how do we send one of those small pop-up messages, messages in that way...i don't know what they're called, small grey box looking like a chatbox and popsup on screen...out of nowhere.

They're called 'org pops'

Click on the '¤' next to a person's ID, then a thing will come up that will let you 'pop' someone



.
[Edited 11/13/05 22:13pm]

cool. i am new to the org, a newbie has to learn stuff like this.