Mine

function insert_msg($msg_table, $msg_name, $msg_message)
{
// Active datebase connection is assumed. The functions asks what table to use;
// If you're just going to use the same table all the time, you can replace it in the query.

	$msg_time = time();

	$msg_query = mysql_query("INSERT INTO `$msg_table` (`name`, `message`, `time`) VALUES ('$msg_name', '$msg_message', '$msg_time')")
		or die ("Could not send message: " . mysql_error());

}

function get_messages($msg_table, $msg_starttime)
{
// Active datebase connection is assumed. $msg_starttime should be time() minus however many seconds you want to go back.
// Function returns a query result, so you'll be fetching rows off of it.

	$msg_query = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM `$msg_table` WHERE `time` >= '$msg_starttime' ORDER BY `time` ASC")
		or die ("Could not retreive message: " . mysql_error());

	return $msg_query;
}