this was my very first time in any forum Mine too! And this is still the only place I post on the wide-open internet. Ted was right--you don't need to close it. People will either continue responding (on-topic or not), or else just drift away.

I think I'll post this again, for the benefit of new members, since more than has wondered where the cues for smileys, colors, etc. are. If you click on the Reply button in a post, you'll see them. But if you just go to the Quick Reply box at the bottom of the page, you won't...unless you Preview your post; then they appear.