sub fileopen {
	my($filename) = @_;
	local *MW;

	my($openokay) = open(MW,"+<$filename"); 

	if (!$openokay) {
		return 0;
	}

	lock(*MW);  

	seek(MW,0,0);
	return *MW;
}

sub lock {
	my($nick) = @_;
	flock({$nick},LOCK_EX);
      # and, in case someone appended
      # while we were waiting...
      seek({$nick}, 0, 2);
}

sub unlock {
	my($nick) = @_;
	flock({$nick},LOCK_UN);
}