The Importance of Keywords

I am off to school to work on cleaning up some of my research projects (behind in my work as usual), but I just had one of those wonderful Internet moments. I usually, when I set up a profile on AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, or the other chat programs, include key phrases and such to dredge up old classmates and acquaintances. And, you know, it works. I have started using gaim on Linux, mostly because I can bring up my whole suite of IM names in one box. I use ICQ infrequently but, since I have a very low ICQ number (early adopter), I have always kept it active. Lo and behold, I got a legitimate IM on ICQ today (most are just spammers anymore). It was from a relative of someone I went to grade school with. We had a nice chat and I was able to pass along info about how the school is starting an alumni group. Instant messaging is just another way that we can get back in touch with those who have fallen away from us, as well as strike up new conversations. Off to school to crunch some data, work on the seismograph, and clean up a few specimens, too! Oops! Almost forgot - my grade school, St Charles in Arlington, Virgina has started an alumni web page. If you attended, please stop over and sign up!