secular Institute for the laity under religious vows

Why not drop in on some other topics?

Neo:

What would you like.................................

n

Well, given that, some members are not accustomed to civility, I would recommend caution; but most of us would like to hear your opinions on other issues of the board.

I think.

That's a question that comes up once in a while - not real sure there's any way to really put together an definitive answer, but never one to acknowledge my own limitations, I'll hazard a try - more or less, there was an intent and a vision, but what you see today pretty much just happened, much to everyone's surprise.

A2K first hit the web in August of '02, a creation of Craven de Kere, and sorta an outgrowth of his MSN Communities Group, The Raven's Realm. In large part, A2K came about as an alternative to a now defunct, but once very active forum called Abuzz, which was run - and sadly neglected by - The New York Times; Abuzz was a lively, wide-ranging, open discussion/question-and-answer type forum with a core of dedicated, frequent-posting members, but its lack of moderation lead to all sortsa problems, and while not alone the cause, was instrumental in the demise of Abuzz. It went from engaing, entertaining, and informative to essentially troll-ridden and disgusting; watching it happen was sorta like watching an old freind succumb to the terminal ravages of substance abuse, and its passing is mourned. Many of A2K's "Senior Members" (to coin a term) came here one way or another from/through Abuzz. Some might wanna see these threads - Abuzz Guilt and Poor Abuzz, Comatose again! - for a bit of insight on the relationship between A2K and Abuzz. Doing a word search on the word "Abuzz" using the A2K Search function (also linked at the top of every page) will bring up lotsa hits, too ... select "Display results as posts" to get the best results.

Beginning in September of '02, A2K began to grow, "going public" in a way, after a brief period of development/sorting out. At the end of '02, there were around 425 registered members, the 500 mark was passed in January of '03. By March of that year things had really started rolling, and there were over 1000 members, pretty much all arriving via referal/invitation or word-of-mouth. In October of that year the count passed 5000, doubling to 10,000 in early February of '04.

Currently, there are nearly 60,0000 registered members, many with no posts at all, lots and lots with hundreds of posts, quite a few with thousands of posts, some with tens of thousands of posts. At time of this writing, the data base is approaching 2 Million posts. A2K consistently ranks in the Top 3 of Alexa/Amazon's Ask an Expert category, and also is top-ranked in Open Directory's Ask An Expert category. The A2K Google Page Rank is a respectable 6 (See also THIS - and lots more than anyone needs to know about page rank HERE) - lotsa folks find A2K via websearches conducted on particular subjects or key words; that's the main way new folks come across A2k now.

A thread some might find informative: How did you come to know about this site?

On another thread, dlowan gives a good precis of A2K's origin and development HERE

For the curious, as near as I can figure (I could be wrong) my first post to A2k is HERE. There were a little over a hundred members or so when I joined, if I recall correctly.

The website's staff - Administrators, Developers, Moderators, etc - pretty much is comprised of volunteers who kinda-sorta agree to be drafted; its not like anyone applies for any particular slot (I don't think there'd be much point at all trying that), but rather a member's participation over time may indicate suitability for some one or another particular job that needs to be done around here, and an appropriate invitation is sent. What happens from that point is more or less up to the member involved; not everyone tapped goes for the idea, not everyone who becomes a staff volunteer remains with the staff.

Those interested in financially supporting the site can do so by clicking "Premium Services" down at the bottom of each page, or Here, and subscribing; do it only if you really want to - apart from access to the Subscriber's Forum (not available to non-subscribing members), that won't getchya any more than a warm fuzzy feeling - though for the real trivia buffs, if you do subscribe, and then you do a little digging, you can find archived there the very first thread ever posted to A2K.

Other ways to financially support the site include webshopping using the A2K Shop, or the Portal, and for those who really wish to gain instant elevated social status, impress their familly, freinds, coworkers, and neighbors, and arouse envy and jealousy among all they encounter, A2K Logo apparel and other incredibly useful, tastefully designed, collector-quality, prestigiously exclusive, attractively priced A2K-labled stuff can be bought through the A2K Store. Links to all are available at the top or bottom of every A2K page - look for 'em. Also linked on every page is the free A2K Toolbar, an excellent, heavilly featured Browser Add-on (Internet Explorer only at this time - but stay tuned if you don't use IE - development is ongoing and additional browsers may be supported as time and resources permit) - the Toolbar doesn't make A2K any money, but its one of the best toolbars out there - popup blocker, multiple search engines, tools for maintaining your 'puter privacy, one-click access to your Windows Notepad and your Windows Calculator, lots more - all sortsa other neat, handy stuff, way too much to list here. Check it out.

