I have said this before and I repeat this again on the occasion of goanet's eleventh anniversary -- that Herman is our own Rip Van Winkle, in the sense he wakes up only on certain auspicious days. This obvious is meant to be taken as a joke, just during one of the few heated debates on this forum he was also nicknamed "The Herminator." Rip Van Winkle also means a person who is oblivious to social change. In this respect, Herman is no Mr. Winkle. Since he has announced that goanet would also help in community building projects, I think he and those who guide the destiny of goanet have the interests of the community at large at heart. I assume the goanet membership has increased over the past few years, which is a good sign that Goans, and in few cases, non-Goans see the forum as something to be part of in sharing knowledge of Goa and things Goan. What is saddening, however, is the absence of voices that one heard very loudly and clearly. Some of the prolific writers have disappeared altogether. I wish they could show up now and then. I can't say if they are still members. If they are, they perhaps won't to remain in the background, a place to where they relegated themselves. I won''t name names, but if these guys and gals are reading this I would want them to make their presence again on the forum. It was joy to read them, argue with them, agree or disagree with them, and pick each other's brains. I have said it earlier, but the lack of women's voices is another disturbing issue. I ask again, "Where have all the women gone?" We need more than Daisy's recipes and Cynthia's soul-searching posts, often forwarded from other mailing lists, Viviana's direct hits, now infrequent, and Liane Rodricks's limericks. Give us the female perspective on things, from World Goa Day to Konkani script and everything in between. Coming to Herman's future goals, I think getting funds for social upliftment projects, literary projects and women's empowerment projects would make goanet not just an cyber "water fountain" stop or an idle's man pastime, as some critics say in hushed voices. I would also suggest that goanet seek reasons from those who have left or are silent. Reasons could be from 1. lack of time, 2. burn out, 3. information overload, 4. just hot air, 5. too much infighting. They should be invited to suggest alternatives, but as far as I can see, the alternatives are few. What goanet is doing and facing is common to many mailing lists. Here's raising a glass of feni to goanet and all those who bring us the news and views each day, rain or shine, Hurricane Katrina or Tsunami.
Eugene Correia Someone who has at times thought of quitting, but hasn't had the guts to do so ____________________________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs