Questions RE: Thunderbird

Apolgies if this has hit the wrong newsgroup. I've tried a few others 
but not joy in getting my answers.

I have a couple of questions. If you know the answers please help, thanks.

* How do I start threads collapsed?
* Do you know of any plugin/extension which will allow me to highlight a 
certain area of text and quote only that in a reply (such as in Gravity 
Newsreader?)
* It always shows as "So and so wrote" - I prefer to change that. How?

I've other questions but can't think of them for the moment. Thanks 
again for reading.

-- 
It's not over 'til the fat lady sings. And I'm not singing yet!" - Rhona 
Martin, Women's Great Britain curling team