Middle_man is a free plugin for AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). By using proxy technology to tunnel the AIM connection through itself, middle_man is able to remove some of the restrictions from AOL. These restrictions range from options that AOL has not yet incorporated into its Instant Messenger, to options that have been simply underdeveloped. Middle_man provides the ultimate instant messaging experience for both the average users and the power users by allowing them to customize their instant messenger as they see fit.