Mary M Lander wrote: > ---what does the +AD4 before the lines of > the message mean and how did it get there? Mary, I am utterly amazed that our ancestors were ever able to form a government and become a nation. Just think of the many languages and dialects they spoke! Yet many of these highly intelligent, hardworking people could not even sign their name. I am just as utterly amazed that you and I can communicate to each other so quickly and easily using this new 'E-Mail'. We all have different equipment and different telephone companies. Some may be using ISDN, cable, or even the new WebTV. Early in the 'colonial days' of computers <g> [like c1980] somebody began to use certain keystrokes to change certain digital signals from the computer into telephone language. I think Hayes was the company that did this. It became a standard. For a long time the term "Hayes Compatible" was used to describe a modem that could operate using these "AT" commands. My guess about the +AD4 is that someone's modem is allowing us to see the commands as well as the text. Why do I know this? Our electrical engineer son gave my husband and me a modem to install into our computer. I remember to get it to answer the phone, I had to type in a long string of letters and numbers. Now 'Plug n Play' technology does all that for you. Now when I get a message, I just quickly skim down until I see English to read, but I am glad you didn't! Curiosity is the only way to learn. Come to think of it - I guess that is why we are all into this root digging business. CURIOSITY! That's a good word! Lura