Noob...Changing row colors

[XCalibre]

I am wanting to change the results of the mysql database row colors. I would like to alternate between rows as they are displayed in my shoutobox. Here is my code:

<?php
require_once 'cn.php';
require_once 'protect.php';

$fiveMinutesAgo = time() - 600;

$sql = 'SELECT
	username, message_content, message_time
		FROM
	messages
		WHERE
	message_time > ' . $fiveMinutesAgo . '
		ORDER BY
	message_time';
$result = mysql_query($sql, $cn) or
	die(mysql_error($cn));
	
while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result)) {
	$hoursAndMinutes = date('g:ia', $row['message_time']);
	
	echo '<p><strong>' . $row['username'] . '</strong>: <em>(' . $hoursAndMinutes . ')</em> ' . $row['message_content'] . '</p>';
}
?>

[XCalibre]

O NO! I have posted here all day, and didn't even think about it. Sorry if it's in the wrong spot. Please move to correct forum if you need to. Sorry again!

However, it does relate to my other post about ajax/mysql/ etc... Sorry

[XCalibre]

okay..I've figured out how to do alternating colors, but the tables stretch based on who types the longest sentence, and it makes the usernames go to double lines instead of one line. Is there a way to define the tables so that they are set to a certain length?

Example:

Username...... Time..... Message.............................................................

Also....in my code, it's giving me 2:00am for every post....it never changes....

Anyone got any ideas? Thank you:

CODE:

<?php
require_once 'cn.php';
require_once 'protect.php';

$fiveMinutesAgo = time() - 600;

$sql = 'SELECT
	username, message_content, message_time
		FROM
	messages
		WHERE
	message_time > ' . $fiveMinutesAgo . '
		ORDER BY
	message_time';
$result = mysql_query($sql, $cn) or
	die(mysql_error($cn));


$color="1";

echo '<table width="100%" border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0">';
while($rows=mysql_fetch_array($result)){
$hoursAndMinutes = date('g:ia', $row['message_time']);


if($color==1){
echo "<tr bgcolor='#CCCCFF'>
<td>".$rows['username']."</td><td>".$hoursAndMinutes."</td><td>".$rows['message_content']."</td>
</tr>";

$color="2";
}


else {
echo "<tr bgcolor='#DFDFDF'>
<td>".$rows['username']."</td><td>".$hoursAndMinutes."</td><td>".$rows['message_content']."</td>
</tr>";


$color="1";
}

}
echo '</table>';
mysql_close();
?>