I’m sorry to have to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m afraid that there is not going to be an issue of Inside Erin this month.  The reason for this is simple – we don’t really have anything to put in it.  We have the Coder’s Corner feature and the “This Month” articles, but that’s it.

In the past, I have released some pretty slim issues or alternately, manufactured content myself so that it wouldn’t be so slim.  I’m sure the poor quality of those issues showed, and this month I’m too disgusted to do the former and too tired for the latter.  Is not having an issue better than having a short and/or sub-par issue?  I don’t know, but that’s the way I’ve decided to go this month.

In the past there have been a couple of discussions about making the newsletter a bi-monthly publication.  The last time it came up I spoke out against it, was immediately put on staff, and a few months later took over as editor.  That will teach me to keep my big mouth shut.  Well, actually no, it probably won’t.  I would still like to see the newsletter come out every month, but if there is little or no content to publish, then what are we going to do?

The solution to the problem is obvious.  We need to get more people involved.  Most of the people we have on staff right now write at least one article a month, which represents a decent, and in some cases, significant time commitment.  I’m not saying that we need a bunch more people on staff, but what if everyone who posted a comment on one of the forums last month were to write ONE article or review each YEAR?  Then this situation would never come up again.  We would not only have more content, but it would also offer different viewpoints and perspectives, which can only be a good thing.

So think about it.  If you enjoy reading the newsletter, if you enjoy AIF at all, then consider putting some thoughts on ‘paper’ and sending them in.  In the mean time, the staff and I will keep plugging away, and I fully expect to have another issue for you this time next month.

Purple Dragon