Friday, April 17, 2009

April 19th - D Day for Sabah Bloggers

My regular visitors would notice that under my Sabah Bloggers column on the left, right down the bottom, there is a web site called From Sabah to the World. Actually, this is just the Tagline. The actual site name and address is Giuk.Net.

As the Tagline suggests, it is a site or rather community for Sabah bloggers and aimed at the world because Internet means borderless world=globalisation. Giuk.Net has at least 100 members, easily more.

However, as most of you especially non-Giuk members would have noticed, for the past few months all you see is a Giuk (Worm) literally when you click on From Sabah to the World. The reason was obvious, it was under attack by the real worm, this time.

That was why it was at the bottom of my Sabah Bloggers list because my list is automatically set according to the most recent items.

I cannot speak on behalf of other Giuk members, although I think most would share my views, but life without Giuk.Net was never the same. This was because I was so used to clicking on it after viewing my home page which is also my own blog. Charity begins at home.

Meaning From Sabah to the World is No.2 to me in terms of importance after my own blog. This is because to be a blogger is one thing (you're on your own), but to be a member of a local community like Giuk.Net gives you a sense of belonging; not to mention the traffic that it brings to your blog. There may be other home-grown communities around started by Sabahans but as far as I'm concerned, Giuk.Net is THE community. After all, it was the first local online community introduced to me when I started blogging almost two years ago.

A few hours ago, as usual I clicked on From Sabah to the World out of curiosity; expecting to see the by now familar worm which I am so used to seeing the past few months. But surprise, surprise, finally I saw something different and positive - a short announcement by the administrator that Giuk.Net will be relaunched "on a computer screen near you" on April 19.

The long wait is over by Sunday. All I can say is: Congratulations and thank you for not giving up to the founder and administrator, Mr Badak (mrbadak.com). Welcome back, Giuk.

Can't wait till Sunday. Before it was attacked by the real worm, I couldn't wait to see my post or article listed in From Sabah to the World each time after I wrote something new in my blog. I would wait patiently, refreshing the page until I see my post listed. And it was thrilling to see my post being among the most-viewed sometimes. So, not just sense of belonging, but also sense of satisfaction or achievement sometimes.

Carry on the good job Mr Badak. Well-done. Happy Easter and may God bless you.

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