Okay........ running knoppix 3.3 and gimp 1.2.5 and I ACTUALLY read one of those "tips"

#$@#%$^^$%!!! I can't believe i haven't been using THIS ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was so simple and SOOOO helpful, you SHOULD be using it!!! That will teach me to skim over those tips again
You can get context-sensitive help for most of Gimp's features by pressing the F1 key at any time. This also works inside of menus
No more searching those man pages !!! I opened up the gimp...... opened a blank image.... and went to the IMAGE>MODE>GRAYSCALE , and then pushed the F1 key....... BINGO... up pops the gimp users manual to the Converting To Grayscale page....
Very helpful tip........................ now if I'd only known about that one a year ago !!!!
Just thought I would share