There have been lotsa developments and changes since the beginning, features added, features removed, features changed, server moves, website template rewrites (we're at A2K v 3.0 now), and A2K will continue to grow and evolve as long as folks visit, participate in, and contribute however they wish - financially or otherwise. A2K is what its members make it.

Down at the bottom of my posts, in my signature box, are color-formatted links to the A2K FAQ and the Help Forum; some may wanna check those out - plenty of good info there. The link to the FAQ is also available at the top of every page, and the Help Forum is available via the Forums index which is linked at the top and bottom of every page.

And if ya really wanna donate, just send me cash or jelly donuts - I'll see to it good use is found for all you send me (just kidding - donations per se pretty much specifically are not sought).

(Parenthetical PS: I will accept jelly donuts if ya really feel the need to give - just don't expect anything in return :wink: )

Good grief, Timber. In one of those threads I was still posting in BLUE. Does that count as an antique?

http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1816#1816

Interesting stuff.

What abuzz usta look like:

http://web.archive.org/web/20021125184332/http://www.abuzz.com/

St. John Bosco (better known as "Don Bosco")

"My political views are those of the Lord's prayer."
-- St. John Bosco

Timber:

Thank you so much for all of the wealth of information for all of us. I cherish the history and shall study it well when I have a good frame of referrence!

Again, you add so much to this and every thread!

Nancyann

Well folks:

Yesterday my 13 year old baby and best fur friend died in my arms. He died the way he lives with courage and love. I shall miss him and thank God for all the extra time He gave me with him. He lived so very long. The vet cried so hard along with me! Well I now go on! So................

Today......I am applying for a www.minpinrescue.org. hit on kentucky then hit on "dogs available," scroll then and hit on MILO! I put a deposit on him. I searched the country for a particular personality and found Milo. If I get approved, I must pick him up in Louisville, Kentucky in aa month, but hey are strict in background checks and they must come to my home and check it first they said on the phone.

Check out Milo. See if you can see his picture! He is so cute!

taken from www.minpinrescue.org

KY
Milo - "ADOPTION PENDING": 5 mth old black & tan male, docked tail and uncropped ears. 10", 10 lb. Rescued from shelter.
"Hi! My name is Milo and I am a 5-month old black and tan Min Pin. I've had it pretty rough so far, but have been lucky enough to find a foster family of Min Pins to live with until I can find my forever home. I love to run and play in the yard with my brother and my two host Min Pins. We get along very well, often sharing our food, blankets and toys. I love to curl up in a ball in my foster dad's lap and look forward to when he gets home from work to spend some quality snuggle time. I am still a puppy and have bursts of energy followed by long naps. My foster dad says I snore sometimes, but so does he. I hope that you want to meet me and make me part of your family."
Note: Milo is located in Louisville, KY - and we prefer not to ship this boy.
IMPS Tag: 9107
ADD DATE: 01/10/06 "ADOPTION PENDING", cost $375.00.

nancyann

Phoenix:

Thank you for posting! It was good to hear from you again!

n

George:

That was a nice picture of Don Bosco!

Thanks for posting the info!

n

Taken from "creighton.edu"

Daily Reflection
January 31st, 2006
by
Daniel Patrick O'Reilly
Registrar's Office
Memorial of St. John Bosco
2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30-19:3
Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Mark 5:21-43


Today's scriptures are incredibly powerful stories. They speak of death and the shadow it can cast over our lives. In Samuel, the sordid story of Absalom comes to an end. Absalom is the epitome of the bad son. Vain, devious, rebellious and attempting to murder his father in order to become king. When news of Absalom's death comes to David, instead of rejoicing, David weeps and cries out in despair, "My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you." And on the opposite side of the coin is the story from Mark. Jesus heals the long-suffering woman and raises the daughter of Jarius from the dead.

I once attended a graduation ceremony where the speaker jokingly told the graduates: "There are four phases to life. Birth, school, work and death. Congratulations. Now you're ready for work and death." It was a joke, but kind of a depressing one. Death. Some people obsess over it. They earnestly fear death. They worry about it. They look for ways to delay it. And yet, the fact that it is coming is inescapable.

I can't read the story from Samuel and not think back to my own life 20 some years ago. My younger sister had been battling cancer for almost two years. My wife and I were visiting my grandmother and aunts and uncles when news came that my sister had died. I had to break the news to my grandmother. The first words out of her mouth were, "Why couldn't it have been me?" It was probably the worst moment in my life. Death can bring despair, grief, fear and hopelessness. At that point in my life, I was not a father. I didn't even understand the crushing grief and pain that my parents were experiencing. If that were the end of the story, that would be pretty depressing and life would be pretty bleak. But it isn't.

