If you don't like AIM's ad windows and such (and find, as I did tonight, that I can't get rid of it with any free program yet), and you, like I, find Trillian to be bloated, unintuitive, and ugly, then get gaim. It's available for many OS's, including Windows and Linux. It's open-source, so it'll continue to be free and improve. It's not perfect, but I'm liking using it better than the alternatives so far. I'll update if that opinion changes.
I am so not prepared for a hurricane.
Anybody who believes they have power over the weather: please, by all means, stop this hurricane from hitting the Norfolk, VA area. Thanks.
It was gone for a while, but Buddy Zoo is back. If you have AIM, sign up!
Also, a free anti-virus program I found out about recently that I'm also using. Comes recommended from a couple people.
Another one with one recomendation, that I haven't tried, is also free for personal use: avast! antivirus software
Download all the best internet tools here. I've ceased use of Microsoft's programs, and now use Firebird for internet browsing, and Thunderbird as my e-mail/news client.