I will look forward eagerly to issue #115 to see what reasons Daniel Lak finds to be optimistic about Nepal's future ("A glass of hope", #114). I too used to be an optimist. Now I find it difficult to identify any entity in Nepal that is legitimate, capable and willing to work for the common good. Perhaps the Nepali Times could encourage readers to write in with stories about politicians and civil servants who are honest and competent. That might give us all some reasons to be optimists.

John Child,
Jhamsikhel