Many first-time visitors to this Web site have happened upon it by chance and are not familiar with its raison d'être nor its subject matter. The editors of World of Tile have therefore compiled a list of common questions about the site and their answers. More questions and answers will be added over time, as needed. If you do not see the answer to your question here, to send an e-mail to the Editors.

What is World of Tile all about? The World of Tile Web site is an Internet-based &quto;mega-zine" for those interested in the Jet-Set lifestyle. It incorporates articles from several popular du Mont Publications magazines plus some original material. For more information on du Mont magazines, click here. What is T.I.L.E.? What does it stand for? The "Team for International Law Enforcement" is an autonomous branch of Interpol. (See the Exclusive Interview with Kitty in the Art of Good Living Department for more information.) Why is Mr. X called by that code name? T.I.L.E. is an elite organization that maintains only 26 agents--the best in the business--at any one time. The agents are designated by letters of the English alphabet prefixed by the appropriate title (e.g., Mr. X, Miss Q, Dr. J). The current Mr. X inherited his letter when the previous "Mr. X" left the organization several years ago (N.B.: "To leave the organization" is the official T.I.L.E. term for death or retirement there is no distincion between the two). Department.) How does Kitty know so much about science? Kitty dropped out of the exclusive Swiss finishing school, Le Houtenanie, to pursue a degree in Neurochemistry with the famed Herr Dr. Erno Vetchling in Vienna (See "The Warm Fish Affair" case ). Is Mr. X really a musician? Yes, he is an accomplished guitarist and singer and recently released his first solo album, "X" Marks the Spot (Mr. X mentioned this fact in a Letter to the Editor about the declassification of the "Hi-Fi Hijinks" case file, which revealed that Mr. X played guitar on a Hugo Montenegro record entitled Cha Chas for Dancing.)

What is G.R.O.U.T. and what does it stand for? G.R.O.U.T., the Group for Reprehensible Operations and Undercover Terrorism, is a worldwide criminal organization considered to be the Number One threat to the free, democratic way of life. It is made up of former KGB agents, Mafiosi, banana republic drug kingpins, Chinese tong leaders, Nazi scientists, and other ruthlessly brilliant undesirables. They have vowed to take over the world. Their most dangerous agent is Durazhnik, trained as a physicist and an assassin by the KGB. Who is Durazhnik's evil henchman? Moco (He can be found in the "Catfight" file, accessible through the Declassified section of the Espionage Department or the Mundo de Tile section of the Jet Travel Department. He also sent a Letter to the Editor that is in the Archives of the Letters Department.)

Is there any connection between the T.I.L.E. organization or World of Tile, the Web site, and World of Tile, the store that sells stylish modern kitchen and bathroom fixtures? No, absolutely not. Neither the T.I.L.E. organization nor the publishers of the World of Tile Web site have any connection to this state-of-the-art shopping venue conveniently situated on U.S. Route 22 just west of Manhattan, in the charming town of Springfield, New Jersey. The similarity in names is simply a coincidence; also coincidental is the fact that many secret agents shop at World of Tile, the store, for their tile needs. To get an idea of what one might buy at World of Tile, the store, see "Accent on Tile", which is found in the Decoration & Design Department and in the Where the Spies Shop section of the Art of Good Living Department.