@mm25075,
Kind of a miscellaneous post of comments to add on -
Khethil was mentioned very positively by one of the Phils; I'd have to look back and see where, but I think he (?) was just kidding about being ignored.
MM25075, I was just going to mention you as one of the southwest contingent - actually, the Arizona contingent. JLNobody is in Arizona, as is Ticomaya. (I am probably forgetting others). MM25075 is a poster I don't remember any harsh comments from. JLNobody, very good tightly written posts (often about buddhism or art) over many years, always thoughtful. I've never seen him insult anyone. Ticomaya is someone who doesn't insult gratuitously ever.
I'll add about Lightwizard that he is extremely knowledgeable about art, and is our prime go to guy re art valuation.
Thomas is also smart about economics, besides other subjects mentioned.
Which brings up Germany, Thomas being from there - Walter Hinteler should be added to the german contingent. He knows a lot about social work, has interests in politics, history, art, and much else.
Green Witch is an expert on landscape design and installation, ecological issues; very knowledgeable about art.
Dlowan is a sort of renaissance woman, who is an expert in much about therapy/psychology among other subjects. Vikorr, Firefly, and now recently, Dr. Dick, appear to work in these fields too.
Pemerson is another in the Texas contingent. I tend to agree with her a lot, so
I have a positive bias toward her right there.
A texan who many at a2k don't know of because she hasn't posted for years, is Tartarin. She is an accomplished artist (she sent me her slides once, and I nearly fell off my chair they were so interesting). Particularly the painting, "The Pear at the Frick", or some title like that. She was involved in a lot of politics threads, making... tart observations. I mention her as she is worth looking up for those interested in politics, and she may show up if you look at old politics threads.
On the departed souls list, I'll add PaolaL, an a2ker interested in art, architecture, politics, food, was publishing european travel guides (lived in Rome and New York). I still miss her.
Which brings up Clary, whom I don't think has visited since at least the change to the last rendition of a2k - an intrepid traveler and raconteur, also a guide writer to Hong Kong in a major travel series.
I'd better stop with this, at least for a while.