tailmsg is a function
tailmsg () 
{ 
    local PATTERN=${1:-"."};
    case "$OSname" in 
        HP-UX)
            local LOGFILE=${2:-/var/adm/syslog/syslog.log}
        ;;
        IRIX*)
            local LOGFILE=${2:-/var/adm/SYSLOG}
        ;;
        AIX | SunOS)
            local LOGFILE=${2:-/var/adm/messages}
        ;;
        *)
            local LOGFILE=${2:-/var/log/messages}
        ;;
    esac;
    umask 077;
    tmpfile=/tmp/tmp$$;
    touch "$tmpfile" || { 
        echo "Kann $tmpfile nicht anlegen";
        exit 2
    };
    while true; do
        eval `resize`;
        LC_TIME=de_DE date +"%x, %X    Suchmuster=\"$PATTERN\"" >"$tmpfile";
        echo >>"$tmpfile";
        case "$PATTERN" in 
            ".")
                LC_TIME=de_DE date +"%x, %X" >"$tmpfile";
                echo >>"$tmpfile";
                tail -$((LINES-3)) <"$LOGFILE" | cut -b -"$COLUMNS" >>"$tmpfile"
            ;;
            *)
                LC_TIME=de_DE date +"%x, %X    Suchmuster=\"$PATTERN\"" >"$tmpfile";
                echo >>"$tmpfile";
                grep "$PATTERN" <"$LOGFILE" | tail -$((LINES-3)) | cut -b -"$COLUMNS" >>"$tmpfile"
            ;;
        esac;
        clear;
        cat "$tmpfile";
        /bin/rm -f "$tmpfile";
        sleep 2;
    done
}