This is fucking revolting.

Which you can also find by by clicking on the "HTML
lookup table" that appears above the message window when
you compose a post.

Anyway, it is simplicity itself:  type [link:(paste the link
from the address bar at the top of the page you are linking
to)|(type in your text here, such as the title of the piece)]

Again: Opening bracket '['with the word "link"
followed by a colon ':', followed by the url, followed by the
vertical bar '|', followed by the text such as the title of
the piece, followed by the closing bracket ']'.  That's it.

IMPORTANT: When you paste in the URL you MUST strip off the
'http:' at the beginning or your text link will not work.

Your link should look like this:
[link:www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=389&topic_id=1719581&mesg_id=1719622|Here
is a quick tutorial on making text links]

Just make sure you always strip off the "http:" part
and you'll be good to go!

sw