The funny character icons you are required to identify are part of a system called captchas and used to deter machines registering instead of people.

Identifying the characters can be tricky but if you fail, you will get a new, perhaps easier, set of characters to identify.

To register, you need to Create an Account. The link for that option is at the bottom of the login screen.

When you submit the form, you will receive and e-mail with a password.

After logging in, you can go to "My account" from the navigation menu on the left sidebar to change your password.

You can add a link to a message by entering it in html.

Registration gives a user increased priviledges including the following:

(1) User comments are posted without review.

(2) A registered user may "subscribe" to content, receiving notice by e-mail when content of interest has been updated.

(3) The nickname of a registered user is associated with postings.

"Subscribe Post" is an option to be notified by e-mail if there is a new reply to the message.

AnonyBud is an anonomous Bud, like a Bud that prefers to keep a bag over his or her head rather than registering as an authenticated user.

designates that a question is being asked. It gets included with your message when you select "Question" from the type category.

Forums are ongoing discussions with pre-assigned topics.