RE: executing a lisp command as a hook

[Drew Adams]

    Is there anyway to put a time on a
    message, so it lingers in the echo area (maybe as other commands flash
    by, but then goes back to the important status message I want).

See function `sit-for' (and perhaps function `sleep-for').
    
    Better yet, can anyone tell me how to append some information to the
    information bar at the bottom of each window (the one that shows things
    like line number, major-minor modes, etc...)
    
Look up `mode-line' in the Emac-Lisp manual.