open (FH, "+< $path_to_text") or die "where's the damn file? : $!";
	#flock (FH,LOCK_EX) or die "Couldn't flock: $!";
	#why does flock result in compilation errors?
	my  @old_file = <FH>;
	truncate (FH,0) or die "Can't truncate: $!";
	print FH "<TR> <TD> <H3> $topic by <a href=mailto:$name\@sludgefactor.com>";
	print FH "$name</a> </H3> </TR> <P>\n";
	print FH  "<TR> <TD> $words <p> </TD> </TR><P>\n";
	print FH @old_file;
	close FH or die "close damn you : $!";