In the story from Mark, Jesus demonstrates his absolute power over death. And his instructions to Jarius? Do not be afraid; just have faith. It sounds simple. Death can seem overwhelming. It can seem like the end of the world. It's about as final as it gets. How can we not be afraid? And yet Christ's instructions are clear. If we believe that God loves us, if we believe in Christ's promise, then we should be able to have faith and not be afraid. We can overcome our fear of death. Just a little faith, hope and courage and we will have life. The alternative is a paralyzing fear and a shallow life without hope. It seems like such an easy choice. Like I said, it seems so simple, but it isn't.

The death of a loved one will always be a painful experience. The only way to avoid it is to never love. But death does not have to be a hopeless experience. One of my regrets in life is that my sister never met my children. But I know her blood is in me and in them. Her life helped to shape my life. And one of my hopes is that some day I will see my sister again. My prayer is for those whose lives are shaped or paralyzed by the fear of death. My prayer would be that the promise of Christ would free us from that fear and allow us to live an abundant life.

by,

[email protected]

The most important thing I have found out for me is this:

in personal loss of a loved one, still pray to Jesus, but be still, don't use words, just look and adore Him in the tabernacle! He is ther with usall of the time! I spent three hours today after mass in chapel before work....just being with Jesus....no great words...just adoring!

n

Nancy,

I was so sad to see the post about your puppy.

I think it's great that you are turning your attention to a new adoption
while still allowing your self some quiet time to grieve.

All the best.

Thank you Timber for your thoughts and suggestion to move on and get a new friend! I am in the process. Today I woke up and called Louisville, Kentucky and asked Milo's foster parents how he is and what he is like. They said for a minpin he is very laid back. I wanted that kind of personality. RJ was like that for a doberman pinscher. They said he likes cats and other dogs and is always the one that takes a back step to the others. They said he has some obedience training and all of his shots for his first year and that he is already neutered.

I still miss my other one very much though! I tripped over his big bone this morning still on the floor where he last left it! I developed his 27 pictures today and shall put them in one big frame.

George:

Thank you so much for your kind words also! When and if I get approved for Milo, I will take a bus to Louisville, Kentucky, stay overnight and bond with the puppy minpin and leave the next day back to Boston. I already bought him his snuggle bed for the floor, chew bones for his teeth, a new lead and a harnes for his little body so he won't walk out of his collar as I was told thay do with collars. They said, these minpins can never be left off a lead because they run and run. They are bread from mini greyhounds in Germany. Interesting! He has floppy ears as they were not cropped off as most are. So he doesn't look scary, but rather friendly!

February 1st, 2006
by
Jeanne Schuler
Philosophy

2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17
Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7
Mark 6:1-6
Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer



On the Road Home

The crowd was divided. The man before them spoke with such power as they had never before heard. They were drawn to his words like water in the desert. But doubt sucked them dry.

After all, he is one of us, a simple man. His family lives up the road. Has he forgotten where he comes from? How dare he thrust himself up above the rest? We know what to expect from our own.

We are a knowing people. We trust our categories. Certainty robs us of vision. We who already know don't see. We stop listening. Faith, for us, becomes a curious phenomenon. Like crutches hanging from church walls, faith belongs to an older time. Whom do I really trust?

The king had sinned. He had vaunted his own military strength and did not trust God. Punishment was felt by all the people of the land. In the midst of plague, the king begged forgiveness for his sin.

For years, Dr. Martin Luther King lived with fear. He was a hated man, whom many wanted out of the way. Each time he said good-by to those he loved might be the last. But King could not remain silent. He was troubled by a vision that must be put into words. He could not go home. But he never stopped searching for a community that moves beyond the color line, a people that seek healing. Leaders who beg forgiveness.

Home is not where we come from. We are not home yet.
by,

[email protected]

Posted Monday Jan. 30, 2006 at 2:59 p.m. CST
Fr. Jean-Juste holds image of Blessed Virgin Mary



Dear Reader of NCRonline.org,

(CNS/Reuters)
Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste, Jan. 28
Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste holds an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary at a hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 28. Father Jean-Juste, who has leukemia, was provisionally released from prison in Port-au-Prince and flown to Miami where he was to be treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Jean-Juste had been jailed for more than six months by Haiti's interim government, which accused him of involvement in the July killing of prominent journalist Jacques Roche. The Associated Press reported Jan. 12 that a judge dropped the murder charge for the slaying of Roche. Father Jean-Juste's supporters believe the priest was jailed for political reasons.

January 30, 2005, National Catholic Reporter

Nancy~

The Boston gathering has a date, time and place.

Merry Andrew and Seaglass cordially invite you to join them at the
Grand Chau Chow in Boston's Chinatown at 2pm, February18

~George

George:

Great! I am going are you?

n