Happy Birthday FM!!! Thanks for starting the site. I don't post alot, but I've read, learned, bought and sold here. I really appreciate the top notch site.
Funny, I was going to post to this forum that it's getting TOO old. Then I noticed this thread.
Personally, I feel the functionality over the years has changed comparatively little.
I realized this just now when I came back here (after a week of not using it), looking for an old post I kinda stumbled on a couple months ago, but didn't feel like swimming through page after page to find it. I realized that after 8 years of (hopefully) well-archived posts, the search function for instance should be a little more updated.
I mean I've been using this forum for a long time, and it's provided a wealth of information, let alone shaped the way I shoot photos, but I use it less and less because the functionality can't keep up with the ever-changing internet. Just a suggestion. I would continue using this site if I couldn't get reviews and critiques and how-tos more easily from other sites and blogs.
It is indeed impressive to have last this long, but forums are a dying breed these days. It could last longer with a little tweaking.
There are a few great photography forums out there now, but none surpass FM. I’ve been on this site for about 6 ½ years, but I rarely sign in or post in any photography forums any more. I just peek in from time to time. Sure can’t imagine the internet without FM.
I don't participate too often in conversations on this site, hence my relatively modest post count, but I spend a great deal of time here reading others' comments, checking gear prices and looking at photos. With the changes implemented in the last year, what was a good site has become a great site. Thanks Fred for your initial vision and for continuing to invest time, money and good will to keep this wonderful place alive and well.
FM was really the first site that I've started participating in many years back. Enjoyed the ride and Fred deserves many kudos for creating and maintaining this awesome site.
"a sua saúde" and the best for 2010 to all FM members 
