philly Future, a site devoted to Philadelphia’s regional blog community.

I’m a software engineer for Comcast Interactive Media, including Comcast.net.