You'll notice that anytime you come in here, there will be a a user named 'X2'. X2 is a bot...that is, just a script running to keep the chat room open 24/7.

We'll be trying this chat service out for a while, and if it seems to work, we'll be keeping it. Please feel free to e-mail questions or comments to me if you experience any problems. Keep in mind that this is a free service being utilized, so I have very little control over appearance and functions. If this appears to work out well, we'll set up a weekly chat

While chatting in the main window, you can also start a private conversation with someone else logged on. Just right-click on their username and choose 'Query', and another window will pop up. You can type your message there. Down along the bottom of the main chat window you'll see two rows:

• Public - will have a 'FORDification' button to show the chat channel you're currently in, and

• Private - will have an 'Infos button (which can always be ignored) and a button for the chat window for the user you just PM'ed. You can toggle back and forth between the PM window and the main chat window simply by selecting the correct button.

Just play nice and enjoy yourself!