This forum allows for a huge amount of options devoted to it's end-users, i.e. MAF members.

Please do try to make use of them.

For example, there is a full calendar.
This may be made useful if there is a conference in the near future - or planned. Various details could be entered into the appropriate date and although you'd have surely made a post about it, the calendar will be there to remind members & guests.
The new posts can save you time in seeking out what has been posted since the start of day. Guests also can use a similar function, "Today's Posts".
Using the search allows for boolean search styles. This means terms like Feminist AND scum will look through posts that contains both terms. It will not present posts that only have one or another term. Feminist NOT nice will seek out posts that include the word 'feminist' but ignore any which also contain 'nice'. Using the advance search allows far greater functionality, for example, per-member searches (i.e. look up 'feminist NOT nice' in posts only by Karl).
The quick links contains dhtml generated hyperlinks to elements wihtin the forum pertaining to your account, such as your personal control panel or profile options.