Shawn,
 
SH> Got you here... As you said I think it's just been the nice weather.
SH> I didn't even look at my computers for a few days in a row. ;)
 
The numbers in Fidonet have dropped a long time below the critical mass
that is required to keep things going.
 
Attach to that the ever less technical challenges in a world which is made
for dummies: you buy something, if it works that's fine, if it doesn't you
buy something else.
 
The computer tinkerers have mostly gone with some notable exceptions, proof
of which is this echo and Nick Andre. Plus some other unrelated packages
which do not account for any growth.
 
Echomail volumes have gone down from historic highs to historic lows, the
same you see content wise in Fidonews, whichever version you adhere to.
 
Nice weather ... OK, but that is not everywhere at the same time.
 
So when the flow is low, and getting lower, try thinking "critical mass".
 
And if people are worried about possible links being lost, then maybe they
ought to participate more. That could solve a couple of things ... but not
forever.
 
My 2 Eurocents worth only.
 
 \%/{at}rd 

--- D'Bridge 3.99